Fueled by Organic Maple Spice Oatmeal...

I ran an 8-miler this morning, fueled purely by a bowl of maple spice oatmeal and a 32-oz glass of water. It was fabulous. The weather was a bit down, compared to the gloriousness of the past few weeks, with a haze and cloud cover, but a steady 60 degrees. There was a bit of a wind from the south, so heading into the first and last part of my route was more difficult than it would have been otherwise. Ran the whole thing with a negative split, which I have not done in a while, and I felt strong and spirited at the end. It was a good run, all the way around.

What was interesting is that it's the first long run in a LONG while where I had to search for things to think about. Normally, I'm decompressing from life in general while I'm out there, trying to prioritize what comes next in the day at work, or what part of my home life is going to get short shrift this week. But guess what? For the first time in my recent memory, I don't have any of those issues. I'd wanted to take a break between my old job and the new one, but it didn't work out that way. But because I haven't gotten a traveling assignment yet, I've spent the last two weeks working from my home office, sleeping in my own bed, and learning more from my self-designed online training than I ever imagined. And I've taken care of little things here and there that needed to be taken care of (the oven, for one -- how much easier is life with a full kitchen's worth of appliances??), and have spent time with the folks that matter most to me. And there isn't anything hovering over my head like an afternoon cloud, threatening to burst into a torrential downpour at any moment. My face has cleared up and I've gotten control of the afternoon snacking/junk food binges that sabotaged my fitness exertions. I've got a decent haircut and my home, while still not *sparkling*, is no longer in shambles as it was habitually a few weeks ago. The laundry monster is not threatening to take over the house if one more shirt lands on the dirty clothes pile.

Things are good right now. Hub's birthday is today (39!! eeep!!), and I was able to make a cake (mostly) from scratch, and had time to arrange a great unexpected gift for him, and we'll spend the day together as a family. We just came off spring break for the boys, and both Hub and I had time to take them out and about, enjoying them and spoiling them a bit, and just reconnecting. Will all this change dramatically once I get my first assignment and hit the road? Without a doubt. But for now, I feel settled, and in charge, and in control. So there was nothing to do on the run today except enjoy it, and nothing to think about except my feet, and the trail, and the wind through my hair. I felt strong throughout, and finished with a kick, posting a 9:34 mile at the end. What a difference. Just for fun, here are the splits:

Mile 1: 10:32
Mile 2: 10:32
Mile 3: 10:04
Mile 4: 10:19
Mile 5: 9:48
Mile 6: 10:06
Mile 7: 10:07
Mile 8: 9:34

Total time: 1:21:05, average pace of 10:08,1075 calories.

Gotta run -- the Elder Child and Hub just left church and we're meeting up with them for lunch. Peace out, and have a GREAT week!!

It's Friday! (or, Of Beans and the 80s)

These are Beanie Weenies. Blech. I myself, despite being of 3rd-generation Mexican-American heritage*** (although I prefer to be considered 3rd-generation Texan, actually), could not handle eating beans of any persuasion until I was about 23. The notable exception was refried beans, but they had to be smushed and re-fried beyond recognition into more of a paste than anything with individual bean-like characteristics. It was a texture thing. This meant I usually only ate beans on Thursdays and Fridays -- Mom made a huge pot on Sundays that we ate from pretty much all week long -- whatever didn't get eaten each night got thrown back into the pot in the fridge to be re-heated and re-fried and re-smushed until they were all gone. I got over that, and now happily will eat pintos, black beans, navy, blah, blah, blah. But I still won't eat baked beans. The sweetness of them doesn't compute with the savory concept I have of beans. Just doesn't work in my brain. And the texture -- blech.

In any case, I certainly couldn't handle the thought of these things when I was six. And I certainly never thought my picky grilled cheese and chicken nugget fiend would ever want them. But, apparently, my mother-in-law, intending to have purchased mac'n'cheese in a similar package, picked up a container of beans & weenies by accident, and also by accident cooked them and served them to TDP DinoBoy. And he ate them. All. And asked for more.
So now the pantry is not considered stocked unless there are at least three cans of these things in there. The Elder Child won't touch them, and he actually doesn't like to be at the table when TDP DinoBoy is eating them -- they gross him out. I can't say I blame him. Anyhoo, Nancy, that's the story with the BW.

So. Yeah. What else?? Oh, yeah. The 80s. Love the 80s. Have been trying to get to see Music and Lyrics for the last month, and we finally made it out tonight. So worth the wait. Hilarious. OK, maybe not Love Story, or even Officer and a Gentleman, as far as the plot goes, but fun and funny just the same. Hugh Grant is funny and adorably self-deprecating, and has a surprisingly good voice. Drew Barrymore is cute as always. If you remember watching the Aha! video on MTV (over and over and over again!), even if you won't admit to setting your Swatch to when you knew it would be on, you will enjoy this movie. I'm thinking I'll have to get the soundtrack so I can sing "Pop Goes my Heart" while I run. I just might make it my new PowerSong. heh.

ORN -- I ran outside this morning and nearly froze myself on the north-bound out route. It was a bit chillier this morning than I expected after yesterday's lunchtime jaunt. But I got over it and coming back with the wind at my back was much better. 3.1 miles in 31:37. I've noticed that with NanoMark on my arm I don't mind finishing with random mileage -- I used to *have* to end a run at the mile-mark exactly, or at a minimum at the half-mile mark. Now, I just run a route until I meet the time I told NanoMark I'd go. And then I come in and map the route on GMaps Pedometer to get accurate mileage, since I know NanoMark comes up short. I also like to think it's a side effect of me not being so stressed anymore. Probably that, too. But mostly it's just NanoMark.

***Edited to add -- After watching last night's episode of "The Office" again on DVR, I've decided to instead celebrate my "Mexicanity." LOL!!!

oh, yeah, that!

Nancy talking about her fall race made me remember there was *something* I was supposed to do this week....

We have received your application for the ING New York City Marathon 2007.

Your entry number is 120947. Please include this number along with your name in any correspondence pertaining to the marathon.

Wish me luck! I'll have to come up with a contingency in case I don't make it in (1 in 3 don't, y'know!), but there is no way I can keep up mileage even now if I don't have a potential "A" Race looming on the horizon. And having a marathon on the horizon is keeping me from fretting that I don't have a pool at my disposal right now and haven't been svimming in nearly a month.

Oh, and I just happily discovered that TDP DinoBoy loves chicken soup. Who knew?! That certainly opens up the meal possibilites for him beyond beanie weenies and ABCs/123s (I SWEAR I wasn't the one who introduced him to those, BTW!!).

poor little blog

i've neglected you so. sigh. not much to add today, except that while this working from home stuff is cool, it has some potential hang-ups that I've had to be careful to navigate around. but it's been great to be around during the boys' break, and I even got to go to the museum with them yesterday. it was fun, and a nice break in the middle of the day.

running is good. I've done 101% of my mileage so far this week, all outside, and most in the early morning. I ran at lunch today, and it's starting to get hot and humid again. I know, I know, I shouldn't b!tch about the weather here being hot yet, not when folks are still buried under piles of snow. but, hey, it's what happens in Texas, I tell you what!

that is all. I've got a webcast going on in another window, and I should probably pay closer attention to it!

sunday already?

where did the weekend go? what's been accomplished around here? hmmm, a 4-miler yesterday, a 6.75-miler today. no laundry. no groceries. signed TDP DinoBoy up for T-Ball, his first season. a trip to the park. haircuts all the way around. we enjoyed the good weather before the rain moved in. we enjoyed being home and not having much to do. not a bad way to spend a few days, if you ask me.

this week is spring break for the boys. i've got to work, from home, for my full 40 hours, but we'll find a way to squeeze in a couple of fun things, I'm sure.

not much more to say, really. I'm hitting the sheets here in a minute, try to get a headstart on the week. Peace out, and have a great week!

An Open Letter to my Treadmill:

Miz T, you've been such a good friend to me. You got me through the February challenge. You got me through the depths of a North Texas winter, when temperatures around here plummeted to nearly freezing (shuddup, canadians and all you "Mi"-staters -- that's FRIGID to me, m'kay!), and you are always there, willing to take me on a little 3-miler, or even to put up with me for an 8- or 9-miler. You put up with me way better than I put up with you -- when I have to spend time with you, I mumble and moan, but you're always there, ready and waiting. You baby me when I'm tired and want to go slow, and you set me up in a nice little plodding 5.0 mph pace, or sometimes slower. You hold my water bottle, and you have those little fans that keep me a little cooler once I get pumping. You get along great with Grace, and even though you and NanoMark don't always agree on things, you at least give him a nice safe place to hang out while I run, so he's not smothered in his case. You were wanted so desperately last year, when that crazy early-morning rapist loser was running loose in my neighborhood, that I had to promise Hub all sorts of favors (hey! not that!) to get him to agree to bring you home. And I still love you. I do. Really.

But, see, Miz T, here's the thing. It's springtime now. And spring in Texas is the most glorious of times for running, especially for those early-morning runs that I love so much. I've been bailing on those early morning runs because you're there, and if I don't run in the morning, I think I can always meet up with you for a little sumpn-sumpn before bed. But I really do enjoy the quiet and the cool and the freshness of an early morning run on a Texas spring day. And running in the evening is enjoyable during the spring, too, after the kids are in bed, while Hub is watching "Rome" on the DVR. It's not like it is in the summer, when the heat and heaviness of the day lingers in the air and on the streets for hours after the sun goes down. No, running in the evening in the spring is a joy, because there are about six weeks in this season that make it worth putting up with the heat the rest of the year. And I have to enjoy those times while they last.

So, for now, my sweet, reliable, fabulous Miz T, I must bid you fare-thee-well, for now at least. Don't worry -- you'll still get used by Hub (even though he drips nasty amounts of sweat on you and makes you raise your incline something ridiculous like I never do) and by the Elder Child when he's watching Hannah Montana. And I'll visit you when I come by to hang out with Stretch. And, we're trying to get a friend for you in that room, something to get me up to speed on the bike, too, so you won't be lonely. And y'know, I will be back -- summer's right around the corner!

ORN -- 4.5 miles. 5:15 am. Outside. :)

tuesday...

and no running since Sunday's 6+ miler... I'm headed out the door to enjoy the weather and the nearly-full moon here as soon as I pull TDP DinoBoy from the shower and read his story to him. Hub is feeling punky, so I sent him to bed early, and Elder child is sitting here going through (yesterday's) homework assignment. "here" being the kitchen table.... and me on the wireless laptop, with my wireless laser mousey... gawd, i love my new setup, I tell you what!

The biggest news of the day is that the oven at Casa Skatemom is FIXED!! It only took a little more than 3 months, you know. Twenty-five minutes and $125 later, I had a functional stove. Yippee. The best part, besides that we can now have biscuits for breakfast, is the clock on the console -- how sad is that? So of course we celebrated the return of the oven with a fabulous dinner of....wait for it.... Totino's frozen pizza!!! What? After three months without frozen pizza, that stuff was like manna, I tell you what! This is the sad, sad existence that passes for life here in Suburbia South, I guess!

Gotta run -- I've got to go into the office in Irving tomorrow to get some monstrous downloads and turn in some paperwork. So I'll be schlepping my bad self through traffic again, at least in the morning. I'll be cutting out early so I can finish out the day at the home office, though. How sweet a gig is that? Now if only I'd get a real assignment....

Peace out!

things that I lurve!

in no particular order:

• perfect running weather (40-something, I think, but bright sunshine)
• my new running tights
• being home for the weekend
• being home for training all this week
  
• my new spanky-cool computer
• my even cooler wireless laser mousey
• wireless internets
  
• my fabulous burnt-orange home office
• a snuggly TDP DinoBoy crawling into my bed to wake me up
• not having to do all six loads of laundry today

I'm sure there is more, but those are front & center today. peace out!

wha???

from the weather people:

"FREEZING TEMPERATURES LIKELY LATE TONIGHT THROUGH EARLY SUNDAY MORNING...
A VERY DRY AND COLD CANADIAN HIGH PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL BE SETTLING OVER THE CENTRAL AND WESTERN PORTIONS OF THE STATE TONIGHT. SURFACE WINDS WILL BECOME LIGHT UNDER CLEAR SKIES THIS EVENING. STRONG RADIATIONAL COOLING OVERNIGHT WILL RESULT IN TEMPERATURES FALLING TO OR BELOW FREEZING ACROSS MUCH OF NORTH TEXAS. AREAS GENERALLY NORTH OF I-20 WILL LIKELY SEE LOWS OF 25 TO 28 DEGREES AND TO UP TO 8 HOURS OF FREEZING TEMPERATURES...THUS A HARD FREEZE IS EXPECTED IN THESE AREAS."

huh? IS IT NOT MARCH??! IN TEXAS??!

**sorry for the gratuitous over-use of caps -- the Weather People started it**

Um, me no likey this kind of weather here. So much for my scheduled run outside tomorrow morning. I might have to wait until afternoon. Or do it on the TM. I need to run 3 or so miles later tonight since i haven't run yet in March. I thought with the life change of the new job, sick kiddo and 28 days running in a row I deserved a couple of rest days. But if I do 3 today and 6 tomorrow, I'll be OK for the pre-set schedule anyhoo.

I'm trying to talk Hub into a cool spinning trainer for the playroom/home gym instead of a standard exercise bicycle. The therapist recommended one for the Elder Child to help with the rehab on his foot/achilles, and I know both Hub and I would use it almost as much as we use the treadmill (which is usually twice a day by one or both of us). I know it won't substitute for the real thing out on the road, but it will certainly be better than nothing for the cross-training - my cross-training lately has been more of "run inside vs. run outside." Also, I think I may have seen too many of these infomercials on the hotel TV this week!

It was good to be home, and I think I will like being home again this week. No actual deployment yet, so I'll spend the time either at the local office being a downloading fool or doing online training and certification in different product lines instead. not too shabby, although the size of the quarterly bonus depends mostly on my "utilization" so it's better $$-wise to be out on the road being billable. But for starters I'm not minding the ease-in approach to this gig. Not one bit.

That is all. Hub and Elder Child just left for Hub's hockey game, leaving me and TDP DinoBoy to watch DVR and play with sock puppets. Fun times. And I'm not being sarcastic, for once!

Cowtown pix

note to self -- check junk folder on the hotmail account more regularly. Brightroom sent me the links two days ago and they were in junk folder limbo. But so glad I got to them -- I'm usually less than thrilled with the photos at races. but looks like they got some accurate shots of me this time 'round. Notice I didn't say "good" shots, I said "accurate." Flat foot it much? Got some thighs going there -- but hey, notice how much I look like the catalog girl with those tights?! I think I like this one best -- they caught me in the air, almost! And I think I'll use this one for my new company's online directory -- one of my boss's bosses uses one with him and a large fish, so it's in keeping with the culture. Even if the shot does look like I'm gigging it...

Have I mentioned I love my new job? Well, I do.

No gym this morning -- got to re-arrange airfare for an earlier flight home today. Home. Today. Yippee!