I am a shopaholic and a runner. I pretty much rock.

Treasure hunt

2010-04-21T23:45:00.002-05:00

So I must vent a little bit. I am obsessed with the Holiday in Dixie treasure hunt. OBSESSED! We searched tonight like a couple of bandits and made no progress at all...unless driving aimlessly north is progress. I did get mozzarella cheese sticks for my adventure snack (thanks Claire) and a mild panic attack when I saw Ben Affleck's daughter getting out of the car at their home...yea I'm so Hollywood.

And the dead rotting animal smell coming from the kitchen - it's my vacuum. What does that mean??

Meet Harry

2010-04-21T23:36:00.005-05:00

Today I found a bird. I named him Harry because he was quite a looker with his little peach fuzz hairdo. I put Harry in a dog bowl with some warm blankets and fed him some kitten food concoction with a little syringe. It then came to my attention that baby birds are hard to raise and that he would have better luck outside where his bird parents might find him. I have been watching these bird parents build a nest for weeks and knew little Harry had fallen from the roof of our office. I really wanted Harry to go back in his nest. So, I stuck out my lip and asked really sweetly and my dad and Harry's uncle Michael used a ladder to put my little fuzzy friend back in his nest. I'm not spoiled.

out of hibernation

2010-04-20T22:32:00.003-05:00

After a near year long hiatus, I am back! I started this blog to follow me as I trained for my first marathon. Well I ran it...and another...and here I am now. I thought I'd change my blog to just an overall celebration of my fabulousness, because let's face it, I am fabulous and why keep it all to myself.

Today we did a blood transfusion at work aka gave out some Jesus is a bottle. I used to have a serious issue with seeing blood running through tubing or having to touch the blood bag or bottle while it was still all warm and lifelike. It just really creeps me out. I am getting used to it though. Actually posed with my blood today and last night. I never miss a photo op.

what happens when you don't backup your harddrive.

2009-08-18T21:00:00.002-05:00

So I am technologically impaired and never felt the need to back up my data. I also failed to notice that the giant red exclamation point at the bottom of my screen was a warning that my system was failing, mainly because it was full to the brink with music and pictures. This brings me here dear friends, typing on my ancient block of laptop where the letters appear seconds after I type them. I have many fun things I really can't wait to share and I should have a working computer very soon so I will be back in business. This no computer stuff is painful!!!

I have been running and pounding the pavement lots. My legs hurt like hell tonight and I wanted to cry instead of run. I kept going through puddles and rain clouds though and I finished my run. Please have faith in me. I will update with goodness soon!!!

bad blogger.

2009-08-10T14:07:00.001-05:00

I have been running lots....and I have been not so good at reporting it. But tonight I will get all my last weeks adventures up here for you. Patience!

protein powder makes faces you can't make up.

2009-07-28T21:38:00.004-05:00

So I had previously talked about the nasty protein water I had and how I thought that eating the powder straight would be more appetizing...well I was wrong. The powder taste like vitamin C chewable pills and rancid Flintstone vitamins ground up together and packaged in a misleading white tub labeled: delicious citrus flavor. I'm calling b.s. on this.

I have just documented my attempts at eating my cup full of powder without water added. I don't think that me telling you about this horrible journey would do as much justice as the pictures themselves...so here you go friends.

running makes me happy...even when I'm blue.

2009-07-28T21:15:00.002-05:00

I really do love to run. It clears my head and helps me to tackle issues I have spinning in my head. It's really sad to me when I have something going on in my life that is too big to be solved during a run. I guess that's why I just kept running. So I ran to the end of the road, and when I got there, I thought maybe I'd run to the end of town. And when I got there, I thought maybe I'd just run across Caddo Parish. And I figured since I run this far, maybe I'd just run across the great state of Louisiana. And that's what I did I ran clear across Louisiana. For no particular reason, I just kept on going....okay maybe it wasn't quite that dramatic...but I did run a lot today. Still haven't solved all of life's big problems but I'll keep working on it. Being a big kid sure has its downs.

I did inhale a giant bug and it then flew out my nose. Nasty and humorous all at the same time. I'm sure I looked ridiculous choking on a bug and then laughing and running at the same time....oooh my little inconspicuous victories!

I then came home to my Tahoe dog, love of my life. He loves me even when I'm soaked in sweat and smell like a goat's bum.

seriously hard core.

2009-07-26T21:42:00.002-05:00

Well today was another group run day!! But it was different from other mornings for me...group run was moved to Sunday and it was after my birthday fiesta. Let me take a moment to set the stage for my morning run - last night I embarked on a journey with my favorite Texans. Destination: Dinner. Sounded innocent enough. Many hours and many beers later, as I sang Marvin Gaye loudly to my friends, it hit me that I had to run in the upcoming hours. I kindly asked the waiter to bring water, lots and lots of water. And so I sat in a sublimely happy state of beer fuzziness properly hydrated and oh so ready to be super athletic. Or so I thought until my body reacted quite violently to the poison I had filled it with all evening. So I spent my morning up until 4:15am being sick. You can then imagine the excitement I felt when my sister called me at 5am and yelled at me for still being in bed. Being a trouper, I jumped up and threw on some clothes and out the door I went.

It was definitely not the best run I've ever had. Being dehydrated really makes your legs hurt. But being slightly intoxicated makes it bearable... I did lose a contact around the one mile marker and had to run with my left eye closed in an attempt to not be completely dizzy. I am so blind that I actually thought my sister was up ahead of me stopped...but it was a street sign. I was told I looked like Popeye running with one eye closed. Nice huh??

I did finish though...which I am damn proud of. I looked like roadkill but there's really little glamour in athleticism anyway.

Tomorrow I'm starting my P90X videos! I am so excited. Watch out world!!

protein water makes me yack.

2009-07-18T12:34:00.003-05:00

Long time no run. I'm ashamed that I've been so busy with living my glamorous existence that I have been too busy to run. But that all changed this morning. This was group run Saturday! The excitement was overwhelming at 4:55am when my phone rang. It was my wake up call...no amount of alarms could get me out of bed that early...and I threw on my clothes and away I went. I listened to a little Ying Yang Twins on my way to the boat launch to get me ready for running! It must have worked because I finished my first 3 miles in record time! To our good fortune, the thugs of Shreveport decided to not steal out icechest full of water (I'm hoping the sign informing them we were running for cancer, don't steal our water...)so we had a baby break and turned back towards the finish. I finished feeling great even though my legs were a little jelloy.

I was informed that protein/carb refueling drink powder was great for muscle repair after a long run. SO I got a big tub of orange flavored powerbar mix! YUMMY huh?? Very very wrong...it is the nastiest chalky mess I have ever consumed. The powder alone is pretty tasty but the addition of water turns it into flavor poison. I was drinking it driving to work and I'm sure passing motorist were wondering a. what I was drinking and b. why I continued drinking it with a wrinkled face look of disgust. As far as its magical powers...I'm not buying it. My legs are sore and I'm tired. Oh and I have a headache. But I'll give it another try since I have it I guess. Overall: good day, good run : )

Team at race...

2009-07-15T17:20:00.002-05:00

I had lost my pic but it is found...A few of my teammates before Firecracker!

wow i must like hotdogs....

2009-07-04T10:25:00.001-05:00

I'm having posting issues today...I have no idea why there are so many pics repeated...especially of the hotdog. Oh well. I'll fix it later! I have pools and bbqs waiting for me!

Friecracker 5k!!!

2009-07-04T10:12:00.007-05:00

Happy 4th of July! Well, we woke up early to run the firecracker 5k race!! I had some water and half a powerbar and was ready to run bright and early. My family met at my house, we picked Katie up at the end of her street, and away we went! I got to see some of our team mates before the race, which was so exciting. I like seeing everyone decked out in our super cool training shirts. It was very hot during the race. Katie kept me moving up all the hills and I love her as my motivation coach. That was my first race since having surgery on my legs. I finished in a great time but I'm super competitive and would have liked to be faster. Katie said I was wearing my Beyonce shoes...gold asics...they're pretty fly and she's just jealous. I ate a popsicle and got a hotdog to go...which I have already polished off for breakfast. I love holidays...

ninjas.

2009-07-03T14:17:00.002-05:00

I read a great article in Runners World a while back which described the runners of New York as ninjas - decked in head to toe black and creeping around town before daybreak. It still makes me laugh when I see running ninjas early in the morning. So when I was driving to the gym at 5:30am and a gang of black spandex clad ninjas darted out into traffic then back into the shadows, I had to laugh. Seriously people...no one can see you and you look like you are ready to descend from someones ceiling mission impossible style. Black is not that slimming. Wear something with a little color and avoid getting run over and being thought a ninja. Unless you are actually south highlands ninjas then carry on.

morning runs - ugh.

2009-07-01T00:06:00.003-05:00

My dad arrived with his running dog around 6am this morning. I started out our run grumpy because I do not like waking up and he informed me we were running hills. I told him I would not run hills and he said tough, you live in south highlands. But soon, the sun was up and I was waking up and enjoying my run. I got to see the other neighborhood pit bull who looks a lot like my Tahoe (except Tahoe has floppy ears...and he's much more handsome). It felt easier to run when your body is still very much asleep. Dad found 50 cents on the ground...change, not the rapper...sadly because that would have been much more worth stopping for.

I did have two problems with running today. One is that my ipod shuffle hates me. It is full of music but likes to pick my 10 least favorite songs and offers them to me repeatedly. It drives me bonkers! And my other problem is that I have been ravenous today and I'm blaming it 100% on running early. My body was confused and shocked and was angry all day. To appease it I had to buy bluebell icecream. Grooms cake flavor = heaven. I'd rather run 10 miles every day than give up icecream. Sooo worth it.

I ordered the cutest orange running hotshorts / skirt thing and it should be arriving any day now! I'm so ready for some new sassy wear. Because sassy wear is motivation.

I'm not afraid to sweat.

2009-06-29T22:28:00.003-05:00

I ran 4 miles today! It was cloudy thank goodness and it felt so good to run outside and not have my skin melt off. I still sweat like a man though. I'm just exceptionally good at sweating I guess...but everyone needs a talent. I think I may have a few spots on my shirt that are still dry.

Watched The Cake Boss tonight. I am craving cake so badly now. I need a big ole hunk of wedding cake and buttercream deliciousness aka icing piled on top.

dear self...

2009-06-28T23:35:00.001-05:00

you will get up and run in the morning. If it's in writing then it's bound to happen...

I love to sleep. But I really need to run tomorrow.

take that treadmill

2009-06-28T10:52:00.002-05:00

I made it to team run Saturday! I overslept but I hauled major booty and got there without being left. We ran 5 miles...which was not bad at all. It was the best run I've had actually. No pain from my legs and the heat wasn't too unbearable. I looked like I had been caught in a downpour when I was finished but what's a little sweat between friends...

Friday I ran 3 miles on the treadmill which is huge for me. The treadmill is my biggest enemy. Before surgery, it only took about 2 minutes on the treadmill for my legs to go completely numb. So, I am terrified of the treadmill and I never wanted to get on it again. But I conquered my fear and got through 3 miles pain free! YAY!

my team.

2009-06-25T21:58:00.003-05:00

I sadly have to work almost every Saturday when we have our team runs. Here we are looking ever so smashing after our week 3 run...I think.

Team runs are at 6am now which is great for me....I can run before work. I must practice getting up on time so I don't miss it like I did last week.

technicolor shorts

2009-06-25T21:49:00.002-05:00

I need motivation to run. End of story. It is only getting worse for me now that it is 100 degrees outside. So, I have become slightly addicted to Dick's sporting goods. They have my all time favorite short (nike tempo track short) in the most fabulous new colors! Every time I have a new pair I instantly want to run. I can't wait to put them on and go frolicking through my neighborhood showing off my super fly new threads. I have recently added purple with hot pink trim, fluorescent orange, black with orange, turquoise and lime, and black with lime to my collection. Now that I see it all before me I do look like I have a slight problem....oh well. Whatever keeps my moving!

Sad day.

2009-06-10T19:56:00.003-05:00

I'm not really in the mood for a cute post today. The past 24 hours have been rough. My dear little friend is being screened for leukemia. When I started this journey, I did so because I was so deeply touched by the stories I heard of everyone touched by cancer. I have kept so dedicated because people stop and ask me about my purple bracelet and say wow, that's incredible you are doing that because my grandfather, mother, etc. suffered from one of those illnesses.

The scariest thing for me is thinking about what really drew me to this group. I believe that everything happens for a reason and that God places things in your path to teach you something. I have been helping my friend with her daughter for many months. I have watched her symptoms progress and wondered what was going on. I knew it was something serious and something big causing all her symptoms, but I never would have guessed cancer.

So, after preparing my fund raising page, I was reading the letter written by our honored team mate Felder's mother. It stopped me in my tracks. As I read her description of her son's case it hit too close to home.

How then do you tell someone you love that you are concerned they could have something this terrible?? I told her without having to tell her. To my advantage and disadvantage, I have been in the medical field a long time and I understand a lot of the complexities that people not in this field can not. I simply told her one night that if you have been treating all the multiple symptoms individually with no improvement, then it makes sense that her issue is all encompassing and is causing all the symptoms. I told her she needed to make another appointment with her doctor and suggest they dig deeper and think broader.

She called me the next morning saying she'd been up all night and that she figured it out but didn't want to say it. I simply said I think it's leukemia or lymphoma. She said she agreed.

The hardest part for me in this is being a rock for my friend. I know too much about medicine and the risks and I am scared out of my mind. But for my family and my friend I am going to stay strong.

No matter what we find out after all the test are done next week, I know that she can get through this. She is tough and her parents are tough.

But sitting here now, I feel completely different. I am sad. I am scared. I am armed with knowledge. If you are reading this, please say a prayer for my friend and her family. I adore them more than anything and they need support and thoughts right now.
She saw her doctor yesterday afternoon who confirmed what we thought by saying that we are dealing with either leukemia or juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. She sees an immunologist in a few days for too many test to list. She's already had a ct scan and was a trooper. I hope everything else keeps her brave and I pray for a miracle that she isn't sick.

I need to run but I feel way to drained. Maybe I'll feel better if I take my dogs with me.

oh and I ran.....

2009-06-05T19:08:00.002-05:00

I got off on a little tangent about my dog. But I'm back on track!

Today I woke up at 5:30am and went to my usual morning spin class! Yay me right. Oh but it gets better. I get there tired and grumpy because I was bad and ate pizza and beer the night before (sorry, I'm human) but still I was there. You know who wasn't there? The instructor. But me being the awesomely motivated ex-spin instructor that I am stayed in class,. I stayed and I did my spinning and I got sweaty. And it felt pretty damn good. I emailed my instructor friend to make sure she was ok and she seconded that we, the members of 6am spin class, were pretty hardcore for going on with class without her.

I then decided since it was such a pretty day that I would run through my neighborhood. It was so nice outside but my legs were not cooperative. They screamed "we've been cut!" "you had surgery" during the entire run. I wanted to cry because my legs got so tight they feel like they are going to explode and then my crazy nerves were shooting tingles up and down my scars. It's awful really. So I listened to my body and walked the rest of the way home. I probably needed that little break anyway. My face still looked like a tomato when I got home.

Tomorrow is team run!! I am so very excited! Legs, behave tomorrow...please.

Tahoe Beene: Super Dog

2009-06-05T18:47:00.007-05:00

since Tahoe has been made famous by my sistah, I felt I should explain why my sweet puppy is a fighter too. That and I just really love my dog and this gives me time to brag!

Tahoe came into our office 2 years ago this little sad mass of hairless creature. He was terrified and wouldn't even open his eyes. The man who found him, Tom Beene, said to do whatever we could to help him out and help him to not suffer. Well, Tahoe took a liking to me and only me really. He looked at me with his sweet eyes and I knew that he was asking me to help him. Here are his pictures from the day hewas found:

Tahoe had demodex mange and had lost most of his hair. It took about 6 months for him to grow his hair back. He went from 18 to 53 pounds. He had and still has little bullets in his ribcage from being shot. And the greatest part is that he is the best dog I have ever met. He's had surgery for swallowing a toy, he has arthritis in his knee that is so bad I have a little doggy pharmacy for him, and he keeps on going. He is my best running partner and he doesn't even care if I give him sweaty hugs! So that's the story. My dog rocks.

garmin...i don't need no stinkin garmin

2009-06-04T13:26:00.004-05:00

Well, I've been running and running. I get red and sweaty and I'm sure people are scared I'm going to fall over in the roads but I keep running. Some days are bad days and as the sun is beating me into a sweaty mass I struggle to keep moving...and some days are pleasant and I run somewhat easily. I have been working on running through my pains. My poor legs are still not fully back to their pre-op performance and they often feel like dead weights. I physically know I can keep moving as long as I can keep my legs going. It's just a little bit of a struggle.

I have been looking at garmin gps watches. I googled and amazoned and read reviews and stalked them on ebay. I ultimately decided that I don't need to spend that much money on a running toy, even though I really want it. So, I had to turn to plan B. I use streets and trips to outline my running route. Since I have the memory of a goldfish and am directionally challenged, I put it all on my palm pilot before leaving home.

It worked very well. I would have been completely on route except I made one wrong turn...quite sad but true.

And last night I ran in the rain. I felt so very hardcore. I ran fast and the little cold raindrops were welcomed.

What I've been up to so far...

2009-05-31T21:32:00.005-05:00

That's a picture of the team after our first training run. I am not a morning runner so it has been tough getting used to moving that early. We did 3 miles. It wasn't bad.

Last night I had a long night of cross training. I was a bridesmaid in a friends wedding and boy did I dance! If you play music, I'm gonna move. But apparently this applied to no other guest... So my fellow bridesmaid party girl and my sister were the only three who danced. I danced for 2 hours straight. And when I say dance, I mean we did a lot of jumping and shaking and booty moving. I then went downtown with my posse until 4am. I, of course, did more cross training. My legs are so sore today. For anyone reading this and thinking that dancing is not exercise...put on 4 inch heels, blast your music and start moving. In 7 hours tell me how you feel :)

And Friday night, my sister and I completed our fundraising letters. Courtney is amazing and composed letters to all of our family and friends and then drove them in from Texas. I had to meet her and sign them late Friday night.

Welcome to my blog!

2009-05-31T21:07:00.004-05:00

So, after hours of trying I finally have my first blog!

Thanks for stopping by my blog! I created it as an effort to help raise money for the Louisiana-Mississippi chapter of Team in Training, an organization that raises money to research and treat blood cancers. As I train for the San Antonio Rock 'n' Roll half-marathon, I will attempt to raise a minimum of $3600! All of TNT is raising funds to help stop leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma from taking more lives. I am completing this event in honor of all individuals who are battling blood cancers.

After learning about the program and hearing the stories of lives touched by blood cancers, I decided that I could do this. I am so excited to use my hobby of running to make a difference in other people's lives.

Please donate to support my participation in TNT and help save lives.

Check back often! I hope to have fun updates on my running progress!