Running amuck...

Ten descriptions of the past few days.

Whirlwind

Fun

Exciting

Fun

Tiring

FUN

Busy

FUN

Emotional

FUN

Yes. We have had fun. We have been going full speed. We have been enjoying life and living it to the extreme. Life is full... that's not even close to being the right description. 

As I blogged on Thursday, I had seven kids at our house for a sleepover. The kids did wonderfully. All seven of them were great (well, except a few times when Bailey ignored me and forgot to listen). They had so much fun. I think I enjoyed it as much as them. They were so cute. And, I was a little emotional... maybe because I knew that the babies weren't babies anymore. Or maybe because I knew that this was just the beginning of a lot of long nights of shrieking girls and wild boys. I think a lot of it was because I was reminded of my own childhood and I realized that so many things in life have come full circle. I'm now the mom who is giving the rules and letting them get broken for a sleepover. I'm not the little girl pushing the limits anymore, but am dealing with my little girl who is. :) Brad and I sat on the couch for a few minutes while they all played and talked about how nice it was that we knew they were making some of the best memories ever. The funny thing is, I'm not sure if they will remember it as fondly as I will. I hope and pray that we have many more nights like this in our future... that the kids will always love to hang out at our house. 

Some photo highlights for your viewing pleasure: 

On Friday, I braved the pool with all 7 kids. Sorry... no photos. :) I am sure you understand why. Haha. They were excellent and we had a great time. Actually... I do have one. :) 

That evening (yes, we are crazy for packing any more into that two-day period), we celebrated at the house with Dawn and Brandon, who recently sold their home and will be moving away. I say celebrated because I know that they are happy about this opportunity. However, I would be lying if I said that I felt anything like celebrating this move. I have mentioned it before that I moved around a lot as a kid. That means that I'm used to saying good-bye to people that I love and care about. It usually isn't that tough for me... not because I'm a cold-hearted bitch, but because I know that change is inevitable in life. Yet... I am not looking forward to them leaving. I mean, I totally support my friends in their move and I am so happy that it has worked out for them. BUT... I am so going to miss our evenings on the back deck, our impromptu get-togethers, and simply knowing that if I need someone to help me with anything, they are just down the road. Our friendship will not end, I know, but I know it will change some, too. And, that just makes me a little bit sad. Dawn, Brandon, and the boys are a big part of our lives... and we all consider them a part of our little Lexington family. It is so rare to meet a woman that you just love to death and then have her husband and your husband get along well... and the kids enjoy each other, too. We love you guys all so much... and hope that we all do what we say and visit each other a lot. :) 

On Saturday morning, we got up and the kids went to tennis lessons. Then, we straightened up the house, packed a couple of bags and headed to eastern Kentucky. We spent the evening with Brad's mom and her boyfriend. It was a nice relaxing evening. We were all exhausted when we left to go to my parents' house that night. 

On Sunday... we were all geared up and ready to go to the wonderful, incredible, amazing Camden Park. Now, if you don't know Camden Park, well... you just don't know what you are missing. :) It's a little bit rundown. It's a little bit old school. But it's the same old Camden Park that I remember when I was just a little girl. There's still the Hot Cat. There's still the log ride. There's still the Big Dipper. We all had a great time. The boys acted like big babies... getting sick over the spinning rides. I have to admit that age has done the same thing to me, but I could suck it up. Colt and Brad were just big wimps.... as these photos show. :) 

The kids had a blast. Bailey loved the Big Dipper. She will try anything at least once... although she assured me that the haunted house would not be visited a second time. Jake, on the other hand, is typical Jake... he had to warm up to the bigger rides and still refused to ride the Spider, despite his love for it in years past. Corndogs, funnel cakes, ice cream, and icees... oh, how I do love the carnival food. :) 

On Monday, we crashed. I mean, the kids and I did. We spent nearly the entire day inside. I didn't get up until almost 9. I did, however, clean up the house, did some laundry, and then actually made time to go for a run. Thank God... I finally got over the hump of never wanting to run again... and I ran 3 miles. The bug is back... I think. :) 


What does the rest of the week hold? Hmmm... it's too early to tell. But, I have to say... I love this summer. 

Camping with two kids...

Hi ho, hi ho... a camping we will go... 


:) Well, we did it. We had a camping trip. Kind of. It counts as the first one, but I'm sure that there will be another more "official" camping trips. You see, I kind of know my kids. I know that they are young for camping, despite their confidence and desire to camp. I know they are young to really appreciate camping... to really enjoy the "wild." 


We contemplated what to do. Yatesville Lake State Park has a wonderful campground that I have really been wanting to try out... especially since Brad and I camped there a few times when we were dating in college... before the property was officially a campground. Yes, we were trespassers... who never got busted. :) Anyway... I found that there are boat-in sites to set up camp at Yatesville and I thought it would be perfect for us since we'd be boating. But, there was the catch... we had to rent for three days in order to go. Since, that didn't make much sense, we figured it really would be better to just camp on some of my parents' property. 


I thought and thought and thought... and figured that it made a lot of sense to just camp out near the woods behind my parents' house so that we could have quick access to the house if it rained (it was calling for thunderstorms) or if the kids got scared (much more likely the case) or if we needed the bathroom (we did a few times). 


And so... we, being me and Emily (Colt's girlfriend), set up the tents and the camping area. We were eaten up by mosquitoes. We covered ourselves in bug spray and long sleeves. We roasted hot dogs. We roasted marshmallows. We hung out and talked and enjoyed the evening around the fire with my parents, Colt and Emily, and the kids.


There were no photos. 

There were NO PHOTOS. I know. I suck as a parent who blogs. I should remember these things, right? 


I lived in the moment.


And, I had my hands slightly full, since Bailey decided to be completely exhausted and crawl into my lap to fall asleep (she weighs nearly 60 pounds, so this wasn't that easy). 


Around 11, we crawled into the tent. Had it not been for the thunder and lightning, I would have left the tent unzipped so that the wind could blow through the screen. But, if it rained, well, we would have ended up soaked. So, we sweltered. Our body heat plus the heat of the evening equaled a night of very uncomfortable, sweaty sleeping. At about 2 a.m., Bailey woke up. She was scared, despite her arguments that she wasn't. I heard her wake up and I watched her as she watched the shadows. I watched as she looked at her dad and scooted as close to him as possible, despite the heat. I watched her sit up and lay back down about five times. Then, she said, "Mom... I have to go to the bathroom." She was trembling. I thought it sounded like it was raining. I had been listening to the wind and it was blowing hard. I told her that it was raining and to go back to sleep, but she wanted to go in. So, I woke up Brad and told him to get Jake and we would go in, since it was raining. Well, lo and behold, we crawled out of the tent and it was just wind. There was no rain. We could have went to the bathroom and come back to the tent and they would have made it. But, we didn't. We took them on in, curled up and went to sleep. 


The end. :) 


P.S. Bailey says she doesn't care if we go camping again. I'm so glad we didn't pay to go some place. I'm so glad we were close to my mom's. I think we'd be able to get them to go again and they would be fine... especially now that they know what to expect (and we know what to expect from them). :) Repeat... soon? We'll see. 

One more list item down!

As soon as I mark one thing off the list, I add another 3... in my mind, at least.


On our trip to South Carolina, Brad and I spent a lot of time talking about things that we want to do and try and love and all that. You know, we didn't have kids to yell at or to referee for... we had to find SOMETHING to talk about. Naturally, I thought of my list. :)


I turn 30 in a little over a month. I have spent about six months trying to mark things off my list... only to add more when I turn 30. So, be prepared. A revision is in order. I know, you are all wondering, "What in the world could she possibly add to her list? There's too much on there already..." There's more. Dream big...


Until then, I am enjoying my last few weeks in my twenties. I am determined to make the most of them so that I can say, "I did that when I was in my twenties." :) I guess it isn't a surprise or a huge accomplishment that I have marked this next one off my list, even though this is one of those items that I will have to repeat every year. You know, when I made the list, I was thinking long-term and wanted to have items that I continued to mark off every year. This is one of those. But, it still counts as being marked off... just only for this year. Can you tell that I worry about these things? It actually disturbs me in the strangest ways. I really feel this need to approve this by all of you readers. :)


Anyway... I have now accomplished my ten new recipes for the year. And, as I mentioned before, I could have easily made it "Complete 10 new recipes from the Pioneer Woman and become completely obsessed with her, to the extent that I need a category on my blog called 'My obsessions with the Pioneer Woman.'"


I completed my list item with one of my favorite recipes yet... the stuffed shells. And, as usual, the Pioneer Woman did not disappoint. This recipe was incredible. I love pasta. I love cheese. I love pasta stuffed with cheese and served with garlic bread. It was great. So, if you love these things, you need to try this recipe, too.


And, here are my ten recipes for this year, ordered in my most favorite to least favorite:


PW's Stuffed Shells
PW's Shrimp Pasta
PW's Friend's Herb Crusted Whole Chicken
PW's Meat Loaf

PW's Marlboro Man's Favorite Sandwich

Floyd the Food Guy's Pork Tenderloin

PW's Fettuccine Alfredo

PW's Crispy Yogurt Chicken
PW's Au Gratin Potatoes
PW's Chicken Stir Fry


And, since my husband and kids and family and friends and virtually every stranger I meet are all tired of hearing about my obsession with the Pioneer Woman, please send me some new recipes and/or blogging cooks so that I can add a variety for next year. Even though I am quite certain no one can meet up to the standard set by Pioneer Woman, I am open-minded. :) And, don't worry. I am not planning to stop blogging about her fabulous recipes... that is until she sends me a "cease and desist order" because I keep blogging about her. She is probably working with an attorney as we speak. Seriously, should I be worried? I hadn't really thought about how much I blog about her. She might really not like it. At all. Maybe I should calm down about the Pioneer Woman for a bit. 


Oh, but what in the world would I cook then? :) 

Change... you gotta love it

Before my gallbladder surgery and earlier in the summer, I talked to a former employer of mine about coming back to work for her part-time. It looked like a very good possibility, but we had to wait for some funding things and approvals to work themselves out. I haven't mentioned it on my blog, mainly because I was worried to death that I would jinx it. Things like that have a way of happening. 

I'm still nervous that I'm blogging about it before actually working. Isn't that funny? I guess I'm gun-shy?

Anyway, it has taken a while... and it has been in perfect timing. I was worried that it would all come together when I was in the process of having surgery or recovering and I'd miss out on the opportunity. Or that I would try to push myself and wouldn't be ready. 

But, it looks as if it is working itself out. That means that I will be going back to work a few days a week, but will still be able to pick up Bailey from school, help her with her homework and get dinner ready before Brad gets home. I'll be able to make it to all the ball games on time and will have time to serve as the Girl Scouts troop leader (reluctantly, but willingly, I suppose). It seems like the absolute most perfect scenario. I'll be able to make some money, stay in the workforce, and still be the mom that I want to be. Jake will go to preschool, which makes us all a little nervous, but will be something really good for him and something that I think he will really enjoy. He won't enjoy the early mornings where he has to actually function instead of sitting on the couch and playing with his toys quietly, but at least he'll get into a routine and will get to use that backpack that he's dragged around everywhere for the past month or so.

It's a new development for us, but something that I feel really good about. I think it will be a great opportunity for us all. And, the best thing about it, I don't have the nervous, new job feel with it. I know enough about it to get in and get my hands dirty pretty quickly. I know my boss and my co-workers, for the most part, and have stayed in touch with them over the past few years. I think it will all just come together quite nicely. 


We looked at a preschool that I've heard good things about today. I wasn't sure how Jake would handle it. He was a little shy, at first, but quickly found that he loved the toys, the kids, the teacher, everything. I had to literally drag him out of there. There are only 6 kids in his class, mostly all boys, so it seems like the perfect place for him. I think he's totally going to love it. You can only imagine how happy I am to see that he's going to enjoy it. I hope it is this easy when we actually get started. We shall see. :)

Rain, rain, go away???

Earlier this morning, I sat down with my calendar (planning is key) and compared it with the most wonderful, fabulous training plan that Dawn gave me before my gallbladder decided to give me such a wonderful time. It is an eight-week plan to get me running a 10K at the speed I'd like to run it (around 10 minutes per mile). I mapped out my plan so that I can run a 10K in the middle of November. And I wasn't that shocked to see that I need to be running 4 miles, 4 times a week next week. Sigh. I'm sure that it will not be easy. But, I wouldn't want to do it if it was easy, right? Everyone would do it then.


It is a little nerve-wracking, seeing that I haven't ran that much in the past month or so. But, it's a goal. A goal that means I needed to run tonight. No matter what. Because otherwise, my schedule just will fall apart. Maybe not completely, but it would sure feel that way and stressing over this is the LAST thing I want to do. 

The sky was black. The kids and I had gone to a PTA meeting (yes, I live in THAT world now) and when we came back to the car, the ground was wet. It looked like it was just the beginning of a huge storm. A storm that our grass is dying of thirst for. A storm that was blowing in and testing me and my tenacity. 

Brad got home a few minutes after us and I was ready to go running. He laughed when I told him to come get me if a downpour came. Bailey was freaking out that I was going to get soaked and kept telling me not to go. I think she's terrified of being struck by lightning. I guess I shouldn't have told her about my papaw being struck by lightning twice in his life (it didn't kill him, cancer did). 

I didn't listen to Bailey, but I was really thinking the first five minutes out there that I have the smartest kid in the world and that I totally should listen to her more. :) What idiot goes running outside when the clouds are pitch black and when lightning was striking a few miles away. That would be me. 

I started running. The wind felt wonderful. I was really happy to be running. It felt great. I had no pain in my side and, despite the looming clouds overhead, it was the perfect temperature. I was kind of racing the storm. I honestly think it helped. I ran for 2.25 miles in 25 minutes. Straight. Without stopping. I couldn't believe it. I really thought I might be able to make it to the 2 mile mark, but I wasn't sure. I was really worried about it. But, now I'm convinced. I can do 3 miles on Thursday. I can do 4 miles by Sunday. And I will do 4 miles on 4 occasions next week. I can do this. Come one... pray for me. I'm hoping I can do this. Positive thinking, right?! :) 

Goals always help me. 

The Catcher in the Rye

I finished my first book on the 100 Books to Read portion of my list (that is quite possibly changing soon). As I mentioned before, when I start looking at this list of books, there are just some that I really can't get motivated to read. I have read some of them... and I might re-read them, just because. But, there are at least 10 books on this list that I am just not that interested in reading... books that I just know I will struggle to finish. 


But, until I can make a decision about this "list" of books, there are plenty of others for me to read.  And, I finished one! WOO HOO! I have done something in the past few weeks to at least somewhat contribute to my list. :) I visited the library and picked up two books about a week ago... I think I mentioned this already, but the two books were The Catcher in the Rye and Gulliver's Travels. I started out with Gulliver's Travels.  I like it. It is not an easy read though. It's not complicated, but I have a hard time getting into something that I have to spend a tremendous amount of time focused on how it's written. It's a bad thing... I am picky about these things. I love to read different literary works. I love different perspectives (this could be a whole other post in and of itself). I love to learn.


But, some days, I want to just read to read. Not for anything other than pure enjoyment and simple understanding. It is sometimes an escape. Most times, it is an escape. Not that I dislike my reality at all. I just love to escape into a good book and feel like I am actually in a whole other world. 


An escape was exactly what I needed last weekend, while I impatiently waited to find out what in the world could possibly be going on with me and my gallbladder. :) Not to mention that the kids were completely satisfied to hang out in their playroom in their jammies for hours and Brad was off golfing... 


Gulliver's Travels just wasn't doing it for me. Brad had started reading The Catcher in the Rye and told me it was pretty good. I picked it up. And finished it on Sunday. 


I really enjoyed it. But you know what? It just ended. If you've read it, you might agree or disagree. But, I felt like the author just got tired of writing at a certain point and just decided, "OK... I think I'm done. Let's just end it here." I understand the symbolism and I don't regret reading it. But, it left me wanting more. Of course, I imagined a hundred different scenarios and back stories and even alternate endings. Yes, I know that sounds crazy, but that's just what I do when I read something that doesn't completely answer everything I want it to. However, I loved how it was written. It kind of reminded me of my blog. There were all of these digressions and side stories and things that weren't really relevant at all, immersed into one overall story. I guess that means that I write like a teenager, since that is what the tone and style was meant to represent. :) 


Oh well... I've always said that age is what you make of it... being young at heart is all that matters. lol. Especially now that I'm moving into the ancient world by nearing my 30th birthday and having gallbladder surgery, etc. That's for you, Jon... since I know you are reading now. :) All those good times at the Alley Cats probably didn't help this old gallbladder any. I blame you for always challenging me and not letting me just be good. (See, just another random digression).


So... one book down... 99 to go. Not sure which 99, but some variation of this list, I'm sure. And, I'm sitting here watching Julie & Julia, the movie that inspired my list. I love it.

List update...

Tonight is a list update. 

I have no kids to write about tonight. They are living the good life, getting spoiled by their grandmother in eastern Kentucky. I'm sure they will be total brats by the time they get home. I dread that part. I miss the little birds... but when they come home, they act like the little prince and princess that they've been treated like at their mamaw's. :) But, they have fun... and they have rules that involve no more toys for a while, which is good. They did get a cat (that will stay at their mamaw's) and apparently it is all the rage. So much that my little man, who typically is ready to come home by now, wanted to stay one more night. It worked out nicely for me... since I have the appointment with the surgeon at 10:45 in the morning. Yippee. 

So... back to the list. 

I'm slightly disappointed... well, flat out disappointed, that I can't do Habitat for Humanity this weekend. We (being Brad, Cilla, Bret, Dawn, and Brandon) had planned this in June. All three of us ladies want to do this... as do the guys, I think... and it sucks that my gallbladder is preventing that. Boo. That's two list items that it has interfered with... camping and Habitat for Humanity. Have I mentioned how much I can't wait to get this gallbladder out and be done with this? 

Anyway... I'm working on other things though. 

Our garden... is growing. Some of it is dying, but lots of things are growing. Well, lots of tomatoes and peppers are growing. That's pretty much it. lol. The squash and zucchini must have had some infestation of insects or something, because it was growing great and then BAM! It all died. All of it. So did my baby watermelons! The plant is HUGE, but the watermelons that were growing turned completely black and shriveled up and died. I was not happy. The pumpkin plants are getting too hot and I don't think they're going to make it. That made me more sad than anything. I was so excited about seeing pumpkins growing this fall. My butternut squash, however, has done really well. There's one almost ready to pick. So... I'm learning. I know next year to spread things out more... I think the bell peppers would be bigger by now if I had put them in front of the tomatoes. The plants got too big and shaded the peppers too much. No habaneros next year... they are just going to rot away because no one knows what to do with them. lol. They are just too hot. And, hopefully my blackberry bush might come back next spring instead of completely dying. We'll just see. While I have lots more to learn in terms of gardening, I think it's safe to say that I can mark off my vegetable garden on the list. So... one more thing comes off the list! :) 

Running. Well. I'm not running because of my health. Enough said. My goal right now is to get healthy and get over this surgery and everything and start training again. I was hopeful that I might be able to come back fast enough to run a 10K this fall, but I might just plan to skip the 10K altogether and just train for the half marathon in the spring. I don't know. I'll just have to see what happens. 

I also have on my list some things about reading. I want to read Newsweek's Top 100 Books of All Time. Well, actually, I don't think I should have put that on the list, because there are a few on that list that I flat out do not want to read. So, I might just never accomplish this one. I actually might change it to something more like "read the books I want to read off of this list and create my own list of Top 100 Books." :) Until I make that executive decision to change it, I am reading some of the ones that are on this list that I actually do want to read. Today, I visited the library and picked up The Catcher in the Rye and Gulliver's Travels. I think it's quite funny that I never have read either of these two. I know the general synopsis of both and have heard references to them throughout life. I just never have read them. So... I'll let you know what I think about them. :) 

Also, at the library, I picked up the second round of books to read to the kids, as part of the 50 Books To Read While In Kindergarten. We have marked off 6 from the list and I picked up 7 more today. I am surprised by how much the kids enjoyed it. Actually, I really expected Bailey to, but Jake shocked me. He doesn't typically like to read, unless it's about superheroes. But, he loved the books! He especially loved A Splendid Friend Indeed by Suzanne Bloom. Funny how certain things appeal to certain kids. 

I'm still working on the list and have some additions and changes to make to it. I was planning to wait until my birthday to make some changes to it. But... I think I'm going to have to do it sooner. There's one thing that I was going to add that I am going to be able to accomplish in September (surprisingly), so I'm going to have to at least make that change. :) I'll let the curiosity drive you all nuts... except Cilla who I already told about it. :) 

Pansy

I could cry. 


Sometimes I think I gloss over things... sugarcoat them so that I can convince myself through writing to be more optimistic. 


Not tonight. 


I was scared. Do you know how many times I've watched a football game and called the quarterback a pansy for falling down instead of taking a hit? Do you know how many times I've watched a game and pegged the running back that had been hurt before because he avoided being hit by a defensive player? Yep... called him a pansy, too. 


I'm officially a pansy. I ran scared tonight. Every time I started to pick up speed, I'd feel like one of those players. I would pull back, slowing down or avoiding a hill, scared. Scared to get hurt. Pansy. 


I ran. I sucked. I sucked in air and it hurt. I didn't really have a hard time breathing - my breathing was normal and even, not heaving or anything. Yet, I had a hard time breathing, because it felt like someone had kicked me in the ribs and my ribs were going to pierce through my lungs. Really and truly. I sucked. I ran about a mile. Then, I walked a minute or so. I ran about another quarter of a mile. I thought about punching the skinny girl running toward me that looked at me like I was a loser for walking. She probably really wasn't, but she looked like she was. I could have totally taken her. She should be glad that I went to Bible school with the kids tonight and felt closer to God. :) Because at that exact moment, I was mad at the world. 


I walked about three quarters of a mile home. I started to cry, but realized that I'd look stupid crying and that crying wouldn't do anything anyway. I just walked home... like a pansy.


My ankle doesn't hurt. YAY! I should be celebrating my running again, right? Yep... on a normal blog post, I would. But if I'm really going to share how I feel about all of this. Well, I'll just say, "It sucks." My vocabulary is awesome, I know. :) 


I just can't believe that me taking two weeks away from training and I can hardly make it through a mile. 


I have a training plan to run a 10K in eight weeks. It involves running 4 miles 4 times a week. Yep. That's going to take a while. 


Sucks. 

To Run or Not to Run... Take Two.

So, I'm running. Or attempting to run. I will probably walk most of it, but I'm going to go and see how I feel. Who knows... maybe it will be better by morning. hahaha. I know. I'm laughing about it, too. Most likely, I'll be last... walking it in. Oh well... I am going to go anyway. Fingers crossed, guys! :)

To Run or Not to Run... that is the question...

Tomorrow is July 17th... the day that I have been looking forward to since I first decided to become a runner. It is the race that I had set as my goal for completing my first 5K. Nevermind that I did run a 5K a couple of weeks ago. The Bluegrass State Games was the goal. And, I am NOT ready. Tomorrow is the Bluegrass State Games and I am NOT ready.


Fortunately, it has nothing to do with my training. I have stuck to my plan and trained according to the suggestions of the Couch to 5K program, along with some advice from other websites and my friend, Dawn. I am proud of myself for sticking with it and not giving up when I felt like doing just that a few different times along the way. I am a little concerned about my sanity, since I do seem to be much more addicted to this whole running thing more than I ever expected to be. Yet, I'm excited about that... finally, I'm addicted to something good for me, unlike the other things I love like chocolate, Diet Mt. Dew, and ice cream. My lungs and heart are ready for this race. It's just my ankle. The ridiculous ankle that gave me problems after only a couple of weeks running. It's back and it's fighting to keep me down. 


I blogged earlier this week that I was going to run that night, but an unexpected truck purchase taking longer than I anticipated got in my way. So, I didn't run. Time after time, things got in the way, and this morning was really my only opportunity to get out and try out my ankle. It was kind of nice feeling like I had rested it and healed it completely. It was swelling a little yesterday, but the pain was pretty much gone, so I thought it was probably fine. 


I ran this morning. Five minutes into my run, I had to stop and limp home. 


A bucket of ice and an Ibuprofen later... still swollen. What? Are you kidding me?! Still swollen? 


To tape it or not to tape it... to run or not to run... to cry or not to cry. Those are the questions.We'll see how today goes... and maybe tomorrow, just maybe tomorrow, I can tape it up and run without walking. I am so completely disappointed that my goal is not to walk again. I wanted to be at the point where I would be trying to get my speed up, not worrying about just finishing. But, as God continues to teach me, I am NOT in control of everything. Bailey thinks I am, since I can control the window lock and all of the windows from the driver seat in the car... :) But, I know better. :)

Savannah, Georgia

Savannah, Georgia... home to the greatest round of golf ever played. Or something like that. Every time I say Savannah, Georgia, I hear the voice over of someone from the movie The Legend of Bagger Vance in my head. And, I love it. I wish I could sound that cool when I say it. :) 


We visited Savannah on our vacation trip to Hilton Head a couple of weeks ago. I can now mark it off my list... number 23. It was beautiful. It was hot. I think it was about 96 degrees or something ungodly like that on the day we were there. I sweated. It felt like someone had installed a faucet at the base of my neck and it had a slow leak, gradually dripping and running down my back consistently all day. No matter how dry I tried to get, I just kept sweating. It was disgusting. But, back to the interesting stuff, right? 


I had big plans for Savannah, and it started with good home cooking at Paula Dean's restaurant Lady and Sons. Everyone (or mostly everyone) had told me to try it. I heard many reviews that said it wasn't worth the wait, but many that said it was. So, we got to Savannah at about 10 a.m., put our name on the waiting list, and found out we'd eat our "lunch" at 3 p.m. Hmmm... not that I was at all surprised, but we were already hungry, so I knew that we'd be eating twice. 


Colt and Emily went their way. We took the kids and headed to River Street to see the river, the boats, and whatever else was down there. We walked around and saw amazingly large ships, beautiful old streets and buildings, cannons from the Revolutionary War, homemade pralines (where we tasted ice cream), and a wonderful little market with tons of fun things, including ribbon flip flops that were interchangeable but not in the way that I've made them (possibly more on this later). It was all very exciting. And very hot. So, we ate in a little tavern (of course, where there would be beer for my hubby who was not really all that excited to be in Savannah on this sweltering hot day). The food was good, the air conditioning was great. :) We did more shopping and walking around... researching ideas of river boat tours, horse drawn carriages, and ghost tours for a later trip when we wouldn't have the kids. Savannah is a wonderful city, but it is jam-packed with history and things that a 5-year old and a 3-year old really could not care less about. :) So, I got it in my head that when Brad and I come back to South Carolina (Columbia, to be exact) in October for a friend's wedding, we should try to take an extra day and spend it in Savannah. And, of course, since it will be October, I think we should do the ghost tour. How wonderful will it be around Halloween with all of the weepy trees and old buildings?! I'm really excited. 


Anyway... we caught up with Colt and Emily and made our way back toward Paula Dean's restaurant. We let the kids play in the city fountains, which they loved and I'm quite certain was their favorite part of Savannah. Then, we changed their clothes and headed for the restaurant, right as a huge storm blew through and cooled everything down. :) 


The restaurant was great. It wasn't as wonderful as I had hoped, but I wasn't starving when we got there either. Have I mentioned how hot it was? Well, I wasn't super hungry after being in the heat all day. But, we did enjoy ourselves some wonderful country cooking. I think the biggest problem for me with the restaurant is that I was raised by a mother who could cook country foods wonderfully. She learned it from her mother and grandmother, two of the most amazing cooks I've ever met. The food in the restaurant tasted similar to their cooking, but I couldn't help but compare. My grandmother could cook the best fried corn ever. The corn at Paula Dean's was great, but it wasn't just right. The green beans needed more bacon grease (disgusting, I know), the fried chicken was fabulous, and the bread delicious. The peach cobbler was to die for, but it did need some ice cream. lol. It really was a great meal. I think I'm just a hard customer when it comes to country food. 


So, that was the adventure. It's enough for me to mark it off my list. But, I'm hopeful that I'll get to go back in October and experience more of the history. I think I'll enjoy it more then. Plus, I will probably not sweat like a pig the entire time then. So, we shall see. Until then... here are some of my favorite pictures from our day there:

The trees are all creepy and gorgeous at the same time. :)

George Washington went to this church on his visit to Savannah during Revolutionary War times.

Cannons... from Revolutionary War times. 

River Street...

A trolley on River Street in front of the cool market that I was talking about.

The river with some smaller ships on it. I couldn't get a good picture of the HUGE ship that came through because some guy was a complete jerk and told me to get off his private parking lot, even though I was just wanting a stupid picture. :( He was clearly from the north. No southern gentleman would have been so rude. lol. 

The restaurant we ate our early lunch at (like 11 a.m.).

One side of Paula Dean's store... 

Jake getting his air brushed tattoo... the kids' other only favorite thing about Savannah. :)

Not sure what the face is about, but it must have something to do with being Superman. 

Bailey getting her butterfly tattoo (what else?!).

Modeling it for us. 

Finally cooling down... 

 

Finally getting up the nerve to go for it... if only we had brought clothes for us to change into.

        

More fun....

Awesome! 

My little sailor showing off his pipes. I absolutely LOVED this picture. I have been dying to do this post, just for it. :)

The whole gang, minus part of Brad's head. lol. :) Our server tried anyway. 

Adrenaline - the best thing since water

And another one... and another one... and another one bites the dust. :) I am definitely talking about my list items here. Because today I accomplished my list item to run a 5K. Yep... the item that kind of started this whole list insanity and made me realize the power that comes with telling people what you want to get out of life... all your hopes and dreams... you know... all that jazz. :) I finished that one. And I know I sound like I'm arrogant or cocky or just plain bragging, but I'm not. I'm totally excited. Utterly excited. I can't believe I'm this excited. 


I have to tell you all about it. I know you are just sitting on the edge of your seat to hear/read it. :)


We went to the drive-in movie theater last night, despite the fact that it meant I would probably not get home until after 2 a.m. Probably an idea that most people would think is stupid before a big race day, but for me, it was the right thing. For one, I don't require much sleep (thus the blogs that I post in the middle of the night sometimes), and for two, I had to think about something other than the next morning or I would totally convince myself that I could not do it. So, we watched Toy Story 3 and I dozed in and out of sleep during Grown Ups. I got in bed at like 3 a.m., set the alarm for 6:40 and was up on time. As soon as the alarm went off, I jumped out of bed, totally excited. And then... it hit me like a ton of bricks. My nerves. When I get nervous, I usually feel like I'm running late. So, I made Brad get up and I rushed through getting the kids dressed. We had to be on time. :) 


Deep breathing. That's about all Brad kept hearing from me on the way to Frankfort. I'd sigh, tell him I thought I would puke, breathe in really deep, and then give myself a pep talk over and over. I'm surprised the batteries on my MP3 player weren't dead from me checking them 100 times. I asked Brad repeatedly if I should wear the tank or the t-shirt. It was, to my delight, a wonderful 61 degrees when we left home, so I should have been fine with either. But, that just panicked me more. I always run in a tank, would the t-shirt throw me off mentally? I KNOW... like the t-shirt would really make a difference... :) 


Brad was great... he usually isn't all that great at pep talks because he doesn't ever freak out. It's hard for someone who doesn't understand freaking out to relate and say the right things. But, he did. He just kept reminding me that this was a trial run and that it was just like any other morning run that I've been doing. That helped. It actually really helped. So, thanks honey. 


When we pulled into the parking lot and I saw people running the course to "warm up," I felt like puking again. Then, I saw all the cars and people. More thoughts of puking. But, fortunately, no puking happened. I shook it off, let my adrenaline rush me, found the registration area, found Rebecca, and together we nervously made our way to the group of people massing the area. I have no idea about actual head counts on the race, but I have to think there were about 300 people there. Once we found a "spot" in the group, we started sizing up the competition, trying to figure out who would walk it so that we could feel confident we would not be the last place finishers. :) Speaking of the walkers, I was a little frustrated by the ones that lined up in the front of the race, knowing good well that they weren't going to run one step. No offense to the walkers out there, but it's hard to run around you. :) Please move to the back. It was all part of it though... figuring out how it all works, seeing how much adrenaline would rush through me, finding ways to navigate around people, and finding out that I was actually better off than I expected. 


The race started and I kept my adrenaline and speed in check, despite the constant urge to sprint through the beginning. OMG adrenaline. It is amazing. I was so excited to run past Brad, Paul, Bailey, Jake, and Joseph the first time. They were all so cute cheering us on, especially Bailey who had already figured out how and when to yell, "Go, mommy, go!" So adorable to see them becoming so excited to find us. :) Through the first mile, well whole race, really, I was playing a balancing act. I had so much energy that I was dying to use, but I was trying to pace myself, trying to not to feel the urge to sprint away, and trying to remember to chant all the good advice that Dawn Pigg had given me about how to run these things and finish. I think I was thinking so much that I didn't really realize that I wasn't concentrating on breathing. And, I was OK. I wasn't breathing hard, just normal. I didn't feel winded during any of the race, parched a few times, but not winded. And, I think it was all because I was thinking about everything and nothing all at once. I don't know what songs played on my playlist, but I am pretty sure that they didn't repeat or anything, so maybe I was just on mental auto-pilot in that sense. When we got lapped before the 1 mile marker, I was so impressed. The guy was just zooming past us without any struggle for air and he was already at his 2.5 mile mark (the race was 3.1 miles for those of you wondering). But, instead of ever feeling down and out, it was exciting to see people running that fast... to be a part of it, I guess. Maybe to hope that I could increase my speed... not even close to where that guy ran it (I think it was probably like 14 minutes or something insane), but to run it faster. Adrenaline... again. Fascinating stuff. 


When we rounded the halfway point and I saw the kids all cheering us on, I couldn't help but get the biggest smile on my face. They were so adorable and I was so happy they were there. And, so happy that I wasn't panting or crawling at that point. :) We kept running, throwing water on us, and kept running some more. When we hit the 2.5 mile marker... the point in the race that I was terrified of... the place that I hadn't surpassed yet in my training... the wonderful drug adrenaline rushed me again and I wanted to barrel through that last .6 miles. In some ways, I regret not just picking up the speed and killing myself to get there faster. I probably could have and probably should have, but I was so nervous that I'd run out of steam and have to walk. So, I kept my pace, speeding up at the 3.0 mile marker, knowing we were in the homestretch. Rebecca and I sped up, having run the whole race together (she's going to run circles around me once her leg is back, so I'm enjoying our run together now ;)). We pushed through the last tenth of a mile crossing the line together. Sweetness, complete sweetness when I saw the time. 


32:58


All you big time runners, laugh hard now and hopefully I'll laugh hard later too. But that time will forever be etched in my mind. I would have been satisfied with anything near 34 minutes. Thirty-three minutes was the time I had hoped for and talked to Brad about for weeks, as my pace always tended to be around 11 minutes per mile. I was really expecting to come in at 34. Under 33 minutes to me was huge. No records, I realize, but a record in my book. :) 


It was an awesome experience that will always remain in my heart. I was so happy to share it with Rebecca and so happy that we stuck it out together. I know we'll be at different places in our training along the way and at some point she'll run off and blow past me, but until then, it is and will be a blast. :)


And I have to thank Brad and the kids for coming out to support me. You guys have encouraged me to run and train and made it so easy for me to go. I love you all more than words can express and I appreciate you being in my corner. Brad... want to do that run with me now? I'm not going to be all mad if you beat me. Well, I might be a little mad, but not all mad, especially if you win the whole thing and some money. :) Bailey - you are totally up in the fall. We are going to do a run/walk focusing just on her. No big races, just one for her to get to do this with me. Jake - you are waiting a while. Sorry, bud... if you can't walk to the car from the ball park without wanting to be held, you aren't ready to race. :)


I love you guys so much and hate it for you all, too. Now, the addiction to running is going to step up to the next level. Sorry to my family in advance for my upcoming constant need to run... and sorry the running blogs will not be ending. lol. Bluegrass State Games is next... July 17. Let's beat that 32:58. Dawn - we need to talk about my goal-setting. :) I'll be e-mailing you this week for pointers and training suggestions. After that, there's a whole slew of races in the fall, including a possible 10K in October. Half-marathon in the spring? Duathlon-time? Hmmm... let's work on this speed. But, as if you can't tell, my adrenaline has me entirely too pumped about this and I am totally up for the next one. I told myself I'd take a few days off, but I'm not sure I can keep myself from going out and running now. It's a drug...  






And, to all of you who have given me pep talk after pep talk and encouraged me after hurting my ankle, and just been there for me through it all... thank you. I love you all for holding me accountable and making me make myself do this.