In the Spotlight...another funny thing happened on a run...

Thursday, July 22, 2010

Today is the day I get up freakishly early to go running with my sister. First thing I get there and there is no porch light on-"that's okay, I'm a few minutes early, I'll just sit here in the car a few minutes and wait". Four a.m. rolls around and still no light, I walk to the door and tap very, very softly and wait. Before long I hear Daisy (the dog) yelp. Well, sounds like someone is on the way to the door. I wait and finally tap again and then the door opens. So, the first weird thing actually happened to my sister. Daisy some how got caught up in the little drawstring on my sister's pants and they had to get untangled and then my sister had to fix the little barrel stopper on the drawstring that Daisy some how pulled off.

A short time later we are off an running. I am running a timed plan so I have my old ipod "brick", as my sister called it. I couldn't find ANYTHING this morning. I forgot to pull a shirt, somebody threw a wet washcloth on the running pants I had left folded on the bathroom counter so I could get dressed without waking anybody up, the HRM was missing from its regular spot, my stopwatch died, so I took the "brick" since it has a stopwatch function , also I misplaced the charger to my shuffle so if I wanted music it had to be the big guy today. My plan I was following was to run 4 minutes fast, recover 4 minutes, run 3 minutes fast, 3 recovery, 2/2, 1/1 and then 4 rounds of 30 second sprints with 1 minute recovery. After the first round I discovered that I kept a better pace if I ran and then walked very briskly for the recovery instead of trying to run slow. Something today just felt awkward and off during the "slow" runs and I wanted to increase my pace to have a better stride or something so the walking helped me use the time as a real recovery and felt better to boot. Got through the entire run without anything odd happening. Except since I was constantly looking at the stop watch I was afraid I would crash into a parked car, but I didn't -whew!!-lol!!

I'm so slow that awhile ago I started taking a "short cut" instead of following the same route as my sister. She always catches up during the run at some point so this way she isn't left standing around waiting for me forever until I finally show up. So at the end of today's run I was still in front and had gotten only a minute or so into my cool down walk when I looked ahead and saw this car stopped in the street, it was stopped at an angle, blocking the side walk just a bit, so that a person walking that direction (like me) would have to pass directly in front of the bumper and past the driver's door to pass. I kept looking at the car trying to figure out what it was doing and realized it was a police car (this escaped my attention at first because a) it was still dark outside-no sun yet, and b) my glasses were a bit fogged-it was a dampish morning and my glasses had collected a bit of moisture. I decided that cop or no cop I was not getting any closer to that car without someone with me-not because I am afraid of the police, but because as a woman you always hear stories about rouge or fake police officers who do things that are not so police officer-ish. So I turned around to head back to find my sister, just as I had made half the turn she says "coming behind", but at the same moment I got a glimpse of her in my peripheral vision and I jumped probably a mile!! Dang police car had me all freaked out. I started explaining about the car and right about then...boom we are in a spotlight. Those car mounted lights the police have are very, very bright when pointed directly at you in the pre-dawn-lol! It stayed on for just a moment and blinked back out. We crossed the street so that we wouldn't pass directly next to the car and as we pass the officer called over and apology for the light and explained they were looking for someone. We both called back that it was no problem. Then we started joking about that light. I was cracking up at how I, at least, must have looking in that spotlight!! I'd just finished the hardest part of the workout-30 second sprints, I was sweaty as all get out. The humid weather has my hair in extreme frizz mode and I didn't even bother to put it in little piggy tails this morning to keep it back (a couple of weeks ago I had that long pony tail chopped off, now my hair is in a bob that hits right below my ear, but a very curly bob). I must have been quite the sight!! "Honestly, Officer, I haven't been attacked, I'm just out for a morning run. I know it is still the middle of the night, but this is when we run. No, I usually look like this when I have to get up before the sun. Yes, I'll try to do something to improve my appearance next time so I don't give an officer of the law a heart attack while on duty. Thank you" LOL!!!! He was talking to a lady who appeared to be the age to be the mom of a teenager. I'm guessing some one went for a midnight stroll without informing mom, as I was leaving I saw the car headed towards Wal-Mart, a good place to go look for a teen-ager missing in the early a.m. First time I've ever been spotlighted by the police while I was outside of a car.

The really good news is that it was actually cool for our run this morning!! Yay!!!! This is how it is supposed to be here!! We get scorching hot days, but it cools off at night. So glad the "heat wave" is over-we are still getting very warm days-mid to high 90's, but our nights are finally cooling off again. Promises good things for our hill repeats on Saturday.

Hope everyone else is having a good week.Have fun, keep cool and be safe :P.

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

LINDENSGIRL 7/22/2010 9:55PM

Now that's a run to remember! Thanks for sharing and giving me a good chuckle! Report Inappropriate Comment

ESBELL 7/22/2010 9:54PM

You always have the best adventures! Report Inappropriate Comment

NEWNAC304 7/22/2010 7:58PM

You're braver than I am! I'm glad everything was okay. Report Inappropriate Comment

LINDSAYHENNIGAN 7/22/2010 4:57PM

How funny, but I would have managed a serious sprint home after hearing that the police were looking for someone in the neighborhood. Yikes. Report Inappropriate Comment

4EVERADONEGIRL 7/22/2010 4:30PM

It was a fun one this morning! Lots of excitement! :-) Looking forward to hill repeats on Saturday...???...I think. LOL I was thinking 5:00 AM?? If we want to beat the heat? Report Inappropriate Comment

SEEAMANDARUN 7/22/2010 2:17PM

Love It! Sounds like you had quite an entertaining run. Report Inappropriate Comment

EDWINA172 7/22/2010 1:47PM

Yay! I loved reading about your little adventure! I was holding my breath while I was reading about the car parked ahead of you. Scarey stuff. Thank God it was a police officer (a real one). Be careful out there. I carry pepper spray when I run alone. Might be an idea for you too. Report Inappropriate Comment

NEW-CAZ 7/22/2010 1:12PM

I can imagine the scene Heather! ROFLMAO Glad you got a good run in though! Report Inappropriate Comment

FLUTTER-BY)L( 7/22/2010 1:00PM

Your life sounds interesting. One of my ideas for a fiction book would be to coronicle conversations of a couple of walkers. Your running story would be great for a book like that. Good job for getting the run in even if it has to be at dark o'clock in the morning. Report Inappropriate Comment

KARVY09 7/22/2010 12:48PM

Ruh roh. You crazy fugitives you. Hehe... Sounds like a trip, but glad that overall you had a good run! Report Inappropriate Comment

Stinky, sweaty, felt good (?)

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

4.5 miles this morning...started out well since this morning was finally a bit cooler than it has been. We've always said that one of the advantages of living in this area is that even though it can get scorching hot during the day (110 is not unusual in the summer with the occasional 115-120 showing up), it cools back down at night, mostly back into the 60's-at the highest the low 70's.Not the last few days...it has stayed in the high 70's or even in the 80's-not exactly fun weather for running in. Today it was 67-ish, fine weather for a run. I'd much prefer something in the 50's or so, but I'll take what I can get!

Started out in the dark but the sun came up while I was out. I took a different route today than normal. I went farther west than normal and was pleasantly surprised. My section of town is a little odd, but in a kind of cool way. Hemet used to be a very agricultural town. Lots of large dairy ranches, fruit orchards and produce farms. It has changed a lot in the last couple of decades. Our section of town is an ecclectic mix of the left overs of those old family farms, a few dairy farms and a mix of old and new residential developments. There are some Mobile Home Parks where I have no idea how long they've been around, but most of the housing developments date from the 80's through to ones being built up until the bottom dropped out of construction. No matter which direction I go I run past some sort of farm.

Today the first "farm" I could smell before I saw it. I drive past this property all the time-it is in between the kids' school and my favorite grocery store-lol! They have a herd of goats-my goodness those buggers are stinky in the morning. LOL!

Kept going and ran through a little park that had a fun little "trail" running through it. Ran past the middle school, then the high school. Stopped at a busy 4-way stop sign where I TRIED to wave a couple cars through while I rested, one truck wouldn't go for it-very galantly let me go first, dang it, there went my excuse to take a break. Waved as I crossed and ended up on a gravel road-"huh, I had no idea". I guess I have NEVER driven this particular section of road, even though the housing tract where a friend lives is at the other end!! I guess I have never had a reason to go that particular direction. Dirt and gravel the entire way, on one side I had a big field of hay that had been mowed and the hay was sitting in bales in the field, with one of our hills setting a backdrop. Gorgeous, wish I'd taken my camera this morning, the sun was rising and casting rays on the hill and hay bales, it took my breath away-oh wait, no it was the fact that I was running that took my breath away, but still very pretty-lol. On the other side a bunch of pastures without animals. A little bit farther and I got to say good morning to a herd of cows looking at me as if they were trying to figure out what the heck I was doing. Got to the end of the dirty road and was tempted to turn left and go hang out a my friends for awhile, but I had to get home so hubby could leave for work- ;p! New, housing tracts to the left, more farms and fields to the right, cross over the main road heading north out of town, switch sides of the road since the wrong side (which for runners or the Brits would be the correct side) was narrow and without side walks, passed some vocal dogs. Found a Soprano German Shepherd. Cracked me up. This German Shepherd had the highest bark of a dog that size I've ever heard!! Another "farm" so the dog even had a really long yard in which to follow me and keep barking at me. Turned the corner and knew I had exactly one mile left. This section of road is my least favorite. It is narrow, there is no sidewalk on either side, there is a dirt shoulder, but this time of year it is full of pokey weeds. I stuck to the wrong side so I could see what was coming at me and only had to jump into the dirt a couple of times. Most of the drivers were VERY considerate and gave me a wide berth early on so that I knew they had no intention of trying to run me over or drive me into the weeds. This time of morning the traffic on that part of the street is light so that was nice too, maybe 10-15 cars over the course of the entire mile. Had to stop here and walk about half of the last mile. The HRM was not just beeping at me, it was yelling at me, I didn't take any water this morning, I was sweating like crazy and I was getting tired, decided to walk a bit and bring the HR back down to at least a reasonable number. Ran the last little bit and walked back to the house-DONE!! Done with 4.5 and it was an interesting and fun run. Got to see an interesting mix of things, not just house after house, after house. I got hot and sweaty, HRM says I burned upwards of a thousand calories, and I feel good, and tired. I still haven't decided if running actually feels "good". I definately enjoy how I feel when I am done though!!

Hope everyone has a great day.

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

ESBELL 7/21/2010 1:20PM

This blog reminds me of all the reasons I wanted to become a runner. I'm glad you "enjoyed" your 4.5 miles - awesome job! Report Inappropriate Comment

4EVERADONEGIRL 7/21/2010 11:26AM

Wow - 4.5 miles on a Tuesday!!! Good job!! :-) Report Inappropriate Comment

CALLIKIA 7/20/2010 3:17PM

Sounds like a wonderful run! I *lol* about the soprano German Shepherd. Too funny! Great job getting those 4.5 DONE! Report Inappropriate Comment

NEWNAC304 7/20/2010 2:12PM

Sounds like an interesting run! Report Inappropriate Comment

NEW-CAZ 7/20/2010 12:18PM

run Heather and your blog was so discriptive I was right there with you. Report Inappropriate Comment

KARVY09 7/20/2010 12:02PM

Great run! And LOL at the soprano German Shepherd!!! Report Inappropriate Comment

LISA170 7/20/2010 12:02PM

Wow, I wish I would be that observant when I run! Very descriptive, I almost felt like I was there. Great job running 4.5 miles. That is !! Lisa Report Inappropriate Comment

MUSTANGMISSY 7/20/2010 11:30AM

Sounds like a great way to start the day! Report Inappropriate Comment

LINDSAYHENNIGAN 7/20/2010 11:08AM

Awesome. I totally understand not quite knowing if running feels good, definitely not in the heat. I am reminding myself all the time that I run hard so that everything else seems easy. If my run is the toughest part of my day, I am doing pretty well. Report Inappropriate Comment

STORMTMB 7/20/2010 10:43AM

Keep it up! Sounds like a good run. Report Inappropriate Comment

SEEAMANDARUN 7/20/2010 10:38AM

Sounds like a good run! I was so excited this morning when the temp was 73 not 82 with 82% humidity like the weather forecast had said. Report Inappropriate Comment

-DYET- 7/20/2010 10:37AM

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Met a Sparker today and a few beach pics and my garden.

Saturday, July 17, 2010

Today my sister and I changed our regular running plan and met up with another Sparker-AWEISE. We met at a local park. Years ago I used to ride my bike or go walking on the trail around this park, but I haven't been there for a couple of years. It was a fun, great workout today.We ended up going about 3 miles which was fine considering it is still really hot (80 degrees when I got home at 7:00 a.m.). The best part about the trails at this park is that they are hilly!! We finally found a great place to run that has gentle hills. We will be going back there again. It was lots of fun meeting up with another Sparker too!!

A couple of days ago we went to the beach here are a couple pictures from that....This is my son boogie boarding...





Apparently I didn't take an pics of the girls. Thinking back, first I was holding the youngest and the older girl flat out refused to get in the water so I never got a chance to take their pics becasue I was always down at the water with son.

My garden is doing well considering this is the first time I've really managed to grow anything.

My carrots-

My peas (trhere are beans growing in here too-I still needs to put up string for the peas to climb)-

My eggplant-I never knew an eggplant blossom was so cute-

My pumpkin-this is kind of cool-last November we planted some pumpkin seeds, generally speaking a bad idea, but we'd been having a REALLY mild winter so we figured why not, lets see what happens. Well, one pumpkin started to grow, but never blossomed and eventually died in a frost. As soon as it started warming up though this one blossomed and struggled for awhile and then started to take off now it is doing pretty well, it remains to be seen if we will actually get a pumpkin from it, fingers crossed.

My yellow squash-these are doing the best of anything-even the zucchini aren't keeping up with my squash-we took two more off last night, they will go well with tomorrow's chicken dinner.

There is also garlic, onions, the zucchini and a couple tomatoes and some sunflowers (just for fun). That is what I've been up to lately. Hope everyone has a great weekend.

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

CALLIKIA 7/20/2010 3:19PM

So THAT'S what my eggplants should look like. Sad. I planted 6 and all 6 haven't grown much at all. They refuse to die completely, but they aren't likely to ever produce fruit. Very sad. :/ Report Inappropriate Comment

KSW1963 7/18/2010 10:21PM

love the pics! Report Inappropriate Comment

PAPPHEM 7/18/2010 11:31AM

I wish I had space for a garden. I love fresh vegetables!! Report Inappropriate Comment

PELESJEWEL 7/17/2010 6:33PM

Great Blog! Love it because it show you are really enjoying every minute to the fullest! Report Inappropriate Comment

SNAPPEAS 7/17/2010 12:51PM

Ooooohhhh,the eggplant blossom is so cute.Your garden is coming along very well.Looks like your son was having a ball . Report Inappropriate Comment

NEW-CAZ 7/17/2010 12:31PM

I'm glad you had such a great time! My you have green fingers Heather. Everything looks SO good! Report Inappropriate Comment

4EVERADONEGIRL 7/17/2010 12:14PM

It was fun and I'm anxious to go back and do the park trails again...one of the best things about it was the SHADE!!! Something we lack on a lot of other courses around here. :-) Your garden is doing awesome! Meant to mention it this morning when I picked you up and saw all that green growing away. Report Inappropriate Comment

THOMS1 7/17/2010 11:47AM

Meeting other sparkers is very cool. I met some of them at the Cinnci convention last Sept and it was great. I also met a lady at our fitness center who is also a sparker and that was great to know there is someone in my own town. Your garden looks great and your time at the beach looked like fun. Have a great weekend and keep sparkin. Report Inappropriate Comment

Going to the beach...

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

That pretty much says it. SIL and kids are going to the beach and invited us to go along, so we're off to the beach today...I'll take some pictures and post later. It is going to be hot here today. Around 100 F. Usually much cooler at the coast thank goodness. Hope everyone has a great day. I think this is my shortest post ever!!

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

WBOYACK 7/15/2010 10:27PM

I love the beach!! Report Inappropriate Comment

PAPPHEM 7/14/2010 10:22PM

Wish I was at the beach! Report Inappropriate Comment

WENDYWITKOSKI 7/14/2010 9:47PM

What a great way to spend this beautiful day! Report Inappropriate Comment

GEODAWG 7/14/2010 6:35PM

Well that settles it. I have to go to the beach now! Report Inappropriate Comment

LIFE_IS_SO_GOOD 7/14/2010 5:46PM

Hope you had a great day! Report Inappropriate Comment

MUSTANGMISSY 7/14/2010 4:04PM

Have fun! Report Inappropriate Comment

BROWREN 7/14/2010 2:35PM

I'm very jealous!!!! I hope you have a wonderful time and build a sand castle for me. Report Inappropriate Comment

FLUTTER-BY)L( 7/14/2010 2:29PM

Hope you had a great time. Report Inappropriate Comment

4EVERADONEGIRL 7/14/2010 2:21PM

Have a great time! We are heading down on Friday and meeting Robert, Auxi and Brandon there...you are more than welcome to join us if you don't get your beach fix today! :-) Report Inappropriate Comment

VELLE9 7/14/2010 2:06PM

Have fun in the surf and !!! Report Inappropriate Comment

KEAMOM1510 7/14/2010 1:54PM

~~~ Jealous!!! Have a great time! Report Inappropriate Comment

NEW-CAZ 7/14/2010 1:40PM

short and sweet Heather but hey when you have the opportunity to enjoy yourself at the beach, why waste time! Go and enjoy yourself, look forward to the pics! Report Inappropriate Comment

Errg, Ugh, Blah, Whatever!!

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Errg...I am not feeling at all sparky. I am being lazy, I want chips in the worst way (thank goodness I have no money for chips). I feel like doing nothing for a month...

Ugh...I didn't run this morning, probably a part of why I'm feeling so errg. I fell victim to excuses. No, change that I allowed myself to talk myself out of it. I am not a victim here. I made the decision and it is what it is so I need to own it. I don't want to own it. It is one of those decisions I make way too often and it is not a great thing.

Blah...Life right at this moment is kind of blah. I am feeling overwhelmed by finances and things that NEED to get done and things I WANT to get done but don't have the money for. I am having to mark more and more things of the list of what is going to get accomplished in the near future and it is getting frustrating. The amount needed for my dream budget keeps going up. Maybe I am the only one who does this, but I have a " a dream budget". That is the best name I can come up with for it. An amount of money where if that amount just fell into my lap I could accomplish much of what is needed/wanted. New flooring, a trip to the optometrist, trips to the dentist, new tires, etc. You know, not the amount to totally change my life, but the amount to take care of the life I currently have. Tired of thinking of all of it and trying to budget on an ever decreasing amount of money.

But, hey Whatever!! It is what it is. All I can do is make the best of any of it and get off my Popo.

So today we are thinning the herd. Traditionally this term applies to when I go through and weed out stuffed animals that are not as loved as some of the others and send them to live elsewhere. Three kids means the herd has to be thinned about every year. This time I put the kids in charge of thinning the herd, but we are going to carry it further this time to toys, books, etc. I thinned the herd in the dishes and my books recently and the books went to the library which will shelve any that they feel would benefit the library and the others will end up in the library's bookstore. Dishes, clothes, etc. go to Salvation Army. The kids' books are getting thinned today too. Older daughter "K" has asked me to leave the Barbies alone. I can do that. It is time to take control of the clutter and lose some weight in relation to household items. By getting rid of a set of dishes, which granted I love, but we never use I freed up enough cupboard space to move all my canisters into the cupboard and off my counter. My microwave just died over the weekend too. So it is going away into the storage shed until somebody has an electronics waste drop-off. I am wondering if I can live without a microwave.

I found out that if you tear open a bag of microwave popcorn and scrape the corn and gunk into a pan with a lid it will still pop!! If I don't replace it I get even more counter space.

Time to get busy and fix my space, maybe that will help some...

Gotta tell you a story though. So, (I think that is the first "so" of this blog-improvement ;p) my two girls are thinning the herd in their room and bringing everything into the t.v. room and making "keep it" and "give it" piles. Youngest (3.75 y.o) "R" brings out a mommy and baby cat, the mommy cat is holding the baby cat in her arms, and tells me "this on goes in the get rid of it pile because the baby kitty cries and makes too much noise". This toy does NOT have a sound at all, she is making this up. So, "K", her older sister argues back, "all you have to do is pat the mommy on the back and the baby will be quiet." I am busting a gut as this discussion continues on for several minutes. The toy finally ended up in the "give it" pile. All my kids were blessed with ample imagination and creativity. I think as they get older I am just going to be in more and more trouble-lol!!

Okay time to go break some funk. Hope everybody has a great day. Maybe it is because the heat is on again...I hate the heat, but more that 6 months of exceptional weather kind of makes up for the summer...okay, going now...have a great one all.

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

WBOYACK 7/14/2010 1:10AM

Love it! Report Inappropriate Comment

EDWINA172 7/13/2010 9:29PM

Love the thinning of the heard. That's what I'm gonna do now! Thanks for the inspiration. Too cute about the kitty story! Out of the mouths of babes.... Report Inappropriate Comment

LIFE_IS_SO_GOOD 7/13/2010 8:18PM

It's way too hot to beat you up! I agree, take the day and spend it decluttering. You will be out of the heat and get something productive done. As far as the microwave ... i know most people would say that they can't live without it but I honestly rarely use mine. It's wasted space as far as I'm concerned. Get out there early tomorrow ... before the heat gets too bad! Report Inappropriate Comment

DEFIANTVEGAN 7/13/2010 5:24PM

I know that feeling you're not alone. I have stuff in storage that I pay $54. it's not a lot but I can use the money else where if I get rid of some stuff. The only problem is some of the storage stuff is Seasonal stuff like Christmas ornaments and decorations and I don't have room in my Apt. Bleh... I guess i can whine with you. LOL Have a yard sale earn some exra cash that way. And as far as the microwave yes an appliance that most can't live without but can be done and you will be healthier by getting rid of it. I know it's easier said then done since mine is still working. Just give it time you have goals it will get done down the road it will be water under the bridge. Hope it gets sorted quickly for ya! Best Wishes! Report Inappropriate Comment

NEW-CAZ 7/13/2010 4:54PM

DO I hear a Heather that needs her butt kicked? surely not. It's way too hot hun, have a breather and get with a de-clutter, more than enough activity for one day. Then get back with the plan 2moro Report Inappropriate Comment

4EVERADONEGIRL 7/13/2010 3:47PM

Ohhhh waaaahhhhhh!! Did someone call the WAHmbulance???? hehehehehe So totally messing with you because I'm your little sister and that's what I'm expected to do!! :-) And don't I hear ya on the dream budget...I've never termed it that way and haven't really thought about it in a concrete way, but now that you mention it, I do kind of have one of those in the back of my head! LOL Alright - well go bust your excuse and get some stuff done. Even if you didn't run today and it will be too darned hot to run tonight - you have the pool! That would be a great reward for you AND the kiddies for working so hard to thin the herd! Have a great day sister dear! Oh and if you still lack motivation, just go check out my tiki warrior profile picture...if you don't get up and get moving he just might spear you in the arse! hehehehe Report Inappropriate Comment