A little of this and that

September 27, 2013 by 2 Comments

Hello Friday!

Good grief what a week it’s been! My brain’s in a bit of a scramble as I wait for my coffee to kick in…it’s a bullet points kind of morning:

  • I have been flying solo this week as J’s been traveling for work and I just have to say that I am in awe of what single mothers pull off every single day!
  • It took until Wednesday for the effects of that bug/virus I had to finally be gone. Happy to finally be feeling like me again.
  • I did manage to get a couple of runs in this week – nothing too crazy, but after Saturday’s debacle it just felt good to run.
  • We’re three weeks into the school year and I’m already waving the white flag! Middle school homework is no joke – my oldest is already on his 5th test – seriously?
  • And, speaking of middle school, I’m off to watch my son play his first ever football game this afternoon! I’m a mix of nerves and excitement – I think I’d feel better if he could add a few inches and pounds before this afternoon 🙂

 

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Filed Under: general musings, randomness

The ABCs of Me

July 12, 2013 by 6 Comments

This Friday’s randomness is brought to you courtesy of Courtney from Eat Pray Run DC, who tagged me a couple of days ago with a get to know you ABC game. So grab your coffee cup and here we go….

A. Attached or Single? Married for almost 21 years!

B.  Best friend? I’m very lucky to have some wonderful friends in my life – not naming just one!

C. Cake or pie? Flourless chocolate cake

D. Day of choice? Sundays – it’s the one day of the week where I may get to sleep in, we usually have a big family breakfast followed by a lazy, family hang-out day (except during Lacrosse season or if I’m racing)

E. Essential Item?  I am ridiculously dependent on my smartphone!

F. Favorite color? It seems to change – right  now I love deep purples – though you’d never know it by looking at my wardrobe

G. Gummy bears or worms?  Truthfully, neither.

H. Home town? Boston!  boston_skyline

I. Favorite Indulgence?  A good glass of red wine.

J. January or July? January – I love having a whole fresh year laid out in front of me!

K. Kids? Two great boys and one lovable German Shepherd

L. Life isn’t complete without? Family and friends

M. Marriage date? October 11th

N. Number of brothers/sisters? 1 wonderful brother

O. Oranges or Apples? Apples!

P. Phobias? Spiders…well all bugs, but especially spiders – skeeve me out!

Q. Quotes? There are several quotes I like, but one favorite is:

“Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase.” –Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

R. Reasons to smile? Without a doubt my boys!

S. Season of choice? Fall – it’s always been my favorite time of the year! Cool, but not cold, weather – perfect for running and football!  And the foliage in N.E. is beautiful!

T. Tag 5 People  I’m going to pass on tagging anyone – but if you want to play along, please leave me a link so I can read your post.

U. Unknown fact about me? As part of my major in college, I use to be fluent in Japanese – sadly I’m not anymore.

V. Vegetable?  Grilled asparagus

W. Worst habit? I’m very Type A which makes me a bit of a perfectionist.

X. Xray or Ultrasound? Odd question, but I guess ultrasounds because it meant I was seeing my baby!

Y. Your favorite food?  Sushi

Z. Zodiac sign? Leo

Have a great weekend!

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Filed Under: general musings, MLK, randomness

Random runs, chiro visits and other randomness

November 21, 2012 by 11 Comments

For whatever reason it was a flury of chaos around my house this morning…so it’s a bullet points kind of day.

  • I must admit it feels kind of funny to wake up every morning and not have my runs and workouts pre-determined by a training plan. I’ve been heading out the door with no real destination in mind, just running to run and when I’ve had enough or am crunched for time, I head back.
  • Signed up for my first race of 2013 – going to run the Wampanog Old-Fashioned 10 miler again. J and I ran it back in February (you can read the race report here). It’s a really well organized local race and I like the course. I also like racing this distance and hope to find a few others to do next year.
  • I’m headed to my second appointment with a chiropractor this morning. I attended a gait analysis clinic this past weekend where this chiro was the guest speaker. While I’ve had a gait analysis done before in running stores, it was very different to have it done by someone trained in the neuromusculosekeletal system the way he was…plus it helped that he’s a marathoner. I’m going to work with him for a few weeks and see how my ITB responds.
  • We’re staying local for Thanksgiving this year – my brother’s hosting and I’m really looking forward to a lowkey day with the family. The plan’s to either hit an early yoga class or get a run in, then finish cooking and head to my brother’s place for a day of food and football!
Are you running a Turkey Trot? 
Traveling for the holiday or staying local?
Wishing everyone a wonderful Thanksgiving!!
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Filed Under: chiropractor, no training plan, randomness, Thanksgiving, Wampanoag 10

Friday Five

May 18, 2012 by 5 Comments
  • What is it about doing speed work at the track that always puts me on such a high for the rest of the day? I need to do more of it, because if nothing else it’s a confidence booster!
  • Some how I’m now just 10 days away from my next half marathon. I feel like it’s kinda crept up on me. Time to start obsessing …. checking the 10-day forecast.
  • Yoga is kicking my butt! I joined a “Yoga for Runners” class taught by an amazing yogini/marathoner. Last night was the second class and it was tougher than the first! I am ridiculously tight and while I try to break out the Rodney Yee DVD with some consistency, there’s clearly nothing that compares to having the instructor there to point out all your flaws…correct your form!
  • My youngest announced to me this morning that he only has 15 days of school left before he becomes a 1st grader! He’s looking forward to being out of school a whole week before his older brother – I’m panicking because that means I have only 15 days to finish any of my house projects or they go on hold until the boys start camp in July – Yikes!
  • The weather’s finally turned picture-perfect around here so I plan to live in my garden quite a bit this weekend. My boys gave me some beautiful perennials for Mother’s Day that I still need to get into the ground. So in between the usual kids’ sports/chauffeuring to b-day parties/etc., I hope to be happily up to my elbows in dirt 🙂
What have you got planned for the weekend?
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Filed Under: Friday Five, gardening, randomness, track work, Yoga

This and that….

March 23, 2012 by 5 Comments

I swear I blinked and this week was over!

There hasn’t been much running this week – which seems a bit of a crime given the gorgeous weather we’ve been having! But I kinda hit an energy wall on Monday so aside from one nice run with my friend E on Tuesday and some pilates and yoga, I’ve been pretty lazy on the workouts!

I have donned my race director hat quite a bit this week securing police details, setting up online registration and other logistics, and trying to secure sponsors. I’m surprised by how much goes into a simple 5k and kids’ fun run, and I know this pales in comparison to what large races must contend with!

Started spending a little time mulling over training plans. I’ve got a couple of months until my next race and am really feeling like I need to shake things up a bit…just not quite sure what that means yet.

Looking forward to a fairly quiet weekend just hanging with my family. My oldest son’s hockey team is playing during the intermission of the Providence Bruins tonight which should be fun to watch! Otherwise we actually have a fair amount of unscheduled time for a change. I’m hoping to get some spring cleaning started, which I’m sure will send my husband and kids scurrying for cover! And I’m definitely getting a run in…may be two 🙂

Got big plans this weekend?
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Filed Under: half marathon hangover, playing race director, randomness

Eleven, Eleven, Eleven, Eleven

January 26, 2012 by 16 Comments

I got tagged by both XL over at Taking It On  and Molly at I’m a Sleeper Baker to join in on the game of 11’s that’s been going on in bloggyland. I’ve been enjoying reading others’ bits of randomness, so here goes…

In case you don’t know, the rules are:

  1. Post these rules
  2. You must post 11 random things about yourself
  3. Answer the questions set for you in their post
  4. Create 11 new questions for the people you tag to answer
  5. Go to their blog and tell them you’ve tagged them
  6. No stuff in the tagging section about you are tagged if you are reading this. You legitimately have to tag 11 people!
My Random Stuff
  1. I have a shoe and handbag addiction that could be viewed as unhealthy 
  2. Spiders freak me out
  3. I have two white board calendars in my kitchen that are color-coded for each family member (even the dog has a color) 
  4. I could wear only black clothing for the rest of my life and be perfectly happy 
  5. I’m a sucker for TV & movie awards shows 
  6. I love spicy food and make a mean jambalaya 
  7. I think Valentines Day is a bogus holiday 
  8. I’m a bit of a political junkie – both fascinated and repulsed by the whole process 
  9. When I’ve been pulled over, I’ve been able to talk my way out of speeding tickets  
  10. I love to decorate – I can spend hours looking at paint samples 
  11. I have no tolerance for bad customer service 
 XL’s Questions
  1. What is your ‘comfort food’? My husband J’s beef stroganoff
  2. Do you exercise better when you are angry or happy? Depends on the exercise – speedwork or hills are best done angry!
  3. Have you ever done anything to the point of puking? What? Yep – did the stupid drink too much thing once…once was enough
  4. Any embarrassing nicknames in your past? Spill it. In college – Mother Goose…long story.
  5. Guilty movie pleasure? Chick flicks – Devil Wears Prada is a fave.
  6. Do you like or dislike these tagging memes? Like them.
  7. Why do you run? (might seem like a stupid question, but I’m curious) For so many reasons…for sanity.. for the challenge (both mental and physical)…for “me” time
  8. Would you rather be rich or famous? Rich – I think of all I could do for my family, community, charities.
  9. If you could go anywhere tomorrow without any worries (everything would be taken care of perfectly for the duration) where would you go,  Australia
  10. with whom and   my husband J
  11. for how long?   a couple of months – I’d want our boys to join us but I want at least 1 week just the two of us!
Molly’s Questions

1. what is the one song you never tire of? At the moment, Jay-Z’s “Run this Town”
2. what scares you? Living a life of unfulfilled dreams – don’t want to have a lot of should haves
3. what’s on your bucket list? I don’t really have a list…but it would probably include lots of travel destinations
4. salty or sweet? Salty
5. what would you do with an unexpected day off? Head to the beach with a book
6. boxers or briefs? Boxers
7. what would you have for your last meal? Anything on the menu from Esca in NYC
8. what is your favorite body part? My arms
9. what do you like best about your job? I work out of my house so the flexibility
10. Giants or Patriots? Patriots!
11. what is your goal for 2012? To live more in the moment, to be present

    My Questions for the Newly Tagged
    1. Favorite quote or saying (not from a movie)?
    2. Favorite movie quote?
    3. 3 dinner guests -who would they be? (Can be dead or alive)
    4. Favorite indulgence?
    5. Favorite Cocktail (or beer or wine)?
    6. Favorite book from childhood?
    7. Have you traveled abroad? Where?
    8. Beyond running, what’s your favorite hobby? 
    9. What 3 things do you have to have in the morning?
    10. What 3 things do you have to have when you head to bed?
    11. What’s your biggest pet peeve?

    And, finally the Newly Tagged:
    (If you’ve been tagged before, please include a link to your post in a comment, cause I’d love to check it out)

    1. Erica at I Run Because…I Can
    2. Jeff at Detroit Runner
    3. Stephanie Anne at Running to Health
    4. Suz at Cows, Lasers and Everything in Between
    5. Carrie at Family Fitness Food
    6. Amanda at Run to the Finish
    7. Erika at MCM Mama
    8. Jill at One Tough Cookie and a Beer
    9. Paige at The Last Doughnut
    10. Lisa at Early Morning Run
    11. Rene at The Amherst Shuffle

    Whew…that was one crazy long post!

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    Filed Under: eleven, general musings, randomness