Monday, March 27, 2017

Health Update

I don't know what's going on with me. I'm falling apart! And this is coming from someone who usually boasts an immune system of steel. I rarely ever get sick! I had the generic upper respiratory junk that everyone has had. It lasted about 48 hours and then I felt fine. But still had a lingering cough. It was annoying, but nothing intolerable. (My mom may feel differently about that after staying with me at the beach). It's been almost a month and the cough remains.

Then sometime last week I started having really bad pleuritic chest pain- like excruciating pain every time I coughed. I was even having pain with just deep breathing which was super not fun!

Physical ailments- in addition to my mental and emotional state- almost tipped me over the edge and there was no time for blogging. The cough remains and my left lung is still sore, but I'm starting to feel better again. Physically, at least. My mental and emotional states are still hanging by a thread. I feel like I need to write some. I'm hoping that some word vomit and getting things off my mind will make me feel a little better.

Here's hoping...

Sunday, March 19, 2017

Sunday Smiles


And in that day you will say: "Praise the Lord, call upon His name; declare His deeds among the peoples, make mention that His name is exalted."
- Isaiah 12:4

Thursday, March 16, 2017

Out of Office

So I had a bad week at work a few weeks ago. It was the closest I have come to a mental breakdown in a long time. I immediately text my mom and asked when her Spring break was because I needed to get away for a few days. By the time this is posted, I will be lounging on the beach in Seaside!

It's just a quick trip- for a long weekend. I'll be back on Sunday night- just in time to go back to work. But I'm hoping that it is a good "Reset" button and lets me refresh and step away from things for a little while so I can go back to it feeling more energized!

Just picture me here:



Sunday, March 12, 2017

Sunday Smiles


Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are Mine.
- Isaiah 43:1

Thursday, March 9, 2017

20 Questions

So, one of the blogs I read posted her answers to 20 questions and asked people to join in and answer so here they are...

1. Do you like blue cheese?
Nope. Next question!

2. What flavor Kool-Aid?
I don't remember the last time I had kool-aid. It's been years, but I'll go with red. (Is that a flavor...?)

3. Do you get nervous before a doctor's appointment?
Also don't remember the last time I've been to the doctor. Oops! But no; no nerves.

4. What do you think of hot dogs?
How is one supposed to answer this?! The remind me of summer and baseball and grilling out so overall, I'm a fan.

5. What do you prefer to drink in the morning?
Coffee. Obvi.

6. Can you do a push-up?
Yep. Don't worry, I just did a few in my office floor to confirm. But I can't do as many as I used to be able to and that makes me sad. Push-up challenge coming soon...

7. What's your favorite piece of jewelry?
I have no idea. I never take off my James Avery ring. And I love my Ekata earrings. I don't wear a ton of jewelry.

8. Do you have a hobby?
Not as much as I would like. That is a longer story than I have time for right now, but maybe I'll do a whole post on it eventually. Remember how I wrote about contentment? Ha!
But as far as hobbies go: running, reading, organizing (really!), playing with Molly.

9. Do you wear glasses?
No. But I love glasses so I really wish I did! I have 20/15 vision and have even opted out of vision insurance for the past few years, but I seriously love glasses, so this makes me kind of sad.

10. Who was your childhood idol?
I have no idea... Shannon Miller...?

11. Name three drinks you drink regularly?
Coffee, water, and wine.

12. Favorite place to be?
I'm torn. I'm going to Seaside next week, but also Manhattan!

13. How did you bring in the new year?
I honestly had to think about this for a second because I didn't remember. I hung out with some friends at their house. We were all tired (and old) so we rang in the new year with the ball drop in Times Square and I was home by 11:15. Ha!

14. Where would you like to go?
See #12.

15. Do you own slippers?
No. I used to, but not anymore. I usually just wear socks around the house. Or Uggs. Or real shoes so that I can go outside with Molly when she wants to play.

16. Can you whistle?
Yep!

17. Last thing that made you laugh?
I don't know. Probably something really corny, like a pun. I love a good, nerdy pun!

18. What is your favorite animal?
Molly, of course. But other than her, giraffes. Or elephants. I really like the African Veldt at the zoo.

19. Worst pain?
I want to say something super profound like a broken heart or unrequited love, but probably something like stubbing your toe. Or kidney stones. I hear those are pretty painful.

20. Do you like to dance?
Always. Everyday.

So there you go! Feel free to join along!

Monday, March 6, 2017

Another Year, Another Off Road Series

I keep trying to pretend like I'm a runner, but I'm pretty sure my inconsistency prevents against that. I'm trying to get back into it though. I set yet another running resolution this year and my friend and I registered for the Winter Off Road Series. I have done this series before. I thought about going back and looking through my tshirts to see if I could figure out how many years I had done it, but then I got lazy. I think this was the 4th or 5th year though. When I signed up, I thought that it would motivate me to actually run some to train a little bit, but I was wrong...

The first run was a 3k so I didn't feel bad about not training. I did feel bad about the fact that it was about 20 degrees and there were spots of ice on the ground and I couldn't feel my toes for half the race... The 5k was 2 weeks later. I probably ran once or twice in between and only like 2 miles at a time, but it was a trail run so I knew it would be a slower-than-normal pace so I wasn't too worried about it. It was a hard run. It had rained the day before so it was super muddy! And there were lots of hills. And roots. And constantly looking down. But we did it.


My streak continued and again I didn't really run or train in between the 5k and the 8k. But we were determined! This was the hardest race, by far! Aside from the fact that we hadn't trained properly, it was the hottest race which is such an adjustment on your body and lungs so that made it rough! And about 3 miles in, shit hit the fan! I'll leave it at that. But it was a rough race!

The 10k was the weekend after the 8k and we were determined to be more prepared! We ran twice that week. One was 2 miles and the other 3, but it was better than we had been doing. The weather was pretty perfect for a run and the trail kept the pace slow so I actually think that this was our best race. We ran the 6.7 miles feeling pretty good! But I will say that the last half mile was brutal. Not that the actual course was that hard, but I had mentally prepared for 6.2 miles and every step after that seemed to get heavier. Further proof that running is such a mental sport!


I will say that I feel so much better when I'm running consistently and I eat better because a) I can tell a difference in my runs when I've been eating well and b) I don't want to waste the workout by eating crap. It also allows me to run out my frustrations and gives me a chance to clear my head and think through things. So basically, running is good for all areas of my life! Hopefully this series was a good jumpstart and I will stay more consistent from here out. We'll see...

Sunday, March 5, 2017

Sunday Smiles


For the Lord thy God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God.
- Deuteronomy 4:24