After agreeing to register for a 5K with a few friends, I grew very nervous as the day of the race approached. Between being extremely busy with work and kids, I had made little time for training. The week of the event I had to calm myself by conceding that it would be just fine to both run and walk. I was there for the experience and the exercise, not to compete against anyone. I figured I would alternate between running and walking, with the running amounting to about two miles and the walking about one.

Our registration came with the tag to pin to the front of your shirt, and an ugly, orange t-shirt. We settled in line with the rest of the 1,000 plus runners and visited as we waited to start. And then suddenly, we started. I began with a light jog and kept pace with my friend. We passed the walkers as we jogged and before we knew it, we passed the one mile mark. We knew that halfway through there would be a water table and we briefly walked as I tried to drink my water between heaving breaths, then we picked up the pace once again. Throughout the whole thing, we only walked a couple of times for just a few minutes each. Remarkably, for me anyway, we finished the run at 34:03, which was 12 seconds under what ended up being the average time for that race. I was thrilled!

We celebrated by eating at Red Lobster, something that would bother my stomach for two days after, but it was worth it! I now can’t wait to wear my ugly orange t-shirt with pride, because I participated in a 5K! Not only that, I’ve lost weight and have the desire to run now. I don’t ever see myself as wanting to go any further than the 3.1 miles that make up a 5K, but now I can get on a treadmill, or go for a jog, and know that it’s not unattainable for me. I’ll go a mile here and there, or I’ll go the full 3.1. Whatever the case, I’m glad to have gotten involved and am happy to have running as a part of my workout routine.

Refusing to Stink

I love to wear the color black. I guess it started with the whole black is slimming thought, but it continued because I like black with blond hair. I don't know why. And then it continued further because black goes with everything. Sooo, I love the idea of "little black dress" approved deodorant. Summer is coming and so are sleeveless black tank tops and black t-shirts. (No, I don't wear black every day, I do like to mix it up and wear COLORS. I do.) After a winter of turtlenecks and sweaters and being covered up from head to toe, it's time to think about those deodorant marks that come with the standard solid deodorant.

In the past I bought one of those rocks that you wet and rub on your underarms as a deodorant substitute. The all natural way of not smelling. I've also tried to not wear deodorant when I know I won't be working out. But sometimes it seems like I'm always working out because I have a very busy life, so that didn't last long. Yes, I'm a girl, and I'm always supposed to smell like flowers, right? I don't pass gas, I flower. My point here is that I want to be healthy and natural and don't want to apply things that are considered to be bad for you. It seems like the solid deodorant just washes off much easier.

I used up all of my deodorant so in purchasing my new stick last night, I opted for the black-friendly sort. I tried a different brand, thinking, surely there HAS to be a brand that will wash off and not stick like adhesive to your skin! But this brand does not. Scrub, scrub, rinse, rinse...still there. Repeat. Still there. One has to use a brillo pad to get it off. (No, I don't...the abrasive facial scrub seems to get most of it off, but it still feels like it's there.)

So, I shall keep the stick of glue for the days that I wear short sleeved or sleeveless black, and go buy a stick of solid for the days that I don't. Because it just doesn't seem right to me, to have your underarms sealed 100% of the time. I could be wrong and it could be no big deal whatsoever. If so, GOOD. If not...well, that's what the solid is for. And I will use my rock again, in the event that those lazy days that don't seem exist anymore happen to pop up. Cuz, hey...I'm all for that!

Impulsive Moves: Posters & Bubble Gum...a Mother Relates

Somewhere we got a small Twilight poster, though who it belonged to was not quite settled. So my younger daughter decided to cut Edward and Bellas heads out. Not sure why, but to her it seemed like a good idea, I guess. Well, older sister freaked out and it was a big deal, because it wasn't her poster to cut up.

Reminds me of....an impulsive move I made as a kid that seemed like a good idea at the time, until you've done it and then you think, Oh. Maybe I shouldn't have done that.

It was either MY pack of gum or my sisters. That, I can't remember. I do remember being in a bedroom with a WHOLE pack of gum. It was sticks of gum and they were bubble gum flavored. What a treasure! I thought it would be a good idea to unwrap each and every stick of gum and put them all in a bowl. Cuz that's convenient and lovely, like a bowl of candy sitting out. If I had a visitor, I could pick up the bowl and pleasantly ask, "Stick of gum?"

Something in my mind says it was my sisters gum. I don't know if she ever found out about it, but, I guess I owe her a pack of gum.

Edward and Bellas faces are now bookmarkers. We've gotten over the incident without lasting trauma, so we'll be all right.

April Fools!

April Fools Day has been a big thing in my family for years. One of my dad's biggest characteristics is his humor, which he got from his dad. He's always got a joke and he loves to goof off. He has passed this down not only to his daughters, but his grandchildren...specifically his grandsons. My sister and I very often rib each other with, "Okay, Dad!" when one of us has done or said something that sounds like our dad.

I think it was last year that I made my dad believe my sister was pregnant with her fourth child...I'm sure he didn't really believe it but hey, I gave my April Fools effort there.

This year my giggling 7 year old son called my dad and asked him in a super fake frantic voice, "Grandpa, can you...Grandpa, we landed in the DITCH! Can you...can you come get us out?" I heard my dad's immediate reply, "Okay! I'll be right there!" And then my son said, "APRIL FOOLS!" He was laughing hysterically because he truly believed he had "gotten" his grandpa. Then I heard my dad saying, "Oh, you got me! I was going to ask where you were...." Grandpa played the game well. I'm sure he was expecting the call.

Then Grandpa turned the tables and told my son to play a trick on my 12 year old daughter, which he attempted but his smile couldn't hide the joke. When she got on the phone with her Grandpa her pre-teen remark was, "Grandpa, I'm immune to your jokes by now." Nice. She's too old to fall for all the jokes, but too young to understand when you should just go along with it to humor someone. I know my dad got a smile out of that one, though, because he just chuckles with pride at how fast his grandkids are growing up.

Our April Fools Day finds us covered in 10 inches of heavy, thick, white snow. The kids were dismissed from school early yesterday because of the weather. Everyone is sooooooooooooo sick of winter. We're sick of the cold, the snow, the bad roads, the wind, the slush, the mess, the boots, the snowpants, the overflowing hall closets that are itching for the winter stuff to be stored for a couple seasons.... HOWEVER. Every person in my household who is SO SICK of winter had to completely awe at the gorgeous picture that God painted for us this morning. The trees are gorgeous and my son called our yard "blank". It was like a blank piece of paper just waiting for him to fill it with designs. I remember feeling like that as a kid, too.

So yes, we stopped to appreciate the beauty. But it can go now. I want me some Spring.