Ridiculous Thoughts

Random Thoughts

Have you ever researched a product you were thinking about buying, and read through the customers comments/reviews? Before purchasing my Garmin, and more recently a Keurig coffee machine as a family Christmas present and a Cuisinart juicer to replace the cheap-o one that broke, I researched these items to see which models would work best and fit my needs. I've discovered when reading the consumer review section, that the people who had the most problems with the products usually didn't read the directions, or never went past the "getting started" page. Seriously. I guess people just want to use their gadgets right out of the box, sans directions.

It's raining hard in Southern California. Finally.

My little girl cat was initiating play with the dog when she thought we weren't looking. I wonder if they really get along when we're not home, and if all those dirty looks and growls are just for show?

I have the Carlsbad Half Marathon next weekend and I'm not ready. I have been running and working out , and I know I can finish it, but the most I've run since the Las Vegas RNR HM is 5 miles. Going for a PR is not in the equation.

I receive a call on my cell phone from an unfamiliar number, and answer it anyway:
Me - "Hello"
kid - "Mooooooooom?" "Tyler just spray painted my room!"
Me - You have the wrong number.
kid - *phone disconnects*
I'm so glad I'm not the mom in that scenario...

I'm finally using Daily Mile for my workouts, as well as my runs.

I ran with the track club on Saturday. It was a five miler. It was so much fun to see most of my running friends again, plus many brand new faces. It's going to be another great year of running!

Chargers. *sigh*

My son took it upon himself to clean out the work shed in the backyard, and we all got into it. The shed turned into a catch all for the stuff we no longer use or need, and it was embarrassingly full. The shed also contained boxes of random household items leftover from our move here, three years ago. (Can you say "procrastination?") Obviously, we didn't need all of that stuff. My daughter made so many trips to Goodwill that they now know her. Our recycle bin is crammed with cardboard, and the trash can is equally full. We have more to do, as that space will some day become become an office, but it's much better.

Wednesday's Song:
Yummy, Yummy, Yummy - Ohio Express

PEACE

Let The Children Play

Yesterday

Activity: Run
Date: 08/10/09 06:33 PM
Distance: 2.90 miles
Time: 0:30:15
Speed: 5.8 mph
Pace: 10' 25 min/mile
Calories: 277

In addition to working out at RU, I did a 30 minute easy run much later on at the bay after another Runner's World Magazine wear test running shoe distribution. I ended up with these:



I'll keep you posted on how I do with these. So far they're OK!

Today

Activity: Run - Treadmill
Date: 08/11/09 12:00 PM
Distance: 3.11 miles
Time: 0:30:00
Speed: 6.2 mph
Pace: 9' 38 min/mile
Calories: 285

I did the interval workout B gave me. It was killer, and my calves still aren't recovered from last week's long run with the track club, so I had to do the last few sets of intervals a tad slower. The treadmill I ended up on was programmed to shut off at 30 minutes, and I needed to be on there for 34 minutes. Had I known this I could have planned better. Most of the treadmills aren't programmed like that. Oh well. Since this sort of threw off my rhythm, I just did a cool down for 5 minutes at a walking pace and called it a day.

Tuesday afternoon with a friend

"See, Alee?"
"Cars go really fast down the slide!"

"Wheeeee!"

"Can I come in?"

"Jump!"

"Bye-bye!"

Yesterday's song:
Life Is Good - Kenny Chesney - Katiefeldmom

PEACE

Candle In The Wind

Last night I was surfing the net, looking for a few 5k's to run this Spring, and I just happened upon the Jackie Bristow Memorial 5k Race.

The name sounded very familiar.

I clicked on the link and found out that the race had already happened on January 3, 2009, but then I began to read on about Jackie's story and her struggle with anorexia and bulimia. My heart sank. She was the twin daughter of one of my closest childhood friends.

I spent first grade through eighth grade with my friend Joan. We attended different high schools, but we still kept in touch though yearly Christmas cards and though each of our children's births. Even though we've moved to different cities, we still kept in touch. I'll never forget when she gave birth to her full term twin daughters. She was only expecting one child at that time, and hoping for a girl, since she already had two sons. Emily was born and Joan was thrilled, then a surprise happened when Jackie followed, and the labor and delivery team went crazy because they were only expecting to handle a single birth. (Back then, the doctors didn't do sonograms unless it was absolutely necessary.) Her family was overjoyed. Twin daughters!

Joan and I kept in touch through a few phone calls, letters, and Christmas cards. Over the past recent years it just has been Christmas cards with a short note and her children's school pictures. This holiday season there was no Christmas card from Joan, but I just chalked that up to the state of the economy, and everyone seemed to be cutting back on sending cards.

I did not know that Joan's daughter, Jackie, lost her life on January 1, 2008 at age 19 until I stumbled upon the 5k race information last night. My heart is breaking for my friend and her family.




Yesterday's song:
Road To Recovery - Midnight Juggernauts

PEACE

Milestones

Activity: Run
Date: 10/30/08 10:42 AM
Distance: 3.09 miles
Time: 0:38:55
Speed: 4.8 mph
Pace: 12' 35 min/mile
Calories: 295

I finally ran today. I walked for about the first three minutes then ran most of the time, then about the last few minutes I walked. If you notice, it now says "run" next to activity. On my BiM program, it separates run and walk into different categories, and since I did more running than walking, I decided to change that setting when I started out. This is a milestone for me. I felt good running, but the right leg is still tight, but not in pain. The tightness causes me to limp a little, and a neighbor walking her dogs called out to me as I'm running by "did you know you were limping?" It's will take a long while to get my muscles all nice and limber again, but until then, I will be lopsided. Based on today's stats, I now know I can do a 5k under 40 minutes.

While I was running, I had a really stupid (but somewhat funny) song in my head that I heard on a YouTube video that someone sent me:

I should have listened to something else before I set foot out the door, something to get me pumped up. I don't wear my iPod Shuffle when I run in the neighborhood because some streets are rather busy, and I need to be aware. Next time I'll listen to my cardio mix before I leave.

Yesterday's song:
Time For A Change - Motley Crue

PEACE

Nest

Last night we shared an evening with old friends. We met in our late twenties, lived next door to each other when our kids were quite little. My friend often says that "we grew up together." We used to get together on weekends and play Trivial Persuit, Taboo, and other quirky board games, as well as watching the big game on TV and sharing the barbecue. Our husbands coached soccer and we (the ladies) taught cross-stitch classes at the elementary school and did our part as Girl Scout leaders. That whole time frame seems like eons ago. They're our age, but already empty nesters. One kid has his career and the other is on her own, away at college. Their house was so clean because the kids weren't there, and their dog is now the little king. The dog is a silky terrier that probably weighs three pounds on a good day. I love my kids dearly but I keep wondering when they're going to be on their own. With the crummy economy these days, I wonder if they'll ever get out on their own in this area, or even this state. Both of my kids do their part to chip in at home, but I would really like to see them fully on their own. I don't know if my friends are the exception or the rule, but I've met others who have their twenty-something kids still living at home because it's too expensive to move out. Our friends reminded us that, sometimes, their kids come home, not because they miss their parents terribly, but because they need cash... cash and clean laundry. *sigh*

Friday's song:
On A Clear Day - Barbara Streisand - Heffer Blog

PEACE

Photo from Wikipedia