I often write an entry when I've done something major, had a creative adventure, or have a plan to announce, but today I thought I would do something a bit different.
Revel in the Normal,
the mundane,
the routine....
Shocking, I know, but life is mostly the normal, everyday things that we do.
Work.
Cleaning.
Exercise.
Friends.
Making dinner.
Trying to figure out what to make for dinner.
Running errands.
Staying cool in the heat.
Planning.
Organizing.
Killing time.
Trying to find time.
etc.
etc.
etc.
The list of what we all do on a regular basis could go on forever and instead of saying, 'How boring!' or 'Why me?'
Let's start celebrating it.
This morning, I woke up, took my dogs on a walk, watered the garden, found out a client had cancelled and kept going on to the next item on the things that need to accomplished today.
Sometimes, at the end of a long one, it's all about how you look at it....
My dog's walks get me out of bed when I still want to sleep.
My garden is a heck of a lot of work.
My planning of meals drives me crazy to find new stuff to eat.
The cancelled client means my planning of the day just got shot.
or
My dog's walks gets me up, before the heat of the day becomes unbearable.
My garden provides yummy food to eat.
My planning of meals allows me to be creative on a daily basis.
The cancellation allows me to have a bit of unexpected free time to write.
It's all in the perspective of it all. I'm not saying that I enjoy all of the stuff I do on a regular basis, or that I revel in it, but I think if we don't celebrate the everyday,
you won't enjoy your life.
Ya Me!!!
Ya You!! for accomplishing all of the things you do on a daily basis that makes life run on.
And on those days that you just can not celebrate the mundane, the routine, and the normal,
remember that you are not alone.
Everyone, at some time or another, needs a little Calgon, Take me Away!!!
M.
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
Sunday, July 15, 2012
Like the Musical Stylings of A Flock of Seagulls...
If you grew up in the 80's, 'I Ran' just popped into your head with that blog title, and this past weekend that's exactly what I did.
I signed up to run my first 5K at the Run Through the Lavender race that's held in Mona, Utah. If you've ever driven I-15 in Juab county, you've probably seen the purple fields of lavender on the west side of the freeway, and that is what I ran through on Saturday.
On Monday, I got a little anxious. On Tuesday, I was a little nauseated. On Wednesday, my hamstring tightened up on me. On Thursday, I melted (it was 104 F). On Friday, I threatened to move to Canada, so I wouldn't have to run on Saturday. On Saturday, I wondered why I had signed up to voluntarily run 3.1 miles, but I went to the start line anyway.
I have to talk a little about the weather. If you live in Utah, the 4 days before my race where above 100 F temperatures. UGH!! On Friday, however, a rain storm went through most of Northern Utah and cooled the temps off. YEAH!!! Saturday morning, it was in the mid 60's and not rainy or windy. Perfection for runners!
While waiting for the starting gun, I was talking to other runners about the course and the hill that makes up the first 1.4 mile of the race and how steep it was and strategies for the surge at the beginning. It was a chip race, which meant your time did not start until you crossed the timer at the start line and ended when you went over the finish line, so you could wait for the surge of people at the beginning and still make your goal time.
I had enough adrenaline when that starting gun went off to run a marathon, but it quickly evaporated when I started and realized that dogging walkers and groups of 3 wide runners and ruts in the dirt road and the occasional mud puddle and thinking about my pace takes up a lot of energy. Then the hill came. 197 feet elevation addition in 1.4 miles, have mercy. It wasn't overly steep, but it went on FOREVER!!!!!!!!!! After the race, while getting water and a snack, all of the runners were saying that their first mile was their slowest mile by far. I was in that group. I had to take a few 10 deep breaths breaks on that hill.
Once I turned the corner off of the uphill, my race plan started to gel. I found a comfy running pace, my breathing evened out and I felt good.
On a side note, about this time, I'm guessing about 15 minutes in, the 1st place runner crossed the finish line in 16:21, averaging a 5:12 mile.
At about 2 1/2 miles, you could really see the finish line and the spectators could see you. Talk about motivation to keep running! My plan, about 3 weeks before the race, was to finish under 30 minutes, but then my running kind of fell apart, so I adjusted it to under 35 minutes, and guess what? I made it.
My time 33:21!
Not the fastest time in the world, but out of the 1000 runners, I came in 382 place, 18th in my age division! For my first 5K!
If you want to run the Run Through the Lavender 5K, or they also have a Half Marathon as well, go for it. It was a well organized and thoughtfully planned out race, and as an added benefit they give you a ton of gifts for signing up. A technical running shirt, essential lavender oil, lavender stress relief roll on, a medal for finishing and a lavender plant! Just do some hill training to help with that first 1.4 mile. I did some, but not near enough and they were not long enough.
Here's the kicker, I've already planned my next 5K. It's in October!!!!
I started this adventure as a New Year's Resolution in January and it has taken me places I had not expected, but I am so glad that I did!!!!!
I signed up to run my first 5K at the Run Through the Lavender race that's held in Mona, Utah. If you've ever driven I-15 in Juab county, you've probably seen the purple fields of lavender on the west side of the freeway, and that is what I ran through on Saturday.
 |
| the runner in the center is me! running thru the lavender |
On Monday, I got a little anxious. On Tuesday, I was a little nauseated. On Wednesday, my hamstring tightened up on me. On Thursday, I melted (it was 104 F). On Friday, I threatened to move to Canada, so I wouldn't have to run on Saturday. On Saturday, I wondered why I had signed up to voluntarily run 3.1 miles, but I went to the start line anyway.
I have to talk a little about the weather. If you live in Utah, the 4 days before my race where above 100 F temperatures. UGH!! On Friday, however, a rain storm went through most of Northern Utah and cooled the temps off. YEAH!!! Saturday morning, it was in the mid 60's and not rainy or windy. Perfection for runners!
While waiting for the starting gun, I was talking to other runners about the course and the hill that makes up the first 1.4 mile of the race and how steep it was and strategies for the surge at the beginning. It was a chip race, which meant your time did not start until you crossed the timer at the start line and ended when you went over the finish line, so you could wait for the surge of people at the beginning and still make your goal time.
I had enough adrenaline when that starting gun went off to run a marathon, but it quickly evaporated when I started and realized that dogging walkers and groups of 3 wide runners and ruts in the dirt road and the occasional mud puddle and thinking about my pace takes up a lot of energy. Then the hill came. 197 feet elevation addition in 1.4 miles, have mercy. It wasn't overly steep, but it went on FOREVER!!!!!!!!!! After the race, while getting water and a snack, all of the runners were saying that their first mile was their slowest mile by far. I was in that group. I had to take a few 10 deep breaths breaks on that hill.
Once I turned the corner off of the uphill, my race plan started to gel. I found a comfy running pace, my breathing evened out and I felt good.
On a side note, about this time, I'm guessing about 15 minutes in, the 1st place runner crossed the finish line in 16:21, averaging a 5:12 mile.
 | |||
| me, pushing to the finish line |
At about 2 1/2 miles, you could really see the finish line and the spectators could see you. Talk about motivation to keep running! My plan, about 3 weeks before the race, was to finish under 30 minutes, but then my running kind of fell apart, so I adjusted it to under 35 minutes, and guess what? I made it.
My time 33:21!
Not the fastest time in the world, but out of the 1000 runners, I came in 382 place, 18th in my age division! For my first 5K!
 | ||
| The promised land of no more running |
 |
| A sweaty, happy 5K finisher!!!! |
Here's the kicker, I've already planned my next 5K. It's in October!!!!
I started this adventure as a New Year's Resolution in January and it has taken me places I had not expected, but I am so glad that I did!!!!!
Sunday, July 1, 2012
Thundering Herd....
If you own a Basset hound or two, like I do, at some point in time or multiple times, you will be sent this link...
50 Bassets Running
You will laugh and think 'yep, my dog looks like that too when he runs.'
If you also own a camera and are a budding photography geek, you will then round up your dogs and head to the local park and try to recreate the pictures.
At the park, you will quickly realize that Bassets while not great runners are even worse at stopping before crashing into said photographer. They also get sidetracked on the way to you because they saw someone who might want to tickle their belly. They will also get tired of running to you just so you can get the perfect shot with the perfect lighting and not do it anymore.
So, after making them run around, you will get the preppy dog shirts you found at Old Navy for $3 a piece and throw them on the dogs and take more pictures. People will walk by laughing at the goofy dogs in the goofy shirts and then ask if they can come pet them. It will make your day, but more importantly it will make your dog's day.
Without further ado,
here are Humphrey and Bacall running
Nice start, Bacall!!!
Brakes would be good... (about 1/2 second later, I was cleaning slobber off my lens)
Alright, Humphrey.... your turn
Keep going, Humphrey, you're not done running yet! :)
And now, the Thundering Herd of Basset Hounds are on their way!
Don't you hope, that you don't look like this while running?
Whew, we made it!!! No more running.
Can someone, please please please, tickle my belly now?
Or even just pet me?
And if you have a cat, she will stay home and think
Dogs drool and Cats Rule!
50 Bassets Running
You will laugh and think 'yep, my dog looks like that too when he runs.'
If you also own a camera and are a budding photography geek, you will then round up your dogs and head to the local park and try to recreate the pictures.
At the park, you will quickly realize that Bassets while not great runners are even worse at stopping before crashing into said photographer. They also get sidetracked on the way to you because they saw someone who might want to tickle their belly. They will also get tired of running to you just so you can get the perfect shot with the perfect lighting and not do it anymore.
So, after making them run around, you will get the preppy dog shirts you found at Old Navy for $3 a piece and throw them on the dogs and take more pictures. People will walk by laughing at the goofy dogs in the goofy shirts and then ask if they can come pet them. It will make your day, but more importantly it will make your dog's day.
Without further ado,
here are Humphrey and Bacall running
Brakes would be good... (about 1/2 second later, I was cleaning slobber off my lens)
Dogs drool and Cats Rule!
Sunday, June 3, 2012
All in all, it's just another Brick in the Wall
No, it's not Pink Floyd day here at the blog,
it's a reference to my running adventures.
Yes, my running! :) My New Year's resolutions are still in tact! and it's June.....
I've signed up for a 5K race on July 14th! It's the Run Thru the Lavender 5K and Half Marathon at the Young Family Farm in Mona, Utah. I will be running thru fragrant beautiful fields on dirt roads for 3.2 miles.
I had looked for a while to find the best race to sign up for. I did not want one that was too big, too hilly or too soon. I wanted to take my time and train properly and then when I finally do run the race, I did not want to feel like a sardine fighting for a spot. The Run Thru the Lavender fit everything!
Signing up for a race has focused my running. I had stalled out in terms of pushing myself, because I knew I wouldn't sign up for a race with less than a month notice, so I had basically kept myself at week 4 of my training regiment and had taken days off (running only 1 day a week sometimes, oops). The deadline of July 14th has gotten me moving forward again....
and into the wall.
I had never really understood the 'wall' that runners had talked about since the beginning of time, until Thursday. It literally felt like I had slammed into an invisible wall during my run. I was cruising along, breathing nicely, shoulders relaxed and feeling groovy when it hit. I like a newbie, started to walk, instead of slowing down my pace.
BIG MISTAKE.
Guess what happened on my next run on Saturday? Yep, another wall at the exact same distance. This time I did not stop running, I kept at it. I remembered a quote that I saw on Pintrest --
Unless you throw up or faint, you don't stop.
I told myself that fainting was a little extreme, so I altered it a bit to light headed and since I was not I kept running.
I asked myself if I was nauseated-- I was not, so I kept running.
Guess what happened....
I broke down that wall, brick by brick, and made my distance increase!!!
The wall did not last forever and once I made it thru it, I felt like I was just starting my run, full of energy and ready to go!
Progress was made and as a result, I'm up to 2.8 miles and I have 6 weeks until my race!
Running has been more about the psychology than the physiology for me. Pushing myself; learning what is real or what is me just wanting to give up; and most importantly, quieting that voice in my head that has all of those negative thoughts. The ultimate benefit, it's carrying over to the rest of my life. :) Physically, I feel amazing! My knees, which has been operated on 3 times (2 on the right, once on the left), have never bothered me. My muscles are toning up and fat is leaving the building. The most unexpected benefit, on days that I run, I sleep AMAZING!!!
So, I'll end it with this,
the next time you run into a 'wall'
try running thru it.
Melissa
it's a reference to my running adventures.
Yes, my running! :) My New Year's resolutions are still in tact! and it's June.....
I've signed up for a 5K race on July 14th! It's the Run Thru the Lavender 5K and Half Marathon at the Young Family Farm in Mona, Utah. I will be running thru fragrant beautiful fields on dirt roads for 3.2 miles.
I had looked for a while to find the best race to sign up for. I did not want one that was too big, too hilly or too soon. I wanted to take my time and train properly and then when I finally do run the race, I did not want to feel like a sardine fighting for a spot. The Run Thru the Lavender fit everything!
Signing up for a race has focused my running. I had stalled out in terms of pushing myself, because I knew I wouldn't sign up for a race with less than a month notice, so I had basically kept myself at week 4 of my training regiment and had taken days off (running only 1 day a week sometimes, oops). The deadline of July 14th has gotten me moving forward again....
and into the wall.
I had never really understood the 'wall' that runners had talked about since the beginning of time, until Thursday. It literally felt like I had slammed into an invisible wall during my run. I was cruising along, breathing nicely, shoulders relaxed and feeling groovy when it hit. I like a newbie, started to walk, instead of slowing down my pace.
BIG MISTAKE.
Guess what happened on my next run on Saturday? Yep, another wall at the exact same distance. This time I did not stop running, I kept at it. I remembered a quote that I saw on Pintrest --
Unless you throw up or faint, you don't stop.
I told myself that fainting was a little extreme, so I altered it a bit to light headed and since I was not I kept running.
I asked myself if I was nauseated-- I was not, so I kept running.
Guess what happened....
I broke down that wall, brick by brick, and made my distance increase!!!
The wall did not last forever and once I made it thru it, I felt like I was just starting my run, full of energy and ready to go!
Progress was made and as a result, I'm up to 2.8 miles and I have 6 weeks until my race!
Running has been more about the psychology than the physiology for me. Pushing myself; learning what is real or what is me just wanting to give up; and most importantly, quieting that voice in my head that has all of those negative thoughts. The ultimate benefit, it's carrying over to the rest of my life. :) Physically, I feel amazing! My knees, which has been operated on 3 times (2 on the right, once on the left), have never bothered me. My muscles are toning up and fat is leaving the building. The most unexpected benefit, on days that I run, I sleep AMAZING!!!
So, I'll end it with this,
the next time you run into a 'wall'
try running thru it.
Melissa
Thursday, May 24, 2012
Campsite #3
The original plan....
Go to Goblin Valley State Park. The universe laughed at this plan. I had trouble reserving a campsite on the web, so I called the call center and found out that all of the campsites had been reserved since March. Yes, March. oops.
Scramble...
Go to the Utah State Parks website and search for a campsite that is not already booked and/or covered in snow.
Find....
Kodachrome Basin State Park, near Cannonville
Reserve...
well, it got a little interesting, because I was planning on taking the Basset Hounds for their first camping trip and the only campsite left did not have the dogs allowed sign on it. A call to the call center resolves that one, they had not updated all of the campsites to dog friendly. YEAH, I have a campsite in a State Park I have never been to.
Plan, Pack, and Stuff...
Did you know that prepping for a camping trip, if you have not done it in a while, takes a bit of time, and you need A LOT of stuff? A sedan is not the best vehicle for this. I had stuff crammed in every available space and then added some more.
Drive...
Sunday morning, I loaded up my dogs, Humphrey and Bacall, and my mom and myself and headed out. Basset hounds are not the best travelers, but they did great!!! 5 hours later, we arrived.
Campsite #3....
I got campsite #3 because it was the only one available, and it was perfect. It was quite hot when we arrived, as in the sand was too hot for the dogs to walk on. They did a bizarre hot foot dance to the shade, which was fortunately all over our campsite all day long. Monday and Tuesday were not as hot, YA!!!, but there is no way I would camp there in July or August, it would just be too hot.
The dogs, who had never been on so much as a picnic, did AMAZING!!! No barking and listened to all commands I gave them. Why can't they behave like that at home? oh well, the joys of owning Basset Hounds.
The Park...
Kodachrome has a lot of great hiking trails that range from 1 mile to 6 miles round trip. There is something for everyone. I described it to a friend like this....If Zion and Bryce National Parks had a baby, it would be Kodachrome Basin State Park. It is just beautiful and calming.
My Advice....
Get out there and go camping!!!
Melissa
Sunday, April 22, 2012
These are a few of my favorite things...
These are a few of my favorite things...
you can use them even when the dog doesn't bite, a bee doesn't sting, or when you're feeling glad....
Simon's Cat website: a must if you have ever owned a cat or known a cat. It's done by a British cartoonist who started posting on YouTube and it grew from there.
Red Butte Garden: a non computer related link, but an oasis on the foothills of Salt Lake City. If you go and explore, pay attention when you're on the Floral Walk area, my mom volunteers and takes care of that area.
The Argyle Sweater: If you were/are a fan of 'The Far Side' cartoons, this is right up your alley.
UtahDealDiva: an amazing resource for saving money, not just at the grocery store. Plus, lately she has been posting recipes!
BalletWest : I have never been a ballet dancer, but I have always appreciated what they are able to accomplish with music and movement. BalletWest has really stepped up their game lately, and if you were lucky enough to go to Emeralds/Paquita/Petite Mort performance, you'll know what I'm talking about.
Zumba: My latest exercise craze. I attend a great place on 7th East that is very reasonable in price. I'm possibly the whitest girl dancing Latin, but I have fun and always work up a sweat.
So, if you're bored on the web, try some of the sites
and if you call and I'm not home, chances are I'm out at one of the places above.
Enjoy.
Melissa
p.s.
I've figured out how to link to websites, so if you click on the highlighted areas, you'll be taken to the websites.
you can use them even when the dog doesn't bite, a bee doesn't sting, or when you're feeling glad....
Simon's Cat website: a must if you have ever owned a cat or known a cat. It's done by a British cartoonist who started posting on YouTube and it grew from there.
Red Butte Garden: a non computer related link, but an oasis on the foothills of Salt Lake City. If you go and explore, pay attention when you're on the Floral Walk area, my mom volunteers and takes care of that area.
The Argyle Sweater: If you were/are a fan of 'The Far Side' cartoons, this is right up your alley.
UtahDealDiva: an amazing resource for saving money, not just at the grocery store. Plus, lately she has been posting recipes!
BalletWest : I have never been a ballet dancer, but I have always appreciated what they are able to accomplish with music and movement. BalletWest has really stepped up their game lately, and if you were lucky enough to go to Emeralds/Paquita/Petite Mort performance, you'll know what I'm talking about.
Zumba: My latest exercise craze. I attend a great place on 7th East that is very reasonable in price. I'm possibly the whitest girl dancing Latin, but I have fun and always work up a sweat.
So, if you're bored on the web, try some of the sites
and if you call and I'm not home, chances are I'm out at one of the places above.
Enjoy.
Melissa
p.s.
I've figured out how to link to websites, so if you click on the highlighted areas, you'll be taken to the websites.
Sunday, April 1, 2012
Traveling to Africa and losing sleep....
I traveled to Africa last week....
no not on an airplane, but thru the words of a book.
I went to Rwanda right as the genocide was about to erupt in 1994. A few pages was all it took for me to get transported to another time and country. A few hundred more changed me and gave me a greater understanding of the world around me. How you may ask, a book by the name of 'Running the Rift' by Naomi Benaron.
All I had to do was give up a little sleep. I read a lot. I mean A LOT. My yearly book totals are always over one hundred. The problem, I generally give up sleep to read them. I read to settle my mind before I go to bed, but if a book hooks me, I am unable to put it down until I know the whole story.
When I am stressed, I read.
When I am happy, I read.
When I am busy, I read.
When I am relaxed, I read.
The only thing that changes are the genres that I read. When I'm stressed, I read what I affectionately call 'slut books', you know the ones... You can figure out the couple in the first 5 pages and know at the end of the book, they will live happily every after. Life solved in under 300 pages. Don't you wish it was like that in real life? Problems solved in a couple of hours. When I'm busy, I tend to read authors I've read before, due to the fact that I know their style and what I'm in for. The rest of the time, I'll tackle new authors, biographies and non fiction. The thing to remember, I always have a book to read.
2011 was somewhat of a disappointment in books for me. I only had a couple of books that I HAD to tell people about.
'The Night Circus' by Erin Morgenstern
'Violets of March' by Sarah Jio (a first time author, which makes it all the more amazing, because this book is PERFECT)
2012 has been a different story. I have already found books, that I will reread again and again. So, I thought I would pass them on to you with a brief summary.
'Sarah's Key' by Tatiana de Rosnay: A heartbreaking tale that starts in Paris in World War II. It gives a haunting tale of a young Jewish girl that went thru a part of history that I never knew about.
'Last Letter from your Lover' by JoJo Moyes: An unexpected love story and will leave you with your jaw dropped at the end.
'A Summer in Europe' by Marilyn Brandt: A story of finding yourself again or for the first time, plus you travel all over Europe in it.
This post is running a little long, so I think I'll stop here and periodically do this again. Talk about books. My inner librarian seemed to enjoy it.
Melissa
no not on an airplane, but thru the words of a book.
I went to Rwanda right as the genocide was about to erupt in 1994. A few pages was all it took for me to get transported to another time and country. A few hundred more changed me and gave me a greater understanding of the world around me. How you may ask, a book by the name of 'Running the Rift' by Naomi Benaron.
All I had to do was give up a little sleep. I read a lot. I mean A LOT. My yearly book totals are always over one hundred. The problem, I generally give up sleep to read them. I read to settle my mind before I go to bed, but if a book hooks me, I am unable to put it down until I know the whole story.
When I am stressed, I read.
When I am happy, I read.
When I am busy, I read.
When I am relaxed, I read.
The only thing that changes are the genres that I read. When I'm stressed, I read what I affectionately call 'slut books', you know the ones... You can figure out the couple in the first 5 pages and know at the end of the book, they will live happily every after. Life solved in under 300 pages. Don't you wish it was like that in real life? Problems solved in a couple of hours. When I'm busy, I tend to read authors I've read before, due to the fact that I know their style and what I'm in for. The rest of the time, I'll tackle new authors, biographies and non fiction. The thing to remember, I always have a book to read.
2011 was somewhat of a disappointment in books for me. I only had a couple of books that I HAD to tell people about.
'The Night Circus' by Erin Morgenstern
'Violets of March' by Sarah Jio (a first time author, which makes it all the more amazing, because this book is PERFECT)
2012 has been a different story. I have already found books, that I will reread again and again. So, I thought I would pass them on to you with a brief summary.
'Sarah's Key' by Tatiana de Rosnay: A heartbreaking tale that starts in Paris in World War II. It gives a haunting tale of a young Jewish girl that went thru a part of history that I never knew about.
'Last Letter from your Lover' by JoJo Moyes: An unexpected love story and will leave you with your jaw dropped at the end.
'A Summer in Europe' by Marilyn Brandt: A story of finding yourself again or for the first time, plus you travel all over Europe in it.
This post is running a little long, so I think I'll stop here and periodically do this again. Talk about books. My inner librarian seemed to enjoy it.
Melissa
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