Thursday Thoughts

I haven't even started my new job and I was contacted yesterday to provide a list of 5 small gifts that I'd like to be part of a secret Santa thing.  Here's my list:

Colorful socks
Lottery scratch off tickets
Toothbrushes
Ultraswim shampoo
Paw patrol bandaids

My sister, who also works for this company, told me I was weird.  What?!  I think those are great small gifts.

So, what would be 5 small gifts you would want in a work gift exchange?

Thursday Thoughts

This weekend is the Air Force Marathon in Dayton, OH.  I ran this last year as a training run (for which I got in lots of trouble with my coach) after years of wanting to run it.  And you know what?  I didn't love it.  The course was BORING and there were no spectators for most of the race since it was on the Air Force base.  I had built this race up as a cool race to run and I was disappointed.  I won't be putting this race back on my calendar.



So, what race will you not run again?

Thursday Thoughts

Okay, a little bragging.

This week I went grocery shopping, with my 2 year old FTW, and bought a week's worth of food for our family for right around $100.  I used $44 in coupons!  This included meat (ground turkey, steak, and chicken breasts), lots of produce (berries, veggies, etc.), and even diapers.  I totally won this shopping trip.

So, what's your secret for saving money?  Groceries?  Race entries?  Home improvements?

Thursday Thoughts

This topic might be way too much TMI, but a running blog would not be a running blog without a little too much TMI.

Running underwear.  Let's do it.

I am an underwear girl.  I like my undies big, granny-like, cotton, and I could care less about lines under my clothing.  I don't own a thong.  I do, ALWAYS, wear underwear when I run.  I don't get chafed from underwear, but I tend to get chafed in the ol' butt crack when I run long from sweat or water getting all over me or just my big booty rubbing against itself for hours on end.

Too much TMI yet?

I've been reading all over the internet about running underwear.  Prices.  Sizes.  Materials.  Is it worth it.  And you know what I've found out?  I don't think many people wear underwear while running.  Well, good for you all, this isn't going to happen for me.  Although I wear shorts with liners, those liners don't fit like underwear.  And I've already established I'm an underwear girl.

So I'm asking...are you an underwearer or not?  If yes, do you wear the fancy running stuff?  Worth it or I'm still gonna get crack chafing anyway?

Go to town, America.  I can't wait to hear what you have to say.

Thursday Thoughts

I was walking/jogging a week ago while pushing the stroller and this random dude, slowed up his car on the other side of the road and yelled out, "NICE LEGS!" 

Um, thanks?!

I was a little creeped out but at least it was a good compliment and not something totally inappropriate or rude.

What's the weirdest thing that's happened to you while running?  What's the weirdest compliment you received?

Speaking of weird compliments....

I was picking up dinner the other night.  I got weak and ordered Chinese.  Ugh, I hate myself.  Anyway, at our previous home we would order Chinese quite often.  It was good; it was right across the street; I was skinny.  While I waited on my food my favorite ladies and I were shooting the breeze.  The asked about Dave, about the baby, about the new home.  And then in the weirdest backhanded compliment one of them told me I looked better now because I had gained weight. 

Um, thanks?!

Well, personally, I want to be lean and fit and skinny.  But I love your food so I'll take the "compliment".

Thursday Thoughts

Yesterday was National Running Day.  Real holiday?  Hallmark holiday?  Made-up holiday because runner's are cool?  (Yeah right.  We're like the nerds of jocks.)  Whatever way you slice it, I didn't get to participate.  Stupid hip.  I'm already so over being injured.

So, did you participate in National Running Day?  If so, what did you do?  How far did you run?  Did you run an extra mile for your injured friend *wink wink*?  Are you going to run an extra mile for your injured friend today since you forgot yesterday *wink wink*?

Thursday Thoughts

Back in the day when I had a job that paid real money and Dave was working too and we were childless, I found that I liked to afford luxuries.  One of my favorite luxuries was having a house cleaning service.  Once or twice a month we would have someone clean our house top to bottom.  When I was a kid my mom used to have specific chores for my sister and I and we weren't allowed to do certain things until those chores were done.  And Saturdays were house cleaning day.  The house got cleaned before anything else got done.  When I live alone in an apartment I kept to this schedule.  I always got the house cleaned every week and everything was put away.  When I got married and bought a house this type of discipline fell to the wayside.  My life partner, aka The Husband, doesn't have the same feelings as me of always having the house clean and picked up and minimalism, etc., so I've slacked too.  If I'm not getting help why should I do all this for two?

Anyway, I loved having someone clean the house.  It was a luxury I wish I could still afford.  Or frankly, have the motivation to do myself.

If you had the money, what luxury would you indulge?

Thursday Thoughts

I was BIG when I was pregnant.  I carried a small linebacker.  I was out shopping for baby socks with about 6 weeks to go in my pregnancy.  The woman at the checkout counter said, "woah, you must be about ready for this baby."  I gently let her know that I still had several weeks to go.  I know she probably meant well, but she sure stuck her foot in her mouth.

Last week Dave and I were picking up dinner from our favorite Chinese carryout.  I haven't been inside the establishment for a long time because I'm usually waiting outside in the car with the baby.  This time the baby was with my parents so I went inside with Dave.  The ladies at the counter said to me, "You look so much better.  Your face is fuller.  You're not as skinny."  Woah, was that ever a backhanded compliment.  I smiled and thanked them but inside it hurt a little.

Have you ever stuck your foot in your mouth so badly you don't know how to reverse it?
Have you ever received a backhand compliment that left you wide-eyed and shaking your head?

Thursday Thoughts

Last Friday I finally finished reading "Unbroken".  Then on Saturday I went and saw the movie.  It was a great movie but the book was so much more complete.  I spent nearly 20 minutes after the movie filling in the details for Dave who did not read the book before seeing the movie.

I kind of have an obsession with reading the book before seeing the movie.  Like, right now I'm reading "American Sniper" before I go and see it.  No, this does not ruin the movie for me.  Sometimes it enhances the movie because you know the whole story ("Unbroken", "The Help").  Sometimes you find out the book was WAY better (pretty much all other books/movies besides the ones mentioned above).

What is your favorite book/movie combination and why?

Thursday Thoughts

There are so many movies out right now that I'd like to see.  Of course, that's a total pipe dream.  I have a nearly-two year old.  I don't get to go to the movies.  Plus, all the movies I want to see were all nominated for Oscars this morning which means they'd totally suck anyway.  Seriously, Dave and I do not have a very good track record of actually liking the movies that were nominated for Oscars.  Two of the worst movies I have ever seen - American Beauty (what the hell was that about???) and Across the Sky.  Every time a Beatles song comes on the radio that was used in that movie Dave and I just laugh and then say, "remember how horrible that movie was?"  So, even though I'd like to see "The Imitation Game" and "The Theory of Everything" and "American Sniper" and "Unbroken", I think I'll stay home and save my money and time.

What was the worst movie you've ever seen?

Thursday Thoughts

Garth Brooks was on the Today Show this morning.  Two things I love together in one!!!  It got me thinking...When I was in high school (maybe college) I got to see Garth Brooks in concert sitting tenth row at what is now Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland.  It was AMAZEBALLS!!!  He played four notes of "Friends in Low Places" and the place went insane.  Four more notes, more insanity.  He ran from side to side of the stage.  He floated out over the crowd.  It was, hands down, the coolest and greatest concert I've ever been to.  For years I was hoping to go to Vegas (never been) to see him in concert there, but now he's going to start touring again.  And I will pay big money to see him if he comes to Columbus or anywhere near.

So, what is the best, most awesome, concert you've ever seen?

Thursday Thoughts

We all have smart phones (except for my mom who refuses to get one) and we all have favorite apps that make our life easier or just more fun.  So this week I want to know what your favorite app is?

One of my favorite apps is called Lose It! 

Yep, I'm a calorie counter.  Counting calories has been the only effective way for me to lose weight.  I'm still on a mission to lose all those pregnancy pounds (seriously, it's been two years, are they ever going away?!).  There are several things I love about this app.  First, it works both on my phone and on my computer without ever having to sync anything. 

Another thing, I love that I can just scan a bar code and it pulls up the nutrition information for me.  One thing that bothers me, though, is that I don't think the calorie counts for exercise are entirely correct. 

For example, if I run 6 miles at a 9:00 pace it tells me I've only burned like 400 calories.  That's it?  Really?!

I also have the obvious favorites in apps like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest, but LoseIt! has to be the one I use most often.

Help me out!  I am always looking for apps that are going to make things easier or just make things more fun.  What's your favorite?

Thursday Thoughts

Last night we went to the Creepside Festival at Creekside in Gahanna.  (Pictures tomorrow for Foto Friday.)  Basically, it was a community-wide trick-or-treat and Halloween festival.  It was nuts.  There were people everywhere!  We waited in line for trick-or-treating for a good hour for just a few pieces of candy.  And my boy doesn't even eat candy!  I noticed that most vendors were giving out Tootsie Rolls.  Not bad, but not a great candy either.  My favorite Halloween candy is probably Reece's Cups.

So, what's your favorite Halloween candy to steal from your kids?

Thursday Thoughts

T....choo choo!!!

(This is my son's language for TRAIN!!!)

My son is obsessed with trains!  When he woke up yesterday he spent the first 45 minutes saying "choo choo!"  I couldn't even get him to a take a nap today because I got him a new train and all he wanted to do was play.  It's cute.  It's annoying.  I love him. 

This got me thinking....

What was your favorite toy as a kid that you couldn't live without?  Do you still have that toy?  What are your kids favorite toys?

Thursday Thoughts

In a few days we leave for vacation.  We are headed with the whole family to Montana to do our thing near Glacier National Park.  Now, I'm no nature lover, but I think there's going to be a whole lot of hiking, kayaking, canoeing, swimming, and basically everything outdoors.  I am going to need a vacation from my vacation!

I have taken some good vacations in my lifetime, but two really stick out.  One was our impromptu trip to Key West.  We decided on a Thursday, bought tickets on a Friday, and left on a Saturday (or something like that).  It wasn't the usually Key West vacation of drinking and debauchery, but instead was relaxing and perfect.

Another favorite trip of ours was to Italy and Switzerland (There are lots of blog entries for this trip.  Click on June and July 2007 for more.) for our fifth anniversary.  This trip was epic!  We visited Milan, Florence, Rome, Venice, and Zermatt, Switzerland.  I loved Italy and cannot wait to go back.

And for every great trip, there's always a bad.  Although London was an amazing trip and seeing the Olympics may be a highlight of my life, taking this trip while 5 and 6 weeks pregnant was rough.  I was sick, I was tired, and I didn't want to do anything.  I couldn't experience the food or beverages.  Someday I'd like to do London again and would love, love, love to see another Olympics.

So, what is your favorite and least favorite vacations you have been on and why?

Thursday Thoughts

Now that I'm a full time stay at home mom, a lot of the household chores fall to me.  Ugh.  I had a pretty strict upbringing regarding chores and as I've gotten older I have disliked them more and more.  And now I just excuse it as, "well, if I'm not getting help, I'm not doing it" or "the house is under a constant state of construction, why try to clean it."  This of course, is the absolute wrong approach.  I love a clean house, I just hate doing it.

My favorite chore is doing laundry.  It's such a type-A, engineering-type activity.  I love sorting by color or by type; I love folding clothes and the geometric shapes it becomes; and I love putting clothes on the drying rack, to see how many I can fit and how I can place them so it is not touching and still gets dry.  Laundry is soooo me!

Pretty much everything else is my least favorite chore.  :)  But if I have to narrow it down, I hate doing dishes.  They're so gross.  I don't like loading or unloading the dishwasher.  I hate having my hands in dirty water.  And I don't like drying them and putting them away.  I wish there was a magic dishwasher fairy who would come in after each meal and clean up. 

Another chore I really dislike is grocery and everything that goes with it - meal planning, making a list, clipping coupons, going to the grocery, etc.  What should happen every week usually becomes a four week task before I ever actually get to the store.  And now that I have to take a baby with me each time, it is even worse.

So, what are the chores you love and hate?  What incentives or motivation do you give yourself to get through those tasks you despise? 

Thursday Thoughts

Epic.  I'm thinking I need to do something epic.  I can't get it out of my head that I want to try ultras...50K, 50 miler, 100 miler???? 

What's one epic adventure you'd like to do? 

Thursday Thoughts

With the plans coming together to take on trail running and some longer races later this year, it's time to load the iPod up with some good tunes with which to train.  Yes, I wear an iPod when I run.  The problem is I moved, or I tried to move, my music from one computer to another and basically lost everything.  I went from about a gazillion songs to about 147.  And I don't know where those other bajillion songs went to.  So, I need your help.  What are some good songs to run to?  What do I absolutely need to download?  Help me load up the iPod.  There are miles and miles to run!

Thursday Thoughts

I saw this one on a friend's Facebook post yesterday and thought it would make for a good Thursday Thoughts.  The question was what is the best swag you've gotten at a race and what was the worst swag?

I'll start with worst.  When I ran the Towpath Marathon in 2005 the race t-shirt had a shoe with it's tongue hanging out like a human tongue.  The shoe also had a face on it and it was sweating, although it looked like it was crying.  You can see the picture here (at the bottom of the page).  But, this race redeemed itself when I received the trophy for my second place age group finish (picture here).

Best swag.  Well, in general, I prefer no swag.  I think the price of races has gotten outrageous and I'd rather not pay for that stuff.  But if you're going to include it then make it useful or awesome.  The finisher shirts from the Rev3 Knoxville races I've done has been awesome, along with the visors (not that I wear a visor).  The local Thanksgiving races give away good swag.  The Turkey Trot gives away a free pumpkin pie for the top 500 finishers.  I don't like pumpkin pie so that one's lost on me.  Plus this race tends to have some of the ugliest race shirts.  The Flying Feather race gives away a bottle of wine for each finisher.  I got mine this year with intentions to save it after the baby was born and the family drank it.  This race also has a shirt, hat, and gloves in the swag bag.  And a Thanksgiving race that no longer exists, Pilgrim's Progress, had finisher glass mugs and free loaves of bread from Great Harvest.  Now we're talking!

So, what has been your best and worst swag from a race?

Thursday Thoughts

I was warned in my pregnancy that random strangers would touch my belly.  That hasn't happened, at all.  Maybe I give off a "do not touch me vibe", but after what I have experienced, I think I'd rather have people touch my belly.  See,  as I've gotten bigger I've noticed people saying what I deem as inappropriate things to me.  For example, a random stranger said to me that I looked like I was ready to pop and that was with 9 weeks to go.  I have also been told I am really round.  And even my sister said to me, "woah you got really big."

First of all, I am 8-1/2 months pregnant.  I am supposed to be big.  But only my belly is big.  I have done the right things to minimize extra weight gain.  Compared to other people in my position, I'm downright skinny.  Secondly, um, how rude!  Ask me when I'm due, ask me how I'm feeling, ask me if I'm ready, but don't just to how big I am.

So, what's the rudest thing anyone has ever said to you?