Just Breathe

Blogging?

I have no good reason as to why blogging hasn't happened as frequently as it once did.  Perhaps having computer issues have slowed things down a bit, and I'm not big on phone blogging, especially when auto correct gets in the way.

Everyone in my house had a cold.  It wasn't anything tragic, it was just more annoying than anything.  Now that the cold has diminished it has been rather hard getting back into a groove.  I kind of feel as if my energy was taken away from me, and I can't quite get it back, especially when it comes to running.  I should be able to keep up with the group, but I just can't.  I'm quickly out of breath, but having asthma factors in. I'm sticking with the training as best as possible, still getting in the miles, albeit slow.  This too shall pass.

The kiddo has turned 8 years old and is counting down to when he can finally get his driver's license. I don't want him to rush things because he's still cute, says funny things, and thinks we're still cool.  I'm soaking up this phase of his life as much as possible.  I know it won't be very long before he thinks we're creepy, but it's currently a blissful time. The other night he brought me a hot cup of herbal tea.  The hot tea was his idea and his Papa helped him out. Yes, it was a warmish summer night, and he brought me hot tea so we could spend time together.  How could I resist?

Compared to my last job, my current job calm,  REALLY calm. I have coherent, linear thoughts and don't feel like my head is going to explode.  I'm doing pretty much the same things that I was doing at my last job, but now I'm dealing with "normal" people for employers.  It's so refreshing to work for people who don't micro-micro-micro-manage their business.

In my head. Calm.

I'm always on the hunt for natural, non-dairy treats.  Not having having ice cream during the summer months kind of sucks.  I have an allergy to cow's milk products which triggers skin issues and asthma.  While grocery shopping I discovered Luna & Larry's Organic Coconut Bliss Bars.*

I happen to like coconut, and was overjoyed to see that these contained NO DAIRY.  Every time I look in the frozen foods section to find something that resembles ice cream, it contains some form of milk. Finally, I found something that is palatable with the consistency of an ice cream bar. It's not like I'm going to wolf down the entire box (only 4)  in one sitting, but when I have a small splurge, these will fill the no ice cream void. 

In addition, I've also discovered that coconut water is a great electrolyte. I've stocked up on Zico.

The only thing about coconut water is that it's best served COLD.  It's not so great at room temperature. I've also noticed that it's easy on the digestive system, and doesn't mess with my system if I drink one of these before running. I haven't ventured into the other Zico coconut water flavors, like chocolate, but the natural coconut is just fine with me. *


Song from Monday, July 18, 2011:
Happy Birthday - Stevie Wonder

PEACE


*These reviews are my own.  No one gave me anything to say my 2 cents.

When I'm Back On My Feet Again

Still busy not running...  sort of not running.  OK, so I ran about 25 feet or so. I'll get into that later.

I think I figured out my itchy skin issues.  I was getting itchy, dry skin around the back of my neck and collar bone.  Due to the process of elimination it's most definitely dairy, and possibly corn.  I've known all along that I've been allergic to dairy/cow's milk products.  Up until very recently I could handle small amounts of dairy, such as a touch of cream in my coffee while out to eat, or a small pat of butter on toast.  No more.  Over the past week I took out ALL cow's milk products away from my diet.  This wasn't easy since I had to be the picky one when going out to eat and ask how foods were prepared.  I'm just about all cleared up.  I'm putting corn back in next week just to see what happens.   Good times.

The garden is coming along slowly.  I planted the yellow squash seedlings into the garden.  I have a feeling I'll be over-run with yellow squash this season, but I'm going to attempt using the squash flowers for cooking.   Some of the romaine lettuce is just about ready for the transfer, but I want to make sure they're big enough to handle being out there, unprotected.  I just need to figure out other ways of keeping gophers, slugs and snails away from my precious vegetables.

On Saturday I attended another Runner's World wear test event.  I came away with a pair of Brooks Ghost 3.  I haven't had a lot of success with Brooks, but these actually fit well, even with my orthotic.  Bonus points for the shoe not being Easter egg colors.  It's a neutral shoe, but I completely forgot to ask if they had any neutral cushioned shoes in the bunch.*  My first impressions are that these feel good in the heel, and there's plenty of room in the toe box.  These aren't as cushy as the Pearl Izumi Cruise I've been wearing, but they feel comfortable enough.  We'll see how they do once I start running again, hopefully in a couple of weeks.  Before they released these shoes to me I had to run about 25 feet for their shoe expert.  That's the first time I've really run since March 13 this year.  I was reluctant, and told the guy about my ailments, but he said the shoe was a good match for me, even though he could see that my left foot wasn't right.  The review comes out in the September 2010 Runner's World Magazine.   We'll see if they use my two cents.

Florence was my grandma.

Speaking of shoes, just about everyone wanted to know about the Fit Flops. Theses are super comfortable and I am considering purchasing another pair with less bling.  Gold sequins don't do well in the garden mud, however, if I get lost in my backyard I suppose I can wave one of my shoes at an overhead airplane.  I can wear them all day without the broken foot hurting, mostly because of the thick, but light sole.  From the exercise standpoint of the shoes, I really can't tell much of a difference there.  I suppose if I never worked out or never have run before I might notice a difference.  Hubs now calls them my Princess Jasmine shoes. I think I've heard enough derriere comments to last me a while, thankyouverymuch.  The next pair I purchase will definitely be more earthy or neutral in color.  Size wise, I wear a 6 1/2 (USA) in regular shoes, but these come only in even sizes.  The size 6 fit me well.

Mother's day came and went.  We don't celebrate Mother's Day in a big way.  In the early years we've had the big Mother's Day brunches out or the big to do dinner at someone's house, usually my mother in law's house.  For several reasons, I've just decided to opt out of the bigness of the day and keep things super simple. My little family and I went to the High Dive  for breakfast.  I didn't have to worry about getting decked out to go have breakfast. I just threw on some jeans, a blouse, my Princess Jasmine shoes, pulled my hair back in a pony tail and went.  No biggie, but it was perfect. They serve an awesome Bloody Mary, which was worth the 1/4 mile trip down the street, and equally awesome Halla (French) toast.

After breakfast and back at home, I spent the day at home, enjoying my back yard and took a few photos:
.  

Lumpy (the tabby) insisting that he take over Cruiser's bed.  Cruiser (the black kitty) wasn't too happy, but never moved.

Renee and Evan

Erik

Oh yeah, Erik shaved his head on Friday.  He said he wanted to see what his head actually looked like.  He's never had a buzz cut, even as a kid.   It's hard to believe that this is the same person who was a "Senior Standout"  for best hair in high school.  He once looked like Slash from Guns 'n' Roses.  Seriously.

I'm a lot more mobile, but the foot is still rather sensitive.  With less than a month until the (now) half marathon, this sensitive foot still concerns me.  I've been trying to exercise within reason, but it still isn't enough to constitute any type of running or even simulated running.  I honestly didn't think I'd be out so long.  It was is one heck of a broken bone.  I go back to orthopedics next Tuesday.  This is getting old.


Thursday's Song:
Miles In These Shoes - Jennifer Lopez

PEACE

 In loving memory.  My mom,  Gloria January 4, 1929 - March 1, 1986

*They also had Saucony, K Swiss, Mizunos, Puma, and a few others.

Waiting In The Weeds

PROGRESS REPORT. Sort of.

I set foot in Trader Joe's. I was guarding my foot so no one would step on it or ride over it with their carts, but TJ's has dinky little shopping carts and most of their wares and food items aren't that heavy, and there was nothing to worry about. I did go sans ortho-boot so I could wear my new orthotics. Sure, this really isn't earth shattering news, but I haven't really gone to the store since the Costco incident. I did go to Target once, but with that ortho-boot, and my ankle hurt something fierce afterward, and it's not my ankle that was injured. This time was rather uneventful, other than the timing, which was when hoards of college and high school students began to take their lunch breaks.

My skin IS breaking out in a itchy rash around the nape of my neck and around my left collar bone. I can't figure this one out, so it's back to selective food elimination. I can't think of what's causing the itchiness, since I haven't tried anything new with food, soaps, lotions, etc., or have done anything differently, but I've found that allergies come and go. Now I get to play food detective.

Gardening is in swing, and I should have a full garden in about a month. Snails or gophers ate some of my marigolds and zinnia seedlings, and I'm having to start all over with those. I knocked out some tall weeds and tilled a large section of the garden area by myself*. My vegetable seedlings are still separate, as I started those in small pots and used K-Cups. Those are doing well, so far. Corn was a bust, as none of the seeds germinated, but the seeds were from last year's seed batch. I'll start over with a new corn seed packet in about a week. Planted in the garden area are a row of strawberries transplanted from another section in the yard - last year's plantings, rosemary, jalapenos and poblano chilies.

Some of my babies.

I enjoy gardening, but I just don't get the same adrenaline rush from gardening as I do from running. Unless I'm tearing up soil with a hoe and pick ax, there's no adrenaline. Gardening tends to be a "Zen" type of thing, and I suppose it can be therapeutic and calming, but I need my running fix. I've also realized that I put all of my eggs in one basket with the running. Many people have suggested triathlons, but I'm not quite at that point in my head. I have the ability, I'm just need to be 100% on board with the idea, and I'm not right now. Maybe later. I need to figure out some sort of activity that gives me the same rush that running does, which does not require feet.

The San Diego Rock 'N' Roll Marathon/Half Marathon is looming with about one more month to go. Hubs did an 18 miler last weekend, but has just discovered that he has plantar fasciitis. I have to get on him about stretching and icing the foot, since he complains about it, but does nothing to remedy the situation. He's thinking about switching over to the half marathon. I'm encouraging him to stick with the whole. He's put in the miles already. I'm (mentally) set for the half. It concerns me that I haven't been able to do ANY training, but it will be around that time when I'll be able to at least walk/jog 13.1 miles. Unless there's some miracle, it will be my slowest half marathon ever, but I'm OK with that. Just being able to participate makes me very happy.

Thursday's Song:
Stuck In A Moment You Can't Get Out Of - U2 - Run-DMZ

PEACE

PS
May the 4th be with you!

*The dog supervised.

Her Eyes

Allergies.

Ugh.

This morning I woke up with extra puffy eyelids and feeling like I had not slept in days. I thought I grew out of this particular allergic reaction years ago, but it's BAAAACK. The pampas grasses in the area are full of fluffy plumes right now. Fluffy plumes are pretty, but not so great for allergies. I looked like Igor.

Yesterday's song:
These Dreams - Heart - Barbie2be

PEACE