Aint She Sweet????

This is Alexa J at about 2 months. She's looking more like her mother now. She definitely has my brother's hair & huge legs.

I went running yesterday & is it just me or has the humidity been a "butt kicker"??? Sheesh! I wound up walking the last mile & a half of my usual 5 mile run.

Today, I thought maybe I'd do a short 1 mile run & some XT, but I'm still sore from Sunday's XT & my Achilles tendon is starting to bother me again. I've been drinking 40 oz of water each day, along with my usual beverages (usually fruit juice & milk).

Just talked to Mom and my sister is at my folks house. Apparently, the apartment is being fumigated. I'm praying that she makes the decision to return home.

Tomorrow is another 5 mile run. Hopefully, it won't be too hot tomorrow. It'll be 28 miles I will have run this week if all goes according to plan.

Happy Training Everyone! :)

A Good Run

Yesterday's 8 miles was just what I needed. I hadn't felt that good in a while! So, training through the week does make the "long runs" easier. I also find that if I don't train, I tend to be more negative. You can read through my blogs & tell. So if they take on a negative/depressing tone, just ask me how the training is going & tell me to get back on track. Chances are, I'm being slack.

My sister turned 30 yesterday. If you saw her, you would swear she was all of 16 years old, being 4'9" and 95 lbs--perhaps more because she's 6 mos along now with my second nephew. We saw "Hairspray" and went to Sal & Mookie's for pizza. We had a good time, but I'm very concerned about her. Months ago, she moved out of our folks' house and moved in with a friend of hers. They live in a very tiny one bedroom apartment. I don't trust this friend. She didn't give my sister a key to the apartment & she uses my sister's car--she has a key, obviously. I asked her had she considered adoption. It seems to be the logical way out of her situation, IMO. My parents are already raising her first son. She has no job, the dad is no where on the scene, and she's being used by her roommate. Of course, my mom is losing sleep over this.

Her (my sister's) response to me (in regard to adoption) was, "No, why, you want it??" As much as I would love to raise my nephew, it wouldn't be the right thing to do. I asked her what if she had an objection to my parenting skills, could she hold her tongue?? She said she wouldn't because it wouldn't be her place, but of course she would say something because I would in that situation. Plus, he (the baby) would always wonder when he gets older why she kept his brother, but gave him up. I don't want him to experience that pain. :(

I advised her to move back home. She said she's thinking about it. She usually takes my advice.

October 7th Isn't So Far Away

I looked at the calendar & realized we've got less than 2 months left to go UNTIL. So, I need to get it in gear. Went to the "Y" and did 5 miles. Could have done it in less than an hour, but, I decided to take it easy since it'd been a while since I ran. No more slacking!

Mentally, I've already resigned from my job. Don't think my feet have touched the ground since Wednesday. Someone told me I could teach this fall if I wanted. YIKES! Not quite ready to be thrown to the middle school aged wolves, yet. I'm planning on being a teaching assistant so I can complete the needed coursework and take the Praxis II. I'm actually excited about this!

Taking a day of rest today & it's back on the track tomorrow! Happy Training Everyone!

Good News, Bad News

I took the Praxis I Wednesday and got a 183 on the reading part and a 181 on the math part. I'm still awaiting my essay score. But, it looks like I can teach! :) Bad news is I left the testing center with an awful headache. I took some naproxen, but it still evolved into a migraine. I missed work both Thursday & Friday. I didn't start feeling better until late Friday night, but because I slept much of the day, I overslept this morning. It's nice to be able to be up & around again.

I hope the 16 miles went well. Wished I could have been out there! Happy Training Everyone!

I've Been BAD!!!!!

It's been kind of hard training after work; it's always raining. I read somewhere that it takes 4 weeks of inactivity to undo training, so, I'm still OK. But, I could tell during today's run that I'm not as well conditioned as I should be. So, even if it rains, I need to hit the treadmill (boo, hiss!). Plus my feet are starting to hurt, perhaps I need new shoes??? (Wayne question) My right knee felt a little funny during the last mile. I had to stop & walk for a bit.

I took a sample Praxis exam & did OK. It's been years since I've dealt with proper grammar, algebraic equations, & geometry. Will was looking over my shoulder on the math part (he scored perfectly, btw). Reading comprehension is one of my strengths. It looks like the ACT/PSAT all over again!

My tomato plants are starting to produce! They need weeding badly. When the monsoon passes, that will be an XT activity. :) Not to mention mowing the yard.

Happy Training Everyone!!! :)

Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head. . .

Today is the second time this week I got rained on. The first happened on the 4th when a group of us cousins decided to do a little trail walk through the woods at my folks' house. Running in the rain wasn't so bad, except when the raindrops started coming down harder and were starting to sting. Also, I didn't like the "squish, squish" of water in my shoes. Can't believe that I actually got up at 4:30 am to go running 15 miles and that I ran in the rain.

Have no clue as to how fast I did the 15 because the Forerunner 305 went haywire by the halfway point. Rats! It was then that I remembered they don't do well in water. The interval training feature isn't working so well right now, but at least the lap timer still does. I managed to catch up with Hugh, Joyce, & Carol (?) and ran with them, which was nice. It's always nice getting to know people. :)

I need to start XT again--gotten kind of slack. Perhaps I'll go to the "Y" after church tomorrow. Happy Training, fellow MMers! :)

Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes. . .

My boss called me into her office last week. She wanted to know what was up with me because I've been looking so unhappy lately. Figuring I had nothing to lose, I told her I hated my job. No, she didn't fire me, in fact, she was relieved because she thought I hated her, LOL. She also said she's been where I am where everyday was just total drudgery. Mind you, my performance really hasn't suffered; the job is so rote that I can almost do it in my sleep. So what if the checks are are done, 941s complete, payroll is done??? What have I accomplished?? Whose life have I changed for the better??? Anyhoo, she's given me her blessing to find my life's work and I had been praying, praying, praying as to when I could finally leave and I GOT THE ANSWER!!!!!!!

I take the Praxis I in two weeks. :)