Progress!

So, I've put it out there: I signed up for the Chang's 1/2 Marathon! I did my first run (and by "run," I mean a fair amount of walking, too) on August 28th--not training for anything, more to try to lean out and improve endurance. I went 3 miles in 45 minutes.

I've been averaging about 3.5 miles in the 45 minute range.

Last night was a victory--I made a deal with myself. (I always do that. You wanna know where Logan gets it? Me.) We were going to supper with Stacey & Kurty at 6:30 and I told myself if I hit 4 miles in 50 minutes, I could be done, otherwise, I'd have to go 60 minutes.

I did it!!!!! 48.52 minutes, baby!!!!!!!

I'm not necessarily doing anything for speed, I just need to get my endurance up.

Tonight I'm walking with my girlfriend Kim so it'll be great to get my legs stretched out!

I figure if I get my miles in throughout the week, it's ok to eat meatballs and drink beer over the weekend.

That's how that works, right?? :)

Have a good one!!

"I am so not a runner!"

I used to enjoy running a little--like back in high school, I would run occasionally. And a big reason I did this was because I liked the effect it had on my calf muscles. They looked pretty sweet.

A few weeks ago I got an email from Logan's former preschool teacher, Maureen. She announced she was training for a half marathon and blogging her way through the training.

Wow--Marathon Moe.

Love her--So proud of her--Dare I say... inspired by her?

I've been hitting the treadmill for the last three weeks now and finally yesterday I made it to 4 miles--YEAH!!!!! It took me 50 minutes but I had to keep reminding myself that THIS is where I'm starting from.

OK, I kind of had delusions of hopping on the ol' mill, hammering out 5-6 miles and I would have an even glisten of sweat about me. Not so much that I was stinky and had half-moons through my pants under my butt cheeks, but juuuust enough to maybe make it look like I was sprayed down with tanning oil. You know the look. I wanted just enough perspiration for people to marvel at my athleticism and and, I don't know--feel a little jealous because I rock.

Oh dear me. The half moons under my butt after, oh I don't know, 15 minutes. Gross.

The fact that one afternoon I wiped my forehead during a run and seriously splattered the gentleman next to me--Mortifying!

And those days where I'm sore from the day before and starting my run is seriously so loud and clomping because my legs are killing me that people turn and look (possibly because they want to actually see what a moose would look like in a Life Time Fitness.) PAINFUL!--on every little level.

BUT--I am doing it. Slowly but surely.

My girlfriend Kim suggested we walk the 1/2 marathon.

We'll see. I'd like to try to run it.

So--sign up for the PF Chang's Rock & Roll 1/2 Marathon today and maybe--just maybe--you'll get that prime location. Yes YOU could be the lucky duck behind the midwestern maiden, huffing & puffing with sweaty butt cheeks.

And you may want to bring an umbrella.

We Will Never Forget...

It's 9/11/09. Pretty much anybody over the age of about 15 remembers where they were when the terrorists attacked. They remember who they were with. They remember what they did for the rest of the day.

They remember the weeks afterwards. There was nothing on TV. There was nothing on the radio. There were no flights. Every song had an undertone. Whether it was an undertone of American pride, of grieving or of solidarity, there was a message.

The calls were played over the air and on TV. The final messages left by loved ones. Put to music.

There were assemblies, vigils and counseling sessions.

There was panic.

There was uncertainty.

There was also a pulse. A strong, common tremor felt by millions. 

It was a time of people springing to action. Young people, old people, people who had never considered it before were signing up to fight for this.

The United States of America.

We were attacked and we were damn worth fighting for.

CNN, FOX News...all the major stations had continuous coverage of ground zero, they replayed the attacks, they interviewed those who had lost their soul mates. Later, "Shock And Awe" was aired. For days and days.

It was surreal.

Life had been altered.

Casual conversations were peppered with new news. With "Did you hear about's," with opinions. 

Flags were waving.

People donated their money, their time, their belongings, their blood.

And I remember where I was when I saw my first plane in the sky after the dust settled. The airlines were up and running again.

I was in my car, driving to work. I heard the formerly familiar sound that had become obsolete. 

I rolled down my window, craned my neck out and watched that one plane.

People in their cars all around me were doing the same thing.

Life was going to go on.

The radio stations were going to play songs that had nothing to do with this tragedy.

Saturday Night Live coming on was a national turning point.

We eased back into our lives.

We had to.

Life blooms and goes on and babies are born and couples fight and kids fall down and cars get stolen... Everything goes on.

But we say "We will never forget."

Never forget the fear. Never forget the devastation. Never forget your own empathy. Never forget the solidarity. Never forget the images. Never forget the feeling that you had, in that moment, when you felt attacked. Never forget the hugs you shared with strangers. I'll never forget the vigils. I'll never forget the impromptu assembly at my college when one voice, amid the crying and donation taking started singing from the middle of all these strangers, "If tomorrow all the things were gone, I worked for all my life and I had to start again, with just my children and my wife..." 

Never forget. 

"That flag still stands for freedom. And they can't take that away."

We are damn lucky.

Thank you, God.

For blessing the USA.

Raising Awareness about Teenage L.D.

I wrote this for my 17-year-old cousin who contracted L.D. (Lyme's Disease)

I'm posting it here just for fun...

Remember: There is nothing more important than the support of your fam-damnily when dealing with disease. ;)

It started off so innocent
A day so hot and calm
You were covered in SPF 30,
a hat and some lip balm.

You just went out to have some fun,
Forget the day and have a laugh
You didn't even notice Him
Ascending up your calf.

Now I'm not saying it's at all your fault
You're a young and carefree chick
But I just hope you've learned the truth.
The Truth About...
Little Ticks.

There's nothing Dear about this Deer
So do not be misled
Because the only thing some ever see
Is the rash from that Little Tick Head.

Some girls puke or sleep a lot
And some girls get the chills
But that Little Tick, oh he's moved on
Leaving bulls-eyes gives him thrills

Your dad was afraid this day would come.
He knows all their dirty tricks
Because as they say, a Dad's got to worry
About all the Little Ticks.

No protection is fool-proof.
Some are 99%
So when in doubt, to avoid getting sick
make sure you're ALONE in your tent.

"Online Shopping"

Morning!

The other day I had, what I consider, a brilliant idea. We have this blue leather furniture (This was obviously a purchase made before my time. And perhaps in the dark.) that we don't really use, so I said, "Hey--Let's sell it on Craigslist and use the money to buy a funky little bar set or something!"

Brilliant, yes?

So, just this morning, I went on Craigslist's "Want to buy" section and you know what? Nobody wants to buy anything! They all "Need" "Gently used furniture" they are "Willing to drive here or there but don't want to have to go all the way across the valley" and they "Don't want no junk."

But it has to be free.

Really??

Why would anyone feel entitled to a "Gently used!" Queen sized bedroom set? Or "preferably a tan microfiber sofa?"

Is this really what our culture has become?

Not only expecting things for free but also feeling entitled to make requests?

I leave you with a part of one of the posts. Now, I don't know if this is plagiarizing or what, but I'll leave the name out and let me be clear: This is for your reading pleasure only.

I am in no way soliciting free furniture. Unless you want to give it to me. In which case, we need a bar with stools. Preferably stocked. With Jack & Bacardi. And we'll need a mini fridge. For the kids' juice boxes.

Here's the post:

"Hi, my name is BLEEP i am 24 and live on my own. I just got a new place thinking that my boyfriend would be out of jail this month and come to find out he wont be home till about february. This is sad for me but i have to deal with it. Anyways, to the point, i pay all the bills alone and since i just moved in i could use some furniture. My dogs destroyed my couches so now i have to replace them. I have a budget to work on so if anyone has some couches or even just a big sofa or a nice loveseat that they need to sell let me know. I again dont have a big budget to work with so if you want to give them away i am glad to take them or i am willing to pay but no more than $100. Please anyone if you can help i would benefit from it very much .I also could use any household items thanks"

This post looks like something Uncle Marsh would post in the Roseau Times Region. I have my suspicions. At least she's willing to offer up the $100....

Get in shape, Girl!

Remember the "Get in Shape Girl" stuff? My breast friend Kate had it. I, on the other hand, had my dad's 5 lb dumbells and an old bandanna that had probably served as a hanky on more than one hunting trip.

I credit "Get in Shape Girl" with Kate's athleticism and my lack thereof with my affinity for sitting on my ass and eating pub mix.

Anyway, I'm turning 30 in Feb. Dirty Thirty.

I've decided to mark the occasion the way millions before me have. By doing a run of sorts.

Now, I don't know what I'll do. Whether it's a 10k or a half marathon... I'm not committing to anything at this point. ;)

I've been on the treadmill Sun, Mon, Tues & Thurs this week. I've gone 45 minutes each time and yesterday I ran/walked 3.5 miles. It's my goal to go 4 miles in 45 minutes and then bump up my time.

I don't know if this is proper training for anything really, but I'm doing it, baby!

Oooh and yesterday, I swear I was running next to a pro athlete of sorts. To quote Mike King, "Is this because he was a big buff black guy?"

Yup!

It wasn't Michael Jordan but nobody can prove it WASN'T Donovan McNabb. Or Bo Jackson.

Speaking of athleticism, Logan is a rocker and a roller when he plays his Wii. It is a riot to watch him! And I don't even mind anymore that he plays it. I used to be sooo against any kind of video games but now that it's so freaking hot and there are scorps all over the back yard, apparently, I guess it's OK once in a while. ;)

It's a Breakfast Bar kind of day!

Logan has the day off today! I must say, I've missed him. We have a pretty fun weekend ahead of us, so I'm alright with kind of laying low today. This morning I made his favorite bars. I'm going to post the recipe because they are SO GOOD! Seriously, the kids polished off an entire pan. 

A 9x9 pan, but still! Here it is:

Preheat the oven to 350

Combine:

1/2 c brown sugar

1 c flour (OR I do 1/2 c flour, 1/2 c wheat germ.)

1/4 t baking soda

dash of salt

1 c rolled oats (you can even use 2 packs of instant oatmeal)

Blend these with

1/2 c butter softened or melted. Either works.

I also throw in about 1/3 c of Milled Flax Seed

Spread 2 cups of this mixture on the bottom of a greased 9x9 pan

Now for the fruity filling.

1 c whatever berry or fruit you have. I've used blues, raspberries, strawberries... or you can use jelly!

Spread the filling in the middle but keep about 3/4 of an inch away from the edge or it'll burn.

Sprinkle the rest of the oat mixture on top, press down ever so gently

Pop 'er in the oven for 35 minutes or so. It gets brown and crisp.

There you have it! Our breakfast fave! Logan likes it better than "Lucky Charms, Cinnamon Rolls and Caramel Rolls--Combined!"

As for the picture--I TRIED getting a shot of the finished product, but all I managed was Samma--before she finished off every crumb.