I love Valentine Day. It encompasses all of my favorite things: Pink and Red; Godiva Chocolate, Gold Gifts and Cards. I love it all. I love to give it and to receive it.
Troy had already eaten 8 Godiva Truffles before I left for work this morning. His oatmeal cereal was still sitting on the table-untouched. On Valentine Day I allow the boys to eat whatever they like. No, we don't usually have Godiva for breakfast, but, well, you know...Tyler hadn't consumed quite as much as Troy. He had the Govida Milk Chocolate assortment and had ONLY consumed 3 pieces.
Steve left the house at 4 AM; before my 430 wake up call so he didn't get his Godiva yet. Isn't Godiva the best!!
I received a very beautiful gold link chain with big huge heart pendant. Yum Yum.
Plus our king sized Select Comfort Sleep Number bed will be delivered and set up today. I should be receiving a call at any time to meet the installers at home.
Today: that wonky workout. Woofie increased my speed to 30 seconds at 8.8 mph; then 30 seconds at 4.8 mph. I completed 35 minutes after a mile warmup and then 2 miles cool down. Still not my favorite.
I've decided that Wednesday and Friday mornings will be my swim days. I bought a new suit, goggles and cap. All set to hit the pool tomorrow AM before work.
Have a Happy Valentine's Day!!
Tuesday, February 14, 2006
Saturday, February 11, 2006
Topaz the Turbo Dog
With the additional 2" of snow received over the last few days I noticed that the roads were icy and snow covered yesterday. The trail that I like to snowshoe on is closed for cross country skiiers and with the new powder, I knew they would be hogging the trail.
That left the land near my home that the developer has allowed me to snowshoe upon this winter. It has gently rolling hills, mostly open field with oak and pine surrounding the fields which makes for a great wind block.
At 7 AM I strapped on the snowshoes and noticed that one of my lower claw thingies is missing. I must have lost in at the snowshoe marathon a few weeks ago. People were asking others if they had lost a crampon or campon or whatever the heck they are called, I call them claw thingies, but I never looked to see if it was I who lost one, I guess it was. That could account for the hard time I had getting up the hills and for the way I was sliding down hill at the marathon. Oh well.
I and Topaz headed out over the field, up the hills, down the hills, through the woods, through the fields. Oh my gosh, that dog! He was wide open, running fully extended, his front and back legs evenly extended with his back. He was crazy, like he couldn't get enough. He would run out in front of me, 1/2 mile out, then come back as fast as he could fly..and he was flying..back to me. He would lay in the snow until I caught back up, then off he'd go again. He was fully enjoying himself, as was I.
It's amazing to me how the running and herding is bred into the Border Collie. It is what they love to do and what they do so well. He is the perfect dog for me, the perfect training partner.
Coming up on three hours I decided I'd follow his tracks. What a riot. He was zig-zagging all over the fields, criss-crossing back and forth. We had a great time.
When I yelled "OK, all done Tope" he trotted back to the car and waited for me.
What a great day in the snow.
That left the land near my home that the developer has allowed me to snowshoe upon this winter. It has gently rolling hills, mostly open field with oak and pine surrounding the fields which makes for a great wind block.
At 7 AM I strapped on the snowshoes and noticed that one of my lower claw thingies is missing. I must have lost in at the snowshoe marathon a few weeks ago. People were asking others if they had lost a crampon or campon or whatever the heck they are called, I call them claw thingies, but I never looked to see if it was I who lost one, I guess it was. That could account for the hard time I had getting up the hills and for the way I was sliding down hill at the marathon. Oh well.
I and Topaz headed out over the field, up the hills, down the hills, through the woods, through the fields. Oh my gosh, that dog! He was wide open, running fully extended, his front and back legs evenly extended with his back. He was crazy, like he couldn't get enough. He would run out in front of me, 1/2 mile out, then come back as fast as he could fly..and he was flying..back to me. He would lay in the snow until I caught back up, then off he'd go again. He was fully enjoying himself, as was I.
It's amazing to me how the running and herding is bred into the Border Collie. It is what they love to do and what they do so well. He is the perfect dog for me, the perfect training partner.
Coming up on three hours I decided I'd follow his tracks. What a riot. He was zig-zagging all over the fields, criss-crossing back and forth. We had a great time.
When I yelled "OK, all done Tope" he trotted back to the car and waited for me.
What a great day in the snow.
Friday, February 03, 2006
Thank You
Thank you so very much for all of the kind thoughts and words. I appreciate it very very much.
It's been tough. Real tough.
Tomorrow night is the Big Lake Booster Club Fundraiser: Putting On The Ritz. It's a night of dancing and dinner, comedian, etc. It's an event where we dress in our formals and have a blast. The whole run club attends.
Last year I, Ann and Debbie went together. We had a lot of fun; Ann and I were the last to leave.
This year I wasn't going to attend. Ann was sick and the thought of going without her made me sad.
Today Debbie called me and told me to rethink that decision. With Ann's wake/funeral on Sunday and Monday, I could use a lift. Ann would have loved that Debbie and I go to honor her memory.
I will be there.
Last year I shopped for the perfect floor length dress, the perfect shoes, etc. This year I have about one hour to shop tomorrow. If I can't find a dress, I will wear last years. I'm having a neighbor take it in now. Thank goodness she was able to. It's too big for me now.
It's funny because last year Ann said "Julie, you must have paid a fortune for that dress. You better wear it again." "Ann, there is no where else I'd ever wear it" "Then you'll wear it here again next year..and I'll wear the same one too".
If there is a heaven, that is where she is, and she'll laugh out loud when she sees me wearing the same dress to Putting On The Ritz.
It's been tough. Real tough.
Tomorrow night is the Big Lake Booster Club Fundraiser: Putting On The Ritz. It's a night of dancing and dinner, comedian, etc. It's an event where we dress in our formals and have a blast. The whole run club attends.
Last year I, Ann and Debbie went together. We had a lot of fun; Ann and I were the last to leave.
This year I wasn't going to attend. Ann was sick and the thought of going without her made me sad.
Today Debbie called me and told me to rethink that decision. With Ann's wake/funeral on Sunday and Monday, I could use a lift. Ann would have loved that Debbie and I go to honor her memory.
I will be there.
Last year I shopped for the perfect floor length dress, the perfect shoes, etc. This year I have about one hour to shop tomorrow. If I can't find a dress, I will wear last years. I'm having a neighbor take it in now. Thank goodness she was able to. It's too big for me now.
It's funny because last year Ann said "Julie, you must have paid a fortune for that dress. You better wear it again." "Ann, there is no where else I'd ever wear it" "Then you'll wear it here again next year..and I'll wear the same one too".
If there is a heaven, that is where she is, and she'll laugh out loud when she sees me wearing the same dress to Putting On The Ritz.
Wednesday, February 01, 2006
My Dear Friend Ann
Today is a dark day. It is one that I knew would probably come, eventually, but I was hoping against hope that it wouldn't. I was hoping and praying that someway, somehow Ann would be able to recover from Stage Four Lymphoma.
This morning, at 710 AM, Ann passed away ..
No more struggling, no more tiredness, none of that. Ann is in a better place.
I met Ann 6 years ago. She and her son were enrolled in an ECFE class with I and Troy. I had just run my first marathon-Grandmas Marathon of 1999-and was telling the class about it. Ann came up to me and told me that she used to run High School track and was interested in getting back into it.
At that point our friendship began.
I told her there was a Big Lake Run Club, but that I was a bit apprehensive in checking them out. I knew it was mainly men, and fast lean men, and I was afraid I wouldn't cut the mustard.
We began to meet weekly to run and to get her mileage up to five miles. Once she was at five miles we decided to meet the Big Lake Runners.
Thank goodness we did! They welcomed us with open arms and we have been attending the Wednesday night runs since.
A few years later I asked Ann if she'd like to run a marathon before turning 40. "Wouldn't that be awesome, Ann..a marathon.. before 40!" Impossible, she thought. I knew better. She was going to be running Grandmas with me the following year.
We began training and sure enough..we were at the start line in a few short months. I had just run FANS 24 Hour Run two weeks before Grandmas so the plan was to stay together as long as we could, then she should go out on her own, as I'd be tired. She thought I'd go out on my own. Not so. At mile 20 she kicked it up a notch and off she went!
It was an awesome day.
Since then I and Ann have shared many many hours together. Ann ran her first 2 50K's this last summer. I had the honor of running the 2nd with her. I watched her finish the first.
Just four short months ago we ran Twin Cities Marathon.
Everything can change in a minute.
Take care, my dear friend, Ann. I love you.
This morning, at 710 AM, Ann passed away ..
No more struggling, no more tiredness, none of that. Ann is in a better place.
I met Ann 6 years ago. She and her son were enrolled in an ECFE class with I and Troy. I had just run my first marathon-Grandmas Marathon of 1999-and was telling the class about it. Ann came up to me and told me that she used to run High School track and was interested in getting back into it.
At that point our friendship began.
I told her there was a Big Lake Run Club, but that I was a bit apprehensive in checking them out. I knew it was mainly men, and fast lean men, and I was afraid I wouldn't cut the mustard.
We began to meet weekly to run and to get her mileage up to five miles. Once she was at five miles we decided to meet the Big Lake Runners.
Thank goodness we did! They welcomed us with open arms and we have been attending the Wednesday night runs since.
A few years later I asked Ann if she'd like to run a marathon before turning 40. "Wouldn't that be awesome, Ann..a marathon.. before 40!" Impossible, she thought. I knew better. She was going to be running Grandmas with me the following year.
We began training and sure enough..we were at the start line in a few short months. I had just run FANS 24 Hour Run two weeks before Grandmas so the plan was to stay together as long as we could, then she should go out on her own, as I'd be tired. She thought I'd go out on my own. Not so. At mile 20 she kicked it up a notch and off she went!
It was an awesome day.
Since then I and Ann have shared many many hours together. Ann ran her first 2 50K's this last summer. I had the honor of running the 2nd with her. I watched her finish the first.
Just four short months ago we ran Twin Cities Marathon.
Everything can change in a minute.
Take care, my dear friend, Ann. I love you.
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