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Well it's been rainy but luckily no ice and tomorrow will be up in 60s so we don't have ice storm to worry about. Still not quite Mexico but can't c/o. Well even though it's been yucky rainy today it's still running day and so I put on my gear and Mike actually stopped me to wait for him. Yes, that's right Mike joined me on my run. We should all be very proud of him. We ended only doing a couple miles but it was run/walk combo and he still did it.
Only other new things going on is I ended up joining my HOA board today.
Oh..one other thing happened today. A friend at work lost her son recently. What's really tragic is he was 24! and got married to a 19 year old 12 days ago. Yes, 12 DAYS ago. a 19 year old widow! They have no idea what happened and the wife came home and found him dead. They are still waiting on autopsy results. He was a firefighter and so had a firefighter funeral. Just reminds you how short and fragile life is.

Let it Snow!

well I've been bad at posting but at least I'm not twittering! ;OP. We've had snow days and yucky weather all around. Friday and Saturday were decent at least and we got to go horseback riding. We went on a nice long ride on Friday but when we came back Cody bear was quite sweaty and Majic didn't have a bit of sweat on him. Well turns out he was wormed the day before and had a bit of a colic. He's ok though but just a little scare. Other new boys news is they are now barefoot. I know it's more natural and good for their feet but didn't know it actually lowers their BP by 10% . I don't know how long we'll keep them barefoot but they are doing great with it and not showing too many ouchies.
Um..not too much other new stuff. Haven't been able to do much caching lately but hope to resume when the weather gets better.
Not much else is new. Glad you got your nike + and caching stuff on your blog mom! well, hope all is well with everyone!

EIA

Well, I do feel proud of myself at least. This w/e we're having a nasty cold front where it was in the teens last night and highs in 20-30s today and yesterday but the sun is shinning nicely. Well, I'm not one of the popular kids with a treadmill (and frankly I REALLY enjoy the outdoors anyway especially when that means taking my little buddy with me) but really needed a run/walk. I was reading my woman's running magazine and saw an article on running in the cold and thought to myself--hey I have those type of clothes from skiing (running tights, mask/covers my mouth and nose, ear muffs, and gloves) so I tried it today. I've had a few layers on and really didn't feel the cold too much but boy did my EIA feel it. (exercise induced asthma). I mean, I'm really not that big of an idiot. I do know that cold air makes it harder for me to breath and so I allowed extra warm-up time but still with hills + air + cold making my knee hurt= not too much running and more of a walk and worse time. Oh well! I did stay under 15 min/mile and finished it. I left Jack home since it's in the 20s (not counting wind chill). I finished it though and that's good :)

FYI

Well, it's been a while since I've last posted but not too much new stuff going on over here. Been riding my horse as much as this weather allows. I did wear my new thermal barbie shirt yesterday as apart of my layers :). Although it's been cold, you do warm up with all the moving of getting the horse ready and riding. I'm really proud of Magic and me though. I'm now able to canter without him bucking and without my nerves coming in PLUS I don't need to hold onto his mane anymore with cantering :) That may not mean much to many of you but it was a big goal for me. It's getting a heck of a lot colder now and over the next few days so we likely won't be getting out there much until Sunday but we'll see. Hey defiance is coming out Fri so that would be good. Of course there is always housecleaning. Uh huh. Other than that I have been playing with my DVD's and did pilates and my country line dancing Dvd. Wanting to get better with yoga too and can't wait for warmer weather so Jack and I can get out again. I really need to think about a treadmill but the dvds are fun too.
So as for my title: I guess since there's not too much new stuff I would also use my blog for interesting tidbits I've learned lately and thought others would enjoy:

1.) Found a new magazine out just for Women runners and this month featured a half marathon guide.
2.)Anyone interested in a good thinking book, my book club just finished Jodi Picoult's Change of Heart. She has a lot of really social thinking books but this was the one we read and my first one of her i've read. I enjoyed it and it really went along with Gray's Anatomy recently. I may pick up another after the books I'm reading now. We're reading Margaret Atwood's Handmaiden's Tale next.
3.) I went to the library today and found a book you may be interested in mom: Chi running. It's supposed to be a running book based on zen or something like that. I haven't read it, just noted it.
4.)Scrubs is new on ABC and has had me rolling. I didn't watch it before but enjoy it now. Look it up if you haven't seen it.

Doctor's Note

Well I have the official only excuse that I can get away with for not exercising. I had to go have a minor tooth surgery related to loosing my crown and breaking my tooth yesteday and my doctor said NO activities that raises heart rate for 24 hours. It was good timing since it was a rest day yesterday but no Yoga either :( Worked out though since Vicodin was my friend too. It's a gorgeous day today so we may go to the barn. I'm ok though and just enjoying my pills and rest. Mike is being a great RN too. The nice thing is while picking up my meds I saw a Shape magazine with my girl on the cover-Debra Messing.

holy hills batman

WOW!!!!! I knew my neighborhood had some hills but knowing about them and actually walking them are VERY different. I did get some jogging in but those hills kicked Jack and my butt. We had fun running down them though :) I'm just happy my time is better now than in May and I've actually lost a few pounds since the fall?! I guess horseback riding and all my little activities are helping. Well, Jack and I did a 5-k walk/jog today with mostly walk but did good. I got to use my new nike patch for the shoe and really liked it. The weather wasn't the best and we got drizzled on quite a bit but were lucky enough to have good timing and the sky really opened up as we were turning into the driveway. Mike had a wonderful protein and carb dinner which was really appreciated :). I was able to upload my nike stuff and was happy to discover my time is getting better. I didn't do much yesterday but Mike and I went to see Benjamin Button. I really enjoyed it (u know 3 hours of brad can't be bad) but didn't get the importance of the whole Katrina thing in the backround but ok. Good otherwise. The new underworld is coming in the end of the month and we'll probably go to see that next. Only other fun thing is I discovered the fun and danger of Lady Foot Locker. I had to go to the mall to hit up the Hallmark store for more barbie ornaments I missed in NY and wanted to go to Charlotte Ruse (which I'm too old to shop at I"m told) for some more shell shirts (2 for 15 for LONGSLEEVE yea baby!). I ended up passing Lady Foot Locker and passed the big sale sign. Found the cutest shorts and sports tanks buy 1 get 1 50% and a REALLY cute puma outfit that's pink and grey with a really cute hoodie and capri. Plus nice socks for running (as little cotton as possible) and some for regular exercise. All that for less than 150!!!!! Then I noticed Victoria Secret had a semi anuual sale. 4 bras for less than 100!!!!! SERIOUSLY :) I really needed some so I was very happy. Hey, we're supposed to help the economy right?!

back to the grindstone

Well it's Monday and that means back to work. Not too bad of a day but long never-the-less. I'm pretty tired now but had a busy day overall. After work we went to the barn to see the boys. I was going crazy after not seeing them for so long. It has been pretty rainy and wet lately so the ring was pretty muddy but the boys got to have some exercise and I rode bareback afterwards. Of course I used Mike to help us as I'm still working on confidence building. But it was a good ride and I got to wear my new chaps :). I also got to play with my new Wii trainer and did a nice workout. I'm still hoping to get some PM yoga tonight but we'll see. My nike mi is going crazy but the weather is still nasty. I'm hoping on going for a walk/run tomorrow with Jack but we'll see. I found another neat dance exercise dvd that I may try if the weather is pretty bad as the weather says it will be. It's a country line dance dvd. I dunno it seems fun. I know I'm probably the only one who will enjoy it though since it's country. Well like I said tomorrow is supposed to be COLD and rainy so horses may be out and running may be out but we may go see a movie after work.

Jan 3

Well, despite what my mini says, I did actually get exercise in today. We first went to the beach out at Fire Island but it was COLD and windy. It was pretty though. Unfortunately, the beach was also somewhat of a wildlife preserve and so dogs weren't allowed. But Deb stayed in the car with him becuase it was so cold. Pete, Mike, and I went out to the pier and found the micro and logged it. Afterwards we drove around and saw the lighthouse. (I know you're jealous brat. I'll post lighthouse pictures just for you :Op) As we were driving away we saw some deer and Jack woke right up. It was cute cause the deer started coming up to the car until they heard Jack yelling at them. Believe it or not they didn't run away though.

Afterwards we went to Argyle Lake and walked around a fairly big path. Jack and I even got to jog a little bit to keep warm and just to jog. It was beautiful but cold. Lots of ducks and even a swan. The lake was mostly frozen though. We looked for 4 caches there but only found 3. One was a DNF previously so we moved on. All were micro's but not too hard to find. Debbie even found one. It was a good drive there and back too. Debbie pointed out places from the past and Argyle Lake was actually where Deb and Pete took their wedding pics. We even past through Babylon and got to see a restaurant that was featured in Kitchen Nightmares. Afterwards we went to a deli for a nice NY deli lunch. We had NY bagels for breakfast, pizza last night, and deli today. We have decided to leave crack of dawn tomorrow and hope to be home by early afternoon. I'll write more when we are back in NC.

All weather caching.

Well remember when I said we could see the ground and that snow was melting?! Well, I had to open my mouth. It was pretty though but Mike did find some caches we could check out and I wanted to do a little shopping for after christmas/new years ornaments at Hallmark. Lynn, Pete, and Deb went to PA to catch her flight. Why is she flying from Pa?! No clue. I guess it has something to do with the school trip or something. SO, we didn't want to spend an extra 6 hours in the car when we were gonna do 10 tomorrow so we stayed in and hit some caches. We hit barnes for the needed caching item for this area---HOT coffee!!!! I also picked up the newest Runner's mag. I need to add this to the subscription list. I already get several horse and rachael ray but this is a really nice one too. As for the caches, neat park but covered in snow and we had to dig to find the caches. Extreme bushwacking too!!!! Everything is bigger in NY--even thorns. One area we even had to cross that creek to get to. But, Mike got to put some travel bugs in some today and got a kick of coming full circle. They have some hardcore cachers here though: they have calling cards in with the log! Yes, CALLING CARDS. One with the geocache logo at the bottom. Several of them had the date when they found this cache at the back. Ok this is a little too far for me. Mike-don't get any ideas. :OP.

After caching we went to Hallmark and I got the rest of my barbie ornaments and some other cute ones from series I've begun to collect. They also had a really cute classic winnie the pooh ones (my favorite is classic). Then we went to Target. Just becuase it's Target :) There was a new Wii game we bought--My Fitness Coach---which was 10 dollars cheaper at Target :).

Day 2

Well it's the second day in 2009 and so far things are going well. Pete made delicious pancakes for breakfast and Jack really enjoyed them too! I got to enjoy some of my Christmas cocoa (Vanilla Caramel hot cocoa :) that's sticking with the diet right) Well it was only 1 cup. AND i did take my new daily vitamin with it. Yes along with my resolution I'm taking a Women's daily vitamin. Weather is looking up too. It's 38 deg right now. (Don't you want to join us Gail ;) ) Well Lynn is going to Philly with her parents to catch a flight to Africa. Mike and I will not be going and are probably taking Jack for some caching and includes a several mile walk. That should be good. OF course, like I said it's 38 deg so I don't know exactly what we will do. Hey at least I'm starting to see grass and ground now.

Last night's dinner went well too. Jack is really enjoying being Grandpa Pete's friend and so he got some yummy turkey last night too. Tryptophan works on dogs too! It was also really nice spending time with Uncle Tom and Craig. Craig may be by this afternoon after he gets off of work.

New Year

Well have to admit, I haven't been doing as much activity as everyone else. It's hard to think about going outdoors doing something with snow on the ground and 20 deg high. But Mike did go out to his brother's house with his mom and they picked up some caches. One is really cute and it's from a little class project travel bug. He found 2 travel bugs today. He's making quite the little collection. I did remind him though that he needs to now place them somewhere. We will likely hit some more caches tomorrow.

Christmas presents

Thank you so much for everything. We just finished exchanging gifts with the rest of the family and I got such awesome stuff including my CHAPS :) Got several yummy candies, cocoa variety pack, a Thomas K. puzzle, neat pan and trivet, calendar, barbie holiday goodies, a marley proof candy dish, and mike got some neat stuff too. Thank you again. We got Lynn an ipod and so will be showing her how to use it. Thanks to everyone today and on christmas. Mom I really love my barbie too and all my horse stuff from everyone. I loved everything and especially having family both on christmas and new years.

2009

Well Happy new year to all again! First morning of 2009 and it's off to a great start even though it's an odd year!!! My loving husband found a dunkin donuts for breakfast and I was able to get my absolute favorite breakfast food--flatbread sandwhich with eggwhites and turkey sausage!!!! YUMMY!!! and it fits with my new year resolution. I also got a mocha but unfortunatly they didn't have soy so we'll see how my stomach behaves (thank you mother :OP) but it was delicious nonetheless. We are going to open presents here in a little bit and then have a new years supper with Uncle Tom. Jack is enjoying the snow and his new Harley coat. He's not liking the new snow boots and is walking like he's on coals but will have protected little paws.

This is also the time for New Year's Resolutions and I have decided on one main one: Get Healthier. This is including all aspects of life: financial, physical, emotional, and mental health. Yes, this means I'm going to try to be better about taking meds. be quiet, no coments peanut gallery :OP I am so excited about the upcoming marathon next year that we are getting ready for. I'm so happy to read Gail's blog about her getting into yoga and getting her ipod. You will really love Yoga. And you get to practice twisting yourself into the position of the guy on the dvd ;). No really, you'll love Yoga! It;s really great physically and emotionally. I'm getting into pilates and yoga not only for physical health but also to improve my riding. Plus I"m so excited you guys are getting into Ipod and the nike thing. IT's so helpful and motivating. Enjoy your new tink ipod!! But we still need to encourage each other to stick with the plan. Remember ladies: diet starts today! No more christmas cookies, truffles, and gingerbread :OP.