It's a Major Award

I never win anything, and technically, I still didn't win anything.

I nominated Elijah's teacher, Michael Massad, for Mix 94.7 & Whataburger's "Austin's Favorite Teacher" contest. Well, he won! They picked my nomination. I was giddy because Mr. Massad deserves this award. I wish I had my nomination letter to post.



More Photos (you'll have to scroll through Track & Field)

And here's Heather Rivera's blog post.

Congratulations, Mr. Massad!

i carry your heart

A forgotten post
waits for an uploaded pic
penned may 17

===========================================
i carry your heart with me (i carry it in
my heart)

I shared those lines from the famous poem with Joshua tonight. I had written them years ago to my father on Father's Day (back in college when I had no money for a gift so I made a gift). It's overwhelming at times to look at my children. My cup runneth over.

The Summer of Creativity is dawning. I've put running and exercising on the shelf for lots of reasons. I'm not interested. I'm extremely busy. I don't care. I'm tired. I'm not training for anything. I really should exercise, but other interests tug at my minuscule amount of spare time.

Cooking is really fun. Baking is even better. Watching the mama bird get food for her chirping babies in my back yard is so peaceful. Sipping tea and reading is luxurious. Watching Joshua's baseball games is what spring is about for us. Listening to Elijah play the piano while doing dishes is life. Running? I think I am ready to play soccer again. Not in a league though. Maybe just kick the ball around in the yard with the kids. I need new cleats though.

I did run with Joshua at Chuy's Hot to Trot. He's 7, and this is his first 5K.

"Everyone knows it's Windy" Sing-a-long!

Saturday, March 28 - Rosedale Ride

Marc & Dianne were already planning to do 40. Sarah and I had dropped down from 63 to 40 after realizing we are very busy moms with other things going on that day that we not only had to do but also wanted to do. 40 is nothing to be ashamed of, but we had a bit of a time convincing ourselves of that.

Was anyone outside on March 28? Well, if not, I'll tell ya. A cold front blew in overnight. It was in the low 40s with a wind chill in the 30s. I can deal with cold. It's not as fun to ride your bike when it's cold as it is to run when it's cold. It's doable though, and your body does eventually warm up (if not your toes). The real issue this morning was the wind. Not a little wind either.

A few photos for your viewing pleasure.

I have never ridden in such wind before. It was not fun the way this ride is supposed to be. At the first stop (which we hadn't planned on stopping at), Marc tells us they are doing the 20-mile route now. Sarah and I look at it each other. This is supposed to be fun, right? Are we having fun? No. Why do we need to kill ourselves and do 40?

We chose the 20 (22.9 actually), and it was (in the wise words of Sarah) one of the best decisions we've made in a long time. The back stretch of that ride was slow and so windy.

I made up new lyrics to a bunch of songs to make us laugh while we struggled to pedal. Sarah joined in and came up with some goodies. Enjoy, and I hope you sing along.

Bob Seger - Against the Wind

"Against the wind...I'm colder now but still riding against the wind."

--------------------------

Christopher Cross - Ride like the Wind

"I've got such a long way to go...
to make it to Samsung parking lot.
So I ride...ride in the wind."

--------------------------

Patrick Swayze - She's like the Wind

"She hates wind in her face.
She's pedaling but going no place."

--------------------------

Bette Midler - Wind Beneath my Wings

"Did you ever know that I can pedal
and not get anywhere at all?
I can ride faster than a snail
when the wind blows like a gale."

--------------------------

The Village People - YMCA

"We are riding in the W-I-N-D (insert hand movements)
Oh yes, we're riding into the W-I-N-D.
It blows from the front.
And it blows from the side.
No matter which way we go, it blows.
Because we're riding in the W-I-N-D
Oh yes, we're riding in the W-I-N-D."

--------------------------

The Association - Everyone knows it's Windy

"Who's blowing me back while I fiercely pedal?
Who's tipping my bike over sideways?
Who's bending down to knock me clean off?
Everyone knows it's Windy!"

So, in honor of the Wind, we stopped at Wendy's for my usual half-n-half soda (half coke, half diet coke). Well, I had to get a picture for the ol' blog. Sarah snapped this brilliant photo...

You are the Wendy's beneath my wings.

Reflections

I thought living vicariously through my husband would keep me a fit and a happy runner. Oh, I've continued to run so as not to fall totally to the wayside, but for some reason, my plan hasn't worked.

I remember a long run in the summer - a 10-miler - where my knees started hurting again. That was around the same time that I started working full-time. We had recently moved, and with all the changes (and aching knees), I just stopped caring about how far I ran, how fast I ran, how often I ran. I had to readjust my priorities with less free time but the same busy family (and I mean busy).

I admit I haven't done a good job of finding time for running. Excuses abound, but Americans today have more leisure time than ever before. So there is really no good excuse for why I have not found time. Motivation is a different story.

Well, there's nothing like clothes fitting tighter. Nothing like that dreaded visit to a retail dressing room where the mirrors are set up in the cruelest way to show every part of your body that you normally (and thankfully) can't see. And those lights! To sell more, I would think stores would find lights that softened and enhanced rather than pointed out all the glaring evidence of too many cookies and too much stagnation.

Visits like that for me make me want to eat a bunch of fresh out-of-the-oven oatmeal chocolate chip cookies. Exactly the wrong thing I should do, right? Right. I know it. We all know it. It's just that cookies are so darn good. And my favorites are oatmeal, so really, it's healthy. Uh-huh. Really.

No more watching David cut full minutes off his PRs. No more hearing his alarm at 5am each day while I curl back under the delicious covers. It's time to push away the Coca-Cola Classic. It's time to count the calories and up the miles. It's time to make use of that monstrosity of a gym I give money to each month. Who's with me? Bueller? Bueller?

Saturday Morning

Why is running on a treadmill so horrific for me? I honestly think treadmill pace/mile times are off. G-tree and I have had this discussion before, but I think I'm running faster than the treadmill shows. How, you ask? Well, my breathing is a good indicator. I sort of know when I'm huffing and puffing, and it seems every time I'm on a treadmill and just want to jog for 30 minutes, I'm gasping to keep up with the belt. Then I look at the screen and curse treadmill makers everywhere for displaying those pace/mile times anyway. I already think I'm slow, but I don't need a treadmill displaying some snail's pace in my face to let me know that I'm ultra-slow.

Enough of that. I can say that I'm very proud of myself for waking up at 6am while in Ft. Worth for a conference and going down to the hotel gym to run. The treadmill did have a new feature for me; it showed a birds-eye view either a track, hill, or 5K route while I ran.

I was away from my family for about 3 days for the first time ever. I have never been away from all three of my boys at the same time. I think they missed me more than I missed them. I did miss them, but the conference was busy, and I had no idle time to really pine away.

For years and years, almost every night I turn my lamp off beside my bed after reading. If I'm not terribly tired, I will think to myself, "One day I won't turn this lamp off." Some nights, I will think, "One day, I won't be laying in this bed, falling asleep." I'm not talking about moving. I'm not talking about getting a new lamp or bed. It is the blight I was born for.

May memories

I want to remember two really beautiful and memorable runs from May. I've settled with myself that I'll never go back and catch up on all the runs, workouts, and things of interest. In fact, I don't even remember much I want to share. I did write a tiny snippet about the Maze, so I'm covered there.

Mother's Day morning, I ran with Gayatri and Elizabeth, who were kind enough to join me even though they did their long run Saturday. We ran 6 miles along the north side of the trail from 1st street to Longhorn Dam. Details fade, but it was a glorious spring morning. G-tree and Elizabeth talked of seeing a Swan family the day before, complete with 5 baby swans. "What are baby swans called?" we wondered as we ran toward the dam. I secretly hoped we'd see those little puffs of downy fluff. I don't think I have ever seen a baby swan.

On our way back, I spotted swans in the reeds along the riverbank. We crept in and saw 5 darling baby swans (cygnets for you precise folk). They were brownish-gray with small, black beaks. It was the sweetest scene as the family nestled in the reeds. I felt it was the perfect start to Mother's Day. I haven't seen the swans or cygnets again since then, but perhaps I'll look a little closer next time I'm on the northeast side of the trail. I'm curious to see how the babies have grown and changed.

Mother's Day we also set out to find some tadpoles at Barton Creek down off Lost Creek Blvd. Joshua and Elijah kept a tadpole a piece (along with an accidental minnow), and I took a tadpole to the preschool for the kiddos. If you've never watched a tadpole metamorphosis, then you might want to jaunt down and get yourself a tadpole. I was more interested and fascinated than the kids, I think. Elijah named his tadpole "Taddie" and Joshua named his tadpole "Morphy." On Father's Day, we took Taddie and Morphy back home to the creek because they were now froglets.

Tiny baby Morphy


Elijah holding Taddie


Now, the other run I want to mention is perhaps one of the most beautiful runs I've ever done. I mentioned before that David took me to Dallas for a short anniversary trip to see the LA Galaxy play FC Dallas. We drove up Saturday and ate dinner at a really yummy, recommended restaurant called Cafe Izmir. Maybe some of you have been there. Sunday morning we woke up and drove to White Rock Lake to run. It was fun for us to run together where David had run his sub-3 marathon. We started out together on the concrete and asphalt trail as cyclists zoomed by. This trail is clearly more popular for cyclists than runners.

Once David realized I would be safe running alone, he took off in a blur. I had already pointed out wildflowers and made us stop to smell them and get a closer look. The lake was very lovely. The sky was clear blue with smears of white clouds as though someone ran a icing-laden finger across the sky. I stayed on the pedestrian trail whenever possible rather than the asphalt road. It was mostly shaded and just lovely. Downtown Dallas peeked into view around turns and up hills (which there weren't really any hills).

I did and out and back run while David ran the whole trail loop. I had to stop again for some flower admiring. There was a thistle that was over 6-feet tall. The pedestrian trail went through some grassy areas with flowers that were over 3 feet tall, so it felt like I was running in a field.

My chest was bothering me where my bra strap lays, so I tucked my shirt under and felt better. I ran this way until shortly before meeting up with David back where we started. As I walked toward him I pulled my shirt back down straight, and he asked me, "What happened?" I looked down at my white shirt to see blood and sweat swirled around. I was surprised. I had no idea I had been bleeding. My new bra had rubbed enough to make me bleed, and I was able to sympathize with running men who have sweaty-blood driplets from their nipples.

Both the White Rock run and the Swan run were times I wish I'd had a camera. I don't do justice to the sereneness of those runs, but hopefully you've had a run just as stunning, peaceful, and full of beautiful nature. I think the White Rock trail would be perfect if it had an actual trail rather than concrete and asphalt.

So, I can't close this post without sharing a picture or two of the soccer game. It was really thrilling to see David Beckham play. If you can't spot him in the pictures, he's the one with the long-sleeved jersey. BTW, LA beat Dallas 5-1. Ouch!

Beckham Direct Free Kick (notice the time and score of the game)


Beckham on Defense

Eats, Shoots, and Leaves

I'm a grammar nerd, and when I make grammar mistakes, I don't like it. I don't mind making them, but I mind that I don't edit them properly. Usually my errors are due to rushing through while typing or editing.

Anyway, yes, I'm a total grammar geek, and I'm proud of it. I recommend the above book for anyone with half a brain (you must have half a brain in order to giggle at all the horrible grammar mistakes).

Along this topic, David took me to Dallas in May for a belated anniversary weekend. We saw the LA Galaxy (David Beckham!) play FC Dallas. The field is in Frisco, and we planned to have lunch in Frisco before the game. We drove around looking for a place to eat. I told David we had to eat at this restaurant simply because they punctuated their sign correctly. Amen! The food was really yummy to boot (lol, soccer pun).

The Darndest Things

My friend, Kendra, reminded me this weekend that on my birthday I'd be twice as old as I was when I graduated high school. Thanks, Kendra! I never thought of it that way.

Yesterday, Joshua said, "I love sports, sleep, and Star Wars."

My class had Painted Lady caterpillars. They were tiny. They came in a clear, plastic jar complete with food of some sort. They ate and ate. We left one Friday with tiny caterpillars and returned Monday to these really large caterpillars. It was astounding how quickly they grew. That very day one after another formed a chrysalis. How do they do that? Spit? Molting? The children were amazed. The teachers were amazed. A little over a week later, chrysalis after chrysalis started to shake. It takes them a long time to come out. I waited and waited hoping to see one actually come out, but I never saw one emerge. I'd see a chrysalis shaking and then later there would be this quiet, lovely Painted Lady butterfly next to the empty shell. We admired our Ladies for a couple of days. I gave them watermelon over the weekend. Yesterday we released them, and I hope they have a glorious life of sucking flower nectar. What a great thing to be. Fly from flower to flower sipping nectar, helping with cross-pollination, just being all-around beautiful and graceful. People like butterflies. It would be a different story if you were say...a roach or a spider.

Elijah has this front tooth that's been sticking out like he was kicked in the face with a hoof. It's a baby tooth just dangling by a few roots. His permanent tooth is growing in behind it. I tried to pull it last night but don't have the stomach for it. David didn't even try to pull it. We are the weak-stomached parents.

Speaking of David, he won another race. Maybe one day I'll actually get to be at the finish of a race he wins. He works really hard and runs twice a day, if you were wondering how he keeps improving. While he runs, I eat. Jack Sprat could eat no fat...

A child at my preschool had lice. My head itches all the time now. Have you ever had lice? I believe a poem is in order, and it's one of my favorites, too!

"To a Louse"
by Robert Burns (modern English translation below but do try the original!)

Ha! Whare ye gaun, ye crowlin ferlie?
Your impudence protects you sairly,
I canna say but ye strut rarely
Owre gauze and lace,
Tho' faith! I fear ye dine but sparely
On sic a place.

Ye ugly, creepin, blastit wonner,
Detested, shunn'd by saunt an' sinner,
How daur ye set your fit upon her --
Sae fine a lady!
Gae somewhere else and seek your dinner
On some poor body.

Swith! in some beggar's hauffet squattle:
There you may creep, and sprawl, and spr
Wi' ither kindred, jumping cattle,
In shoals and nations;
Whare horn nor bane ne'er daur unsettle
Your thick plantations.

Now haud you there! ye're out o' sight,
Below the fatt'rils, snug an' tight;
Na, faith ye yet! ye'll no be right,
Till ye've got on it ---
The vera tapmost, tow'ring height
O' miss's bonnet.

My sooth! right bauld ye set your nose ou
As plump an' grey as onie grozet:
O for some rank, mercurial rozet,
Or fell, red smeddum,
I'd gie ye sic a hearty dose o't,
Wad dress your droddum!

I wad na been surpris'd to spy
You on an auld wife's flainen toy:
Or aiblins some bit duddie boy,
On's wyliecoat;
But Miss's fine Lunardi! fye!
How daur ye do't.

O Jenny, dinna toss your head,
An' set your beauties a' abread!
You little ken what cursed speed
The blastie's makin!
Thae winks an' finger-ends, I dread,
Are notice takin'!

O wad some Power the giftie gie us
To see oursels as ithers see us!
It wad frae monie a blunder free us,
An' foolish notion:
What airs in dress an' gait wad lea'e us,
An' ev'n devotion!


Modern Translation

Ha! Where are you going, you crawling wonder?
Your impudence protects you sorely,
I can not say but you swagger rarely
Over gauze and lace,
Though faith! I fear you dine but sparingly
On such a place

You ugly, creeping, blasted wonder,
Detested, shunned by saint and sinner,
How dare you set your foot upon her -
Such fine a lady!
Go somewhere else and seek your dinner
On some poor body

Off! in some beggar's temples squat:
There you may creep, and sprawl, and scramble,
With other kindred, jumping cattle,
In shoals and nations;
Where horn nor bone never dare unsettle
Your thick plantations

Now hold you there! you are out of sight,
Below the falderals, snug and tight;
No, faith you yet! you will not be right,
Until you have got on it ---
The very topmost, towering height
Of misses bonnet.

My sooth! right bold you set your nose out,
As plump and gray as any gooseberry:
O for some rank, mercurial resin,
Or deadly, red powder,
I would give you such a hearty dose of it,
Would dress your breech!

I would not have been surprised to spy
You on an old wife's flannel cap:
Or maybe some small ragged boy,
On his undervest;
But Miss's fine balloon bonnet! fye!
How dare you do it.

O Jenny do not toss your head,
And set your beauties all abroad!
You little know what cursed speed
The blastie's making!
Those winks and finger-ends, I dread,
Are notice taking!

O would some Power the gift to give us
To see ourselves as others see us!
It would from many a blunder free us,
And foolish notion:
What airs in dress and gait would leave us,
And even devotion!

Good Times

After looking at my "official" MS150 photos from Brightroom, I have once again vowed to lose 10 pounds. Of course, my birthday is Monday, and I'll be stuffing down oatmeal chocolate chip cookies and lemon cake. Perhaps Tuesday I'll get right on that weight loss goal. I have told myself before to carry around a really unflattering picture of myself and look at it before I eat a cookie or whatnot.

A long time ago, in a galaxy not so far away, I was sewing a Jedi Robe. Remember that? Well, Joshua didn't forget, and he asked about it a couple of weeks ago. He asked on a Sunday late afternoon, so I sighed and decided to bite the light saber and finish that robe. I only had to sew the sleeve hems and attach the sleeves. It went rather quickly and in under an hour, the robe was done. Fortunately, my client didn't care about all the horrible sewing. He thinks his robe is the greatest thing ever.



Last Thursday, David and I celebrated our whopping 9th anniversary. I've been wanting to go to the Melting Pot for a long time, so that's what we did. Of course we loved the cheese and dessert fondue. We didn't particularly care for the entree fondue. I guess we aren't big "raw food at the table" kind of folks. We were too impatient to cook it all, and we didn't like seeing the raw meat. It was an enjoyable experience overall, and we will doubtfully go again unless it's with friends or family.

I was a neglectful spouse and forgot to get David a card. I did send him some delicious cookies from Tiff's Treats. He sent roses to my place of employment, which we all know is required when sending flowers because why else do you send them if not for others to see you receive flowers and ooh and ahhh over them and think you're such a lucky person for getting flowers and wow, he must luv you and why are you getting flowers today, blah, blah, blah.

The real treat was the card he gave me at dinner. It wasn't an anniversary card, but rather a pig card. Inside was a printed slip of paper with a picture of David Beckham on it. He got me David Beckham for our anniversary! Awesome! Actually, he got us 2 tickets to see the LA Galaxy play Dallas on May 18. Truly awesome. I get a weekend away with my Darling of Darlings, I get to watch a soccer game, and I better get to see David Beckham on the field. Let's all think positive thoughts for no injuries or shenanigans.

For those interested in the MS150...I endeavor to provide a detailed ride report this weekend. For now, you can laugh heartily at my official pictures. You can also view my pictures from the disposable camera I took on the ride.

When your knees rule the roost

Monday at Gazelle class, Gilbert stretched my legs and IT bands and showed me some strengthening exercises. He says I have no quad and butt muscles, and of course, I'm "weak in the core." My left IT band hurts when running, and my right hurts when cycling. I'm wondering now if my right knee is something else. Anyway, Coach said that my right leg was "a mess."

I've taken the week off from any strenuous exercise. My leg muscles felt like I had lifted weights after Monday's stretching with Gilbert. Tuesday, Joshua's T-ball team played their 2nd game. Go Mets! Joshua's got the best slugging percentage on his team. I'm not sure I actually know what that means, but I wanted to be an obnoxious T-ball parent and toot my kid's horn. David and I are far too quiet at games. We simply stand out in the crowd of screaming parents and coaches.

Wednesday I ran an easy fartlek at class with Sarah (Allison and Barb were ahead of us about 100 meters). My knees protested pretty much right after our warm-up. I did 4 (maybe 5) sets before walking during the "easy" minute. With 1 more set to go, I had to give up on running all together. I had caught back up to Sarah, and she kindly walked back with me to Runtex (almost a mile). Ice, Compression, and Elevation at home. Rest on Thursday and today.

Tomorrow is the Rosedale Ride. Sarah thinks we'll be on our bikes for about 5.5 hours for the 63.1 miles. The weather should be pleasant, but there's a small chance of rain. I really am not interested in cycling in the rain. I am, however, excited about the ride and am looking forward to riding with Sarah since she won't be able to do the MS150 due to her sister's surgery.

I will ask Sarah to take a picture or two of me on my bike to post here. If you want to see me on my bike right this very minute, you can look at pics of me at the 2006 CapTexTri.

Want to see Sarah? Look how cute she is (she's the one with the red hair). :o)

Just a Thought

Have you ever tried to think at least one nice thought about every single person you see in a day? It's not so easy. You might be in traffic and see lots of drivers. Perhaps you work somewhere with hundreds of people that you pass walking here and there. Maybe you really don't like someone that you see almost every single day. However, it's a simple exercise that can show you how negatively you think.

I do this exercise every so often, and I'm amazed at what I'll think about a total stranger. Some examples are: "That's an ugly shirt," or "He needs to brush his hair." Those thoughts seem harmless enough, but why can't my one and only thought about that person be something positive and happy? Why is the first (and sometimes only thought) something negative?

Sometimes this exercise is harder when you know someone, especially if you aren't fond of that person at all. Many years ago, I didn't like a co-worker. In fact, I thought I hated this person. Hate is such a strong, strong word. I tried this exercise and couldn't come with anything. I could usually comment on someone's clothing ("That's a nice shirt" or "What a pretty color blue."), but I couldn't even let myself do that for this person. I finally resorted to picturing this person as an infant, sweet and innocent and totally loved by a mother. I was a new mother at the time so seeing this person as my own child brought forth a flood of loving feelings. I suddenly felt differently. Someone out there had loved and might still love this person the same way I loved my son.

It's an interesting exercise that I believe helps me be a happier person in general. I should probably do it every day, all day. I wonder who of you will try it?

On to boring blah, blah, blah...

My knees are really hurting after my long run yesterday with Elizabeth and Barb. We did the Lollipop route (7 mile version). My left knee was hurting so bad near the end that I was limping a bit after stopping to stretch it. I tried the dreaded foam roller (that thing hurts like hell!). I won't be biking today as I missed the morning ride with Sarah and Co., and David took my bike for it's tune up. I will try to get to FitLife for an extended stationary bike ride. I really should probably rest the knees today though.

Christina asked yesterday on the status of the Jedi Robe. I'm ashamed to say I've done nothing further. My poor child has forgotten about it, I believe. I have so many projects for Spring Break, but finishing that robe is at the top of the list.

I'm registering for the Rosedale Ride on March 29 in prep for the MS 150. It means I'll miss my kids run the Dillo 1K. I'm scared of that ride, but I think I'm more scared of the MS 150. What in the world was I thinking? I'm not positive I can ride 160+ miles, even if it's over the course of 2 days. At least my new Butterfly will make it more pleasant.

Anyone going to the Kite Festival today? March already? I see trees budding and I spotted bluebonnets yesterday. Spring is my favorite season. I'll be treating you to my favorite poem in a few weeks.

No clever, witty anecdotes this time

Running, sewing, Valentine's Day brouhaha...irritating manufactured holiday.

I've got allergies (who doesn't in Austin, Texas?).

I've felt puny all week, but I toughed it out and went to class Monday for 800s at Zilker. Warmed up and cooled down to and from Runtex so proly got 4 miles or so total. I was supposed to do 4 800s, but Coach said we could cut it short since dusk was upon us. I felt like a wimp for quitting and actually started to go do my 4th one, but my running partners for the day told me we'd get a good run in on the way back to Runtex.

Tuesday - puny again but super-motivated and energetic after school. I must have inhaled some speed on the way home as I was cooking and doing laundry and cracking the whip on the boys. We went to the gym where I biked for 45 minutes and then watched them at Hoop It Up. Back home for more speed-induced craziness of more cooking, cleaning, boy-tending, Evite-making, and Valentine party-prep finishing. One would not have known I didn't feel superb.

Wednesday - Exhausting day at preschool. Party days generally are. Still feel puny. How many times can I say puny in one post? It's just the best way to describe me thus far this week. I read and slept during Elijah's piano lesson when I should have been looking for a new bike seat and shoes. I really didn't want to go to class tonight, but I did. I know that sometimes running makes me feel better when I'm sort of sickly. I was dreading 400s even though it's my favorite work-out. I didn't know if I had it in me today to do 10 fast repeats. Like Andre, I thought I'd at least show up a do a bit of the workout. I had to show up today because Sarah was returning after a week and a half absence. Turns out there was a Lacrosse game on the track field, so Bernard sent us to do Fartlek. My group did the 4-mile loop, and it was a great work out.

Fyi, the Congolese girls need some running clothes. If you want to get them something or donate, let me know. Meg is going to find out sizes. I just don't like seeing them in the same hand-me-down clothes for running - and they aren't even running clothes (or in Bijou's case, exercise clothes). They are such great girls, and a new pair of running shorts will thrill them.

I had some clever and witty anecdotes to share, but I'm too tired to remember them right now.

For those interested...I'm still sewing the Jedi Robe. I made even more stupid errors, but I've fixed them all. I haven't sewn since Saturday, and Joshua didn't pester about it until today. If I don't finish it soon, it's going to become an Albatross.

It's not just me

Someone wouldn't have invented the seam ripper if I was the only person who totally screwed up while sewing a very simple garment. I'm actually embarrassed to say how many mishaps occurred yesterday while sewing a Jedi robe for Joshua.

Can someone offer me a free Sewing 101 class (perhaps I could actually clep out of that one and go to 201)? I promise to amuse you to no end!

For the scant few who actually read and care, I also promise 3M details, MS 150 training details, hilarious sewing tales, a bit of Jane Austen chatter, perhaps some original poetry, and of course tidbits of two rather clever boys.

Smokin'

I haven't felt like writing, which is odd after a race in which I, for the first time ever, paced myself. I mean, I've had other races where I "paced" myself at basically my slow long-run pace. I've done triathlons where I ran the run portion in what I expected to run. I have never run a race like I did 3M. I did it by myself (my pacer fell ill), and I did it 2 minutes faster than my goal.

But I just didn't want to blog this week. Elation lasted into Monday, and still I had no desire to blog. Every time I thought about this blog, I got itchy and irritated. Sunday afternoon I was excited to list my split times and talk about the race. I will write about it later to preserve my memories before they fade into grocery store runs, school activities, spelling words, 100th day projects, Jane Austen novels, appointments for this and that, flu virus, fever virus...

Fevers. Maybe my peevishness sprouted from my children and David being very sick for days and days. Somehow, I escaped it. I erected a 3M shield to block any germs or negative thoughts of germs and said the shield could collapse at noon on Sunday. Well, shields are holding even through a week of serious illness at the preschool I work at. Children and teachers galore are out sick with Type A Flu (of course the flu that can get you even if you got the flu shot). In fact, our school is closed today due to so many teachers having the flu. There simply aren't enough of us healthy to fill the classrooms. Somehow, my shields are still holding. I wonder if vertigo sends out a barrier bubble or something?

So my kids were sick. David was really sick. I've never seen him that sick. It was very strange going to a race and never once seeing him or my kids. I knew I wouldn't see them, but it was still odd. There was no one to take a picture of me on the course (other than crappy Sport-Photo people). The only candid shots I have are the ones Sundeep took of me, Gayatri and Barb before and after the race. Ah, but after seeing the Sport-Photo ones, I probably don't want a candid shot afterall.

Fevers are gone. Family is healthy...mostly. I'm not sure David is healthy, but he's getting there. I think Familyvance is looking forward to Spring. Blessed Texas is sure to deliver.

Smoking. I have been wanting to write about smoking. I grew up with parents who smoked. In fact, my mom may have smoked while pregnant. I disliked the smoke growing up, but I've grown to despise it. I can smell cigarette smoke a mile away. I smell it in my car if the person driving in front of me is smoking. That startles me as I'm wondering where it's coming from. I hate going to my mom's house now even though she has tried so very hard to cut back on smoking in the house (and cut back in general). The smoke hangs on everything. Everything reeks of old, dank smoke. If you walk in her house even for a few minutes, your hair and clothes will smell like smoke - and she doesn't even have to be smoking at the time.

I need to say here that she has gone to great lengths to remedy that b/c Familyvance stopped visiting. She washed curtains and smoked outside, etc. It's much better now, honestly. Although, I still can't stand the smoke.

Gayatri and I smelled smoke on the trail Wednesday during our 4-mile easy-effort tempo (or recovery run, whatever you want to call it). I looked everywhere, craning to see who the f-dash-dash-dash was smoking on the hike-and-bike trail. I could not see the person, so I don't know how far away the culprit was. It fired up my peevishness, and I ranted for a good half-mile about smoking. Poor Gayatri.

Here's an interesting thing I heard Dr. Oz of Oprah fame say the other day: Children growing up with smokers basically are "smoking" 1 in every 4 cigarettes their parents smoke. Hmm...if that is true, I grew up "smoking" since I was born - maybe 1/2 a pack a day? Isn't that a staggering statistic? I don't know how he got that number. We've always heard that second-hand smoke is horrible, and I've inhaled tons of it.

I've often wondered why I have trouble breathing when I run "fast." Sometimes it's due to being out-of-shape. Other times perhaps I'm pushing too much. But over time, it's consistent. No matter how much I've been running and training and doing speed-work, I still have trouble breathing...more so than it seems my counterparts. I watch runners excel doing the same amount of running that I do. I know genetics plays a huge role, and I know I'm not genetically inclined to be a runner (made for comfort!). I just wonder if all that smoke for 18+ years affected me. I know really fast runners who grew up with smokers, too. So who knows.

I look forward to the day when smokeless cigarettes are invented. If people want to smoke, good for them. I just don't want to smoke with them.

Things I Learned Today

I cannot parallel park a car that has no power steering.

When my child is getting over a fever and wants to go to the grocery store with me, tell him no.

Getting up and moving seems to do better for vertigo than staying in bed and reading.

I still can't choose a proper pork roast.

I can buy an already-cooked honey roasted ham.

I don't like Wal-Mart even at 7:45am on a Wednesday.

Holmes nicknamed David "Varsity" which means I must be Elementary School PE, but she still insists I'm "JV."

Hot baths can actually be too hot, especially when your feet are really cold.

It's better to send your peevish spouse out for a run then have him cook the dinner.

Shape Magazine is full of "hot girls" according to one 6-year-old I know.

An imaginative 8-year-old I know created a Star Wars/Spongebob mix called Sponge Wars. He even rattled off character names.

Running in the cold weather with friends is something I look forward to doing.

Hearing Gilbert say "rowing" reminded me of the Chinese cooks sing "Fa la la la la" in A Christmas Story (Gilbert said "roaring").

400s is still my favorite work-out even though my knee smarted.

Some women have husbands that grab and grope them all the time, according to JB and Sandy in the morning.

I very well may not be prepping properly for the MS 150. I suppose I should do more biking and less running?

"Quick" Recap

Keeping this short will be my goal this morning.

Monday a week ago - Meriden. Gilbert tried to say I asked for this workout, but I merely stated that our class was capable of doing this workout. 3 un-timed laps around and then the 5 sprints up the hill and 3 backward. Gilbert taught us the proper way to run downhill, and Elizabeth said she felt like a zombie holding her arms straight down. I was grateful we didn't time the laps (well, I didn't). I'm still not very confident on running fast on hills.

Tuesday a week ago - Christmas party at the preschool. Allergies and finally getting my voice back. Stress abounds at Christmas time!

Wednesday a week ago - Tempo again. I was late for a very legit reason that I can't
remember now (it had something to do with leaving David instructions for the store or whatnot). I warmed up for a mile and saw the scant few who showed up to class start their Tempo. I planned to try a 3-mile tempo, but Gilbert told me to do Fartlek until I met up with Starr. At that point, I was to turn around and run Tempo with her back to mile 0. It was a good workout. After finishing with Starr, I added another 1/2 mile to flesh out my workout.

I also had more Christmas parties - one at my preschool, Joshua's party, and Elijah's party. I am very grateful to have a job that allows me to attend my children's functions. I want to be involved until my boys just don't want me there anymore.

Thursday - last day of school and Christmas shopping with DV. We honestly have been so busy this is the first day we could get a chunk of shopping done. We hit some snags but also got lucky on some crucial wish-list items.

Friday - marathon shopping day with my friend, Jennifer. I'm not kidding. I was out from 10:30am - 7:30pm. Is this when everyone says, "I hate Christmas?" We were calm and patient during traffic jams, but the day wore on me.

Saturday long run - I met Erin at 6:30am for an easy 11-mile run. I debated taking a migraine pill before the start and even thought of packing it with my Clif bloks. Laura and another woman (doh, forgot her name) met us as well, and we started down the trail for Scenic loop. Erin and I decided we would stay on the trail, so we bid farewell to Laura at the Mopac water. It really wasn't a horrible run, but I whined a bit here and there. Running with Erin was most enjoyable, and we had fun wishing everyone "Good Morning" from mile 8-10 just to see how many would reply back. Erin thinks more people replied b/c I have blond hair and "everyone is friendlier to blonds." Huh. We tested it out, and almost everyone replied back. Our next test is to have Erin run 30 meters in front of me with both of us greeting each passerby. We'll see if they ignore her and say hello to me.

I think we ended up with 10.25 - 10.5 with starting at Runtex and finishing at the water stop. Erin had to leave, but I stayed for stretching in the Annex. Nice enclosed shelter from rain or cold temps, but I must say I did not enjoy the aroma that settled around our shoulders as the stretching session went on.

Oh, I also locked the key in the van. David and the boys had to come rescue me. David was fine with it as he just stayed for his run, and the boys were okay with it b/c they got a breakfast taco and chocolate milk out of the deal.

More shopping Saturday. Dinner at El Rey to see the Cowboys game. Elijah falls asleep on an empty booth bench. Forshadowing...

Sunday 1am - Elijah throws up everywhere. He's on the top bunk, so I'm not kidding when I say it was everywhere - the top bunk, the rails, the bottom bunk, and much of the floor. David and I clean up as much as possible. Joshua sleeps through it all, including David moving him to the other bedroom.

Sunday - Elijah doesn't throw up again, so we think it's one of those one-time deals. We go to church and lunch. He's a little off but we know he's tired from being awake during the middle of the night. We head to the movies later in the afternoon. Joshua and I go to Enchanted while Elijah and Dv go to National Treasure. After our movie is over I check my phone and see a text message from David, "E puked." Poor Elijah. Poor David. They saw none of the movie. David drove Elijah home to wait for our movie to end. Elijah fell asleep instantly in the car. Poor kid. I talked to the employees and got Dv and Elijah movie passes.

Monday - Christmas Eve. Went to the 8:30am Gazelle class of Circuit. It was a very chilly morning. There was a moment I was standing in the sun in between medicine ball reps with Minnie. The sun was warm in the crisp, blue sky, and the frost was melting on the grass in little shimmering droplets. Minnie asked me what I was thinking of and I told her "how nice it is to be standing in the warm sun."

I had to leave class early to get home and dressed to head out to see my family in Georgetown. I really enjoyed the day. We took our keyboard, and Elijah performed a mini-recital. Everyone then took turns playing what they know and singing and just being silly. That carefree silliness is one thing I most enjoy about my family.

We had a nice Christmas Eve dinner with David's mom, and a pleasant Christmas Day. My boys were happy with their gifts. David and I agreed that next year we are taking a trip in lieu of Christmas shopping, Christmas gifts, Christmas brooh-ha-ha.

One last thing about the cemetery trip with my mom and sister on Christmas Eve. We went to my dad's grave, but the fun and interesting part was my sister and I looking at old tombstones. It was fascinating. The oldest one we found in the short time there was born 1811, almost 200 years ago. We both wanted to know about the people and their stories...especially the family plots. We saw a soldier from the Spanish-American War - 1st Texas Calvary. Uh, when was that war? It makes me brush up on some history!

Random Tuesday Musings

Who needs DVR when you have dv? That man is genius. He rigged our computer with a recorder and now it's connected to our tv. Ah, so sorry Time Warner.

I hate my class. My arms ache from the typing frenzy I went through for 2 hours trying to get my homework finished. Woe is me. But then in class we piled "10 things" from around our houses that we could use in our class rooms, and we got to just make whatever we wanted. You know what? It was fun. More adults should do preschool activities every now and then.

In the words of Gayatri, I work really hard at being bad at running. My 10-mile race was really a struggle, but more on that when I have some interest in writing about it.

I have no will power. My fat thighs chafed during the 10-miler. I have never chafed in any race, and I was so shocked to see the wounds (which I didn't feel during or after the race or even in the shower after the race). So upon seeing those red rashes, I vowed to lose 10lbs by stopping all cookies and coke intake. My no-cookie plan usually lasts about as long as no cookies are around. I made cookies for Joshua's teacher's birthday, and cookies are back in the diet. Elijah comes home with 20 cookies from his friend's house - homemade oatmeal chocolate chip cookies. Are you kidding me? Mmm...they are so good.

I honestly believe that as I get older I'm getting slower and stupider. Yes, I wrote stupider and meant to write stupider. I can't remember simple things, and I ran my half-marathon 2 years ago at a faster pace. Okay, so there weren't hard hills in that marathon, but there was freezing drizzle and 3.1 additional miles. I would give you more examples of my stupidity, but I can't remember any of them right now.

So my boys learned a bad word last week - the "S" word that ends in "hit." Turns out Elijah has heard before it from a friend (I knew it!), but Joshua didn't know it. Elijah would not tell him, but Joshua kept pestering. Elijah gave Joshua the letters one at a time, so Joshie sounded it out. He then says the "S" word about 20 times before finally asking what it means. Well, it's all hilarity with boys if anything deals with poop. I make Joshua promise to not say that word and to certainly not teach anyone at school. Guess what? He told his best friend in the Teddy Bear Center. The best friend is a really good pester-er, too. Well, best friend told 3 other boys. Joshua was most certain those 3 boys didn't tell anyone. Ack, my nightmare of parents coming to the teacher saying, "My child say Joshua taught him to say sh*t" ran through my mind. What will I do when the "other" words roll around?

Song of the day:

You had some fun for the weekend
but I'll be in the love for the rest of my life

Can you name it?

What I get for thinking

My sister sent me this cheesy email - one of those forwarded ones that I often never read (and rarely forward). This was titled "Charles Schultz Philosophy." The email goes along with something I've been swirling around in my head for a while.

I sometimes hesitate to say I am a preschool teacher. I worry people will think I have no education. I worry they will think I could not find a "better job." I told David a few weeks back something along these lines: What job do you know where you get to play and get paid for it? What job do you know where you hear over and over all day, "I love you" from someone who really means it. What job do you know where you are outside in the fresh, lovely air at 10:30am in the morning, and you just enjoy it? What job do you know where you actually make a difference?

Ask yourself, do you make a positive difference in someone's life at your job? My jobs before this were unsatisfying spiritually and emotionally. I had a job where I made a ridiculous amount of money for what I was doing. All the work I did was useless and helped no one. I then got another job making oodles of money, and at least in that one, I could see that what I did was actually making a positive change in some peoples' lives.

I walk around sometimes thinking how absurd everything is. The cars we drive are absurd. Shopping at Nordstrom is ridiculously absurd. Sports are absurd. I wonder sometimes why we do the things we do. What is is for? Is there a planet on the other side of the galaxy like ours? With roads, buildings, cars, stores, football teams, McDonalds, and people like ours? Do you ever think about how minuscule and rather meaningless Earth is? Doesn't it make what you see and do seem just a little bit absurd?

This brings us back to working at a preschool. I feel blessed to have fourteen 3-year-olds who love me. I love them, too. I am helping them be the best person they can be. I'm teaching them that love exists, that kindness wins, and that good manners go a really long way. ;o) But seriously, research shows that children learn 50% of what they will learn their entire lives by age 5. And they haven't even gone to "real" school yet.

And that brings me back to the email my sister sent. I have no idea if it's really the philosophy of Charles Schultz, but I loved the lesson:



The following is the philosophy of Charles Schultz (creator of the "Peanuts" comic strip). You don't have to actually answer the questions. Just read the e-mail straight through, and you'll get the point.

1. Name the five wealthiest people in the world.
2. Name the last five Heisman trophy winners.
3. Name the last five winners of the Miss America.
4. Name ten people who have won the Nobel or Pulitzer Prize.
5. Name the last half dozen Academy Award winners for best actor and actress.
6. Name the last decade's worth of World Series winners.

How did you do?

The point is, none of us remember the headliners of yesterday. These are no second-rate achievers. They are the best in their fields. But the applause dies. Awards tarnish. Achievements are forgotten. Accolades and certificates are buried with their owners.

Here's another quiz. See how you do on this one:

1. List a few teachers who aided your journey through school.
2. Name three friends who have helped you through a difficult time.
3. Name five people who have taught you something worthwhile.
4. Think of a few people who have made you feel appreciated and special.
5. Think of five people you enjoy spending time with.

Easier?

The lesson: The people who make a difference in your life are not the ones with the most credentials, the most money, or the most awards. They are the ones that care.

"Don't worry about the world coming to an end today. It's already tomorrow in Australia." (Charles Schultz)

Good thing I'm left-handed

Am I the only person who walks around for two weeks with a broken hand? Am I the only person who convinces herself that it's not broken despite the intense pain, and really, who breaks their hand on an apple-peeler-corer-slicer?

Yes, I have a fracture. Yes, I finally saw the doctor only because I promised my Gazelle friends on Monday that I would. Fortunately, the break is healing in alignment. My doc wants me to see a hand specialist, but I don't really see a need for that (Zaundra, just ignore that I wrote that). I'll get one of those black hand/wrist splints, and be gentle with my hand. It's my right hand, so it hasn't been so bad. But of course, it's a right-handed world (you true lefties know exactly what I'm talking about).

It really does feel so much better than it did...