Running on Shoesday!

I'm celebrating Tuesday Shoesday with a Tuesday - No Shoesday!  Just can't let go of summer.  So I wanted to share my "toes on the beach" photos!

I love getting pedicures.  Mrs. Wine Guru and my wonderful friend "The Mason" and I meet just about every month for group pedicures!  For my birthday, Hubby gave me a gift certificate for a "family pedicure"!  You have to know what a feat this was (did you see my pun there?  Feat - feet - pedicures - ha ha!)  

How do you convince a 12 year old by to get a pedicure?  How do you convince a very "Non-girly-girl" to get her toes done?  Well, Baby Boy just loves attention - and really, you get a lot of attention when you're a 12 year old boy in a nail salon!  Baby Girl?  I promised her black nail polish - that did it!  And Hubby - he really enjoyed it! 

  What a wonderful gift - and here's the result!  

 

Notice the peace sign on Baby Girl's black toes?  Pink is just not in her vocabulary!

And you know what - all of them (well, except Baby Girl) have agreed to go back sometime!

Well, thanks for stopping by on Shoesday Tuesday!  Hope your summer is winding down peacefully!

Running...back to high school!

I knew it was coming.  You know how that internal clock tells you that time has passed.  It's time...and it came in the mail...the announcement for my 25th high school reunion.  

I've never been to a reunion.  When the 10th one came, life hadn't moved forward enough to even go.  I had just finished college not long before, had only been married 1 year, and had just started my career.  There wasn't much to say at that point.  Then when the 20th came, my daughter's birthday was that weekend - not even a chance of going.  But now for number 25 - I actually feel like going!  Not a strong urge, just a curiosity mostly.

It wasn't that I didn't like high school.  But come on, high school...I was awkward, unsure of myself, looking for...something.  I went to a private Catholic high school.  My parents scrimped, saved, and budgeted to send me there.  My mother thought it would be safer than public high school.  But we were very middle class.  I didn't drive a Mercedes or a BMW to school.  I had a 79 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme that I got to drive on Fridays in my senior year.  Many kids were from wealthy homes.  And yeah, I felt like I didn't quite fit in.

I liked college so much better.  I feel like I finally became myself in college.  I liked myself in college - and still do!  I met great people in college, and those were the friends that I have stayed in touch with.  Honestly, I haven't stayed in touch with anyone from high school.

So, I'm not even sure what to expect.  Do they give you a name tag with your senior picture on it to wear?  Do they make you stand up and tell everyone what you've been doing the last 25 years?  Will everyone be fat and bald?  (I secretly hope so - especially those girls I thought were really "bitchy" - fat, not bald, although if they were bald too it might be more entertaining!)

Well, I've committed to going - sent my check in and everything!  Hubby has agreed to go - I know he'll be polite.  I'll let you know how it goes!

But please, tell me, did you go to your reunions?  Glad you went?  Will you ever go again?

Thanks for stopping by today! 

Running...really badly!

My running has sucked this week!  Absolutely sucked!  It's hot...I'm back at work...and I'm having a hard time fitting in my weekday runs!

Now, when I say hot, I mean that for some unknown reason, Mother Nature has decided that she is going to roast us for 3 days!  Last three day's temperatures have been 104, 110, and 103!  How is that fair?  Do you know what it's supposed to be on Sunday?   81!  How can this be possible?

Running Buddy and I set out the other night - just to prove to Mother Nature that she didn't matter to us!  It was 8:30 at night, and still 99 degrees!  We managed 2 1/4 miles before we had to stop!  I swear, I could see the air!  You're not supposed to see air--right?

Last night I set out with Baby Boy.  He's running Cross Country at middle school and I figured that he could stand in when Running Buddy isn't available.  He was doing great - for about a mile.  Then he started to fall back.  Now, I'm a mom first, and a runner second, but I swear, I just wanted to leave him in my dust!  Then he started calling out, "Mum-ee! Mum-ee!  Mum-ee!"  I just wanted to run!  But of course, I ran back to him and slowed myself down.  We finished 2 miles in about 33 minutes.  And we had time together...yeah...we had time together...

Then, what do I say to him as we walk back home?  Hey, we can run again this weekend!  The words left my mouth before I could stop them!

I'm going to have to figure this one out!  

Running on Shoesday!

Summer's over!  IT SUCKS!  Kids are back in school...I'm back at work...we're starting that insane cycle where Baby Girl has activities 4 afternoons/nights a week, and Baby Boy has Cross Country practice till 5:15 every day!  We get home, fix dinner, go to bed...and start the same thing over again the next day!  I MUST STOP THIS INSANE ROLLER COASTER (and it's just the 2nd week of school)!

Anyway, I'm here to say goodbye to one of my favorite pairs of summer shoes!  (I know...I could've just started the post with the shoes, but then where would I have put my whiny paragraph?)  It's a "kicky" little pair of  navy blue flip-flops with a tiny little bow.  I used to have a great pair of white linen pants and a navy blue tank to wear with them...then white pants just didn't appeal to me anymore, maybe because after dry cleaning them several times they kinda turned yellowish!  Not so cute after awhile!

  

So, goodbye summer shoes - see you next year!

Thanks for stopping by on this end of summer Shoesday Tuesday!

Running...without Coordination!

I must be getting old...it's happening...and I'm only 34 - whoops - got those numbers turned around...43... 

I saw a product called Shot Bloks on a running blog (sorry I don't remember which blog, so I can't give credit where it's due - see I really am getting old).  

They are flavored energy chews.  During my half-marathon last November, I tried Gu, which rhymes with Eeww, and that describes how it tastes!  So, I figured with the Wharf to Wharf 6 mile run, I'd try something different.  I found several different flavors of Shot Bloks at my local REI.  I tried Black Cherry and Cranberry.  Unfortunately, I left them in the car at the race, and before I remembered, the family had driven off.

Well, Running Buddy was out of town (come back RB!) but I still pushed myself to do my long run - 6 miles.  I was actually looking forward to it - so when Sunday came, I strapped on my water belt and took 3 Shot Bloks with me.  I imagined myself overflowing with energy and completing my 6 miles in record time - without breaking a sweat - almost as if I had wings on my shoes!  

Ahh, there's nothing like a great imagination - so...I ate the first one at mile 2...and that's when I discovered that I couldn't chew and run at the same time!

See, there's this little thing called breathing that I like to do, and when I run, I tend to breathe hard.  Breathing hard with a "gummi" in your mouth, (remember, I'm not a medical expert) seems likely to lead to choking!!

I found that I could run, but not chew or chew but not run!  It was quite a dilemma, since I wanted to do both!  I found myself having to walk and quickly chew and swallow so I could get back to running!  That's when I just felt old...like I really should be able to do this!  

Well, I practiced with the last 2 Shot Bloks on mile 3 and 5.  (Did you read that - I had to practice eating!!)  I actually liked the taste and felt some "energy enhancement" , and although I didn't quite fly home, I was just proud that I'd gotten myself out of bed on a Sunday and ran 6 miles all by myself!  Even if I am old...

Here's a couple questions...what do you eat or drink on your longer runs - say 6 or more miles?  How about for 13 miles?

Thanks for stopping by this old lady's blog today!!

Running Wharf to Wharf!

A couple of weekends ago I ran the Wharf to Wharf 6 mile race in Santa Cruz.  My knee had been bothering me so I was unsure how I would do and if I would be in any pain.  Well, my knee gave me no trouble and I'm really glad I did my exercises and constantly popped appropriately took Advil for the inflammation.  

 

The real "pain" I experienced was the race itself!   The race course wound along some beautiful scenery between Santa Cruz and Capitola...but it was impossible to see anything due to the 25,000  people trying to get to the finish line!!  It was so crowded...yeah, I know...How crowded was it?  Well, let me tell you...it was so crowded that I didn't actually run for the first 2 miles!  On a normal day, and a good race, it usually takes me about 10:30 to run 1 mile - it took 11:57 for me to complete the first mile!!

Here's what happened:  they sell out the race to 15,000 people, but then 10,000 more join in!  You can see them everywhere!  Thousands of people without running numbers.  Now I'm thinking...why did I pay to run this race when I could have just lined up with everyone else?  Oh, yeah, I got a free shirt at the end...and a box of raisins!  (Please excuse my bitterness...)

Here are the 12,500 people behind me...

and here are 12, 499 people in front of me!

This is mile 3.  It truly never thinned out!  Aargh!!

One of many bands playing at each mile!

Yes, he's dressed as a cow wearing a sombrero - how "udderly" puzzling!

So, in keeping with my race tradition, here are 6 rants and raves about the 6 miles in Wharf to Wharf.

1.  Rave - I love running along the ocean.  This explains why I drive 3 hours and book a $175 hotel room to run for 1 hour!

2.  Rant - How ambiguous is the statement "NO STROLLERS allowed on the race course"?  Did everybody else get a different set of instructions that said, "It's ok for YOU to bring your stroller, but no one else"?  There's even a picture in the Santa Cruz paper of the first 20 racers heading out with a man pushing a stroller!  You're going to keep a 5 minute pace pushing your kid? These are the same people who park in handicapped stalls and take 25 items to the 10 items or less line at Vons!  (Again, forgive my bitterness!)

3.  Rave - Went with a group from my local gym.  Really nice people.  It was good to have familiar faces in the sea of humanity!

4.  Rant -   If you're going to walk - good for you - it's great to exercise!  But stay to the right and the hell out of my way!!  I'm not a fast runner, but I'm faster than you - and I'd like to get around you!!  (Once again...that thing about bitterness...)

5.  Rave -  Uh...I'll have to get back to you...

6.  Rant -  You're going to walk 6 miles holding your boyfriend's hand?  It's called a RACE, people!!

I probably won't run this race next year, but if I do, I'm not paying for it!!  Really...I'm not...  ( Ok, those of you that know me know that I'll end up paying, but I wouldn't have to...man, why do I have that guilt - oh, yeah, I'm Catholic!!)

Thanks for visiting!  May your next race be much better than mine!!

Running for help!

I need help.  I'm not afraid to admit it.  I've got a problem.  With pumpkins!  

Today to celebrate Outdoor Wednesday, I'm sharing pictures of my vegetable garden and peach trees in the early morning sun...before it hits 103 degrees!  Seriously - 103!

Baby Boy was desperate to grow a giant pumpkin last year.  We bought seeds and planted them and we were amazed when flowers started to bloom and almost everyone of the flowers had a tiny green "pumpkin" at the bottom.  Then we watched with dismay as each and every one of them shriveled up and fell off. 

So again this year we planted pumpkins.  We have flowers blooming, but what can I do to keep them from dying?  Someone advised me to thin out the flowers to just one and let the plant give all its energy to that one flower.  Sounds sensible to me, but I could use some more advice from anyone else who has had success growing pumpkins!  Help!

The good news is that our pumpkins are attracting lady bugs!  Don't you love those little pest eaters?

I just love the golden glow of peaches!  "Peach, oh peach, you are so sweet...you are the one I'm going to eat!"  Good pictures...bad poetry!

Thanks for visiting...and don't forget to head over to A Southern Daydreamer to see what else is happening on this lovely Outdoor Wednesday!

Running on Rednesday...with a Winner!

I'm a winner!  I know, we're all supposed to say this to ourselves everyday, but really - I am!  Thanks to Bo over at Bo's Bowl!  Bo had a giveaway in July and (I feel so lucky) my name was selected in his random drawing!

Now Bo has a really great blog dedicated to his delicious baking and cooking!  He has some fabulous desserts, lovely adult beverages, and some great BBQ recipes!  I've tried several of his great ideas, and I have enjoyed them all!  Please check it out (he actually has another giveaway going on...and I'm still feeling lucky)!

So, onto what I won...a $40 gift certificate to CSN stores!  I had honestly never heard of CSN until seeing it on Bo's blog.  For those of you who are also unfamiliar...CSN has an online store that sells just about everything!  Tons of things for the kitchen, house, garden, and...are you ready for this...they also sell SHOES!!

Well, I took my $40 gift certificate and bought something...RED!  No, not shoes...

Le Cruset bakeware! 

   I love Le Cruset.  Their kitchen bakeware and dishes come in a great variety of colors and sizes.  I actually contemplated a beautiful lavender pitcher...next time.  Look at these wonderful dishes!  They are a gorgeous red, and will soon be filled with delicious vegetables and pasta and brownies and lasagna and...so much more!  And, even better, CSN has some great sales!  Both of these dishes had great sale prices!  So, after you check out Bo's Bowls and sign up for his latest giveaway, go check out CSN!

Thanks for stopping by to celebrate Rednesday with Sue over at Sue Loves Cherries! Be sure to see who else is taking part in today's celebration!