Another new addition to our family

We now have a pupating cata-pilla in a closet. In a few days we'll bury it so it can turn into a moth next year. Animal rescue......birds, bugs....whats next a Columbian Ground Squirrel?

Totally Tuesday!

So it's totally Tuesday. Tuesday is always in a weird place....and always ends up to be a weird kind of day. I don't know why exactly but thats just how it goes.

I ran this morning at around 5 am. I guess I was still somewhere in the middle of my summer because I thought it was still light out at four o' clock. Today at five it was pitch black.....basically night. I think I was so out of it that I didn't even notice until I got onto the road. I was armed with a cell phone (oh god....I have become one of them) which I used as a flash light and as dog/5 am weirdo deterrent. I think if I had been more awake I would have at least put on my stoopid reflector belt. Dorky sure.......but they save lives....(right?).

It was a nice run in the peace and quiet of the morning. It felt good to watch the sunrise.....it felt even better to get back into my bed after my run for a snuggle. :)

Week Four!

Today was really a great day! Grrrrrrrrrrr 8! Of course there was no running but there was no lack of running around. Sunny girl and I had quite the day and I feel pooped.

This week is number four of the marathon training and by the end of this week I will have completed 25% of the program. This weeks longest run is 8 miles......and that means......next Sunday I will be running my first ten miler since July. I can't believe I'll be there already. I'm feeling psyched and really looking forward to the challenges of the next few weeks.

I got a big fat A in Biology.....just wanted to share. I ended up studying on the road and in Montana and in the Harbor and in the back of a moving van and on a boat.....just about anywhere besides my own house. Thanks for everyones hospitality :) I couldn't have done it without you!

I am looking forward to seeing Poochoo soon. Yippee! It should be a good weekend. Let's bust out the Manashevitz. Only one bottle for me.....I'm in training.

Back on Track

Howdy Hi! It's good to be back in the land of the technologically advanced. Although the peace and serenity was quite refreshing.

Training this week went well....except for my struggle in 97 degree weather this afternoon. I made it through my piddly seven miles and probably lost 10 lbs of water weight. I must have gotten a case of the dumbs running in this fricken heat. The rest of the week I ran up at Twin Lakes and it was so cool and breezy I almost forgot that I was even running. Today I wasn't the smartest grape in the bunch and ended up a raisen.....but thankfully my pit crew of two was there to rehydrate me and peel my butt off the asphalt. :) Glad to be back home!

I Love Jake!

Here are some pics from our Osoyoos trip....after we rescued a family of Canadians and towed them to the Canadian side of the Lake! Who rocks.....? Jake rocks! Sweet Baby Rays.....thems some fine lookin fish!

Sunday is my long run and then we're off to Twin Lakes! Week two almost down! See ya on the flip side! Love to all!

Countdowns

I have the Biology final tomorrow. UGH ugh UGH! I'm sure A&P will be a blast next quarter.....sarcasm....drip drip drip. Only 3 Quarters and a transition course and then I am officially on my way to being a "grownup" nurse. Seems so far away.

Work has actually been pretty good lately. We have a new administrator and some other new staff on board and that has made a difference. Eight hours doesn't seem to feel like 16 when your enjoying what you do. The residents deserve a happy healthy staff that want to be there. It's nice to come home after a day of work with a smile and not feel physically and emotionally drained. And it is even nicer that they aren't calling me 30 times on my days off. Only once every now and again....:)

Ran four last night and I felt like it was over before I started. There were some hills in there but I didn't feel tired or like I worked any harder. It's getting a little easier as I slowly get into a groove. Only 100 days until Seattle. Tomm I will officially be a 2 digit midget.

Only 3 days until Twinlakes and until we get to see Sunny girl. Only 7 or so hours until Jake gets to come home cause he gave blood today. And 24 hours until I can say ADIOS Biology....at least until next quarter... :)

The Ides of August

Oh the ides of August! What a day this shall be!!!!

Week One....survived

I made it through the first week. The first block is set in the foundation....only 15 more to tackle. Moo-CHO more miles to run. And run and run. I made a little color in calender so that I can color in the weeks after each one is complete. It gives me something to visualize. It's something to help keep me motivated. It's the army thats still engrained in me....it's all about counting down the days until the mission is complete.

Last night I ran the longest distance since the Seafair half and I felt pretty darn good. I ended up hitting the road around 8:30 pm and ran my 5 miles....finishing in the dark. Jake was my"leg"man. He rode his bike while I ran and was very sweet and encouraging. He was there with water and just made sure I didn't get run over.

I was thinking about "firsts" last night while I ran. Last week was the first week of training for my first marathon and it's exciting. It got me thinking about all the other firsts in my life. Firsts are always wonderfully scary. There is this feeling of anticipation mixed in with a bit of anxiety right before you do something for the first time. It makes you restless and you feel the way you did as a little kid waiting for Christmas morning to show up. They are moments that can't be repeated, they can only be remembered and treasured.

There are the first days of school, and first loves.... and maybe those you percieved to be first loves. There are the first jobs, first time at college and away from home, and the first time you flew in an airplane or traveled to a foreign country. There is the first time you see a baby born or pick out your first puppy. Maybe it's the first time you spoke in public or the first time you got behind the wheel of a car to take your drivers test. There is the first day, week, month of basic training or the day you threw caution to the wind and jumped out of a plane with a parachute on your back. There are so many firsts to remember.... and of course there are a few bads too but it's easier to forget those.

So I'll look back on week one with fond memory......and then I'll turn straight ahead and run on into week two and never look back! And I'm lucky enough to have two cuties with me every step of the way!

Hell on Shoes

Great day today...busy day. Good quick 4 miler and that was that this evening. No getting chased by dogs and no bugs in the eye. Not even the need for a pit stop. Boring really. I have got to start gearing up for Chelan in September. It's only a 10k but I want to see improvement. Need new shoes soon probably. The Gel Kayano's aren't all their cracked up to be. The Gel Nimbus'es (of which I have three pair) are fabulous. Will be sticking with them for the rest of my training. My toes look like chopped liver from those damn Kayanos. I finally lost my first toe nail. Dee-scustin! Well goodnight and love to all!

First day of the rest of my life.......

And so it goes. Oh the drama. If I said I wasn't scared shitless I would be a liar. If I said I wasn't scared shitless that I might fall on my face and fail I would be a liar. If I said I didn't have any doubts.....yes....I would be a liar. And if I said I didn't feel like a little piss ant at the bottom of the food chain I would be fooling myself. I'm not lacking self confidence. I'm just letting myself be realistic for once. There are 109 days until November 26th and this is the first week of my 16 weeks of training. I feel a little overwhelmed but it's in a good way. There is no turning back at this point. I would be a coward if I even considered it.

I have been reading other runners blogs. They are an interesting lot, these blogging runners. I admire their spunk and tenacity and dedication. They inspire me. When I grow up I wanna be like those guys....with 15 marathons and four ultras under my belt. It seems impossible at times. But isn't that the reason to get out there and do it? Is there any other reason really? Not for me.

Today was a great run. I'm sure in the upcoming 16 weeks there will be the share of shitty ones. Especially as the distances continue to go up and up. But I am going to AA my way through this whole thing......one day at a time. (and no I am not an alcoholic.....though I do love my Dogfish head 90 min IPA). Today was the beginning. The first run of all the runs in the training ahead. It is for reals....It is the first day of the rest of my life. The time for talk is over. The time to get my shit in gear is now.

Give a freakin hoot!

The fish you see to the right is a beautiful rainbow trout that I caught this weekend at Crawfish Lake. The brown glob you see below it is......a cigarette butt that was found in his stomach. He ate a cigarette. A cigarette.

Crawfish Lake is a very small little lake located in a beautiful area. There aren't throngs of people there. The area hasn't been affected by urban sprawl...yet. So you can see why I was confused when I saw trash spread out all over the beach and just left at campsites. Especially when there had been multiple bear sitings. Signs were everywhere asking people to "PLEASE pack out garbage" and not leave it behind.

Maybe the population of guests who visit the lake are illiterate and can't read. Maybe it can be blamed on the "coasties"...(the nickname native Easterners use for people from the wetside). Maybe people from Seattle, Tacoma, and Olympia drive hundreds of miles to come over and trash Crawfish Lake. Or maybe we should blame it on the Canadians. Let's get friggen real!

I hate people who litter and treat the environment like it's our personal dumpsite. How hard is it to pack out trash? Cigarette butts are not biodegradable (most cigarette filters are composed of cellulose acetate, a form of plastic.) so who knows how long that thing sat in that fish's stomach?

I hate to rant and sound like a garlic reaking hippie. (No offense to any nice hippies out there....but I have met a few who like to shovel their crap down other peoples throats while being the biggest of hypocrites) I just am tired of the garbage.



We also got a peek at the forest fire....as the smoke billowed up in the air and formed a pretty little mushroom cloud....nature's way of cleaning out her closet and recycling the goods.

Running is for Mental Pushups.....

Todays run was absolutely fabulous. The breathing was good, no muscle pains, minute dehydration (with one stop in the bushes) and the heat (a sweltering 76 degrees) was bearable. I felt stronger and more at peace. I was the poster child of Chi-running.

It was a short 3 miler but I was in the "zone". The place where runners go....
you know.....fields of daisys....the place where you get lost in deep thought. The place where you think up all sorts of crazy sh&*^t. At least I do.

RANDOM THOUGHT #1
I think I'm going to shave my head after this marathon is over. It's been on my life list of things to do since I was like 16. I mean I always thought chicks who shaved their heads had some kahoonas. It takes some guts to walk around cu-bald....I have to do it at least once. Don't I?

RANDOM THOUGHT #2
I thought religion was supposed to teach people to be kind and to love thy neighbor. How is it that religion is what kills and keeps people segregated and poor. How is it that you can do bad shit and hurt people and live in oblivion and still go to church/temple whatever the place is that houses your god on Sunday and have your slate wiped clean....then get on the road on Monday morning with a serious case of road rage. Why can't people practice what it is that they preach? If your going to feign religion at least do one nice thing a week....like let someone out of the parking lot....or hey even say Thank You to someone. Do you get a free "I don't gotta have no manners card because I'm a child of Jesus"? I'm baffled.

RANDOM THOUGHT #3
Why in the hell did that guy use synthetic testosterone? Why? Didn't he know that he'd get caught? Those damn French...and what about those freedom fries?

RANDOM TOUGHT #4
Would Jen and Scotts kid really look like that?

There were of course a few more thoughts on the Krebs cycle and who invented the pancake..ect.

Running is for mental pushups...or just weird stuff. I think that the longer the distance the more the tangents. I need some new music...RuPaul is starting to wear thin. :) Just kidden....yes I do really got him on there.

Top of the class Ma....

Another Bio test down....and anotha......A. I would like to thank one very cute Jacob T. for his help with my "cram it" session. Thats what you get for taking class during the summer....your either studying on the road, on a boat, out somewhere in the woods, or as you run back and forth in between loads of moving boxes. :) I've tried to study at work a few times....and that was not a very successful endeavor.

It has been S-M-O-K-E-Y here. There are some forest fires raging around us....and we are sitting in a valley of what looks to be a huge smog cloud. I feel as if I'm back in San Bernardino sucking in some rabid pollution particles. I have been trying to run at times when the smoke isn't so dense. I guess the positives (if you want to look at em) are the fact that the lovely cloud of smoke keeps the sun rays out so it's only a cool 82 degrees. Personally I would rather take the 90 degree heat, the blue skies and the fresh air...but thats just me.

Yesterdays run went great (minus the smoke) and I am midway through my "Pre"training. Next week is the official first week of training...gulp! I have been drinking plenty of water and trying to revamp my diet so I'm eating "ultra"healthy....hahaha! That's funny. (No but seriously I am...double gulp) The hydration thing is a kicker too. Every time I get out there for a run...I gotta make a pit stop. Usually it's behind some big patch of baby's breath. (inserted picture for my folks who don't have a clue as to what the heck I'm talking about)(and as you can see this is not much of a place for hiding)



I almost got caught last week coming out from behind a bush by a couple of other runners. I probably would have been a little more inconspicuous if I hadn't had fluorescent pink bikers shorts on. I don't know if they saw me peeing or not but I was horrified nonetheless. I mean this is a small town and I don't want to be known as the girl who pee's in the bushes. (even though I do and nobody wants to know that)(and I would never admit to it in public...at least the face to face kind) :0) Ciao fo now...I'm off to suck some organic materials (aka ASH) into my lungs as I go for my daily run/pee. I know my ma would be so proud.