Run for Fun

An unexpected text changed a planned run on the upstairs track to an outside run on some local trails.

Running up and down the hilly trails.  Through the woods, skipping over branches and slowing down for the descent.  Pushing on my toes to run up the massive hill at the end.  Hands bone cold.

Listening to one earbud.  Yelling behind to my friend.  Sharing what is happening in our lives.  Huffing and puffing through most of it.

Until the end, when I realized again how much I love running!

Rest

No alarm this morning.  I pulled a very-unlike-Cathy move and skipped church.  After the long, stressful drive home last night, I just wanted to breathe in the morning air and rest.  Move at a snail's pace.  Have quiet time alone while my roommate was at church.

I listened to a podcast about comparison (it was amazing) and did one of the days of my Beth Moore study.  I washed laundry, swept the living room and kitchen, and began preparations for some great lunches for the week.

I just wanted a slow morning.  Before the rush of the week begins, just a slow, quiet Sunday morning.  It was heavenly!

Nightmare

I was going to write about the sweat ring I earned today in my 120 minutes of work out classes.

I was going to write about being able to order a size smaller bridesmaid dress than I thought they were going to order.

I was going to write about holding my nine day old niece (who was born on my birthday).

Instead, I am writing about my nightmare.   Background - was in a car accident on snowy, country roads.  Enter the tale of nightmare driving!

It had been windy all day.  That was nothing new.  I set the cruise and sped on I-69 at 70 mph.  Making great time and GPS put me at home around 9:30.  I noticed drops on my windshield.  I had about 20 miles to my exit when WHAM!  Suddenly, giant white flakes began blowing.  The road in front of me was instantly covered.  Being the chicken I am, I instantly slowed down and a few miles later, the snow stopped.

Ten miles to my exit.  I can do this.  I can do this.  I can do this.

The connecting road to my next major highway was pretty clear.  Good driving roads.

And then it began.  Once I had cleared my last city until my county, I noticed that there was NO ONE behind me.  For 20 miles, I had the road to myself.  Thank goodness.  With all of the blowing wind and the giant snow, I had to keep telling myself to breathe.  There were oncoming cars, but thankfully, I could drive as slow as I wanted.

Then, comes the nightmare.  The major highway that leads to a mile from my house has a slight detour.  It takes you into the country because a bridge is being replaced.  Country roads.  Snowy and slick and at this point, I am driving 20 mph.  Yes, readers, you read correctly.  20 MILES PER HOUR!

I used my GPS as my beacon.  It let me know how many more miles I had left on my treacherous journey home.  Honestly, I am more sore in my shoulders from being so tense on the drive than from my workout earlier.

Thankfully, I am home.  Safe and sound.  I prayed for many drivers that I passed that were headed into the slick roads...that they would see the danger before anything serious occurred.

I don't mind driving in the snow most of the time.  Just not at night.  And not when it's really slick.  And when it's really blowing.  Hmmmm, maybe I should move south.

I am weak...and forgetful

It's been two days.  Two.  And I've already failed.

The background - Every month, I've been choosing a different focus.  Getting rid of junk, taking photos daily, writing cards to friends...This month, I am going meatless and sweet-less.  The meatless I can deal with.  The sweets?  That's another story.  Enter tonight.

A few friends that I work out with decided to have sushi tonight at a local sushi bar/lounge.  A place where you forget where you are.  As we were sitting there, getting ready to order, another couple joined us on the enclosed patio.

It didn't take long to realize that it was going to be an interesting evening.  Not only was there inappropriate make-out sessions, there were many words that flew out of his mouth towards his date that caused our jaws to drop.

Have you ever driven by an accident and couldn't help yourself and just stared.  Well, that's what we did.  Stared, listened, and laughed at the awkwardness and dramatics of the clearly drunken man.

It was so quiet on our end.  Four girls.  Sitting, straining, eavesdropping, laughter.

Every waiter and waitress in that restaurant came out to check on our table and refill our water.  We even got another cup of coffee.

When you pay at this restaurant, they always leave an Andes mint.  After our server left ours, we had another delivered to us.  The workers had to walk by the table just to see what was going on.  We all knew what was going on.

Before I knew it, the green wrapper was on the table and the only thing I knew was I had just eaten a piece of candy.  Oh!!!!!!!!!!!  My eyes went big and I threw the other piece and exclaimed, "What did I just do?"  The girls just laughed.  In the aftermath of hearing this man, we had stopped paying attention completely.  Ugh!

I still have 29 more days where I can be sweet free...

The Bag

It was a long day.  After finishing up a full day at school, I sorted and packed up the papers (okay, students sorted them for me) into my bag.  I sat down to talk with parents about their child's progress for parent teachers.  The bag sat on the counter.

I attended a viewing afterwards for a family from school who lost a dear one to a tragic accident this week.  The bag sat in the car.

I emptied and loaded the dishwasher.  The bag sat on the couch.

I typed my Slice.  The bag stayed on the couch.

Too bad papers.  You'll be graded tomorrow.  Or the next day.  Or maybe the following.  Right now the bag needs to stay where it is.

March goal

My next monthly goal (which I'm making right now) is meatless and sweetless (meaning mostly candy, cookies, baked goods).  I can still drink my coffee with Splenda and I am planning on eating eggs.

Excited to try some great recipes from Pinterest.

Woo hoo!  Eggplant meatballs are being made right now.

Friendly February

I made 24 out of 29 days.  Not bad.  I might be able to send off a few I still have made, but I loved letting others know that I care and they matter.  It was neat to encourage others, even if just for a month.