Moves, Migraines, and Mid-American

Well my family is in the middle of the BIG move. Today I have my migraine and FINALLY Mid-American came through with the gas meter being turned on and ready for use. (Trust me serious stress last week and also from past experience with home just sold) We are living out of a hotel so “homeless” in a sense but not really. We have all of our belongings in a 24 foot Budget truck in the hotel parking lot and a place to sleep at night. This time being in the hotel has gotten me thinking even more about those who are truly homeless. 

My husband and I have a condo in Oregon, a duplex in Utah, and hopefully tomorrow our newest town-home in Iowa. I know we are absolutely BLESSED! When “living” (and I use this term loosely as with the many frequent flyer miles I have accumulated over the almost four years of our married life) half of my year spent in various locations, I have been able to see different areas with more homeless populations than others. I realize we all have our opinions about this subject and as do I; but I feel the need with this topic fresh on my mind to expose myself more and my children to this reality in getting them to help me donate to a food pantry and maybe more. I have also thought that perhaps our next Thanksgiving should be spent helping at a soup kitchen.

Though this also is NOT a running topic, it is a topic that this marathoning mom thinks about at times while logging miles and many of those being run in some bigger cities during my various travels. My questions: How can I personally help? Who can I contact? How can my kids help? What should my family do that would be the most helpful? Perhaps I can look into a race supporting this particular societal issue?

Get your “GOOGLE GAME FACES ON” and start your searches to see what maybe you can do to help where you are located…keep checking back for what happened with my search and/or let me know how your search goes.

Now time to “get my gait on” and find my kicks for my run. Any idea where they may be hiding in the 24 foot Budget truck?

I-80, VNV Nation, 3/4, and a Sorento...

What do these things have in common? A solo road trip of course!

This past week I traveled on I-80 to get to my 3/4 College Bestie Reunion while listening at times to VNV Nation, driving my Sorento. To spare you all of the crazy stories, which lets face it, aren't as funny to those who did not live them, I figured I would let you know what has been keeping me from my serious training yet again.

I drove five hours to and from the reunion (which is ten hours for the math challenged) having many conversations with myself and switching positions in my seat to avoid "bleacher butt" as much as possible. I sang CAR-eoke while doing my part to help keep the bug population down and to give my car a temporary new look from the front with the colorful array of bugs plastered all over. For me it is fun traveling to another state, since I had foreign state plates, I had a "license" to drive a little oddly or make ridiculous decisions. Like on my way back, I had to backtrack twice while getting the same directions from the toll booth guy five times. Forgive me sir, I am not a dumb strawberry blonde, just really tired from my last minute drive and coming off my laughing highs with my girls. I am sure after seeing my plates he was thinking what I have been told IOWA stands for..."Idiots Out Wandering Around". Just doing my part to keep the stereotype alive.

(Can you spot the treadmill? And yes I am OCD and pack with bins labeled with crayon to be removed with Mr. Clean Magic Eraser when unpacked. Do they have group for this?)

Still adding excuses to my list of top ten list of excuses (maybe I should change it to Top Twenty?)...my treadmill is seriously stuck behind my wall of bins that are packed and ready for relocation with a few more being added each day. (see pic above) Plus the weather hasn't been very nice when I am ready to think about getting out to run. So I am spending my days washing sheets and towels to pack, cleaning various surfaces, chasing kids to and from school and activities, and shredding unneeded paperwork that I was keeping "just in case". So I promise to send you some inspirational tips and workouts here soon! For now, hopefully you can forgive me while I pack for a move, close on current place Tuesday, close on new place on Friday, all while getting kids too and from school and being homeless (notice the difference in closing dates) for a few days this coming week. My goal (and confession) is to have some truly amazing run to tell you about when I feel like a FREE woman next Saturday (barring NO issues with the gas company---spare you those details). It will be on the top of the To-Do list just above unpacking!

Three weeks ago I pulled out a 16 miler on a Saturday for a 50 mile week. Curious though as to who may have the best excuse not to run? Maybe we can kick one another into gear? Pinterest! I'm sure I can find a quote or a fun picture of a quote on Pinterest...which is another way to kill time NOT getting a good run in for the day...how did I get this far off track? 100 plus miles a week a few years ago to zero or barely 20? Inquiring minds want to know, namely mine.

A New Beginning...

Wow I'm officially entered into the world of blogging! And I'm officially insane as the title of this blog may have insinuated. Trying to come back from a three year running hiatus after a fourth bambino and gearing up for my fourth move at the end of the month. Yes it is true that I have lost brain cells with each child and also each run I log over 20 miles. Luckily for me, I've had no more children lately and also no 20 plus milers either. So with the brain cells that I had three years ago still in tact, I make yet another attempt at a running comeback. Planning for a half marathon this coming October. Hoping to keep you updated throughout this feat... With my garage half full of literally half of the belongings of a family of six, a treadmill, a gym membership, and a running stroller one might say why are you not training in full force by now? So I start this blog with my "Top Ten Excuses for Not Running Everyday". 10. Can't I just live through my daughter who is in junior high track like many parents? 9. What-like mile long treks through the home improvement stores aren't enough when I have close to four each day as of late for the new house we are building? 8. I need new songs for my iPod... 7. Stalking my elite friends isn't giving me the mojo I hoped for.   6. My brain only knows a few key phrases: "be friends" "simmer down" "talk nice" "play nice" "use an inside voice" "please act socially appropriate" NONE of which help when you need your running mantra. 5. My daughter left all my running clothes in her school locker. 4. So chasing a two year old around the triangle sidewalk in our town home complex doesn't add up to a mile with four laps? 3. Does vacuuming count for cardio? Perhaps a mile or two? 2. Stairs...maybe if I keep Popsicle sticks at the bottom, I can take one up each time and figure that as hill repeats? 1. I can't find a bobby pin to keep my hair out of my face. Okay so they are lame but pretty good I think. Off the get my four kids prepared for another evening of sleep. Maybe I could add that as an excuse too-I am not getting enough sleep...ah as one of my Rock and Roll Marathon Phoenix buddy would say, "you can sleep when you're dead". So tomorrow NO more excuses!!!