Just a minute of my time...

Last day of school

I finished my last day of school on Thursday and can't believe the summer session has already ended.  Now I have a few weeks off and I've already signed up for my fall classes and looking into what's ahead for the spring session... aka winter.

I turned in my final exam, formal essays and all required work to the teacher on Thursday and now I get to await my grade for my first back to school experience since high school!

After taking the placement test I knew I wanted to get started right away or I would put it off, and I'm so glad I did, because now I am motivated to continue on and can't wait for the new experience the fall session will bring me.

What's ahead... Photography and Psychology!  Can't wait!

Have you challenged yourself lately?

She's home

All along she knew she would be home on Tuesday the 26th, but she told Joel and I she would be home on Wednesday the 27th... 

So I made plans with Ben to pick her up Wednesday evening, and he went along with them....

and they arrived here Tuesday afternoon!

What a sweet surprise!

Indians game

We've been trying for months to get together.  The four of us, high school friends, and it seemed every time we tried to plan something, it just wasn't happening?

Finally, having tickets for the Indians game, I threw it out there... maybe we could all go to a game? It worked, we were all able to go and so the plans came together!

Here we are just making it into the stadium before the rain began

After walking around what seemed like the entire stadium, we finally found a place where I could get something other than beer...

A strawberry daiquiri!  perfect!

Even after all this, it was still raining!  We decided to hang out right where we were, we could talk, were protected from the rain and right near our seats

and we were right next to the icee machine... which Diane kept filling our glasses with!

We spent the next hour talking and laughing and filling our daiquiri with icee until it was just all icee!  All the while waiting for the rain to stop and the game to begin...

and then Diane went and got in trouble...

Well, not really, but the cops were hilarious as we were heading out.  Yep, after over an hour of delays we decided to head out to another location.  The game eventually was cancelled too.  This way we avoided the crowds leaving...

on our way back to the car 

And after several stops at local bars, we found a place with a good band and decided to hang out for a while!

Super fun night with girlfriends and then I got up early the next morning and went to Hinckley and ran my longest run to date.... 15 miles!  

Meet Jamie

Stranger #7

We met in Wisconsin on our second visit to Red Mango!  She was a blast to work with while deciding what we wanted to eat and continued to chat with us when she finished work.  We hung out for a bit to eat our yogurt, chat and avoid the rain outdoors.

It was also Jamie's last day at Red Mango, so what a chance meeting was that?  She is a full time dog trainer or as her card reads behaviorist of her company called Bad Bettie!  She loves animals, obviously, and is an exciting, fun spiriting gal that you can't help but to gravitate towards!

I think the shoes say it all!

Fitness Friday

 Setting goals...

We've all been told about writing down your goals, and this past winter when I went to a motivational seminar the speaker there reminded me about the power of writing down goals and I was reminded again to update that list with this inspirational post Rhonda wrote on Jill's blog the other day.

The power of those written words can be magical.  I know they helped push me to make some changes in my own life.  When you write the goals, then you write the steps you need to take to achieve those goals and then start doing one thing towards each goal and soon your crossing something off the list.

Like my going back to school for example.  It's been something I've wanted to do for a long time, in fact my last placement test was 10 years previous.  But the first step was getting registered, then taking placement test, again... and then signing up for classes!  Now here I am almost finished with the summer session!

Goes the same with our work out goals.  I wanted to run and so it began slowly, one mile at a time.  My max has been the half marathon, but hopefully that will change this weekend since my marathon training is calling for a 14 mile run on Sunday.  

Just working towards those goals one day at a time!

Check out more blogs on the Friday blog hop

 

Cutting down some trees

Since Chelsea's graduation party in 2008 we've been talking about cutting down the trees on the side of our house. They had gotten so overgrown in an area that we don't "notice" quite as often as the rest of the yard!.

Believe it or not there is a house behind there! And this picture was taken after he had already trimmed up the bottom of the trees so he can cut them down!

While I was off running, my husband was working in the yard

Including having to wash the house down from the trees being so close!

Funny because when we first moved here many years ago there were no trees on this lot, now everything is getting so overgrown!

We just need to decide what we are doing with this side of the house?  I had suggested that we add on to the porch and have it wrap to the backyard?  Of course, I always come up with plans that cost more money...

But at least finally those trees are down!

One Word

While over at Slacker Mom's blog  I found this. Not as easy as you might think. Change the answers to suit you and pass it on.

It's really hard to only use one word answers.

1. Where is your cell phone? : kitchen
2. Your significant other?: working
3. Your hair: different
4. Your mother?: sad
5. Your father?: gone
6. Your favorite thing?: reading
7. Your dream last night? Chelsea
8. Your favorite drink? : coffee
9. Your dream/goal?: marathon
10. The room you're in? : kitchen
11. Your hobby?: photography
12. Your fear?: loss
13. Where do you want to be in 6 years? healthy
14. Where were you last night?: home
15. What you're not? single
16. Muffins? : blueberry
17. One of your wish list items?: granite
18. Where you grew up? : Royalton
19. The last thing you did? : facebook
20. What are you wearing?: socks
21. Your TV? : flat
22. Your pets? : Shaggy
23. Your computer? : mac
24. Your life? : busy
25. Your mood? : good
27. Your car? : garage
28. Something you're not wearing?: makeup
29. Favorite store? : Target
30. Your summer? : travel
31. Like someone? forever
32. Your favorite color?: red
33. When is the last time you laughed?: yesterday
34. Last time you cried?: Saturday
35. Who will resend this?: someone

 

Meet Ray

Stranger #6

I know you've seen him before... but we hadn't formerly met and we had some good conversation on this day and that's the most important part... isn't it?

he's the adorable farmer up the road, and we are standing in the rain with asparagus for a buck a bundle talking about farming and how long he's been doing it.

Ray says he's been farming all his life, "as far back as he can remember" were his words.  His parents had a farm and then he and his brother took over the farm and now he shares some land with his brother that they farm together. Of course he also has some of his own land that he takes care of.  And he loves every minute of it!

He's always happy, he's always wearing his suspenders and a long sleeve shirt and you will always find him tinkering with something on the farm.  Well, almost always!

He sells strawberries (you pick em) for $1 a pint, asparagus for $1 a bunch and if you catch them before they are gone, raspberries.

This man is always smiling, always happy and he makes me happy just seeing him!

 

 

Finding fitness at forty something

Fitness Friday

   A running tale...

     Running a marathon is something I always thought you would do when you were younger, but the longer I run and the more races I attend I'm finding that running is a sport for everyone, for every age.  Running remains to be a challenge to myself, with each race being a test of how I've improved, and a time to beat.  

     But along the way the fitness comes in, especially since just running doesn't make you fit.  At first it was about adding weights and different cardio in.  But over time I'm learning your fuel is a huge part of fitness too.  Filling yourself with the right foods is just as important as the training you do before a race for better fitness and weight loss.

     Last Sunday I ran 12 miles... it was my longest run since I began my marathon training and I was looking forward to it.  I went to the park where the weather was perfect, took my ipod, water bottle and I was off.  The first couple miles were awesome, I felt good and was ready for the miles ahead.  Soon after reaching mile 8 I began slowing down.  I was getting frustrated because I didn't have the power to run like I had in previous runs?  I was down to little water which I had to ration for the rest of my run and feeling worse every step of the way.  I could envision the grocery store up the road and heading in for my water as soon as I got back to my car.

     By the time I finished my run and reached my car I was walking and not even fast.  I couldn't believe how bad I felt and I was on the verge of tears in pain?  What happened?  I've run half marathons before and never felt this bad?  I got to the store and picked up some water and blueberries for the ride home. I took a couple motrin and drove home.  But even after refueling I still felt horrible and was still in pain?  I got home and showered but I still wasn't right?  Finally deciding maybe it was a bladder infection I headed to the store for some temporary relief, and within a few hours I was doing better.

     The next day I got to the doctors and it was confirmed.  I don't know if it was the combination of the hard run, little water and the heat outside that contributed or if it was something just made worse after my run?  Either way I can only hope I learn to trust my body and realize when I've pushed too far or when to push myself further.

Check out more fitness stories on Jill's blog

Group shot!

Spending a few days with family we wanted some group pictures.  All of these done with the timer and me being quick to get in the shot!  Sometimes that's what makes them even more interesting!

At Edgewater park, put the camera on a giant rock

except for the dang cooler in this one!

A tree that had fallen over was the perfect spot for my camera!

a picnic table across the street!

Yep its all about getting that group shot!  These are some of my favorite pictures from our time together!