Ahhhh

Feeling much better today. A good cry last night with Cary and a glass (or two) of wine really helped. Today is going very smoothly and I'm excited to work out tonight, but more excited to gear up for the LOST season which starts tomorrow!! :)

For Crying Out Loud..

I woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning and it seems like a cloud of frustration has been hanging over my head ever since. I'm trying very hard to work myself out of this but I'm about to give up. Twice I've had a glimmer of a genuine smile and even thought the mood might be lifting, but then something else happens to bring me back down. Everything is 10x's more difficult than it should be and it's a very defeating feeling. Thank goodness Becca called and got me laughing mid afternoon. Now I just have to figure out how to make it through the rest of the night with out letting this spill over to Cary.

On Second Thought...

Maybe I can get behind this bike training thing. Especially because when I'm done biking for 2+ hours I can eat an ice cream sunday (low fat ice cream of course), cheese quesadilla (man that was the best tasting food EVER) and then home made pizza for dinner. I didn't even think twice about any of the indulgences this evening. So maybe long hours of exercise is a little more bearable than I thought....

Long Bike

Today's training schedule is 2 hours on the bike and then a 20 min. transition run (I think.) Cary bought a spinning bike a week or so ago which we have in the Man Room. He started biking about 30 min. ago. In the mean time I'm working on cleaning the house before I have to get on the bike. Can I just tell you how much I'm not looking forward to this? I can handle the long training runs. I can handle swimming for an hour even if it means I'm in a bad mood when I get out of the pool. But these long bike rides....it just feels like the whole day is going to be eaten up by sitting on a bike! Looking on the bright side, at least I can ride a stationary bike in my own house, watch a movie and then eat what ever I want (or should I say what ever Cary tells me I should eat) later this evening. I know I'll feel better when it's all done and over with.

Triathlon Banquet

Last night we went to the Richmond Tri Club banquet. Here are some picts!

This is Kathy, I have mentioned her before but she is like my Tri Mom. She is so full of energy and spirit I can't get over it. I love her!

Here is the gang, Rene, Kathy, Me & Cary! All 4 of us (plus some not pictured) traveled to Canada a few years ago to compete in IM Canada. Rene is amazing at putting together training programs. I've labeled him my personal IM coach! One evening he walked into the Y and I was trying to read the bike interval schedule he had created but couldn't figure it out. So instead of running (which he intended to do) he hopped on the bike next to me and walked me through every 15 second interval. I loved it! So that's how he got the titled "IM Coach." Now if I could just convince him to travel with us to Coeur d'Alene.....

Spirit of the Marathon

We went out to the movies last night! I can't remember the last time I sat in a movie theatre. The movie was Spirit of the Marathon.

http://www.marathonmovie.com/home.html

It was great and brought back so many memories and emotions. Jaclyn, her husband Justin, Cary and I all sat together. It was especially memorable b/c Jaclyn & I trained together and ran the Richmond marathon in November. This experience took our relationship to another whole level. I think she's as addicted as I am now. It was so special to watch this movie with her. I will admit that I cried. Only because I was totally there with the athletes as they made their way through the training and experience of the Chicago Marathon. I love marathons. It's ridiculous, I know but as much as I might not want to admit it, I do. If you have a chance to go see it in your area I would recommend it.

Family Birthday

Today is my dad's 59th birthday. I was thinking earlier how excited I am for it to be his birthday and the fact that my life has been blessed by his presence 1 more year. I pray that I will have another year with him. So here is a picture of our office birthday party!

From left to right: Richard, Rich, James, Michelle, Brian, Sam & my dad (Paul) is in front with the red shirt)

Tonight my folks and brother are coming over to our house for dinner. I'm making steaks! I've never made steaks before so I hope they turn out okay. Sometimes acts of service are the best gifts. This should be fun!

Quick update

I don't have much time because I need to prepare for a meeting this morning and then head across town, however I did want to update those who were interested on my swimming experience last night. It was awesome! Any prayers helped and I had the best swim of my life. Seriously! Mostly it just felt right. I wasn't exhausted after one length of the pool but almost in a trance with the motion. So we'll see how it goes later this week! Very exciting stuff....

Low Key Weekend

It's been a pretty low key weekend. Cary has been out of town duck hunting with some friends. Friday night I had dinner with my friend Jessica and her little girl Ella. It was our first get together apart from the guys (Cary and Greg where hunting together) and my first introduction to Ella! She is so cute I can hardly stand it. My goal with Ella is to help her feel comfortable enough around me that maybe she'll let me hold her. By the end of the evening she definitely warmed up but I didn't take any chances with holding her.

Saturday I did what I always do when Cary isn't in town, shop. Haha! I can't help but laugh out loud because it's soo true! Jaclyn and I got together for lunch and then it was a mission to find some cute tops to wear with a new pair of skinny leg jeans. I hit up H&M and man was that the mother load. Thankfully I didn't spend too much $$ but definitely found some great deals and walked out with several cute outfits, which are compatible with my skinny leg jeans. I rushed home to start cleaning the house because I wasn't sure when my man would be home. I got about half the house clean before I just pooped out and said to myself "Enough is enough. I'm done cleaning." Cary got home around 10:30 and it was so nice to have him back.

This morning we headed to church and my mom spoke about her new devotional book. We sold several books at the end of service and let me just take a minute to tell you that I'm VERY proud of her. I know this has been a dream of hers forever and to have something published and people respond so positively is overwhelming for her. It just makes me smile thinking about it!

So, Cary and I just got back from the grocery store and now I'm going to look up a recipe to make for dinner tonight. The Ironman training has begun in full force so we have to eat healthy and get to training. (Whisper) Thankfully Cary was tired and church ran long so we didn't do a 2 1/2-3 hr. bike ride at the gym today. I don't know how I got away with that one but I sure am glad I could take a nap! ;) Tomorrow....it's swim time. Say a little prayer for me that I won't get too discouraged (that's always a challenge when the training schedule calls for a swim day).

Take care everyone and I wish you a blessed week!! :)

Morning Dew

This morning I finally decided to treat myself to Starbucks. As I was getting into my car I stopped and directly in front of me was this image. I was struck at the beauty of the morning sun reflecting off of the dew hanging on the maple tree. How many times do you rush through your day going from place to place and miss these fantastic images. I don't think my photo came close to capturing the moment. It was as if God had placed twinkling lights on this tree in the morning!

Girl's Night

Last night Lauren came over for dinner. She is so beautiful!! I love making dinner for friends and hanging out.

Broad Street

I can not believe it. I drove into work this morning and decided to not take the highway but instead take one of the busiest streets in Richmond, Broad Street. Why? I don't know, just to switch things up a bit this morning. I have done this before and it has taken me 30 minutes to get to work when the highway, including construction congestion, can take me anywhere from 15-20 minutes. In Richmond, 10 minutes weeding through traffic and stop lights feels like eternity. Well, I guess it worked because I had absolutely NO red lights! My car paused for a moment to make 2 turns and one was at a stop light and the other was into my office complex. I know it's a small thing to blog about but sometimes it's the small things that can start a persons day off on the right foot!

Starbucks

I woke up this morning feeling like crap. As soon as my alarm went off and my eyes opened, my body told me that I needed to stay in bed for like another 3 hours and sleep. But no, I decided to read my bible (because I was too tired to read it last night) and my devotional hoping that the few extra minutes in bed would suffice. No such luck. For some reason this morning I feel like a Starbucks would make me feel better.

So Nice

I made the right decision last night! I came home & changed clothes, it always seems my first step to relaxing is taking my shoes off and then putting on jeans and a pair of the softest socks I can find. The refrigerator held a bottle of white wine I purchased for myself as a birthday present and so I poured some into a crystal glass (why is it that we never use the fancy china we received as wedding presents?) and made myself some cheese & crackers. I came into the living room, turned on the fireplace and walked to the office where I found some spa music online and clicked "play." Then I grabbed a Mango candle which has been sitting in my bathroom since this summer and it smells so good I have always been afraid to take it out of the box. Well, not last night! I took it out of the box. No, I didn't burn it, just set it on the end table so I could have a sense it was near, and not be over powered by the aroma of Mango. I opened my book and was transported to a Winter House in Aspen where I felt cozy and satisfied. Believe me, it was really tempting to stay there and not go to dinner, but when the time came around to putting on shoes and heading out into the cold I was relaxed enough to be able to enjoy dinner with friends. I can not wait to do this again, maybe Thursday evening.... :)

Whew

I'm not even sure if I spelled "Whew" right, but who cares. What a day! I think I clocked somewhere around 70 miles on my car today which means I'm exhausted. Driving here and there preparing for a design meeting tomorrow and I enjoyed it but I'm really ready for some down time. Tonight is "table group" night and that will require a pretty good amount of happy energy. Table group is just a few ladies, all from different stages of life, getting together for dinner once a month to talk about life, create bonds and pray for each other. It's pretty fun.

When I left the house this morning I had all intentions of coming home from work, exercising to a DVD for 1/2 hr. and then getting ready for my dinner out. Now, I'm really struggling with the idea of exercising, instead I want to curl up on the sofa with a glass of wine, some cheese & crackers and read the design book I bought last week (which I still haven't taken a moment to relax and enjoy). Hmm, what to do....

Answered Prayer

Ok this was a small prayer but still a prayer. This week I have been desperately looking for my Ipod. It was no where to be found. So when I woke up this morning and began to create my task list, searching for IPod was on the top. I have a training run today and REALLY didn't want to do it with out any music. Cary hasn't seen it. I looked through all of my gym bags several times, no luck. All the while whispering "Please Lord, help me to find my IPod!" I retraced all of my steps going as far back as our cruise in November, trying to remember where it was. At one point I'm standing in my bathroom on the verge of hopelessness and really dreading the soon to be reality of getting another IPod (I hate getting new things like phones and IPods b/c they are the biggest hassle to set up and get use to). So I decided to not allow myself to become emotional quite yet and proceeded to get on my hands and knees and crawl around the bedroom floor. I found a bag that has a gift for someone in it and randomly decided to take a look inside while thinking "hmm, when can I give this gift to her," then low and behold there was my IPod!! :) I'm so excited!!! Now, onto the other 12 things to check off the Saturday task list, one of which will be my run which I will enjoy more now that I have my IPod.

Good Times

Yesterday was a crazy day but the most fun event was visiting Jaclyn after work. I stopped by her house where we had some wine and I helped her pack for her trip to Vegas. I came prepared for the packing date with a back seat full of the cutest clothes I could find in my closet. We made lists of evening wear, day wear and all coordinating accessories. So much fun! I arrived home in just enough time to have a cookie and go to bed. Helping friends can be so fulfilling.

The New Motto for 2008!!

Start it early!!

A POEM ABOUT OUR GIRLFRIENDS
Someone will always be prettier.
Someone will always be skinnier.
Someone will always be smarter.
Some of their houses will be bigger.
Some will drive a better car.
Their children will do better in school.
And their husband will fix more things around the house.
So let it go, and love you and your circumstances.
Think about it!
The prettiest woman in the world can have hell in her heart.
And the most highly favored woman on your job may be unable to have children.
And the richest woman you know, she's got the car, the house, the clothes~~~~might be lonely.
And the word says, 'If I have not Love, I am nothing.'
So, again, love you.
Love who you are.
Look in the mirror in the morning and smile and say,
'I am too Blessed to be Stressed and too Anointed, to be Disappointed!'
'Winners make things happen~~ Losers let things happen.'
Be 'Blessed' Ladies~~~~~ and pass this on to encourage another woman.
'To the world you might be one person, but to the one person you just sent this to, it could mean so much.'

Thank you Shannon for sending this to me!!

Tonight

I am really looking forward to my evening going something like this....

5:30-6:30 Swimming (I'm not going to get my hopes up but maybe Cary will join me at some point)
7:00-7:30 Dinner
7:30-8:30 Make Shannon's cookie recipe
8:30-9:00 Eat Shannon's cookies & read through my new design books while sitting by the fire with a nice tall glass of milk (THE HIGHLIGHT OF THE EVENING)
9:00-10:00 I would love to say I'm going to watch Grey's Anatomy, but the more I think about it the true reality of the evening will be this hour is taken by getting ready for bed and reading my bible. Grey's might have to wait until Friday or Saturday, when I can really enjoy it.

Wow, when I look at the evening in a schedule like this I quickly realize there is hardly any time in the evenings. Oh well, at least tomorrow is Friday and I can stay up as late as I want! :)

Big Smile

Oh my gosh, I LOVE the dentist! My teeth looks so clean and free from stains I can hardly believe it. So fun!!! :)

Hmm...

Okay, I need some responses on this one to help me think this through.

I've said these words a lot lately, "It's okay, I'm okay, really. If this doesn't work out, I have a plan!" But last night I was reading my bible and over the past week I've been reading about Abraham and Sarah. Last night I thought "Sarah had a promise from God and put her "plan" into action with her maid servant trying to create God's promise herself.

So how much weight/energy/emotion should we put into our own plans? I guess I fell asleep and even this morning had this intense feeling and prayer that I wouldn't get so desperate that I force my own plan and therefore not trust God's plan. I guess this is why patience is a virtue...

Inspiration

I went shopping this morning, yet another perk of my job. Today it was a trip to Barnes & Noble for some design inspiration. I'm so excited to be able to look through these books!

Good News

Well, the dentist wasn't as bad as I thought. So for that, I'm very thankful. I go back later this week for a cleaning.

New Year's Resolution

This morning I'm going to the dentist for the first time in a very long time. I'm not sure what to expect or how much money this adventure will end up costing me over the next several months, but I just have to do it. There is a possibility I will never speak of the dentist again.

A True Friend

Jaclyn came by my office this afternoon and her daughter Kira walked in holding a pink polka dot gift bag with pink tissue paper. As soon as I set the gift on my lap it felt cold and I laughed out loud with excitement. MY MAKOTO GINGER SALAD DRESSING! Not just 1 bottle but 2!!! My heart is so full...

Thankful but REALLY frustrated

You might notice that I have added the "Today I am thankful for" page element. Well, this is where it gets a little hairy. All day today I have been looking forward to having another salad for dinner which was to be topped with that fantastic Makoto dressing. I used the last of the dressing last night and therefore planned to attend a spin class at the gym after work which just happens to be located right across the street from a Food Lion. After class I darted through the 25 degree parking lot while wearing sweat saturated clothes--a small price to pay for the deliciousness which this dressing will bring to my evening. I bee line it to the refrigerated dressing section of the store only to see that there are NO MAKOTO BOTTLES ON THE SHELF! What the crap?? I called Cary and told him I was going to the other Food Lion near our house and my voice was a good indication of my disappointment. While parking in Food Lion lot #2 I was on the phone with my friend Nan. Poor thing got the brunt of fury and anger which was soon to come, when I found YET AGAIN no Makoto bottles on the shelf. This time my eyes darted to and fro looking for a Food Lion employee (please I knew better than to waste my time looking but in the slim chance someone was near by I felt it was necessary to tell them that I NEEDED this dressing), alas no luck. As I'm trying to exit the store and expressing my deepest anxiety to Nan I almost began to cry! Nan came to my rescue and talked me down and I settled for some bottled chili. I am so upset that I still have no Makoto dressing in my house. You better believe the search will continue tomorrow. I am just too tired to go out and hit up other grocery stores to fill my pantry this late at night (but the thought has crossed my mind). So therefore I am still thankful for Makoto dressing but NOT thankful for Food Lion.

This is why my husband is great, he patiently listened to me rant and rave about the missing salad dressing and still tenderheartedly supported me. I'm off to bed and will try to let this go.

New Year's Eve 2008

This was one of the best New Year’s Eve celebrations ever! Pat & Courtney, Brian & Peyton (+Molly--the dog) and Mike & Michelle all came into town to bring in the new year with EJ & Ali and Cary & I.

The evening began with everyone meeting up at our house. We ate a bit, drank a bit and of course caught up on life in ‘07.


Our first stop of the evening was Capital Ale House, were we spent a little more time hanging out before dinner.

Ali & I sipping on our fabulous Cosmos!

We made dinner reservations at Edo’s Squid several weeks ago. I just love the atmosphere with the exposed brick walls, really low lighting and the smell of garlic. It was an Italian restaurant and each family chose 1 entrée which we all shared family style.

Pat, looking like he's having a good time but inside he's wishing he was in bed!

Mike & Michelle

Courtney & I chatting it up!

I have no idea why everyone is fascinated with EJ's chicken leg...

EJ & Ali

Brian & Peyton

By the time dinner was over it we had about 45 minutes or so before the big ball dropping (?) in Carytown. Thankfully we had that much time because there were some slight parking issues that I shouldn’t bring up; however, thanks to Peyton’s prayers we found a prime spot and there were no more worries.

One thing that I found hilarious over the last 24 hours was the absolute NEED for Diet Coke and food in general when it comes to pregnant women; Peyton is due with her first child in February. Well, as soon as we walked past this Funnel Cake stand Peyton starting making noises which indicated to us and of course Brian that there was a distinct need for something sweet. I think we were all in the mood for something sweet! So as we waited for time to pass we munched on funnel cake and hot chocolate.

Well, I have to say (and I don’t think I’m mistaken in this comment) the actual “ball dropping” in Carytown was quite a disappointment. We all packed in nice and tight around the crowd, still a couple of blocks from the ball and next thing we know it’s not “dropping” but RISING. We all looked at each other like “Okay, when do we start counting down?” Ali had the foresight to tell us that the ball was going up instead of coming down. Too hard to believe and still not hearing any big band music or counting down we all stood around dumbfounded. The only indication that it was New Year’s (besides my watch which wasn’t good enough) was a couple behind Cary making out like they were the last people on earth. Yea sure there were 2 fireworks which shot off the ball building but that still didn’t convince us. Sometime between 12:03 & 12:05 we were convinced it was 2008 and we just walked back to the car discussing the anticlimactic event. Ali was right! From now on, listen to Ali. All that said, there are no fantastic “New Year’s kiss photos” due to all the confusion.

This morning we had a great big breakfast and hung out with friends & watched the dogs play until it was time for the Cassada’s & Young’s to travel home.

So now I’m really looking forward to starting my New Year’s resolutions. Cary and I will begin reading the 1 year bible together and I have a dentist appointment already scheduled for next week!

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!