Wednesday's Wrandom Wrambling

This is kind of how I feel lately with my running and training.  GAH!  I really, REALLY have to get back on track.  If only the winter would go away.  Makes it so much easier.

I decided I really need to keep my pantry door shut.  My human target hangs there, and when it's open, it scares me every time.  I catch it out of the corner of my eye and think some dude is standing there. 

Three more sleeps until Splenda and I get on a plane, head to CA - board a great big ship and cruise the sea for 5 days.  A couple of stops in Cabo San Lucas and then back to CA.  Got an rx for the patch just in case.  Pulling out summer clothes, and getting giddy about the new adventure.  Both first time cruisers.  And I have to give a HUGE shout out to my Debbi.  She is the most experienced cruiser I've ever known, and she has given us so much information that I feel like we are completely prepared.  Now, just to have FUN and relax!

Love that my kids will come and stay at the house.  No worries about our home being secure and the dogs taken care of.  Actually since Jack and Jace are bff's, it's a win-win for everyone.

May Susan Powell and her boys enjoy a glorious reunion and rest in peace. 

And that is ALL I am going to say about it.  Done.  Over.  Judgement will come to Josh and I am grateful that I am not the one to dispense it.

The end of that.

Splenda Daddy has me hooked on a new series.  Justified.  Airs on FX.  Certainly not for everyone, but I am digging it.  And it gives me something to watch until Breaking Bad starts up again.

Love me the Wasatch Running.  Not much more to say about that.  Love it. 

Came across this song on a friends blog and instantly fell in love with it.  As you enjoy it, listen to the words.  Thanks Desert Hen

Don't you just love that?

I'm awfully proud of the men my sons have become.  I love the fact that I get a text, call, or fb message from at least one of them every day.  Between them and my daughter-in-love's, I am a lucky, lucky woman!

And Chloee?  The icing, whip cream and cherry on the cake!

Do you ever have people in your life that you see some extremely great things happening in their lives and know that they deserve every bit of it?  Yeah, I do too.  Makes me happy for them.

Do you ever have people in your life that have been dealt a crappy happy and yet, they still move forward, strong, determined and a positive attitude? Yeah, I do too.  I admire them

Did I mention that I only have 3 more sleeps?!?!?!

Wednesday Wrandom Wrambling - Friday night edition

I know right?

That's just kinda been the whole week.  It's like, whoa - what just happened?  Oh, FRIDAY happened!

Not that it's a bad thing, quite the contrary.

Contrary.  Who really uses that word anymore anyway?

Sooooo.....I guess I should finally announce it formally and for realsies. 

I retired. 

EEEEPPP!!!!  (if you don't know what that means - it's me squealing with delight)

I know right?!?!  Dream come true. I submitted my letter of resignation/retirement and wrote a kind email of how much I have appreciated my time at Intermountain.  Earlier this week, Splenda and I went in the evening and cleaned out my desk and cubicle.  It all fit into one box.  My entire career of 24 years with the same company, in the same business all amounts to one little box.  Yep.  My official last date it 12/1 so in the meantime, I will be moving all my 401k to an IRA, which actually might make it safer, and then enjoying the freedom that is now mine. 

Maybe I should use it to buy gold.  Hmmm....

 I've started hanging out at Wasatch Running Center.

I've always purchased my running shoes there, except for the one time I won a free pair from a place in St George, and most of my gear.  I did the Grand Slam with them last year.  They are an awesome business.  We are working together as I train in the business of running shoes.  I wouldn't call myself an actual employee yet, but if over the next week or so, we both mutually agree that it's a good fit, I will pick up some part time hours there.  All perfectly suited for a retired grandma who just wants to support her habit.  Straight from the dealer no? 

There is a lot to learn.  They don't just let anyone fit and sell you running shoes.  They only hire experts.  They only trust experts.  Great guys who run the place and go ahead and ask me how much fun it is to walk around trying on different shoes, learning their technical differences, the pros, cons, and features of each shoe so that you can figure out which one is best for a particular person and their gait.  Very cool stuff.  I am learning a TON!  I just hope I can retain it all.  I am kinda wicked old after all.

And smelling brand new running shoes for hours at a time is like.....well......it's bliss.



Tuffy and 'Tana got a new puppy.  I KNOW RIGHT?!?!?!  Gosh he's cute.  Jace.  Little black mini schnauzer.  And what is fun, is he comes over to be babysat and entertains Jack.  Win-Win!!



Having some serious Chloee withdrawals.  Like for real serious.  Like, I kinda want to just get in the car and drive there.  I guess it's good that I have made some commitments here so that I can't do just that. 

What would I do without skype?  And even then......not the same.   Achey heart here.

On the bright side.......they have less than 3 years of active duty.  So there's that.

Okay kids, enough rambling thoughts, I think I'll finish watching Rick Perry bumble around on the O'Reilley factor.  Serious - dude is kind of a joke.  Perry not Bill.

Peace out!
xoxox
mCat

Wednesday's Wrandom Wrambling

Oh my.......

*sigh*

Oh my......

Okay, first off - google changed their reader format, and with all my genius dinking around have managed to screw it up and now I get NO updates to ANY of the blogs I read.  And I just got caught up yesterday.  If anyone would like to hold my hand and get it fixed.... well, that would be cool.

Proof that I shouldn't be allowed to "dink around" with anything.  I break it.

I'm really behind on posting.  Like all of Halloween.  More wedding pictures.  This week.  For sure, this week.

I just realized that my blogiverary is this week.  On the 12th.  I should do something special.

Or not.

Seems like blogging 3 years ago is certainly different than it is now.  Many of my favorite bloggers have stopped altogether.  Like bell bottom pants, it seems to have gone out of style.  Facebook has exploded.  Google + tried to explode but there are still crickets chirping over there.  People move on. 

I'm still here.  Mostly because I need to journal.  I need to document. 

"gimmee gimmee gimmee....I need...I need...I need..." (name the movie)

I thought I would have a lot of free time lately.  Thankfully, it's filled up with all worthwhile things.

The newlyweds are happy.  They are so damn cute, I can hardly stand it!

My SoCal family is happy.  They are so damn cute I can hardly stand it!

My college student is happy.  He is so damn cute I can hardly stand it!

I clearly am crazy about my family.  Completely head over heels in love with them.  Every last one of them! 

I really need to do something about Jack the dog.  He's wearing on my very last nerve.  Jump roping with it!  If the weather were warmer, we could do more walks outside and work off his energy.  Right now, the thought of being outside makes me cringe.  So I just keep throwing the stupid toy down the hall and he brings it back.  Again and again and again and again.

Might be getting a rotater cuff issue with all the toy hucking I'm doing.

It looks like my tradition of Thanksgiving dinner at the Golden Corral won't happen this year. 

Ticked.

Tired of politics already.  Tired of the posturing of the candidates, the allegations, the finger pointing, the bickering.   

And the Dem's are bugging too.  But then, they always bug sooooo......

Still having a little right calf issue.  Running hasn't been happening.  Makes this Ironman challenge I am doing right now a leeeetle difficult.  See, you do an Ironman (1800 meter swim; 112 miles on the bike, and 26.2 mile run) but you have two weeks to do it.  My "running" is more of a brisk walk.   Takes a long time to get mileage.

Ticked.

I just realized that perhaps this seems like a whiny post.  Accept my apologies.  Actually, I am happier than I have been in a long time.  Yes, there are issues that bug, but deep down inside, I am damn happy!

Except for this friggin dog and his friggin toy!

Things that are making me smile

Props to 20 something-year-old dude who not only ran the marathon, but has a braid WITH a feather weaved in it.  I should probably try it - since he considerably kicked MY trash!

 Serious self confidence - Rock it brothah!

Another example of some serious self confidence.  No breeze?  Either not, or really doesn't care - at any rate, kudos to your complete and total self assurance gal - you got it goin ON!

Mi familia (minus 4) - Love Sunday dinners, with birthday cake, ice cream and presents!

Wednesday Wrandom Wrambling - Friday edition

I know right?  Here it is already Friday.  Where does the time go?

So.......  officially on FMLA.  Until December 1st.  No deets on this public url, but if you know me,  you know why or you know how to find out why.

If you care.

It's all good.   Good choice on my part.  I think by jove I may have done something right for once!

Marathon number 4 is tomorrow.  3rd of the season.  Top of Utah.  All downhill.  It's not a steep grade so there won't be major pounding of the body, but right now it's raining and I think it's supposed to rain all weekend.

That's gonna suck.  I don't particularly care to run in the rain, and cold.  And when the high is supposed to only be 63 - yes, that means it is cold.

'sokay though, the running will feel good.  Is it weird to say that I look forward to the pain in my legs?  The stiffness in my joints and muscles that I know I will be feeling in less than 24 hours?

Does that make me weird?

On second thought, don't answer that.

We are empty nesters.  While Tuffy "technically" isn't moving until he gets married....HELLO?!  They have their own apartment, like he's gonna stick around here much?

On one hand, it's kinda cool to walk into the house and see that it's clean just like you left it.  And it STAYS clean.

On the other, it just feels......weird

I badly need a new cell phone.  My clumsy self has dropped mine once too many times.  Now I can only hear people if I put them on speaker.  Lame sauce.  Not scheduled for an upgrade until November.  Lame sauce with a side of ticked.

You know what I am gonna enjoy the most this weekend besides causing myself bodily pain and suffering?   Being in Logan.  Eating at the Firehouse and cuddly my new nephew Cade - whom I have never even met yet!  Yeah, so Taylo and Addi? BACK OFF  - AUNTI M's TURN!

Today is my Luke's 23'rd birthday.  He is such a good kid.  I've gushed about him before here.  When I asked what he wanted to do this year, well..... it involved a lot of things with friends.  *sigh*  That's how it goes.  We saw him last night for a wedding and we'll do his real celebration Sunday.  Gosh I love that kid.

My friends and family are the best.

And I think that's all I have to say about that right now.

I have lot's planned during my time off.  Sleeping.  Organizing my house.  Sleeping.  Going to visit Chloee.  Sleeping.

I can't stay caught up on my Google reader but that's another thing I hope to spend some time enjoying.  Know this, I am reading you.  I might not be commenting everytime, but I.am.reading.

Virtual friends are awesome.  Isn't it cool how someone you've never even met can say JUST the right thing at JUST the right time to lighten your day?  Make you laugh or validate you?  Yeah I know, it's way awesome.

Did I mention that I am kinda excited to pound out 26.2 miles and FEEL it?

Yeah, I know that makes me weird.

I am a RUNNER therefore I..........

**warning - graphic photos - turn away if you are weak stomached**



have nastyrast feet

I warned you.  You still looked didn't you?  You're welcome for helping you throw up - purger's unite!  *fist pump*

I earned every last bit of ugly on these bad boys and I'm proud of 'em!

On that note...hope ya had a splendid Tuesday (with all your toenails intact)

PS - Parenting truth 101:  If you don't embarrass your children at least once a day, you aren't doing your job.
MCat = success today.

Almost Wordless Wednesday

This is why I run.

At dawn.

300 miles of.......

Most know that I travel to southern UT for work fairly frequently.  I haven't been since early December thanks to a co-worker who jumped in and helped so we could get family needs taken care of.  This is my first away time from Chloee since then.  I don't know who is sadder.  Me or her.

It's about 300 miles one way.  I am either in the mood for music and singing thus producing ICC's (in car concerts) like you've never heard before (an empty milk dud box provides great acoustics) OR, I am in the mood for talk radio and just listening and letting my mind wander.

I pulled out of my office parking lot at 12:18.

12:40 - I think I should pick up Tuffy and take him back to my office to get my cooper so Splenda doesn't have to later.  He will have his hands full with Chloee and getting our stupid taxes filed.

1:30 - actually leave my office parking lot for real.

It's raining very, very hard.  Can't seem to find the right wiper timing.  Cursing large trucks and their extra spray

Alpine.  Realize I am extremely hungry.  See Wendy's sign at exit notice.  Mentally calculate what I could eat and maintain correct caloric intake with good balance of protein.

Pull off exit to discover that the Wendy's is 5 miles east.  Decide to hit the Del Taco since they are big enough to have nutritional information posted on line. 

Need a bathroom

See a new place JCW burgers.  Decide to try something new and will estimate calories if not on-line

Discover that they have chocolate peanut butter milk shakes.  Make different burger choice to kids burger

More rain as I continue south.  Now hit construction.  Traffic flow doesn't slow, so neither do I.

Spanish Fork - should I call Splenda?  Should I stop and see him?  Think about how busy he is and how stressed he's been and decide not to distract him.  Besides a lane change in the standing water appears slightly dangerous.

Watch a highway patrolman with his lights on following a truck for over 6 miles.  Truck doesn't pull over.  I pass them and wonder if I should motion to the dude that he's been nailed.  Instead, I stare straight forward and laugh inwardly.

Next small town.  Do I text my friend to tell her I love her?  If it wasn't raining, I totally would, but right now both hands are required on the steering wheel.

Rounding a bend into the next county.  Getting verrrryyyy sleeping.  Doze off.  Jerk alert with heart racing.  Continuing on, adjust self in seat.  Doze off again.  Jerk alert - heart racing.  Look for next exit to pull off and nap.

Mona *snicker* - exit and find a gravel spot.  Lock car, turn off engine and lay seat back.  Close eyes.  Immediately asleep.

Mmmmm.....asleep.

Feel phone vibrating and hearing the hum.

Check caller ID - It's Kar and I've been worried about her.  Sit up, talk on phone.  Yawn a lot.  Call gets dropped.  Lay back down thinking I will fall back asleep.  Nope.

Back on the freeway, back into the pelting rain and standing water on the road.

Listen to talk radio and picture what the dj's look like.  Why do they sound so happy?

Yuba - getting a little drowsy again.  Adjust in seat and realize that my gallbladder hurts.  Think about my gallbladder.  Think about Bird who just had hers out.  Think about Bird's sister 'Antana.  Think about Tuffy and 'Antana.  Think about Sunday at church.  Think about the lesson I taught about the Temple. 

Past Scipio and onto Fillmore.  *snicker*  Getting drowsy again - call Tiburon to talk so I will not be so bored.

Envious that she gets to stay at home and go to the movies with her kids.  Discuss the options of doing the Goldilocks century ride.   Smoochies and goodbye

See Meadow.  Think of Mo.  What the hell do people do that live in Meadow?  Best mini mart around, but really what do people there do?  Think of Mo.  Think of Ann.  Think of Cherie.  Think of Tauna.  Think of Keeley.  Think of the fun at the cabin.  What's Katie up to?  How's Britt?
What the hell do people do that live in Meadow?  Really?

Continue over rise in the highway and recognize spot where accident occurred many years ago.  I was about the 3rd person on the scene.  Relive the whole ordeal.  Think about how glad I am that it wasn't raining then.  I probably wouldn't have wanted to help.  What are the odds of me coming onto the scene of an accident at the exact same place?  Numbers hurt my head.  Stop thinking of the odds. 

Cove Fort.  Remembering when Jill came with me on one trip and it was when the fire was raging there.  Think about a friend who ran smack into President Gordon B Hinckley in the Chevron.  Literally face to face.  Think about President Hinckley.  Miss him.  Think about my Grandpa.  Miss him.  Think about my Grandma.  Miss her.  Literally physically feeling the missing. 

Rain still pouring.

Have switched to AM for better reception.  Notice the difference between FM and AM.  Start seeing all the billboards.  Makes me think of Vegas.  Wanting a trip to Vegas.  Think of family living there.  Thinking of blog friends who live there.  One who has disappeared for over a year.  Wonder where she is.  See Outback billboard.  Want a date to Outback with Splenda. 

Beaver *snicker*  debate texting Tib.  See hotel where Splenda and I stayed the first year I ran the Red Rock with Legally Dead.  Think of that relay and how much fun we had.  Wish Red Rock hadn't screwed up so badly and ruined it last year.  Think of Kris's reaction at the finish line.  Laugh.  Sympathize.  Admire for doing what he really thought instead of the rest of us with painted on smiles.  Think of running in the hail.  Think of cows mooing at runners.  Think of bleeding nipples and stress fractures.

Parawon.  Who names a town Parawon?  or Paragonah for that matter?  And what do the people do that live there?  Starting to get drowsy.  Thinking that I am not meant to do these drives anymore.   Is that my gallbladder bugging me again?  Start that whole chain of thinking again.

Cedar City.  Pull into the Maverick for the bathroom and something to chew on to keep me awake.  Find some jerky.  Only 120 calories.  Can afford that small number.

Push on and find new radio station.  Country music.  Hear a new song about a woman whose clothes fall off when she drinks tequila.  Catchy tune.  Some Kenny Chesney.  Some singing about two pina colada's.  One for each hand.  I want a pina colada.  Virgin of course.  I want to be on the beach.  I want Cancun.  Starting thinking about Cancun.  Picture the villa.  The pool.  The ocean.  Our palapa.  The sand.  I can smell it.  I can smell Cancun.  I.Want.It.

Construction.  Dream over.  Too many trucks.  Have to slow down.  What would it be like to be a truck driver?  Decide that I couldn't do it.  I fall asleep too easily.  Rain has long stopped and roads are dry.  Why are these guys going so slow???  Find way to get around the trucks. 

Come up on the outskirts of town.  See exit to Eric and Ape's house.  Wish I had more time when I am down here, to see family and friends.  Wish I had Eric and Ape's house.  Think of Space Jam.  Think of their basketball court.  Think of trashtalking.  Think of how cute they are with each other.  Think of Blands.  Think how much I love them. 

Debate which exit I should take.  First one and have to do the blvd?  Or second one and backtrack to Smith's?  Decide the Blvd.  Love to just see town.  Love this town.  See all the familiar places.  Memories.  I ran here.  Many times.  In the dark, by myself.  Dinner here with family.  Dinner there with friends.  How could I swing living here?  Think about Chloee moving with Daddy and Karalee to (hopefully CA).  If I lived here, I would be closer.  Why can't I make that work?

Quick stop in Smith's for veggies for dinner and choco milk for after workout in the morning.  See new kind of skittles.  Need. 

Check in desk at the hotel.  They know me by name.  We chat and chat and laugh.  Promised a room for the marathon.  More jokes and then off to my room.

And that my friends is how the M-Cat spent 5 hours and 300 miles of her day today.

* last call of the night was from Chloee.  Sadness in her voice.  "Mimi - I want you to come home to our house."  I officially hate traveling for work.  Next time I come in July, she and a nanny will be coming with me.  No leaving her behind again!

**hotel room thoroughly checked for bedbugs.  Clear.  Still keeping all luggage in the bathroom!

My new camera and the random shots we take with it

I lost my camera a few weeks ago.  I remember putting it in the bag with the cord, and then I can't remember what happened after that.  It just makes me sick to my stomach.  Not just the fact that I loved that camera, but all the pictures I had on my memory card.  GAH!!!

Splenda Daddy being the Splenda Daddy that he is took care of it for me this week and delivered a new one to me while I was waiting for Tuffy in surgery.

A sample of some of the random pics we've been taking.

Splenda's first snap - do I always look so intense or just when I am concentraing on work?

The weird rash the nurse told us to take so that we could monitor it if it got worse

The traditional self-portrait.  What is up with my hair?  Little high on my right side eh?

Bathtime - Chloee actually asked if I would take a picture.  And no she did not pee in the tub - it's those fun bath colors

After she has applied several layers of her "lipstick"

And passed out cold on the way home from the candy factory - with massive amounts of lipstick

Trying to fly her ladybug kite!

Just can't get it up and going but she was having fun anyway!

Really Splenda -why?  I look like crapola!

Jack on the other hand does NOT look like crapola

He is so dang cute and so fun.  We have all agreed that he is Kasey incarnate.  Same quirks, same mannerisms and they weren't even the same breed of dog!  But dang, we love him!  And Jordan hasn't been this happy since Kasey.

Chloee and I cooking some super spectacular soup tonight in our special aprons.

Thank you to my diva Lisa for mine and to Auntie Evil Genius for Chloee's - the sharks are the perfect thing for her!

So yeah, loving my new Cannon Power Shot A43300 IS

Nothing fancy.  Small and easy to carry, but takes decent pictures and it's all I need.

Wednesday's Wrandom Wrambling

I swear the last several days, and weeks have been dragging.  Of course, I can't believe it's almost April, but it feel like the days are so loooongggggg.

Maybe it's because for the past two weeks, I keep thinking I am a day ahead of myself and to find out it really is only Wednesday instead of Thursday just bums me out.

My schedule just seems so off!

Chloee LOVES her flat daddy.  He went all over the place yesterday and today spent the day at school.  Tonight after we said prayers and were talking about her day, I asked her what her favorite part of the day was and she answered that is was when she showed everyone at school her Daddy.  Greatest thing ever!

Running again.  Slowly but surely adding some miles.  I am in no way ready for the SL half, but I have reconciled myself to walking part of it if I have to.  No PR to reach, just finish and use it as training.

I got a pretty awesome April fools prank planned.  Hope I can pull it off.  Should be pretty epic.  And no it won't involve posting a positive pregnancy test.  Everyone knows that my girl parts are broken.

My Marine son sent me a wonderful card yesterday. It has been an amazing thing to watch him evolve into the man I always knew was lurking there inside.  When the Marine's advertise their slogan "be all you can be"  they ain't a kiddin.  He is a man that is discovering his true potential and even with as busy as he is right now, he took the time to write  a very heartfelt note of love and appreciation to his Ma.  Made my day.

Did I mention that we got a new bed?  I LOVE my bed.  It's RC Willey's version of the tempurpedic and I couldn't be happier.  Of course being the cal-king size we still struggle to find bedding and usually have to order it online, but it is SOOOOOO worth it.  Love my bed!

Chloee is already planning our first hike of the season.  She points to the mountains and tells us that we are going to climb that mountain and have a picnic on a blanket.  I like how she thinks.  I would be thrilled if she loved to hike. 

Getting back to the summit at Mt Timp is on my bucket list - I need to get planning on that one.

I'm worries that even though the Marine's have given Corbin the choice of a non-deployable battalion, that they will change their minds.  With the crap going down in Libya and us still being in Afghanistan and Iraq, and with all the help needed in Japan, I feat they will renege on the deal.  It's their right.  They can do whatever they want. 

I'm beyond exhausted.  Is it Friday yet??

One liners

Funny how you can experience a deep dark pit in your stomach, and then 8 hours later, sweet joy.

I like sweet joy better.

The pit will come back, just not today.

I still absolutely LOVE my car.

I can't wait to drive it everyday.

A new mattress can mean the world of difference in your body when you get up in the morning, regardless if you have actually slept at all.

One of the greatest inventions ever is Skype.

One of the stupidest inventions ever is the seat belt dinger noise.

I don't like to put on my seatbelt if I am just going to the other street in my neighborhood.

Ice skating is dangerous.

So are some EMT's

A head wound bleeds a lot and even when a professional tells you it's just a goose egg, it's best to get it checked, you might end up with 7 staples in your head.

I didn't fall on the ice, but my friend did.

I think church activities should ban ice skating since this is the 3rd year in a row with someone knocking their melon.

Splenda Daddy ratted us out to the bishop.

Preschools are petri dishes.

I'm glad I am not a school teacher. 

New clothes are needed and wanted. 

Same with shoes.

Been to busy to shop.

Getting a new Zumba instructor at the gym is bringing a smile to my face.

I like Zumba again.

For now, I like my private blog