Short & Sweet Holiday Sunday

Happy Week!

Happy Sunday!

Happy New Years Eve Eve!

Some of today's joys included but were not limited to :

managed to avoid *that* particular pile. Stepped in many others, I'm sure

 

A sunrise, 7+ mile, trail run. I haven't attempted one of these for months, after embarassing myself by getting lost so frequently. Happy to report this didn't happen, this morning!! Save your congratulatory responses, though. This is only because I faithfully stuck to a more experienced trail runner who led and paced us brilliantly.

 

38 degrees! Time to bust out the capris & tall socks.

 

 

hot cocoas in the sunshine

 

What's making you happy, today? 





Lucky 13

Is it a little weird/sad that when I typed "13", above, it didn't feel right. I had to fight the urge to add a ".1" after it. What's happened to my brain?

Today's Topic : A peek inside my world . My tiny, corner, desk/workstation, as it looked today :

Organization? I lack.



Some highlights :

• The blue foam roller peeking out, on the right. I am proud to say that I remember to use it 5-7 days/per week. It took me a while to remember to do it, regularly.
• The coffee warmer, on the left. That poor thing has been dropped and spilled on numerous times and keeps on warmin'.
• The library book, with the cover strategically hidden under my grocery list. Last month's Book Club host's selection...not mine.
• A 2013 calender that I've had out for over a month, to remind me to start filling in important dates. In all likelihood, that task will actually take place in early March of 2013. Until then, I'll keep pulling out the 2012 one, currently stuffed in the basket on the lower left, and getting frustrated that it still doesn't show the right date.
• My fancy, black Organizer I bought to keep track of Running-related stuff : upcoming race promotions, contacts, Running Club activities, etc. I dutifully filled in pertinent information for about four days. After that, I started stuffing receipts, scraps of paper, and lists in and out of every couple (sadly) blank pages. I still carry it around and will continue to use it. I feel it makes me look immensely cool and important.
• A plastic nose

Pretty sure it's part of these glasses. If not, someone has some 'splaining to do

 

• A teeny, tiny cow with a teeny tiny suction cup. I'm not sure how it ended up there, but I like it.
• 1,415 other random items

You can't see the monitors but I can guarantee one of them would show the predicted weather for Sunday, December 16th, in Jacksonville Florida. must.stop.obsessing.


Other than random body parts or farm animals, what do you have on your desk?



I'm Not a Vegetarian. I Just Eat Like One

I used to eat meat. I used to LOVE meat. In fact, I have no moral opposition to eating animals. A little over a year ago, meat simply stopped tasting good to me. (Book Recommendation #1 : this one)

It made me very sad, actually.

(dramatic pause)

 Lunchmeat went by the wayside. Grilled, fried, roasted, broiled, chopped, chipped, whole, boneless, T-Bone...I desperately tried to cling to some form of it. No longer was I even able to go enjoy a celebratory steak or burger. The Husband and I, while celebrating our 2nd/8th anniversary, in Lake Tahoe, had days of kid-free dining in our greedy grips.

i want to go (back) to there

 

Our first night in town we went to an awesome, hibachi-style place. Guests fill up their bowls with uncooked goodies and bring them to entertaining chefs. The bowls get tossed around, the food is lined up, in rows, and sizzles away on the giant grill while everyone watches and drools.

 

I was the total buzzkill with the teeny, tiny row of veggies and noodles, squeezed in between the piles of juicy steak and seafood. 

 

"oh. She must be a vegetarian"

 

I gamely ordered a Filet Mignon, when we went to the fancy-schmancy steakhouse the next night. Another disappointment.  

 

Every once in a while, I'll still try a couple bites of chicken...snag a meatball from one of the boys' spaghetti...taste some well-cooked Thanksgiving Turkey, etc. Sometimes I can get past a few bites. Other times I gag, immediately.

 

For some ridiculous reason, there is so much stigma associated with how much meat is involved in one's diet. In a group setting, I'm constantly feeling the need to give a lengthy explanation or defense regarding my veggie burger.

 

I'm pretty sure I have never given a second thought to anyone's food choices (cannibals, aside, obvs). Why this is such a Big Deal is a complete mystery, to me. I have no problem discussing or reading about the varying views on the Meat v. No Meat topic, though, especially concerning athletes. It's particularly interesting from my current "I Love But Don't Eat Meat" status...(Book Recommendation #2 : I'm not a big fan of him, per se, but there are some amazing recipes!)

 

What's the point of all this? I guess it's just to note that I haven't noticed a significant drop or boost in my overall health or fitness. I run longer distances than I ever did, but I don't necessarily attribute that to the absence of meat. Goals just changed.  My energy levels are high, I run and work out just as frequently and my clothes still fit me the same way they did years ago. (I don't update my wardrobe very often).

how I long for an ice-cream based diet

 

 



 Book Recommendation #3: If The Littlest can read it, you can, too

 

All this food talk is making me hungry. I'm going to go have my snack, and then knock out a 10-mile, marathon goal-paced run.

 

What are YOUR weekend plans? 

 

Read any good books, lately?

 

 



 



 









 



Tag! I'm It. (and so are you)

I'm fairly new to the World O' Blog. I've come to learn, though, that being "tagged" is as serious as a Double-Dare. You're left without a choice. You have to succumb.

So, thanks to this lady you all get to learn way more about me than you ever cared to know AND share cool things about yourself, too! (woo hoo!)

Rules :
1. Post 11 things about yourself
2. Answer questions the tagger sent for you
3. Choose 11  some other people and link them to your post
4. Notify the people you've tagged
5. No tag-backs!

Random things about me (In no particular order of importance or significance)

1. I have played in The World Series of Poker and would love to do it, again. I still love the game, but running's taken priority, hobby-wise.

2. I LOVE flip-flops. Other than running shoes, they're about all I wear. You seeing this Brooks? New Balance? Make some running shoes that look like flip-flops and I'll buy the heck out of 'em!

Flip-Flops & snow. you can take me out of Florida, but you can't take the Florida out of me.

3. I eat an ice cream sundae, every day, after my lunch. The toppings and flavors vary, but the tradition remains. It gets to be a problem when I'm out for a meal and have to rush back home for my daily sundae...

4. I'm excellent at finding lost items. It's a gift. I can even find teensy, weensy shark's teeth :

5. My nose is really crooked. I've found that I inadvertently tilt my head the opposite way when being photographed. I don't think it helps...

6. The company I work for started an entire department devoted to work-from-home employees, based on my suggestion. I was the guinea pig and it's been running smoothly for over 8 years, now!

7. The songs that motivate me most, during a tough race : cheesy, 80's pop. Sad, but true. The theme from "Rocky". Yawn. Taylor Dayne screeching at me to "Tell it To My Heart"...I can bust into a gear I never knew I posessed.

8. I have zero fashion sense. None. This may further explain my love for flip-flops... 

9. I have never seen the West Coast of the US...or the Pacific Ocean.

10. When I'm too old (or decrepit) to participate in races, I'd love to travel the world, managing races. I think it'd be SO fun to bring the joy of racing to other runners.

11. Most embarrassing driving story? I hit a cow and totalled a Jeep Cherokee.

Questions we all get to answer :

1. What is your favorite run/race/activity you have participated in? I think I smiled the most during The Disney World Half Marathon. I'm not even a huge Disney junkie, but it's easy to get caught up in "the magic". :)

2. Do you run with a group or solo? I ran solo for many years. No one in my family or circle of friends were runners (then). Almost exactly one year ago, I joined a local running group. I still run by myself a few times a week, but love the group runs and friendships I've made with them.

3. What part of the country do you live in: Florida. I was born in a different state, but have lived here since I was less than 2. I hope to never leave.

4. What is your favorite machine at the gym? I have no clue how to use any machine other than the treadmill. (and even that's a little iffy...)

5. What healthy dish do you like to make? I love to make healthy wraps, sandwiches and bowls of concoctions. For lunch I made a bowl of couscous w/diced tomatoes, torn spinach, pumpkin seeds, chia, and a drizzle of olive oil & balsamic vinegar. mmmmm...

6. What is your favorite easy snack food? rice or almond crackers & hummus. Or greek yogurt w/granola, chia & berries. Or almonds and grapes. I like snacks. A lot.

7. What brand of athletic shoe do you prefer? I've been running in and loving the new(ish)  Brooks Pure line.

8. Who is your favorite athlete? I'm inspired by a lot of runners, but I don't know that I really have a favorite.

9. What sport do you wish you could compete in the Olympics? Winter : Luge. (it'd be like a teeny roller coaster, right?!) Summer : 10,000 meter or marathon

10. Red, white or blue: Red. I'm told I "look good" in the color. Whatever that means...

11. Favorite Travel Spot: We've found plenty of good places to ski, but no "perfect" spot, yet. It's fun to keep looking, though! In the Summer, I love my sister-in-law's house in Ontario Canada. Just gorgeous.

You're it:

Gracie

Katie

Luisa

Kris

Christy

Erica

Bob

Hope everyone can find some time to play and has more interesting things to share than I did. ;) In the meantime, everyone else can check out their blogs. C'mon...I double-dare you.