Oct
31
2009
I am at home sick today with a cold (self-diagnosed). It’s been coming on since Wednesday and I haven’t had time to be sick, so I’ve ignored it. I guess now I have time to admit I’m sick. Richard went to Target this morning and bought me medicine, cough drops, Kleenex and Chicken Noodle Soup. He is hereby awarded Husband of the Year. I’m hoping to feel better very soon (as in in a few hours). I realize that would take a miracle, but I’m hopeful.
I want to try these recipes:
Sausage Balls
Pumpkin Bread
Cranberry Pumpkin Cookies
Pumpkin Pancakes
Game Day Dip
I also want to go to Michael’s (we don’t have a Hobby Lobby here). I need to buy some DMC thread for a club one of my teacher friends and I are hosting at school Monday. We’re hosting a Friendship Bracelet club. I have been thinking about making those potholders with the loops with my students. I want to check into getting some kits for that. I think that would be fun!
I’ve been wanting to knit lately, but don’t have a good project going at the moment. I have lots of yarn just waiting to be transformed into something fabulous, but I just have not started anything.
Hope this cold will magically disappear so I can do all of the fun things I want to do!
Oct
26
2009
Never in a million years would I have thought I would have ever attempted homemade chicken noodle soup. Campbell’s Chunky Chicken Noodle Soup is homemade, right? It tastes homemade, looks homemade, smells homemade, so it must BE homemade. WRONG. I have the All Recipes app. on my iPhone and the recipe spinner brought up a Chicken Noodle Soup recipe. After reading the recipe and the reviews, I thought, “Why not?”
I will never, ever go back to Campbell’s. It will do in a pinch, I suppose, but this soup recipe is de-lish and is truly “super easy”. I used almost all of the suggestions the first reviewer mentioned–with the exception of the mushrooms (I love mushrooms, but Richard does not). This recipe makes a lot and I wish I had frozen some of it because I wound up having to throw some out. Live and learn.
I hope the people around your table enjoy this!
Oct
25
2009
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I made it! Actually, I did more than just make it– I had a blast! I met my friends at 6:30 this morning and we walked over the Pentagon. After meeting another friend there, we walked to the start and before we knew it, the race started! The weather could not have been better. It was a chilly start, but it turned out to be in the 60s and sunny. The crowds were out today to cheer on the runners! It was very exciting. There were also a lot of Marines… since it is, after all, the Marine Corps Marathon. For the entire race, my friends and I did a 4:1 run/walk ratio. My theory is a ratio is the only way to go. My pace was fairly consistent until mile 21 where my pace averaged 10:15–and that was with the run/walk–from 21 to the finish. It must have been that GU with octane I took. I finished in 4:59:44. I had 15 seconds to spare to meet my goal. I cut it close! Miles 6, 13, and 18 were my slowest. Mile 23 was my fastest.
I had such a great time running with my friends and seeing the crowds and running through our beautiful city. I think I smiled for 26.2 miles–not one step was miserable. I loved every mile!
Next up: Richmond, Nov. 14 and Shamrock, March 21.
I must say thank you to my husband who puts up with me leaving the house early every morning–including Saturdays to run. He has been very patient and supportive–and hasn’t complained when I spend money on running shoes, clothes and accessories. He even came today to take pictures for me and cheer for my friends and me! Also, I want to say thanks to my running buddies who are always so positive and encouraging and fun! We are such a team! I can’t wait for Shamrock!
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Oct
24
2009
Would you believe it if I told you that I have not chosen an outfit to wear for the race, have not packed my fuel belt with the necessary goods and haven’t even picked up my race number yet! I can’t believe it! Maybe it really hasn’t sunk in yet that I am running in a race tomorrow. OK, so maybe I shouldn’t call it a “race” because I can tell you there will be no racing going on on my part.
I have at least narrowed it down to a couple of outfit options. I’ll work on that this afternoon. I am trying to decide between a running skirt or shorts. Decisions, decisions. I need to stuff my fuel belt pockets with things like Body Glide, GU Gels, Sport Beans, GU Chomps, G2 Powder, an Ibuprofen or four–you know… all of my secret weapons!
I tried to go pick up my race packet this morning. Richard had to be somewhere this morning, so I dropped him off and then headed over to a convention center to get my race packet. It was raining and there was no parking, so I decided to wait until later when Richard can drop me off and make the block while I go in and get my bag. That will be much easier.
Ok, so things to do:
1. Select an outfit.
2. Pack my fuel belt.
3. Pick up race bib.
Oct
19
2009
On Sunday I will be running my first ever full marathon. I have been so busy for the past month that I really have not had time to think about it. It hasn’t really sunk in that I will be running for 26.2 miles. I think it finally hit me today. I am already drinking a tad more water than usual to make sure I stay hydrated all week. I am already thinking about what I will wear (impressive that I haven’t thought about that until now isn’t it?). I’ve been thinking about the race when I should be more focused on teaching story elements, parts of a plant and counting strategies. I’ve got this marathon on Sunday and then on Nov. 14th I am running another one in Richmond. Apparently my running friends and I are fairly confident we’ll do well because we’re already planning to run another marathon in March at Virginia Beach. I’m running the Oct. and March marathons with friends, but in Nov. I am going it alone.
We’re crazy you say? You’re probably right.
Oct
18
2009
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| First of all, I apologize for the horrible photos. I took these pictures on my phone. I think our camera is in my school bag in the car.
A few months ago, I made Olivia new bedding for her crate. Since I am a very inexperienced seamstress, when I made the new bedding, I didn’t think to add a few inches to my measurements for the stuffing. So, she had a nice bed, but it didn’t completely cover the bottom of the crate. It’s been driving me crazy, but I just haven’t made the time to go to the fabric store to get more material to re-do this little project. Yesterday was the day. It was raining and cold and it would have been a great day to stay at home, but I was bound and determined to get a few things accomplished. Olivia’s new bedding was one of them.
She now has a new “pillow” for her crate that is very fluffy and fills the bottom of the crate completely. She also has 6 “pillow cases”–3 flannel and 3 cotton. She slept on her new bed last night and she loved it! |
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Oct
15
2009
I come home almost every day to take Olivia potty during lunch. It’s a quick trip, but I feel like she’s still young enough that she needs the break mid-day. Lately I have been noticing when I come home that there are several men sitting in the hallway in front of one of the other apartments. I have been a bit uncomfortable with this for several days, so today I finally decided to mention it to the concierge. I told him that there were several men in the hallway every day when I come home.He said, “Men? Oh, that wouldn’t happen to be in front of apartment XXX would it?” I said yes and he then told me that they were body guards and that the apartment they are guarding has something to do with one of the embassies. That certainly would not have been my first guess! I felt a little silly after he told me who the men were, but better safe than sorry, right?
“Toto, I’ve got a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore.”
Oct
14
2009
Olivia got her second haircut today! I had a meeting today after school, so I took her to day care for the day. She got to play with all of the other doggies before and after getting her hair cut.
Here she is before her haircut:
Here she is after:
She is not feeling very photogenic tonight. She came in, ate her supper and has been on the couch asleep ever since. Doggie day care wears her out! I didn’t have the groomer take very much length off at all because the weather is so cool. They just did a basic trim and shape-up kind of cut on her. She especially needed her face trimmed up because her hair was in her eyes. Her cut is cute and I bet she feels a lot better with that hair out of her face!
Oct
13
2009
So far since I got home from work, all I have done is take Olivia for a walk. We walked for 3.58 miles, so hopefully she will be fairly subdued tonight.
Still to do:
1. Eat leftover cheese dip for supper.
2. Watch Mary Tyler Moore (or Andy Griffith–just whatever I’m in the mood for).
3. Read my latest issue of Real Simple magazine.
4. Knit.
5. Perfect the ratio of candy corn to peanuts.
As you can see, I’m swamped.
