Am I ready? Umm...no.

Well, it's good to be back after a week long absence due to a killer cold. From last Thursday a week ago through this past Wednesday I was primarily in bed, moaning, groaning, coughing and choking. Things seemed to lighten up a little on Wednesday and I tried to do a 2 mile run (which turned into 1.88 miles because I missed a turn) that ended up feeling like I had run a marathon. I was so sore yesterday it wasn't funny. That was my only run since the virtual half marathon a week ago Tuesday. So, today I have enough energy to have done all the laundry, clean most of the kitchen and stay out of bed with the TV off for the majority of the day. I am by no means totally well, I'd say maybe 75-80% of normal, but at least I'm moving.

The bad news is that I have a half marathon tomorrow. It was going to be my attempt at a new PR but based on Wednesday's performance I am going to be far from a PR. I know that I'm going to be coughing and choking during the run, but I am determined to cross that finish line doing at least a walk/run...yeah...more walking than running. I considered for a while just skipping it, but I'm so hardheaded that I won't give in. Then I considered just downgrading to the 10K instead...but still my stubborness persists. I could just walk it, but what fun is that...not trying to see how far I can push myself and see what I'm really made of?? lol! Someone needs to knock some sense upside my head for me...not that a few haven't tried already! I haven't hydrated properly or carb loaded or heck, for that matter eaten properly for this race. I'll be surprised if I don't bonk early on...

Anyway, I just need to get a few things ready. Already got my race outfit picked out: new black and white running dress with a long sleeve tech shirt over it and black compression knee highs...hey, if I'm going to be sucking at my run, I might as well look cute doing it! So, there's not bling for this race (another reason I considered the 10K instead) so the run is just for me. It's race #2 in my quest to become a Half Fanatic club member and really the first half marathon that I could've really bit my teeth into. Oh well, there will be more races in the future...I'll just treat this as a training run for now. The important thing is to finish even if I'm the last one to do so!

100 Days Challenge:
I'm going to have to start over since I've missed so many days due to illness...boo.

What I Ate Today:

• 1 thin cut broiled rib eye steak (~5 oz)
• 1 small baked potato with 
• 2 tsp I Can't Believe It's Not Butter 
• 2 tsp sour cream
• ¼ cup green beans
• 4 cup cakes

Reality bits

Yeah, the title is right it is supposed to say "bits" rather than "bites." I was just perusing my blog last night and this morning when I realized that a great deal of my latest posts have been about my running. I have to tell you, I don't picture this as a running blog but more of an eclectic mix of whatever comes to mind at the moment that I decide to write the post. With that being said let me meander through a few thoughts that are in my head at the moment.

Last night the little grand pup, Charley, unexpectedly came for a visit for about an hour. His mommy had driven the nearly 4 hours in snow to drop a friend off from the Albuquerque Sunport (Airport) and then turn around for the trip home. Really? She dropped Charley off with me while she and her roommate/SO (so confused about the relationship) went to have some dinner before heading back up to Albuquerque. Poor Charley didn't seem like his normally chipper self. He barely acknowledged me, no kisses whatsoever, wanted to spend most of his time alone out in the snow unless I put him up on the bed (he didn't even try to jump up by himself) and just seemed to be depressed. I was so sad and I worry about him. IMHO he needs to come home to grandma and live with the pack again. I actually cried for a little bit after he left to go back with his mommy. He'll be back to see us, if not stay with us, eventually. :(

A few days ago I had a sudden occurrence of some really negative thinking just out of the blue and totally unexpected. The whole episode lasted about 30 minutes and I didn't act on anything, but I know that something like that is one of the first signs that an impending depression will likely start within the month. It only makes sense...ever since I was diagnosed in 1997 I could set a watch to the deepest depressions that would occur every, and I do mean every, spring typically in late February or early to mid March. Nowadays my depressions hit anytime of year but only very rarely in the summer...it's all that extra sunlight and being able to be outside more. So, with this early indication of an impending crash of my mental health, I've added back a low dose of an antidepressant, Wellbutrin SR, at 100 mg daily to allow time for it to kick in before things get bad. I'll probably be back on this med, and maybe back up to my usual 150mg dose, for at least 6 months. Joy. Hopefully it'll only be the Wellbutrin and lithium that I'll need to be on. I really don't want to throw more meds into the mix since I'm running.

Lastly, have I mentioned how much I hate housework? That's what's staring me in the face at the moment so I guess I ought to stop blogging. So wish me luck! Have a great Monday!

100 Days Challenge: 

• Day 44
• 50 minute Aqua Zumba class

What I Ate Today:

• 1 bacon croissant-wich from Weinerschnitzel
• 1 hash brown patty
• 10 oz orange juice
• 20 oz G2
• 32 oz Pepsi
• 1 Bacon cheeseburger w/ grilled onions & mushrooms from Baby J's Grille
• ~3 cups overdone french fries

Lousy eating for running a half marathon tomorrow!! :(

The (cleaning) clock keeps ticking

I am a little over 24 hours away from leaving for California to head to Disneyland and my first half marathon. Actually I'm almost exactly 30 hours away from my departure from home. Of course, here I am doing the last minute cleaning as usual. Why is it when I go on trips, I don't actually get the house clean until the night before I leave? My great procrastination genes at work I suppose. I swear, I need to ask my sister if she has this problem too. I'm betting that it's a hereditary family trait!

Part of the problem is that I am just now getting around to personalizing my race jersey and training shirt (pics when they are done). I had my jersey done by a friend and had him press on die cut block letters for my name and "GO TEAM!" then I got it home today and decided that I wanted to add "Tinkerbell Half Marathon 2012" to the jersey as well. On my training shirt I made a freezer paper stencil of Tinkerbell and also added the "Tinkerbell Half Marathon 2012" on the back of it.

The kitchen and bedroom are pretty much done. All I need to do is wipe down the counters and stove in the kitchen and sweep/mop. In the bedroom I just need to change the sheets and wash the comforter. I probably should straighten up the master bathroom too since we're going to have the daughter stay in our room so that the K9s can sleep in there if she wants them too.

My dining room table is still a mess so I've got to work on that tonight & tomorrow as well as attempt to clear off my desk so that the daughter can use that computer (if it even works...haven't used the "new" computer in there in years; I bought it in 2007, it sat around in the box for almost a year and hasn't been used since I set it up I think!). Lastly I need to sweep, scrub and mop all the floors. Joy. That is definitely not my favorite task.

Does anyone know if there is a magic pill or a potion that will make me into a domestic diva who loves Zumba and running? Please?

Oh...and I still need to finish packing. Oy vey!

As of the posting of this blog post I have: 1 day, 6 hours, 46 mins until Disneyland

As of the posting of this blog post I have: 3 days, 7 hours, 31 mins until the Half Marathon!

100 Days Challenge:

• 1.92 mile taper run in 24:37
• Aqua Zumba class for 50:08

What I Ate Today:

• 1 slice whole wheat, whole grain toast
• 1 Tbsp Jif Reduced Fat peanut butter
• 8 oz hot water with lemon
• 40 oz G2
• 2 small loaded baked potatoes 
• 2 Tbsp butter
• 2 Tbsp sour cream
• 7 Tbsp Fiesta blend shredded cheese
• 2 tsps freeze dried chives
• 1 Tbsp imitation bacon bits
• 3 cups Texas style beef chili
• 2 oranges

For what it's worth...

My brain is a little scattered for some reason today so this post may not make a lot of sense...but here we go anyway!

Two pieces of good news so far today: 

1) SOPA/PIPA were pulled from consideration for the time being. That doesn't put censorship of the internet as something in the past, so we have to keep our ears to the ground and listen/watch for new legislation being put forth as a alternative to SOPA/PIPA. Hopefully, whomever writes it actually takes time to consider all aspects and the potential effects.

2) Son got a job as a network administrator out in Tempe. Of course, he has not told me the details, but at least it's a job he wants to do.

Other stuff:

1) I'm freaking out a bit about my upcoming race. Can't find things I want to bring/wear, the packing list for my carry on is 4 times longer that what I have for the checked baggage. Can't find my camera. I've got so much cleaning to do since the daughter and you boy friend are going to house sit over the weekend. Thinking about upgrading the old man to my old Droid X...but he hardly uses his phone as it is. Worried that I'm going to forget something that I really need. But, darn it...I've planned where we're having just about every meal while we're in Anaheim!! Including a 2 mile walk (one way) to L & L Hawaiian BBQ for our first meal in Cali!! See...I'm pinging just a little about this whole journey. *le sigh*

2) I'm wanting to join the Half Fanatics Club...minimum requirements for entry at the lowest level: 2 half marathons within a 16 day time frame or 3 half marathons within a 90 day time frame. I can do the 2nd option by adding the Pecos Valley Stampede to my race schedule on 2/25. Hmmmm...OMG...I'm turning into a run monster!! I hope it's just not a mania coming on...Not that it would be a bad thing during my race! lol.

 

100 Days Challenge:

• Run/Cycle/Run class at YMCA
• 0.96 mile run on treadmill in 11:39 
• 16:30 spin/cycle session 
• 1.37 miles run/walk on treadmill in 17:55

What I Ate Today:

• 40 oz G2
• 48 oz water with lemon
• Bacon Swiss cheeseburger from Baby J's Grille
• French fries
• French bread pizza

Made my 80oz fluid intake goal for today!! Yay!!

Holiday Happenings...or lack thereof??

On Thursday the old man and I watched Christmas with the Kranks for the first time. I had to laugh because people would think that were were the real life version of the Kranks. Not that we're avoiding Christmas, but rather because we don't have any Christmas decorations up...at all!! lol! Heck, I've got Christmas cards that I've signed and printed up holiday letters for but haven't stuffed envelopes to mail. About the only thing holiday-ish that's in the house is Christmas dinner: a bone-in prime rib roast, lobster tails, a ham steak, baby potatoes, savory sweet potatoes and fixings for green bean casserole! We're just not holiday celebrating kind of people. Sure, when the kids were little we'd do it up pretty good...decent sized tree, let the kids decorate, stockings full of small presents, stacks of too many presents under the tree, etc. But since the time they started asking for expensive gifts like computers and TVs we started backing off on all the festivities. This year since it's just the old man and I, we've foregone the exchanging of gifts. In years past it's been a question of "what do you want?" and this year I got to thinking "what do you need?" When I consider that we have one computer that I bought myself for Christmas several years back...that has never been used, the fact that the old man has several large tools that have never been used, clothes packed as tight as sardines in the closet, too many shoes/purses on my part and so on, I came to the conclusion that it would be stupid to add to our collection. So I suggested a no present Christmas...the old man was more than agreeable (he hates to shop around this time of year...even avoiding grocery stores as much as possible). The only thing I asked for Christmas was to finish the remodel we started almost 3 years ago...that hasn't happened yet! *le sigh*

Anyway, as with most holidays around here I describe it as "just another day..." nothing special other than a fancy meal. We'll spend the day watching the tube, I'm going to go and try to do my long run for the week (hopefully there won't be much traffic) and the old man will probably read all day...basically the approach will be extremely low key. We've already sent/delivered Christmas presents to the kids and their significant others...I don't do mail out presents after one year of spending over $200 just in postage! No need for a massive deep cleaning of the house, we'll stay in pajamas all day (except when I go for my long run...9 miles planned) and we'll eat on our own schedule. So it's just we two and 6 canines...maybe I'll get them some ground turkey for a doggie turkey loaf for Christmas...just chillin' at home watching whatever we can find on TV, napping and basically just having a lazy day.

UPDATE: I actually wrote this post a few days ago. I finally got those Christmas cards in the mail late on the afternoon of the 23rd. Of course, most of them are going out of state so they won't be received until after Christmas. Oh well...

Cleaning discovery

OK, so those of you that know me know that I'm not "little Miss Suzy Homemaker." In the spring, summer and early fall I tend to grill quite a bit. As part of my grilling equipment I use a basting mop to oil up the grill. Since I don't use the mop for anything else but this I just keep it in a container of olive oil for reuse through the season. The problem with this is at the end of the season there is a nasty build up of oil/grease in the mop. I've been dealing with trying to clean this darned mop literally for a couple of months. I've tried everything...the dishwasher, washing by hand with hot water and liberal amounts of soap, soaking in Greased Lightning, etc. I had just about given up after Googling other possible methods of cleaning and basically finding one solution...just throw it out. I was just about ready to do just that when I saw the pot of boiling spaghetti that I was making for dinner. I figured that I'd just try to boil the mop to see if that would melt off the excess oil/grease. After boiling it (just the mop portion, not the wooden handle) in soapy water for 5 minutes I saw quite a bit of gunk that had come off the mop. I rinsed it in hot water and washed with some dish soap, it still felt a bit sticky so I boiled it again for another 5-7 minutes, rinsed, washed and it's feeling much better. My hands don't feel greasy after squeezing it and the mop doesn't clump together like it did when it was full of oil/grease. I'm going to boil it at least once more and I think it'll be good to go for next season. Why am I blogging this? Basically to have a place to remind myself of how to do it in case my memory fades...oh, and for anyone else who is interested. lol.