Routines keep you regular

I am, if nothing else, a woman who likes her routine. I feel anxious and out of sorts when I don't have my schedule--even if it is a schedule I make up. Christmas break--while a very welcome reprieve-- had me very out of sorts.


Yesterday the kids went back to school and I dived right back into my training regime with a 14 miler. It has been almost a month since I last ran that distance and I won't lie: it was tough.

Mostly because I was so unbelievably sore from my Suicide swim the day before. Those push-ups did a real number on me. I didn't think my sore chest muscles would be a problem since I was running. Wow. I was wrong. It felt like someone was going at me with a jack hammer. And thank goodness Ryan was home when I finished because otherwise I would have remained stuck in my sweaty sports bra. Apparently lifting and pulling it over my head was not something I could manage alone yesterday. But regardless of my upper body handicap I still came away with a respectable 8:37 avg pace. Well, at least respectable in my opinion. Certainly I would have prefered sub 8minute miles but eh, another day.
So yeah, not ideal.
But not terrible either.

Getting the kids up and going yesterday wasn't easy either. We had been backing ourselves last week into their 7:30 bedtime/6:30 wake up routine. But nevertheless it is still hard to go from no routine back to a routine. I read somewhere once that it takes 3 weeks to break a habit but only 2 to form one. Lucky for us we were only off our routine for 2 weeks so it didn't totally wreck us and our morning went fairly seamlessly. But we were well on our way to a habit of sleeping past 7 and doing nothing until 10 am.

Okay, you know what I mean. As seamless of a morning as you can get with a 6 yr old and 4 yr old.

Of course there were snaggles.


Carmella had a bit of a melt down because she felt her shirt-- from her most favorite outfit, an outfit which she picked, not me-- was too short. When she lifted her arms you could catch the teeniest glimpse at her tummy. I told her for me that was usually a selling point in a shirt. She pleaded with me to make her shirt longer. Understandably, after seeing me stitch Ryan's Santa sweater, she sees me as a gifted seamstress who can fix/make anything. After I explained that I couldn't make it longer and she would either have to deal or wear another shirt she decided to stick with her outfit and just wouldn't raise her arms all day. It completely amazes me that I gave birth to such a modest child. Hopefully this modesty will out last her teenage years.

Then there was the task of waking Beau. Really this can ruin my mood for the whole day if he proves particularly difficult. To say Beau is not a morning person is like saying I'm not more than a little self absorbed.

Surprisingly when I went in his room he was already up. But upon seeing me told me "No clothes today! Clothes are stupid."

After a good bit of arguing--on his part-- and a lot of threatening--on my part-- he put his clothes on. But not his shoes. He wasn't ready for shoes.
Whatever.

Amazingly they both ate their breakfast without any prodding so as it turned out we had extra time. Extra time means we get to walk/run to school. Beau mistakenly chose to wear his cowboy boots. I advised against it and told him not even cowboys go running in their cowboy boots but he reminded me that he did win the Chimney Springs tot trot in them.

Halfway to the school Beau told me his leg hurt. I told him that was just the weakness leaving his body and to keep going. Carmella said it was probably the cowboy boots.

We got Carmella to school and on the way back Beau insisted on taking Lola and I's picture--a picture in which I clearly look still half asleep. Hey, looking good takes some effort. And as Steph and I discussed today; often times this effort is not a priority for me. Especially when all I am going to do is run or swim or bike.

Oh, well, at least Lola looks good.

During the photo shoot Beau fell in the mud.

Sigh.

So after an outfit change for him and putting the dog up I was able to drive and drop him at school and get on with my day.

And today I finally got to enjoy some of this awesomely weird and wonderful weather we are having with a bike ride. Hooked up with Steph and we rode around Roswell for 2hours. She is claiming she has a bad attitude lately but don't listen to her. She is always a delight to be around and complains way less than anyone else I know. We finished up our ride with a super short 2 mile brick. The first mile was terrible for me with my calfs all crampy on all those darn punishing hills in her hood but the second mile came in faster and once I finished I felt absolutely fantastic.

I am so happy to be back in my routine of run, swim, bike, drive kids around and do errands. But most of all I am so happy to be feeling healthy and much like my normal self again. I need to remember to try to be careful and not wear myself out too much in my exuberance. Tomorrow I will do an easy day. Probably just a swim. Okay, and probably a really short treadmill run. Really short, like 2 miles.

And yes, I am proud to say I am still streaking. Today makes 10 days of consistent workouts for the Kindzia Challenge.

And at midweek this is where I find myself:
Running: 22 miles
Swimming: 3 miles
Biking: 28+ miles
Kid running/walking miles: 6 miles

Not too shabby for mid week if I do say so myself.

Best wishes to Wes and Dee Dee at Disney! Kick some Mickey ass guys!

Death by Push-up. Not Noodle or Coyote

Today was a spectacularly brilliant day here in the ATL burbs. Hello? January? Thursday--15 degrees. Four days later it is in the 70's.
What can I say? Welcome to Atlanta.

Sadly my kids don't go back to school until tomorrow and Ryan had to work (someone's got to earn a living around here). So if I wanted to stick to the Kindzia challenge I was resigned on this beautiful day to the gym. And after 7 straight days of running (one of those days was a double with 2 runs and swim, btw) I really needed-- for the sake of my sore hammies-- do something different. So swim it was.

My swim workouts are almost always hardly worth mentioning. Since I started back swimming last spring I have been in the 30 minute just over a mile rut. Occasionally I might get a wild hair and push it to 40, maybe 45 minutes.

Really there hasn't been a reason for me to go longer in the pool. The only triathlon I've done was a sprint and the swim there was a measly 400m. You blink and you are done. Swimming a mile once or twice a week was more than enough.

But then Steph had to go and throw out into the ring a 5k swim which for some reason confused me at first and I thought it was a mile and half. That would be a 3k swim. I appreciate that Steph is so patient with me. At this point I think she is only hanging with me to see what dumb thing I am going to say or do next.

My stupidity aside I did have a great swim workout today that I thought I would share.

My plan was a 90 minute swim.

I should mention that the last time I swam longer than 45 minutes was the day before I had Beau. And those were desperate days. I was trying to encourage his exit and I'd already worn myself and my bladder out with running. Swim was all I could manage at that point. And the last time I swam over an hour was back in those old Swim Atlanta days when I was 12. So we are talking a long time ago.

I told myself that if I can run for nearly 4 hours and ride a bike for almost 3 surely I can manage to swim for an hour and half.

I planned my workout before I went. I figured I'd get bored with a steady swim so I thought up 2 drills to at least kill some of the time. I also really hoped that nobody was going to be at the pool. Sadly this was not the case.

I got to the pool just as Aqua fit was clearing out. I totally feel ridiculous doing my drills and laps swimming when the only other people in the pool are floating on noodles. I know I shouldn't feel like I am the ridiculous one but I just feel out of place working so hard while everyone around me is lounging.

I started with a 600m warm up. I finished this in just under 9 minutes.

Next up was the 10 x 100 in 2 minute intervals. The plan for this drill is 1:30 per 100m with 30 seconds rest. Usually I blow myself up in the first one because I feel so fresh and do that first 100 in under 1:20. Today, knowing I wasn't going to be done after the drill I purposely reigned myself in. Even still every 100m came in around 1:25. All were below 1:30 none faster than 1:20. This probably means that I should start doing 30 seconds rest instead of waiting until the 2 minute mark. Really this workout was no where near as challenging as it usually is. This tells me that running before swimming isn't doing my swimming any favors.

My plan after I finished the 10 x 100's was to do a 400m easy swim and then go into my next drill and then a steady mile swim. But I realized that only 29 minutes had passed and that I would be done with the 400 and the next drill well before the hour and even with the mile cool down swim it still wouldn't get me to 90 minutes. So I went ahead and swam for 30 minutes.

I didn't count the laps as I always lose count but I can always hit a mile+ in 30 minutes.

My next drill was my most hated workout from my neighborhood swim coach--not Swim Atlanta. He called them "Suicides" and they definitely made my 10 year old self want to die. I would have gladly taken 100 laps of butterfly any day. But my 36 year old self figured my 10 year old self was just a whiner.

And today I learned that my 10 year old self kicks my 36 year old self's ass. In fact 10 year old self wipes up the pool deck with my sorry 36 year old fat ass.

Suicides are fucking hard as shit.

I don't know if Coach Jones made up Suicides or if this a legitimate drill that other swim coaches punish their swimmers with or not but I am going to assume that you have never heard of them.

A Suicide is 10 push-ups done on the pool deck--no girly push-ups allowed. Gotta do it the manly way. Then you dive in the pool and sprint 25m. That is one suicide. You need to do that 10 times. And at the end you will have done 100 push ups and 10 25m sprints.

I know. On paper it doesn't sound hard. But I challenge you to go swim for an hour and then do 10 suicides. The sprint will feel like relief, like you are light as a feather. But then when you hop out to do those push ups you will see somehow you've gained an extra 50lbs. Your muscles just feel all sorts of wrong.

Please note that I did not dive. I just got in. There is no diving allowed at the La Fitness pool. Not to mention this would have drawn even more attention to my foolish antics.

So yes, I seriously underestimated how difficult this drill was going to be. And I use to be in the habit of doing 2-3 sets of 25 push-ups on a regular basis without much effort. It is a habit I have, especially after today, regretfully let lapse.

How this drill played out was so ugly. Going in I knew I would feel totally ridiculous jumping out of the pool to do push-ups, especially if there were the noodle floaters in there. But worse of worst case scenarios happened and there was not only noodle floaters to witness my death but also other triathletes.

The first 2 suicides went down just fine. But by the fourth one my sprint was not much of a sprint and my push up form was failing. At that point I decided I would only do 5 Suicides but I got to 5 and said screw it I am seeing this through to the end even if it kills me. ha ha ha So I kept going and handicapped my way through rest of them with piss poor form and copious amounts of rest (you are not suppose to rest at all. You are suppose to get all 10/100 done as fast as you can. Definitely in under 10 minutes)

I think the guy in the lane next to me was pretty embarrassed for me but whatever, next time I'll do better. I rested for a minute--chatting briefly with the tri guy next to me and the guy that works at my gym and does triathlons. I finished up with a solid 30 minute swim and could have kept going but I had to get my kid's out of gym hock. I think I was in the pool for a little over an hour 40 and I think I will be just fine for the 5k swim.


In other workout news. . .

I took the kids trail "running" this afternoon. Beau has begging to go with me so I agreed to take them. We walked/ran on the Sope Creek trails for about an hour for a little over 4 miles. There was much whining and complaining. Much running ahead and then much sitting in the middle of the trail claiming to be too tired to take another step and then more sprinting ahead.

Carmella said it was boring. Not enough hills! And for God's sake she needed a walking stick! How about this stick? Nope too heavy. This one? Too ugly. This one? Too big.

Beau said I was too fast. Too slow. He was dirty. (Uhm yeah, that is why I was telling you not to lie down in the mud) It was too far. This is definitely the wrong way. He wanted to go to the factory (there are Mill ruins on the trail). Where are all the wild animals? There aren't any, Carmella told him. There are probably coyotes, he informed her.

And at the word "Coyote" Carmella lost it. A scuffle broke out in the middle of the trail. Beau kept shouting Coyote! Coyote! as Carmella tried to cover his mouth saying Don't say it! Don't say it!

And then at the end, once we finally got back to the car, they didn't want to leave. But I was done and I felt like how my Dad must have felt all those times he took me backpacking and I laid on the trail kicking and screaming that it was too hard, too far and I was never doing anything like this again . . .

Last week totals:
Running: 43 miles
Swimming: 1 mile
Biking: 0
Weights: 20 minutes

Kindzia's Challenge:
8/0

Hope and Optimism in 2008

New Year's Eve Ryan and I dropped the kids and Puppy girl at Pop and Lala's and headed in town for an adult evening to kick 2007 to the curb and throw open the door of unbridled optimism to 2008.

While Ryan and I celebrated the traditional New Year way with some dinner, lots of champagne and a trip to the Clermont Lounge (okay maybe that part is not so traditional but that is where we went to my dismay) the kids enjoyed a more pagan celebration in the suburbs.

Upon dropping off my bathed, fed and ready for bed kids Lala announced that they would be burning the Christmas Tree and making New Year wishes. Hearing this Carmella informed Lala that she is the "dangerous grandma". Lala, taking offense, asked me just what I had been telling Carmella. And I quickly explained to Lala that Carmella is six not an idiot. She's got a pretty good grasp on the obvious: Grandma that has bible study in her living room or Grandma that sets fire to her Christmas tree in the front yard? Yes, you are totally right: hard call on which one is the dangerous Grandma.

I digress, yes, even in the New Year some things won't change. But while I stood in the door way of the Clermont Lounge--I had to stand in the door way to catch breaths of fresh air. I had no idea that you were still allowed to smoke in bars. My lungs still hurt from the exposure. --Anyway, while stood in the doorway of a bar/stripclub/dive--how do you classify the Clermont?--I contemplated my . .. uhm,resolutions, goals, ideals. . . for 2008.

The word resolution doesn't work for me. It implies to me that you are eschewing something old for something new and different: adopting new habits. For me this is not the case. I think I am on the right track, moving in the right direction. God forbid, dare I say it?Evolving. Ugh, gag--too cheesy. Even though I feel I continue to move in the right direction this is not to say there isn't room for improvement. I think the word "goals" might possibly be more appropriate but maybe "ideals" is an even better word. Or maybe just continuum? Okay, now I am juggling semantics. Maybe I should just say my hopes for 2008. I think that makes the most sense.

If hope sounds too non-committed believe me it is not. It is just being realistic about what I can accomplish given the restraints of being wife and mother. This is not to say those titles weigh me down but they do bind me to certain responsibilities that take priority over my personal desire. Everyone has boundaries in which they must operate and those are mine. C'est la vie. Que sera sera . . .
My first hope is to make more money. This should not be too hard since I really didn't make any last year. But I need to help Ryan make more so our life is less stressful and more comfortable. So if I can help by investing more of my time in our business or by getting a side job to bring in extra cash flow then that is what I will do. However whatever, more money is the plan and I vow to do what it takes to get more of the green stuff. But I will have to draw the line at working at the Clermont. And I only mention the Clermont as it is obvious that compared to other strip clubs their standards are nonexistent so I assume I could get a job there. But really, as much as I have the penchant for stripper shoes and costumes I would never actually be a stripper. Just wanted to be clear on that point.

My next hope is to remain a present, active and supportive person in my children's lives. I think I am a pretty good mom and I volunteer a lot of my time for the kids classrooms and extra curricular activities. I would like to still be able to do all that but I know if I work--even part time-- that I would have to sacrifice some of that volunteering. So I just hope that I will be able to reconcile that with myself and my kids.

I have many fitness hopes for this year. I am disappointed that I did not meet my time goals last year though I did make gains by having new personal bests at the marathon, half marathon and 10k. So last year's time goals of 3:30 for the marathon, 1:35 for the half marathon and sub 42 minutes for the 10k still remain. Inching closer. But you know just seeing improvement really means more to me than a specific time goal. Because once I break down one time barrier I just have to set another anyway.

And of course, it should go without saying but I'll say it anyway: I'd like to see my swim improve but more importantly the bike. As Steph said we suck on the bike. Okay, she didn't exactly come out and say I suck. She said she sucked and since I think she is stronger on the bike then me then therefore I suck too. I will say it is good to not suck alone if nothing else.

My hope is that my bike ability will at the least be on par with my run and my swim and right now I don't think it is. I base this on the one triathlon that I did. My swim and run put me at the back of the front pack but my bike put me smack in the middle of the pack. Not that middle of the pack is bad I'd just like all things to be equal and it is frustrating because I think I put more effort on the bike than the swim and therefore I want to see that effort reflected. I like to see results when I put in the effort. Pisses me off when I don't.

aside Oh, hey Pop, I've been meaning to ask. Can I borrow your trainer if you are not using it? See, borrow, not have. I know it is just sitting there in your basement, taking up space . . .

My race dreams and hopes this year are as follows:

For spring I am trying to decide between The Caramel and Chocolate and Peanut Marathon and GA ING. The Snickers has become appealing--aside from the prospect of chocolately peanut goodness-- because it is flat and also because Wes (brother in law) will be doing the bike races that are also happening that weekend in Albany. Could be a family fun racing spectating weekend for all! Go Nat! Go Wes! It is just going to depend if I can get marathon ready in 8 weeks. Probably but that is contingent on not getting sick at all and after this past fall I am just not so optimistic about that.

I am also thinking about this marathon. Geez that sounds tough so I might be smart and just do the half.

In the fall I will either do Chickamuaga again, Atlanta or Rocket City. Then next spring Boston.

I also plan to do all the local half marathons that I can manage. But it will probably work out to being 2-4 this year.

My only 10k plan is the Peachtree but I may sign up for a few last minute if it works out that I can do them. It is hard for me to justify getting up early and driving to a 10k. I like more miles for dollars and time than a 10k provides.

Okay, triathlons. Ainsely asked me to do the Ryka Irongirl New Year's Eve and I said I would. That's a sprint and that is in June. Hopefully it won't conflict with the 5k swim Steph wants to do. I'd also like to get in an Olympic tri this year. Not too picky on which one just don't want to travel for it. And like Steph I want my crown jewel to beSouth Carolina's Half Iron distance.

Finally if somehow the stars align and I can manage it I would love to try an Ultra in 08. Probably a 50k but maybe even 50 miler. I have no designs to run a 100 miles.

Whew. That is a lot and quite ambitious if I do say so myself. But ultimately, my real hope for 2008 is to find myself at the end of the year living a negative split. That will make me very happy.

Kindzia's Challenge for 2008:
5/0 (I counted today which technically hasn't happened yet but will: a trail run for 7-9 miles)

Kindzia's Challenge

I just wanted to encourage everyone to sign up for Kindzia's challenge.

Those too lazy (which, btw, is not a good sign for your participation in the challenge) to click the gist of the challenge is to commit to 30 minutes of exercise a day.
Everyday.
For as many days as you can until, well, until you die. Kidding. I believe the challenge will end at midnight 12/31/08.


And even if you fall off the wagon, just get back up, dust off your pride and get right back on it because you can still be in. Kindzia explains it all. (See above link.)
There are prizes. . .

So yeah, and I mean you, what do you have to lose?

My understanding is that open registrations ends tomorrow.

Kudos to Charlie and Wes for signing up.

Oh, and my tallies thus far:
12/31/08: 6 miles in 49 minutes
1/1/08: 10 mile run~ about 85 minutes
1/2/08: 4 mile run in 29 minutes, 20 minutes upper body weights
1/3/08: AM workout: 4 mile negative split treadmill run (first split 16:10, 2nd split 13:54), 1800 meter swim in 30 minutes PM workout: 5 mile trail run no idea about time.
1/4/08: 7 mile run in 62 minutes.

Woo hoo, 5 days of consistency!

PS Friend Tara has decided to join. She is visiting and asked "So I can just do sit-ups or leg lifts for 30 minutes?"
Me: Yes, I guess so.
Tara: "Oh, yeah. I can do that. Okay I'm in."
So she starts doing leg lifts and lunges. Right this second. In my hallway. In her tight ass jeans and 3 inch slutty mom clogs.
Go T-bone!


Of course I am sitting here blogging while I have a house guest. Hostess of the year award coming my way.

I'm sorry, what?

15 degrees?
Fahrenheit.
6 degrees if you factor in windchill?
Here?
In Georgia.
Seriously?
Okay, call on me. Me! The girl who no longer has bronchitis and is ready to go run many miles with her hand up in the front (I like to sit in the front).
Uhm, why is it so freaking cold now that I am well? Is it because I signed up for Kindzia's challenge? What the hell?

Me thinks the universe is still against me in 08.
Le sigh.
Hi ho hi ho it's off to the dreadmill I go. Too cold to run on the trails this morn hi ho hi ho hi ho. . .

Is it over?

That is what Beau asked me on the morning of December 26th.

"Yes." I told him wearily, yet with much relief; "It is over."

Then he asked, "What's next? Valentine's? Easter? Carmella's birthday? What Mommy? What's next?"

Sigh.

And then on the 27th he threw himself on the kitchen floor and had his monthly tantrum (even though he is 4 he still has tantrums but now we are down to only one a month. And that is so much better than when he was 2 and had them everyday.) While he pounded his fists and kicked his feet he screamed through gritted teeth: "I WANT TO GO TO A PARTY!! THIS HOUSE IS BORING! I NEED A PARTY!"

Seriously. Isn't that something I should be hearing from him at 16 and not at 4?

Yes, I know it is totally my fault. This is what I get for trying to give my kids a fun and happy childhood when really what I should be doing is showing them how much life sucks so they will be prepared for "the real world."

Please note that "the real world" is quotes because Pop use to tell me all the time how awful "the real world" was going to be and what a shock it was going to be for me and blah blah blah. And yes, it is because of his warnings and naysaying that I sponged off Pop as long as could get away with it. I mean really, he made "the real world" sound like such a terrible place so I figured yeah, well, then I'll try to avoid that place.

And see, that is what happens when you do stuff like cut out articles from the Wall Street Journal about how the next generation is going to be worse off even though they will be more educated and give them to your only slightly spoiled 13 year old daughter.

Really Pop, I am grateful. See this isn't me being ungrateful. Nope. No not at all. Just me reveling in your wisdom and how right you were and how smart I was to try to avoid it all for so long. (But that Pookie. I don't think she is grateful at all. You know, I don't think Justin is either. Be me? I'm grateful.)

However I am thinking a different tactic than Journal articles and prophetic warnings might work better for my kids. Okay I mean Beau. Carmella seems to get it.

I am thinking that in this case it might be better to show rather than tell so I am presently shopping for just the right sweat shop to see if they have some sort of kid exchange program that I can sign Beau up for. And in exchange I get a grateful little kid who has been stitching Gap labels on jeans since he was knee high to a sewing machine and Beau learns to be grateful for what he has. Win win situation.

Ah, I kid. I joke.

To make the social detox less painful for the kids we've been alternating one fun day with 2 boring days since Christmas. Hopefully, with a few consecutive days of boring Beau will be fine, even eager, next Tuesday to return to the sweat shop, I mean preK.

I've been slack about posting the pictures from our holiday festivities and I've had some emails about their whereabouts. So better late than never here are some of the highlights:
Okay while I was dying from the worst case of bronchitis ever and was unable to run I busied myself with a project.
Project?
What project?
See that sweater?
Well, I made it.
Okay not the sweater (but Carmella thinks I did). But I cut out from felt and made the Santa face and then hand stitched Santa, all the sequins, jingle bells and the word "Jolly" myself. I thought the project was going to take me an hour. It took six. Hours. Only a few hours less than I spend running a week.

No I have never sewn anything before and yes there was a pattern but that was for a stocking. So it was almost like doing it from scratch. Seriously, there were a lot of sequins and beads. It is very pretty. And best of all? It jingles.

So that's right people. Along with marathon runner and one time triathlete I can now add crafty Christmas sweater seamstress to my resume. Amazing that I have all these talents, yet no paying job. . .

Whatever. Ryan loved it. He wore it on many occasions this past holiday and can't wait to break it out next year.

On to other things.

We went to church on Christmas Eve. This was Beau's first time ever getting to sit through a service. We always put him in the nursery. But I figured he could handle it since it isn't a long service and there is singing and there is of course fire.

And Beau was good. Well except for maybe in the middle of the sermon when the preacher asked "Are you listening to me? Are you listening to me?" And Beau loudly answered above the quiet of the congregation "No!"

But other than that he was good.

Kids all dressed up outside the church.

Look Santa came!

Wake up!
New bike!

Presents!

Bubbles and Poppy brought more!


Off to Lala's for more present madness!


Carmella's doll that pees on itself.

It is so weird to me that she wanted this doll but then again she was always very eager to help me change all of Beau's diapers. See if only I'd waited a few more years to have that second kid I could have been on easy street.

Bear with me here.

Lala's tables!



The kid's table.
Dessert and the after party at my house!


Like anyone would want either of these two to operate on them.The kids always get in my bed


And see, I'm not the only Ho!
Steph and Dee Dee!

The day after party at the Gibbs. These guys are Ryan's friends from high school and some from elementary school. And since Ryan and I went to elementary school together I've known some of them that long too.

But now Christmas is over. We've packed up all our decorations, thrown out all the trash and are ready to hang up our hang overs and get on with those New Year resolutions . . .

You can see more of Christmas pictures by clicking on my flicker badge.

Do a little dance, sing a little song, get dog tonight . . .

So the kids entertained Ryan and I with one of their many shows tonight.

A show is a semi regular occurrence around here. Carmella is always the director. Beau is the showcased talent. There is always a rehearsal and most often Ryan and I don't know a show is going to happen until we are recruited to come sit on the couch with our drinks to watch the show.

All shows involve Beau not following Carmella's script. Then what follows is Carmella getting very upset that her artistic vision is not being properply realized or worse, she'll make a mistake--despite having a carefully written out list with songs, script and choreography all planned out. While she fumes and fusses and directs; Beau hams it up at her expense. Inevitably Carmella becomes the disgruntled misunderstood director and a fight ensues with the talent. By that point the audience has had enough and both tyrannical director and loose cannon talent are promptly shuffled off to bed.

Tonight's show was no different.

Let me preface this with that Ryan and I are both regrettably very unmusically gifted.

Me probably more so.

And sadly, I've actually tried. I took a guitar class in high school. Lucky for me your grade was mostly based on written tests and so I still managed a good grade. The teacher (--I can't recall his name, maybe Mr. Moody???) told me on one of my guitar playing tests "I don't know why it sounds so wrong since you are hitting the chords right but something is very off." Though I am not known as one of the most astute people readers even I could tell it was painful for him to sit through my blues five finger strum. Me though? I thought it sounded fantastic.


If musical talent was based on exposure to music then my kids would be savants as they are not wanting for musical toys: ipods, cds, radios, microphones, bongos (thanks Aunt Pookie!), recorders, toy piano and each kid has their own acoustic guitar. Heck, we even have a Karaoke machine(scary, I know).

Truth is folks, no matter how much money you spend, you can't buy musical talent.

But don't worry. I'll still spread the love and share some of the outtakes of the performance.

And I will say, if you can understand Beau I think he shows real promise as a song writer. And well, Carmella, without a doubt. I think Caramel Christmas Tree is the next big hit. She has others but I made her save the Tea by the Tree for another evening.

First up a duet: The Candy Cane


Not sure why Beau won't face the "audience." Probably to annoy Carmella.

A solo performed by Beau: I like Spiderman


The Caramel Christmas Tree, by Carmella

"Eat soiled fish. With caramel on it." Mmmmm . . .


Lola seemed to feel left out so I taped her too. You can see how well we have her trained. Be sure to watch this one all the way through.


In other news my running is much improved over last week's sad one day of running and totaling 8 miles for the week. I believe that is an all time low for me. This week I am feeling much better and got in several days of running between 4-7 miles and finished up at 34 miles for the week. I also got in a bike ride with Steph. Not sure how long. Probably about 30 miles.

Here Comes Sanatalie . . .

Ho!

Okay, so I got you all something . ..

For Steph I thought long and shopped hard but in the end the choice was easy: brand spanking new fancy knees. Now, don't go getting all fast and dropping me. I would be so sad if you didn't train with me.

For Doug: Well, duh. Freestyle! bwhahahahaha!

For Wes--my brother in law: a Christmas bike jersey and first place at the Roswell Nally Criterion.

For Wes: A PR at Disney and a smooth road to the Ironman!

For Dee Dee: marathon success at Disney.

For Joe Reger: First place age group in all your triathlons this season.

For Danielle: a subscription to the Journal of Rare and Fatal Diseases. Just kidding. Marathon success at Ga ING and Ironman triumph.

For Bruce: a 3:30 marathon at Boston.

For Charlie: a sub 3 hour marathon at Boston 09! I'll be behind you chasing a 3:15 (assuming I ever get to 3:30;)

For Anne: Triathlon and Peachtree success this summer.

For Jason: Come back success and to see you at more races!

For Mike at the gym: endurance so you can join me for beers at the Park Tavern after the Peachtree.

And for my peeps at the Marietta Big Peach:
Joe: To see you at Ga ING running that 2:20 marathon.

Kate: Sub 2:50 at Ga ING and first GA woman. You'll get it this year. And to kick my ass not only in the run but in the bike and swim at all the tri's this summer.

Steve: Gosh, just some time off so you can run and train so I can kick your ass properly. Wink.

Javi: a PR at Houston.

Karen: a PR at Callaway Gardens.

And to everyone else Pr's and an injury free 2009. Merry Christmas! I appreciate all the support/advice and love that you give me.

Oh yeah, and I am feeling better. 4 miles yesterday and 7 today. Felt wonderful! Getting there.

Still alive but not well

I think I have emphysema. Or maybe it is is syphilis as Danielle suggested since I woke up with a cold sore. Probably pnuemonia. 3 kids in Beau's class have had it recently. In fact one of them I saw at the Doc in box the other day.

I really can't believe I am still sick.

I am little better since starting antibiotics but only marginally so. This is ridiculous. I am never sick for this long--at least with a virus. I am assuming that it is a virus since the antibiotics haven't seemed to help much. Though that inhaler is making me wired and I feel like superwoman after a few puffs. Now I remember why I never use my inhaler. But I am now since breathing is pretty cool.

No allergic reaction but I am not ruling it out since I do feel pretty itchy. Last time I had an allergic reaction to an antibiotic it was after I finished the medicine. And then I had hives for a week despite the antihistamine and steroids. I had these giant palm sized red itchy welts all over my torso and Ryan kept saying "You're fine. It is just a little rash." Sympathy is not something he doles out. Lucky for him that I am not often looking for it. Though a little concern might be nice once in awhile.

Seriously though. Does this thing ever go away? Off to buy some Abreva and stand under the mistletoe to spread the love.

UGH!!!

OhmyGod! The rot is never ending. (Wes, probably best if you stay under that bed;)

I was up again coughing last night. The sinus headache I went to bed was still with me this morning and as an extra bonus my eyes were swollen shut with I don't know--eye phlegm? Yes, I was a pretty sight indeed. Sorry to say that I do not have pictures to share.

So I sucked it up and went to one of those Doc in a box places. We just switched insurance and while I have a doctor I haven't seen him in over 2 years and he wants me to come in for a physical before he'll see me sick. Totally makes sense. Anyway, that is why I went to Doc in a box.

I think I frightened everyone in the waiting room with my coughing. It was a gigantic waiting room. However I had more than half of it all to myself. So weird how no one wanted to sit next to me. Can't figure that one out.

Hey, at least I got seen very quickly. The doctor was alarmed that I could not take a breath without coughing. Bronchitis and a sinus infection she said. She wrote me a Rx for a new inhaler and for some really strong antibiotic that would knock anything out. Off I went to fill said Rx's.

Turns out super duper antibiotic cost over a hundred dollars. I told the pharmacist that I am not sick enough to spend that much. So she called the Dr back and I reminded all that I am allergic to penicillin. Nevertheless the Dr prescribed Keflex which apparently can have a cross allergic reaction. The pharmacist assured me it shouldn't be a problem but to keep Benadryl on hand and call 911 if I think my throat is closing up. On the upside the Keflex was free since I got it at Publix and it was one the antibiotics in their "free antibiotic" arsenal.

So yeah, I've taken my first dose. Thirty minutes have passed and no hives and my throat is still open--so far so good. Let you tomorrow if I make it.

Better Day

Okay. I got in a 5 mile trail run with Lola at Leita Thompson and then hit the gym this afternoon for a 5k. Not spectacular but 23 minutes--I'll take it. Even did some weights.

So I am feeling better having had my endorphin fix. Apologies for bitchy foul post earlier. Mean as a snake, I tell you, if I don't get to run.

And just to clarify I am not still sick from the cold I had at Thanksgiving. I was totally well for at least 2 weeks. This is a completely different cold. Problem with me is that whenever I get a cold it always goes into my chest. I have asthma but it is very mild and I rarely have an issue with it--except when I catch a cold. At any rate this is a much worse cold than the one at Thanksgiving. But since I am a week behind my kids with it and they are well I figure I am at the end of it.

PS: Danielle. Very funny. I do not have syphilis. Or if I do Ryan and the kids (who gave me this damn cold) got some explaining to do.

PPS. Sorry Charlie if I made you sick. Hope you get well soon.

Heal Thyself

Look at me! Wheee! I'm all metaphysical. Believe and it will be. What a positive force in the universe am I.
Shalom.
Or is it Namaste?
Whatever.
Clearly, the Christmas spirit has a hold on me.

It's the MOST wonderful time of the year . . .

Uhm. No.

I am STILL sick as shit. EIGHT days of hacking. I've penned a very original song about my plight. Let me clear my throat and I shall sing it for you.
er uhm
er uhm
Er HUM.

Nevermind.

On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me a sore and scratchy throat.

On the second day of Christmas my true love gave to me fever, aches and chill and a sore and scratchy throat.

On the third day of Christmas my true love gave to me a barking cough, fever, aches and chills and a sore and scratchy throat.

On the fourth day of Christmas my true love gave to me many gelatinous globs of mucus, a barking cough, fever, aches and chills and a sore and scratchy throat.

On the fifth day of Christmas my true love gave to me SINUS CONGESTION!
Many gelatinous globs of mucus, a barking cough, fever, aches and chills and a sore and scratchy throat.

On the sixth day of Christmas my true love gave to me a red and runny nose, SINUS CONGESTION! Many gelatinous globs of mucus, a barking cough, fever aches and chills and a sore and scratchy throat.

On the seventh day of Christmas my true love gave to me shortness of breath, a red and runny nose, SINUS CONGESTION! Many gelatinous globs of mucus, a barking cough, fever,aches and chills and a sore and scratchy throat.

On the eight day of Christmas my true love gave to me 2 swollen watery eyes, shortness of breath, a read and runny nose, SINUS CONGESTION! Many gelatinous globs of mucus, a barking cough, fever, aches and chills and a sore and scratchy throat.

Fucking true love.
We're done.

I'm willing myself well. I am tired of coughing, sick of the foul taste of mucus and most of all I miss running. I've been patient. FOUR. That's right FOUR straight days of no running, biking, swimming, yoga, weights, walking. Nothing. Nada. The only time my heart rate has gone up is from my marathon coughing fits. This is ridiculous.

I'm done with this cold. I need my fucking endorphins.Understandably, I just can't possibly be expected to be nice, bright or merry. Unfortunately, I really need to be all of those things and full of good will since I am in the kids classrooms this week teaching an art lesson, attending class parties and working the reindeer centers (don't ask). So cold be damned, cough may kill me but I am running today.

Dear Santa, For Christmas this year . . .

Beau would like his hair back.

So my sister gave Beau a hair cut.

Pookie always cuts his hair. But Beau moved too much and she made a mistake and well, above is what he ended up with after she "fixed it".

Admittedly, it is better than the mullet she had fixed it with first in her attempt to preserve his curls.

Beau and Carmella made much of the new haircut.

Carmella advised that he was probably going to have to tell his friends at school who he was. In fact, she said, he could even start using his real name: What is that again Mommy?

Beaufort.

Oh right, because he is four. Just say "Hi, I'm Beaufour."

They practiced Beau being Beaufour.

Not wanting to let such a golden opportunity pass I piped in and said his new haircut was the perfect opportunity to make some changes in his behavior. I explained that he could claim his former obstinacy and unruliness had more to do with his wild and crazy hair than him. Now that he had a more serious haircut he would have an easier time behaving.

I don't think he was listening.

I am beginning to suspect that I have the teacher voice on Peanuts: Wha wha Beau! whan wan whan wha wha As he was as uncooperative as ever in the Christmas picture session yesterday.

Seriously.

Is there ever going to come a day when they will sit still and let me take their damn picture?

Oh, and Santa, while we are on the subject of Christmas presents I would like very much if you could please take this phlegm and give it to someone else more special and deserving than I. I feel like I am being selfish keeping it all for myself.

Just Monday I was telling Steph how the phlegm and I had worked out a peaceful coexistence.

Well, apparently not.

I am sick.

Again!

I was so excited on Monday thinking I was finally getting back on track with my training.
Not that I am training for anything.
Nothing planned until the GA ING marathon but you know I like my 40 miles a week, 2-3 hour bike rides and 1-2 miles of swimming a week. If I do all that I can eat whatever I want and drink as much dark beer as a lumberjack.

Since the Chickamauga marathon 5 weeks ago I have averaged 40 miles a week for the running but only gotten 3 bike rides and 1 swim in. Nothing consistent.
And me?
I like consistency.
So it is making me crazy, possibly even a little fat to have my regime out all out of whack.

Needlessly to say I was very excited about Monday's run bike swim: 5 mile run, 26 mile bike and a kick ass swim of 600 warm up, 10x100's and then 200 cool down. I thought finally I am back on it!

And then bam, Tuesday I have a sore throat. Nevertheless I got in 4 miles in under 30 minutes. But it did nearly kill me. I had a low grade fever and tummy ache afterwards but felt better Wednesday morning.

I was thinking I dodged a bullet.

But I had to skip my morning run because I decided I should take the Carmella to the doctor. Carmella has had a cough for almost 2 weeks. Now I had the kids at the doctor last week for flu shots and a check up and inquired about the cough then. The doctor assured me her lungs were clear and it was from nasal drainage. Everyone is phlegmy these days she said.

But after 2 weeks it still wasn't better and while I was partly worried she was on the fast track to pneumonia; I was also just sick of hearing her cough. So I decided to take her in. She grumbled a bit but at the first mention that there might be medicine involved she was on board.

I have found that the general rule of thumb is if you take one kid to the doctor inevitably the other will have to go in a few days. So I decided to take Beau too since he was also coughing. I kept them both home from school and made an appointment. I tried to get the first appointment so that if they were fine I could still send them to school.

First available was a 10:30 am appointment. Barnacles.

In the 3 hours before we left they managed to completely trash the house and Beau needed his clothes changed because he fell and got dirt all over his shirt while they were playing outside.

To say I was beginning to regret my choice of keeping them home is an understatement.

As I drove them--singing Christmas carols from the backseat at the top of their lungs--I braced myself for the "this is one of 10 colds they will get this year" lecture from the doctor. The kids on the other hand could barely contain their giddiness at yet another opportunity to pee in a cup. Not kidding. They are still talking about the cup peeing incident from last week.

So after a battery of tests to check oxygen levels, lung capacity, ear fluid and all coming up clean the doctor had the nurse swab their throats for Strep. And surprise surprise they both had Strep.

I could not convince the doctor to swab my throat. She said I was "too old." Whatever, the guy at Roswell Bikes thought I was 25-- 18 isn't too much of stretch. Nothing doing. So the kids and I stopped on the way home at a CVS Minute Clinic and I had a Strep test done. Negative. I just have a cold. Today though it feels like bronchitis. Fire in my chest. Hurts like hell.

Whatever.

I went for a trail run anyway. 5 or so miles and it totally sucked. Hacking. I was tired.

But I am love, love loving running on trails. I try to incorporate a trail into almost every run lately. It is like I have just realized that I've been cutting meat against the grain or something because now--with just 2 weeks of running on trails-- I feel like I have discovered what running is suppose to be like. I had no idea. All these years of running on the sidewalk and now--9 years later-- I find out I've been doing it wrong all a long. Who knew leaping over rocks and logs and bounding up and down hills could be so much fun?

So yeah, Santa, this Christmas some good health and a pair of trail shoes would be great.

Lady Pants

Huh?
Lady Pants? Yeah, that's Ryan.
Quiet, unassuming Ryan.

Right. Ryan. My husband.

He's bringing sexy back.

As mentioned in the previous post Ryan and I attended our friend Dee Dee's 40th bash. And yes, as suspected, it was definitely "Bumping in the Burbs." The theme for the party was to wear your favorite animal print and show your wild side.

Originally, Ryan, Pat, Meme and I had thought we'd all dress as animals.
As in lions, tiger and bears.
As in Furry Fandom.
But buying such animal costumes proved quite costly.
Even renting was out of budget.
But most importantly, we chickened out.

Finding an animal print outfit for me wasn't all that difficult. But in the end all the animal print I wore was just my ugly leopard print tights. I think they make my legs look diseased. For the record, I am more of the plain black tights girl and if I do a pattern it would be in the fish net vein or maybe a seam up the black. All tone on tone. You know, in case you were wondering.

Ryan was disappointed that I didn't buy anything "animal" for him. I did look. And you might be surprised to learn that they really don't make men's clothing with animal prints. Nothing. So weird.

On the way to the party Ryan was still was upset about not participating so we stopped at Steinmart. For those unfamiliar with Steinmart it is a verified Mecca for all things animal print. It is also geared towards women in their 50's.

Okay, I don't know this for a fact but everything there looks like something my mother in law and her friends all wear or decorate their house with. I can't include Lala in this because she only wears Old Navy PJ's or workout clothes and decorates her house with things from old churches in Mexico.

Ryan scored a pair of lady pants in a cheetah pattern. Even got a shirt. $31 total. Lucky us for hitting the 14 hour sale.

When we got to Meme and Pat's we discovered that Pat had also shopped at Animal Print Mecca and purchased a zebra robe and fashioned himself ala Brett Micheal's. Awesome. Off we went.
Rolling, in the Expedition. Chandon flowing, JT Rhyming and Lady Pants thumping, bumping, he's bringing sexy back Yeah!. . .
I am so white.
So suburban.
And yet, so pimp. Here are the pictures of the party.

Me right before I do a back flip over Meme's back.Just kidding.

Ryan and Dee Dee in one of many dance offs between them. Apparently at my sister's wedding-- I mean the time when I drank shots of Petron and have gaping holes in my memory-- Lady Pants and Dee Dee busted out some moves to the "latest" JT song. Both had been practicing them at home and showcased them at Pookie's wedding.

I don't think this requires an explanation: Lady Pants and Meme Losers, 6 pack, people who stay way too late etc etc . . take 16. Finally, one shot where Lady Pants is not pulling up my dress to show my under pinnings--under trimmings which he had given me a lecture before leaving the house that I was to keep said underwear under wraps.(I'd show you a picture of me doing the aerial with said underwear not at all under wraps but Ryan specifically said no posting that. For the sake of martial harmony, you know, I obey.)

To see the rest of the pictures from the party click on the Stalk my Flicker badge in the right hand corner.

Gettin Wild

So tonight is my pal Dee Dee's 40th birthday bash.

Another loser goes over the hill.

But really Dee Dee, excuse me, De Lo, is probably the youngest of us all. Even Meme, who really is the youngest of us all. Yes, I mean acting. Oh yeah, and she looks good too.

Wait, here's a picture. It is from my sister's wedding. Uhm, I mean the event wherein every mother, sister, son, daughter, bride, groom, aunt, uncle, brother, friend was shit faced. De Lo on the left, Ryan (aka, "Moves on Moves") in the middle and Meme on the right.

The fact that Dee Dee is turning 40 is confusing me about my own age. While running the other day I was like: Wow, I am 37. Holy crap, I'm gonna be 40 soon. Then I was like, wait a minute. I think I'm 36. I had to do some math. And yup, I'm 36. Whew, 3 1/2 years is a lot more time than just 3 years to 40. Oh and the guy at the bike shop yesterday was very helpful and the very reason I keep going back to Roswell Bikes. He thought I was 25. Had me show him my ID. I told him I was definitely buying a bike so ass kissing wasn't necessary. Not necessary, but still, a very nice customer service touch. Of course, this was all after he didn't remember me until I reminded him that I was in last week after a run (sans make up and coiffed hair) to get my bike fixed--which he fixed and didn't charge me for. So see, even not looking cute you still get bang up service from them.

Oh, and I know you are going to ask.No, I didn't buy a bike for me. I wish. Santa is bringing Carmella a new bike.

Anyway, back to Dee Dee. Isn't it funny how I somehow, no matter the subject, can always swing it around to being about me? Funny how I am that self absorbed.

So anyway, my friend Kim sent me this youtube video this morning. I think it is very telling of what my evening is going to be like. I am sure we would like to think differently but yeah, this is spot on.

Fallen off the blog horse

I just wanted to give a quick post that I am not dead or sick and that everything is okay. I appreciate the concern/pissed off emails about the lack of posting. I promise to post a new post in the next day or two. I've got a lot of them in my head but just not the time of late to put them down here.
Anway, that's all for now . . .