Great pic of the day!

As we were getting our run in today, my bud and I came across this guy and his bike.  We stopped to see what was happening because he was pulled over and seemed to be having trouble.  His name is Curtis and he is biking all over the country.  He's been traveling for a couple of years now.  He made his way down to Mississippi and someone suggested that he ride down to Natchez on the trace.  He was making some minor adjustments on his bike, so that he could continue on his journey.

He said that he has been surprised at the friendliness of folks in this area.  Apparently, he wasn't sure what to expect here in the south, but it seemed that he had not expected us to be kind or intelligent.  Hmm...I wonder why. 

We enjoyed visiting with him for a few minutes and then said our goodbyes - after a picture, of course. 

On the news!

 I was invited to be on the afternoon news show today for our local NBC affiliate, WLBT, who is also one of our program sponsors for Marathon Makeover.  4 of the news crew are training with us this year, so I sat down with them for a few minutes and talked about the program.

This is the waiting room.

 This picture on the right, is a picture of the control room.  This is my favorite room because you get to see all of the behind the scenes stuff.  I sat in here getting nervous until they were ready for me.  When it was time, the producer came in, sat me in chair at the desk, gave me a mic and off we went! 

I'm always scared that I will just go blank.  I didn't know what exactly they were going to ask, but I did just fine and had a lot of fun.

 When I finished, I picked up Caroline and took her to get some new shoes.  Since we were in the same area as the restaurant she's been wanting to visit, we stopped by for some supper.

It's not the food that she's been wanting, it's the Coke Freestyle Machine!  Here she is picking her flavor.

 And now here she is, enjoying her drink.  I think.  I can't remember if this is the 1st, 2nd or 3rd time she filled her cup.  She would go and get a little and then go back and try something else.  She went so many times that when she wanted to go back again (because her last combo didn't turn out very well), I went for her.

Here I am, making her a combo I was sure she would like. 

I returned to the table, she tried it and liked it.  Her response, "Leave it to Mom, she knows."  Yes, baby girl, she does.  ;-)

Yummy.

My picture of the day is one of my favorite things -  a navel orange.

Enough said.

It's picture of the day, not blog of the day.

;-)

Pics from a 20 miler

This is going to be short.  I am tired.  My day summed up in a few pictures: 

This

+

20 miles

=

Yum!

Lucky for us, there was a handrail at mile 19.33!  Pam used it.  I ran ahead to snap her pic.  ;-)  Whew!

The culprit.

I found it today on my Wednesday run - the culprit - the thing that tripped me up on my run last week.  Here it is:

All it was, was a little bump in the road.  This bump in the asphalt has been there a long time.  I have run past it countless times and never noticed.  Last week, I noticed it.  My toe caught it at just the right, or wrong, spot and I fell.  I fell hard and I fell slowly.  I saw every bit of it coming.  It was not fun and was quite scary.  I have healed well and quickly, which has been a great relief, as I have a marathon coming up next month and want to be as ready as I can be to do my best.

The toughest part has been getting back out there.  Luckily, I was no where near my car when I fell.  I was 3.5 miles out, on a 10 mile run.  I was just scraped up and a bit shaken, so my running bud and I decided to keep going.  I am so glad that I did.  I think it helped me to keep moving.  The next couple of days after the run were busy, so I didn't really have a chance to slow down - again, I think that turned out to be a good thing.

Then, yesterday morning, it was time to get back out there.  I didn't really want to, but I did.  Then this morning, it was time for my weekly run with my other running buddy.  We took off on our usual route and came upon that spot.  I thought it would be a great picture of the day.

It's been a great reminder of a life lesson - we will all stumble and fall, that's inevitable.  Sometimes we don't have any control over those falls.  We do have control over how we react to the fall, the bump in the road, and what happens afterward. 

If I focus on the fact that I fell, on the fact that it can happen again and I can't control it, I can easily panic.  I could easily decide not to run because I could get hurt.  I could let fear overtake me and decide that I am safer indoors.  I could give into the fear. 

Or.....I can chalk it up to a little bump in the road that did not stop me from reaching my goal.  I can keep getting out there and working towards what I want.  I can accept that there will be bumps and I can and will overcome them - some I'll step over, walk past, or not even notice and some will trip me up.  I will decide now to roll over, get up, dust myself off and keep going.  It's the only way I'll ever get to where I'm going!

It's a pillow - It's a pet - It's a pillowpet!

 No, it's actually just my parents' dog, Amber.

I walked into their kitchen today and saw her on the floor and the sight of her just struck me as funny.  Amber is a Boykin Spaniel, in case you are wondering.  She is an old dog.  She is a happy dog.  She is a well loved dog.

In case you didn't notice, Amber is a fat dog.  She loves her afternoon snacks and she does not miss them.  If it's late, she goes to her bowl and she barks.  She does not stop until the snack appears.  Again, Amber is a happy dog.  Here's the proof:

 

What?  You don't think she looks happy?  Trust me, this is a happy dog.  

Ouch!!!

 I've been running for several years now and it finally happened.  I guess you could say that it was just a matter of time.  Today I fell.  I mean it - I fell.  I was serious.  There was no stopping me - believe me, I tried!

As with most things nowadays, I thought, "Well, I guess I've got a good picture of the day!".  Here's one of my legs.  The other one doesn't look as bad, so I'll show you this one.

 And here is my chin.  Yep, my chin.  I guess I decided to break my fall with my face!  I wouldn't want to mess up anything that would get in the way of my running!  I do have a feeling that my neck is going to be pretty sore tomorrow.  It is trying to stiffen as I write this.

Everything is ok, though.  I'm a lot tougher than I look.  ;-)  Just a little "bump" in the road, so to speak...

There's no covering it up or slowing down today, so off I go! 

I do NOT have time to make cookies...

or do I?  Yes, I do, because the fact of the matter is, we all make time for what we really want to do.  So, here is my picture of the day:

They are warm and gooey and homemade.  Yum.

One of my favorite things to do is cook for my girls.  They are always so appreciative and they love to cook themselves.  They think I am a great cook.  (I'm not, but don't tell them.)  Most of what I cook is very simple, but they act like it's some great feat.  I love that. 

I'm going to go eat a cookie.

Have you ever had that feeling?

 That feeling that you are being watched?  or followed?  I had that feeling today, as my running bud and I were running down the trail.  As we looked over, we saw a group of buzzards on the opposite side of the road.  We watched them as we ran by and they watched us.  On our way back, they had taken to the trees - that's what the black things are in the trees.  I just had to stop and take a picture for my blog.  I wasn't sure I'd come across anything else, quite so noteworthy.

I think you can see them better in this picture.  There they are, just waiting.  Have you ever had the feeling that someone was just waiting for you to drop, to mess up, to feed off of your unfortunate circumstances?   Yikes!  Well, not today, fellas...we were not faltering today.  We finished strong!

Happy Valentine's Day!

 I did something today that I can't remember doing in a very long time.  I cooked homemade (fried) chicken tenders for supper.  Here's the proof.  I almost never fry anything, but tonight I wanted to fix something different and special that all of us would like.

It turned out pretty good, but it will be quite a while before we have it again!

 Then I whipped up some mac and cheese (kraft, not homemade).  This is one of Caroline's favorites!

 And then, of course, we had to have something green, so I had some green peas.  And I made her eat most of them before we enjoyed what Mark had brought home for us....

And here it is - my valentine treat!

This is a cupcake made with red hots!  Pretty crazy, huh?  He actually brought home 4 cupcakes and I got to choose first.  I chose this one because it was different.  I made a good choice.  By the way, I split it with Mark, so we indulged, but not too much.  :-) 

Yep, I'll be running several miles tomorrow!

Joyful Noise!

Today, Caroline and I decided to go see a movie.  We chose to go see "Joyful Noise" and I sure am glad that we did!  It was great!  We laughed, we cried, we sang - what more could you want?

This is a picture of us in the car.  I didn't get another chance to take a better one, because after I snapped this one, Caroline noticed that our neighbors were outside and she suddenly became quite embarrassed that we were sitting there taking our picture.  She was out of there so fast!  Funny.

One of the lines from the movie, went something like this,  "God gives us girls so that our mothers can say, 'I told you so.'"  So true.  :-)

You just never know...

 Some days you just never know where the day will take you. 

It started out like a normal Saturday.  We had our Marathon Makeover group meeting and all was going well until I turn around and find this.  What on earth? 

It does look peculiar, but it's just Mark getting checked out (in a good way) by our friend, Sara - a physical therapist.  He's had a sore back lately, so she was just helping him out.  Being the supportive spouse that I am, I thought it looked funny....picture of the day opportunity!  That was the beginning of our day. 

 The end of our day was spent at a sweet service honoring a man who has served as minister of music at our church for the past 36 (almost 37) years.  Wow!

He and his wife are wonderful people and have been dedicated to this church family for a long time.  They have poured their lives, hearts and talent into the people of this place.  They are well loved and admired for many different reasons, but most of all for their kindness and love.

And this is a picture of Mark and Caroline, sitting beside me.  Mark is used to the random pictures now.  Caroline is not and can't believe I am sitting in church, taking a picture with my phone. 

Taking it easy.

I've been home most of the day today, which is rare.  This makes my dog, Daisy Mae, very happy.  She loves to be right up next to or right on top of anyone who will sit long enough and allow her to share space.

Here are a couple of pics of her in her favorite spot - right on top of your legs.  She wants to be close to you, but not close enough that she's being petted a lot.  She just likes to sit there and relax.

Sometimes I'll reach down and pet her for a while, but this only ends up aggravating her.  First, she'll glance back at me as if to say,  "Really?  You know

I don't like that.".  If I don't stop, she'll get up and move.  She wants to be near you, even on you, but she doesn't necessarily want to be petted.  That's too much.  There's a delicate balance. 

Many things in life require a delicate balance.  I wish all things were as easy to figure out as Daisy is.  This is all she really wants - a place to lay her head, to feel safe, but not too much.  She wants what she wants on her terms - not yours.

Just when you need it.

Have you ever noticed that sometimes, just when you need it, someone sends you a message that you need to hear?

My 12 year old daughter left this message for me at my office.  In case you can't see it, it says, "I love you this much!  +more".  It is accompanied by a stick figure with the arms spread wide.

She is always leaving me little notes around my office.  Usually, it is a sticky note on my desk.  Sometimes it is a note asking her to come pick her up early, if I'm not doing anything, but most of the time it is a note like this, telling me that she loves me.  The other day she left me one that said,  "Keep on keeping on!".   Where does she come up with this stuff?  It made me smile, like they all do.  What a gift.

If you ever wonder if a little note to someone will make any difference, wonder no more.  In this world of hastily written emails and texts, it is always welcome to receive a handwritten note - even if it's on a dry erase board or a sticky note! 

Stuck like glue.

When I started this project, I knew there would be days like this. 

I skipped yesterday because it was just "one of those days" when you go and go and go and when you finally get a chance to stop, you fall asleep...because it's bedtime or past and you just can't go another minute or you're so brain dead that you are incapable of putting together even one coherent thought.

I have had several of those days lately.  Everyone does, so I am sure you know exactly to what I am referring.

Today was another one of those days.  Lots to do and got it done.  That's the good news.  The bad news is, there's no picture.  I had a great thought earlier and I may come across it again this next week, so I won't talk about it now.  I'll try to get a picture and use it later.

So here's my picture.  Glue.  Because I'm stuck.  Luckily, this glue is washable.  ;-)

King Cake!

Look what arrived at my office yesterday!  It's a King Cake!  It was delivered by my friend, Trina - thanks, Trina!  It is being enjoyed by me, Caroline and Mark.  Yummy.

I love King Cake, especially when it has a cream cheese filling.  No, I don't eat like that all of the time, but this is Mardi Gras season and we are in the South, so King Cake I will eat and enjoy for this brief period.

I think one of the reasons I enjoy King Cake, is because I like to follow the church calendar.  Yep, that's it.  Seriously, though, this pre-lenten season of Mardi Gras follows epiphany, which marks the visit of the Magi to

the child Jesus.  The season will end on Fat Tuesday (Mardi Gras) and the season of lent will begin.

Lent usually brings a time of contemplation and gratitude for all that we have been given and for all that Christ endured on our behalf. 

When you follow the church calendar, it helps lead one through these times and provides an opportunity to reflect and dig deeper, which can bring great peace.  So the next time you see a King Cake, consider the season.

Rained out!

 I am posting my blog a day late because last night was too beat to work on it - BUT, I have great pics of the day for yesterday! 

Yesterday was long run day, but it turned out to be adventure running instead!  We were trying to beat the rain and we obviously lost...
Pictured here is where we sought refuge while we waited for our sweet friend to come pick us up.

We were having a pretty good run - not great, but we were getting it done.  At about mile 12, it did not start sprinkling.  Nope.  The bottom fell out and we were instantly drenched.  It was coming down so hard that all we could do was look down and press forward.  We were so glad to get to that bridge!

This is my running bud, posing for me as I realized that I would at least have great pics for the day!  That's a good friend, for you.

And here we are, soaking wet, trying to make the best of things.

I guess I should have continue taking a few more pics because after our ride got there, we headed to get lunch - a big, juicy burger and some onion rings!  Yum.

It was hard to have to cut our run short, but it sure did make for a great memory.

It's the only thing she'll wear!

It's the strangest thing - our little dog, Daisy, does not like sweaters or t-shirts, but she LOVES her raincoat!  Seriously.

You know how you see little dogs wear all kinds of outfits?  We've tried it.  Well, not all kinds of outfits - just the normal dog shirt or sweater when it's cold.  Daisy will not have it.  She hates it.  She would rather be cold. 

So one day, the girls came home with a raincoat for her.  I think I remember saying something like, "Why did you waste your money?  She'll never wear that.".  Wrong!  The next time it rained (another thing she hates), I figured I would give it a try.  I couldn't believe it - she liked it!  No, she loved it.  She went right out into the rain!  Now, when it rains, I just hold up her coat and ask her if she wants to wear her raincoat and she comes running.  Strange.

That's one of the best dollars ever spent.  Yep.  It was only a dollar.  Yay!

Better bad choices.

I have been fighting the craving for a burger for quite some time.  It seemed today that it would just not go away.

I thought I would give in at lunch, but I resisted and made it through.  Whew!

I just knew I would cave in for supper, especially since it would just be me and Caroline at home to eat.

And then I came up with the solution - make them myself!  So, we swung by the grocery store, came home and made homemade burgers and fries.  No, it's not the healthiest choice, but it is what we call a "better bad choice".  And, yes, it was SO GOOD!

Caroline may have to wait...

If it doesn't get cold again around here, Caroline may have to wait for this.  It's a scarf I am crocheting for her and she is so excited about it!

The problem is, I think winter may be over.  I don't see any scarf worthy temps in our future and it would be nice because I made one for me, as well.

If we have another cold day, we will both be planning our outfits around our scarves.  If not, I guess we will wait until fall.  Oh well.  :-)