Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Post-It Note Tuesday: Open Germ Warfare













Been too many weeks since joining in the fun of Supah's Post-It Note Tuesday.
Hop on over and link up!

Sunday, June 20, 2010

Candlelight 5K


I now own the piece of hilly road last night's Candlelight 5k took place on.
Actually it was a bit more than the exact 3.1 a 5k is.
3.2
Yep, gonna squeeze every bit out of it I can!
Any self-respecting runner would.
After all, we push our bodies beyond the maximum; setting new boundaries consistently.
Pushing even harder in a race.

For a female runner, it's comparable to childbirth in a number of ways.
Both tax you physically...
In childbirth you leave your placenta on the table...
(For those "visual" people, please excuse the gross image I know this conjured up!)
In running you leave the concept of "limitations" on the road. 
In both you leave sweat...
sometimes blood...
sometimes tears...
sometimes even vomit in your wake.
You walk, or in the case of childbirth, wheelchair (as hospital law regulates) away with blessings beyond measure and memories that last a lifetime.

This particular 5K's story climaxes at the finish line.
In the home stretch, the last 30 yards, got neck-in-neck with another runner.
I caught her out of my peripheral vision.
Had already "kicked it in" when the blazing lights and poised photographers came into view 50 yards back.
With no further thought, pulled my head in and down...
and let it all hang out!!!
Imagine a corrida de toroa.
Literally meaning a, "running of bulls".
My matadore???
  The finish line.
Sacrificing it all,
my foot hit the line seconds before the bull next to me.


STATS
31:53 chip time
Pace: 9.85
627th place out of 1286 runners 

Not my best, but not my worst time/pace either. 
Given the conditions: humid and hilly. 
And circumstances: been running but a year, only fourth 5K I've ever tackled (not to mention they were all within 6 weeks of one another!) and a 16 1/2 year ex-smoker ("ex" as of Oct.
09'), I'll take that "time" and run with it! ;)


 One more quick gulp of Joe before the race.
Strong, black and packed with caffeine, baby!

Pre-race potty break, of course! Nothing like getting in the middle of a 5K and trying to do the "pee pee dance" while running!

Always a blessing to run into a friend (and his son).  
Even if he rocks out 7 minute miles that makes my 10 look shabby!
 
The starting line.

Lining up.

And we're off!
What an absolutely amazing feeling to be a part of something so good, so much bigger than I am.

The finish line.

Moments post-race..
 
catching my breath!

Minutes post-race.
  

Saturday, June 19, 2010

Priceless Perspective: From the mouths of babes...


{Setting: mySamuelson standing on counter (yeah, I know...horrible mother!) getting a cup out of cabinet for a glass of lemonade.  Mad watching on.}

Mom: "Let's go before it gets too dark.  The lightning bugs are only out for a little bit.

mySamuelson: "Be careful, their butts may be hot cause they're lightning." (Directed at Mad in all seriousness.)

Mad: "Yeah, wear gloves." (Just as seriously.)

*Am still laughing my tail off over this one!

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Wordless Wednesday: No kin to the Sasquatch!

 
 Catching a glimpse of me dressed in something besides running gear or loungewear is as rare as sightings of the elusive Sasquatch!

 For more Wordless Wednesday fun, stop in 5 Minutes for Mom.

Sunday, June 13, 2010

Sam'ism IV


{SettingmySamuelson bent over this monstrous catfish he had just caught in Lake Greenwood May 30, 2010.}


mySamuelson:  "It's not a nightmare.  It's a nicemare!"

Friday, June 11, 2010

Nostalgia In The Making


Have been pondering this post for awhile now.
21 days to be exact.
Finding words was rarely an issue...
until the kids came along that is.
Now I regularly find myself speechless, awestruck, basically outright dumbfounded.
Thank God for photography and a picture being worth a thousand words!

But I digress.
Back to the issue at hand:
  "post conflict".

Perhaps it's the nature of the post...
{mysamuelson is in the third row from bottom.  From left side of picture, the first student.)

Or maybe the content...
  (Once again, mySamuelson is in the third row from bottom.  From left side of picture, the first student.  We recently wisely invested in a new NIKON D3000.  Adios crappy pictures!)

Really, I couldn't imagine why I would be so tongue-tied.
(You can't imagine my combined frustration and disappointment in the quality of this only picture I managed to take of him receiving his diploma.)   

After all, it's just my firstborn...

my only son growing-up...
(sniff sniff)

Congratulations on a successful year and earning that Kindergarten diploma, Sam!
 We couldn't be more proud of you!
 
To quote myself, "Work hard.  Play hard."
Time to play hard, baby!!!

Wednesday, June 9, 2010

Wordless Wednesday: Old-time summer fun


Nothing replaces the fun of an old-time hard plastic pool!


Not even...

  
For more Wordless Wednesday fun, visit 5 Minutes for Mom.

Saturday, June 5, 2010

Up and RUNNING


I used to be one of those people who mouth-off, "The only time you'll catch me "running" is if someone were chasing me!"
Then cancer, HORRIBLE, EVIL CANCER struck our lives.
June 1st, 2009, we sent our good friend, man and woman's best friend, Weston, off to the Meatybone gates.

We adopted Weston as a puppy a few scant weeks before saying our "I do's".


Lymphoma claimed his life a tender seven years later.


I felt his loss deep in my bones.
I wept and prayed.
Prayed and wept.
Devestated.
Heartbroken.
He was my "Fwend".

 *January 2009*

*
*A few days after his diagnosis (April 2009).*

One afternoon, a few days following his burial, was leaning on the strength of a beautiful friend.
"I feel like pulling a Forrest Gump, getting up and running.  
Just running.  No particular destination.  No goal.  No direction.  Just run."
She then asked the question that might not have launched a thousand ships, but launched my feet and subsequently the healing process,
"Why don't you?"

June 1, 2010 marked the 1 year anniversary of Weston's death.
It also marked a year of "running" that somewhere along the way discovered a destination, created a goal and found direction.
It also culminated in finishing my first 5K on May 1 2010, followed by two more that same month.

It runs through my blood now.
Pounding pavement.
Perspiration.
Going the extra mile.
Adrenaline.
Competition...


*1st Run*
"SCS 5K and 1 mile Tot Trot"
{SCS is "Southside Christian School": the kids school)

Mom & mySamuelson running the 1 mile Tot Trot

Mom running 5K.

Family Chick-Fil-A picnic post-race.
 Time: 31:(Not sure of seconds for the race wasn't time-chipped.)


*2nd Run*
Greenville Hospital System "Swamp Rabbit 5K"
 Time: 38.47
 
 
*3rd Run*
Freedom Weekend Aloft  "Freedom 5K"
 Time: 28.49
*First 5K I ran the entire way!*

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

Acceptance Speech


Awards?
Again??
No to mention so soon after the other two???
Am practically speechless.
O.k....
"speechlessness" over.
That wiley ole' tongue of mine has never been good at hide-n-seek!
Having a hard time grasping that there are people out there who enjoy my blogging/writing to such a degree as to bestow such notable awards on it.
Once again, am truly humbled and most appreciative.



*Webster's definition.*  
Versatile
Date: 1605

*Cleo's definition*
Versatile 
"Wearing many hats."

Thank you, laughing Sarah, strong and kind, for a label that does me justice. ;)


In keeping with the rules of the award, below are seven little-known personal facts...

1)  I nurture a passion for muscle cars.  No way could we presently afford Eleanor (see Nicholas Cage's "Gone In 60 Seconds").  Private christian school tuition takes a CHUNK out of our income.  Sooooo, about 20 years from now, when you hear a super-charged revving engine at a stop light, and you turn and see a middle-aged woman with an impish grin and a "Let's do this!" countenance..that's me!!!!

2)  Dirty microwaves (the inside of them) make me cringe.

3)  A sophomore in college, I played a game of darts one night at a pub with Green Bay Packer's famous quarter back,  Bret Favre.  Both him and his agent were "checking out" our wide receiver, Randy Moss.  Pretty understandable, given that encounter, to think I'd be a #1 fan.  Sorry to disappoint, but "NO WAY!"  While I can appreciate, and even admire that throwing arm (yes...he won the dart game...any doubt?) that took him and his team to the Super Bowl twice, his character left a bit to be desired. 

4)  Same year in college, went to the Kentucky Derby with a then "potential boyfriend".  A party, like few others, in the infield where we spent the day shocked the daylights out of us both! 

5)  My PMS is so bad the medical profession even has a name for it: Pre-Menstrual Dysphoric Disorder.  Take the average woman's PMS and multiply it by 1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 and you've got me about five days out of the month.  Funny thing, when I was pregnant it vanished!  Yes, Sugar has, albeit briefly, considered keeping me in that state because of this! (insert a don't-think-so-chuckle here!)  Am getting a better handle on it...BY THE GRACE OF GOD!

6)  Webster & his cousin, Thesaurus, are two of my FAVE books.  SERIOUSLY.

7)  Have walked that old Roman Road to the foot of Calvary where my Savior died for me.  I stand on the promise of John 3:16, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."  I rejoice in the assurance that He rose 3 days after burial in a tomb and LIVES! (John 20:18)  One day soon He will return for me! (Revelation 1:3)  HALLELUJAH!!!

Tippin' my many hats to...
Rachel @ Yarn Over
jayaycee blog
___________________________________________________________________________________



*Webster's definition.*
Sunshine
Date: 13th century
1 a : the sun's light or direct rays b : the warmth and light given by the sun's rays c : a spot or surface on which the sun's light shines
2 : something (as a person, condition, or influence) that radiates warmth, cheer, or happiness

*Cleo's definition*
Sunshine
"God's light."

Thank you, sweet Lori, my sister-in-Christ, for allowing our God to work through you in encouraging me with so beautiful an award.


The following are five rays of sunshine in my life...

1)  Christ in my heart.

2)  Sharing the best and worst life has to offer with my best friend: a man I am so proud to call my husband.

3)  The honor of full-time parenting my three most-undeserving, beautiful blessings: mySamuelsonMad & Punk.

4)  Home.  Not a house, but our home.  A "house" is a building that serves as living quarters.  A home, on the other hand, is a haven.  A place to retreat when the world has turned a cold shoulder to you: with the knowledge that love awaits you there.  A place where laughter, spilled milk, bubble baths, tears, hugs, bad hair days and everything in-between abounds within the family who dwells there.  A "home" is a "house" with life.  

5)  The few hobbies/interests I can squeeze in: gardening, writing, running, couponing and reading.  

Passing the Sunshine on to...
Jennifer @ The Pages' Page 
 
 Stop in for a visit with these ten wonderful, award-winning women.
Can promise you'll be forever "changed"!
I am!!!


Fine Print
Attention Honorees of awards:
To accept...
...upload the award image somewhere within your blog (in a post, on a sidebar, etc.)
...list seven personal little-known facts about yourself for the "Versatile" award. 
...list five things (i.e. people, places, etc.) that bring you sunshine for the "Sunshine" award.
...pass the award on to five other bloggers.
...let the nominees know they have recived the award by commenting on their blog.
...share the love and link the person who gave you the award.

Wordless Wednesday: Memorial Day "Freedom 5K"



Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Madalyn'ism IV


{Setting: Mom tinkling in salon bathroom, watching Mad finish pulling her shorts up after a turn on the toilet.  She, in turn, intently watches Mom.  Mom gets uncanny feeling she's being "sized-up".}

Mad: "Your butt's too big for that seat, Mom."