Run Log: December & year end 2012

Run Club didn't run at all this month.  I ran on my{insert sarcasm} favorite treadmill at the YMCA most of the month.  And I took WAY too many days off and ate WAY too many cookies...I'm afeared to get on the scale that says I weigh WAY too much!  Interesting note, my foot hurt worse during the times of non running that when I ran.  If I ice & stretch it recovers quickly from the pounding. {I'm going with that as a great positive for now}  My top distance is still 5 miles (last done 12/8...UGH) but my foot is no worse.
My favorite run was yesterday when Mike {training for his first full marathon} guilted me into running 3 EZ miles outside.  It was right about 30 degrees with a light snow falling.  A little breeze that got colder as we ran west, but was just fine when we turned around and headed east again. It was peaceful and beautiful and we ran SLOW {since it was an EZ run} without headphones so we could even chat a little bit.  It was the best run in a few months.


Decembers's totals:
38 miles for the month 
656 miles for the year
0 biking miles for the month
347.5 biking miles for the year
146 miles in my pretty white & blue Asics...which are amazingly still pretty white...{is that a positive for the treadmill?}

2011 YEAR TOTALS:
Bike:     383 miles
Run:      564.5 miles

2012 {repeated} YEAR TOTALS:
Bike:  347.5 miles
Run: 656 miles (a palindrome!) 
Time to start all over ~ at two big zeros tomorrow morning ~  If my foot continues to not worsen (I'd love to say improve, but am afraid that is not going to happen) I would love to run the Cleveland half this May.  I will attempt to run as if training for that...and we'll see where it gets me.  I really REALLY want to lose these 10 pounds around my middle & on my hips {& arms}, and running is my best shot at doing that {Since NOT EATING CRAP is not really going to happen!}
Some interesting facts:
Longest run this month: 5 miles 
Favorite place to run this month: the little 3 mile to the end of the sidewalk {done in the road because of the snow} with my hubby ~ see above.
# of bags of Candy Cane Kisses left in my cabinet: THREE
# of books I read this month: Four!  I love vacation reading :)
Monthly mileage record: 80.5 miles March 2012
Highest mileage ever-at-one-time:  13.1 miles ~ May 16, 2010 (Cleveland 1/2) 


PR's:
5K: 22:45 (Rabbit Run 10/30/11~ but I think it was a short course)
10K: 52:02 (Cleveland 5/15/11)
10-miler: 1:21:29 (Hermes Cleveland 10-miler 4/28/12)
half-marathon: 1:55:04 (Cleveland 5/16/10)
marathon: 3:50:05 (Akron relay {team run} 9/24/11)

blizzard bust

The national weather service, doubtless, has saved many lives because early knowledge of storms has allowed people to prepare.  But I think that they enjoy their, I- can-bring-everyday- life-to-a-halt power.
Remember our Christmas day blizzard emergency alert?  ended up bring 6 to 8 inches.  it was really pretty coming down as fast as it did, and the roads were snow covered and slippery.  But a blizzard, not so much.

The top picture is as the snow was starting.  The bottom picture is this morning, after the storm had passed.  I do love the look of the trees when the branches are covered with snow.

a haunting

Here's the honest to God story.
We were sitting around the dinner table last night yappin' our doodles.  Jacob dropped something or made some loud noise and we all turned to look at him and Mike freaked out.  "Did you hear that?"
We were all like, "yeah, we heard Jacob make that crashing noise..."
Mike said, "No the deep sigh.  Right in my ear.  Did you hear the deep sigh?"
None of us had...except Jacob said he did [but he's a teenager, so who knows.what he heard]

Here is a picture of Mike pretty soon after the mysterious deep sigh and the area over his left shoulder, where the sighing took place.  No mysterious orbs or faces or anything...rather disappointed with the lack of photographic evidence, but the freaked out look in Mike's face is scientific proof of the existence of ghosts.  (I'm using the requirements for scientific proof that is used in the acclaimed Big Foot Hunters tv series.)

It's Not Your Birthday

That was the title of a sermon Pastor Tom gave at the beginning of Advent.  It's a phase that has stuck with me as I've rushed around trying to {again} make the 'perfect' Christmas.  I've come to many conclusions this year:
1.  There's no such thing as a perfect Christmas.  Each is really remembered for it's imperfection.
2.  I need more work when it comes to thinking about others.
3. Grumpy does not belong in shopping.  Finding Joy...Finding Joy...

Christmas Eve 2012

Another December 25 has come and is quickly leaving...Patrick has a 32 gig iPod Touch.  Jacob has a fancy tennis racket and bag & chose a PS3 game over an iPod touch...{Dad took pity on the kid who 'lost' his at school and bought him a new one on Christmas Eve ~ and we gave him the choice of the PS3 game or the new iPod...which he decided he didn't want.  He now has Patrick's old one & the game & the hope of 'finding' his old one}  I have a fancy tennis racket with PINK strings {amazing} and Mike has a Kindle Fire.  I hope he really likes it.

We were awaken by our 17 year old little kid at 6:30 am yelling, "Christmas is here.  Christmas is here."  I find it heart warming that even as a really big kid, he still is excited for Christmas morning! 

Then we went to the Herzig's for Christmas afternoon and dinner...yummy ham & wonder salad {because you wonder what is in it, according to Dan}.  Lots of desserts...and I need to quit eating sugar!

The most exciting thing is that we are under a BLIZZARD WARNING.  Here's the Emergency Alert we ALL got on our cell phones at 2:41 pm {funny to hear that buzzing noise coming from almost every cell phone and iPod in the house}

Blizzard Warning this area til 7:00 AM EST Thu. Prepare.  Avoid Travel.  Check media. -NWS

I'm really looking forward to a Blizzard.  We can hunker down, play games, watch movies & eat all this food in our house.

Memories:

The gloves with the 'diamond' rings

The POOpourri ~ spray in the loo before you go #2...

Mom H and her MOUND of Christmas presents!

"Put the cell phone down, Terri, or I'm taking from you."

#36

Love Love Love the romantic novels of Nora Roberts.  I can't believe I hadn't discovered her before I stumbled across one on my Kindle.  #36 is Book Three of the Inn Boonsboro Trilogy The Perfect Hope.  And it was the perfect Christmas vacation read (that only took me three days to read ~ so there's more time for other books!)  In this one the Innkeeper & the third brother fall in love in a very straightforward, yet very romantic way.  The mystery of Lizzy, the ghost, is also solved in, of course, a romantic {if not sad} way.  The reason why I love these books...the happily ever after.

good quote: p 160 ~ "Tool bests are also hot", she explained.  "They're like gun belts--Old West cowboy gun belts.  When a man's wearing one--naturally--a woman knows he can handle himself."

fl: With a few groans and sighs, the old building settled down for the night.  ll: She glanced back, blew a kiss to the bride, then walked down the steps toward the promise.

#35

A recommendation by my college girl, Beaner.  #35 is Remarkable Creatures: A Novel by Tracy Chevalier. (library magic on my Kindle)  It's set in Lyme Regis in the early 1800's about Elizabeth Philpot and Mary Anning who were fossil hunters at a time when the finding of fossils and thinking about extinct animals was considered blasphemous by many.  It was an interesting tale of society, class, women and geology.  And then I finished the story and come to the postscript.  The characters were real people, fictionalized in this story, but Mary Anning was a real live person who discovered many of the prehistoric fossils we know today.  Amazing.
fl: Lightning has struck me all my life.  ll:We are silent together, each in her own world, knowing the other is just at her back.

Happy Winter Solstice :)

20 days into December

I don't post much when I'm stressed & anxious & generally unhappy, so I haven't posted much this month.  Lots of not fun stuff going on in the world of education.  Not so much in the classroom {thank Goodness I have a great class this year.  They will keep me sane}…but all the other "stuff" has got me even questioning myself as a teacher.  It's really been a rock-my-world year, so far.  Last weekend, after much discussion with Mike, I decided that I would indeed survive this professional crisis and I would become better for it.  It really boiled down to the fact that I just couldn't complain any more.  And the very next day I received my cross country coaching evaluation ~ which put a little salve on my wounded self- esteem.  It was glowing.  And I was so very thankful to read that I have actually had a positive effect on kids.

And now it is Christmas vacation.  A delightful word, vacation.
I sit here with only the light of this Kindle and the white lights of our Christmas tree, listening to the rain...hoping it actually does turn into the 6 to 10 inches the forecasters have been promising for two days.  {I didn't go to weather college, but I think I can safely say,  it's not going to happen if temperature remains at 46 degrees.}
But I am hopeful, for that is the person I choose to be.

9 days into December

Nine Days into December and much is going on:

1. My Christmas Tree is up and beautiful. And I am enjoying playing with my photo editing apps on my iPhone.  My boys don't particularly like putting up the Christmas tree {led by Head Grinch's anti-Christmas attitude}  But they are good enough men to suck it up for Mom and do their duty ~ with smiles and everything.

2.  We celebrated Mount Union Christmas on December 2.  It's been a tradition for many many years that we all get together to celebrate ~ Used to be Anita, Kirsten, Becky {me}, Sue, and Stephanie {when she was not in Alaska}.  It's down to the first three since Nut IS in Alaska & we're not on speaking terms with Sue any more...{sad story about the death of friendship...No one is to blame, it just happened and happened quite ugly, in this case}  But we still get together, eat, toast the season & share our creative presents.  I'm so thankful for 'old' friends.  People who really know what a dork I am, and love me anyway.  Bean told me she'd untag herself if I tagged her on facebook ~ but here it is, on my blog {that no one really reads, so she's safe}

3.  Indoor soccer has started.  We are at Spire this year...playing against men.  Not real sure why high school boys are playing against men, but there we are.  Lost the first game & are struggling to get players...I just hope I don't end up paying over $200 this year {was stiffed by a parent last year ~ Who does that?  I could tell you, but I don't think that would be right...my mom did say that two wrongs don't make a right & for once, I'm going to listen}

4.  School ~ First:  Patrick was accepted into The University of Cincinnati!  I'm much more excited than he is, but now it's time to look for scholorships & all that jazz.  Second: My work has been lots of crazy stupid not-so-fun stuff.  We had our big meeting with the Department of Exceptional Children {side note:  I especially like the term exceptional children} from the Ohio Department of Education for our Special Education audit.  It was one of the most nerve wracking anxious moments of my career, but I think it went ok.  {We have a summary meeting coming up ~ so until then, I'll assume I was amazing}  It was such a relief when it was over, I called up Janice & we went shopping!  Then we went to The Melt ~ the new one in Mentor.  I ordered the same sandwich I ordered the first time I went to Melt ~ the Northcoast Shores ~ a crab cake grilled cheese.  So delish I don't think I can ever order anything else.  Much like the seafood nachos at Compadres...the one time I ordered something else, I really wished I was eating seafood nachos the whole time. 

5.  Patrick & Jacob had their first Academic Challenge meet.  It was ALL DAY long at Case Western Reserve University.  {Patrick came home and told us it was at Case West.  Even after I corrected him ~ 5 times ~ he called it Case West.}  We went to see the last session...and it was very interesting.  Very laid back.  Lots of laughing & commenting.  I can see why they like to do it.  It's like trivia night...but without the food and beer.

6.  My brother Bill was here this weekend to discuss business & what the heck Mike and I are going to do with the mess that is our business, but we managed to work in some fun too.  I bought a Groupon to go tour A Christmas Story House...so we picked up the boys from Case West and drove to Tremont.  I really thought this would be the cheesiest thing...and we drove up to witness a LINE...stretched down the street!  I guess everyone wanted to have a cheesy Christmas memory too.  I knew that my boys would NEVER wait in line to do something I was forcing them to do in the first place...So I suggested Bill and I jump out and take a picture or two before we left.  My brother Bill can recite the moving word for word.  It's always been his favorite, so I was a little disappointed I couldn't share this with him, but I think we had fun just seeing it.

7.  Mike is really into watching Duck Dynasty on TV.  And I have to admit, out of all his stupid shows, this one is HYSTERICAL.  You should watch it, Jack.

8.  The CLEVELAND BROWNS have won THREE games in a row.  And they've looked good doing it.  The University of Mount Union Purple Raiders are going to the Stagg Bowl for the 16th time.  That's impressive.

9.  Let's end this with a great movie quote from John Wayne as Hondo:  "Everybody gets dead.  It was his turn."  Not the best Christmas quote.  But I heard it this weekend & it's stuck with me.

#34

I like the easy read-happily ever after that is Nora Roberts.  #34 is book two of the Inn Boonsboro trilogy The Last Boyfriend.  I love the trilogy romance.  The second of the brothers falls in love the the second best friend.  Ah, Avery & Owen :)  Can't wait to read the third one when the last of the brothers will fall in love with the last of the best friends and the three couples live happily ever after all together.  Life is NOT a romance novel.  Which is WHY I love to read them.  Escape.  As I have said many times before, life has enough trials and tragedies, I don't need them in my ENTERTAINMENT.  And I do believe in happily ever after.  I have that with my man.
I must comment on how my view of print has so changed.  I had to actually read this one in BOOK FORM. I was looking forward to having pages in my hand...and I MISSED my kindle!  There were a few times I found myself touching a word...only to remember that the definition was NOT going to be displayed for me.  The pages would stick together inturuptng my reading flow.  I'm such a DIVA.
fl: A fat winter moon poured light over the old stone and brick of the inn on The Square.  ll: Symbols, all of them--of unlocked places, and lasting love.

#33

I've found a series that I really really like (not quite love, but pretty close & probably will be there after another book).  Book #33 is Birds of a Feather by Jacqueline Winspear.  Maisie Dobbs is a really unique and likable character.  She's smart, a trailblazer of a woman, and has very human frailties.  I did figure out who-done-it, but not until the very very end!
This one ended with a little cliffhanger...she's on her way out for a supper date...but who with?  Seriously!?  I almost bought the next book right away! {but I've got an actual BOOK from the library I have to get reading!}

Quotes:
p100 ~ {In reference to the fact that Maisie stands in an unique spot in society...she used to be a hired housegirl, but now she is in residence of the same house, where does she 'belong'? is a theme throughout the entire book} ...terrain to be negotiated with great care.

p105 ~ cool word which reminds me of a funny story. ~ Watching a news clip about something...I don't recall the story...the newscaster was interviewing a Mount Union student who said, "He was the epitome of..." except he pronounced it ep-i-tome.  Took me a minute to realize what he'd been trying to say...Think it was written for him what his line should be?

p106 ~ to solve a problem, take it for a walk.

p212 ~ another cool word ~ which means: one's sphere of operations or particular area of interest...kinda like a wheelhouse

p264 ~ Stories, Maisies, are never just stores.  They contain fundamental truths about the human condition.

p305 ~ Wisdom comes when we acknowledge what we can never know.

fl: Maisie Dobbs shuffled the papers on her desk into a neat pile and placed them in a plain manila folder.  ll: And talking of powers of deduction, I've just taken on an interesting new case.