Yes, I'm still alive!

Ok, Ok, I'm a bad, bad blogger! Life has been crazy busy, and my computer time has been nill. So sorry!

Here's a brief update -
- Moved my stepdaughter back home for awhile so she can regroup and find a better apartment. She's almost 28, so being back home isn't exactly what she wanted to do, but, it's a roof over her head.
- Hubby has been having some health issues - not life threatening, but he'll have to FINALLY make some lifestyle changes...which I know men just LOVE having to change, right?? Jeez.
- Work has been work....it's sad that my job relies on people being hurt or sick, but there have been LOTS hurt or sick lately. So yeah, busy.

But what has REALLY taken up my time and life is that I'm taking a group of 13 teenagers from our church (my son included) on a Mission Trip to a children's shelter in Corpus Christi, TX. Bokenkamp Children's Shelter is a shelter for teenagers that are refugees from other countries, mainly Central & South America. They may have crossed the border from Mexico looking for their parents, or been rescued from drug or sex trafficking. Most of them have experienced some kind of trauma - Bokenkamp takes care of them. We're leaving next week and will be staying at Bokenkamp for 5 days, doing landscaping work and rehabbing a dorm room for new kids coming in. The shelter has recently been approved for up to 72 kids, so they need help getting space ready for the additional kids they will be housing soon.

This will be my second mission trip - if you've read my blog before, you know we went to Juarez, Mexico last year (I posted about it on July 9th, 2008). We would have liked to go back to Juarez, but if you have paid attention to the news at all, Juarez is very dangerous right now, and is occupied by Mexico's military - not exactly a safe place for kids. So, this year, we decided to stay in the U.S.

Oh yeah, running.

HA!

Yeah, running has been sporadic at best. P90X has fallen by the wayside also. I never thought I'd get to the point when I said I was just too busy to run, but I've gotten to that point. I get in a run here and there, and the reality is, I haven't made time to run, and that will change when I get back from the trip.

Actually, it will change while I'm on the trip...
There are 3 girls going from my church who are stars of their high school cross country team. They need to keep their miles up while we're on the trip...well, they can't just run the streets of Corpus Christi by themselves, so they will of course need an adult chaperon.

Guess who that will be?

Did I mention that these girls are all tall, very thin, and, um, FAST? I reluctantly asked what their mile time is...um, at their slowest, 9:00 minute miles. Ummm, can you drop that to 10:00 minute miles? Please??!! Oh man, this could be ugly.

I'll post updated pics of my garden soon...there are actually things growing in it! But here's a picture I am OH so proud of....
My son before......


And my son AFTER....



He went to camp for a week, and ALL the boys decided to do this for camp....
Needless to say, Zack regretted it within 24 hours.

I just love that I didn't even have to open my mouth, and he learned the lesson himself....THINK BEFORE YOU DO!!!

Ah, gotta love the teenage years!

My week in pictures

We haven't planted a garden in years...this year we're going to give in a shot. However, the spot was FILLED with weeds, so this is half of it weeded.....


This is the finished product - NO WEEDS! It took about 6 hours to get it completely cleared away...like I said, haven't planted in it in years. It still needs to be tilled though. And I haven't finished weeding the flower bed, as you can see.


If the radar would stop looking like this, I might be able to get the tilling done and seeds planted.


And hopefully it will be a good garden this year, if we can keep these guys out of it...this is Harley & Max....Harley (the Husky) likes to dig, and Max follows whatever Harley does. My sister says use chicken wire...might give it a shot.


Got new kicks this week - Gel Keyano 15's - they are so pretty, and cushy! Ran twice with them....so far, loving them!


And last but not least, my son Zack has had braces for 2 years and 8 months. His teeth have always been a source of pain for him. On his 9th birthday, he was pushed into a brick wall in gym class, and got his 2 front teeth knocked out. He's endured multiple root canals since, and his 2 front teeth are crowns, that will eventually have to be replaced with implants one day.


So Thursday was a happy, HAPPY day in our household, because he FINALLY got his braces off!

And finally, he has a beautiful smile again! :-) Mom is a happy camper too! :-)

Belton 5K Race Report

Have you ever run in the rain? Now I'm not talking about a little sprinkle...the one where you are wet by the END of your run. I'm talking about the kind of rain that comes down in sheets and leaves you drenched after just a few minutes. You know...lightning...thunder...all that stuff?

Well, I have officially lost my mind, because THAT'S the kind of rain I ran in for the Belton 5K on Saturday morning. I checked intelligence and common sense at the door and ran in a downpour, while thunder boomed and lightning lit up the sky.

And seriously, it was an AWESOME run!

The rain came early and didn't stop. Leah and I had signed up for this run because it's local, and it raises money for the after prom and after graduation lock in parties...you know, so the kiddies don't go driving around drunk and all. Since Leah is a teacher with the school district, many of her coworkers were signed up to run as well. We all mulled around, waiting for the rain to let up, and waiting to see who would be the first one to wimp out.

Neither one happened. The rain continued it's onslaught, and none of us would surrender to our common sense and state the obvious - it was just stupid to run in weather like this.

Fifteen minutes after the race was supposed to start, the race organizer made an announcement to the 30 or so of us standing inside to keep dry - "The radar shows the rain will keep coming, maybe even get worse....you can leave now, run the 5K on the track, or, run the course as it was intended, but run at your own risk."

Guess what we picked?

Knowing that is was raining, did I dress appropriately? HELL NO! I wore shorts, a short sleeve t-shirt and a long sleeve technical shirt over it. No rain gear. No hat. No umbrella. I could have used a boat though.

So, Leah and I ran the whole 5K with two of her male coworkers, dodging puddles like kids, wiping our faces on our rain soaked sleeves to try to see better, making sarcastic comments about the wonderful weather we were having....and laughing our asses off most of the way.

There were only about 20 of us that ran the course....Leah placed second for females....there were only 5 females running it anyway!

If you haven't run in the rain, I highly recommend it. While it isn't the most intelligent thing to do, there is something symbolic and cleansing about letting the rain pour down on you. What a race!

Speaking of races, did you see the women's finish of the Boston Marathon?? Now THAT was a race! Poor Kara Goucher....she ran her heart out...only to be beaten by SECONDS! Ugh!!



But, after seeing the race....and that marathon finish line again.....guess what I'm itching to do again?? :-)

Hello Running.... Remember me?

Dear Running,

I know, I know, it's been a long time. I'm sorry my schedule has been so hectic and I've neglected to spend quality time with you. I really haven't been a good friend, and I apologize.

I've let "life" get in the way, as it does sometimes, and I've had to push you aside. Trust me, I've thought of you often - when I see my running shoes sitting lonely and unused on the floor, or when I see another runner out on the road enjoying time with you. The new Runner's World came, and I read it front to back in one sitting! I especially missed you for the past 2 weeks -everything got so crazy, and I desperately needed some time with you to regroup. You are always my sanity - a time when I can just zone out, get in a rhythm, and not be needed for a few miles. I knew when I started dreaming about you, it was time for me to make time for you.

And then there is P90X. Oh, Running, please understand, I'm not trying to cheat on you with P90X! I'm just trying to get stronger and leaner for you, so our time together goes more smoothly, and I can spend longer miles with you.

But I was so excited to spend time with you this morning! A beautiful spring day - sun shining, light breeze, perfect temps, and my running buddies all together for a perfect 4 miler. What more could I ask for? Didn't you notice how my posture was taller, and stride easier today? (Thank P90X for that!)

Running, we've had a complicated relationship since the marathon. At times I've pushed you away, feeling tired and worn out with you after all those training miles. I needed a break - it happens to the best of friendships. Spending time away from you helped me realize how much I need you - to feel my heart pounding in my chest, to feel my legs carrying me forward, to feel the sense of peace I get after just a few miles with you. I lost sight of what a gift you are to me.

So, dear Running, you'll be seeing more of me soon....we have a lot of catching up to do.

I got nothin

Here's what my schedule has been in the last 10 days -

- I have had exactly ONE day off in the last 10 days
- I have worked SEVEN 12 hour shifts
- I have had TWO 24 hour call shifts

I've been in a manager or supervisory role for most of my working years. Currently, I'm more "supervisor" without the official title (or pay) - I'm the "Go-To-Girl". So as the Go-To, I got to cover the vacations and family emergencies that popped up in my department the last 2 weeks. My check with all this overtime will be SWEET, but, here's a shocker - I AM BEYOND EXHAUSTED.

I'm reacquainting myself with my husband and son, who have survived on sandwiches, frozen pizzas and corn dogs in my absence. One of my dogs even barked at me when I came home the other day...apparently, he forgot who I was.

I have managed to pound out four P90X workouts... at 4:15 in the morning.

Running? What's that? I haven't done that since the Truffle Shuffle 5K.

But I'm an optimist - glass is half full kind of woman. It's going to slow down for me soon, and I'll get back to some kind of "normal" schedule, whatever that is. I actually have some days off next week for Easter, which I will thoroughly enjoy.

I've also told my employer that I don't care if my department is short staffed, unmanned or burning to the ground, I will NOT be answering my phone on my days off next week.

Go-To-Girl will be unavailable.