Say A Prayer For Me......

As I am leaving work in a few to go try out a new gym in my area...I have never taken a group class before..so, I am going to take this class:

Yeah, my first spin class...wish me luck!

Food coma....do you still have one?

Well, here we are...the Monday after Thanksgiving....and I am still feeling sluggish and out of sorts. I had 4 lovely days off with my family and coming back to work afterwards...it is hard!

Know what else is hard...hard to believe that Christmas is only 26 days away! I have not put up my tree or started shopping. Hosting and cooking Thanksgiving totally kicked my bootie...I need a week or so to recover.

Anyway...as I said, I cooked a huge Thanksgiving dinner. My turkey turned out to be the best one I have ever cooked! It was amazing...check it out:




That isn't even the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the amount of food we had. I sent a lot home with my two older boys and the in-laws, but we continued to eat it into the weekend. It is all gone as of today.
It was wonderful having all four of my sons with me for turkey day...the only downside was that I was so busy cooking/cleaning, I didn't get to spend a lot of time with them.

Some Thanksgiving day pictures:

Tim..my oldest...isn't he quite the handsome man? I sure don't get to see him that much, each time I do, it amazes me how grown up he has become.


Justin...the picture is kind of blurry...my camera sucks..but, man, he doesn't get a homecooked meal like this very often, so he was in heaven....lol. Yes, he is very handsome too! I am so proud of what a wonderful young man he has become!


The Mother-in-law and Max...poor mominlaw...she looks like a deer caught in the headlights...I am terrible at taking pictures...or it may just be the camera.

Anyway, I got distracted and didn't get anymore photos..of Aaron, nor a decent one of hubby and his Dad...I hate that!

Anyway, we all had a wonderful day and I had a wonderful and relaxing weekend with the family...

The only other downside of the entire holiday...I gained 5 freaking lbs...seriously. I woke up Weds, at my normal weight and by Saturday morning, I was up 5 lbs. I did go to the gym for an hour of cardio Friday night and then again on Saturday for 2 hours. Along with healthy eating for the rest of the weekend, I managed to lose 4 of the 5 lbs I gained by this morning.
This holiday weight gain stuff is no joke. It's all good though. You mess up, get right back on the wagon and don't let one holiday dinner/weekend make you want to throw in the entire towel.

I am going for my first spin class tonight. I heard they kick ass! So, wish me luck...

Hope all of you had as wonderful a holiday as my family and I did.

It May be Monday....

But it is a short work week! So, whoo hoo! Here is to only working 3 days this week!

So, how was everyone's weekend? Mine, well..rather uneventful I must say. I worked out Friday night. I managed to run 4.5 miles and my leg only smarted a little bit. I then did a full upper body workout and abs, called it a night and got the heck out of there..I mean, 2 plus hours of working out, on a Friday...more than enough! I stopped and picked up my after work-out salad from Chick fil A....it was a madhouse. Seriously, you would have thought that was the only place to get food on a Friday night in this town. I order the Chargrilled Southwest Salad,every time..most of the people that work in there know me and before I have never had a problem. It was so chaotic in there, I of course got my order mixed up. The girl that took my order heard chargrilled only and therefore gave me the wrong salad. So, again, I had to wait and wait to get the correct. For that snafu..they ended up giving me both salads for the price of one. Score!
Afterwards, I had to stop by WalGreens for some make-up and toiletries...didn't want to be bothered with that task but if I wanted to wash off the stink, had to get some body wash...
After Walgreens, I zipped toward home..but not before I made a quick stop at the liquor store for some of my favorite wine.
Once home, I showered and ate, then relaxed with a Netflix movie, since hubby had to go to work. I watched this:

I really enjoyed it! This was the second Meryl Streep movie I have seen this month that totally held my attention. Usually, I can almost always be counted upon to fall asleep before a movie is over. But this one, it was good. I love to cook too, so it was really interesting to watch. I would recommend this movie if you haven't ever seen it. Maybe to watch with a girlfriend, other foodie or by yourself. Your hubby or significant other might not care for it.
After the movie, I went to bed and didn't sleep so soundly. Must have been the wine.
Saturday...had a hard time getting motivated. Lazed around with some magazines and coffee for most of the morning..then finally showered and dressed and went to get myself a pedicure. Also had to stop by Walmart for an exchange. I loathe that store. It is always crowded and you can never have a quick check out. Anyway, after that I headed home to pick up the hubby and we came back into town again for a late lunch. Then some shopping at the mall. I have a pair of jeans on layway at the Buckle and I had to make my payment on those, while there, I scored a couple of cute long sleeve t-shirts from Wet Seal.
We came home to relax for awhile, before dressing and heading to Indianapolis to meet a friend. It was a pretty boring time and I was so grateful to leave and get home.

Before I knew it, Sunday was upon us! I wanted to get to the gym, but I piddled around the house too long (planning Thanksgiving menu and making a grocery list) and we found ourselves almost out of time. Hubby had to leave soon to get the little boys at his Mother's and I needed to go to the grocery. I had made my list for dinner that night as well as Thanksgiving and I just wanted to get it over with. Hubby went with me and 30 minutes later we were done and headed back home.

I now have my Turkey defrosting in the fridge and half of my list completed. I will have to go back to the store Tuesday evening to finish it out, then let the cooking for the feast of 2010 commence. I am not looking forward to all the work. I am making my coconut cake tonight. Tomorrow evening I wont' have the chance to cook, as I have to take Max to the doctor after work, then to the store to finish up. So, Wednesday evening, after I get off of work, you will find little ol' Dixie cooking and baking her heart out. I won't be able to stop until dinner is on the table Thursday afternoon.
With being so busy, I will not have a chance to go to the gym, except for tonight, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. I so wish I could be a stay at home Mom....it is quite overwhelming to have all of this to do and have to work on top of it. I am starting to feel the pressure and I don't like it. Oh, well...it is only once a year and I am thankful that I am able to cook this meal and for my family.

Love to you all and hope all of you have a wonderful Thanksgiving! Enjoy your family and friends...


(Just make sure you pick the right bird...lol)

TGIF

"Running! If there's any activity happier, more exhilarating, more nourishing to the imagination, I can't think of what it might be. In running the mind flees with the body, the mysterious efflorescence of language seems to pulse in the brain, in rhythm with our feet and the swinging of our arms."
— Joyce Carol Oates

A quote I just read from Fitsugar, which for me..can not be more true...gosh, I sure do miss running! My mileage for this month has really sucked. I have only ran 16.5 miles for the entire month of November. I ran 4 miles on Monday and have not been able to run since. Hopefully, since I plan on going to the gym tonight, I may be be able to eek out a few miles. If not, me and my arch nemesis...the eliptical, will have to go head to head..got to get that cardio in somehow.

No big plans for the weekend. Hubby has to work tonight, the kids are going to be gone....so, after the gym, I plan on picking up a salad for dinner, grabbing a bottle of vampire wine and hitting up redbox for a movie. Then home to veg out for the evening.

As far as the rest of the weekend, no big plans. Hubby and I may go out tomorrow night for dinner and then to a club or something. I have to go get a pedicure Saturday morning, then to the gym again (I hope)...and sometime over the weekend, I have to fit in some shopping for Thanksgiving dinner...which I am hosting and cooking this year. Which reminds me, I need to take inventory of my fridge and pantry and clean out both in preparation. I am looking forward very much to having the entire family together. Meaning, me and hubby, my four boys and the in-laws. My Mother and Brother will not make it up. I figured they wouldn't. My brother and I had a big argument over the phone a couple nights ago. He really said some horrible things and hurt my feelings really bad. He is going through a divorce and is taking out his misery on me, Mom and his girls. I wish I could help him, but I just don't know what to do. I have tried to give him advice ( I have been through 2 terrible divorces myself-so I know what I'm talking about), but he won't listen. Anyway, it is what it is and I can't do anything about it.

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

berry cartoon mohawk 111710

Waiting...To Exhale....

It has been that kind of week...hence the lengthy abscense from my blog. I am hanging by a thread...waiting for the weekend...so I can "exhale"....I really don't know where to start...not a lot to talk about.

So, I will just cover everything (what little there is in bullets)....

.....I got a stove..finally! Thanks to the first ex-husband, Mike...was not in too good of shape when I first got it, but it was free, he delivered it...and with a couple hours of elbow grease and a good cleaning, it looks like new. I was able to make cookies for my boys and last Sunday, make thier favorite dinner..lemon chicken. Yum!

.....On the exercise front, last week, worked out only three times...only one time n the gym. Ran a total of 12.5 miles for the week. This week, I have only ran 4 miles. Been to the gym twice. Going again tonight. Still having a love/hate relationship with my leg...the whole me, my leg and running thing? It is a menage a' trois that is not working out. I am loving them both, but my leg hates the running thing and the running thing hates my leg....I am torn between the two. Sucks! So, last night, was cardio on the eliptical and stationary bike. Of course, I hate every flippin' second of it.

.....Freaking holidays! They are a coming...I am looking forward to Thanksgiving. I will have all four of my boys together. Now that I have a stove, I am cooking the "feast"....not looking forward to all the work, but still...very excited. My brother mentioned the possibility of driving up, with my Mom, from S.C. for Thanksgiving. That would be awesome. But..his funds are limited, which I understand, since he is going through a divorce...they suck you dry. So, as far as the visit goes...I will believe it when I see it. Would be pretty awesome though. As far as Christmas goes...bah humbug..not a fan! Just don't enjoy it. Again, just has to do with money. Need a lot, and I don't have any. Sucks to be my bank account. LOL...Haven't even started any shopping, probably won't until the last couple of weeks before.

.....Well, that's about it...hope you all enjoy your Wednesday....the weekend is almost here! Yay!

berry cartoon cougar 111010

Happy Monday...although it be late in the day!

Love this picture...kind of how I have felt all day long! How was everyone's weekend?

Mine..well, pretty boring actually.

This was the highlight of my Friday night...I am a HUGE...HUGE...TruBlood fan...and let me tell you what..when I found this wine..I was like a kid in a candy store..or, um...a liquor store...lol.

It is without a doubt, the best Pinot Noir I have ever had....if you like red wine, not sweet, but not overly dry...you must try this! It was awesome!
The other highlight, was spending some one on time with my little guy, Max....after hubby went to work, we cuddled up in bed, me with my glass of vampire wine and him with his glass of cranberry juice and watched this cute little flick:

We also snacked on popcorn and apples with peanut butter. He was too cute. Telling me over and over how happy he was we were "by ourselves"....it's not very often he gets to have one or both parents to hisself.
I just can't resist his cute little "mug"...

After the movie, we brushed our teeth and I tucked him into bed. And, for a Friday night, I went to bed rather early myself.
Saturday, I spent hours cleaning. I felt sort of like this..

It is no secret that I loathe cleaning the house. But..the hubby and I have a deal..he does the laundry, helps out with the kids and cooks on my gym nights...major cleaning, well..that falls in my lap. Hubby could care less...while I am cleaning, he is the one saying, "Aw, hun...it looks good enough, you have been cleaning for 15 minutes...enough is enough"...yeah, he thinks the dust bunny magically cleans up after itself...lol. So, after several hours of cleaning (must give kudos to the hubby-he did scrub the shower for me-Thanks babe!), I finally showered, with the intention of going to the gym..yes, I shower and put on makeup to go to the gym..I am an original southern belle...let me tell you. But, the brother-in-law stopped by to take a look at our broke oven...the Mother-in-law insisted on him checking it out, even though we paid $60 to a professional from Sears to look at, they told us it would cost several hundred dollars to replace the computer board inside it (electronic start oven)...the brother-in-law basically agreed with the Sears repairman...Go figure! But, at least the Mother-in-law was satisfied we had done all we could do. We did find an outlet for an electric stove behind there. There was no electricity to it, but we are going to get it fixed. The ex husband number one just bought his wife a new confection oven, so he has a like new electric stove he is going to give us for free...so, yay! I may be able to cook a Thanksgiving turkey after all! Hopefully, that little project will be taken care of soon. I am really tired of not having an oven. It has been 9 months!
So, the in laws were at our house for most of the afternoon, when they finally left..well, needless to say, the idea of me and the gym? Well, it wasn't going to happen. I pledged to go on Sunday and instead went to Blockbuster and to pick up take-out from Texas Roadhouse. Yum...roadkill and baked sweet potato..probably not the best thing for my ass, but, oh well....it was awesome! The remainder of Saturday night was spent vegging out in front of the t.v....and again, in bed rather early.
Sunday, I spent a lot of my morning on the computer (after fixing breakfast) trying to find info on the NYC Marathon....I so hope to one day be able to add a race such as that to my list of things to accomplish before I kick the bucket! Anyway, couldn't find a free site to watch it on, so I got dressed and hauled my limp legged butt to the gym. Still having a little leg pain, so I did 30 min on the eliptical, 15 minutes on the bike...I hopped on the treadmill to get a 15 minute walk in and to finally catch a recap of the NYC marathon....and tentatively, started to jog...I managed to get in a slow 2 mile run, before calling it quits. My leg felt really good! So, I am a little nervous and anxious..I want to run again so bad, but I don't want to cause any futher damage to my leg. This sucks! Leg...I hate you! Please stop playing with my emotions.
So, another Monday...almost in the bag. It has been a long, slow, but yet rather pleasant day...Mr. Burn's has been M.I.A. all day long. So...made Monday a little more bearable.
I am not going to the gym after work tonight. It is "family night"...so, hubby is preparing dinner for me. It really is a beautiful day out..probably our last week of good weather before the harsh mid-west winter begins to kick in...right now is sunny, no wind and 67 degrees. What I wouldn't give to go for a run. Hubby has put his foot down though, insisted I give my leg "More time" to heal...huumppph! Maybe I can convince him to let me go for a "walk"...yeah, a walk. At a very very fast pace. LOL..

Hope you all have a fab week!

New York City Marathon...

Good luck to all the elite runners running the New York City Marathon today. Weather you are at the top with 2 hours or come in at 5 hours, it takes a dedicated and special person to be able to run a Marathon. I only dream about being able to one day take part in such a spectacular event!

A Break From Running....

As much as I hate it, I have not been able to run at all since my 10k last Saturday. I mentioned that I had a possible shin splint on my right leg...at the time, it hurt, but I thought it was manageable. I think, after running my 10k, I only made it worse. I have not been able to run all week. I absolutely hate it! I have only been to the gym once this week. I did 30 minutes on the elliptical and 15 minutes on the stationary bike....and I hated every freaking minute of it! As I was on the elliptical, one of the guys from the gym I know, hopped onto the one next to me and looked at me and pointed at the treadmill in front of me....I frowned, pointed to my leg and just got more irritated. I love, love, love to run...and as I was on that elliptical, I couldn't help but give the evil eye to the other runners running happily on the treadmills. I was jealous and I was angry. I hated that entire workout. I don't like walking on the treadmill..as that only aggravates me that I can't be running on it.
I took last night off from the gym, to stay home with the family and cook them dinner for a change. I made a huge pot of chili and it was so, so yummy. I ate my fair share. A long with a couple glasses of Malbec...(yeah, I don't usually drink during the week-but you try putting up with "MR. Burns" like I have to all day long at the office, you would be drinking mid week too)..... So, even though the weather outside is cold and gloomy, and I am so very tired....and I loathe the other cardio machines at the gym....I am dragging my lazy butt to the gym after work. For another elliptical session and bike ride. Then abs and leg work. 2 hours and hopefully that will help put a dent in my bad eating from last night.
I can't work out Friday either....as at lunch time, I have important errands to run, then after work, I have to drive my 11 year old to meet his Dad for the weekend..which is an hour and a half round trip. Hubby has to go to work, so he will need the car. Max is staying with us this weekend. He is getting really burned out on going to Grandma's every weekend, I can't blame him...I need to spend some one on one time with my little boy...he is really looking forward to it as well. We don't get the chance very often to focus solely on just one child. He is already planning on sleeping in his brothers "big" bed, watching movies and having the x-box all to his little self. Wish that was all I had to worry about. LOL....
Anyway, this cartoon pretty much sums up how I feel about the cardio machines at the gym...among other things. LOL...


Hang in there my peeps....it's almost Friday!

berry cartoon religion 110310

Eating Some Humble Pie....

I am sitting here tonight, with tears in my eyes......A couple post ago, I spoke about my 10k, how upset I was over the outcome of it. I did state I didn't find the church or the people of the church at fault for how messed up things got...I really didn't....anyway, as I said, I just got an unexpected visitor...the couple responsible for the organization of the race, Tennille and her companion (husband?), just knocked on my door, with my race medal and a dozen red roses...I am speechless. That someone would be so kind, as to go out of their way, to do something like that for me..well, it makes me feel bad that I thought so negatively about the race. It really lifted me up and made my night.
I would love to take a picture and show you..my few little readers, but I lost my camera tonight. I also found out today that I didn't come in first place like I thought I did. There was another female runner, 41 years old that came in before me by a few minutes. So, even though I didn't get first place....I am in just as good a place, even with second. Since the race times were so off, it was hard to tell the day of the race. I was certain the woman in front of me was much older than I, but she wasn't...and that's ok. She did her best as I did mine. I am proud of where I came in and now, even more so....Tennille, if you found my blog, that is how you found me, then thank you! From the bottom of my heart! You are a special person to do what you did and I know that organizing and being in charge of that race was a huge responsibility...just know that I thought you did an amazing job! What happened was in no way your fault.
You humbled me and restored my faith that there are still good people in this world. God bless you Tennille! I will be there to run that race again next year.

Happy Monday...and race results....

Well, here we are...Monday again. Why is it that the weekends go by so very quickly and the work weeks go by at a snails pace? Mmmpphhh! After the race on Saturday....I relaxed for awhile, worked on calming myself down on the race let down. Then showered, dressed and hubby took me out for an early dinner. We stopped by the grocery and then the liquor store, came home, drank some wine and watched The Omen....I ended up falling asleep before it was over. We ended up in bed around midnight. Big Halloween partiers we are. LOL

Sunday, slept in till around 9 a.m., got up drank some coffee and just chilled for awhile. Then, did about an hours worth of housework, got dressed and we went out to eat again. Nothing specatuclar..just a local brewery here in Lafayette, then came home and laid around on the couch...we had a few trick or treaters...around a dozen or so I guess. By 8 p.m., the porch light was off and we turned off the lights in the living room. Watched a little t.v. and I was in bed by 10 pm.

I checked the race results online today and they were posted. Along with an apology from the church that organized the race. My medal definitely should be coming in the mail. If it doesn't hubby said he is still going to have one made for me, because I deserved something for the great job I did and for running the race. He is so sweet!
Here are a couple pictures of the race. Hubby doesn't like to use my camera, so there really isn't any good shots.


(Totally a terrible pic-so not my best side!)Me before the race...Man was it windy out..and freaking cold! I was still really sleepy and actually, dreading the race because of the cold.


(Click to make larger)...Mile 4...35 minutes into the race. This was after I took a GuGel....it kicked in right away! I started to warm up and was actually feeling pretty good at this point.

I am looking forward to running my next race. It probably won't be this one...or one this year. I don't like the cold....so, I am already looking forward to next Spring. Who knows, maybe I will run the Indy Mini-Marathon...

5 k done...10 k done...that is next in line. 13.1 miles here I come!

Have a great week everyone!