Random Thoughts

As I go through my days, I often think about things that I should write about in my blog.  I even create a narrative in my head of what I will write and how I would write it.  Then I get busy and of course forget the narrative.  The good part of that is the fact that I have lots of things going on in my life so I am busy living and doing fun things.  The bad part is that the few of you who read this blog don't get to hear about my awesome life. Ha ha ha! 

I don't want to make this blog all about my ex-boyfriend but there are times that I have thoughts and it helps me to get it out.  Since he was such an important part of my life for so long, I think it's natural to reflect on things at times.  It just sucks that his betrayal shed such a dark shadow on so many of my memories.  These memories hit me at different times and tonight it was as simple as a race shirt from a run that we did in Connecticut.  It was on July 22, 2012 which was actually after I found out that he had been lying to me and had been dating several other women.  I found out all of that on April 28, 2012 the day before Sean's Run in Chatham. Funny how it all revolves around a run. Anyway, he bared his sole and promised to get counseling and we even went to church together.  We were spending time together again and I guess we were trying to work things out again.  I distinctly remember him going to the car to move it.  Now that I think about it there was no real reason for him to move the car.  I remember going back to the car after the people in charge of the race had found an additional shirt for me so I went to bring it back to the car.  All I can think of now is that he was calling one of his girlfriends to "check in." This is what he did all the time while he was with one of us.  He was never really fully with you.  There was always someone else.  This is what I think about now when I remember our time together.  It's sad and disheartening.  Even when times were bad between us, I thought that we were going to be together.  It isn't as heartbreaking anymore but it's still hurtful to think that someone that you loved with all of your heart could have such total disregard for you.

On the positive side of things (because you know I always am. LOL) I have really moved forward with things in my life.  He was not able to break me or to break my spirit.  I've been doing volunteer work for an organization called Jazzy Sun Birthdays and Maddie's Mark of course.  We'll be planning a fall festival on Sunday, October 27th from 1-4 pm.  I'm also working on an event for Huntington's Disease Society and we are going to do a 5K or 10K or a combo next year.  Maybe I'll actually direct my first race!  I don't know how involved they will want me to be but they seem to think that I know a lot. LOL.  I've been volunteering occasionally at race events as well.  Most recently I volunteered at Saratoga Palio Half marathon.  I volunteer when I don't actually feel like running the race.  I have to get myself geared up again for running distance since I have the Hudson Mohawk Half Marathon next month. Yikes!  I ran my 18.12 run and then lost my umph! I'm hoping I can get it back soon since I don't have much time left! 

OK - That post was pretty disjointed and hurried and I apologize but it's a start! :)

You need both Sunshine and Rain to make a Rainbow. :)

Written on 6/27/13 (Forgot to Publish)

I'm sitting here reflecting on my life and I have to say that overall I am very happy. :) I feel very fortunate to have so many wonderful friends and family members who are there for me.  I have to remember this when I am disappointed by those who I reach out to who do not respond.  The positives far outweigh the negatives.

I look at my life now and I am happy with so many things despite my living arrangement with my mom and her condition.  It makes me sad sometimes to see how she has declined and how she doesn't remember things that used to make us laugh.  I remember talking about Alzheimer's when I was younger and discussing how it would be the worst thing to have.  I hate the fact that I am constantly annoyed or agitated with her.  I think I just miss the relationship we used to have and how independent she always was.  I'm sure she misses it too and I should be more understanding.  The roles have reversed and I've lost the mom I used to have and haven't completely adapted to this new version of her. I need to create more routines, which is really difficult for me but I really think it would help.  I got a little off topic there. Sorry. 

I meant to start off with the things I am "happy" about and I started with one of my "difficulties" instead.  I will say that my mom is easier to live with now than a year ago so that's good. :)  I have been doing lots of house projects including planting flowers and covering the ground with weed block and mulch out front on the hill.  I have been wanting to do that for years! Now I won't have to mow the hill. :)  I should also mention that my friend Kim helped me immensely with this project.  She helped pick out all of the plants and guided me in exactly what I needed to do and was there by my side helping me the entire time.  I am truly thankful to have met Kim and her husband John. :)  I met Kim when I dated her cousin that was staying with her.  He turned out to be not such a great guy but Kim turned out to be a great friend that I feel like I've known for years. :)  Everything happens for a reason.

Lessons Learned

Hi There! I know again it's been a while but as the title of my last post states, I've been busy, busy, busy! I've been living my life, having fun and learning a little along the way. I'm honestly not sure what my "Lesson's Learned" list is going to look like but I do know that one thing I've learned is to listen to your gut.

As you know, it's been over a year since John and I broke up.  I think the last time we actually spoke was December or January.  I have gone through periods of sadness, anger, frustration, and disappointment.  I have also gotten mad at myself for believing all of his lies along the way.  I've also had feelings of betrayal and have been angry with his family for helping him to carry out his lies and for not warning me or other women about what he was and I'm sure is still doing.  I have and continue to have a very hard time understanding how a person can live with himself and do the things that he does to others on a daily basis.  I think back to situations where he would criticize others for doing these awful things only to find out he did them himself.  He was arrogant and manipulative in the way he did things.  He was living at my house and would leave when I got home from work to go to stay with another girlfriend.  He actually brought me to her house (outside) to drop off her truck (which I rode in) which he borrowed.  He re gifted a Christmas gift from her and gave it to me.  He took a picture of himself in the bathroom while we were on vacation to send to a girlfriend in NY on Valentine's day so he could show her how he looked in the red shirt she got him before going out on a date with me.  While the other girlfriend (In NC) was celebrating her birthday without him.  He told all of us that he wanted to start a family and when confronted about "other women" he became angry with the cliche, "I can't believe you would ask me that!" Manipulation at it's finest!  I could probably write a book about it all but for now I will say that you don't realize how much energy a negative person takes.  I think my lesson here is "Listen to your instincts."  I knew that things were not right but I truly loved this person and was willing to accept him regardless of our arguments and his short temper at times.  I accepted his lies and tried to justify his intense need for "privacy" when he carried his phone with him everywhere.  He knew it bothered me but just brushed me off.  I guess another lesson from this is "Don't let anyone treat you as less of a person that you are."  This brings me to another incident in my life that happened recently and that I'm still dealing with.

I recently went over to my brother and sister-in-laws house to discuss some things about my mother.  I was excited to be able to see my family despite the circumstances of our meeting.  See, my niece, her husband, and her son (my great nephew) are now staying there and I have only seen my great-nephew one time even though he is now 6-months old.  I have tried to call, text, and even facebook message my niece to set up a "play date" but have received no response.  When I arrived they were not there but showed up slightly before 8pm.  They kind of said hello as they raced past me.  Jackson (my great-nephew) had gotten wet in the rain.  I figured that they would go change him and then bring him down so I could say hello and "meet" him but apparently that was not meant to happen.  According to my sister-in-law and brother, they have him on a "tight schedule" and put him right to bed.  Basically, I am not an important enough reason to adjust his schedule by even 5-minutes.  I decided to finally have a conversation with my sister-in-law about how this hurt my feelings.  I would have liked to have this conversation with Erin as well but since she continues to ignore me and run past me, this was not a possibility.  Anyway, I also addressed the fact that my sister-in-law never accepts invitations from me to get-together and that she does not invite me anywhere either.  Her basic response to this was "Oh well."  She didn't use those exact words but that is what she was basically saying by her demeanor and her "I don't do anything" and "That's just how I am" phrases.  She basically didn't care that my feelings were hurt and brushed me off.  Yes, this bothers me especially since it's my family and I would love nothing more than to have a relationship with them but I just need to let go since it's totally one-sided.  I do need to communicate with my brother for the sake of my mom but outside of that, I have already but forth so much effort over the years and need to focus my effort on more productive things.  I'm sure I will have my moments because I know myself! LOL! But I will try not to let it bother me!

I have many more lessons but I will stop at that for today.  I will also say that I don't mean this post to be a downer just a reflection.  I am actually very happy and feel like I have been more like myself this past year than I have been in quite a while.  After losing my sister and dealing with my mom's dementia, I guess I was somewhat vulnerable and allowed myself to be treated in a way that was unkind and made me feel like less than I was.  I was still here and still had some great times but I am overall much happier and don't have to deal with being questioned or put down as often as I did while I was with John.  He would build me up and bring me down on a regular basis just to make himself feel better.  Now that I'm by myself I may be sad sometimes but I don't cry nearly as much as I used to.  I used to feel so hurt by the things he said and did.  Again, I'm not trying to be a downer.  This is just kind of my journal of sorts and just me getting it all out.  I'll try to post my funny story tomorrow along with my lesson to "Not take life too seriously."


Lessons from Today's Blog Post:
Listen to your instincts.
Don't let anyone treat you as less of a person that you are.

Busy, Busy, Busy!

I know it's been quite a while since I've written.  I just looked at my last entry and it was like 3 months ago! I guess I have been busy living life.  I haven't forgotten about my little blog here and I often think about entries I would like to write and then I just get too busy to do it.  I do want to say thank you to my friend Belynda who keeps me on her "reading list" and to anyone else who checks in periodically to see if I've written anything. :)

I started my 2-week and 2-day vacation from work on Thursday and I am happy to say that I have been very productive! Thanks to wonderful friends and an awesome support system I am getting things done! I recently completed all of the major steps that I needed to complete in order to become a foster parent. I am now just waiting to hear back from the caseworker to update me on the status of my home study.  I am excited and nervous all at the same time.  I'm excited to take on the challenge and I hope to be a positive influence in a child's life.  I'm nervous because I know that my life will change greatly.  I'm finally getting myself on a great routine of exercise and everything will change. But that's what life is all about, right?  I often hear myself singing the theme song from the show "The Facts of Life." "You take the good, you take the bad, you take them both and there ya have.... The Facts of Life."  I know I'm a dork!  I just can't help myself sometimes. :)

Anyway, I have found a group of about 3 other women that I have been running with on weekday mornings at 5:15 a.m.  Those of you that know me know that I am not a morning person but it's great to have such an awesome group who is willing to run at my slow pace.  And they are a fun group too!  Or should I say FRUN?  In addition to the morning run I started a 4-week boot camp at Tawasentha Park which is 3-nights per week.  I've also been trying to go to the Thursday night trail runs through my running club whenever possible.

The past few days have been occupied with yard work.  My friend Kim has been helping me with this and we are working on a project that I have wanted to do for several years. I can't stand mowing the front lawn since it is on a hill.  I have always wanted to put something there that is easily maintained and does not involve mowing!  So I bought several plants, mulch, and weed block (with Kim's help and guidance) and we dug, planted, and layed down the ground cover and mulch!  One side is now completely done (pictures will follow soon) and the smaller side just needs to be covered and mulched.  I can't wait until it's complete.  We have been working on this project in the midst of graduations, graduation parties, and me visiting babies. :)  It feels great to be making progress!

I will end by saying I am very thankful and very blessed to have many wonderful people in my life that are there for me and help me when I need help.  I truly think that everything happens for a reason.  Sometimes those reasons can be figured out and sometimes not but I am feeling happy and truly blessed.  I have much more to say but it's getting late so I'm going to save it for tomorrow. ;) (I hope!)

Taking the Bull by the Horns!

In keeping with my goal to do one new and different thing each month, I was trying to figure out what I was going to do for March.  As it turns out, I already had something planned that I didn't even realize qualified as this.  I attended a fundraising event for my favorite charity, Maddie's Mark and it was a bull riding event.  So, not only was I able to support a great cause, but I had so much fun doing it.  (Pictures will be included below).

I have to tell you that before I went to this event I was thinking to myself that this couldn't be very hard. I just thought to myself, "I'll hold on as tight as I can with both hands and I won't let go."  Then...I got there and the first thing I had to do was get on the bull.  It was much taller than me so how was I supposed to do this?  "Just jump on up" is what I was told.  This sounds much easier than it looks and initially I was very intimidated, but I couldn't fail even before I had "ridden" the thing! So, I mustered up my inner strength and used the inflatable floor to help bolster myself up there and there I was ready to hold on tight with both hands. Then, what do I hear from the people running the mechanical bull?  "One hand!"  Crap, there goes my entire strategy but OK, I've never done this before so I put my hand in the air as I'm told, they "start" the bull when I'm ready, and I promptly fall off! Ride over! All that anticipation and "preparation" and I fall off almost immediately but I tried it.


Next, I see other people trying again so I think, what the heck, why not?  This time I still had some trouble jumping up on the bull, but I've done it before so I know I can do it again.  This time I squeeze my legs tight and hold on and I'm not thrown off immediately.  I actually last a "few" seconds and then I fall off.  I didn't tell anyone this, but I felt a tightening in one of my leg muscles, otherwise I would have tried again. LOL. I really wanted to but I was afraid I would pull something and then be out of commission again.  All in all, despite my weaknesses it truly was a fun evening and I would totally do it all over again!  In fact, I want to go back! Anyone wanna join me?  Maybe next year I can last 5-10 seconds!

Life can be "Taxing"

My "vacation" week is coming to a close and I can definitely say that I have accomplished some things but I also feel like I have a long way to go.  I have had a mixture of feelings about many different things.  I feel hopeful because I am making some progress toward my goals of foster care, getting my finances in order, and getting my house together.  I feel frustrated because all of these things take time and energy.  To be honest, I often have a difficult time getting myself motivated to do the things I need to do and that is frustrating to me at times.  Sometimes I have so many things on my plate that I become overwhelmed but it's weird because I can have that overwhelmed feeling whether its one thing or 20 things.  I'm not sure if I'm making any sense, but I sometimes get very frustrated with myself.  It helps me to plan things with other people because then I "have" to move!  LOL!  I feel happy because I have lots of friends and family who support me in my various endeavors, which definitely keeps me going! So thank you to all of you for all you do.  Sometimes I feel disenchanted because there are people that have been in my life that didn't turn out to be who I thought they were. It also makes me feel sad but I know that I am strong and can move past this eventually.  It's just something that is hard for me to digest at times.  I do, however continue to pray for these type of people.

Okay, so lets talk about my hopefulness!  I finally filed my taxes for the past 4 years. I think I may have posted that in one of my previous entries but it's pretty big news so it's worth posting again.  I like having this blog because even though everyone who reads it knows all of my business, it's not like posting 5 million posts on facebook where people who don't necessarily care read it.  It's something you can click on if you want to.  You may not always want to read about ALL of my rantings but you can just glaze over those parts if you want (I don't mind. LOL).  I mostly just do this for myself and anyone who wants to know.  I don't really tell everyone about this blog.  I may invite a few people here and there to read it, but really not many.  Ok... I got a little sidetracked there.  So, I completed my taxes and I was so nervous that I was gonna owe tons of money and it turns out I'm getting a refund even after all the fees from H&R Block and after having to pay taxes for 2010.  Yippee! And I was so scared!  Next step is working on getting a loan for my back taxes on my house.  One step at a time.  I'm also hopeful because I am making steps toward getting my house in order, although at the moment it looks like a tornado came through here!  But, I have my washer and dryer hooked up and the painting is really coming along.  I have to pick up the bed from my friend Jess and the crib from my friend Tiana.  Just have to check with my brother if I can borrow his truck.

Frustration.... This feeling comes and goes quite a bit.  I get frustrated by the organization (or lack of) in my house.  I know I need to get used to dealing with a child in the house and organization will be out the window, but at least I can establish rules for the child.  The same is not always true with my mother and she really does try to help.  It's just that her "help" often causes me more work, which can be frustrating.  I get frustrated with myself because I am not more patient with her and I don't spend much quality time with her.  Yes, I make sure she has meals such as setting out her breakfast in the morning and heating up a microwave meal at dinner time but I know that's lame.  I think I need to get everything else in order before I can focus on actually cooking dinners.  It may just be an excuse but it sometimes comes down to lack of motivation.  I know I am going in circles here but that's what frustration can do! Ugh!

I'm going to skip to disenchanted and sad so I can end on happy! :)  I think that disenchanted and sad go together.  I don't want to talk too much about my relationship with John because I really want to move on and close that chapter in my life, but it seems to pop up time and again.  I really wish that I could take away the happy memories from the relationship and cherish them, but because of all that I now know, all of my memories are tarnished.  Each time I think about a point in our relationship that I felt really and truly happy, I wonder who else he was texting or if he was sending pictures to another woman.  I think about all of the times that he couldn't go away with me for a weekend because he "couldn't afford it" but then he took a trip to North Carolina to see an ex-girlfriend and then lied about why he went there.  I think about the times he was staying at my house and when I would get home from work he would get dressed up and leave to go do work "at the cabin owners place" which turned out to be a girlfriend.  I think about the times he had to "work" in Catskill, and how his phone never had reception and then to later find out that this was another girlfriend.  There are countless examples of deception and lies and although I questioned them, I accepted the lame excuses that were given to me and I continuously went back and gave him more chances.  I think about how stupid I was and how gullible.  It makes me sad because I truly was invested in the relationship and it was all one big lie.  It will definitely change what I will accept from others in the future but it makes me sad to think that someone feels the need to be so deceptive and manipulative towards those who are vulnerable and kind. Luckily, I am also a strong person and I will get past this and have for the most part.  It just hits me at times more than at others.  When you have spent 4 1/2 years of your life with a person and you are deceived the way that I was, it doesn't just go away overnight. It comes and goes in waves.  It doesn't mean that I am sitting here pining away.  It just means that I feel truly sad that a person feels they need to do those things to get ahead in life.  I will never resort to that kind of behavior for many reasons.  First of all, I think that lying takes a lot of energy.  You not only have to keep your stories straight, but you have to deal with all that guilt on a day to day basis.  I feel guilty if I unintentionally hurt someone's feelings so to continuously lie would be totally taxing! I'm not sure if everyone feels guilty about such things, but I would!  OK.  Again, I guess I talked about that more than I wanted to so I'm moving on to the next feeling and the one that I hope will carry me throughout the year.

I feel happy because of all of the support that I have received from friends and family.  I have so many kind and caring people in my life and I know that it's silly to focus on the past negativity.  That's why I try to write about it so I can let it go.  I am not an angry person. I'm a happy person. :)  All of the wonderful people in my life help me to be that way.  I hope that when I am certified as a foster parent that I can help bring happiness into the lives of any children that may pass through my home.  I feel that this is something I am meant to do and I look forward to this next step in my journey of life! Peace and happiness to all of you! :)

Kindness and Honesty

I know I'm on a roll today with posting, but I had several different subjects I wanted to write about and I didn't want to lump it all into one.  Kindness and honesty is something that I think about often.  Now, I know I'm not perfect and I make tons of mistakes but I really do try to be a good and decent person and I try to do the right thing.  I try not to judge others but I suppose we all do at some point without realizing it at times.  I really try not to though!  I will start by saying that I have been blessed in my life with some really wonderful people who are kind and thoughtful, and honest so I have a really hard time when someone is not.  It really bothers me deep down into my soul and it hurts me at times.  Will I get over it? Yes. Will I move on? Yes. Does it still bother me? Yes!

Some of you know what I am referring to here and others may wonder but I really struggle with the fact that one person's lies can cause damage to so many people, especially when the person is preying on kind and decent people.  I will never understand it.  I continue to pray every night for this person as well as many other people but I don't see any change.  I know that I just need to accept the fact that I can't change anyone on my own and whatever will be will be.  At times, this is easier to do than others.  Today, I am having a more difficult time with this and with accepting this fact of life.  Tomorrow will be better.

I'm sorry for my rambling and for going on and on.  This is more for me than for anything else and it helps me to process it all. It's like my journal for all to see! LOL. But I need to put it out there and to just let it go.  I truly am happier without the negativity in my life that was there but I worry about other women that may fall victim to the same lies and negativity that I endured.  I think that I unfortunately need to let that go and work on something that I can do to help others and that is foster care.  I wanted to do it several years ago and now I can! That's why I'm working on getting all of the important stuff done.

God Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.

That was a short post, but somehow it was helpful to get it out. Please bare with me as I work through and past this in posts from time to time.  Luckily there is only a small group of you who reads this. LOL! :)

Rock On!

This is my actual post for today. :) I spent the day with my godson Alex and my friend Jacqueline and her son John and we had an awesome day.  Alex is 9-years old and John is 8-years old.  We began our day by meeting at IHOP for breakfast. Yummy!  The boys hit it off instantly and got along well for the majority of our time together (minus a little question about the rules for Uno. LOL).

Our plans were to go to "The Edge" rock climbing gym in Halfmoon, but since they didn't open until noon we had some time to kill so off to the toystore we went. What fun! We started at one toystore and the adults had just as much fun as the kids!  We would have spent more time there, but the kids really needed a restroom and they didn't have one for us to use there.  :(  Instead, we stopped at the coffee shop, where Jacqueline and I got ourselves another cup of coffee and then headed off for our next adventure. Guess where we ended up?  In ANOTHER toy store.  This one was much smaller but had some really cool novelty stuff and we bought some Mad Libs to do with the kids! :)

Enjoy the pic of the wonderful "characters" I spent my day with. :)  After our visit to this toy store, we went to the lobby of Clifton Park Center where we did a few MadLibs.  The boys were laughing hysterically! That was the best and reminded me of the days when I used to do Mad Libs as a kid.  And as if this wasn't enough fun for the day, we STILL had our trip to the rock climbing gym!

We got to the gym where they gave Jacqueline and I instructions on belaying so that we could do it for the kids and for each other.  Then we each took our turns at climbing. :)  We took lots of pictures and I will add a few at the end of this post.  We all had a really great time and helped to encourage each other.  Jacqueline and John had to unfortunately leave earlier than Alex and I so the two of us left to have a quick Burger King lunch (boys really get hungry!) before coming back to climb some more!  I mostly belayed (since kids aren't allowed) and Alex did several climbs.  Some of them he attempted but had difficulty.  At times, he wanted to give up quickly and with a little encouragement, he was able to make it farther than his initial attempts. :)  On his last climb, he made it more than half way, but not to the top.  I told him, if he made it to the top, I would get him a cookie.  He tried again, and YES he made it!  It was a fun-filled day with awesome company!

Jacqueline literally "learning the ropes"

Alex and John horsing around

Me making sure that the ropes are safe

New friends :)

Alex at the top

Me climbing

And that's the end of this post. Rock On! :)

Holy Cannoli!

This post actually refers to last night, but I've been busy!  I went to H&R Block today to work on filing all of my back taxes.  For those of you who know me well, you know that I don't always (or even ever) keep on top of my financial matters. I'm trying to change all of that and the first step is filing my taxes!  I got nervous one year when my brother did my taxes and said that I was going to owe around $1000.  I did not know how I could afford that and I stupidly became too "busy" to take care of things.

Anyway, I decided that I really needed to "bite the bullet" and take care of it, even if I owed money.  I figured I could get on a payment plan if needed.  So, I got all my W-2's together from the previous years since 2009 (No, that is not a typo).  I know I shouldn't be putting this in written format but maybe this will help make me more accountable for my actions.  I tell you, I truly have good intentions and I "mean" to get these things done, but sometimes I get so overwhelmed! This is my way of taking one step at a time.  Anyway, the good news is that I am able to use my mom as a dependent (sort of).  I get a tax credit for having her here and I then become "head of household."  And the other good news is that we mapped out the 2009 taxes and I will be getting a pretty sizeable refund for that year.  The bad news is that it's going to be pretty pricy to get my taxes done for all of the years.  $173 for 2009 and somewhere around $300 for all of the subsequent years because of my Pampered Chef business. Yikes!  But... hopefully the refund from 2009 will cover the expenses of having my taxes done.  And, I will feel a huge weight lifted off my shoulders when its all done, so in the end it will be worth it!  :)

Then I can deal with the property tax issue. Ugh! Again, I am making progress so I will take it!

Now, on to the fun stuff!  After I dealt with the initial tax appointment, I went to the Pfaffenbach's for pizza before going to Gio Culinary Studio where we made....... Wait for it! Can you guess? Cannoli! And boy were they delicious!  We also made almond cookies that were also fabulous with a chewy center.  Not only did we eat there but we also brought some home.  I brought two cannolli and two almond cookies so I could share with my mom.  Did I share?  Why, yes I actually did!  I'm not sure they would have lasted, however if my mom had been in bed already, but as it turns out she was still awake.  Lucky for her! Anyway, it was a fabulous way to spend my evening with awesome friends who are such an awesome family! :)

Reflections or Venting (Not sure yet)

Hi All!

It's been a while since my last post but I've been super busy! I've been working on my house and getting things done! Yay!

I was originally going to write a post with the title "Buggin Out" and tell you about my experience with head lice. Yuck! Yes, it finally happened.... I got head lice from one of my little preschoolers.  I'm all clear now and I made it through! I will talk about this at a later time.  Right now, I need to vent about my ex.  I usually keep these types of things to myself but I feel the need to get some things out of my system and figured this is a good place to do it!

I will start by saying that I am doing great! I am happier than I have been in a while and as I said above, I am making progress and getting things done. :)  I have even been texting with someone that I met online and have plans to meet.  As I think I mentioned in a previous post, this is not my main focus at this time but it's nice to be taking things slow and getting to know someone. I will definitely be more cautious than I have been in the past and will not ignore red flags.

So, here goes. My ex has continued to text me since we broke up over the summer.  Most of the time I ignore the texts.  Sometimes I respond in anger. Sometimes I respond with words of encouragement, depending on the situation.  I will admit that I needed to text about a house question regarding some work he did in the past because I am having some other work done now.  Most of all, I am trying to move on and the periodic texts that I receive about his "emptiness" without me and things that he wishes we were doing together anger me.  He spent much of our relationship lying to me and seeing other women.  He will blame it on something that I did or didn't do, but the bottom line is that he wasn't honest about anything.  I have moved past this for the most part and am happy with my life.  The thing that I worry about is other women being victimized by this man.  After telling me how empty he feels without me a few days ago and wishing me a Happy Valentines Day today, he was spotted at PF Changs with a woman and her two young children.  I couldn't help myself and I had to say something (via text).  He of course vehemently denied that he was even there.  My source is a very reliable one so I don't doubt it for a minute.  His information, on the other hand, is not so reliable from past experience.

I know I can't save them all or maybe not even any of them, but I just have such a hard time accepting this.  I also don't want to be a nasty person but sometimes it happens.  Anyway, I just needed to vent about that a little.  I generally try to be positive and I have done really well with moving on and moving forward, but when I get these texts and then hear about a "sighting" it just churns up some of the old anger and anxiety.  I figured this time, rather than letting it fester, I would get it out and it actually feels good!

I'm gonna stop there for now and will hope not to revisit this anytime soon! Stay tuned for more updates regarding foster care and house preparation. :) And I am on vacation after tomorrow! Can't wait! Yippee! Wahoo! OK, I'm done!

P.S. Looks like venting won out over reflections! LOL!

Busy, busy, busy...

I started my ballet class on Monday and it was fun! :)  Christine and I had a miscommunication regarding which class we were signed up for so she was there for the 5:45 Ballet Workout class instead of the 6:30 regular Adult Beginner Ballet.  Since she was already there she took that class too! She decided that she liked it and signed up for the full session.  Since it was "bring a friend for free" session, I signed up too!  Tomorrow should be interesting.  The Ballet Workout class is more aerobic and therefore more of a workout so I will have an hour and 45 minutes of exercise tomorrow after no working out all week! Yikes! Wish me luck! :)

It was quite a hectic week at work with two annual reviews that I had to complete, both of which were a little late, but I got them done!  Now on to the last week of January with billing due at the end of the week.  The paperwork at my job is like laundry (which I need to do as well!), Never ending!  Anyway, I also have the "Meet the Author" night on Friday, which should be lots of fun! And then a weekend of painting.  I am so thankful that I have lots of helpers coming to assist.  I really do have the best friends ever and am so grateful to each and every one for the role they play in my life.  I think I have my childcare lined up in case I get a baby for foster care.  Lila will do Monday and Tuesday, Sue I think is Wednesday, and then hopefully Virginia on Thursday and Friday.  I will have my friend Christine as a back-up and Sue's mom Christine as a back-up as well.  This is a bit of a change from the original "line-up" because Sue's day off changed and Lila and Virginia live very close by.  I am lucky to have several back-ups if needed.  Like I said, my friends are awesome!

I decided that starting tomorrow, I will not drink soda anymore!  I am filling up tonight and then tomorrow I will start drinking only water and of course my morning coffee.  I do enjoy my coffee. :)  I am going to give myself one more week and then will start my marathon training program.  I keep going back and forth as to whether I will run in the half-marathon with my friend Terri on March 23rd or just be a spectator.  Looking at the schedule, I should be ready.  I don't know why I am being such a wimp; I should just do it!  I will keep you all posted.

I also started conversing with someone from one of the online dating sites but it's really not my main focus right now.  I'm really trying to get things in order for foster care.  There are so many little things that need to be done, but all the little things add up.  Then I have days like today and yesterday where I have just been a bum! Sort of.  I have the ability to procrastinate so easily and then don't get the things done that I need to get done. Ugh! I know I will get there but I end up putting so much pressure on myself because I wait until the last minute!

One thing I did do this weekend was go over to my niece's house so that the girls (Gabby and Taylor) could pick out the Valentines they wanted to make for school and we set a date to make them.  The girls chose ones with bubbles and Hershey Kisses with a header that says "Blowing you Kisses on Valentines Day."  How cute is that?  After we make them I will post pictures.  I'm so excited to make them with the girls.  I also printed and cut out all of the headers so they're actually ready ahead of time. For Taylor's teachers she is going to make S'mores in a bag with a header that says "We Need S'More Teachers Like You."  Gabby is going to make brownies with a tag that says "Shooting for Brownie Points." Cute, right?  All of these ideas came from Pinterest.  That's my new addiction and another way for me to procrastinate. ;)

OK, that's all for now.  Even though I have skipped some blogging days, I'm getting better at writing more frequently.  I'm feeling good overall and positive about things in my life.  I just need to get things done! I will do it! :)

One more thing, I'm going to post my training schedule for the next two weeks.  I say two weeks because I plan to follow the "Week 1" phase of training for two weeks in a row instead of starting full force.

Here it is:

M - Rest
T- 3 Miles
W - 3 Miles
Th- 3 Miles
F- Rest
Sat - 6 Miles
Sun - Cross

I will actually be doing cross-training on Monday though and maybe Sunday as well but that is the schedule for Novice 1 according to Hal Higdon.  Now I just need to see if Terri is free at least one day so I can train with her. :)

Fabulous Weekend

As my post title suggests, I had an awesome weekend filled with friends, family, and fun! :)  I will begin with Friday evening (I'm noticing lots of "F" words. hee hee!) Anyway, I finally went to see my friend Jennifer from elementary school who lost her daughter Ila Jean to cancer in April.  I had been feeling a bit guilty because I had been carrying around a check from Maddie's Mark for over a month and I was finally able to deliver it along with a few toys for the Children's Center at Albany Medical Center.  Jennifer and her family are having a birthday celebration in Ila Jean's honor and are collecting toys to donate.  I had a few things that were originally meant for Ila Jean that I never got to her :( so I donated them in her honor instead.  I had a great conversation with Jen and her daughter Monica, who is such a sweet girl just like her mom.  It was just great to spend a little time with such wonderful people.  I am truly amazed by their ability to give back to others despite their tragedy.  What a wonderful legacy to their beautiful daughter to spread the love and kindness.

Next, on Saturday morning, I was able to spend time with another organization started by another family that I am inspired by, which is Maddie's Mark.  It was actually for Maddie's Elephants which is a part of Maddie's Mark. :)  They had a sewing party to make elephants to "grow the herd."  You can find out more about Maddie's elephants at www.maddieselephants.com.  If you would like to find out more about Maddie's Mark, their website is www.maddiesmark.org. Anyway, this organization was started by Erin and Matt Musto who lost their daughter in February of last year to a very rare and inoperable brain tumor.  Despite the tragedy, this family has found so many ways to keep Maddie's memory alive, while helping so many other families in the process and by building playgrounds in their community.  I could go on and on but I will instead just invite you to take a look at their website.  Truly inspiring!

Anyway, while at the sewing party (don't worry, I didn't sew), I was able to cut out the elephant pattern and the ears in order to make a super hero elephant for my niece Erin since they are doing a superhero theme for the baby due next month!  I was so happy when Wendi (the person who organizes Maddie's Elephants) was able to sew my elephant for me so I could take it to the shower.  :)  I also cut out a Winnie-the-Pooh elephant to have her make it for my friend Lauren whose shower is next month.  I had to leave before I could have that one made.  It was such a fun day and I know I was such a dork, but it was so fun seeing all of the material and the elephants being made with different fabric combinations.  It made me want to come home and make more (for them to sew of course).  I even went out and purchased some fabric to make an elephant for my great-niece Khloe (requested by Jamie, with her cheetah baby blanket as inspiration).  I can't wait to have it made. I hope it comes out nice and I hope she likes it. :)

P.S. I almost forgot to mention that Maddie's Mark was raffling of a bunch of items and I won a beautiful fleece blanket with elephants on it. :)

Following the sewing party, my mom and I went to Clinton's Ditch for Erin's baby shower.  It was lots of fun and I was able to help Erin to reach her gifts and started the assembly line of opened gifts to my sister-in-law Robin and to Carol who piled the open gifts on a table closer to the stairs going out. :)  My sister-in-law did a really nice job making the diaper cakes as center pieces on the table.  Her sister Jeanine made a larger diaper cake on another table that was next to the food table.  I should have taken a picture to insert here.  It was very cute.  All of Robin's sisters and her mom got Erin and Garrett a book shelf filled with books and two baskets that fit in the bottom.  My favorite book was the book with Garrett's face as "Super Dad."  Very cute.

After the shower was over, I came home brought my mom home and took a quick trip to Walmart (Where I got the material for Khloe's elephant) and then off to my friend Lila's house for a Tastefully Simple Party where my friend Christine was the consultant. :)  I won two items at the party including a beer bread and a crab dip or cheese ball. That made 3 things that I won in the same day! Everyone told me that I should have played the lottery. LOL! I didn't though. After the party, Christine came over and hung out for a while, which was awesome to just sit and chat.  Through our conversation, I discovered that her mom quilts, which is something very helpful to know because of a project that I would like to do.  I'll talk about this more later if it goes any further.  We also realized that we will be seeing each other lots in the upcoming months between our ballet class starting on Monday (for 9 weeks) and the Tastefully Simple parties that she is hosting at my friend's houses!  And I am going there for dinner on Tuesday for my belated birthday dinner.  These things all make me very happy!

Phew! That was quite a busy but fun Saturday!  Sunday morning and into the afternoon, I was pretty much a bum! I did make breakfast for my mom and I though.  I made the rest of the bacon that my brother gave me and chocolate chip pancakes (with the mix that my brother and S.I.L. gave me).  When I finally got myself moving, I went to the store to get the ingredients I needed for dinner because I had Jess and Shaun over.  :)

Dinner actually came out really well. I made a chicken dish with a pesto and marinara sauce with milk to make it creamy.  I also made broccoli and salad and then bought a variety cheesecake from the store and made some beer bread.  Everyone cleared their plates so it must have been good! ;)  It was really great to have them here and catch up on things.  As we were talking about foster care and stuff that I need to get ready, they offered me a twin bed!  I'm so excited about this.  It was one of the things that I needed to get and I thought I was going to have to buy one.  Now all I need to do is get someone to go pick it up for me. I need to put a call in to my brother.  I'm so thankful for the wonderful friends that I have that are so supportive and kind to me. :)  We had a wonderful evening and I had a wonderful weekend!

I have the day off tomorrow and have lots to do!  I have to take the lights off my tree (yes, my Christmas tree) and put it outside along with all the other garbage.  I have some paperwork for myself and some paperwork for my job to do, and then I have my ballet class with Christine! Yay!

Now it's late and I'm getting tired so I'm going to stop for now.  Thanks for reading! Hope you have a great day!

Thankful! :)

Today was a good day! I woke up this morning and for some reason turned on the news.  I never actually do this but I did and noticed a list of school closings.  I didn't even know we were supposed to get snow!  Well, it turns out that my work was closed so I got a snow day! Yay! It's one of the perks of working in a school setting. :)  When I finally got up, I decided to make bacon and eggs for my mom and I.  As I was preparing our breakfast I noticed the senior van outside.  They were here to pick up my mom because apparently she had called because she wanted to go.  That left me with the house to myself for a few hours.  I was able to get a few things done and eventually went outside to shovel the snow, which wasn't too bad.

Once I finally got moving and out the door, I went to meet my friend Terri and we did a 3-mile run by her house.  I took a shower and then we went out to Dinosaur BBQ for dinner (Good thing we ran first!).  It was yummy and we had a great conversation!  I am often thankful for what I have but our conversation made me realize again how thankful I am that I had a decent childhood.  It also got me more excited about becoming a foster parent.  I want to help give other children positive experiences like I had when I was growing up.  I always felt like I could do anything because that is what my mom made me believe.  So many children grow up with negative experiences and I have the ability to provide positive experiences for them.  It doesn't mean it's going to be easy but even if I can help in some small way, I'm happy to do it. :)

   Terri ("the martian") and me at the start of our snowy (which quickly turned dark) run!

I'm also thankful for all of the support that my friends provide me through kind words of encouragement and through so many other helpful things.  I am having a "painting party" the weekend of February 2-3 and so many people are willing to help and I am so appreciative.  I posted it on Facebook and I posted the fact that I am preparing to become certified to become a foster parent.  So many people have written such kind words of encouragement and it makes me smile. :)  One thing that I have learned is that people in your life (at least in mine) want to help you to succeed.  I enjoy helping others when I can and people enjoy helping me too.  I can't tell you how much that means to me.  It is sometimes a difficult thing to ask others for help but friends really want that opportunity.  When you have something exciting happening in your life, people want to be a part of it just as they want to be a part of helping in times of need.  This is what friends and community are all about.  With all of the negative things that happen around the world, its important to recognize that there is a lot of good too.  I am so thankful for all of my friends and supporters.  To all of you reading this blog, thank you for the role you play in my life.  I am truly grateful for you!  Stay tuned for more happiness in 2013!

Moving Right Along

Hello and Welcome to the Weekend! I had the day off work today for my first foster care home visit. Two of the social workers came just to check out the house and give me an overview of what I still need to do to prepare and to become a certified foster parent!

It's a bit overwhelming to think about but this is something that I have been wanting to do for a long time. :)  I know that I need to get the foster care room set up properly but at least the middle of the floor was cleaned up. (Sue M. you would be proud!)  I am just about ready to get the crib from my friend Tiana (in case I get a call to take an infant).  I turned in the background check from Sue and her mom.  I still need to turn mine in!  I gave a form to my brother to fill out (as a back-up caregiver).  It should be pretty easy for him to fill out since he has lived at the same address for the past 25 years.  Much easier than mine will be! LOL.  I also have my friend Stacia filling out her form as a back-up too.  I need to get the other forms out to some friends as well.  I called the people who were sent reference forms and 3 out of 4 people received theirs and are filling them out! Yay!  I also have a few items of paperwork that I need to fill out myself (I finished one of the lengthy questionnaires today).  I have my next visit on February 8th, where I will actually go to the office so that I can be interviewed in depth.  We thought this would be easier without my mom around because they may want to ask me some questions regarding the living situation with her.

As far as the things I need to get ready, the list is as follows (I will try to remember it all):

• Clean out the basement so that the paint cans and other materials are separated (Apparently the way I have them stored now is a fire hazard. Oops!)
• Purchase a fire extinguisher and post directions on how to use it (Everyone in the household is required to know how to use it).
• Purchase and install smoke detectors in each of the bedrooms
• Purchase and install a carbon monoxide detector
• Make sure all outlets have outlet covers (Took them off when painting)
• Prepare the foster care room.  I need to clean out the rest of my junk, get a bed etc.

I think there may be a few more, but I don't have my list in front of me at the moment.  

There are also other things that I would like completed that are not necessarily required but that I feel will make the living space more comfortable for all of us.  I am planning on having a painting/work party for any of my friends who are available to help on February 2nd and 3rd to help finish up some painting projects mostly.  I have to finish painting the kitchen.  Not too much left to do but a little.  I need to finish painting the hallway.  I would like to repaint the room that I will use for foster care and I would like to paint  my mom's room as well.  They are all in need of painting as they have not been painted in a while!  I will provide snacks as well as bagels for breakfast and pizza for dinner on both days.  I'm hoping that even if people can just show up for an hour or two on either Saturday or Sunday that I will get a bunch of stuff done!  Wish me luck! :)

In other news today, I had a great day with my niece Taylor.  I picked her up from school and we took a trip to the bookstore to use her gift certificate that I got her for Christmas.  Then we went to Panera where we had macaroni and cheese and clam chowder. When we were halfway through with our chosen "snack" we "switched." It was the best of both worlds.  At Panera, I was able to use the gift certificate generously given to me by Stacia's parents for my 40th birthday.  When I brought Taylor home, I spent the evening with the kids and Jamie and had a wonderful time.  The kids danced to music from a CD that Taylor played on her "Hello Kitty" CD/Tape player.  It was definitely entertaining to watch.  I also learned what a pro Cameron is at completing 24-piece puzzles.  It was amazing to see how quickly and easily he put them together. :)  I really love those kids.  They all have such great personalities and they make me smile! :)

Tomorrow morning I'll be headed to Turning Stone casino with my friend Kim on a bus trip through her work.  Hope I win some $$$.  That's all for now! Have a great day/night depending on when you read this! LOL

Slacker!

Ok - So here I am at week 2 of the New Year and I'm already slacking! Ugh! It's OK though; I will continue to work at it! I haven't run or gone to the gym since Sunday.  It's so hard to get motivated during the winter and I'm so tired when I get home from work.  I know that this is even more reason for me to get going.

On a more positive note, I have the day off work tomorrow. :)  I had a personal day to use and took tomorrow.  The main reason I took it off tomorrow is that I have my first home visit to begin the foster care process.  I am feeling pretty unprepared, however.  I did move my room into the room next to the bathroom and it was somewhat clean but now is a mess again. I have quite a mess in the soon to be foster care room but am working on it.  I came downstairs to take a break because it can get pretty overwhelming at times.  I have so much stuff and I continue to work on weeding stuff out but there is just so much! It is a very slow process for me but I'm getting there.  I need a day with Susan Matthews to come help me do some more organizing. :)  She is my motivator in that category. :)

I also had a great dinner last night with my brother Kevin and sister-in-law Robin.  :) This is on my resolution list so I'm doing good there. :)  I can't remember if I wrote about this, but I signed up for a ballet class for myself and my friend Christine. :)  The class starts on January 14th and I can't wait!  It also counts as my fun and different thing for January (even though its a 10-week class).  My February fun thing is my painting class at Saratoga Paint and Sip Studio with Stacia.  I'm also going to Turning Stone Casino for a day trip with my friend Kim on Saturday. I hope I win some $$$!  That would be a bonus!  It should be a fun day anyway.

I spent 2 evenings reading a book that I got (with my birthday gift card from Belynda). :)  The book was Miranda's Big Mistake by Jill Mansell.  It's one of those light reads that I really enjoy.  It's about a woman who meets this guy who she thinks is great and finds out that he left his wife because she was pregnant and that he's still married.  Anyway, it was fun to read and unlike my life, she actually ends up finding a great guy at the end.  This can only happen in books and movies, huh? LOL.  Oh well, lucky for me I have many other things going on and can still have fun and be happy without a man. :)  Don't know how I got on that tangent except to say that this book reading, although it was entertaining, kept me from doing all the other things that I was supposed to do! LOL! I guess I need that from time to time anyway.  Back on the wagon next week!  Since I will be taking Ballet class on Monday, I know I'll be off to a good start.  In case you are wondering, this ballet class is an adult beginner class and no experience is necessary so I should be fine! Ha ha! I do need to purchase some ballet slippers though.  I guess I'll be making a trip to the Costumer tomorrow!

That's it for now! I'll try not to be such a slacker!

Moving Forward

Good Afternoon! Today has been great so far! I began my day at the Scotia Diner with my friend Stacia. :) Today we got to celebrate her birthday and during our breakfast I got more and more motivated to continue with my goals for 2013! Thanks Stacia! :)

After breakfast I came home and researched some 5K's for the month of May/June, I registered Stacia and I for her birthday gift and my "Fun February" activity. We are going to Saratoga Paint and Sip Studio to create our Sunflower masterpieces. I can't wait! :)  I am waiting to hear from my friend Christine to find out if we are going to be able to take our Ballet class on Monday nights which will count as my "Fun January" activity. Then it will be 2 months down and 10 to go for my goal of 1 fun and different activity per month (Even though Ballet class is 10 weeks long. Hee hee).

I started my exercise goal on January 1st and as you know I ran that day, which was a Tuesday. I wimped out on Wednesday because of the cold, which motivated me to check out a local gym on Thursday.  I worked out on the gym equipment for 35 minutes and took Friday off. On Saturday I met my friend Terri for a run, which ended up being 2.8 miles long and no exercise so far on Sunday (Not sure it will happen. LOL! But I will plan on going to the gym on Monday).  So the final verdict is 3 out of 6 days of exercise for 2013 so far! :) I'll take 50% as a start!

I am having my brother and sister-in-law over for dinner on Wednesday evening, have my first visit from the foster care case worker, and am getting together with my friend Jess after work. :) I have invited Jess and her fiance over for dinner some night in January I think and Stacia and Andrew in February or March I hope. :)  I have many people on the list and hope to have many wonderful meals together!  I still need to send out my invite to have a game night on the 18th I'm thinking. If you're reading this and would like to come, let me know! Our book club will start back up again on February 1st and I'm looking forward to that! I guess that's it for now! Have a great day!!

NOTE: I changed my main photo to the picture of my night out with Wanda and Stacia for my 40th birthday, but I still want to document the wonderful photo from the 40th birthday celebration with Belynda in Hershey, so I'm including it here. I may change the pictures periodically to keep it fresh and to highlight things occurring in my life but I will always keep the pictures in my blog! Love you all! :)

Cross Training

Good Morning! This is going to be a quick post today just to stay in the habit.  I would have written last night but I fell asleep! LOL.  Anyway, I did go to the gym last night. This cold is just getting the best of me and I don't want it to keep me from exercising so I'm exploring the gym option again.  It's about $30 a month if I decide to go with the option of classes, which is what I want.  There are cheaper gyms in the area ($9.99 month) but every one of them requires an enrollment fee.  This gym also has a $9.99 option but it does not include classes and it's a $50 enrollment fee.  The place I used to go to has a $129 enrollment fee for the $9.99 a month and I feel like they are used car salesmen so while I enjoy the convenience of them, I'd rather not give them my business.  While I was at the gym, I ran into my friend Shelley who is also a member there and we talked about taking some classes together so that's a definite bonus!  She also told me that our friend Ashley is a member so that's another bonus! I have a 7-day pass to try it out so I will keep you posted!  Although I just did the elliptical last night, my main purpose for joining (besides getting out of the cold!) is so that I can cross-train and avoid another stress-fracture or injury of any type.  That's it for now! Will try to write later tonight! :)

BRRR!

Hello My Friends - Today was my first day back to work after a week and a half off and boy was it cold! I woke up a little later than I wanted to because I was so cold that I didn't want to get out of bed! That brings me to a little addition to my New Years Resolutions: Get to work earlier! I really really try but I really really hate mornings; especially in the winter.  Anyway, I did eat my lunch that I packed and I had my first cup of coffee at home, then forgot to fill my travel mug to take with me. :( I had a cranberry English muffin for breakfast. :)  Eating breakfast is important so that is also a goal I am going to work hard on each day.

I did "pack" my running gear and had every intention of running at 4:00 and doing about 2 miles, which would give me time to get to the running trail and be done before sunset. In theory the plan was great! In theory that is. ;)  I unfortunately wimped out because it was so cold outside. It was just one of those days. I know it was just as cold, if not colder yesterday but I just didn't have the motivation. Yikes! Gotta get back into that groove.  I will get there slowly but surely.  This is a short blog post today, but I am at least trying to write more often. Yes, it's only been 3 days but I am working on developing a habit. Wish me luck! LOL!

Oh, I almost forgot, I invited my brother and sister-in-law over for dinner next week and my brother is going to get back to me on which day works best. :) Check another item off my resolution list. :)

Happy New Year!!

Happy New Year! Last night was lots of fun with my friend Sue. :) We went to see a comedy show, then to Friday's and then to her house to watch the ball drop.  It was calm but a great way to ring in the New Year!  The comedy show was pretty good but the 4th and last comedian was really raunchy and not very funny.  The funniest part was how many people he offended who left before his act was over.  I think that's when Sue and I laughed the hardest! It was like a mass exodus! LOL. Thanks to all who texted to wish me a Happy New Year!  :)

As far as the day goes today, I got a good start on some of my New Years Resolutions. :)  I woke up a little late and was slow moving to begin so I missed my intended Winter Series Run.  I probably could have made it but it would have been cutting it very close.  I decided that rather than try to run to the start and risk missing it altogether that I would just run on my own instead.  I ended up running 2.25 miles on the Niskayuna bike path. It was at a slow pace; about 12:30 mile, but it felt good to get out there. My goal is to just get out there consistently 3-5 days a week for the next few weeks and not worry about pace.  If I can do 2 miles a night for the next two weeks, I'd be happy. As the weeks progress, sunset times will also get later so it works well with my mileage increase.  :)

I also got rid of some boxes by bringing them to my friend Sandy's house.  She will go through and take what she can use and then donate the rest. :)  I took out the garbage too! Both of these things help with my organization goal. I've been making lunch and dinner for my mom and using up leftovers as I go along. This helps with finances and with taking better care of my mom.  :)  I was able to get my room together and moved my bed into my new "bedroom" and was therefore able to sleep in my bed for the first time in quite a while. That's a whole different story.  Let's just say it's progress! :)  I read a few pages in my Chi Running book.  I decided I would read a few pages a day to help with my running and hopefully gain strategies for avoiding future injury. I placed my "positive or happy" event of today in my 2013 jar. Finally, I made my lunch for tomorrow and got the coffee maker all set up! Should make the morning easier!!

Now it's late and I'm tired so I'm going to cut it off here! Oh, and I blogged today! Let's hope I do it again tomorrow! Night!

                                               Before the run in the bitter cold!!

                                               The path I just ran!!

                                           2.25 miles done! First run since my injury!