Friday Mishmash

Regarding my post on Monday, I was amazed by your comments - I had no idea that it would touch so many of you like it did. One person commented "I'm wondering how you even remember some of them now, since your life is so different" - and that, right there, is why I started this blog. To remember what it was like when I was obese. To remember how hard I had worked to lose the weight. To be able to look back and appreciate all that I've gained in the course of losing 110 pounds. She is right - I have started taking certain things for granted...and although I still sometimes see a fat woman looking back at me in the mirror, I am getting used to sliding my body into a booth, or an airplane seat, or through a turnstile...I could go on but you get the idea. So that famous phrase "lest we forget" really holds true for me, and by looking back on occasion, I think I will be able to appreciate all that I have accomplished.

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I finally was able to get a picture of Chip and Dale! I know you are all SO excited to see this...these guys make me laugh on a daily basis as I watch them chase each other all around the trees, leaping across branches - so playful and cute. They finally stopped moving for about ten seconds and I got the shot - I kinda felt like the stalkarazzi!

Paco also likes to watch Chip and Dale...caught him in a moment when he wasn't barking wildly at them.

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Be sure to come back on Monday - through the magic of auto-post, I will have a review up of a beautiful new children's book, written by a very talented author who just so happens to be one of my best friends!

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Was it wrong that while I was doing bicep curls with my 10 lb. dumbbells the other evening, I asked Jeff if he wanted tickets to the "gun show"?** I crack myself up, but I really do enjoy the feeling of power that I get when I workout my arms!

**From my favorite movie, Anchorman:
Ron Burgundy: The only way to bag a classy lady is to give her two tickets to the gun show...[kisses his biceps]
Ron Burgundy: and see if she likes the goods.

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I had a great run with Matt yesterday and I even went long! I was planning on running to Starbucks, so I had Jeff drop me off at the mall parking lot (this way I didn't have to deal with running on a zero-shoulder busy road) - he went on to wait for me, and Matt texted "GO" so I ran! I was aiming for 35 minutes and headed out down a long flat sidewalk - my legs felt great, although I was gasping a bit. Looking at my stats from Ricky Bobby later, I could see why - I was running pretty fast for me. Two miles went great; then I turned around and ran into the wind for about a mile and a half...now that was challenging! But, I hit 4 miles in 47:16, which was good. And, I got a nice cup of coffee and a bagel with cream cheese - woohoo for instant rewards!

Nice hair, no?For the first time ever, I do believe Matt was sweatier than I was!

Ricky Bobby is quite pleased with my performance!

Danica shows the reason why Matt was so sweaty - look at that pace!

Before we get started on our run, Matt always sends me a few funny texts while he tries to delay the inevitable warms up. The winner of this round was "Why did you have to find me on Facebook?" - I cracked up at that. If it weren't for me, he'd be happily sleeping, but nooOOOoo - every Thursday I make him run. I'm sure he secretly appreciates me for that. :)

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By the time most of you are reading this (exception being MizFit, who I know is up at the crackalack of dawn), Jeff and I will be winging our way to Maui, to help celebrate my parent's 50th anniversary. Should be a fun trip, complete with lots of coconut gelato, relaxing, running, and even doing a zipline! In preparation, I had my traditional Maui pedicure:

Wish I could remember the name of this OPI nail polish - all I know is it made me think of mermaids, which is why I chose the color!

We'll be back on Monday, November 8th. I'll be bringing my netbook, Miss Heliotrope Lucre, with me, but seeing as the internet is not free at our hotel (how crazy, right?), who knows how often I'll be able to get on and post. I may actually be busy, enjoying the beach - what a concept! Any case, I'll miss you. And you. And especially you!