I am now a BRUNETTE

YES! I took the plunge and dyed my hair a deep chocolate brown. It is a love it or hate it kinda thing. Don't think the hubby is too crazy about it, but I got compliments at the gym today. Now I am going to grow it out long again and see what happens.

Little boys are the funniest creatures; and as my son ages, I can only wonder at the fiascos this little man is going to find himself in. I took my soon-to-be 8 year old daughter to her soccer game this morning. She played offense for awhile, and then the coach placed her as goalie. Well, unfortunately Samantha was too busy trying to get my attention and she allowed the other team to score their only goal of the game. One of her teammates, a fiesty little fellow named Alex, asked Samantha how many seasons she has been playing. She told him "five", and the then she asked him how many he had played. He retorted without hesitation, "Your buttcrack season." Ah, how boys will be boys. I am sure his mother is very proud.

So I had a crappy 3.5 mile run yesterday. The pollen is so thick in the air, I had spiderwebs in my lungs. I actually had to stop several times. The good news is, we are expecting rain tonight and in the morning. That ought to help clear the air a bit, and make for nicer running...especially since we are now in the 80's temperature-wise.

My husband and I are looking to save pennies since the economy is so tanked out, and our investments aren't returning like they used to. So I actually had to bite the bullet and pick out recipes for the next month to plan a menu. This way, I go to the store with a detailed list of ingredients I need, and I don't buy anything that deviates from the list. We saved about 40% of what we usually do at the grocery store. Hopefully all the kids enjoy this more regimented system, as they will be eating less frozen "convenience" meals, and more homemade meals.

I am researching triathlon suits. I need to start swimming. It looks as if I am going to have to order one online, and I just hate that idea. I am more worried about the "girls" and the chafing after the skin. I bet I get seconds added to my transitions by abusing the Body Glide!

Ciao for now:).

Life IS Good

It really is. I had a fantastic 8-mile run yesterday and I didn't hack up a lung. The weather was absolutely perfect, and I thought as much as I am homesick for South Florida, North Florida is really gorgeous this time of year. It will be 78 degrees today, flowers are in full bloom and we shall be able to use the pool in less than a month.

I had that S3 training outside today and BOY is that a phenomenal workout. I HIGHLY recommend explosive training to sprinters and sprint triathletes. I think it is REALLY going to help me in the long run. I am really isolating muscles I never knew I had.

OH! Let me pose this. There is a personal trainer at my gym. He is a cyclist mainly, but has had triathlon and trail/road race experience. Sweetest guy you ever want to meet, not even a bit full of himself and VERY modest usually. Well, weeks ago he told me he signed up for a 30-miler trail race...BUT HE HAS NEVER RUN A MARATHON...EVER. His longest distance is the half. I asked him if he was sure he knew what he was doing, and he said, "Yeah I am in excellent shape and my running has really improved." I said absolutely nothing after that. The only thing I could do was wish him luck last week.

I saw him today. He DNF'd. He said he dropped out at mile 23. I told him that sucked and I suggested maybe training for a roadrace marathon in the autumn. I like the Jacksonville Bank full marathon because it is a fast, flat and shady course. It also is a very small race, and the runners get really spread out--so no pressure to do anything to alter your pace plan. Well, he said, "No Way" "Too boring" "Too flat". He said his issue with the DNF was because all the runners started off fast, and he just got caught up. WELL DUH!!! Don't you think the reasons for not doing the Jax full (or any other road full for that matter), are the very reason why you should? I mean, WTF? I train for months before my marathons, with a specific plan that I abide by. The result? I FINISH MY MARATHONS! I couldn't ever imagine trying to conquer any marathon--road or trail--without logging that mileage, EVER.

Is it just me or....."DUH"?

WTF?

So I did the explosive training class today, and several of the participants were raving about how they lost body fat percentages and pounds. Me? I got nuttin'. Well, to be fair, I did lose 5 pounds while I was sick--but I can't count those because they were pounds I lost when I was ill. So tomorrow I am having my body fat measured. I am sure it will be an eye-opener. The instructor totally kicked our asses today with relay after relay of sprints and sledding. My lungs were burning, but I am starting to feel something new in my stride. I think the pelvis is working more when I run, so it propels me a little more efficiently.

I HAVE to get my distance back. These little 3 and 5 milers aren't cutting it. When marathon season rolls around again, I want to shave some significant time off. Swimming begins here shortly, and then the triathlons. LORD HELP ME. I can't afford to get sick again. The Goofy Challenge and the Miami ING are already paid for.

Meanwhile, I received a 98 on my midterm exam yesterday. Back to the books and finish this garbage so I can get my business off the ground. I love the thought of not having to answer to anybody but myself.

I received the best compliment today, I just have to post this because when I am feeling down, I can go to this blog and get a quickie high. This lady was lamenting in class today that she was getting too old to do some of the things we were doing, and how she should get some leeway for her age. She believed she was the oldest lady in the class! Someone asked her how old she was, and she said "33" and she looked at me and asked how old I was. When I told her I was 38, she said, "Are you kidding? I thought you were like 28!!" "I guess I am not the oldest one here."

YAY!!! 28!!!!! I will TAKE IT!!!

OK Kids, the topic is racism

Well, before I begin on today's tirade, I just want to say what a perfect morning for a run!!! With this illness, I haven't been able to do anything the last few days. When I woke up this morning, I felt good. I pulled on my shoes and just gave it all I got for three miles. I felt like singing as I headed out of my development. It just doesn't get any better than that. I was thinking "jog", but I ended up doing a fast 25 minutes (and yes, that is fast for me).

After viewing Obama's "Racism" speech, I have been thinking about how certain assumptions about groups of people continue to proliferate in society and it just sickens me. Whether it be in the form of a joke or a snide comment, blanket statements about groups of people do nothing but cause trouble. Sometimes I even have to keep my thoughts in check. I do find myself assessing certain types of people as "rednecks" and "white trash". I need to quarantine this behavior...even though I am as white as they are, I am manifesting bigotry. It happens. It is something I have to work on. I am appalled that the Florida legislature passed a bill to appease "The Sons Of The South" with a new Florida license plate that will be available soon to the general public. It depicts a picture of the confederate flag. There is NOTHING honorable about the confederate flag. If you are proud you are from the South, I think there are many other ways of expressing your pride than by wielding a symbol of hate. It hurts and offends certain members of society, and it is embarrassing that our government allows this to occur. I am embarrassed to be an American because these racist mainstays continue to he honored and held up for emulation. It is WRONG.

That being said, racism and bigotry continues to grow unchecked. I hear terms like "ragheads" sprinkled liberally in everyday conversation at the gym. The person who uses such terminology makes me form an opinion about them, "ignorant dumbass". Statements using such words do nothing but continue the proliferation of prejudice which, ironically in the Home of the Free, I am sure our founding fathers would be very saddened by. I don't think this is what they intended when they inked the declaration of independence.

Is there hope for any of us? Are we as a nation going to continue to bog ourselves down in stereotypes and insults? I am coming down off my soapbox now. There is so much more I would love to say about the topic, but I could end up sounding prejudiced! I want so much better for my children.

Dusting Off

And attempting S3 class this morning. I refuse to let the crud get me down. This S3 class really gets my heart going, and I don't even work half as hard running a marathon!!! Here's to putting my eggs in an explosive training basket. I have already seen improvement in the sledding aspect, and my sprints have become a little more powerful..well, they were before this respiratory infection. We shall see how today goes. I am still wheezing like an 80-year-old smoker, but oh well.

Another kid is home from school today. She is not feeling well, but I also know she is having some issues at school with a former friend of hers. Remember how cruel Junior High girls could be? Well, it's her turn to experience the thrill of bitchy looks and whispered secrets. Her former best friend has turned on her and I think it all started over a boy. Apparently this other young lady, "J", was toying with a boy she wasn't exceptionally fond of, but kept him around as "boyfriend" for entertainment purposes. "J" was very verbal about her feelings for him, "OMG, like I am SO getting TIRED of him! I probably think I am gonna like dump him tomorrow". Well, this boyfriend eventually got put-off by her threats and left "J", and professing his attraction to my daughter. Now my daughter, "B", is not allowed to date until she is 16. She has been fine with this, but she does flirt at school and have friends who are boys. But I had to do what a Mom had to do and I sat her down and gave her the number one rule of the "GIRL CLUB"--"NEVER DATE A FRIEND'S EX-BOYFRIEND FOR ANY REASON EVER IF YOU WANT TO CONTINUE HAVING THAT FRIEND." This rule almost as prolific as, "Never EVER tell your best friend she looks fat in that dress, even though she does." And like the good kid "B" usually is, she heeded my words but continued a flirtatious relationship with the dumpee. This led to an instability in the friendship between "J" and "B", complete with whispers, rolling eyes and rumors. Poor "B". Little does she know how insignificant this will be in the long run. Meanwhile, I want to jack up "J" for making my baby cry. Junior High seems like a million years ago, but it a record that replays every year for 13 and 14-year-olds...that song remains the same. The fashions may change, but there is no deviation from the behavior.

OK, I am jumping in! Talk to you later.

This IS ENOUGH!!

I don't think the antibiotics are working anymore. My sinuses are deadened, I have a full-fledged nasal spray addiction and I can't eat. I set out this morning to run a little over 5 miles, and I dehydrated so badly before mile two. I struggled so hard to finish out this run, but I only got in about 4 miles and I just couldn't do it anymore. I know it's because my caloric intake is maybe down to 1000 a day at best, but I simply can't force myself to eat. Food is sickening to me right now. My 5 year old is home from school, and she is ill as well. The medicine makes me feel drugged out, and this is the second class of antibiotics I have been on for this particular situation.

I know you don't want to hear about my pity party, but I hurt. And I am mad. All I want to do is sleep and cry. I will find something more interesting to blog about later. I think this is a good time to bow out.

Sinusitis and Waterboarding

...are both forms of torture. This pollen needs to go--and fast. I am so sick and tired of being sick and tired, the antibiotics helped with the chest, but it isn't going to chase those allergies off.

Marc wasn't such a little mommy's boy today at his party, so I am thankful for that.

I will say I am CRAVING a long distance run, and I don't know how in the hell I am going to put it in my schedule without interfering with Bob's brick training for his onslaught of triathlons. I have to start swimming at the end of the month to train for mine, and I gotta get some new gear to wear. Why do I commit myself to these things again? This crap is getting expensive.

I don't have much to say today other than a.) I feel like ass b.) I am a snot factory c.) Thank goodness no one has soccer, guitar, chorus, rehearsals, etc. tonight d.) My last little one is two years old. I am saddened about that for some reason. The minutes fly too quickly...I have to do something completely overplayed, but it says what I want to say... and my buds from last night will appreciate....

"Ticking away the moments that make up a dull day.... You fritter and waste the hours in an offhand way..... Kicking around on a piece of ground in your home town Waiting for someone or something to show you the way..... Tired of lying in the sunshine..... Staying home to watch the rain .....And you are young and life is long...... And there is time to kill today..... And then one day you find Ten years have got behind you..... No one told you when to run..... You missed the starting gun.... And you run, and you run to catch up with the sun, but it's sinking.... Racing around to come up behind you again..... The sun is the same in a relative way, but you're older.... Shorter of breath and one day closer to death...... Every year is getting shorter..... Never seem to find the time .....Plans that either come to nought Or half a page of scribbled lines.... Hanging on in quiet desparation is the English way..... The time is gone..... The song is over..... Thought I'd something more to say.... Home, home again I like to be here when I can..... When I come home cold and tired...... It's good to warm my bones beside the fire..... Far away across the field ....The tolling of the iron bell ....Calls the faithful to their knees To hear the softly spoken magic spells "