Well Hell, It's April 1st And My House Is A Giant Hairy Arm Pit

Yes, my house is a ugly hairy, smelly, arm pit.  I have realized that, while I have read a huge amount of books this winter, that is all I have done.  Barely did the dishes, maybe washed and dried my laundry but never got it out of the baskets in the basement (making me take a trip downstairs every morning to pick something out to iron for work), kinda vacuumed and dusted every once in a while, and basically accumulated a huge amount of paper crap.

When I was first dating Bud, I would rush home and clean the bathroom, dust and vacuum the house, and frantically make everything neat.  I'm not a messy person by nature, but I'm not a neat freak, either.  I would rather sit and read a book than clean any day.  Now Bud comes over and the most I do is the dishes before he arrives.  He doesn't seem to care at all--he's more focused on food, movies, and--ahem--the prospect of getting lucky.  Now that we've "sprung forward" it's lighter in my house, and he can see things for the first time in months.  Oops.

But tomorrow is April 1st, and I must get my ass into Spring gear!  In order to have time to get my aging body into hard-muscled, stronger than an ox shape, I must spend time doing that this Spring and Summer.  That means I have to get my house in order, so I can go to the gym without any excuses to stay home.

And really, when I don't go to the gym, I just sit and home and read.  It's not like I'm productive.

So April is my month to start the clean up.  I'm amazed how much garbage I've accumulated since October.    There may be a winning lottery ticket stuck somewhere in here, and I must find it!  I am the last person on my block to go outside and attempt to rake and fill my yardy.  I can feel the eyes of my neighbors watching me, placing bets on when I will stand in my yard for more than five minutes and do some home-owner stuff.

I'll take some pictures to prove my hard work is not a piece of fiction I'm reading, but actual work!

Now I must go make some brownies and finish a book.  Seriously.  Oh, and drink some wine.  I'm finally feeling good enough to imbibe, although I still can't taste everything quite to the fullest.  But lucky me, I can remember what brownies taste like!

Computer Transition--Once Again Bud Saves The Day

As you know, I have been without my beloved Mac for the past two weeks.  Well, I finally got the call from the repair man who said it can be repaired, but the cost of the part and paying him labor isn't worth fixing it.


The good thing:  I'm going to get a new Mac.  The bad thing:  the new Mac system, Lion comes out sometime this summer.  It makes no sense to buy a Mac now, with Snow Leopard, when I can buy a new one in a few months with the latest software.  Bud and I decided to wait until Lion comes out.  


Bud:  Once again, my sweetie has rescued me.  Not with a white horse, but with a white Mac.  He brought over one of the Macs he has at home (which is just like mine, only a bigger screen) for me to use until I buy my Mac this summer.  So I don't have my old Mac to use, and I can't get to my music and photos, but I can still function.  Phew.  I didn't realize how much I use my computer until I didn't have it.


So, I'm excited to get my new Mac.  I had planned on replacing my Mac this year anyway, but I am sad that my old Mac is on the fritz.  It has been a faithful computer with no problems for 7 years, so I can't really complain.  For now, I will continue to use Bud's computer, so I can blog and do all the stuff necessary for survival in today's world!

Coming this summer to me!

Exercise Dive--Thank You Mr. Cold!

This post needs some color!

Mucinex is a wonderful thing.  If you ever get a nasty cold, with tons of congestion, take this.  It will suppress your cough enough that you can function, and dry up all that snot stuck in your head and chest.  Of course, you will still need to blow your nose, and use up at least two boxes of kleenex in this process.  Then you get the dried out skin around your nose, which looks so attractive when you're talking to customers at your job!  No amount of lotion makes it look better.  And forget about looking hot for your man.


Today is my day off this week, and I am doing nothing.  I did  have the weekend off, but since I was not feeling my best, and I was away from home, I couldn't lay around and feel gross.  I got to walk around and feel gross! But my honey took care of me and so far--fingers crossed-he hasn't caught the ickies.  It's going around my store; I think 4 people are sick from it.  


Being knocked out by this cold has pretty much killed my exercise for the week.  I would love to go outside and try running, but it's a cool 34 degrees, and I think I probably should take one more day to get my energy back and not have an aching head!


It looks like April will be my grand start to working out consistently.  And by workout, I mean weights--at least twice a week, and lots of leg work.  I am convinced that I only got through my first half marathon with a decent time because I had a personal trainer all summer who worked me out on a lot of strength-training equipment and showed me the proper way to train.  It certainly wasn't because I followed a training program for the half marathon.  I just ran all summer, and I think the farthest I ran was 10 miles.  I would have probably done better if I had eaten during the run, but I didn't and lost my energy after mile 10. I know the strength-training was what got me through it, so that's what I'm working on this spring and summer, along with the running.


Cause yes, I am running one more half marathon.  It will be my last long race.  I've decided, with much thought and a very intense discussion with my honey, that I don't need to run long races anymore.  I ran them to prove to myself that I could.  Last year was very disappointing race-wise for me, so I am doing one more to prove to myself that I can "come back" and know that I have done my best.  After that, I will continue to run 5k's and other races, but no more half marathons or full marathons.  And I am happy with my decision.  I started running to be healthy, and that's what I want to focus on, not the competitive stuff.  It's just not me.  I want running to be part of my life, like gardening and cooking, not all of my life.  I don't want to think about fartleks, supplements, improving my PR for every race, or any of that stuff.  I just want to run for fun and not have to run so far on a given day.  


So this summer is my time to train one more time.  Get myself back to a healthy weight, turn my wimpy legs into the muscle machines they need to be, and feel good about my physical self.  And I'm getting that Garmin!  What fun it will be to just start running and not have to map out a distance.  Just look at the Garmin and see how far I've run, and decide how much farther I want to go.  And I am going to try a spin class again.  


I had some tests done at the Doctor's office, and they all came out just fine.  This frees me to work out harder, knowing that it is anxiety that makes my heart race, and not a physical problem.  With that knowledge, I can work on ways to cope with anxiety and feelings of disappointment when I don't feel my work out was the best.  If I had Average Girl's will power, I would be ready to conquer the world sugar-free and fabulous.


So goodbye, Mr. Cold!  You suck.  I'll be bouncing back in the next few days and hitting the gym.  Now, if only the weather would warm up!  This is really ridiculous.  Even the early blooming flowers are saying "what the f**k?"

Blog Book Club--Ta Da!

If you're a follower of my other blog, bookaliciousbabe you know I have been talking about starting a whole new blog as a blogging book club. 


Well, I did it!  It's called The Talking Leaf Book Club and I hope you will all take a moment to pop over, join, and put in your selections for books to read, starting in May.  


This will be fun!  As I have learned, how I start my blog is usually not how it stays.  The fun thing about blogging is changing and growing, and I suspect my book club blog will do that, too.  


If you like to read and talk about books, you should be in a book club.  And this one is great--no driving anywhere--just sit at your computer and type away in the comfort of your home.  Book clubs give you the opportunity to read books you may have never picked up before.  I can say after all the book clubs I have been in the past 16 years, I may not like everything I've read, but I do not ever regret picking up the book and reading it.  Book clubs give you new perspective on different ideas, and maybe help you look at people, places, and things in a different way.  


Plus this will help you on your  Book Challenge this year!

Frog Girl and Bud Have A Weekend Away

Me

My sick-free three year record was broken last Wednesday when I woke up with a slightly scratchy throat and a small headache.  These blew up into a very sore throat, a horrible headache, and a stiff neck by midafternoon that day.  My work schedule was such that I couldn't leave work and lay on my couch at all.  I don't like to be sick.  It is really annoying.


This also played havoc with my weekend away with Bud.  Bud asked me to go to an event with him in Des Moines this weekend, and I was happy to go with him.  He never has asked me, in 9 years, to go to one of these "hunter man" events, but this time he did, and I rearranged my schedule so I could have the weekend off and spend it with him.


The problem with being sick-free for three years is that when you do get ill, there is nothing at home to take.  I did have kleenex and ibuprofen, and that's it.  I didn't care enough to stop at the  store for medication, and instead drove home from work each night and lay on my couch--not even reading, people!  


Bud, however, went to the store for me and got me some medication and cough drops to keep me functioning.  My trip was hanging by a thread!  He didn't want me to go not feeling my best.  I convinced him I felt "fine" and was going.  


So we went.  I felt like crap.  The meds weren't working.  I had kleenex, cough drops, drugs, and two books with me.  I was prepared to sit and read, or head to the casino to play penny slots.  I did neither.  I stuck to Bud like glue at this event, while he walked around, talked to people, and enjoyed himself.  There were two bars!  Woohoo!  I figured, liquor will kill it, so Bud got me a Whiskey Sour.  I love Whiskey Sours, but only the way my family makes them.  From a bar they suck eggs.  And, the mix only aggravated my throat, and made me cough so much I checked the floor for a lung.  I got tired of sipping it, so I just chugged it.  I hoped the whiskey would A)numb my throat B) make me look like I was having a spectacular time!


I did enjoy myself, even in my misery.  I had a ginormous steak  (no vegetarians allowed at this event), watched a man in uniform pop the question to his girlfriend on stage, and watched many many many overseas hunting trips go for pennies.  It's a good thing I didn't have any money, 'cause I would be the proud owner of upcoming trips to Spain, Argentina, and South Africa if Bud hadn't been there to keep me calm.  I think I passed my first official "girlfriend of a hunter" public event.

The ever-elusive jackalope

 Oh yes, I saw some of these at the convention.  When I wasn't running to the bathroom to pee (thank you Advil cold medication) or let out my froggy roar in a gut busting coughing fit.


Poor Bud.  He so loves to have me in a hotel room.  Yes, it is just as it sounds.  I was willing, I was able, but no kissing.  Habit almost overtook caution, but we caught ourselves in time.  If he gets sick I am in so much trouble!  Cause I told him I was not contagious, and he chose to believe me.  I did not tell him that a cold makes me snore so loud I wake myself up, and that I would probably cough all night. Bud does fall asleep in seconds, so he claimed he did not know how many times I got up to go in the bathroom and cough (4), snored, or made weird noises that sounded like I was being tortured and/or having a conversation in another language not known to man.  Finally around 2 AM I fell asleep out of sheer exhaustion.  


I'm back home now.  Bud took me to Trader Joe's again and mysteriously 3 bottles of wine appeared in our cart (not me!).  We had a clerk  who thought Bud was Dave Ramsey (she had no clue who he was anyway) and that Obama will pay her student loans.  No, and Sorry--student loans will haunt you until you pay them off.  


Bud went home and I am sipping ginger tea and watching Sister Wives.  Let's hope I get some sleep tonight (thanks to new drugs we bought today) and my froggy voice will go away soon.  I think Bud will miss the sweet dulcet tones of froggy girl when I am all better :)

It's Tai Chi For Another Month

Oh Lord, I had it all figured out, and had dragged myself off the couch this afternoon to go to Tai Chi and break the news to my instructor that next week would be my last week.  I almost didn't go, cause I feel like crap (I even left work early!), but guilt--and Fritz (my truck) drove me to the studio.


I'm talking to Jake, telling him I was really sorry, but I just had too many things going on this Spring and Summer, and I wouldn't be continuing classes.  He said he understood, and that I was always welcome back. Phew.  I got through it without breaking out in a sweat and staring over his head while I explained why I was quitting.  My inability to say "no" or "I just can't anymore" is what lead me to have a personal trainer for 2 years, instead of just a few months.  See, not saying "no" can get expensive.  And now I'm fat, so really, the training didn't help much.


We go through class, and I am finally starting to get it.  Damn it!  Now, after two months, my body is remembering the moves without me coming to a complete halt and gesturing wildly with my arms.  We are almost at the end of the complete sequence of movements--I think we have about 2 more to learn.


Jake says, gee, it's too bad you just can't go another month, cause then you'll have all the moves and you'll have the whole sequence for life.  Then you can come back after this summer if you want.  


What's another month and another $50?  


Yep.  I paid another $50  for the month of April.  And I even said I would try and come on Tuesday nights to a class he teaches somewhere else in town, so I can get more bang for my buck, and extra time learning and refining my techniques.  This means one less evening with Bud for the month of April.  I figure it will free him to work on his unending list of jobs and not feel pulled between spending time with me, and getting stuff done.


Now I have to tell Bud I changed my mind.  It is weird.  I kinda dread going to class, cause anytime I have to go somewhere at the same time every week, it gets old real fast.  But once I'm there, I enjoy it and I feel good afterwards.   I will admit to clock watching like a fiend, however.  There's something about "class" and "hour" that compel me to count down the minutes whatever I'm doing.  Can you guess I must wear a watch all the time?  Even to bed?  Yep.  It is an act of bravery when I don't put my watch on.  That only happens when I don't have to work the next day, and I don't have to go anywhere.  


So April begins next week, and I am learning to stand like a rooster on one leg, weave the lady's shuttle, and swim like a dragon.  Fun stuff. It is just flat out amazing how elegant I look doing it.


(That was a joke.) 

I'm Baaack--Kinda Sorta

Ok, so my darling man kindly brought over a "loaner Mac" while mine is still out.  Something to do with a fan.  Anyway, I told him I really needed to be on the computer so I could post my book reviews to Netgalley, download my video blog to B&N, and do other stuff.  Can't say how long until I get my computer back, but this will do nicely for now!


I have a lot of catching up to do on reading everyone's blogs.  An Itouch and  Nookcolor are nice, but it gets kinda old trying to type and maneuver with anything other than a full blown keyboard and a mouse.  


What have I been doing?  Well, I read a few books, I've been working out at the gym, and generally running around.  Big Love was good, although Bud fell asleep just as it started, and missed the whole damn thing.  Now he has to watch it On Demand sometime, which means I will have to watch it again, too.  Maybe I'll just put on earphones and attempt to plow through more of A Game of Thrones.


See you all soon!  Sorry I haven't been commenting on everyone's blogs, I missed you all.  Off to update my reading list and my exercise log!  

My computer is on the blink

Waaah! My computer has been out for repair since late Tuesday, so this post is from my Itouch. I hope to have it back this weekend (fingers crossed) so I can catch up with everone.

Have a great day everyone!

Checking Out for the Week

Want this T-shirt? Go here

I don't know what happened to my March, but it seems to be jam-packed for the next few weeks.  This week is really busy for me; I have a lot going on at work and I'll be out of the store Thursday and Friday selling books at a women's conference at our local community college.  Prepping for that, driving to the college, and setting everything up will take a bit of time, so I am feeling like the last part of my week will be a mix of hurry hurry then sit, sit, sit.  


My computer is acting up a bit, so Tuesday I'm having someone stop over to look at it.  It may mean my beloved Mac is out of commission for a few days.  I have plans on Saturday, and workouts to do, and my sweetie to see, all building up to Sunday's final episode of Big Love!  Oh, can't wait to see how it all concludes.  And I must fit in a crock pot of corned beef and a beer (always in honor of my dear Grandpa Boyle) for St. Patrick's Day.  


So, I won't be around much this week.  I will certainly give it a go and try to stay caught up with everyone's blogs; if I don't comment, I'm just too darn busy to spend any time at the computer.  Next week I'll be back, and able to deliver my witticisms to each and every one of you.


In the meantime, raise your glass to cheer the Irish (or really, any reason will do to enjoy a sip or two), have a great week, and enjoy the ever increasing warm weather (it will be 60 on Wednesday!).


Hugs 
Sue

It's Been A Busy Week

I have had a very busy week, and honestly, I don't know where the week went.  I have to work tonight, so that is kinda messing with my head.  I am lucky enough not to work too many Friday nights (usually work Friday and Saturday day), and I found myself awake at 4AM this morning.  Dang it!  Wide freakin' awake.  I made myself lay in bed anyway and finally got down to the gym at 7 AM.  I have to say, I love the gym that early.  The office workers have come and gone, and there are very few people on the cardio and weight machines.  I think there was one person using weights when I was there.  


Anyway, I managed a 2 mile walk/run with increasing speed.  I think running at 6.0 (approx a 10 min mile pace) is maybe a bit slow for my running stride.  When I punch in 6.2 (approx 9.4 min mile pace) I feel a bit better running.   However I did, I ran for 2-3 minutes, then took a walk break, then ran again.  It was enough to get my heart pounding and my running bra soaked with sweat.  Love that feeling :(


I'm hoping to catch up on blog reading this weekend, cause I have the weekend off!  Of course, I have it jammed packed.  Tomorrow I am going to an extra tai chi class, followed by running around town getting everything I need for a birthday brunch I'm having for my sister on Sunday.  So, that means I have to spend the rest of Saturday cleaning my house.  It truly is a pit!  And Bud and I have some TV watching to do along with just spending some time together.  Let's cross our fingers that both of us will be able to stay awake.


What are you doing this weekend?  I'm doing all the above, and hopefully getting a nap in and some reading done.  

A Box Of Happiness Goes To...

Thanks to everyone who commented on my 1st anniversary blog and signed up for the giveaway.  I wish I could send everyone a box of happiness.  But, I can only pick one, and the recipient of the happiness box is...




Alessandra from The Life and Times of A. Nighbert!  Congratulations, Alessandra.  Send me your address and I'll mail your package to you.  


What else is going on?  Well, yesterday I ran outside for the first time since October.  It was a bit chilly, and the trail in the park was very very muddy.  This is what I don't get:  you have a trail, in a park.  The park is quite large, and there are many many places to take your dog to poop.  Why the hell do you have to let them poop on the trail?  Really?  People walk and run on it, you know.  I spent most of my  time  A) Dodging poop; B) Running off the trail on the grass to avoid the huge mud puddles and quicksand that was the trail; C) Cursing myself for wearing a long sleeved shirt.  Oh, and I forgot what time I started, so I had to guess at my finish.  I was attempting to complete my virtual 5k.  I think I got the time right.  It was a bit of a frustrating experience, but I was happy to be outside.  I trashed my shoes, so now I have to clean them up before I go to the gym.  


I did learn a few things:  I have a long way to go before I will feel at ease running again.  I have a long way to go before I can run non-stop for 30 minutes.  I cannot wear long sleeved shirts when I run.  I hate sweaty wrists--does this make sense?  I should have just worn short sleeves, been cold for a bit, then I would have felt better.  So thinking about my mid-morning escapade while at work last night helped me formulate a running plan for the next few months.


What's the plan, you ask, sitting on pins and needles?  Well, my next race is a 5K at the end of May.  Until that time, I am going to work on running 3-5 miles every time I run.  I have to tune out what's around me, and concentrate on standing up straight, lengthening my stride ( I tend to not take a big enough stride and it makes my hips really stiff), and retraining my brain to work with my body to achieve a sense of accomplishment for every little positive step I make.  If I don't have a great run one day, I'll just try again.  I will not start getting worked up about that fact that I am not running 8-12 miles at a time.   And drinking water!  Not keeping myself hydrated enough is what causes my horrible side cramp.  It's always my right side, and it happens way too frequently when I run.   Park the water tank right here, and attach the hose to my face.  


I'm still saving for my Garmin!  That is spurring me on to keep running each week.  And this poster reminded me of what Bud says to me when I feel like I'm not up to doing something:  "Don't say you can't.  I hate it when you say you can't do something. Try."  This comes from a man who does not have "can't" in his vocabulary.  Bud will figure it out, and always try.  And since he would probably be someone who could survive a nuclear holocaust, live off the land, and build a shelter from leaves, I know he lives by this motto.  And, too--I don't wanna be a weenie woman.  

get poster here

Every time I want to say "I can't go any farther" I have to say " I'll try".  What keeps you going when you want to quit?  

Last Day To Sign Up For The Giveaway!

If you missed my anniversary post from March 1st, click here.  It's your chance to win a fun, happy package from me.  The deadline to enter is today!  I will be announcing the winner tomorrow.


Go forth, do a random act of kindness, and do something to make yourself smile!

An Odd Cream of Wheat Craving

I was grocery shopping a few weeks ago, and I suddenly got an overwhelming craving for Cream of Wheat.  Why?  Hell, I don't know.  I hadn't bought it for months.  It's something I do like to eat, but have to be hungry for it.  Kinda like pancakes.  Sometimes they sound really good, and other times just ick.


Since that time, I've eaten Cream of Wheat every morning and even for supper Thursday night after I came home from the gym.  


I am perplexed.


Oatmeal?  Nah.  Doesn't sound good.  Cook me up some Cream of Wheat!


I expect this crazy craving shall pass.  


What are you craving lately?

Evil Monkey In My Brain!

I went to Tai Chi tonight with dragging footsteps.  I just did not want to go.  But I did (because it's already paid for!) and it was the start of a new session, so the only familiar person besides my instructor was one woman who continued from my first group.  The rest were all women from a different class.  At first, I thought, oh shit.  These women will be pros.  I quickly discovered they were as clueless as me, so we spent the class going over and over a few moves until we could "get it".  I feel better about my inability to master the Tai Chi moves, since pretty much everyone else is in the same boat.  Jake, our instructor, urges us to practice at home, and specifically to go home after the class and practice right away.  One woman said, "I  go out for dinner, and drink half a bottle of wine after class.  I'm not going home to practice!" 


 I'm pretty sure she just comes to class for fun.  


Drumroll, please.....I went to the Y after class and ran 2 miles.  Yes, I certainly did.  Maybe it's knowing I don't have to work tomorrow, but I thought at work today, I should just go down tonight and get in a workout.  Then I can sleep in a bit tomorrow.  All through Tai Chi it's all I thought of, and then near the end, when that woman made the crack about wine, I thought "Hell yeah, that's what I want to do --go home and have a glass of wine.  Forget the gym."  Then Jake said something that made me stop and think.  Someone in class commented on our lack of Tai Chi groove, and he said, "That's the bad monkey in your head giving you reasons to stop.  Don't listen to it!"  or something like that.  He did mention a monkey in our heads.  It was not up my ass--I know that much.  


Anyway, it got me thinking that yes, I do have at least one evil monkey in my head.  Sometimes, it splits in two and comes at me with double barrels.  I'll call my evil monkey F**k Face, or FF for short.  I have to call him something nasty, or it won't do anything for me to picture an evil monkey in my head.  FF was swinging around my frontal lobe, telling me to just drive home.  I could drive down the street towards my house and instead of continuing past my street and going downtown, just turn right and go home.  It would be ok.  I would work out tomorrow.  

FF:  "What are you lookin' at?"

FF was ignored.  I can't believe I ignored him.  It helped that I was on a 4 lane road and on the inside lane, so even if I wanted to turn right onto my street, I would have succeeded in crushing my truck and paying a horrible insurance bill.  It was much easier to go with the flow of traffic and continue downtown.  


My run was not spectacular--only 2 miles.  But, I got a great parking spot, and only 3 treadmills were busy.  I decided quickly that trying to just run faster and watching the distance go slooooowly by, that I would cover that part up with my towel, and instead look at the time and have myself run 2-3 minutes at a time.  If I could cover that, then I could take a quick walk break.  I started at 6.0, went down to 5.8, then went up to 6.2 at the end.  I did take walk breaks, but this time I shortened them, and told myself I couldn't get upset about it.  Baby steps.  


I've started reading a book called Running Within by Jerry Lynch and Warren Scott.  It's about the mind-body connection in running.   It's the first book since I was in college that I've taken a highlighter to so I can mark passages that contain pearls of wisdom.  I'll keep you updated with what I find out from this book, and how I use some of the techniques to get over my perplexing anxiety about running.  Here's the cover:

I'm actually quite glad I have the visual of FF the evil monkey in my head.  It's a great tool to keep negative trash talk out of my noggin, and for every banana I eat, I can hear FF shrieking in his monkey rage.  He he :)

Celebrating My Blog Anniversary With A Giveaway!

I can't believe I've stuck with something for a year.  Really.  This from the girl who couldn't complete any craft project as a Blue Bird.  I started a blog after my friend C-Joy told me about hers, and encouraged me to try it out.  I owe her a huge Thank You! for starting me on a journey where I've met so many great people, had a chance to vent, and given me a creative outlet.  My other Blog, Bookalicious Babe became an extension of this one when I realized my all consuming, kinda over-the-top passion for books required an outlet of it's own.  That has opened up doors for me I never thought were possible, and I have enjoyed every minute of it.  


To celebrate my anniversary, I'm giving away a lovely little prize:

Yes, you can be the recipient of this lovely prize package!

I thought I would offer up a package of happiness.  Since I don't feel comfortable mailing a bottle of wine, instead a happy journal, magnet, lovely little book, and some pens are what you'll get.  I'll keep the wine at my house, okay?  Trust me, I'll be happy when I drink it. ;)


If you would like to enter into the giveaway, this is what you have to do:
1.  Join my blog, if you haven't already and tell someone else about it.  Then comment about it here!
2.  Do a random act of kindness sometime in the next week (March 1-March 8th) and tell me about it.
3.  Do one thing for yourself  that makes you happy ( and is legal!) and tell me about it.


Each entry is one more chance for you to win!


Thank you all to everyone who reads my ramblings.  I may not have the most exciting life, and I may keep on struggling to achieve my goals, but it is never boring.  Bud keeps me sane, and he is the reason I keep moving forward.  If I didn't, he'd leave me in the dust!  Definitely a man of action.  I asked for the universe to send me a man that would challenge me, and I got what I asked for.  Phew.  Thank you, universe!


What's on tap for the next year?  Well, lots of photos!  I can't wait for warmer weather, so I can get out and snap away.  Garden plans are starting to occupy my brain, and of course, running.  I am so looking forward to sharing with you my running triumphs and f**k ups.  Food is never far from my mind, so that will still be on my blog, too.  I am not the best cook, but I still love to try new recipes.  


Happy March 1st, everyone!  You have until the end of the day, March 8th, to enter the giveaway.  I will announce the winner March 9th.