Running Wild in Illinois on the Best Day of the Year so Far
I love days like today. They have everything in them.
Sunshine. Blue skies. Cloud scatter. Tight breeze. Ever-so-subtle, atmospheric-scent in the air; And finally, the storm itself.
Moving in fast from the South and darkening and covering the blue with ominous grey and green. We didn’t care because we were already in and done with our day.
I mostly sat around all morning, and after Regis and Kelly (still hooked I’m afraid) I flipped channels and Sweet Home Alabama was on. I don’t care what you say. I’ve seen it 20 times and I’ll see it 20 more. If they show it, I’ll watch it. Cut-up to hell, but I don’t care. It’s too romantic and it spoils real life and love for the rest of us, but we all like to dream.
“Aw hell, nobody finds their true love when they’re 10 anyway”
So then my neighbor came over and asked me to help her move some plant potters and once I got a whiff of that outside I figured I’d better get out and enjoy it before it feels like a wasted day. So I did.
But first, I took a few pictures of her Frankendog. The dog had some surgery (she’s fine–just surface removal) and she looked so funny I thought I’d capture it forever. And of course share with you. Pictures below.
Then I hit the trail. Kind of slow, but at least moving. Listening to The Warrior playlist.
Check it out if you dare. Have to keep motivated. Have to go out and shake it tomorrow too. I am about to do some major damage to my gut this weekend and I need to be pre-prepared.
Friday night’s a free-for-all. Undetermined.
Saturday A.M. The BF’s Mom for breakfast. Saturday P.M. My Mom for Dinner. I’m sure there will be drinking. That’s what gets you is those alcohol calories. To the brain AND the bum.
Sunday A.M. Kids are home and we are going to need lunch. Possibly breakfast. And definitely dinner.
I guess I could show some restraint and just suck it up and eat healthy, but you know, I’m actually drinking right now typing this post and I’d rather just work out extra hard after, than miss something good right now.
Mother’s Day starts tonight for me! Hold up, I have to go fix another drink. brb (ha! NOW I know what that means–only took 6 months to figure that one out)
Ok crisis diverted. Back to the plot. While running I came up with a few ideas. First off, this post. I do my best thinking and pre-writing while I’m running. You might disagree…sister?? Best is questionable if this is the result, but I find it amusing and I’m only slightly buzzed.
Then for a playlist. “Running Wild and Crazy, possibly in the Jungle” I haven’t worked the details out on that yet, but it’s next. Depends on how many “wild” and “crazy” songs there are. So I thought I could throw in the “jungle” for filler. Got a great opener….
This is a funny thing while I was running today. At about the 1 and ¾ mile mark, I started seeing crayons on the ground. You know, Crayola crayons. Just laying there. First a yellow, and orange…a few moments later red and broken blue showed up, then a quarter mile on, here’s purple, brown, green….who’s missing? Oh yeah…black. Nope. Here he is. Made it just under 2 and ¼. Last guy to be dropped out of the box I guess by some poor kid walking around with his parents. I wonder what the thought behind bringing crayons to the Forest Preserve trail was anyhow?
When I go tomorrow, I’m going to pick them up when I see them. Usually stuff is still there after only one day. It did rain, but it was pretty hot during the day and some of them looked like they were melting to the ground when I saw them. Hopefully they won’t un-stick in the night and roll off the path in the morning. If I get them, I’ll post them! Something to look forward too! Hang on for one more day!
And I thought of another playlist–crayons, naturally. Like the colors–red, yellow, orange…etc. I’m working on that too.
After the trail I took the kids to the store. I really DID have a grocery list, although I’m not going to write down what it was.
Ok, ok, just real quick (for Amanda): Card for mom, yogurt, granola, Tums, brussel sprouts, cauliflower, cheese sauce for Stevie’s school movie night, ketchup, Mountain Dew (also for Stevie), hot dogs, hot dog buns, baked beans, a little gifty for my sissy, and four, half-pound each, fat-ass burgers.
Like I said, Mom’s Day is early here.
When we got home, I put the stuff away, packed up Stevie’s stuff for school, and the kids went and played outside for a few.
Mason had bought flower seeds at the store, some Chinese Lanterns, that he thought looked cool, so he and Stevie went and found four different potters to put them in.
Then it conveniently rained, and they came in and watched Family Guy. I know it’s bad and not for kids, but it’s just SO funny. Besides, they learn new stuff. I can’t teach them everything.
With dinner over, my kids got transported to another store by the BF to purchase gifts for myself and the step-mom. After hiding the gifts in a location I must know, so that I don’t go looking there for 3 days, they are sleeping.
I am drinking.
The boyfriend is playing Mafia Wars.
Last game of the night: Lights off and laying down.
I am about to wrap this up with no words of wisdom, no extra pictures and no playlist.
Oh you. You know me too well. Here’s a blue sky–above; a tip–right here: Don’t stand up in a canoe. Don’t do it; And a killer playlist–below:
(It’s “comprehensive”—but please, let me know what possible song did I leave out??)
Give me a devil-horn-hand-gesture and let me pass out. Vodka Rocks! Woo-hoo!
New and Improved, EXCITING Website! This is the BEST and MOST interesting page EVER!
My sister doesn’t think my web-blog is interesting. She wants to know just what is so “great” about…this…”Just you writing down all the boring dumb things you do everyday? Who F****** cares?”
Well.
Even after all my shout-outs to her and her favorite sports baseball team, her mad hair cutting skills, her awesome kids and hubby, her parties that are only slightly lame but with fabulous food, AND on the day she comes to pick up HER dog that I have been watching for ONE WEEK so she could go to the Dells for the “weekend”, and she tells me I basically suck. Nice mouth.
(A picture of her dog is below. Named, Juneau. At least he’s cool.)
So in honor of her and spicing up this post, I am going to relate the story of how I almost lost a limb yesterday dangerously cutting logs with an old rusty circular saw, no safety goggles and inadequate insurance coverage!
My boyfriend thinks its pretty gruesome too. It’s so terrible that I don’t think any small children should even be NEAR the computer while you are reading this, they’ll sense the horrific nature of the text wafting off of you and have nightmares for weeks…my children were right next to me at the time of the “incident” and I cannot be responsible for any more children suffering the same type of trauma mine experienced. I won’t be a part of it. I WON’T!
No, no, no…I can’t post it. I just can’t!
This is the stuff of late night tv movies after too many drinks, when you’re all alone in your house, towards the end of a long, hot, summer; uncomfortable in the sticky heat, with the windows open and no wind; darkness so thick it feels heavy and wet; involving vampires, werewolves and creatures from the Black Lagoon. Full moons and blood everywhere; pasty men and pastier women: all bad lighting, scratchy film and shaky sound. It’s TOO unbelievable.
Instead, I am going to type out my to-do list for today.
Trust me, it’s equally frightening and double exciting. Ready?
1. Walk kids to school
2. Do laundry
3. Clean bathroom
4. Dust
5. Vacuum house
6. Clean kitchen/utility floor
7. Paint trim
8. Call school about appt.
9. Call Mom
10. Get snacks for Stevie’s Movie Night at school
11. Input CD’s
12. Run trail
13. Take kids to Cheerleader’s Competition for support, as part of Basketball Team
14. Answer call from sister, telling me what an A**hole I am. (That’s the frightening part!)
Thanks Amanda for all your support! You can’t see it, but I’m flipping you the BIRD! (Exciting too, huh?) As promised.
I Love You!
Be sure and visit this site tomorrow where I’ll be posting my GROCERY list! You DON’T want to miss it!
Oh and did I mention my awesome playlists?
I forgot to pat myself on the back for the awesome playlist that I was listening to while running today.
It’s one thing to make them up and imagine what they sound like in theory, but when you actually listen to them AND they help keep you motivated, I can’t help but want to pass that along.
Check these out for a little extra boost in the caboose when you are dragging out on the track of life….
Combine them for the longest, most effective play. I only split them because I thought it was too much for one post.
This is the list I used today. I was very impressed with me. Such modesty. Anyway, I try to put the lists in a good order; probably a little too much effort if you know what I mean; but feel free to mix them up. I listened to them on shuffle and it was still great.
If you totally think I’m full of it… please feel free to keep that to yourself! Thanks! Hardy har har…
Next Up…RUN WILD!
It’s a 5K at Brookfield Zoo, in Chicago. Only two weeks left not to embarrass myself. The run is awesome! We get to be in the Zoo before it opens and then run the race on the Zoo grounds and then hang out at the Zoo all day if we want! It is going to be so much fun! I won’t win or anything, I just participate as fast as I can.
So I went out running around my favorite outdoor track in the forest preserve. I swear those trails are the best thing the Park Districts/Counties have ever done. I love them. This particular one is perfect for me because it’s 3.6 miles so it covers me for everything. If I can make it around there I can make it….well, you know. After that is the Warrior Dash! 6K Plus. I’m just training to run—I’ll probably just wing it for the rest of it. How do you really train for crawling over cars, or thru the mud? I guess next time I’m at the Forest Preserve I could run through the little swampy areas and then start jumping over everybody’s cars parked in the lot…I’m sure I’d be VERY popular after that. “Hey! I’m training for the Warrior Dash!!” is what I’ll be shouting from the back of the police car. People just don’t understand!
It’s beautiful today. 72 and sunny in the burbs and I just couldn’t sit in the house at the computer, or on a treadmill at the gym. But I’m back now and posting up for the race and then some new scanned in things for another fun post!
We are still following Extreme Fat Smash but we keep getting derailed in the middle of the week. You would think it would be easy to eat pretty much nothing and move on with your life, but less food means more planning. But I’m not knocking it. I think it works really well. I am the same weight as I was last week, and I’ll admit that I cheated on the food and did not exercise to the book. Luckily, if you live pretty well, normally, you can deviate to the dark side somewhat and not throw the whole cart off the path. Another mini philosophy break.
Here’s a mini tip on yogurt eating:
I like to mix in granola, which technically is not on the list but if you work out extra hard and buy a good product with good ingredients, I think its worth the extra calories. Plus it really makes you feel like you are getting a good meal.
Anyway, I like to let it sit a bit to get the granola to a softer consistency, like cookie dough, but with bite. Today though, after I put the yogurt and granola together I got distracted with a phone call and the kids and it sat extra long. IT WAS EVEN BETTER! I mean, like really good. It was almost the texture of oatmeal with lumps. Tasty, delicious, granola lumps. Still firm enough to chew, but with none of the hard edges. Try it and see what you think. If it sounds gross, just try it anyway, you might be surprised!
And I also ate a hard boiled egg. I just love those too.
It’s supposed to be a good week so here’s to 4 more days of running the trails and eating smart. Hopefully I’ll go into this race at my lightest weight since before I had my children. A girl can dream.
Do anything to just feel better….
My poor boyfriend is not feeling good. He seems to be catching a cold that came on fast Friday afternoon and has gotten worse over night.
He is on his way out to go play racquetball right now in the hopes that his friend will hit him square in the middle of his forehead and break up all the congestion.
I, on the other hand, am sitting here wishing him well, typing, drinking coffee and eating Peanut M & M’s. Dark Chocolate Peanut M & M’s. Yum!
I do what I can.
Later, we are going to a Communion party for one of my cousin’s sons. I’ll be taking my Mother with me and the sick boyfriend if he feels like going.
I told him Id make him a nice playlist for today that we can listen to in the car on the way there. I have had this idea in the hopper for awhile and here is the perfect lead in. Songs that just make you feel better….
And I think, since I’m feeing so good (knock on wood) I am going to make a sick list too!
How productive of me on the weekend! Like I said, I do what I can.
Load up on the cold medicine, grab more tissues, your favorite blankie, and curl up on your couch with a bad movie and listen to:
Then when you’re done with that, get outside and take a walk or drive to this:
I don’t know where you are in the world but it’s sunny and pleasant in Chicago after a cold, pitiful, rainy week.
It’s Saturday and the air is fresh and clean! Well, clean enough.
And tonight don’t forget to watch our CHICAGO BULLS basketball team in Boston! One more games guys!! You can do it!!
Enjoy your day! GO BULLS!!
Street Money Update!
That’s another 5 cents! Friday night and I’m going out! No, not really. I’ll just add it to the bumblebee box that we keep the street money in until the end of the year.
Thanks Mason! Good job!
For Year Total So Far, Go…..HERE!
And that concludes my eating for the day…
It is 9:20 AM, Central Time, US, and I am not proud to say that I just ate entirely too much food from McDonald’s because I am weak and I suck.
I have been resisting all week, trying to stay true to my new religion, Extreme Fat Smash; and my new God, Dr. Ian K. Smith. Although I could have used a little salvation at the drive thru about an hour ago.
I couldn’t get my kids to school fast enough so I could get over there. There was no Dr. Smith standing in the window of the Richton Park, McDonald’s, over by the highway, crossing his arms and shaking his head, shaming me into sulking away from the fast food and over to the gym. (I avoid the McD that is right next to the gym because, you know, the gym is right there…too much guilt if I actually see the place…)
Anyway, I ate alot, and after totaling up the calories, that’s pretty much it for me today.
So, water and coffee, maybe one of those popsicles in the plastic if I’m really dying. Otherwise, long road ahead. Except that the sound of gravel under the tires is really is my grumbling stomach. Oh boo hoo…I did it to myself. Music keeps my mind busy and my hands typing. So here is the list for the day: “Long Road Ahead“
It’s about roads and travel and highways and freeways…it came to me last night after looking for songs with “Direction“.
The ways to get there can get there own. Say that five times fast.
Raise a glass (of water) and listen up! List is below. Ha.
Day 4 / Extreme Fat Smash / Again.
This should be an easy day though…after last night and the trophy loss–basketball defeat—we took my son to Taco Bell. It fixes everything. At least for him it does. Such an innocent child….
Anyway, it’s an easy day. Yogurt/fruit. Health shake or bar. Salad w/egg. Then a veggie/turkey burger for dinner. 40 minutes of Cardio. Done.
Still hungry, but still want to be healthy. I have races to run.
So here, in a burst of over-enthusiasm, TWO playlists!:
“Rainy Days“ …’cause it just won’t stop, and my lawn is about to float away…
AND
“Directional Plays” …everywhere at once when you need to stay…
A Heartbreaking Loss…
Last night was the trophy winning game breaker for my son’s basketball team. After a crushing 2-point loss last week, they were fired up and ready to win.
They came on strong and played well, leading the game for the first 3 quarters. The other team couldn’t catch up no matter what they did. Unfortunately, our team just couldn’t hold onto the lead. The other team came back bigger and bolder and made their moves.
Again, just like last week, it came down to the final 15 seconds. No score. Foul to us. 4 seconds on the clock—only 1 point behind. We put it in bounds and took the shot. Missed. Buzzer sound. The game was over.
Chaos from the other side—they all ran out and cheered. Our team was devastated, standing there. Even the cheerleaders were upset.
As a parent, you try and remember back to when you were that age. Think about the first time you lost something that you really, really wanted to win; more than anything else in your life. They were trying to win for themselves, the coaches, the principal, their teachers and the school. It was overwhelming.
But only after. They played their butts off and they looked good. It was a real team, with real rules and real consequences. They ran and sweat and got pushed down and got right back up. Not one of them quit or played any less than great. They wanted that trophy bad. The other school has it though. For now. There’s always next year.
Not to get too mushy-gush, my kids hate it, but…
This is fourth and fifth grade, right on the edge of a whole new experience about to come. They are moving into the teens, and every hormone-laden, awkward, moody, mixed-up emotional, physical change that all those years are going to bring down on them. This was good practice because most of the team is moving into the junior high and it is going to be much harder. Disappointment doesn’t get any easier to take the older you get. But I think we’ll save that lesson for another time. Watching from the stands and looking down onto the floor, you can see clearly, they’re still just kids. Let them have this last year. And leave it to the fourth graders to get that trophy back.
Despite the outcome, I am so proud of my son. I swear I felt every emotion that team was going through. It’s exciting for me to see him be so excited about anything. To know how hard they worked in practice, running and jumping and sweating and crying until they wanted to give up but didn’t. It was awesome.
When I was in school I never went to events or games, so I never understood. I am not missing my opportunity this time. My kids love sports and school and all the events that go along with it. And I plan on being right there, encouraging, pushing, and driving them on, until they can stand on their own and do it for themselves.
Last night was crummy, but today is better. There’s another lesson for you. Time heals all wounds. What a cliché, but what the hell.
Here’s another: Things always look better in the morning. Life just keeps moving despite the things that happen to you personally. No one gets a day off.
Things do look better today, although it’s still raining. That’s kind of depressing. Pretty soon that will be over too and it will be just one, long, hot, summer day, after another and we’ll be praying for rain.
So for my boy and his team, and his first, non-romantic heartbreak, the Music List will be all about…Heartbreak. What else?
Grab a tissue and settle in. The “Heartbreakers” Music List. Just below.
just shy of pretty 