A2A- And This One Makes Three

Wow- what a fun weekend! I told the husband several weeks (if not months) ago that I wanted to do the A2A Half Marathon in Ardmore, OK. He wasn't ever very interested. On the one hand, it's in a fairly small town in our state, and on the other, this weekend was his mom's 60th birthday. And, although I didn't know it at the time I registered, her birthday would turn into an entire weekend of celebrating, and I would be the bad guy for not being there. I'm a planner, what can I say?

So, I talked my mom into being my lone cheerleader for the weekend, and when I told her that our little road trip would include shopping, she was happy to join me. So, we left OKC on Saturday morning, and filled the day with eating and shopping before checking into our home-away-from-home at the Candlewood Suites on Saturday night so I could prepare for race day. Prepare =coordinate an outfit.

Sunday morning, we left the hotel by 6:30 am so mom could drop me off at the busses at the finish line. All participants had to be bussed to the start line in the middle of the Arbuckle Mountains and spectators weren't even allowed up there. It was a very well organized process except that we had to sit at the start line for almost an hour before the 8 o'clock gun, and it was cold and windy!

Anyway, the race was advertised as a flat and mostly downhill, fast course. The organizers even said to be prepared to PR, and here's the elevation chart that was posted on the race website.

Easy, right? So, based on that information, I went in with a gameplan consisting of 3 things: run the downhill 8 miles at a comfortable but fast speed, walk the one giant hill at mile 9 if I needed to, and TRY to enjoy the course and the view. Well, all I can say is that somebody was smoking crack when they came up with that elevation chart. It was NOT a downhill course. Yes, there were downhill areas, but downhill is not the same as rolling hills AND when you add in 16-20 mph winds that you get to run into the entire time...BRUTAL!!!

On the other hand, the race was well organized, the volunteers were friendly (where else do you get homemade cinnamon rolls at the finish?) and I got to see a male participant run off the course to take a shi* in the woods! Plus, the swag bags were great- we got two shirts, a medal, a water bottle and a bag of local fresh roasted peanuts.

It was tough though, and I would have to be in better shape to participate again. But, I finished- not with a PR by any means, not even close. But I finished and got another medal to add to my display, and that is all that matters.

Tuesday Tidbits: Shane's Edition

In honor of my awesome husband and his sweet hairdo, this post is going to be mostly centered around him. He's acting like he needs some attention this week anyway. But don't feel bad- guess where he is right now...

Anyway, I've been calling him Shane all week because that name sounds most fitting for a red-headed dude with a mullet or a tail. And since the husband currently has both, he's earned it. Seriously, his hair is SO BAD he can't even argue with the nickname.

And some other things...

I lost a follower today and am deeply saddened- I feel like someone in real life just said they didn't wanna be friends with me :)

During the Bachelor last night, husband said "Do you think they cleaned all of Chantel's tears and snot out of that limo's backseat before they put Emily in there?"

Then, he asked if we could marry Nellie (our girl dog) with Fletcher (our boy dog), but decided that she may be better suited for Jack (the cat).

I don't think he was drunk.

Ok, but seriously and on an important note, my cousin, Holly, is hosting her first ever real and VIRTUAL 5K to benefit the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society through Team in Training! Yay for her! So, here's the deal... the real race is in Florida on the beach, but since not many people will physically be there to run it (including myself), she added the virtual component. So, basically I can run or walk the 3.1 miles at my leisure, or maybe if I'm feeling lazy, I'll just pretend I did it, but, who would really do that?!?!

So, you're probably asking yourself why you would want to do this. Here's why- four reasons:
1) to help this really cool chick you've never met raise over $3000 for Team in Training
2) to help the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society out- it is a tax deductible donation!
3) to get a cool t-shirt
4) to get out there and burn some calories!

Now, go HERE and register. It's $25 if you want the shirt and $20 if ya don't. Then, grab some friends and make a morning of it. You can even follow it with bloody marys??? or coffee??? And, you can feel really good about it!

An Anniversary of Sorts

I almost forgot! Today is the 1 month anniversary of my vegetarianism! It's so funny because I didn't know if I could do it and even considered only trying to go "meat-free" for two weeks. I also have a veggie friend at work who suggested I just try to "cut back" at first and only allow myself to eat chicken or beef 1-2 times per week. Haha, friend, no need to cut back for me!

So, I am proud to say that I did it cold turkey and haven't missed a beat. Honestly, I really haven't missed eating meat at all, and I haven't had any cravings for it either!

So, here's the deal: As of now, I have no plan to eat meat anytime soon. I will continue this process for as long as it feels comfortable- as long as I don't feel like I am lacking anything nutritionally and as long as I don't feel like I am really missing out.

Oh, and I was kind of excited the other night when, after placing my dinner order at a restaurant, the waitress said, "you're a vegetarian aren't you?" Well yes, I guess you could say I am!

And on a totally unrelated, random note, I'm obsessed with this metallic polish! I want it on my toes right this minute!



Happy Monday!

MEDALS!

So, if you read my blog (yes, I'm talking to both of you out there in cyberland), you might remember this post where I talked about my obsession for medals. And, yes, I'm still obsessed, and happy to report that I will (hopefully) be receiving at least 3 more medals between now and May 1st since I am signed up for 3 more 1/2 marathons.

So, since I am sooooo proud of my hard-earned medals, I decided that I needed a place to show them off. And, what better place is there than the LAUNDRY ROOM?!?!? But, I did make these hangers for them, and I am pretty proud. The one on the right is the husband's since he is the triathlete, and mine is the one that says "live inspired" because that is the saying on my Road ID.


Please notice whose display has more bling- thank you very much!

Today was That Day

Ever have one of those days that just seems perfect because you are busy all day with things that you want to do?

Today was one of those days for me!

It started off with an amazing hour of private yoga. Trust me, I didn't book a private lesson- it just happened that way, but it was fantastic! And if you live within 50 miles of Tulsa, please check out Cozy Yoga in Bixby!


Next, the husband took me out for lunch at a local chinese/vietnamese vegetarian restaurant- Be Le. It was fun to try a new restaurant and be able to order anything on the menu!

Then, I went on a treasure hunt at my favorite junk shop. I took this picture because I thought the sign was cute and texted it to the husband to get his opinion. Of course, he didn't care. I didn't buy it, but I kinda think maybe I should have?!?! it's cute and vintage-y!


I came home, changed my clothes and headed to the river trails for a 6 mile run in my new kicks.


And finally finished the evening in front of our new chimenea.


Today was perfection, but tomorrow I have to go back to work and am not looking forward to it!

Diet Ice Cream

Do you believe it? Do you believe there's such a thing?

Well, there is a lot of reduced calorie, reduced fat or otherwise "diet"ice cream out there, but it generally ends up being almost as bad for you as the regular stuff or giving you the worst stomachache ever (read: gas).

But, (supposedly) not this stuff...



It is low calorie, zero fat, and just about zero everything else. And, it doesn't upset your stomach like the other stuff might.

So, what's the catch? It tastes like flavored ice! There's not a whole lot that's creamy about this stuff.

The husband and I bought the chocolate peanut butter and cookies and cream flavors last night (to the tune of $4.50 each) and we tried them both. CPB was a total let down, and while the c&c was somewhat tasty, it was gray!

So here's the deal, if you are on a diet and you might die immediately if you don't have a bite of ice cream, go ahead and try it. it might satisfy that craving. But unless it's a life or death situation, I'd stick with the good stuff!

Baby Bump!

Haha! Got your attention, didn't I?

No, but seriously, I had this conversation with one of my patients yesterday:

him: You're pregnant?
me: Nope, it's just a food baby.
him: Oh, it's left over from your first baby?

...........COULD THIS GET ANY WORSE?...........

me: NO! It's just a food baby!
him: So, it's your 3rd baby?
me: wow, ok. no, it's just food. my stomach's full, ok?
him: ah, a food baby. Yeah, I have one of those too.

Aren't you supposed to not say anything like this to any woman ever unless you actually see a baby falling from her vajayjay?

Has this ever happened to you? How do you respond?

BTW, mom and dad, I am not in any way, shape or form pregnant.

Is it MOOSTASH or MUSTASH?

I wasn't going to post anything tonight because I had a crappy day at work and I'm tired.

But then I started thinking, wouldn't it be fun to have a dinner party?

And serve Italian food.

And lots of red wine.

And make ALL of the guests wear a moustache....women included.

Maybe like this...



Or this...


Or even this...



But maybe this isn't such a good idea in case I end up looking like this...



Minus the cigarette of course- because smoking is just plain gross.

The Three B's of Racing

The husband and I completed a 15K this past weekend in the Tulsa area. While we had fun and it was good exercise, I didn't come away with that "oh my gosh, that was fun" feeling that I normally have after an organized event. So, since race fees can add up quickly, I started thinking about what makes a good race for me and came up with the 3 B's. Before signing up for another race, I will look for the following:

1. BLING! I was a little disappointed when I finished 9.3 (actually 9.5 but who's counting?) miles on Sunday and no one was standing at the finish line to put some bling over my head. I know it was only a 15K, but us runners really like our medals...so much so that we sometimes choose our races based on the coolest medals. And it doesn't even have to be a medal per se, a Tiffany's necklace will suffice (yes, there is really a race that gives out Tiffany jewelry)!



2. BENEFICIARY! Now I know that not all races can afford to provide medals. For instance, one of my favorite races this year was the local Humane Society 5k- we got a t-shirt but no bling. Would I do it again? Absolutely, but only because I truly believe in the beneficiary of the race and would like to see the race bring in all the money it possibly can. So, what I am saying is that if the race benefits an organization I believe in, I will spend the money to support it. Oh, and this race was also one of my favorites because I got 2nd place in my age group, and I am pretty sure that this turtle will never see that happen again!

3. BEHIND! Like I just said, I am SSSSLLLLLLLOOOOOWWWWW. I run between a 9:30 and 11:30 minute mile and I am ok with that. I will never be fast, and that's ok, but I don't want to be last! So, before registering for a race, I have to make sure that there are enough participants that I won't be last. 'Nuff said.

So, what makes for a good event for you? What was your favorite race? And, what race has the best bling?

If you will remember, I said I am trying vegetarianism for 1 month because it is something I have always wanted to do. I know it is not for everyone, and I AM NOT trying to push my views on anyone. I am doing this for myself. However, since the picture above sums up my feelings and motivation, I had to share.

I have officially been a veggie for one full week now, and I am happy with my decision thus far. I have found myself eating things I would normally not eat just for nutrition's sake. For instance, I went to the mall food court for lunch today, and instead of ordering my usual chick-fil-a chicken sandwich, large fries and coke zero, I went to the cajun stand next door and ordered a veggie platter with red beans, green beans, rice and mac-n-cheese. Also, instead of my usual chocolate ice cream breakfast, I had a Luna Bar. So, even though I can't tell a difference on the scale yet, I know I am making better food choices because I am forced to think about what I am putting in my mouth! I don't miss anything yet, but there may come a time when I miss my McDonalds, Chick-Fil-A and Indian food. We'll see.

On another note, if you have a couple of hours to spare, watch Food, Inc. It wasn't as sad as I expected although there are some scenes that are very hard to watch. I was definitely enlightening though!

I Took the Pledge

I knew I wanted to write this post, but I wasn't exactly sure what to say or even where to start. So, I google vegetarianism, and of course, the first thing that popped up was PETA's website.

And within 35 seconds of being on the site, a ticker said that 66,000 animals had been killed since I logged on. I read a few animal facts, and was immediately in tears.

I'm not saying that this is a lifetime decision; I'm giving it 30 days and will then re-evaluate based on how my body feels.

I'm not saying that this is a decision for everyone; humans seem to be carnivores by nature.

But, I am saying that since I have become increasingly disgusted with myself everytime I have eaten an animal within the last few monghts, I am taking a pledge to not eat meat for 30 days.

For me, personally, this is about a love of animals, and the thought that I do not want one animal slaughtered for my enjoyment.

The husband is still very much a meat-eater and will continue to be since he is one of those people who thinks he will die without some sort of meat with every meal.

Anyway, I started this process yesterday, Valentines Day, and watched as the husband devoured a steak with his dinner. I didn't miss it one bit!

So, in honor of this journey and to help kick it off, we our watching this movie tonight.



I just hope I don't cry through the whole thing!

This Weekend and Other Randomness

This weekend, I'm headed to New Orleans with the girls to run really fast in my first 1/2 marathon since 2006! Yep, I'm doing the Rock and Roll New Orleans, and I was kidding about the running fast part because I actually jog vvvvveeeeeerrrrrryyyyy ssssssllllllllooooooowwwwwlllllyyyyy. My goal is to finish in under 2:30, so I'll let you know how I do.

Since the run is not until Sunday and I will have some other time to kill, this is what I plan on doing...
-spending ridiculous amounts of time and money on all of the amazing running clothes and accessories that the expo has to offer. Bondi Band, here I come!
-spending ridiculous amounts of time and money on whatever else New Orleans has to offer me. I feel a need to shop. I don't know what for, but I do know it won't be for beads....maybe some voodoo dolls???
-possibly taste-testing a hurricane or two?!?!
-eating, eating, and more eating!

And speaking of eating, guess what I just had for breakfast!

One piece of pizza crust and a couple of spoonfuls of ice cream.

Can we say breakfast of champions? Yes, I have geared my diet toward sustaining me for a long-distance run! Ha

And in the other randomness, here is something you must try...it's heaven in a cardboard container.



Wish me luck this weekend! Please.

Let's Talk About....

My legs. For just a minute.

They aren't pretty. At least I don't think they are.

I nicknamed them the "half-moons" in college, and since then they have become chubby, little fat-girl legs.

With cellulite.

But, I'm ok with that.

A girl I work with recently told me that she's glad I have "cankles" like hers. Ummm, gee thanks?!?!

But, they take me places.

I have run 100s of miles on them and walked 1000s more.

They get me through 12-hour shifts at the hospital.

And, they are going to carry me across the finish line of a half marathon in just a week and a half.

Sometimes I dress them up in a pair of fabulous Louboutins,

and pretend that the shoes will transform me into a supermodel...with supermodel legs.

And then I remember back to a time in my 20s when my legs looked pretty dang great,

but I was starving.

And for now, I would prefer to enjoy my French Silk ice cream and smorgasbord of candy,

and let my legs continue to be what they are....a metaphor for my life in general.

Not perfect.

But healthy and happy.



P.S. Ignore the stupid look on my face. I couldn't believe my husband was taking pictures and video of me as I crossed the finish line of a recent race.

P.P.S. The shorts I'm wearing are THE BEST running shorts ever, and I just bought my 3rd pair today! You can find them through the Roadrunner link on the right side of the page. They are the women's 6" compression shorts.

Princess for a Day

Well, I didn't win the camera strap and that makes me really sad. And no one bought it for me either, which is weird because I figured someone would be nice and surprise me. But Daymom bought it on my recommendation, so I guess I will just go over to her house and look at hers and be jealous. Oh well. Sigh.

But maybe the person who would have bought the strap for me decided not to because they want to buy me something way more awesome- say a plane ticket to Orlando to run the Disney Princess 1/2 Marathon?!?!?

I'm dying to go.

Where else can a 32-year-old woman wear this in public?



Paired with something like this...



Or maybe just an outfit like this...



Or maybe all of it together. Ridiculous, gaudy and fabulous.

But, the plane ticket is $380+, and I would probably have to go alone (I know someone running it though), and who knows where I could stay. So, long story short, I don't think it's going to happen. But, for now, I guess I can keep wishing.

Super Powers

Remember when I set my goals for 2010?

Probably not, but that's ok because I barely remember them myself.

But, it was a goal to take a photography class.

And, I did.

But, I can't say that I'm much better since I still take pictures that look like this...



And this...


But, today, I figured out what would make me an incredible photographer.

This camera strap would probably bring my skills to a whole new level.



Yes, It's THAT cute!

And I'm hoping to win it in the designer's current giveaway.

But if not, it's available at eclecticwhatnot.bigcartel.com if you want to buy it for me!

Some People Just Don't Get It

...But apparently, most people haven't gotten the memo.

I am amazed every day at how my patients behave. I am a nurse at a local hospital, but you would think it's the Ritz Carlton.

Here's a glimpse into my week so far, and it's only Tuesday...

My day always starts with "get me coffee," "get me juice," "where's my breakfast?", "where's my doctor?"

But, for some reason, my job has been extra brutal lately, and I need to vent. It's 12 hours of this. Every. Day.

Patient 1 yells at me because she can't breathe. I know you can't breathe. That's why you are here. And, I'm sorry you can't breathe, but I'm pretty sure that I didn't force you to smoke those 2 packs of cigarettes every day FOR SIXTY YEARS!

Patient 2 yells at me because the woman across the hall is confused and yelling. Dude, I know it's annoying, but I do not have time to write up a new hospital-wide policy for screamers, even though YOU think I should.

Patient 3 yells at me because the pharmacy discarded her used nasal medication AFTER SHE WENT HOME. Hmmmm, would she rather we re-use it on someone else? Mail it to her? Keep it in storage just in case she decided someday to come back for it? Lady, it wasn't yours to take home anyway- it doesn't work that way.

Patient 4 yells at me because I am asking too often to assist her to the restroom. Patient 4's family yells at me because "mom" is "going" in a diaper instead and they want her to go to the bathroom IN THE BATHROOM. Here's an idea- maybe the family could work this out with mom and not blame me?!??!

A doctor yells at me b/c a patient won't leave the hospital after being discharged. Doctor tells me to kick him out. So now I'm the hospital bouncer?

I think you get the picture.

But, next time you're in the hospital, please be kind to your nurses- it's true- we are there to save your ass....not kiss it.

Why oh why

has nobody told me about this website before? I can relate.

Fifteen Memories Since May

I'm back, and this is my 100th post! Woo-hoo! I figured I couldn't quit on 99- that's just weird. Plus, I received an email this week that went something like this...."I tried to become a follower of your blog, but I can't figure out how to. I was thinking that if you got some more followers, you might consider blogging again?!?! Think about it." Ok, so the message was from my mom, but still, at least someone's paying attention.

Anyway, since it's been awhile, here's 15 things that have happened since May.

1. We spent a week in Austin-ate a lot, did some shopping, watched a good friend say "I do" and watched my husband complete his first Olympic-distance triathlon.
2. I turned 32.
3. The husband took me to San Fran and Napa for my b-day.
4. Started a new full-time job at the local hospital.
5. Spent lots of time at the lake.
6. Returned to my old job part time (in addition to the hospital job).
7. Ran a 5k after not running for months- it was sad.
8. Ran a 5k after taking up running again- got 3rd place in my age group!
9. Started training for a 1/2 marathon- RnR New Orleans.

10. Went to Midland to see the husband's cousin tie the knot.

11. Dressed up as Flo from the Progressive commercials for Halloween. The husband was Justin Beiber.
12. Missed out on Thanksgiving b/c I was at work.
13. Took the husband to Playa del Carmen for his 32nd b-day and spent the trip in the hotel with Strep.
14. Celebrated with my little bro after he proposed to his long-time girlfriend.
15. Watched every minute of Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, Big Bang Theory, Parenthood, Modern Family and Teen Mom.