Ten on Tuesday

So the weekend banter between BFF and I consisted of songs and artists we like. YouTube is such a great way to share that stuff. So I thought today I would do....

Ten Songs I'm (almost too) embarrassed to like!

1. Who Let the Dogs Out!
~I have this song in 3 separate play lists. It's catchy and I like it..

2. Holding out for a Hero
~I can still be found in front of my bathroom mirror singing this song at the top of my lungs( totally off key!!) with my microphone (hairbrush!!)

3.Everybody Dance Now
~It might be even more sad that I still know all the words. Yikes!

4. I Want to Rock and Roll All Night
~I like to get my metal band jam on too! I actually have about 50 Hair Band songs on the iPod!

5. The Numa Numa Song
~YouTube it.. ::Hangs head in shame:: it's even on my running playlist!!

6. Invincible
~"Fair is Fair". I still adore 'The Legend of Billy Jean'. I read an article once that said Pat Binitar was embarrassed to have this song on the movie soundtrack. Infant the DVD release has the song title but no mention of Pat. Hahaha. It's a good song!

7. Vogue
~ I couldn't live my life without Madonna in it. My parents hated her. I love her!! Strike a pose!

8. Peel me a Nanner
~ I had to have a country song! I had a friend who used to sing this all the time. Good stuff!!!

9. Bust a Move
~ I laugh hysterically when this song makes its way to the top of the shuffle. It's sooo funny!

10. Jump
~ Kriss Kross!!! I also will admit to wearing my clothes backwards in the 6th grade! The other hit by these fine individuals 'I Missed the Bus" is just classic!!!

My poor children... I'm sorry if momma embarrassed you with her music!! Hahahahaha!

Monday Weigh In

I can't believe I'm still loosing. It just blows me away. With the increase in running this week, I didn't do as well on my eating. I'll confess-- I had a snow cone! A banana one! And I will admit, it tasted soo good that had I been asked, I would have had another! Weird thing about cutting out so many foods is that when you even taste them, they taste sooooo good! I remember turning down FREE snow ones as a kid!!

But I lost 3 pounds this week. That's just unreal! I need to evaluate my body and see how I can mold and shape this mess! I started some light arm workouts three days ago. I wish I was rich. I would hire a personal trainer. And a cook. And while I'm dreaming.. A maid and a pool boy!

Happy Memorial Day!!

From one extreme..

To another. Or is it the other? I use both.

I'm disappointed in myself today. I woke up this morning so excited to go running outside. I stayed up late reading, and finishing, a book. I don't wake up with an alarm on the days I don't have to. I usually wake up within 30 minutes of that alarm time anyway. Today was no exception. But I was lazy. I played around on FB, read some entertainment news, and found myself lost in the ITunes store.

When I finally made it outside to run, it was just a little after nine! Man the air was thick and it was hot! And I mean HOT!! I decided to just run the neighborhood route. The first two miles rocked. I was moving and in my grove. Then, all of the sudden my inner running goddess sat down turned on the television and forgot about me.

I wanted to die the last two miles. I don't have a clue what happened. My hands went numb again. I felt the sun burning into my skin. My eyes started watering. I sucked it up as best as I could and after the forth mile, opened the door to my house and nearly collapsed.

My face was so red, Troy thought someone had drawn on my face. Glad he has my sense of humor because that made me laugh enough to snap out of my brink of death!

I'll have to analyze this later! This outside running was much better in the rain and freezing cold!

Don't call me a princess....

Call me a BOSS!!!!

I'm so over the moon focused on my race in a week.  I didn't give quitting this week a second thought.  I am determined to prove my lovely haters WRONG.  That in itself has turned into proving my own "hater" wrong too.  That nasty little voice inside of me needs to be silenced once and for all!!!

Saturdays are my long(er) runs.  I always do them outside too.  I look forward to them actually.  And today was like no other.  I was itching to hit the pavement.  I decided today that I was still going to run the six miles I had planned.  BUT I was going to push myself extremely hard the first 3.5 and then do the rest walking if I had to.  I don't want to give up my distant running for one race.  I also decided to not listen to my running playlist.  I did some searching and decided to listen to the "Remix" station on Slacker Radio.  My running playlist is filled with music to keep my head in the game of running.  Emotional lyrics, profound songwriters-- I usually get lost in my own thoughts and am able to pull off this crazy thing I am attempting to do.  Not today.  I need to MOVE and move fast!  To the best of my ability, I did just that.  I listened to some very up tempo songs that just made me want to, for lack of a better phrase, 'Hall Ass'.  The first 3.5 was run in 36 minutes.  Probably the fastest I have ever run that distance.  The last 3 miles was run at around a 12.5 mile pace.  I didn't pay attention after I turned my stop watch off.

A 10ish minute mile is pretty fast for me.  I'm comfortable at 12.5.  I don't like to push myself more than that because I'm always so focused on my distance.  There would have been no way I could have kept the ten minute pace for six miles.  MAYBE another mile at most but I was so out of breath after the first 3.5 and my fingers were numb (what does that mean?  I need to Google that.).  I took about a five minute break, hydrated, shook out said numb fingers (so weird) and kept going.  I also changed the station.  It was turning into hater radio and had I continued to listen, I might have shot someone, took my turn on a pole, and/or started saying words I am not sure have ever come out of my beautiful mouth.

I'm excited it's a three day weekend.  That means three days of outside training in a row.  I hate the treadmill.  It's so boring.  I can't read while on it.  I can watch TV but even then I find myself always looking at the countdown.  It's just so boring.  For whatever reason I can't even get lost in my own thoughts to make the time go by.

I also ate a piece of Peanut Butter toast before my run.  I actually just had a craving for something other than eggs.  It's so hot outside, I was also afraid I'd puke up the eggs.  I think that little sugar intake in the morning helped me.  Gasp, it wasn't even the fancy low fat no taste PB.  Just plan ol' Peter Pan.  The toast was whole grain wheat though :-)  Whatever, it made me feel good while I was running...

Now back to my regular scheduled acoustic emotional music.  Oddly enough, while I was running, my BFF sent me a link to a beautiful One Direction song...  acoustic of course..  Ha, good thing I didn't take my cell phone this morning...

Thank you BFF...  <3  Click here!!!!

Angry....

It takes a lot to make me fuming over the top mad. Usually when I'm semi mad, I'll just cry and get it all out and then back down or get over it because I fear too much anger or resentment. I've lived in that world for years and it's awful.

But today. No today I'm fuming!!!! And that brings no tears. I'm an overachiever by nature. And that includes doing things just to prove I can. So... To prove I can... And that I'm not "just talking out my booty" I signed up for this...
BRING IT ON!!!!!!

Monday Weigh In-- May 21st

Oh yeah.. Down 2.5 pounds. That puts me just a half a pound away from 30 pounds. That's pretty amazing!! I need to do a before and now post. It's pretty unreal at how much thinner I look (in clothes that fit correctly). I'm crazy proud of myself!

Just a couple of notes.. I've noticed that even if I slip up and eat a few more carbs than I am supposed to, if I drink at least 60oz of water, I still don't gain. It's almost as if it never happened. I don't normally weigh every day but u was curious as to how the weight came off. Oddly enough, it's almost always at the end of the week. Very strange. My biggest mess up days are Saturday or Sunday. It's hard to be disciplined while people around you are eating care free. But I've never gone too crazy with it. My tummy really just can't take it. Dairy has started to make me almost sick. I crave Ice Cream and when I break down and say yes to it, I can only eat a few bites. I need to remember to just buy those mini sizes. Ha, who would have ever thought I would be saying that!!!!!

This work week brings me starting work at 6:20 am and being gone by 4:00. The good thing about that is my days zzzzooooommm bye. The bad news is.. 5:30 wake up call with a really fast morning shower. And today I had NO time for breakfast. I was ready to eat my hand by my 10:00 break!

Anyway... Good weight-loss week!!!

Running walls....

Not to be confused with running into walls... Which I have never done!

I'm so frustrated with my running. I can't seem to get into the groove of my training. I continue to do my workouts but I don't enjoy them. My knees are starting to ache. I probably should start icing them. But I'm just not even happy training. I start going towards the dark side thinking who I am doing this for? No one really cares. I'm doing something I don't really like for what???? I think some of this is because I am doing almost all of my training indoors now. I work a nine hour work day and come home to run on the treadmill. I miss my morning runs to start my days off.

I feel like I need to find a sport of my own. I know nothing beats running for exercise and weight loss purposes. And I want to keep running for that reason. My morning runs we're so therapeutic. Now my evening runs take me down a dark path of depressive thoughts!

I've got some thinking to do this week....

Monday Weigh In-- May 14

I didn't want to post this yesterday. I was frustrated with this and school and my sniffles. I just decided to not acknowledge this. But today I am okay. I still have a leaking nose and sneezes but...

Somehow I gained a half a pound. Too much traveling and not enough water? A slow down in my workouts? All the snot in my nose? I'm just not sure. But it's a half a pound that's already gone today. I don't usually weigh myself every day but I was bothered by this and I needed to see. I'm still completely on track with my dieting. Besides my rare Mexican food cheats I am on target and complete in my life style change. The water part has been a little hard at times but I drink more than I ever have. Who knows!

But moving onward and upward is all I can do. Next Monday will be better!!!!

*aaaaccchhhooooo*

Monday Momma talk...

I'm having an extreme amount of mommy guilt. Troys teacher quit today. That will make five teachers for him in a year. I'm all over the page with my feelings. So I am sitting down to think about what I want to teach him-- I mean really teach him. I’m not talking about the trendy must-dos that crop up each year about feeding and sleeping and discipline, insecurity concocted just in time to fill a fresh generation of parents with self-doubt. No, I’m talking about the things that I want to impart in average, totally inextreme moments.

Here’s my wish list.

I hope I raise a child who says “thank you” to the bus driver when he gets off the bus, “please” to the waiter taking his order at the restaurant, and holds the elevator doors when someone’s rushing to get in.

I hope I raise a child who loses graciously and wins without bragging. I hope he learns that disappointments are fleeting and so are triumphs, and if he comes home at night to people who love him, neither one matter. Nobody is keeping score, except sometimes on Facebook.

I hope I raise a child who is kind to old people.

I hope I raise a child who realizes that life is unfair: Some people are born rich or gorgeous. Some people really are handed things that they don’t deserve. Some people luck into jobs or wealth that they don’t earn. Tough.

I hope I raise a child who gets what he wants just often enough to keep him optimistic but not enough to make him spoiled.

I hope I raise a child who knows that he’s loved and special but that he’s not the center of the universe and never, ever will be.

I hope I raise a child who will stick up for a kid who’s being bullied on the playground. I also hope I raise a child who, if he’s the one being bullied, fights back. Hard. Oh, and if he’s the bully? I hope he realizes that his mother, who still wears brown plastic glasses will cause him more pain than a bully ever could.

I hope I raise a child who relishes life’s tiny pleasures—whether it’s a piece of music, or the color of a gorgeous flower, or Chinese takeout on a rainy Sunday night.

I hope I raise a child who is open-minded and curious about the world without being reckless.

I hope I raise a child who doesn’t need to affirm his self-worth through bigotry, snobbery, materialism, or violence.

I hope I raise a child who likes to read.

I hope I raise a child who is courageous when sick and grateful when healthy.

I hope I raise a child who begins and ends all relationships straightforwardly and honorably.

I hope I raise a child who can spot superficiality from a mile away and spends his time with people and things that feel authentic to him.

I hope I raise a child who makes quality friends and keeps them. I am the example of this. My friends have been in my life for over 15 years!

I hope I raise a child who realizes that his parents are flawed but loves them anyway.

And I hope that if my child turns out to be a colossal screw-up, I take it in stride. I hope I remember that he’s his own person, and there’s only so much I can do. He is not an appendage to be dangled from my breasts on the cover of a magazine, his success is not my ego’s accessory, and I am not Super Mom.

Marble Falls Texas

Two weekends in a row of traveling is coming to an end. The next two weekends are jammed packed with stuff around the DFW area. May is a busy month for us. And June doesn't miss a beat either! Five birthdays, fathers day, I have a VIP in-service, my brother is coming to visit, josh has his four or five day training with the Texas State Guard, and well celebrate a full year Coast Guard free :-)

So this weekend we met my family in Marble Falls Texas. It's a small town of 6000 people. They have a Walmart, an HEB, a Home Depot and a bunch of restaurants-- one of which is famous for Pie!! They had 30 types of pies!!

The main attraction in this town is the Colorado River. Not to be confused with THE Colorado river that runs through the more western side of the United States. Weird that they named it the same!

My parents are looking at a plot of land around this city for there retirement home. It's not a bad place!
















We spent Saturday in the much more famous town of Fredericksburg. That's a about an hour drive. This place is a mid-lifers dream city. Lots of shopping, walking, and living the slow life. I didn't mind it but Josh and Troy had minimal fun!

Here are the boots I found that I REALLY want...  I'll have to find a side job as they are priced at 550.00!!!  But they are super hot!!

Saturday afternoon we went driving up in the hills looking at land plots. Troy fell asleep. I think I heard the banjos from Deliverance. Josh laughed at us "city folk" taking pictures in hay fields and commenting about how big the bugs are. I said "I already don't like this place because there are no bars". I was looking at my cell phone at the time. But my family laughed as it sounded like I was upset that no bars, as in the place you frequent when you need to get your drink on, where not found. Ha, who cares about that I need cellular bars!!! But really, wouldn't THIS freak you out a little? What are those exactly?



All in all we had a good time and laughed. Had breakfast poolside with my dad this morning, lunch with my family in Austin and are now on the road home! On I35 North... With plenty of cell phone bars.. And 4G network!!! Ahhhh!!

It's the weekend!!!

May has been travel month!!

This weekend we are in what will probably be my new hometown. My parents plan on moving into this area in about ten years. It's pretty!!! The only negative so far is that the road trip down here is all back roads. There was a very long stretch of road that I had NO cell service (read no texting or face booking!!!). That's not idle for me!!

Pictures and stories to come!!!

Monday Weigh In-- Week 6!

I lost 3 pounds this week. That's 27 pounds off of my body!

I'm a mess of emotions today so I won't dwell on anything but I wanted to record that. I also finished week one of training and am now on week 2. I was supposed to do week 2 day 1 today but I skipped and went for a 5 mile walk instead. Again.. Mess of emotions and needed to clear the head!

A big deal..

Two years ago, I received an email from a friend from high school asking me to sign a petition for our hometown. I get stuff like this every now and again. Thankfully this time I read the email before I hit delete. The friend I received it from was petitioning the school board to name a future elementary school after one of our friends...

Cpl. Zachary Alan "ZAK" Kolda, USMC, was killed in Iraq, December 1, 2004 while serving with Weapons Company, 1st Battalion, 23rd Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division. He was 23 years old.
This happened just months after our dearest teacher Larry Shelburne passed away. It was a HUGE deal!

Anyway, I quickly called my parents and had them sign this petition on my behalf. After a process, the school board voted unanimously to name an elementary school after Zak-- The first one. The first all green school in my hometown. The most technologically advanced school in the county. Also the first elementary school to be named after a former student!
I couldn't be more happy! So proud that Zaks name will forever liven the hearts of so many. My dad and I drive by the site this morning. It's amazing!!! I can't wait to see it finished!!!

Hometown ramblings...

I have some fond memories of this place! All of my amazing friendships were started right here. It's impossible to go anywhere without remembering a silly story!

A big milestone in my life here was the start of my working life. My very first job was in retail sales for The Limited Inc. I worked for their men's fashion for two years, moved to woman's fashion for a year and ended at the fragrance. Boy do I have some stories!!! Anyway, for a long time the mall was part of my life. A couple of years ago, someone bought the mall and revamped the entire thing. What used to be my home away from home is pretty pimped out!!! I'm proud of Corpus for letting this happen!!

Road Trip

I actually love to road trip. I know flying is okay too. I think airports are fun and help with my stalker tendencies but they don't measure up to a good drive. Everyone complains about the
missed hours but really... Whats a few more hours going to get you? These days you have to be at airports early anyway.

I've been a road tripper my whole life. Mom and dad don't fly. My first airplane ride was when I was 21!! Anyway, my younger brother and I learned to like it! We had Walkmans, games, long arguments over space.. It was fun! I remember those days!

Today we are heading to Corpus Christi for a little hometown visit. I have family obligations but it's still always fun to go back to the place it all started. I decided this time, and every time from now on, we will stop at a place not too far off of 35 and spend 15 minutes. I want Troy to remember the places we stopped and do the same with his family someday.

So today we started...

Week One-- Day 2

So, something I didn't write about yet is that I have decided to start training for a half marathon!!!

I know it's crazy.  I know I have no idea what I'm getting myself into.  I know I don't know near enough about the ins and out of doing something like this to even think of doing it.  I know not many people will support me.  I know I'm going to be my own cheerleader.  I know I'll have to find some money to fork out on new things like fitted running shows and compression socks.  I know I know I know.  I also know those are all EXCUSES!!!  I've already dealt with my fare share of making excuses for myself, my life choices, and my lack of all kinds of things.  That is not a happy place to be for me.  So, no more!!

I have to kind of re-train myself how to run correctly.  I decided to do a couch to 10k program which is ten weeks and then top that with a half marathon program with a pace of six miles.  I think that will do for my body what I need to be done.  The half marathon program is six weeks (which I think MAY be fast to double my run length, but I can stretch it out to only adding a half mile ever week vs. a full mile on long runs!)  I haven't picked a race that I want to do yet.  I might not be so open about telling the race I do decide.  My goal is mid October.  I have a back up for first of November and one mid December.  No reason for me to not do this by the end of the year.  NONE!!!  ZERO!!!

I started on Monday and did day 2 today.  It's easy stuff.  30 minutes of run/walk isn't difficult for me (anymore).  BUT, I know I need to start slow to avoid injury and a whole slew of other problems.  I also have a weird running form so I've been working on that too.  I tend to hunch over.  Why, I have no idea.  But I'll never make it 13 miles like that.

Anyway, lots of work to be done.. mentally and physically.  But be prepared for me to go on and on about it.  I just love to over-share :-)

Ten on Tuesday...

1. I feel bad about last week. I didn't run at all. I only lost weight because I ate so little and puked the rest up. Not near as gratifying as working your booty off to loose the pounds.
2. Yeah for going out of town this weekend. I'm excited to hit up my favorite spots in my home town.
3. A big deal for me will be doing my weekend runs down a special road back home. Should be inspiring!!! I'll probably blog about that later.
4. I'm mad at myself for not doing more races. I'm such a wimp. Where is my competitive spirit?  I can run a 5k on my tiredest of days!
5. Sonic ice is my new best friend. I chomp on it at night when I want to eat ice cream. Because I'm not really hungry. And water is idle! 30 cents is also pretty cheap!!!
6. I'm dealing with some serious things in life right now. All over the page things. Crazy enough, minus a few feelings of spiraling I'm jumping over some tall hurdles without tripping. Go me!!
7. I was dead serious about changing myself. I refuse to not follow through with the promises I made to myself and my family!
8. Hey, today I've been married for eight years!!! Been with my man for ten!!! That's a long time for me!  The longest dating relationship before him was a year.  Before that, I think it might have been two weeks.  I didn't hang on to people for very long!
9. Funny, the husband was the last link in my close circle of trust! I've known him the least amount of time!!
10. I think next Tuesday I'll do 10 pictures instead. Words are boring!