This weekend I had to take Shelby to the vet for some minor health issues. Mitch didn’t think she needed any medical assistance, but I insisted. Once we got to the Vet, she confirmed my suspicions, took care of the problem, and now Miss Shelby is like a brand new dog. Personally, I think she is eternally grateful for the love and attention I shower on her cause she is now glued to my side. She doesn’t even want to go on a walk without me. She really is my best friend.
And the icing on top of the cake is that I have yet again proved my husband wrong. Why must he insist on questioning me? Good thing he’s pretty.
This morning I engaged in my regular Monday morning routine. Shower, iron clothes, put on make-up, you know the drill. I was running late as usual and I as went out to get in my car to leave, I noticed that it was leaning. My car was leaning cause I had a flat. Bummer. I ran back inside to call my husband. I had barely uttered the words, “I have a flat tire”, before he had jumped into action. Before I knew it, my sugary sweet, honey bunches of oats had left work to rush home and change my flat tire. Within minutes he had me all squared away and and on my way to work.
I am a planner. I have my entire life planned out and I have multiple contingency plans for when my first plans fall through. My husband, on the other hand, I don’t think he can even spell “plan”. But what he lacks in planning skills, he makes up for it in leaps and bounds in being able to respond quickly to last minute issues or emergencies. It feels so good to know that he is there to take care of me when anything pops up.
Sometimes I think it’s just easier for women to take care of their spouses. I have an urge to nurture and care for my husband. I want to give him anything he wants. I want him to have the career of his dreams, a home he loves, and all the tools his heart desires. I’m willing to sacrifice many things to ensure that he is able to achieve his dreams and goals. But, this whole flat tire thing just reaffirms to me that he wants to take care of me and make me happy in his own way.
I did it! I ran my first half marathon. It was a pretty hilly course and around mile 10 I was ready to quit, but I didn’t. I ran it all and finished with in 2 hours 15 minutes. The best part about the race were the spectators. My husband and friend, Kristi, were out on the course cheering me on. They traveled to multiple spots on the course to keep me motivated. It was the best feeling in the world to see their faces and hear their cheers.
There was also a bit of a celebrity at the race. Miriam from Canadian in Candia was at the race. She is a fellow blogger and often writes posts about her husband’s ultra marathon races. So imagine how special I felt that she was there taking pictures of me and my measly 13 miles. She even rode her bike along side me for a while to chat with me. It was really nice to have the company.
Thanks to all of my motivators. You all made it the most enjoyable race I’ve ever run.
Also, special thanks to Miriam for the photos.
On Sunday I am voluntarily running 13 miles and I’m paying money to do it. Have I lost my ever lovin’ mind?
I’ve been training for the the past three months for this race. Part of the training includes something called the taper. This is the part of the training I’ve been looking forward to most. It’s the part where you start to rest your body and decrease your miles so that you are well rested for race day. Sounds great right? Lots of rest and way less running. Nobody, and I mean no single person, told me how much the taper would suck. No one mentioned the anxiety attacks, the phantom pains, the heavy legs, the sluggish feeling, the carb cravings, and the absolute urge/need to run MORE that the taper involves.
Yeah you heard me right, I have been having anxiety attacks on a daily basis (I just had one while writing this and had to take a break to breath) for the past 7 days. I have hellish pains in my legs, feet, arms, back, you name it because my body is apparently healing from all the training I’ve been doing for the past months. I feel like a slug from the lack of activity and ass load of carbs I’ve been eating. And to top it all off I have an actual addiction to running now. My body physiologically depends on it. When I finish the “short” 3 mile runs I’ve been taking in the past week, I am actually pissed off and cranky when I have to stop.
So I guess in the whole scheme of things the taper is really good, because not matter how intimidated I am by how big this race is , I just want to freakin’ run.
My Mom used to have something called a Dream Tree. I don’t really remember where she got it but I remember staring at that tree for hours. It was a tiny tree, maybe 12 inches tall. It was made up of strands of gold painted wire that was twisted together to make the trunk and the wire separated at the top to make the limbs. Hanging from the limbs were tiny gold leaves that sparkled and danced when the light hit them. As you got hypnotized by the flickering gold leaves, you would drift off into day dreams. Hence its name, the Dream Tree. I loved that tree. I don’t really remember what ever came of that tree.
This past weekend I lounged in the cool grass of my yard dazing up into the golden leaves of this tree. I couldn’t help but think that perhaps this is the Dream Tree reincarnated.
This past weekend I visited the Hamilton House in Maine. It was built in about 1787 by Col. Jonathan Hamilton. The home is located on a bluff overlooking Salmon Falls River. After being owned by a couple of other families the home and property was eventually purchased in the late 1800′s by Mrs. George Tyson of Boston and her stepdaughter Elise. They were able to restore and preserve the home and gardens.
There was something very relaxing and welcoming about the majestic grounds and the home. I felt like I could have stayed there all day. I almost didn’t want to leave.
Look at those two best friends. Aren’t they so adorable together. Inseparable in fact. Where there is one there is the other. Oh no. Not Shelby and Winnie. Rather, Winnie, the Super Freak, and Hank her Hedge Hog. 
Winnie and her hedge hog are always together. When she wakes up she goes to find him. If she has been gone for the day, as soon as she get’s in she’s got to find her hedge hog.
Shelby the Wonder Mutt has a new sidekick, a partner in crime, a Robin to her Batman. We are pleased to introduce Wynett, The Super Freak.
So let’s just say that in this partnership The Wonder Mutt is the brains of the operation and The Super Freak is braun.
These two get a long like any super hero sisters would. Most of the time they tolerate each other and may even go as far as to say they like each other. But every once in while the fur stands on end and there are some nips at legs and ears. Oh, sisters.
On a late summer day, I again tried my hand at self portraits. Never my strong suite cause I’m a bit impatient. I was trying this at mid-day so the sun was really harsh. Finding the right location and camera placement took about 15 minutes (and 30 photos). Regardless of my efforts to take an awesome picture, the best picture still required a lot of editing. 
Despite all my hard work on the self portrait, Shelby, the consummate professional model, was able to strike these poses and put me to shame in mere seconds.
The Wonder Mutt is never to be outdone.
