Before and After

No... it's not the Wheel of Fortune. It's just another project by me!
This took me all day... I'm beat!
Before (well sort of... I already started)























and after...












And now... we fest!

Game over.

Even though it was a slow week... woo hoo!

Wet... but it ain't sweat!

People complain about rain often. "We can't go outside to play." "No swimming today." "Damn it's flooding again!"

We have had more than our share of rain. Frankly, I don't know why people only like the sunshine. Maybe in some coastal or northern city sunshine year round would be acceptable. But, here in Central Texas.. I love clouds and rain. It keeps the temperature down. I had a great run today. Most of the way it was just a light sprinkle. But, the last 2 or so miles... it started pouring. It was awesome. I'm soaked. People are looking at me like I'm crazy... and, I'm hauling ass!

Try it.

New addition to the family...

Meet Lucy, 9weeks old, 14 lbs. already! Just as sweet as she can be...

She loves Zora's bed...

She and Zora get along great. They are already playing together.

She is curious already!
I love my little girls!
Have a great day!

What were you looking for?!

Someone found my blog by searching:

"Jody Bar" military

I guess I'll have to explain what it is... it's stupid.

"Jody" is a term applied to a guy who hits on a Soldier's wife while he is away.

Example:

Soldier: "What did you do today?"

Wife: "Hung out with Jody."

In other words, she was hooking up with her lover!

Make sense? On my run today, I remembered other things about the show that just aren't right. Like Joan, a Lietunient Colonel (LTC), getting drunk and dancing on the bar (a Jody bar, mind you)... Not very realistic.

Also, humvees aren't supposed to drive through residential areas. In the show they do all the time.

Also, Soldier's don't salute in doors. So, the scene at the military ball where one Soldier stands at attention and salutes a Colonel... not so my friends.

Am I ruining it for you? I am aren't I?

Army Wives... Giving away our secrets!

There is a lot of buzz about the new series on Lifetime... I have to admit, I've seen both episodes. It's okay... I can't be crazy about it because so much of it is sort of... off. Certain things they do such as... one guy cleaning his gun at home. Yea, they don't bring their weapons home! That is so against the rules. But, I guess that's more "Hollywood".

Then, there's the fact that somehow all these women (and one man) know each other, but none of their husbands (or wife) are in the same unit. Yet, they all manage to be part of the same "FRG" and go to the same ball.

Anyway, that's not my biggest complaint. I mean really! Do you have to give away all our secrets? We like speaking in acronyms and having no one else know what we are talking about! It's our own language and now the website has all of that up for grabs! Dang it! And!!!! One wife was a surrogate mother! Well, dammit I was going to do that this summer, but forget it now!

The "Jody" bar is probably my biggest complaint. I didn't always know what a Jody was... I actually only found out just a few months ago. Why did they need to introduce this in the first episode? It's not like we go around talking about Jodys every chance we get... we actually don't talk about them. At least not the people I know!

I'm not sure how many real Army wives will admit to watching this show.

Anyway...

Ahhh... it's a hot day. I was running today and have so much on my mind... all about running. It proves challenging at times to put my sporadic thought into coherent sentences.

I was so tired this morning, so, I didn't get out for a run until late. I checked the weather.... and decided to run, even though it read this:

"Not too humid," I thought. So, I planned on 5 miles. I started running... and I felt great. I was singing along, enjoyng passing all the late morning Soldiers doing PT. Then, my iPod decides it's a good time to reset. I hate when that happens. Luckily it saved my run... so, here is the first part of my run this morning:


So... I had to wait for the thing to reboot, and start again. It was a nice little break. I walked in a circle enjoying the luke warm breeze.

During the next four miles, I felt pretty good. The last mile though, was my slowest. The temperature increased a bit, and my body temp was crazy high.




When I got home, I checked the weather again.. since I felt so hot...

Anyway... so that was that. More to come later... I must go.

Goodbye... Tiga.

Well... Tiga... is gone. She was a sweet kitty, most of the time. She was part "Manx", a fisty breed that has a tendancy to bite. Husband didn't like that... neither do I, however, I wrote it off as one of her personality quirks. Who doesn't like quirks? It's weird to walk into this room and not smell cat litter... nice, but still weird... unexpected. Her food bowls, bed, carrier, litter box.. it's all gone. I'll miss her. Nothing else to say... pictures say it for me...

When Zora was just baby, and when Tiga has a little less "baby" fat.

PS Celeste, please don't kill me. :)

Stat updates

I thought it an appropriate time for an update of my nike+ stats. If you remember this, then you know I'm awesome...

Current PBs:

Fastest 1K
3'59"
Fastest 1-Mile
6'57"
Fastest 3K
13'46"
Fastest 5K
22'41"
Fastest 10K
47'51"
Farthest Run
8.38
Overall Average Pace 8'04"

Woo hoo! My fastest recorded 5K would have been better had the race this weekend had a more acurate course... oh well. I'll just have to beat it on my own. But, for some reason, I run faster with people behind and in front of me. It's not as thrilling all by one's lonesome.

Widgets

Those Nike people are always coming up with cool ways to get motivated (yet they fail to make a good running shoe). Now, you can get codes for your favorite goal, challenge, run or profile, and put them on your website or on myspace.

There is more detail here.

I'm having problem with the html on a blog...but, as you can see... it works to the right>>>>

Have a nice day!

You've won... A LIFETIME SUPPLY OF FROZEN CORN!!!

The weekend that precedes wasn't a particularly fun weekend for us... Saturday, started off good what with a good race on a rainy morning and all.. then, the real fun began.

For the past few weeks, we've had a flea problem. Our dog is over two, and we've never had this issue before, but, she had been getting eaten alive when we finally noticed. So, being the responsible dog owners (oh yea, we have a cat too), I went to Walmart and purchased everything having to do with flea extinction.... powers, sprays, drops, shampoos, supplements, carpet cleaner, house spray, collars... whatever I could get my hands on, really. I'm sure the checkout person what thinking... "ewwwwwe." I know that was what was going through my mind.

So, after about a week of washing every rug i the house (thank god we have wood floors), giving both animals flea dips, flea shampoos, spray, drops, and collars... I thought the problem would be whipped... hell, I sprayed the stinkiest crap on the furniture to kill fleas, adults... babies... eggs... anything.

A few weeks go by, and the cat is still infested. Shit...

So, another dip, more spray, more drops, clean the collar... done, right?

WRONG...

Zora only has a few at this point.. but, they are making babies! And, I can't vacuum enough to keep them from hatching!

So, I decide it's time to "fog" the house. This consists of the following:

1. unplug the frig and stove
2. turn off all gas valves (stove, putting out the hot water heater pilot)
3. turn off the water cooler (I hate warm water)
4. turn off the air conditioner
5. be sure all windows are closed
6. Zora in the backyard and cat in dog kennel in the backyard (she had water and food, and a nice blanket... oh and Zora who is always trying to share toys... through the cage... she's not bright)
7. put several layers of newspaper where we will put the fogging cans
8. start cans as we head towards the door
9. be gone for 2 hours.

So, we went to the grocery store... hence the title... that comes later.

When we returned we had to open all windows and doors to vent, and stay out for 30 more minutes. When we got back... we began the four hour process of washing every rug, blanket, dish, pot, pan, lid, glass, cup, pillow case, sheets... in the house. I mean everything. I can honestly say that I washed all my kitchen ware in one day... some of them were washed twice. ICK. After about an hour of this process, we noticed that we hadn't exactly opened the windows... stupid storm things. We tried.

Anyway... so, that was Saturday. Then, we got drunk, ate pizza... that was fun.

So, back tracking... husband doesn't shop with me very often. And, well, I must say he was quite the patient one. I usually let him pick out the meats, and poultry when we go to the store. I can pretty much zoom through the isles, and get the remaining things we need. Every time husband does shop with me, we always end up with something in bulk. One time (about 3 years ago) it was soup (one case... one flavor). That crap moved with us twice. We only just finished it. Another time, it was pink lemonade mix (about two years ago). We never drink lemonade... much less pink lemonade! I had to toss it because it's not the sort of thing you can buy in bulk... it sours, attracts ants. I think we maybe had two glasses.. and it was mixed with vodka. Hum, that's twice alcohol has come up in this...

Anyway, coming back to the current bulk item... frozen corn. GEEBERS! This is the largest bag of corn ever! Not only do we already have frozen corn at home, it won't fit into the freezer without some serious maneuvering... he could of at least gotten the frozen corn-on-the-cob... it's better. He also got two large bags of broccoli, and mixed veggies. He better start cooking. We are now the shameful owners of a life time supply of frozen corn. If you get a hankering for some corn, please, visit me.

Celebrate Killeen 5K

Happy Birthday Killeen... 125 years, and you're still one of the smallest towns (but full of people) in Central Texas. This was a last minute entry for us. We decided we needed a race this weekend, and there just happen to be one.

So, up at 5am... bagels, a bit of coffee, and off to pick up our packets. I was exhausted. I couldn't sleep that night, but it was only 3.1 miles... so, I went anyway.

We got there about 6:15am. There weren't many people, and that wouldn't exactly change. I'd say about 150-175 people showed up. Many of the same faces from the Jackrabbit 10K.

About 7am, the rain started... and so, the race didn't start until about 15 minutes later. But, the rain continued. It was a nice drizzle though... nothing hindering. After a short decline, we started a slow incline. Many people that had taken off fast downhill, hit a wall on the uphill. Husband and I took it all in stride. Despite the wet ground (clothes, face, and feet) traction wasn't impared much on the road. After what would be the only hill, another decline. We hit this running hard. At some points on my iPod, my pace read at about 6'30" per mile... nice. I was feeling good. Then, we went through the park... sidewalk. Not as much traction. There was a lot of mud in the path, and water puddles. We slowed a bit. We hit the two mile point at 13'42". We were rolling... however, the course was about 250 meters short. Maybe more. I ended with a time of 20'56". I was happy with it, though. We ran a hard race... and I felt good afterwards with my 1st place age category plaque. 2nd place was the same girl from the Jackrabbit 10K. Husband probably would have placed, but he likes to run with me. The rain didn't stop until about 8:15am, as we sat around waiting for the results. I won a raffle... two free t-shirts and rodeo tickets for that night. I gave the tickets to the 2nd place girl... she has kids. They didn't have anyone taking pictures... so below is all I have. Anyway, that's that!

Dead hair folicles?

This morning... to my dismay... I found a grey hair in my eyebrow. Luckily, I have enough brown eye shadow to color it in... but, it's only a matter of time. I also have a grey hair in my bangs. I'm too young for this shit.

Also, just now... the freakiest thing happened... I caught a spider making a web in my bangs. I thought I had a spot on my eye or something... then, it moved. I almost broke the keyboard. He was dangling from a piece of silk right before my eyes... literally!

What is it with my hair today?

First the pigment goes and spiders start making homes in my head!?

I think this might be a sign that Armageddon is coming...

Just FYI.

Split personality? What a pain!?

So, occasionally, as many of you (that's like 2) know, I can get into a drunken rambling, "what the heck is she talking about" state.

I can't be responsible for some of the things I type...

no no, I cannot.

For instance, apparently, "Osiris" was surfing myspace late Friday night, after husband and I had already called it a night. She decided to post a comment on a male friend's picture that read, "I have boob envy. What a shame..."

I don't even know what this means (Yes I do, margaritas are my crazy drink).

He thought I meant him.

Damn you Osiris, god of the underworld!!

Osiris

My alter ego is drunk...
self-important
righteous
self-loathing

complex and hypocritical

I call her Osiris

I hate Osiris

She's impolite... drunken... impulsive.

I hate her, yet, when she's gone... I miss her. She reminds me of myself... years ago. She wears high heals, low cut shirts, and gives "eyes" to everyone in the room. She demands accommodation. She's a polite, self-important diva.

I fucking hate Osiris...but, dammit, she's fun.

reading? more writing? what?!

I hate that I am involved with so many TV shows, but I can't help it! I blame DVR (Tivo to the cooler people). Greatest and worst invention ever. I think it's great because you don't have to miss much, especially if you have two TVs, each connected to their own DVR. You will miss nothing. Worst because I watch too much TV!

Gilmore Girls- I've watched almost every season. And, well, it's over... for good. It seems s very unresolved. What's Luke doing about his daughter living in New Mexico (of all places... I'm from there, ick)? So, Rory never sees Logan again? And, just like that, Luke and Loralei are back together? I think they are leaving it open for another year. I wouldn't mind. I love the witty repartee.

Smallville- Holy poop! Holy poo I say! Bizzaro arrives! Is Lana dead (I don't think so)? Is Chloe dead (I think s0)? How will they stop Bizzaro? Will Lionel Die? What about Mrs. Kent? Will she be back next season? So many questions. There wasn't a lot of build up to the finale, but it delivered. I hate that Chloe might might be back though... she was one of my favorites. Lana knows Clark's secret! Whoa! I'm waiting for Supergirl to make an appearance. Hopefully soon... it's rumored that this is their last season.

Supernatural- Can't beat it... Dean Winchester.... oh yea. I can't believe they killed the yellow- eyed demon! I like the show, and not just because of the hotties. It's only in its second season, so, it should be around for a while. They have a lot of demons to send back to hell.

Lost- I'm lost. Probably won't watch next season.

Office- I hope Pam and Jim hook up. I had a dream about Jim last night. Apparently, I find him sexy. I didn't dream about James Franco (last night... I didn't say I never dream about him) or Christian Bale (see above), but this guy.... I don't know his name. Anyway Jan got a boob job, which looks like a real boob job, not just fancy camera work or a good bra. What will happen to Karen? Who knows. Funny show.

House- Getting a bit predictable.

American Idol- I hope Jordan wins. I think Blake should have gone home before Lakisha.

Grey's Anatomy- Kind of annoying... no one will ever b happy! Who the heck is this Casey Grey person?? What the F?!

TV is about to get really boring with all the season finales. So, anyone recommend a movie to get from Netflix?
Okay... I'm going to see if I can find a life tonight (because there is nothing on TV on Friday).

Should I smile more?

Today, at the gym, I noticed some weird handle things lying in between machines. I stared at them for a while, trying to figure out what they were as I finished three sets of back extensions ( if that's what they are called). I thought about trying them out, but I hate testing exercises at the gym. I feel silly.

I didn't see anyone use them. Then, a person nearly tripped on them. And, I thought, this could end badly. So, being the responsible gym member I am, I decided to scoot them out of harms way. As I did this I looked up. Now, I don't always control my facial expressions. I'm at the gym, I'm sweaty, I don't have make up on, and I'm not expecting people to be looking at me. So, I looked up as I moved the handle things, and I sort of gave a "look" to some "trainer" (I use the annoying quotation marks because I don't know what look I gave, she doesn't look like a trainer). I knew as soon as I looked at her she was going to assume I was giving her a dirty look.

So, I went on my merry way to the water fountain... made my way back to the weight area.

"Why did you move my equipment?" She asked, in a rather nasty tone.

"I didn't see anyone using them, and someone could trip," I replied... trying not to sound hostile.

"We are circuit training and people can just walk around them," even snottier (word, it should be because it defines her attitude).

"Like I said, someone could trip and get hurt," I replied, still as not cranky as possible.

Then, she wanted to re-enact the event... what I did, the look I gave her, and her actions. I was thinking, what the f**k are you doing lady. She's stomping around the gym floor saying, "look, this is what you did, and you looked at me like this..."

People are starting to stare at her, and some guy is laughing at my expression. I remind myself to control my face because I know I tend to look angry without meaning it.

So, just to get this lady to shut up, "The look is your imagination," I said, "I just don't want anyone to get hurt."

It was a bizarre exchange of words. This woman must be in her late 30s and she's concerned herself with what look is in my eyes.

BIZARRE.

So, later, as if I needed to talk about it more, this guy that was laughing earlier, said, "I thought you were going to punch her."

"Really?? Why? Why would I do that?" I exclaimed.

"You looked pissed. You always look pissed," he said. I have seem him around the gym quite a bit.

"I'm not mad at the gym... just focused I guess." I said.

"Well, maybe you should smile more," he said. He seems pleased with this solution.

treading

The morning seems easy... at least, as though, it should be simple. Singing birds, warm sun, purpose, and a rested head... the makings of a measured up morning. So, why do I tread the morning?

The afternoon... I seem to sink. My arms and legs are tired. My nose strains and barely clears the water. Reveille brings, sometimes, some company. I exit my car, put hand over heart, and feel the afternoon steam blowing on my face. The entirety of Post pauses for a single moment... and I am not alone. Our existences are so similar, but completely complex in their own rights. Even in one household, not one experience shares its likeness. It makes treading problematic.

The evening... a shoulder. A shoulder to rest my head, and all its concerns. A few hours of peace. A few hours when my feet touch the bottom, and the water carries me. A few moments of hair stroking, and sweet kisses. Tonight, every night, I rest on the shore... with sand in my hair, and under my nails.

Rinse... repeat...

because--- well, nothing to say!

INSTRUCTIONS: Remove the blog in the top spot from the following list and bump everyone up one place. Then add your blog to the bottom slot, like so.

1) CuriosityKiller
2) Doggy Mama
3) Life Lemons
4) Sunny Side of Life
5) erased onto paper

Next select five people to tag: (if you haven’t done it already)
1) Softball Slut
2) Jeremy?
3) Twinki
and two random ones because I don't know who else to tag!
4) Expecting Flight
5) Dungannistan

What were you doing 10 years ago?

Trying to find ways to ditch school, probably.

What were you doing 1 year ago?

Ummm... blogging a lot. Very sad, and sulking sort of blogging.

Five snacks you enjoy:
1) Chips & Salsa
2) peanut butter on saltines
3) Reeses Cups (one from fancythis)
4) watermelon
5) popcorn (buttered, deathly buttered, and salted)

Five songs to which you know all the lyrics:

1) Red Corvette-Prince
2) Tonight- Sara Evans
3) I Need You- LeAnn Rimes
4) Make Yourself- Incubus
5) Look After You- The Fray

Five things you would do if you were a millionaire:
1) PAY BILLS
2) PAY MAMA's BILLS
3) Go to Grad School
4) Invest
5) Build a big freaking closet for all te Gianni Bini and Kenneth Cole shoes I'd buy

Five bad habits:
1) Biting my nails
2) shoes (But, Honey, there are soooooooo super cute!)
3) sweet tooth
4) my knees and hips see my running as a bad habit
5) laziness after 7pm

Five things you like doing:
1) writing
2) reading
3) running
4) DANCING!!!!
5) shopping for shoes!

Five things you would never wear again:
1) balloon pants
2) socks with sandles
3) tie dyed shorts
4) moo moos?
5) I'm out?

Five favorite toys:
1-5 Husband :)

Jackrabbit Run 4 Hope

Ahh yes...race day. Here is my report:

Copperas Cove, TX- 73 degrees, cloudy, and humid as hell. It was great running weather.

Distance: 10K (6.2 miles)

Finishing Time: 51'13"

Placed: 1st (female, age group 25-29).

Report:
It was awesome. Matt (pulled a hamstring and couldn't run) and I drove the route the night before to size it up. There was a nice decline at the start, that lead into a steep hill (about 1K long)... Many people passed me up at the gun... but, I caught them because they burned themselves down that first hill. I was one of very few that managed to make it up the very hard climb without walking. I just kept it up as well as I could. I hit 1 mile just under 8 minutes... Mile 2 was more difficult. After that hill, we were atop a nice plateau so most of the next 3 miles was flat. I tried to keep my pace around 8 minutes... and I managed. A young girl (about 15), and an older man (about 60) were right with me through the flat parts of the run. Around mile 4, I grabbed some water, and took a bit in through my wind wipe, causing some choking. I didn't stop; I caught my breath and kept on. However, the runners I stayed with most of the run managed to get some distance between us. In the last kilometer or so there was a very big decline. It was hard pounding down the hill. It hurt! A much lighter woman passed me coming down. I hit the bottom, saw the finish line, and gave it everything I had left over. Boy was I tired.

It was nice to complete that run, and see my time as the winner in my age group. I was only a few minutes behind the overall female at 47'50"... which, ironically, is close to my PB for the 10K (no hills involved).

Now, I just need to work on my hill attack!
Here are some photos courtesy of Matthew.

Coming down the first stretch of road... mile 1

Rounding the first turn... sizing up the competition.

Coming down the last hill...

Heading toward the finish line!

Finally done... dripping wet! It was so humid.

Receiving a medal for 1st place.


and, back at home with my Zora... time for a nap.