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is it really only 8 am? no wonder I can’t think of a title
I ran for 9 minutes without stopping this morning. I’m going to go ahead and call today a win even though it’s not quite 8 am. It doesn’t matter how the rest of the day goes. My Fitbit and my Map my Run app both prove it.
Last summer you all know I was doing great, losing weight, and loving running. Then an Achilles heel thing happened, and the holidays happened, and a medication change happened, and winter weather happened, and work happened, and a very bad attitude happened. Mostly the latter.
I’m not in the same place I was, but I’m working on it, getting out there as often as I can. It sucks to feel like I’m pretty much starting over, again, but I almost forgot that the more you do it the better it is. Duh.
So this morning I did my 2 mile run/walk intervals, and part of that time I ran 9 minutes without stopping. I ran without gasping for air, without my legs burning, and without feeling like I’m being stabbed in the hips.
Although I may not be able to stand up (or walk, or OMG climb stairs) later, today is definitely a good day. It might even be good enough to get me through tomorrow too! I could sleep from now until Friday and still win. Resting on laurels and all. Maybe. Maybe not so much.
What’s going on with you guys? Good things, bad things? Vent if you need to!
trapped under a cat
I’ve been remiss in keeping up my crazy cat lady image so I thought I’d give you an update on old George.
He’s still old. Elderly in fact. He’s also still alive. We weren’t too sure he would be by now so this is a good thing!
He’s also still pretty dang cute. Unfortunately, he’s big on trapping us for long periods of time in strange places. Since he got sick we feel kind of guilty when we have to push him off so there’s a lot of this going on.
I think he’s happiest laying on Damon’s iPad. Damon isn’t particularly thrilled about it. I’m fine with it though, since his second favorite place is on my neck/armpit/face.
He still has kidney problems, is too thin, and has to eat crazy expensive food. (He’s not supposed to much dry food now, it’s too hard on his system.) It’s taken MONTHS of trying different canned foods but I’ve finally found one that’s he’s actually willing to eat AND he doesn’t throw up.
Lemme repeat that. HE’S NOT THROWING UP.
If you’ve been reading here for any length of time you know what a frigging miracle this is. Go ahead and search “cat puke” on my blog and you’ll see it’s been a running theme for many years. Go on, I’ll wait here.
Of course, the horking finally stopped about a week AFTER I broke down and bought a steam carpet cleaner because the regular old spraystuff just wasn’t cutting it on the cream rug anymore. Yeah, it’s cream, not cream with tan spots as otherwise assumed. Ahem.
So now I take regular trips to the Pet Smart for the most expensive, organic, grain free, preservative free cat food on the planet instead of being able to grab whatever is on sale at Target. You guys, this means he eats better than we do. Sigh.
Worth it?
Yeah, we think so.
I hope I haven’t jinxed us by writing about it. ~fingers crossed~
If I don’t answer the phone, it’s probably because I can’t get up, and not because I’ve fallen, but because I’m stuck here under a cat and I don’t have the heart to move him.
a visitation
I was holding his hand but talking only to her. Somewhere deep inside I knew who he was and that he wouldn’t speak, but his grip was strong. I tried to look at him but I couldn’t focus on the figure before me.
Then I remembered and began to weep, my own silent sob waking me. The tears, hot and fresh, were real but his hand was imagined, though my palm still felt a warm impression, as if he’d really been there.
I closed my eyes, laid my head on my damp pillow, and tried to fall to back to sleep.
It’s not the first time he’s visited in my dreams, nor I expect, will it be the last. It’s a rare appearance but if these are the only moments I can still spend with him, I’ll have to take it them as they are.
I love you too Pop, come see me anytime.
my heart belongs to Boston
From my very earliest memories – listening to Red Sox games on the radio – I’ve loved Boston. Trips to the Aquarium and the Science Museum, Celtics and Bruins games at the Garden, shopping in Quincy Market, riding the T, and of course, going to Fenway have just solidified how much I love it. I may not have a house in the city proper yet, but when someone asks where I’m from, I rarely mention the suburb I sleep in, I just say near Boston. Because, you know, it’s BOSTON.
I don’t really have the words to express how I feel about what happened at the Marathon because oh children…but I do know that Boston is strong and resilient, and well, pretty bad-ass. As horrifying as the event itself is, the response from everyone, everywhere, the outpouring of love and support for the runners and their loved ones, is equally extraordinary.
When I finished my little 2 mile running route early this morning I thought, okay now turn around and do that 13 more times. Yeah. That’s what marathon runners do. I have so much respect and awe for runners and the families that support their racing. Especially the ones who run the Boston Marathon with it’s crazy hills and even crazier residents lining the streets.
No matter how much someone out there wants us all to fear the city, they won’t win. I know that nothing is ever going to stop me from going to Boston, to sports events, out to dinner, to the museums, and maybe even to watch the next Boston Marathon. Maybe especially to watch the next Boston Marathon.
You know you need winter to end when…
You pine for the pool every time you drive by it – at least 4 times a day.
The amount of static in your hair/clothes/cat actually might electrocute you.
There is a constant coat of sand and salt on your lovely hardwood.
You gain back 8 pounds and you’re desperate to start running again. But damn it’s sooo cold!
All of your photos start to look alike – and not on purpose. There is nothing else to shoot.
I think I’ve reached my limit of pics of bare trees for one year. All of my other recent photos are of the boy or the cat. Yeah, I’m ready for spring.
Did you hear we’re supposed to get another snowstorm again this weekend? *headdesk* I miss green grass and daisies!
Filed Under life, photos Tagged iphoneography, photography, photos, winter
football poetry
Since we’re sitting here watching the Patriots play, and trying not to be too antsy about it, I will give you football humor, 9 year old style. Josh wrote this and asked me to post it here for him. Sure!
Positions
Wide receiver, running back.
All of these I do not lack.
Quarterback, tight end.
I am flexible, I can bend.
I am the opposite of lame.
But only in my video game.
You guys. How freaking cute is that??!!
a year in photos
I don’t really do those typical year end wrap-up posts, of course because I don’t really blog enough to bother! Since photography has become kind of a favorite thing for me lately, I thought I’d share a few iPhone photos that I never got around to posting here before. Btw, I stopped posting on Instagram and I’ve gone back to Flickr – come find me there!
Happy New Year friends, I wish you all the best!
there are no words
I’ve spent the last few days trying to think of the right thing to say.
I just can’t.
Wishing you all peace.
xo
hamming it up
I don’t know what I’m doing here anymore. I pretty much just do bullet posts and photo posts and I’m boring myself. I can’t even imagine how bored you must be. Anyway! Today is Friday so that means bullets. You’re so welcome.
- I’m working again! Hoo-freaking-ray! I have a small project I’ve already started and a few big ones lined up to work on all winter. Phew. The in-between contract times can be scary so it’s good to know I’ve got enough work to keep me here at home.
- I suspected work would pick up right before Christmas (again) so I am completely DONE with all of my Christmas prep. I’ve bought and wrapped everything, including stocking stuffers. All of my cards are done, and the house is as decorated as it’s going to get. I’ve NEVER EVER been done this early before. Don’t hate me.
- It’s not like I did all that much anyway. Really, don’t hate me. Go read my philosophy on Christmas craziness. I’m here to talk you down.
- I already cooked my Christmas ham.
- I only bought it because it was on sale. We really do have lasagna for Christmas dinner every year. Breaking traditions since 2001!
- It was the best ham I ever made. (Relatively speaking. I’m not a ham snob so I’m sure there are GREAT hams out there but I can’t afford them.)
- You know how spiral hams kinda get all dried out so you gob on lots of sugary glaze? Blech. That does NOT make for good leftovers.
- We were supposed to go to Maine last weekend to visit family but you know Maine and it’s stupid freezing rain, and sleet, and black ice, and well, not so much with the traveling.
- Not planning to be home meant we had no groceries in the house. Except a ham.
- I put that sucker in a turkey size oven bag and poured a whole lot of ginger ale over it and stuck it in the oven. The bag kept it from drying out and the ginger ale toned down the saltiness. Hello fabulousness. I think any soda would work well, sprite, root beer, etc. BUT NOT DIET SODA. That would be bad.
- We’ve ham leftovers all week and we haven’t gotten sick of it yet. It’s a miracle.
- Ham, ham, ham, ham. Ham, ham, ham, ham. HAM.
- Ham salad with tons of vinegar and a smidge of mayo.
- Pea soup with ham. Damon normally hates pea soup. Damon loves MY pea soup. If you want a great pea soup recipe let me know.
- Pea soup is not photogenic. Like at all. I tried.
- I’m making chicken today. Because I might actually be sick of ham, a little bit.
I’m curious, what do you do for Christmas dinner? Do you go all out like Thanksgiving or do you go the simple route with take-out? We have lasagna because it’s one of the few meals Damon likes to make so I get to do absolutely nothing!
catching up
It’s been a long time since I did a Friday bullets, but here I am again!
- Damon had foot surgery on Wednesday to remove bone spurs on his big toe joint. So that’s been fun. He’s fine now, just not particularly mobile.
- In related news, I have run up and down the stairs, oh, about 45 times since Wednesday night carrying various food, drinks, and ice packs. And more ice packs.
- But! As he said, “I could come downstairs and lay on the couch?” Um. NO. I’m gonna need my alone time/DVR breaks today, thankyouverymuch. And lots of coffee.
- The only one happy about Damon having to lay/sit/not move in this house is George. He is taking full advantage of this opportunity.
- George is an armpit snuggler. Not even kidding. (And he’s feeling much, much better btw.)
- We had to go into Boston for the surgery. I drove in at rush hour, and I drove out at rush hour. Holy hell. Do people really do that every day?? On purpose?! If you do that, I feel for you, I really do. I think I’m still having an anxiety attack over it.
- Speaking of work. I haven’t had a contract job since July. My summer of fun is now my fall of wait and see. Not worried. Just waiting and bored. You would think I would be bored enough that my house would be really clean. But alas.
- It’s time to declutter again. I look around and see piles of sneakers and books and sweatshirts and other general stupid crap and it’s annoying me. I’m having trouble identifying things I can get rid of this time around though. I decluttered so much last time that I feel like I need everything we have right now, but I know that can’t possibly be true.
- Since I’m hoping for inspiration, I’ve joined Cass in her 30 days of Subtraction Project and so far I love it. I know have only pens that work and none that don’t.
I think you can still join in if you feel the need to lighten your mind and your space. - I’m crocheting again. It’s been a long time since I’ve felt like doing it but I have a large project that I started over a year ago that I picked up again and I’m really enjoying it. I’ll have to wait to show it to you until it’s finished and sent off to the person it’s meant for though.
- It’s very hard not to go out and buy more YARN. I love yarn. I got rid of a ton of yarn and I still have a ton of yarn and I CANNOT go buy more yarn. The end. What? We all have our addictions man. At least I own up to mine.
- Oh addictions. Okay fine! My other one is chips and dip. I have been on the wagon for seven months. I had one slip in August. Humph.
- I’m stuck at 42-43 pounds down. Yeah, that’s good, I’m not knocking it. I lost more than my age this year! Woohoo! But oh so stuck for the last few weeks.
- I’m not sure running is for me but I’m thinking about starting my C25K app over again just to be sure. Anyone with me?
- Bueller?
- What’s up with you today? Feel free to whine in comments if you need to get something out. I’m good at commiseration.
ps. I don’t have a pan big enough for my stupid turkey. I DECLUTTERED it 2 years ago. Arghh.