Getting Back on Track

Thank you all for the encouraging comments, especially my son Dusty with his "tough love" approach! I need a good kick in the butt every now and then to keep me headed in the right direction. And I think I'm getting there.

It was really great getting to visit with many of you Saturday. It seems like each week, I get to know someone new and find out that we have a lot in common. We either work in the same field or we know some of the same people. My world keeps getting smaller!

After my Saturday ride with you runners, I went to Vicksburg to help my sister in her house. They have been remodeling/repairing their home after a tree fell on their living room and kitchen. They're doing a lot of the work themselves to save money because INSURANCE didn't pay 100%. So I went over and we visited, painted, had lunch and visited, and painted some more! I guess we could have done a lot more work but we don't get together too often so the visiting was nice too.

Yesterday I spent most of my time cleaning house, doing laundry and running errands with one break for a movie, Hairspray. If you like musicals, it's a great one! And John Travolta is a hoot! A 30-pound fat suit didn't interfere with his dance moves! LOL

I started my "check-off" list for the week so when I get home each day, I know what has to be done before I go to bed at night! I also did much better with my eating yesterday! Great Harvest Bread for breakfast, a banana mid-morning, fruit in the afternoon and a big salad for supper. Where does "movie popcorn" fit in on the Super Foods list? Yes, I did have half a small bag of popcorn; half a small bag - usually I can eat a whole small bag or more! So I consider that an accomplishment (not finishing the bag, that is). For movies in the future, I'm going to sneak in a South Beach bar or something more healthy.

So far today, I've had a bagel which is my normal breakfast on the way to work. I brought fruit and yogurt for lunch. I haven't figured out dinner yet, but it will be light - maybe a Lean Cuisine. I do have some things to do at home after work, but one of the things on my list is to ride my bike, so I'll be out there late after it starts to cool down a little (I'll be out there even if it doesn't cool down, because. . .
I AM A MARATHONER!

Down & Out

Sorry I haven't blogged in a while. I've been in a bit of a funk and down on myself. I guess I'm still so disappointed about not being able to run in Chicago. Even though I'm still out there with you guys every Saturday on my new bicycle, I want to be pounding the pavement with you. I haven't been exercising like I should, I've been eating so wrong that I can feel myself swelling up like a balloon and then I just eat more. I haven't been to the pool any this month - I planned to go Tuesday and talked myself right out of it. I'm so proud of all of you out there giving it your all and here I am sitting around feeling sorry for myself. What do I tell myself in order to turn things around? I practically "live" for Saturday and then the rest of the week I've fallen back into my "pre-Marathon Makeover" ways - MAJOR couch potato. I was a marathoner and I want that back! I think maybe I need to sit down with pencil in hand and form a new plan. Maybe if I write it down where I have to check it off once I've done the task, I will see some progress. I'll get my WeightWatcher stuff out and start writing everything down. I done it before, surely I can do it again. I just have to wrap my mind around it and JUST DO IT! Okay, enough of the pity party!

I hope everyone has had a great week and you're all ready for a "short" run of only "10" miles in Clinton Saturday. I've been a little concerned about riding my bike on the Clinton streets where you have to be more careful of the traffic, but I'll give it a shot. I look forward to seeing everyone there.

Blog on Marathoners!

This is MY Life! True Story

I am constantly telling Kelvin "nissannurse" how funny he is. I believe this will even make him laugh.

Every morning My Darling Husband sends an email around to his co-workers as a "Thought for the Day" type thing and below is today's "thought." I hope it makes you laugh as much as I did. . . in fact, I had tears streaming down my face by the time I got to the end of it! Maybe Harvey and Kelvin could come up with a comedy act!!! LOL

I got nothing…. No thought…. I’m thoughtless… I’m without thought….Void of thought altogether and I’ll tell you a little story why it is that I have no thought….

I sometimes compare marriage to the Middle East. In order for two such diverse cultures to coexist peacefully, there must be give and take from both sides. I pride myself on always doing as much as I can to promote peace…. to understand the history and feelings and beliefs of others….to live and let live….to be open-minded.

And in order to fully appreciate this story you must understand the circumstances which brought me to today’s writing.

You see, the air density currently in Mississippi is typical in the summer, and this summer is no different… it is comparable to, and has the consistency of wet cotton…it’s just damned humid is what it is. This tends to stir my allergies like a witch on methamphetamines would stir her brew. Therefore, I’m currently taking enough antihistamines to choke Godzilla… which makes me verrrrrrrrry thirsty… which makes me drink a lot of liquids…. which makes me prone to late-night/early morning emptying of my 54 year-old bladder… which has survived my early years of party-hardy, live-like-there’s-no-tomorrow, moderation-is-for-nuns, life-style in the ‘60s and 70s.

Last night started off very normal. Early to bed, early to rise, makes this man…well, able to get to work. In the spirit of consideration to two women with which I share our humble abode, (and because self-preservation is a very strong instinct in most men), I’ve developed a way to relieve this old, worn-out bladder without turning on lights, and making verrrrry little noise.

Now, I’m sure that most females don’t know this (yeah right), but despite the aim and accuracy of Robin Hood, sometimes, just sometimes, and despite our very best effort… when emptying our “reservoir of fluids,” we men sometimes find a very small, really miniscule amount of our “stream” going astray….COMPLETELY BEYOND OUR CONTROL mind you. I know, I know, how in the heck, you ask, can this happen? Well, it just can… of course, I, myself NEVER have this problem, ok? But just to be on the safe side…and, just in case mind you…and in the interest of peace in the Middle East… instead of turning on a light, I simply sit down.

Ok, I said it. I take the sissy way out and sit down….can we get past that? Thank you.

Anyway, the routine is always the same…I don’t think about it, it’s just all subconscious movements…..finish, stand, reach back around to flush, pull up shorts, go back to bed. Well, last night things went a tad askew. As I reached back around to flush, my feet slipped on the acrylic tile, and my shoulder blade went crashing into the tank part of the toilet like a 747 crashing into the side of a mountain… Libby (our 4 year-old weimeraner) started barking like she’d been shot, and all hell broke loose…

Not only had I split the tank like a #+*^#^* cracked egg, I had managed somehow to begin the flushing process as well. So the half-full tank was spilling onto the floor, AND the toilet was trying to refill a tank that now lay split in half like the red sea… so “Old Faithful” was spewing more water into the air just as fast as Ridgeland’s water pressure could shove it skyward. I scrambled to turn on the light so I could find the shut off valve, slipping and sliding and crashing into any and everything in my way. My 4 year-old weimeraner, who barks at literally anything that moves or makes a sound, was barking at the top of her very powerful, IAMS-ONLY-fed *+#^*+@$&+* lungs like the Hounds of the Baskerville, and I was screaming at her to “shut the @$*+#@ UP!!! *$%+&*% LIBBY!!!!”

It was at this precise moment in time that my lovely wife, Sheila, turned over in bed and muttered, “need any help, hun?”

Deep in my heart, I know she meant well, but I swear, had I had access to one of those RPGs or IEDs or WMDs, my lovely Sheila would’ve been DOA and I’d be SOL and on my way to prison right about now, wondering how the hell would I survive the rest of my life without bending over to pick up the soap in one of those prison showers.

Instead, I said something along the lines of “SHEILA….IT’S *@#*&^* 9/11 IN HERE *%^$%^*& - %*…………….

“YES I *@#&^*@+* NEED SOME *+@*+*^$#* HELP!!!!!!”

After using every dry towel in the house, and after changing into dry clothes, and after finally lying back down…..my alarm went off.

So, no thought for the day today….. thankfully no prison police, no handcuffs, no finger-printing, and no mug-shotting either…but dad-gummit my shoulder hurts.

Since all this happened around 3:00 a.m., I'll probably be worthless today!
Have a great week and BLOG ON MARATHONERS!!!!

Excitement!

It was so good being out there with you guys today (even if it was on a bike)! I was so excited about my new bike that I went the whole 9.whatever miles! I really shouldn't have done that because (1) I haven't been on a bike - well I can't remember when the last time was; (2) I have been totally inactive for the last three weeks, not even swimming; and (3) the last time I was out there with you guys was April 28 (7 miles and I only completed 6½)! My knee has been a little sore this week but it didn't bother me at all today while riding. My thighs, however, are a completely different story - no pain - but they felt like jelly when I first got back to Fleet Feet. I think the walking/running is a lot easier for me. I am hoping that the bicycle will really build up my endurance faster than the swimming does.

I finally met Carol (yea!). It was great to meet you and hear some of your "clothing" stories about your past marathons. There are still a lot of you MMers that I haven't actually met, so when I ride by and ask how you're doing, you'll know it's me. Then when we get back to the starting point, please introduce yourselves. Being part of the Curb Crew, I want to know everyone's name without having to read your shirt in Chicago. So if we haven't "officially" met, give me a tap on the shoulder and tell me who you are. It may take a little while, but I'll eventually get it; please bear with me.

I came home after the run, ate a bite and starting cleaning my apartment. I'm so tired, I had to sit for a few minutes before I could continue. But I HAVE to get it done because I have family coming over later this afternoon to "continue" celebrating my birthday! I think I'm getting too old for this @&%$ !!! Maybe I should hit the floor and do the back exercises Wayne gave me. NOT! I'm usually exhausted after those too. Maybe later.

Okay MMers, it's time to get back to the blogging!!! Carol and I are addicted to this blogging thing, but we really need ya'll too! So, BLOG ON MARATHONERS!!!!

Happy Birthday to Me!! ;o)

Yep, another year older and I still don't get to run! I saw Wayne yesterday. You guys were right - he's great! He gave me some exercises to help my back and a few to strengthen my legs without hindering my healing process. These home exercises combined with swimming and biking are really going to help me. . . I can tell already. I just have to psych myself up to get into the routine of daily "self-improvement." Six weeks of not being able to do anything because of my knee has been so depressing and now its tough getting back into the swing of things. So, maybe I should consider returning to WeightWatchers or at least getting back on the program. But not today, cause it's my birthday!
See you guys Saturday at Fleet Feet!!

Three Little Ones!

Have you ever tried to get three little ones to sit still for a digital camera?! It just doesn't happen when they're 2, 4 and 8! L to R is Charlie-4, Tori-2 and Kalynn-8. We had so much fun last week! Gramma even got in their wading pool! Friday night for dinner I was served pizza with a birthday candle. . . what a surprise, since my birthday isn't until Wednesday. They are such smart, sweet, polite and ACTIVE kids. I just wish they lived close by instead of as far north as you can get and still be in the U.S. (almost). Even though we had a lot of fun, it is good to be home. I hope to have my bicycle by Friday so I can ride with you guys Saturday. However, I probably won't be able to ride very far since it has been so long since I've been on a bike. But I'm definitely looking forward to it. I hope to see our friendly physical therapist, Wayne, one day this week. My inactivity since my injury has left me with a weak back and I need help with strengthening exercises. Swimming just isn't enough and I haven't been in the pool for 2 weeks (except the kiddie pool in Michigan-ha).

Have a good week everyone and I'll see you Saturday!

GOOD LUCK!

Not much time for blogging, but just wanted to tell everyone to have a great run for 15 miles tomorrow. I'll see you guys next week!
Blog on Marathoners!

Have a good week!

I'm leaving tomorrow for a visit with my son and his family in Michigan and will return late Saturday afternoon. I hate that I won't be there with you guys when you run your 15 miles on the 7th but hopefully, this will be the last Saturday that I'll miss before Chicago. I have totally enjoyed being a part of your Curb Crew. I still don't know all your names but I'm working on it and I would really appreciate your help with that. I found a bike that I want at The Bike Rack and hopefully I'll be riding with you guys while you run very soon (I have to scrape up the money to make the purchase first)!! I'll be checking email and your blogs while I'm gone and hope you have a wonderful week and a safe and fun 4th of July!!
Sheila