Thursday 13: The I Dislike Edition

A handful of things lately have seriously been getting on my nerves so what better way to vent than a Thursday 13!



1) People who contradict my love of animals with referring to things like skunks and squirrels as not being cute.� Yes, they can have their own opinions but it doesn't mean I agree.� I am a TRUE animal lover.� If it has hair or fins and is not a tarantula, I care deeply for it.



2) Lies.� I hate being lied to.� Period.



3) When I am polite and ask if someone�minds if I do something and get about a half smart answer.� Especially when that person has told me something they are going to do.� Morale of the story: don't ask.� Just tell.



4) People who try to take over.



5) People who treat volunteer things like a "I can turn up when I feel like it."� If we all did that, we would be in trouble in many aspects of life.



6) Always having to decide what we are eating for dinner.� I decide 6 days a week as that is how many days I cook.� Why do I have to decide the one other day too?



7) Empty containers being put back in the fridge.� Seriously?



8) Dirty dishes in the sink.� Is washing a dish really that difficult?



9) When kids give me forms that need to be signed about 2.5 seconds before they have to leave for school.� Um, how about the night before, dude?



10)� On Facebook when I remark about being cold that people comment and talk about how much they love this weather.� I wish all their weather love made me warmer, but guess what? It doesn't.



11) People who block the whole isle in the store with their carts...or the people riding their electronic carts who act like they own the store.� I heard one of these folks threaten to run someone over once.�



12) Drivers who lack common courtesy...so pretty much everyone in my town.� They do still put turn signals in cars, right?



13) When people at the gym use a weight bench as a place to chat with their husband/wife/friend.� That's not a sofa, hobag.



I will still do the dishes, decided on where we are going for dinner and deal with the empty containers in the fridge.� But I don't have to like it.

 

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Thursday Thirteen: The "I Heart" Edition

I haven't done TT for the last few weeks so I decided it was time to get back to it.� Oh and I am sore as hell today.� Yes, it is in a good, but I am sore in places I didn't know could get sore!



Anyway, for today's TT, I am going to attempt to come up with things I love that make me, me.� You will find nothing here that will change the world or even shatter it a little bit; just a handful of things that for some odd reason, make me happy.



1. Socks.� I love them.� Athletic socks, the no show version in white or multi-colored.� Regular socks to wear with jeans and clogs in brown or black or that have cute designs on them.� I love them all.



2. Office stores and supplies.� The Brit tries to steer me clear of these places, because surround me with organizational stuff and pens, calendars, etc and I am in heaven.



3. Inspirational jewelry.� You know, the necklaces and bracelets that say things like "Live, dream, believe" or whatever.� I love wearing my mantras on my sleeve or neck.



4. While we are on jewelry, I cannot leave out dangly earrings.� Now that my hair is short, if I leave the house and forget earrings I feel as if I have forgotten to wear pants.� While I wear studs in my top two holes, none of that for the bottom ones.� Dangly is where it's at for me.



5. Water bottles.� I love them and am always looking at them in the stores.� Don't ask me why.� I don't get it either.



6. Shoes.� Yeah, this is a girl thing.� I love sandals, boots (I need to find a black pair), clogs, athletic shoes.� And they don't have to be new.� You know this girl loves Goodwill.



7. And speaking of Goodwill, I love thrift stores.� I can now find clothing in my size a bit more easily and have discovered a newfound clothing addiction.� Thrift stores keep my addiction affordable and are full of name brands.



8. Hoodies.� If I could I would have one from every single place I visit or anyone in my family visited.� Zip up or pullover; doesn't matter.



9. Farmer's markets.� I adore these places.� Love browsing, love buying my produce locally.� I wish we lived in a climate where I could do this all year round but I don't.



10. Airports.� There is something about being in an airport that is great fun for me.� I love the stores and watching all the people and wondering where they are going and being excited about where I am going.� Two months till Calfornia, baby!



11. A fire in the fireplace.� Something about that signifies home and being able to put my feet up and relax...despite all that jumping up and down to add wood.



12. Books.� Despite having limited time to read due to all the other things I either have to do or want to do, I love curling up with a good story or if time is especially short, a magazine.�It symbolizes down time for me and often inspires me...though not enough yet.



13. Alto singers.� You can have the screetchy sopranos as I can't hit those notes anyway and to me, nothing sounds better on a girl than a rich, alto voice.



There ya go!� What did you write about today?

 

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Thursday 13: Take Two

1. I just had this entire post written when my computer locked up and killed my post so leave lots of comments as I am rewriting the WHOLE FREAKING THING!



2. This week has had its difficult moments with The Genius.� When The Brit is away, The Genius forgets things like rules and manners.� This morning when I was at my desk, he walked in, and put a form on my desk and walked away without a word.� It was the form for the $55 athletic fee for Cross Country.� I told him tonight that until he learned to communicate what he needed I could not be bothered to write a check for him.� So far, he is still not communicating.



3. I have been awake since 3:49 this morning.� Just woke up and could not go back to sleep and then my alarm went off at 5:30 to run.� My run was crap, probably due to being up since 3:49.



4. I had a fight with The Church Lady (TCL)�this morning and when it happened The Council Member (TCM) was in my office and she could not believe how TCL picked the fight.� It started because TCM gave her a list of people from the early service who were willing to go into a rotation to read the lessons.� TCM suggested TCL put it on a calendar so people knew what month they had to read and TCL completely poo-pooed this idea as it is her way or the highway.� I was on the rotation and TCL remarked that I was her backup person (and I very rarely have to fill in for someone) and she also remarked that another man loved to read and might want to read more often than once every nine months (trust me, no one is lying awake in excitement waiting for their next month to lay read).� I told her that loved to lay read but she never asked me and she replied that I was in the praise band so she didn't want to use me (important to know that she uses several other praise band people and several people on the choir) and I told her it did not interfere with my praise band duties.� Then she said that the people sitting in the pews don't like to see the same person up there all the time.� So obviously, it is me she has a problem with.� I stood up and said "I have to use the bathroom and you don't listen to anything I say anyway." and I left the office.� When I returned she asked me a question she knew the answer to and I said, "Don't ask me; I don't know anything." Then she said, "Well, you do,� you just don't want to talk."� Nope honey, not to you.� Then she finished her bulletins and slammed out of the office.� A seventy year old tantrum and I don't care.� She is the most pessimistic person I know.



5. I am so glad it is a three day weekend and I have extra time in this week so I am going to leave early and go to the gym tomorrow before picking up The Lawyer when he returns from Outdoor school and maybe taking him to lunch.



6. I wonder if he will confess to having a good time or if he will play it cool and say it was awful.



7. I went shopping today and got an amazing pair of sandals at Penneys for 9.97.



8. For anyone wanting to be supportive, at our combined service on the 12th, at 10:15 I am doing the drama monologue "Rocks"for the sermon.� Would love to see some of you there.� I have always wanted to do this skit and hope I do not screw it up.



9. So due to this skit, I was trying to find the right shirt to wear for it today...but I couldn't find anything

I liked that matched the sandals.



10. I am really tired and hot.



11. I have no idea what I had written for the last few things before my internet became an asshat.



12. I did no housecleaning today and all and it was very freeing.



13. South Beach score after day 4: Pounds-5, poops-1, clogged toilets-1.� And Tod, thank you for the omelet suggestion.� This morning I had an omelet with cheese, onion and avocado and because I was so missing the sweetness of my toast and jam, I put a tablespoon of sugar free peach jam on it too and it was divine.� I am in love with the SB S'mores bars too...yum.� And not in love with tomorrow being the first fire pit night i cannot drink due to SB.� Le sigh.

 

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Thursday 13: Randomness

1. I had am amazing run this morning.� Ran the majority of the three miles and felt fabulous.� It is these kinds of mornings that remind me of why I love running.�



2. I have a lunch date tomorrow with Kirk.� I miss lunch dates with friends during the summer and am glad to have them back.



3. I am going to be taking a refresher swim class at the YMCA in September and am really excited about it.� I really think I would enjoy swimming more if I were a stronger swimmer.� So once they start, I will have four weeks of a double dose of Tuesday workouts.� Kickboxing from 6-7 but I will skip the floor work for a few weeks in order to start my swim class at 7:00.



4. The Brit and I will celebrate our 12th anniversary on Saturday and we are finally going to LJ's...I think.� Either that or the Aqua 103...just looked at both menus and am leaning toward the latter.



5.� My entire body aches.� I had a massive Back to School, Back to the Y workout yesterday, ran this morning and then came home and worked outside for three hours.� I am big time tired.



6.� We have�a pool and pizza party on Sunday with the youth group and Brent will be here for it.� That makes me happy.



7. I am sitting here writing this and watching "Touched by an Angel" and loving it.� I am not ashamed.



8. Next weekend is one of my favorite weekends of the year.� It is a complete girl's weekend.� Not a girl's lunch or a girl's day, but a weekend.� It is the Women of Faith conference and Shelley is going with me again this year.� I cannot wait.� I love having three days of just being a chick.



9. As much as I hate the fact that winter is right around the corner, I do love this time of year and all the chores that go with it.� I enjoy yard work and fall cleaning inside; getting things all ready for winter.� Now, if I only we could skip from Fall to Spring, life would be grand.



10. I still need three more things and am too tired to think.



11.� I was cleaning litter boxes tonight and realized that one of them had not been used.� It must have been Jasmine's.



12. My cell phone has become retarded.� It turns itself off whenever it wants to and is totally annoying.



13. I may have to wait until after cantaloup season to South Beach as I can't have them for those two weeks and the season is almost over.� It's all about priorities!

 

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Thursday 13: California Edition

Please welcome again, Laurie, from Gastric Girl , filling in with my TT!





Hello to all!�� I'm guest posting for Kim while she's in sunny California!�� I'm very jealous! ��� This week, I'll be featuring 13 places that I enjoyed going to when I visited Southern California in the past...�� There are still many places I want to go, but these are some great destinations as well!

1) Disney Land (Anaheim) - How can you start a Southern California destination list without listing Disney Land?� I had a fun time there, and Mickey Mouse even gave me a kiss!� Wahoo!!!!



2) Mann's Chinese Theatre (Hollywood) - On Hollywood Blvd, this is the famous theatre where everyone puts their handprints in the sidewalk and where all of the red carpet premieres are.���� Great place!� I had to take pictures of so many of the imprints - my favorite was from Star Wars (the originals)!



3) Across the street - Jimmy Kimmel's Studio (Hollywood)!��� Try to catch a show live if you can...�� I couldn't get in, but I tried!!!



4) Huntington Beach - The whole area is lots of fun.� I love walking on the pier... and while you're there, shooby dooby down to Ruby's and get a malt!� It's a great 50's style diner.



5) San Diego Zoo - YES, it is all it's cracked up to be... to me at least.� I love zoos, and it doesn't matter what time of year you go, the weather is always gorgeous!



6) Griffith Observatory (Hollywood) - Made famous by the movie Rebel Without a Cause, this is a great place to absorb history, site see, and get a pic of that Hollywood sign!�� I thought it was so cool that I was at the same place that James Dean was... albeit many years later.��



7) Rodeo Drive (Beverly Hills) - While I couldn't afford anything in Beverly Hills besides a cup of coffee, it was definitely a great place to check out!



8) Universal Studios - What visit is complete without a stop at Universal Studios?



9) Seaport Village (San Diego)� - I had so much fun here - there is a lot of fun shopping here, it is right on the ocean, and it is a great little place!�� I even climbed a tree here! HA!�



10) Whale Watching (Several locations) - this is so much fun - I think it's only available certain times of the year, but it is absolutely breath taking!!!



11) Restaurants - There are so many wonderful restaurants to visit while in Southern California... do your research based on your preferences!�� I thoroughly enjoyed the Geisha House restaurant in Hollywood - it's co-owned by Big Brother stars Dr. Will Kirby and Mike Malin... Delicious sushi restaurant.



12) Santa Monica Pier - A great touristy spot that is sure to please! ��� While in Santa Monica, stop at 3rd Street Promenade as well.. I saw Axl Rose there buying Reeboks once! haha



13) Live Show Tapings - there are so many live shows that take place in Los Angeles - I tried to get on the Price Is Right, but no dice!�� Instead, I got to see the very first live taping of the Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn.... now defunct, and it wasn't that funny - but I was there for the first show! ha!

I hope Kim is having a fabulous time in California, and I will be living vicariously through her!��� She can live vicariously through me when I go to Orlando next month!

Take care!

Thursday Thirteen: Words to Live By Edition

There are certain rules we all try to live by, our own�code of ethics if you will.� So for today's TT, I am going to attempt to come up with 13 of these for myself.� Wish me luck.



1. If you don't like me or how I live, that is�your problem and not mine.



2. Experience all you can, whenever you can.



3. Pass a small kindness onto strangers in the hopes that they will pass it on to the next person.� This can be as�simple as allowing that vehicle trying to pull out amongst traffic the ability to do so.



4. Shit on me once, shame on you; shit on me twice, shame on me.



5. If I don't like you, I will be polite, but do not expect me to go out of my way. If I don't like you, there is a good chance you�fall into�rule #4.



6. Honesty may always be the best policy but it might not be the kindest thing you can do.� Sometimes you have to chose.



7. You can disagree with me but do it respectively and never think you have me all figured out.



8. Impossible is an opinion.� I love this.� It is not a Kim Original, but it is my creed.



9. Whenever possible, try to see things through the other person's eyes, even when it is most difficult and most uncomfortable to do so.



10. It doesn't always matter what the truth is, perception accounts for a lot.



11. Play just as hard as you work.



12. The choices I make today will most probably affect my life at some point down the road, so I try to make the best choices I can to live life to the absolute fullest.



13.� I regret nothing.� Even mistakes, I learn something from, so how can I regret them?

 

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Thursday 13: The ADHD Edition

I can't seem to find a single topic to TT about, so you get all the crap that is jumbled up in my head today.�� Are you not excited?



1.��The Lawyer�called me last night at 9:30 from his grandma's and wanted to come home.� I was scruffed out in my pjs, watching an episode of "Criminal Minds" but I did the 40 minute round trip to get him.� Kind of makes me feel good that he picked me over bio-grandma as there are times I just don't know where I stand where the blood family is concerned.



2. My energy is still missing.� Not sure where I put it, but I hope I remember soon.



3. Still doing my daily workouts however.� Can't let a little thing like lack of motivation stop me.



4.� See, I was right.� Jimnotmike would have said something to the mother.� Jimnotmike, you are becoming predictable!



5. Far too humid to run outside unless I get up at Too Early 'O clock.� Maybe next week.� This makes me excited to run in California where there is no humidity!



6. But running on vacation in the mornings when I can means having to pack several pairs of shoes, which will not go over too well with The Brit.� Maybe I can stuff two pairs in my backpack carry-on.



7. I am contemplating doing South Beach once school starts.� Tod seems to think it will get me over my YEAR LONG PLATEAU.� I'm happy to be maintaining, but there is still that much coveted 199 I have yet to see.



8.� The reason I am thinking South Beach is because before my surgery, I had a post-op friend who preached the No Carb stuff to me, so I started out really limiting my carbs.� But I got away from that last summer while in England, because there is bread there....and really yummy dairy.� Yes, there is bread here but so not the same.� So I broke my rule and have been breaking it since.� I need to get back on the losing side of things again.



9.� I am so ready for vacation and so excited to be going home!



10. If The Lawyer is being good for The Brit while he is at work, I am hoping to get to the gym today after work.



11.� I have decided I really like Lady Gaga.



12.� Though I like Lady Gaga, I am still having a mad love affair with "Criminal Minds."� How did I miss this show for like five seasons?



13.� The Church Lady will be here soon and she has already told me she has stories to tell me...can't wait....

 

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Thursday 13: California Dreamin' Edition

Cannot believe that vacation is just over two weeks away and I am stoked!� Especially given that the weather there this week is in the 70s and we are sweating our asses off here this week!



So, 13 things I am looking forward to about vacation!



1.� No humidity!� Love heat but can do without humidity especially with the dose of it we have been getting lately!



2.� Deep sea fishing.� My sister in law got us tickets and it is something we have never done before.� I am not so anxious to fish as I am to be on the water!



3.� Being near the ocean for more than a few hours.� It is my very favorite place to be ever.



4. Watch a sunset at La Jolla Cove.� I have read that they are magnificent.



5.� Stroll along Seaport Village in San Diego.� Lots of window shopping.



6.� Don't know if this one will happen for me, but I would love to have a run in Mission Bay Park.� Lots of trails for walking, biking and running apparently and it looks beautiful.



7. See family.



8.� Would love to scuba dive at La Jolla, but it is again a pipe dream.



9.� Have drinks and dinner with my two friends, Gina and Renee from elementary school. I am incredibly excited about this.



10.� Check out the tide pools at low tide in Point Loma.� I love this kind of stuff.



11.� Have a bonfire on the beach.� I have always wanted to do this.



12.� Go whale and dolphin watching.� I have not done this in years and it is one of my favorite things to do.



13.� See Monrovia, the town where I grew up.� Would especially like to see my two houses and my old Lutheran school.



T minus 16 days!

�

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Thursday 13: The Gastric Girl Edition

I met Miss Laurie when I was researching my RNY.� We have never met in person but she is one of my C&P girls on-line and she is great fun.� I am also very jealous of both she and�Jil� because they get to live close together and are friends in real life!





Hi, my name is Laurie and I'm normally found at http://gastric-girl.blogspot.com� and I'm filling in for Kim while she's in North Carolina!�

Kim had gotten me involved with the Thursday 13 meme, and I have had so much fun with it. Naturally, when Kim needed some fill-ins for her blog, I wanted to get Thursday! �



This week - we'll discuss 13 things that are helpful to me in my journey to fitness, if not necessary!



1) Music - This is super important to me - as I can't even work at my full time job without music in the background.� It is what helps motivate me to keep going and it's just a joy to me!�� Sometimes I just chant to myself, "I just have to make it through this song!" over and over again... It helps me!

2) Good shoes - Good shoes are essential in your fitness journey.� Old and worn out, or shoes that are too heavy, etc. can cause an injury.� Not good!!

3) A good bra - You want to keep the girls in place!����

4) An activity you love - If you don't love what you're doing, you probably won't keep doing it!�� I like to vary my routine so I can change things up and avoid boredom.�� My activities of choice - weight classes, the elliptical machine, and weight machines (not brave enough for the free weights yet).� I am going to try zumba soon, as well as a spin class.� I've watched the classes going on while I was on the elliptical, and I look forward to trying them!

5) A heart rate monitor - Not sure if you're working hard enough, or even working too hard?� A heart rate monitor will help remedy that situation for you!�� I love mine...� It tells me when to slow down, or kick it up a notch... and it tells me my calories burned!�� It's much more accurate than the calorie counts on machines, and you can even wear most models while swimming.��

6) A workout buddy - I have a workout buddy for my muscle blast class, and I love it!� It is really helpful to me.� And, when 7 am on a Saturday morning rolls around and I want to stay in bed, just knowing that she's going to be there waiting on me makes me get up and go!

7) A healthy "diet" - while I refuse to ever go on another DIET again, eating right will certainly come in handy on your journey.� My choice - low fat proteins, complex carbs, and low fat.�� I try to stay away from fat free items because the taste just isn't there.� Moderation!

8) Breathable clothing - if you wear heavy clothes while working out, you'll feel like you're getting heavier and heavier as you sweat..� Investing in some clothing that allows your skin to breathe is essential - plus, it will help you not break out so easily!

9) A plan - It's easiest to start and keep up with a routine if you have a plan in place.� What are your goals?� How much time do you have to invest in your workout routine?

10) Measurements - Whether your goal is to lose weight, bulk up, etc., take your measurements periodically.� We all know the scale is a pain sometimes, but measurements don't lie.���

11) Pictures - Taking before and during pictures will help you, especially during those days that you just don't feel like going to work out.�� Put those before pictures in a prominent place and look forward to taking those "after" pictures!

12) WATER! -� I know water doesn't taste the best, but it is one of the most important elements to your success!� You have to keep your body hydrated.� Without water, your muscles will not get hydrated, and you will not have the stamina to complete your workouts!

13) Patience - We live in an "I want it NOW!" society.� Well, our bodies did not get out of shape overnight, and they're not going to bounce back overnight.� Realize you are a work in progress, and that the changes WILL happen.� It may not be as quickly as you like, but it will happen!�� Keep on keeping on!

Happy Thursday to you all!���

Kim, I hope you're having a great time!

Thursday 13: The Whoopsie Edition

Yes, I missed posting yesterday, so todays Thursday 13 is a list of 13 reasons why I missed it...and I could probably double it given half a chance.� Some of these are yesterday's things to get done and some of them are things which were on my mind yesterday that needed to get accomplished today.

�

1. Insane week at work and yesterday I was up to my ears in mission trip, church directory and making last minute arrangements.


2. Errands, errands, errands: new shower tote for trip, santa claus melon for PK, pumpkin spice bars for my car and my girls riding with me, prescriptions to be picked up.


3. Yoga class...still trying to decide what I thought about that experience.


4. Fighting with Staples over severely screwed up church order.


5. exchanging two shirts I bought on-line which were from the tent of Omar...one day I will really come to terms with what size I am now.


6. Trip to Shell's last night for some adult company and a visit with her parents.� Did not get home till nearly 11:00 and then got up at 5:45 to run.


7. Hair cut.� Had to happen.


8. Alice Horton's funeral stuff on stupid "Days of Our Lives".� My favorite clan is back in Salem for a visit and it makes me� happy...sad as that is that I find happiness in a soap.


9. Heat...humidity...no AC....hot.


10. With said heat, I had a delightful swim in a pool belonging to members of the church, bless them!


11. Going over lists in my head, and on paper and in my head...


12. Packing.� Yes, I am more or less packed.


13. Thinking that I still need to bake brownies for the trip and wondering if I can choke down the wine in the fridge tomorrow night that I don't really like.

 

 

�

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Thursday 13: The Top Hat Edition

So the California Bucket List edition is being put off because I am not yet ready.� I started researching things yesterday, but am not yet finished and don't really have the time to mess with it right now.� All right?� All right.



As women, I think we have to wear a lot of hats.� Now I'm not talking about baseball verses snow caps.� I am talking about hats of the not physical kind.� We play a lot of roles in a lot of people's lives and our hats become a part of our identity, for that time period when we are wearing that particular hat.�



And the hats are needed.� I can't very well be a mom in my secretary hat or it gets confusing, so I have to switch.� Go into another mode, another thought process, another frame of mind and we have to do it quickly at times.� There are times my hats change three times in thirty seconds and it can be exhausting.�



Some of the hats are mindless; I slip into them without even thinking about it.� When my kids are around, I am Mom.� When I am with just The Brit, I am Wife or Companion.� Fire Pit nights, I am Friend.� These are easy.� Not much thought involved.



Others, for me, take preparation.� If I have to become a speaker in front of people, I have to prepare.� If I am getting ready to go on a�run, I begin to fall into that mode and it is never a good idea to attempt to sway me from my focus.� I wish I could fall in and out of the Running hat easily, but I can't yet.� I have to mentally prepare myself.� I have to push myself mentally and physically and that requires a different mindset.� Once I am committed to the task, it's all I can see in front of me.� I don't want to be swayed at this point because it takes a lot of mental energy for me to just get out there and accept the task at hand.� I love running.� Truly.� But it is not yet second nature.� It is not like the�Wife hat that slips into place with almost no thought.�Wife is easy...it is an easy part of who I am now, though the first few months of being part of a couple was very hard for me.� Not due to lack of love but due to the fact that my norm�was being on my own, making decisions that only affected me. I had to adjust and once I did, all was well.� It was change and it does not always come�effortlessly. �Running, I have only been doing for six months and it is a slow progression.� With every run, I have to set a goal for the run.� I am in training.� I want to run the VA Beach 1/2 in just over a year.�



This time of the year, as I have stated before, the Athlete hat is difficult anyway because there is little to no break from the Mom hat.� I either have to rely on other people or blind trust of my children and the blind trust thing can vary from day to day depending on the boys and how the first half of their day has gone.� So when I know the time frame that my run is going to happen, I begin to mentally prepare the closer I get to that time.� It is a necessity for me and there is no way around it.� If I walk out the door unfocussed and prepared to just "wing it" very little will get accomplished.� I know me.� I need a plan.� Running is HARD.� I think runner wannabes, as I used to be, tend to almost romanticize it a little bit.� People see runners and think how effortless they make it seem.� SO.� NOT. SO.� HARD.� Very hard.



So those who know me have to learn to accept this about me.� I don't want to digress once I am in the mode unless it is a dire emergency.� It has nothing to do with anyone else; it has to do with my ability to prepare mentally.�It's just like when the kids call me at work with an issue (usually of the bickering nature) I�tend to snap at them sometimes because for those four hours a day, my�Employee hat is firmly in place. When I answer the phone at work, assuming it is going to be a work call and it isn't, it holds a certain element of surprise and no time to prepare; only a millisecond. �I have come to realize that the time I drive from work to home during the summer, I am mentally preparing to�change hats from the norm.� I have to�go from Employee to Mom in about ten minutes, where when the kids are in school, I�go from�Employee to Kim, or Athlete�or House Wife as I have a few hours�of alone time to accomplish things without a bunch of thought. �Running during the summer requires thought and planning on my part; what time works best, weather, etc as well as getting mentally prepared to actually RUN. And feeling bad or guilty as I head out the door is also unproductive.� An hour.� One precious hour a day is all I require to keep myself sane.� I gave up smoking.� I no longer do theater apparently.� Food is no longer a hobby.� I need a stress buster and exercise is it.� It helps so much it amazes me.� I was irritable yesterday afternoon; a run, a shower and I no longer felt tied in knots.� It blows my mind a little bit.



So what hats do�you�wear?� Which are the hardest?� Which take preparation because they don't come easily?



My Thursday 13 consists of some of my hats, dashed with a bit of sarcasm and fun, because some of our hats are how we view ourselves in ways that don't make us happy.



1.� Wife

2. Mom

3. Daughter

4. Sibling

5. Maid

6. Chef

7. Referee

8. Sounding Board

9. Athlete

10. Friend

11. Chauffeur

12. Immigrant field (yard) worker

13. Employee



On a side note, I really need two more people to fill in for me the week of June 27th with blog posts!� I have three volunteers so far!� C'mon, you know what wanna!�

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The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others� comments. It�s easy, and fun!

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Thursday Thirteen: The Little Shop Edition

Little Shop meaning "Feed me".� I am constantly amazed how since my surgery, my food tastes have changed so much.� Some of my most beloved "bad" foods are now so sickening sweet to me, I wanna gag.� On the other hand, things that used to make me gag, I now love.� So, I am going to attempt to come up with stuff I now love and hopefully will hit that magical 13 number.

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1. Hummus: Would not get near this stuff with a ten foot pole two years ago, but recently tried it again and am now addicted, at least to the garlic flavored one.� I have one with pine nuts in my fridge to try next.

����Brussel Sprouts.� I hated these mini heads of lettuce and had to keep from hurling even if someone near me was eating them.� Now I love them boiled or baked with EVOO and salt and pepper.� I could make a meal off of them.







Cucumbers.� They are now one of my very favorite snacks.

Almonds.� I have never been a huge fan of nuts other than the honey roasted not good for you peanut variety.� But I have now discovered wasabi and soy almonds and they are wonderful.

And speaking of wasabi...omg... love the stuff! That instant taste of heat that immediately fades.� Only time it is painful is on the occasion when it races up my sinus cavity and my whole face goes red!

Multigrain bread.� Bread with any kind of seedy looking stuff in or on it always made me suspect, but now I adore it.� It takes a little of the guilt away from eating bread, knowing it is not white bread that has been bleached.� Anyone else think all our food bleaching and preservatives is a cancer culprit?

Fruit, fruit and more fruit.� I used to eat fruit occasionally; very occasionally.� Now it is a daily occurrence, especially during the summer when I can frequent our local farmer's markets.� When I am craving something sweet, this is almost always what I reach for now.

The other sweet treat I reach for is sugar free gelatin.� I used to hate any of the Watch�it Wiggle stuff and reached for chocolate pudding instead, sugar free or otherwise.� Now the sugar free chocolate pudding is kind of gross to me.�

Beans.� Another favorite snack is a three bean salad.� Never used to touch it and was never a big fan of kidney beans at all.� Now?� Love it.

Jams sweetened with Splenda.� I don't use a lot of this, but sometimes, I just want jam on something, even a wasa cracker with some cheese (cheddar cheese and strawberry jam on a Wasa.� Seriously, try it).� I also use these jams for cooking things like raspberry pork chops or apricot chicken.

Green Tea.� So good for you and so yummy.� I have not yet warmed up to having it cold, but love it hot.

Edamame.� Had never tried the stuff; adore it now.

Am wracking my brain for one more thing...one moreonemoreonemore....OATMEAL!� Whew.� Yes, oatmeal, my breakfast of choice, with some Truvia, cinnamon and a banana.�



*****

�Had a major disagreement with our church lady.� Our copier broke down today and I called the repair guy as we lease it and all of our repairs and supplies are included.� He came up and assessed that we needed a new drum and new developer and he would not be able to have it here till tomorrow.� I called the church lady because she runs the bulletins, and I told her not to come in (YAY me!� A break from the negativity!) and explained why.� I told the pastor what was going on and he reiterated when he had told me a long time and what is just common sense: you don't need a bulletin to have church.� I agree with this statement.� People can come together and worship without paper in their hands.� Told Church Lady this and she freaked; apparently not having a bulletin would make us an "independent church" and "our God is a God of order".� I actually laughed and told her God did not require us to have paper in our hands to worship him.� Then she insisted that it must be "these newer pastors" who felt this way and again, I laughed.� Where does she get these ideas?� I reiterated to her that we were looking at the possibility of not having a bulletin this week, not every week (and only if something goes wrong with repair) and she insisted if the copier didn't work tomorrow, she would go to Staples and run the copies.� Oy.� I am obviously a heathen.



� Church Lady says "Church is all about the paper, not about the heart."



ETA: I am not approving all comments due to the sudden comment spam.� I kept getting stuff from companies wanting to sell slippers or whatnot.� So if your comment does not immediately post, that is why!

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Thursday 13: The Overachiever Edition

� This is me today because my children are going away for the weekend.� I love them, ya'll know that, but what most parents won't tell you, imho, is that time away from them is also cherished time.� Time to just be an adult and not a parent.� Time to hang with friends without interruptions.� Sheer bliss.� The Teenager,�who shall now be known as The Genius, as he knows everything....just ask him, is off school tomorrow because of the seniors graduating, so he is leaving this afternoon for grandma's house.� Little Brother, who shall now be known as The Lawyer, due to his new ability to argue about every little tiny thing he is asked to do, does have school tomorrow but is then going to great-grandma's right afterwards.� As adults, we shall be going to one of my youth's grad party Friday night, sleeping in Saturday, followed by breakfast and hopefully something fun and then to dinner with friends Saturday night.� I am a happy girl!



So, the answer to Thursday 13 came to me last night when I sat down to sweat on the couch (humidity has been really high for as early as it is!) and was surrounded by all the stuff I have every intention of reading that has been sitting there for quite some time...at least most of it.� Drawing from memory, here are some but not all of the materials surrounding my spot in the living room:

 

1. "No Need for Speed" John Bingham


2. "Who Do I Lean On?" Neta Jackson


3. "A Change of Altitude" Anita Shreve


4. Current Runner's World magazine I am still working on completing


5. "Master Your Metabolism" Jillian Michaels (I started this 14 months ago...am still on chapter one)


6. "Master Your Metabolism Cookbook" Jillian Michaels...fresh out of the library


7. "Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution"


8. "Change of Heart" Jodi Picoult


9. "Glimpses of Heaven" Trudy Harris (working on this one for Sunday school lessons for my teens)


10. Current Health magazine (almost finished that one)


11. A health periodical that our area gives out for free quarterly.� I have gotten them at the running store and this one at the YMCA.� Usually some good information in them.


12. "Writing Fiction for Dummies" I still have other dreams I have not realized.


13. "Once a Runner" by John L. Parker

Whew.� Lots of books and so little time, so you get a bonus...13 reasons why I have this seemingly immovable stack of reading material!

1. Kids.� Love them but constant interruptions


2. "Criminal Minds" I have developed a recent addiction of this show and have about 60 eps DVR'd.


3. Little pink laptop.� 'Nuff said.


4. "Mom, can you log me on?"


5. Never ending mounds of laundry


6. Solitaire on my iTouch.


7. Stupid soap opera I still watch


8. Cooking dinner


9. Packing lunches (will soon not be a distraction for a few weeks)


10. Scooping cat litter


11. Cats.� They need lovin's too.


12. "Mom?"� "Mom?" "Mom?"


13. Cleaning and vacuuming.

Wanna play Thursday 13?� You can do so here!

Thursday 13: This and That Edition

1. I am sitting here on my couch sweating.� The joy of not having central air.


2. I did not run today which grieves me a bit.� It was very hot, my pouch has been a bitch all day and I had a headache.� I opted for a nap instead.


3. I will be spending the long weekend in a secluded place with family and friends and am totally stoked about it.


4. Tomorrow is Fire Pit and I am unable to drink more than a glass of wine.� I am planning to make up for this over the weekend.


5. I am planning to take my bike on this little getaway in order to get in some exercise after I recover from the 5K.


6. I just tried eating again and my pouch is still being pissy.� These kinds of days suck.� Nothing agrees with me.


7. I hate the show "Bizarre Foods".� I always look up when this douchebag is either eating a bug or slaughtering something.� I find him repulsive.�� The Brit loves him which is why it is on the television.


8. I am so glad tomorrow is Friday as it has been a hellishly long week with the robbery discovery, the 5K stress, the heat, the kids, etc.� I am ready to chill out by a pool and maybe a pedicure.


9. I really feel like I could throw up.� Aren't you happy to know this information?


10. I had the estimate done on my car today; just over $600.� I need to schedule the repair work tomorrow.


11. Why do I feel guilty when Little Brother is doing his chores as I sit here on the couch?� I am betting he doesn't feel guilty in the least when I am cooking or cleaning.


12. I worked late one day this week due to a 1:30 doctor appointment so I would like to slip out early tomorrow.� Wonder if it will actually happen.


13. My 5K is the day after tomorrow.� Wish me luck.

Come play Thursday 13 here!

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Thursday 13: The Staying :Positive Edition

In an effort to remain positive during this transition, here, in no particular order, are thirteen things I am thankful for:

 

1. My husband: Today is his birthday.� I am thankful for having him in my life.� I am thankful he has found a hobby that he has built a circle of friends around.� I'm thankful that he is a wonderful provider.


2. For my friends who have been so supportive of this trying time for me.� Thank you.


3. For my WLS.� I would not trade it for the world.


4. For books, even though I find so few moments to read.� I have three currently stacked beside of me: "A Stitch in Time", "Heaven and the AFterlife" and "Chi Running".


5. For tomorrow being fire pit.� There will be wine involved. Note to self: buy wine.


6. For my new Road ID.� I love it and feel safer somehow wearing it.� As another blogger said, it is my voice if I cannot speak for myself.


7. For running and my love-hate relationship with it.


8. For Michael and my kickboxing class.� It's fun and a stress release.


9. For my kids: I am thankful for them...really.� There are just days I forget.


10. For my cats: their unconditional love always brings a smile to my heart.


11. My youth kids: I love this bunch and my heart aches thinking of them getting older and starting their own lives.


12. For my God...who created me, who gets me and who is the loving Father to all of his children....not just the ones society deems as "worthy" or "correct".


13. For knowing that soon the fog will be lifted and I feel normal once again.

You can play Thursday 13 here!

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Thursday 13: The Pay Taxes and Die Edition

No real theme today, so you just get the stuff that has been foremost on my mind the last few days.� Aren't you lucky?

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1. I got a text from The Chosen One's wife on Tuesday, stating she was considering having her parents and my mother over for Mother's Day.� She wanted to know my thoughts on that.� I told her "I would rather eat crap." that we had other plans.� I called my mother and told her the situation and she asked me "How long are you going to keep this up?"� Huh?� Hello?� First off, I am a mother too, so doesn't that make Mother's Day about me as well and if I don't want to spend it in the company of The Chosen Ones, I think that is my prerogative.� Also, need I remind the mother that The Chosen Ones not once last summer could be bothered to attend a fire pit?� They told her they sent me an email explaining why they apparently could NEVER attend, but I never got an email.� So either cyberspace ate it or it was never sent and guess which one of those I believe?


2. So in honor of those circumstances, let's get something straight.� I am 43 years old and for me, that means I have earned the right to not do things I don't want to do that are optional or suit someone else, especially people I spend the LEAST amount of time with in any given year.�


3. The other thing about this that annoys me is that The Mother never stands up to my brother because he gets defensive and then gets mean.� So as The Mother is 81, I can understand not wanting to get into a pissing match with that ass clown.� But what happens instead is she blasts�me with "How long are you going to keep this up?" because she won't stand up to him and she knows I am not mean-spirited so therefore will not say anything harsh back to her because she is 81 and my mother.� Which is totally not fair.� Either I become a mean bitch or I just have to take it from her and in order to not have any regrets regarding her, I have to take it.


4. However I am still not going over there on Mother's Day.� They can bite me.


5. Most of this post will probably be of the complaining nature because I am totally pmsing.


6. I am still trying to work out a day to go see Tod's show in Martinsburg.� Was going to go with Kelly on the 22nd but The Brit is going golfing for a week (I am starting to understand what my married girlfriends meant about becoming a golf widow) in Florida and I have to pick him up from the airport on the 22nd in the late afternoon, which would mean maybe being late for the show if his plane were not on time or traffic or whatever.� Kelly cannot go on the 16th which is the Saturday before so now I am waiting to hear if she can maybe do Friday the 21st.� Mandy is also going to go I think, so at least if Kelly and I can't work out a date (and I really hope we can as I rarely get to see she or Mandy!) I still have one other adult to go with.


7. Ran in the wind yesterday for two miles, again, running more than walking.� It was cold and windy and rough but fact is that it could be windy on 5K day.� Lots more training yet to do but am going to just do some cross training today at the gym after�a sushi lunch with Leisl.


8. Got to visit with Shiloh and her daughter, Emma, for a bit yesterday.� I sat with Emma and we worked a puzzle while Shiloh had her radiation and then we walked to the snack bar as Emma wanted a drink and we stood and chatted for a bit.� We talked about running and Shiloh's goals for getting into shape once her treatment is finished.� She has a goal for us to run/walk the Virginia Beach Rock and Roll Half Marathon .� She has done it before and I think it is a great goal for both of us.� Obviously not running the whole thing, but completing it.� We are looking at 2011 I believe and it would be a great girl's weekend away.� I am being a good golf widow so at times The Brit will have to occasionally be a running widow


9. I have discovered that I really enjoy goal setting.� It is good for my spirit and gives me things to work toward.�


10. I got very frustrated yesterday exploring the option of eating locally.� Looking at farms for meats, but it is incredibly expensive!� I totally get the health benefits of doing it without getting all those antibiotics and growth hormones and all the other crap the food industry puts into their foods, but holy moly, ya'll!� What are the tricks to being able to afford it?


11. Today is "Pay it Forward Day" and I have to work out where to do that.� I like the idea of doing something anonymous for a total stranger.� Have to find me a stranger.


12. Fire pit tomorrow night as the weather is to be good.� YAY!


13. We are almost to Friday, people.� Let's finish the week strong!

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Annapolis or Bust and Thursday 13

So today was the Annapolis trip and it had a rough-ish start for me.� Nothing major, just reminders that my mind is indeed 43.� Case in point, mixing up my Crystal Lite water and then leaving it sit on the kitchen counter.� Or grabbing an issue of Runner's World to read on the bus and grabbing the issue I had already read instead of the new one.� Stupid stuff.



But we got there and my group of five kids was paired off with another woman's group of four kids.� Now these field trips are kind of frenzied in my opinion, but it is the nature of the beast.� Two hour bus ride so we arrived in the state capitol at 10:30 and we have until 12:15 to do any of the following things:



Tour the Naval Academy

Tour the State House

Shop

Have ice cream



Like nine 4th graders can decide to do only one thing and do it well.� Just san'.� So we headed for the Academy, gave it a lick and a promise to do it better one day and spent a good twenty minutes in the gift shop.� My purchase?� A water bottle.� JJ's purchase? Freeze dried ice cream.



Then we bust to moved to the State House.� The kids learned nothing as we had to be quiet and keeping nine 4th graders focused is like herding chickens.� Had a lot of trouble keeping their volume down, so we got out of there pretty fast.



A word about my co-chaperone, who was another parent.� Rather useless.� We were told our two groups had to stay together, so she is mapping out where her group wants to go, ignoring my group and then she just takes off with her four kids.� I roll my eyes, and herd my peeps to keep up with her as we go to the Naval Academy...and she gets lost getting there.� So I take over, follow the signs and get us to the Visitor's Center.� Once inside, she and her kids keep wandering off, even though her kids were longing to get to the gift shop.� We had already viewed the exhibits once and she was trying to get them through again.



Then she gets lost on the way to the State House, so again, I take over, ask directions and lead the way.� She is letting her kids run all over the grass at the State House, which is blocked off, and I am insisting they get back on the walk way.� Seriously?� We get to the front of the State House and she starts moaning because there are a lot of steep steps, so as I was about done with her, I raced the kids up and we all laughed and had a good time, while waiting for her and one other boy, which I will talk about in a minute.



So we get out of the State House and chicky babe again takes the lead and gets us lost.� So I ask directions from a lady and get us back down to the harbor and to the ice cream shop. One little girl only had two dollars to spend which would not even get her an ice cream cone, so I covered her.� The kids and chicky babe all got ice cream and I got the guy working to fill up my water bottle.�� YAY water!



From there another gift shop and then it was lunch time at the docks.







Ohhhh...pretty.







Me trying to take a pic of JJ and myself.



After eating, it was board the boat for a 40 minute boat ride, which for the kids was less about the history and more about the snack bar, but it was relaxing and the weather was awesome.� At the end of the tour, they played line dancing music and JJ's teacher boogied down with her students.







To be young and that cute.



Then when we left Annapolis, we apparently took a wrong turn because we wound up going over the Bay Bridge and then having to come back and cross it again.� I think our driver was distracted by all the noise on the bus.



One kid today ripped my heart out.� Ten years old, easily 160 pounds.� He was always in the back of the pack and judging by his lunch, his parents have no idea about nutrition, or can't afford to know much about it.� Though the kid was dressed well, he had a LARGE bag of sour cream and onion chips to go along with his lunch and he polished it off.� Not sure what else he had as I had other kids vying for my attention, but I just felt so bad for him.� Been there, done that, though he was far heavier than I was at that age.� Just wish I could start a revolution here for elementary school kids.� With any luck, this kid will have a major growth spurt and even out some, but I dunno.� Sometimes I just wish I could help.



But all in all, a good day.� Now, bring on Friday!



I don't want to forget Thursday 13, so today, I was thankful for these 13 things:

 

1. Great weather.� Not too hot, not too cold.� Just right.


2. Getting to watch JJ interact with his friends.� Too cute.


3. For the little girl who told JJ "Your mom looks cute."� Way better than looking old!


4. For having a rapport with the kids.


5. For JJ's teacher, who can really engage the kids.


6. For being able to race up the steps to the Capitol


7. For the amazing boat ride


8. For knowing I could have bought a Navy t-shirt and could have found one to fit...but I was not going to spend $17.95.


9. For a safe journey to and from Annapolis


10. For a new water bottle and for now being such a stickler for water that not having one was simply not acceptable!


11. For my crockpot which had dinner ready when we got home


12. For peace and quiet at this very minute


13. For tomorrow being Friday and a fun filled weekend planned!

If you want to play Thursday 13, you can join us here!

 

Thursday Thirteen: The Television Edition

TT is giving me a little bit of headache and I need to keep reminding myself that my 13 things don't need to be deep.� There just has to be 13 of SOMETHING.�



So for this week, I am going to grace you and possibly amuse you with some of my all time favorite television programs, some going way back to my adolecent years.� These are in no particular order and as I type this, I am still trying to think of a few more to hit that magical Thursday number!



� � Beauty and the Beast.� I loved this show.� So romantic and when Vincent would ride on the top of that subway train, my heart would skip beats.� To hear him read Catherine poetry was sheer bliss.� They only lost me as a fan toward the end, when they violently killed off Catherine and tried to give Vincent a new love. Totally did not work.



�I have been a giant "Days of Our Lives" fan off and on for years, but no season of this soap was greater than the mid-eighties and the days of Kim and Shane, Bo and Hope and Steve and Kayla.� And no one was possessed by satan.



� Huge Eric Estrada fan and as a tween, no one was hotter in my book.� When he had his motorcycle accident, I sent him a get well card.� True story.



� I was not a Farrah fan, so this was my favorite cast of "Charlie's Angels".� My brother, friends and I used to pretend this was us....though my brother (the Chosen One...this was when he was fun) always had to double as both Bosley and the bad guy.� Oh and I was always Sabrina, the Kate Jackson role.



�"One Day at a Time" was the show that started me writing as I used to write fanfiction about it in my composition book.� As a twelve year old, I idolized Valerie Bertinelli, though the next show I would watch her in, she annoyed the crap out of me and that was when she joined the cast of another favorite show...



�"Touched By an Angel" was perfect with the cast pictured here, thank you.� And I still hope an Angel of Death that looks like John Dye takes me to heaven.



� Who can forget "The Donny and Marie Show".� Silly comedy but loved the music and those dolls they are holding?� Yeah, totally had those.





Another one I never missed in the 70s, but I adored Kristy McNichol.� Anyone remember the movie "Little Darlings"?



�"The Monkees".� Can you see my music theme with some of these?� I cried when this one was taken off the air, but I was like ten.� Davey was my favorite as even back then, I had a thing for the Brits.



If you blinked you may have missed this show, but I loved it for the handful of episodes it was on television.� Sexy boy meets pretty girl and it is all romantic but of course, there are issues.� The hopeless romantic in me still misses this one.



� Another short lived series about sisters called "Related" and it brought you one of my favorite terms, "Ass-boobie" when one sister is reading another sister's psyche book and decides "I think I have tourettes...ass-boobie!"� Very quirky and fun.







� "Fame" the television series beat out the movie for me a million times over.� Great music and I still love to watch the reruns even though they are so dated.� And how on earth did Leroy dance in those short shorts without his junk coming loose is beyond me.







� Lastly is the Fame of this generation, "Glee".� Quirky, politically incorrect, funny, endearing.� If you are not watching this show, you should be and it returns Tuesday night after "Idol".� Be there!





Wanna play Thursday 13?� Join us here!

Thursday Thirteen: The Bloggy Love Edition

So I have some mad love for some bloggers.� They are my main source of reading material anymore because I learn a lot from them.� We all have different perspective and I think it is nice to see something from a different angle other than mine occasionally.� Considering something new is not a bad thing.



So for today's TT edition, I am going to share with you a few of my faves.

 

1. Fat Girl Running: Holly is a hoot and as she says is on a journey from "Journey from fat dyke to luscious lesbian..".� Like me, she is going through the ropes of becoming a runner (correction, we ARE runners.� I need to tell myself this about a twenty-eleven times a day) and does it with humor.
   
2. Run, Bitch, Run:�This gal is painfully honest and can tell a great story.� Yesterday, she celebrated 19 years of sobriety.� Show her some blogging love.


3. Shut Up and Run:�Another amusing running blogger, who is always good for a very funny poop story!


4. Write-Sizing: Though I hate that term as it reminds me of where I once worked in Corporate America (shudder), she is very thought provoking.� She's lost some weight in the last few years and talks about the highs and lows of exercise, maintaining and losing weight.


5. The Athena Diaries: Again, very honest blogger with a sense of sarcasm I admire.


6. Post Secret: Not a blog really but I love this site and if you don't read it, you should.� Anonymous postcards are sent in, revealing deep secrets and new ones go up each Sunday (I call it "Post Secret Sunday, YAY!").� Some secrets are disturbing, some thought provoking, some funny and some can being me to the verge of tears.�


7. Run. Ride. Live: Just discovered him and I have liked what I've read so far.� Check him out!


8. Fatty Fights Back:�Another fairly new read for me.� She is a WLS patient who has reinvented her life after losing weight.


9. Shredheads:� This blog is brought on by Jillian Michael's Thirty Day Shred and is a great read with lots of great fitness advice.� When I first started running (Not like now, being a seasoned runner and all...) I did a lot of reading here.


10. My Fifteen Minutes to Better Fitness:� This is where Emily, who introduced me to the Daily Mile blogs with some friends...though it took me awhile to realize there were friends.� But I finally had that light bulb moment last week.


11. The Anti-Jared:�This guy has lost over 200 pounds by diet and exercise and he is amazing.� Check out his pics.� It can be done.


12. Recovering Fatty:�Another WLS gal.� I love reading about these journeys as much as I love reading the journeys of those who lost weight without WLS.� There is no right or wrong way to lose in my opinion; it's just different for everyone but what it really takes is the desire to do it, and the acceptance that changing means you need to change which means implementing changes.� You can either sit back and watch the world pass you by or you can be an active part of your life.� Now that I have experienced both, I pick the active life.


13. Ride (or Tri!) Like a Girl:��I love Donna because she is about my age and runs and exercises.� She was the first person I ever talked to about running and how to get started, so thanks, Donna!





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Thursday Thirteen Randomness

So now Godaddy has reverted back to the old format....I kind of liked the new one.� Easy come, easy go, I guess.



Okay, I have no theme for today, so you get the jumbled up mess of crap that runs through my head on a daily basis.

 

1. Why have I been so freakin' hungry since yesterday?� All I want to do is nibble.� It's like I am hungry for something but have no idea what it is so I need to sample many things until I find it.


2. And that essentially means that right now, I am exercising and running to maintain my current weight which puts me no closer to that 199 I have my eye on.� Do you all ever get like this; this constant hunger and if so, how do you reign it in?


3. I just realized that since March 8th, I have been at the church every day, some days more than once and it will continue to be so until April 10th.� I may need to take a vacation day.


4. I am looking forward to a second kickboxing class tonight but my knees are not.


5. I love Dailymile and the people there.� I posted a "Hi, new here" message and now have a handful of friends.� Thanks to Emily for introducing me to the site.� For those of you interested, you don't have to be a runner...you�can be a walker or just an exerciser in general.


6. We just had a member of our congregation meet a young couple here who are struggling.� The man called yesterday to try to get help for a birthday cake for his six year old daughter's birthday on Sunday and I left a note for pastor to announce it in church last night.� A mother and son rose to the opportunity and just met the couple with a grocery store gift card.� I think that is awesome.


7. Tomorrow is thankfully Friday.


8. I have to go to youngest son's school tonight from 4-5 for something called "Spotlight On".� Have no idea what is being spotlighted.


9. Thank goodness Paige went home on Idol last night.� Though I didn't dislike her, her performance Tuesday night was painful to listen to...but then again, I felt the same way about Miley Cyrus' performance last night on Idol.� Ouch.


10. I found a pair of headphones on eBay that someone recommended for $5.49 with free shipping.� If I am experimenting with headphones, they need to�be cheap.


11. Is it 12:30 yet?


12. I really need to get my eating back on track again so I can move from maintaining my weight loss (which is not a bad thing) to actually losing again.� Do you think running makes you hungrier?


13. "Food Revolution" is on tomorrow night and I'm excited to see it.� I also loved Jil's comment about Rachel Rae.� "Rachael Rae makes me want to shank myself...her voice makes my ears bleed..."

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