Photo Friday!

Look what I came home to last night!

I told you I wasn't kidding. Conspiracy.

Random stuff found on my phone...

Really? Who does that?

Thanks for the direction.

#2. Sure, honey, you can get a toy.... Oh. A Gladiator suit, with sword. Of course.

I see this guy on the freeway at LEAST a few times a week. I'm not even sure what he's preaching, because just looking at his truck makes me twitchy - there's so much stuff happening. But I figure it's nothing I want part of, if crazy dude chooses to hang out on the freeway at rush hour.

Man. They were SPAZZING about taking a picture together. Was it really that awful? Jeez.

Finally....

If we were friends, I'd bring you a beer too, after you had a baby.

Three Things Thursday

1. I've determined that there's a vast conspiracy that forces me to replace toilet paper everywhere I go. I'm not joking. I mean, I was when I was telling The H that I think I'm the only one that does it at home - and he said he doesn't remember the last time he had to... and we all know the kids won't.

So imagine my surprise, when I walk into the restroom at work, and find this.



Conspiracy. These are the things that keep me up at night.

2. Gabby is cracking me up lately. Shadow figures in broad daylight? Why not. (I have no idea why there's a helmet on her head...).

One glove? Of course.

But also cute...

3. I am LOVING your responses to my Gratitude Challenge!! Link HERE - What are YOU grateful for? Tell me, and you could win an Allied Medal Hanger :).

Corona del Mark Scenic 5K

Coincidentally, this race coincided with a virtual race that I participated in... Alicia Runs Race for Autism 5K!

Direct from the horses mouth....

The race finishes along the bluffs of Big Corona State Beach with restaurant row, merchant booths and live entertainment. The Corona del Mar Scenic 5K Race, 2 Mile Fun Walk and 1 Mile Kids Dolphin Dash is a signature special event that you will not want to miss.

The H and I ran this race last year with The Snork's, and it was pretty fun. We mainly were interested in the promised gourmet breakfast. They weren't lying, it was pretty rad.

Mrs. Snork went and got pregnant, and had a baby last week, so unfortunately, she was out for the race this year. Mr. Snork, despite not running for... a year... claimed he would beat me.

So obviously, it was my mission to not let that happen. Which looked shady, thanks to The Ankle, and a supreme lack of running in the last month.

#1 wanted to run with us, this year, so the three of us arrived in Corona del Mar bright and early, at 7:30 (I love small races).
Seriously.

The course is NOT easy, but it sure is pretty. It's constant hills - small hills, but rollers the entire way. They really aren't kidding when they label one part "Killer Hill".

So, knowing that I was unprepared, I decided early on that I would walk a few of the uphills. I planned on definitely walking Killer Hill, and two others that I knew were tough.

That turned out to work great. I recognized in the first half mile that I was passing a bunch of people, and slowed down, and maintained a comfortable pace from there.... then ran like hell the last half mile... There was a stroller I wanted to beat. The end.

Look! I can run with my eyes closed! (ps, I'm not on team Grandbob, and this chick is blocking me, and I don't like her).

Hello, heel strike....

Oh. That looks better.

Splits:
1 - 11:25
2 - 10:29
3 - 11:05 - Killer Hill, and water stop
.2 - 0:52

Official chip time, 33:05 (yes, that's 4+ minutes off of last year, after a month off for The Ankle).

Mr Snork's time, 34:32. Winner, winner, chicken dinner.

HOWEVER.

Putting us both to shame, was #1.

She looks like a rock star, doesn't she? Check her out, beating the spandex booty short fuzzy chick back there.

Like a pro.

Her first race, without ANY training, or running for a month, or ever running more than a few miles at a time....

25:38.

Good enough for 2nd in her age group.

(There would be better pictures, except the photog company apparently sucks, and doesn't post them. Nor do they post finish line pictures by your bib number [in my case] or even take one [in her case] [bastards]).

With a fancy schmancy plaque to go with it...

In her words...

it was hard to know where to turn, there weren't that many
people in front of me.

The problems she has...

And breakfast was, again, rad. They were handing out mini creme brulee's in the line...

And then... there was all.of.this.

Totally an annual event.

**Giant thank you to Team Sparkle for the skirt - LOVED it!**

“For today and its blessings, I owe the world an attitude of gratitude.”

Officially, this is post #200. Pretty fancy, eh?

When I started this blog 18 months ago, I was not a runner. I was just a working mom, trying to be responsible, live as an example to my kids, and build a happy life in a new place.

I toyed with frugality (still dislike). I cooked things. I started going to the gym. (But then I stopped). We toured my kitchen (thrill a minute). I tried (and failed, but kept trying) really hard to suck less. I became a little bit of a hippie, and started making my own laundry detergent and stopped using shampoo.... We took some trips to Big Bear, Joshua Tree, Yosemite. Played around with vegetarianism, a few times. I became a wedding photographer and florist (yes, I made the bouquet. I know, it's lovely.). We went camping. Twice. I reallllly sucked at meal planning.

I ran my first 5K. The race that started it all.

That's a lie. I was pleased to be done. And didn't run again for 3 months.

But then I did.

And I ran my first "serious" race. Okay, it was a Turkey Trot, but the first race I took seriously. And I did okay.

There was all of this... That really sucked.

What didn't suck? The $2000+ that we raised for Pediatric Cancer Research. That rocked.

I ran the Princess Half. That also didn't suck.

I ran another half, a bit later. That one kind of did suck. What didn't suck was the 30 minute PR.


It's been an interesting 18 months.

It's been a supremely challenging 6 months.

I've been kind of... funk-ish lately, as per my last few posts. I'm spending a lot of time in my head being disgruntled. I am sad at what Gabby has to go through. I'm annoyed at #1 and #2 acting out a bit, and annoyed that I'm annoyed at their understandable and justified reactions. I'm angry at the financial situation this put us in. I'm bummed about all the things we're missing out on, all the trips we had planned that we can't take.

My head has not been in the game.

However...
I have three beautiful kids.
I have a supportive H.
I am HEALTHY and ABLE to run.
I have a job that provides food, water, shelter, and clothing.
I have tapped into a fantastic, supportive network of funny, inspirational, and compassionate people.
I live in a place that I love.
I have access to amazing doctors and a fantastic oncology team.
I live in a fantastic school district that challenges and engages my kids.
I have good friends.

I am grateful, for so many things. I might forget that, sometimes, but I am.

I am also grateful for the people who read this nonsense. All 154 or whatever of you, plus google reader followers :D.

So....


A 200th Post Giveaway!

I've got an Allied Medal Hanger to giveaway, plus a Mystery Box of Awesome Things. What's in the mystery box? I'm not telling. But I may give you a hint as the week goes on... I promise it will be fun, useful, and unisex!

Here's how to enter....

1. You must be AN EXISTING FOLLOWER OR READER. IE, this can't be your first time wandering through and pretending. We'll go on the honor system here, but since this is a giveaway for existing readers, please be honest :).

2. Tell me what YOU'RE grateful for. 1 comment for each, 1 entry for each... how many things can you come up with?

It's a challenge, that will hopefully brighten your day and get your head back in the game.

Giveaway ends next Friday, June 10th at midnight.

Ready, set... GO.

I have nothing witty

So, when last I blogged, I was in a funk.

I'm still in a funk.

I'm not even sure why, there's nothing going on. I'm just... bleh.

Bleeeehhhhh.

Oh well. Life goes on, right?

Anyway.

I started running again last week, and it was pretty glorious. 2 miles Thursday, and 2.5 Sunday. Sunday's run was followed by 30 minutes on the Bike of Boredom.... which was interesting. I don't think I like the bike any better than I did before, but it was somehow more gratifying knowing I did it because I wanted to, not because I felt stuck with it. I added hills, because, why wouldn't I...

This might have backfired, though, because now I'm eyeing tri's like it's my job. I probably should swim, first.

The PT gave me full clearance to start training this week, ramping up my miles and speed using the stupid normal 10% rule. So, I can race this weekend's 5K (Corona del Mar Scenic 5K, if anyone local is interested. Cute, small race, with a gourmet food tent at the end - win!). #1 is pretty psyched to race - as she said, she's expecting to DOMINATE. I checked out the age group results from last year, and she's got a good chance of placing.


Regarding Gabby. Thanks, everyone, for the kind thoughs, prayers, and emails. She's doing MUCH better right now - easily worn out, but in really good spirits. She's, like, relentless in her good spirits, and I should take some lessons.

She rocked this look to Open House for 1 & 2. They were less than amused, and wouldn't walk within 20 feet of us. Swim goggles? I don't even know....

OH! And, the best non-kid related news, ever. I FOUND THE DRESS! The one I was bummed about missing out on from Ann Taylor...

And it was on clearance, for $35 (down from $90!). And just as glorious as I remembered.

Phew.

What's on tap for June?

I'm starting training for Disneyland, shortly. I've got a 10K in July, that I want to do well in, so I'll be doing some speed work. I've got the Suck Less Program, that I've gotten back on track on the last few weeks. And, this cycling business. We'll see if that continues.

My Internet BFF is getting induced today - can't wait to meet Shady Baby! Her and her husband met online, the same message board where I met her, and secretly got married a year ago, then had a second wedding with her family and friends a few months later... Me and kidlets were the only guests at wedding #1 (recap here), and spent the evening after lounging in a hot tub and eating pizza and drinking beer. I couldn't at all have asked for a better friend, and I'm super stoked for them. Especially since this baby is keeping someone else up at night.

We followed that up with our first camping trip ever... Recap HERE.

Where were YOU a year ago?

Bleh

How's that for a succinct (and 100% appropriate) post title?

We're in the throes of Delayed Intensification, and things are pretty rough. The Steroid seems to have had a reverse effect on her this time - instead of obnoxious, ravenous monster child, she's lethargic, and not eating. She's developed some ear pain, which seems to be unexplained, and just one of those things that comes with the territory. She's lost a few pounds since Friday already, when she had treatment. The inch of hair she's accumulated has started falling out.

Work is frustrating me. That's all I'll say for now.

I saw the PT again today, and he gave me the green light to start running again Thursday. Just 2 miles, but it's a start!

I'm thisclose to my 200th post! I'm planning something fun for my followers.... And only my followers! So if you're not, and you're just a creepy stalker, sorry, you're gonna be left out of rhe fun!

Weekend Recap

aka, hey! Look how much NON-EXERCISING I did this weekend!

First, if you're a new follower, Hi! And, even if you're not new, there are a couple tabs up top, that I've added - About Me (because I speak in code, Chris K?), Suck Less Challenge, and about Gabby.

Friday, I bailed on work early. Stopped at the market on my way home, and saw... this.

I mean. We don't really live close enough to the beach for that to really be okay..

There was a chemo trip for Gabby, that left her kind of...

all weekend. Bummer :(. It also has her hair starting to fall out again. And, I mean, you can know it's coming, and you could have seen it before, but it's never a pleasant discovery.

I also found this in the mail Friday...

Psyched. My PT follow up is Tuesday. The Ankle feels a billion times better already. I *think* I'll get to run, soon.

So that when I race here....



...on June 4th, I can beat my friend's husband. At least, that's the plan.

Speaking of My Friend, she's super duper pregnant, and ready to have a baby, like, any second. It was a shock to them - a SHOCK! - that at 3 months that baby is still pretty....

...floppy.

Anyway. We had this text exchange when discussing dinner Saturday...

Parenting lessons, take 1.

Saturday, we sat around all morning, and watched some random Netflix documentaries...

First up, Mount St. Helens: Back from the Dead (zombie volcano?!)
Followed by...

Oceans, by Disney Nature. The kids all sat down and watched this one, so winner!

Then, we hit up the farmers market, where the goat cheese lady recognized me AND called me over. Signs you eat to much goat cheese? When they specifically tell you they've got yours there.
The goat cheese was bought, and later, for dinner with Mr. and Mrs. Snork, stuffed into these...

and it was glorious.

We also had roasted beet salad with feta, and Russian pot-stickers, which I failed to get a picture of, but imagine a mix between wontons and real pot-stickers. Good stuff.

Oh. And, there was this...

And this, which I didn't eat and therfore failed to get a picture of...

Snork didn't believe that there's a finite number of times you can fold a piece of paper in half, and was irritated when the paper thwarted her...

Sunday, I got up intending to cycle for 90 minutes (!!!!). I got 20 minutes in, and bailed. I wasn't feeling it. Fail.

The H and I went and saw this...

And it was lovely.

The movie was pretty good, too. But don't take my word for it. I'm easily amused and rarely have expectations for movies.

We took the girls to Barnes and Nobel so #2 could throw a tantrum when we didn't let her buy random stuff. #3 showed me this...

Because that's what I need. It must be true, if the 4 year old says so.

I was going to take them for FroYo, but #2 wrecked it for me, so I pouted.

I finished reading this...

It was pretty good. I'm a little fascinated by Everest. However, unlike every.other.thing I get a little obsessed with, no part of climbing Everest sounds appealing, at all.

But that didn't stop me from then watching this...
Happy Monday!