Men wish they had a pair!

Hi everyone!

Met the ladies this morning for our run. I couldn't muster any energy to do my usual hill sprints. I am going to have to get over this hurdle soon. And after all these months, aches and pains are starting to rear their ugly heads. My left knee, my right leg, my left ankle, my lower back. None of these locations hurt enough to stop me from an easy trot, but they're just noticeable to aggravate me. I hope all this tiredness and aches aren't psychosematic. Could this be me subconsciously trying to sabotage myself before the Goat Milk? ...to be continued...

We did our usual run and normally, after the run, we chit chat about whatever is on our minds. (That's that part I like the best) Interestingly, we...sorry, I heard a voice in the library and tracked it to a guy with aesthetically pleasing arm muscles. Rrrrrr. A man that reads, or at least pretends to. I love it.
Anyway, the topic this morning was breasts and cup sizes. They delved into the science of how the cups should fit, what it meant if the horizontal back strap was too high or low, to which bras were best for bounce. Notice I said "they". For once they managed to shut me out of a conversation. If any of you remember my platypus theory, you know that my problems or lack-thereof don't quite pertain to the chest region. I stood speechless, simply without words. Upon noticing my silence, I made a feeble attempt to add to the conversation which was immediately met with "Why don't you try the training bra section?" Ahh, et tu Brute? I am accustomed to male friends saying this, but not women. I was dumbstruck back into silence. I mean, really...what could you say? I knew it was a joke, but all I kept thinking was, 'I'm not 10, I'm 30!' I've got something to work with! This led me to ponder on the drive home. Why do I, along with many other women, feel that our breasts help define us as women? Is it really us, or is it the men who cause us to do this? In studies, women with substantial size breasts do get treated differently than women of less. I believe its the men. Not all, but most of them. They managed to push their insecurity of their manhood onto women, similar to the way one person shifts their negative energy onto someone else, thereby relieving themselves of the burden. Seriously... how else would you compete with a beautiful woman who can multitask, have and raise kids, and work to survive on a daily basis?

You know what? My chest if fine. And I think my energy is kicking back in. Pat yourselves on the back ladies, for we do make the world go round. And the next time a man ogles your chest or gives you a hard time, don't get angry. Just remember... he wishes he had a pair of these!!!!

Draggin'! That is what I would call today. I had no pep in my step. The heat rash was no help either. Pouring cold water on me at the water stops and the sweating helped to cool my body temp, but as I write this now, my feet and legs are itchy again. Ah, the summertime blues.
Bobbie and Donna, I enjoyed walking with you ladies for the last half of the trek. I enjoyed that a whole lot better than running! But come Goat Milk, I'll get eager to get it over with and start the crazy running thing again. But if I feel like walking, I'll know where to go. I took an 'energy enhancer' on the run. Half after Woodmoor, and the other at the Jr. High. Nothing. No pep. But I do think it caused some hallucenations while I ran. Were there swans in the lake? (no pun intended) I could have sworn there were two swans. Did see a lot of squirrels that turned out to be tree roots. Anyway, I recommend the Vanilla Bean flavored gu... fabulous!

I got home and welcomed my cold plunge in the shower. My feet felt like fire. I took a nap before my brunch with friends. Ate like there was no tomorrow. Carol, I know what you mean by the ravenous appetite. Eggs benedict in hollandaise sauce, seasoned potaoes, fresh fruit, english muffins and ham. No mimosas this time. Starting this evening, its healthy/healing foods for the Goat Milk. (thank goodness PMS is over!) Lotta veggies, fruits, stretching and sleep.
Hopefully the gu won't kick in around 8 p.m. If it does, my apartment will be spotless.

Remember when...?

Happy Memorial Day weekend-eve!
I just remembered we have a three day weekend! What to do with myself? I'll have to leave the apartment at some point or I'll eat without realizing it.
Anyway I must write fast, for I have be summoned to a going away party for our supervisor this evening at Outback Steakhouse. I may have a steak, I don't know. But I had to come to the library first to blog to all of you before the weekend.

This morning, group run. I love those group runs. We all pretty much did our own thing at the end, but it was nice and cool this morning, which helped. Tuesday was so humid that it took forever to get to the halfway point. We've been thinking of getting a route to run for our long run, so all of us can have a change of view from Clinton at least once. The sunrise along the horizon of the Reservoir is beautiful. Everyone should see it.

We're having another potluck luncheon tomorrow. I asked my Dad to make Lasagna. I'll have to leave the party to pick them up in Jackson - he insisted on making two. He still thinks he's cooking in a Mess Hall on base.

As far as Memorial Day goes... we all know to remember the fallen heroes, past and present. But on a lighter note, let's all try to remember the good things vice the bad. We all can remember the moments that changed our lives in either minor or major ways. Mistakes, accidents, words we wish we could take back, etc. I do this a lot - shoulda, woulda, coulda. I realize now that so many good moments get pushed to the side and they were just as important. Bad times will always exist, but we have the power to learn and let go. So this weekend, go out and make some good, happy memories.

May all of your joyous memories be plentiful and fulfilling, leaving little room for the bad ones.
Take care - see you Saturday.

Who's on first? What's on second?

I do my best to read the blogs everyday and do some blogging myself. But I am disappointed with myself. There are still names on the list of bloggers that I can't put a face to and vice versa. And on the Saturday runs, I fear asking someone what their name is even though I have seen them time and time again. I have been told I don't have an "open" demeanor, that I sometimes scowl or frown, making me non-approachable. I'm sure those moments were simply nothing more than gas, but of course no one else knows that unless they're near...
So I want to apologize to everyone that I haven't held a conversation with yet - it's nothing personal, I'm just bad at taking the first step toward initiating dialogue. I do recognize you as a member of the Makeover family, if that means anything. For those of you I do speak with, I apologize as well. Because, if you don't remember me ever calling you by your name, it's because one day a week we meet for a few fleeting moments either in line at the restroom or after the run while recovering and honestly, it's not enough. Please understand, it's not that I don't care. For eight years people called me by my last name. Once I left the service and people started calling Michelle, it really took a few weeks to register who they were talking to. It is true... if you don't use it, you lose it. I didn't use your names, and I lost them somewhere in my brain-housing group. I try to use association to remember people:

Alice is the one that runs a steady pace - who ran with Susan last year.
Phaedra has the cute hair.
Carol is gadet queen.
Mary Lee is the tough cookie that walks her miles.
Melissa Thomas is the fiesty one.
Sunny is the one with braids stumbled upon those sweet and salty bars that are always sold out.

I know more people, but you get the drift. In my lifetime, I know I've known at least 50 people, so I know I can learn and befriend 50 more...since I've forgotten most of those first fifty by now.

Oh, and for those of you who can't put a face with the name, I'm the one that either blinded you on the 8 miler we did a few weeks back when took my shirt off. If that doesn't ring a bell, I have the long single swinging braid that helps me keep time while I jog.
Take care my fellow marathoners. See you Saturday.

A check on my list of 'things to do before I die'...

Hello all ye bloggers!
Ran with my group this morning - miss ya Susan - and finally got to enjoy the company of Carol. Yay! It isn't easy getting up at 'oh-my-gosh-thirty' in the morning to put your body through things it doesn't want to do. I commend all of you who get up early. The accountability thing works for me, and I have Susan's watch with the intervals on it. Boy, was it humid. Susan would have hated it. I sweated more than ever. Anyone that wants to join us, you're more than welcome.
I walked in the Northpark mall for my lunch today. My friend went with me. We managed to avoid the cookie stores and the pretzel shop. Almost succumbed to the beckoning of the ice cream stand, but mustered the courage to march on. Stopped in a store that her friend works in. A girly-girl store that had three bins of thong underwear near the registers. I killed time fumbling through them when I noticed the tag on one. Rub 'n' sniff underwear. There was lemon, kiwi, and cherry. So for the next five minutes I was sniffing panties while my friend chit chatted with her former boss. Normally, I would not do this, but I was intrigued. Despite the stares of other patrons, I rummaged throught the bins trying to find kiwi. That must have smelled awesome, because there were none to be found. Lemon was lemony fresh. But cherry...it was not what I had come to know as the smell of a cherry. I coerced my friend to smell them and she agreed. A sick feeling came to my stomach at that point. 'I sure hope no one had tried those on'... . Needlesstosay, I won't be sniffing anymore panties anytime soon.
Did I mention that I had come to the decision of trying new and different things each week to keep my catalog of experiences up? Panty-sniffing is now one of them. It'll just be in fine writing on the back page. Be honestly, who thinks of Rub'n'sniff underwear?
Anyone want to take whip cracking class with me? It should be a snap!

Food makes my world go round.

Hi Everyone!
I missed seeing all of you on Saturday. Is there any chocolate left? I was only able to run about 7 miles on Saturday morning - this required me to hit the road at 4:30 so I could be at the drill hall by 7 a.m. Too tired to do it again on Sunday. My left knee keeps locking up on me nowadays, and it hurt when I tried to run on the treadmill Saturday afternoon, so I just called it a day on the running.
The perk of the weekend for me was getting a chance to watch Iron Chef! (For those of you who don't know, I don't have cable at home.) Mario Battali and another chef who was the champion. Mario won with some exotic dishes. Then there was Emeril. Why I do this to myself, I don't know. I think I shouted "Bam"! in my sleep a few times.
The downside was the Family Day picnic. The chicken, burgers and maybe the hotdogs were not cooked through. People had to stand in line for an hour just to get a burger that was done. It was crazy. I ended up eating the lettuce, tomato and pickles alone. My Father, who was there, and having been a cook in the Army for 20 years, just shook his head. He and my Stepmother left early to go to the Commissary. I snuck out a couple of hours after.

I must go grocery shopping now. I guess it isn't so good that I am starving. Thank goodness my group run is tomorrow!

Refueling, Recharging, and on the Rebound.

Well, it's Thursday. My last blog until maybe Monday - got drill this weekend. I'll have to drive around the base when I get there to find a 5 or 6 mile loop so I can run the 11 miles on Saturday and Sunday. (I refuse to run in the evening - it's too hot.)
Ran this morning with my trusty fellow marathoners. Did the actual 5 miles vice 4.8 as T'knesha pointed out. Boy, was it humid! Susan had us eating her dust on the way back. I was dragging. Saw a couple of guys who were possibly drunk, but other than that, nothing really interesting occurred. We might start doing a speed training segment on Mondays, but the operative word is 'might'. I am all for it, but my ideas may be too far fetched at this point.
(I'm not allowed to call it "sprinting".)
Not surprisingly, food is on my mind once again. It's time to grub. I wish all of you a great weekend. Thank you Matt, Carol and Melissa for the pep-talk. Eat some chocolate for me. See you next weekend.

Need a Pep Rally before the game.

It's Tuesday. Supposedly the most productive day of the week. For whom? I didn't get far in my jobs. Why does everyone want nearly impossible feats done to their jewelry? One piece of jewelry could take close to 4 hours depending on the task. I only could get through seven of my thirty jobs today. I may get some chocolate after this since I didn't indulge on Saturday.

I did run this morning with my run group. It was good to have everyone there. Susan's foot is better. We ran about 5 miles, give or take. If it wasn't for the group, I don't think I would be improving as well as I have been. I wouldn't take as many walk breaks - leaving me too tired to finish strong. Gotta love group runs.

Matt, I was wounded by a terrorist sniper today. Yes... I was at Cozumel's lunch buffet. Luckily the cooks were not being told by the waitstaff that the food trough was low and the feeding frenzy had waned. I stayed away from the cheese, however, which is why I am only wounded and not a casualty. My friend, on the other hand, decided to be a medal of honor recipient by putting herself in the line of fire, telling the waitstaff the smorgasbord of mexican cuisine was becoming non-existant. I really gotta discipline myself when she's around - that one has the force... and it is strong.

I got to thinking about the marathon. 5 months to go. Usually I have a habit of not sticking with anything for more than a few months, so I have made progress there. But... I am getting ancy again. I get spurts of motivation, but then it fades. I try to stay positive for those around because let's face it - who needs or wants to be around a sour puss? I don't. I guess what I am saying is... I need a pep talk for a change. My intentions are good; the will is there. My spirit is tired. I know patience is a virtue, but it seems the goal is moving away from me rather than coming into view. Sorry. I couldn't think of anything funny to write these past few blogs. I think I'll need to embark on a few adventures to inspire me. Anyone have any suggestions?

Blah, blah, blah...yadda, yadda, yadda...

Hello All!
I wanted to blog sooner, but I am subject to the Library and it's schedule. Saturday's run was good for me. I didn't go all the way to the deadend - stopped short of the downhill, but figured if that was the actual marathon, I could make that distance on my knees if need be, so I skipped it and u-turned early. Ran with T'knesha. It helps because I would run too fast for too long. Managed to get over my complex of being last one in, although it was a little disappointing to see most of the runner already gone, but I know hectic lives await the many.
After the run, I had arranged to meet a friend for brunch at Deja Vu. Nearly ran myself off the 220 trying to text her back rather than call her. ( I didn't know I had texting ability on my trac-phone so I was determined to use it. I know now not to do it while driving).
Now, never did I say that I was on any specific diet, and I certainly didn't practice one at brunch. I had eggs benedict with seasoned potatoes, a muffin - which was burnt, fresh fruit and for dessert, orange creme crepes. It was heavenly.
Remember those jeans I bought? Well, they're too big now. Hee-hee. I can keep them up with a belt, but I don't know how much longer that will work. If this is from all the lunges and squats I've been doing, I'll do them for the rest of my life! They'll probably ask me to leave the library for doing squats while blogging! Bystanders will think I have gone nuts because I'll just break into static lunges midsentence. "It's all for the dream...", is what I'll tell them. Who doesn't like a tight hiney? They're actually my favorite of the ones I see at the fire department down the street. Ya can't go wrong in flame retardant pants when your butt is that hot! Sorry, where was I...
My time is running out here in the library, including things I have to tell you. So I will end this blog before I start revealing any personal info that may fit in the category of TMI. Hope you all have a good week.

Move over thighs, my calves are meater!

I tried to write yesterday, but unbeknownst to me, the blog server was going to be down at the time I would publish. Everything...gone. It was some pretty good stuff too.

If I remember correctly, I was explaining that I am making progress on my running and overall physical fitness. But I must admit, I can't wait for these thighs to shrink! They're like my twins, they know each other so well that they make room for one another when I walk. I just wish they would be like grown twins going off to separate colleges - so they could have a chance to miss one another. The waists in my pants are starting to get looser, but the thighs fit the same. I could buy elastic waist pants, but I just don't like them. And who made panythose? Just once I'd like to be able to sneak up on someone without them knowing. I walk fast at times and you'd think is was an episode of Survivor with a contestant trying to light a fire in a panic. On the flipside, I do save money on gloves during the winter, I just shove my hands between them. They also act as a third hand when I have run out and I need to hold on to something tightly. During the summer, I can shade small children.

After my runs I make it a point to untie my shoes rather than slide them off fromt he heal. While I am down there I am looking at my legs. And you know, my legs are starting to look like runners legs from the knees down. I think I got killer ankles! My wrists aren't too bad either - for you blind Ray Charles fans. If we were stranded in the middle of nowhere, with no food to eat... I'd let you eat my calves. The thighs are worth a damn right now.

"Don't go to the light, Carolann!" - Poltergeist

Greetings and Salutations!
Just to recap, I am excited more than ever now after having run the 9 miles on Saturday. It was hot. And it was all I could do not to do my usual sprints to catch/pass people on the run. But I am getting better at not cringing at the thought of being last. (I still have issues with being picked last for kickball.) And in the event of any Runner's blindness that I may have caused, I do apologize, your sight should have returned by now. If not...then you wouldn't be on your computer reading this now would ya? Just kidding. But this leads me to my topic for the day:
Pale Skin.

For those of you who have not had encounters with people of mixed descent, I'll explain some interesting bits of info concerning the skin tone. For half Caucasian/Asian, the tone is pretty fair. For half Black/Asian, the tone is 'usually' a warm golden complexion. Notice I said 'usually'. I am the exception to the rule. I can be quite fair as you may have seen for a brief moment before squinting away in teary-eyed agony. My arms, face and neck are tan, but the rest of me is pretty shameful. Well now after the run on Saturday, my tanned areas include the frontal mid-thighs down to the ankles. Oh, and the back of my neck. (what is up with that? I thought my braid had that covered.) From my hips to my color bone is...well its pretty damn scary. I don't have to turn on the lights in the bathroom in the morning to take a shower. I pretty much just glow. I am the beacon for our morning runs! But I figured you were all my new family, and I don't know anyone in Clinton...why not bare my irredescence for all the world to see. I did notice quite a few animals gawking at me with the 'deer-in-headlights' look. Once I passed, they resumed daily activity. This also makes me wonder about the animal world in general. Are they gawking in awe or horror? Am I the 'albino' in their colorful world? Does being untanned serve any purpose primitively? Maybe in the Antarctic, Greenland, Siberia. But Central Mississippi? I should have been preyed upon and mauled by the end of our Saturday run. I was the little runt in the back of the pack the cheetah preys on, unable to blend in with my surroundings. I have got to get a tan. I Want To Live!

And today. A co-worker that sits next to me, a black man, asked me a question that I had yet to answer. I was sitting at my bench, eating my lunch, my right ankle resting on my left knee. A position that caused my pant leg to hike up to expose that ever-so faintly tanned ankle. He looked at it with young curiosity, wheeled his chair towards mine, leaned in and said, "Now, are you considered Caucasian?", all while pointing at my 'sun-kissed challenged' ankle. Yes, he was serious - innocently serious. Did I get angry, mad, irate? No. All I could do was laugh. Didn't even see that one coming.

I have now come to the decision to visit one of these establishments that professes having captured the sun in a box. Not to avoid questions as the one written above, or to be a part of the in- crowd. I just want to be one color. Not two or three. Although, that could be for interesting fodder come Monday morning. I am not sure which I will be giving my patronage to or when. I am sorry, I can no longer be the beacon of light that leads you in darkness. Just know that when I get my tan, I did it to save your eyesight...

" I Waass Run-ning..." - Forrest Gump

Hello my fellow marathoners!
This time I went through every name on the list to see who has been blogging. I am interested to see just how many people will actually run the marathon. I'm too cheap to have paid $100 and not continue on with the training. At least those who changed their minds could start the run, head for a port-a-jon - when in reality they've gone to hail a cab - only to be seen 25 miles later in a drenched shirt and tears streaming down their cheeks pretending to have accomplished a great fete. That doesn't sound to bad...
Anyway... I ran this morning with my motivated group of veterans. We actually ran our four miles at a 10 - 11 min pace. We've become faster. Now we'll have to start going further as the mileage on the long runs gets further. (Shh - don't tell them yet, I have to ease them into thinking it was their idea. wink, wink) I am excited about that, though I can't say my couterparts would be as thrilled but I am proud to run with them just the same. I tried to catch Susan up the last hill but she sped off to the finish. My ego is taking much more bruising than it expected to - which is good. My ego is bound to cause me another injury someday. And I know that many of you ladies don't like weight training, but I can honestly say, I would not have become stronger without the squats and lunges. We haven't even broken 10 miles yet, you're gonna need that strength to carry you the whole way. Okay, I'm done.
I have tried to get a co-worker to run with us since he is having dreams of yesteryear. He use to run track in high school, however, those glory days are long gone and yet he still has his letterman jacket that he tries to fit into from time to time. I told him to run with us, but he would rather run in the dark. I said "It is dark at 5 a.m".. His reply was that he doesn't want to run in public. I told him if he is as slow as he thinks he is, none of us will see him because he'll be behind us. Let's just say I won't have a job as any company's recruiter.
I have to go now, stomach's growling. Gotta carb-up for Saturday.

Have a little help from my friends.

Happy Cinco de Mayo-Eve Everyone!
For those that celebrate the Mexican Independance day, don't eat the worm.
Ran with the ladies on Tuesday morning, as you might have read on T'knesha's blog. Yes, she's alive and well. We have a new addition too. She seems real nice. Susan is taking the hills like you wouldn't believe, now. I remember when she would only hear the beeps for the walk breaks but she pushed me to run when it was time. She says she's not intense, but she can be when she wants to, huh Susan?
Unlike the three running buddies, I am a virgin to the marathon. So I can only listen to the war stories until I have experienced my own.

Hey Matt, you know what is worse than All-you-can-eat buffets? Potluck luncheons at work! Luckily everyone did not bring food or we would have had to roll everyone to and fro and grease the doorways. But I was good. My plate showed much white between the food portions, but I did taste a chunk of chocolate chip cookie - I took one for the team, okay?
Before, I would have just taken a handful of the apple pie and creme cake and simply rubbed them on each butt cheek and thigh since that was where they were going anyway. If only they could make gum taste like donuts, lasagna and cinnamon rolls, cravings wouldn't be a problem. That's all they are, cravings for the taste. Not the bloated, gaseous effect they give you afterward. And why is it always the worst when you're with company or in a public place. There are times I have puckered so hard not to reveal my indiscretions that I involuntarily paused midsentence. No, we crave not for the guilty feelings that set in once the clouded aftermath of our plate evaporates. If I want guilt, I won't call my Dad for a week.
We should come up with a Support Group. Call it Food For Thought. You can think about it, but you can't do without it. It's not like alchoholism where they get you hooked on cigarettes to avoid drinking. We can't give up food and become hooked on protein bars or Ensure. You have to eat. So why don't we share what we know about food. Healthy foods and recipes. Start logging what you ate whether you felt good that day or not. Two Saturdays ago I felt sluggish and didn't finish the 7 miles. I had coffee the day before, a natural diuretic. This past Saturday I made sure I didn't have coffee the day before and ate stirfry veggies and brown rice and drank a lot of water the day before. Saturday, I had tons of energy.
So Whatta ya say? Lets help each other out. I know I couldn't do this alone.

My two little angels

Hey Everybody!
Mondays! I just didn't feel like getting up this morning, but I had to do laundry and at 5 a.m. I have the whole laundry room to myself. So that helped me get out of bed and go run. I ran all over the neighborhood - couldn't tell you the mileage. I ran for about 45 to 50 minutes at a very slow pace. Just enjoying the sunrise and cool air. I noticed tons of people are selling their homes. I wonder if they know something I don't.

I know that most of you have children, right? Well, normally I feel like the odd man out because I have no input during conversations. But I can honestly say that Saturday after the run, and throught the rest of the weekend, I had to deal with two bickering little angels of my own.
After the run, I go to Borders. Haven't been their in a while so I am looking forward to some quiet time and reading. In line at the coffee shop and there, in front of me at chin level is a display for raspberry chocolates. (I forget the brand name) Suddenly and without warning, the first angel shouts, "Get one!" I look around to see if maybe the lady in front of me has a child with her. No. She's alone. "Get two!" No, it wasn't the clerk behind the counter. "What the hell, get three!" Another voice chimed in at about this time. Calm and clear. "Focus." I barely heard it to be honest with you. So, I had three. And they were good. And a coffee. I was falling off all kinds of wagons, tricycles, buggies....anything with wheels. I managed to leave there without spending anymore money. All was well until my mind drifted to the thought of ice cream. "Marble Slab!" "Stop It!", I shout back. "Focus." "You shut up too!" Could you believe, they actually have the power to read minds! I was fine for a bit until I heard faint whispers. Almost inaudible unless one were to attune their ears to key in on the evaporating words. "Seafood Gumbo. Chicken Fajitas Nachos. Shrimp Fettucini. Pasta Fagioli." That evil little angel was naming all my favorite foods!
"I can't eat all those foods. I am in training!" And then they stopped. No more taunting and teasing. I managed to drive back Ridgeland with my regimen in tact. Until I got to County Line Rd. "Yeah... but you gotta eat." I had a hankering for a huge Cheeseburger with all the fixings. Luckily,the two angels were arguing so loud that I missed my turn into Sonic and kept driving towards my apartment. But then the one angel - you know the one- made this loud comment about how the Waffle House was just past the next light and then they went at it again! But I ignored them. My old self would have given in to all those listed, but my new self knew how far I had come. And she doesn't want to start all over again.

This weeks lesson: Self-sabotage. Stop doing it. You may not realize you do it, but if you notice yourself in the exact same place and not moving forward, you're more than likely sabotaging yourself. It takes time to correct. Last year, I would have been all over that list of food and gained all my weight back, trying to lose again. Just keep your eyes on the prize ladies and gents. We're in this together.

Don't worry, I'll still bring the dark chocolate... You don't expect me to go cold turkey, do you?!