gratitude attitude

this was taken a year ago...time goes fast, doesn't it?

i am thankful for my mooklettes
the love of a very good man

friends who care and lift eachother up

relatives who live close by-especially those I'm not related to-
who are so good to me

relatives who are far away- i carry them in my heart
and appreciate that we stay in touch

books, words, pages-
the creations of others that transport me

Wednesday in November

it will be 90 today, yet crisp and clear this morning as I walked K. to bus stop in my jammies
c. is napping this am, so i will clean bathroom, bedroom and kitchen
papers still need grading-hate the pull of the ungraded work
want to curl up in room and read, read, read
fried egg sandwich for breakfast- ten pounds to lose- doubtful!

saturday post

Things on my mind on a Saturday...

-Happy Veteran's Day and thank you to all Veterans who have served our country. In wartime, or peacetime, your valor and service is certainly remembered and appreciated! (Especially you, my hubby!)

-got in a 5 miler today with Kath-she is just great, can't even describe her!

-had an email I sent in read on my favorite radio program! that was a trip!

-made a mix disc and wrote a new manifesto for our 3rd grade team. we are hanging tough together, making it work for us and the kids, and bringing it every day

-the Fergie single "Clumsy" and the Britney single "piece of me" both have me movin' down the road...

life is so good, hope this finds you happy in your corner of the world

a duck, secret service, a doctor, and a teenager

No, no punchline- just Halloween. C. donated her candy to Joe, who was feeling too old to participate this year...

37 is grand...

how can it not be??
on my night stand this week:
love in the time of cholera (Oprah, or no Oprah-i've wanted to read it for awhile)
eat,pray,love-next month's book club
three cups of tea
feast of love- an absolutely great book-so happy to have rediscovered it
pontoon- prairie home campanion, anyone
body surfing
already finished Celebrity Detox- amazing, singular, wonderful

back to the running this week, too...

happy, happy, happy

I am Woman...

that would be the tune that came up at mile 11 during the half-marathon and thoughts of the gals who encouraged me along the way got to me...#10355 was crying as she trotted down the road with the stomach flu!

most importantly, i finished, and i even made it under my goal time: 2:56! i am really happy about that, but I am even happier about the 250 miles i ran to get ready and the friendship with kath and the encouragement and support from my friends. i couldn't have done it without any of that OR without my body glide!

Cara

let me tell you a bit about Cara McDowell:
-when I am with her, I am at my best!
-we've known each other since 1991 and hit it off immediately
-my husband once danced her into our kitchen and she still has the scar to prove it
-she taught me how to play Set
-some of our best days were spent in the Westchester house eating take out Mexican food and hanging out
-she is K's godmother
-she is the reason we call C., Cara
-she is the teacher I try to be
-I am so happy she has such a full and wonderful life in TX with her awesome husband and darling boys
-when we are together, it is as though not a moment has passed
-she is much,much older than me :)
-when we part company we say "see ya' next week", because otherwise I cry inconsolably at the thought of how long it will be until we are together again
-I miss her every day!

Ten Miler

managed to do 10 miles this week- all by my lonesome! It took me just under two hours, so I am hopeful that I'll be able to do the half in just under three, but we will see. the kids are amazed that I have run nealry 250 miles in order to be able to run 13.1 successfully on Sunday.

this is my early b-day present and it has been quite a journey. i started it because i wanted to prove to myself that i could finish something i started, and to lose weight. well- one goal down(i am finishing) and one to go(have not lost a single ounce). i find great humor in the fact that i qualify for the CLYDESDALE division! Just call me Bessie! I think the absolute best things that have come out of this 20 week journey are: the clothes (comfy and cute), getting to a place where I can actually run without thinking about it, becoming familiar with products like BODY GLIDE

...and most especially: getting to know my running buddy Kathleen on a whole new level. If you ever want to find out how great a person is, run long distances with them. you can't imagine how great it is to have someone who is not competing with you, but rather inspiring you, pushing you and rooting for you. besides, even when I'm slow, she sticks with me, what more can gal ask for??