Change of Plans

Sometimes, things do not go the way you plan. Sometimes life knocks you down and you just need to roll with the punches. The Plan The Reality Sat 9 Mile Run Took Matt to the Emergency Room with a badly broken arm. Sun Rest 9 Mile Prayer to the beat of my feet on the path - “Dear God, Please Heal Matt's Arm; Guide Me, In the Care of My Family” Mon Speedwork Morning Appointment, Afternoon Surgery, Overnight hospital stay – sleeping in a chair next to Matt's bed. Tues Spinning Supporting Matt's recovery and pain management. Too physically and emotionally exhausted to workout. Wed Tempo Run Still supporting Matt, Still exhausted, did a strength workout at 10pm – better than nothing. There is nothing like a longer than expected surgery on your child to make you realize how very blessed you are, how very precious life is, and how much your family means to you. Nothing else really matters.

Free Speech Baby

Darlings, I love a good snotty political post now and again. If the intent of sharing your political opinion is to let off steam, entertain, or illicit positive feedback from like minded individuals – keep doing what you are doing - free speech baby – go nuts! If, however, your hope is to persuade or educate, I suggest that you refrain from insulting your audience, their current political beliefs, or their current political candidate. Approach your audience with respect, look for common ground, and they might actually give credence to your words. I'll try to do the same. #mytwocents

Personality Feature # 27

Personality Feature # 27: I don't like being told what to do. Seriously, do not tell me what to do. I don't even listen to my own directions. If I make myself a to-do list, I might just refuse to follow it. It's ridiculous really. I have to get pretty crafty in order to fool myself into getting things done. My current strategy is delegation. Unfortunately, hubby is pretty busy with work and the kids have school and sports, so that leaves – well, just me. But the to do list is just too overwhelming if I can't at least pretend I'm delegating to someone, so I've created alter-ego's to do all my work for me. There is Megan – she is my freakishly organized, money managing, career focused assistant. Sophie is a health nut – she is in charge of catering and health management. Artistic Emma keeps the house clean and beautiful. Hannah, the dear, is an amazing photographer and takes care of all kid support categories. Lola, is a sexy and adventurous athlete (she is the one running the marathon – I even have a race shirt with the name Lola on it) . With all of these assistants, I don't get as overwhelmed. In addition, it allows me to walk more boldly in my roles. As Marlene, it would never occur to me to call myself sexy, but Lola is damn sexy (and yet still me). As Emma, I get to take my creative whims seriously; she is, after all, an artist (a label I'd be less comfortable applying to myself as Marlene). Just to be clear, I do not have multiple personalities (I'm as screwed up as the rest of you, but not quite that screwed up ). What can I say - this bizarre arrangement works for me. How do you keep from getting overwhelmed by all of your roles?

Monday: Run - 10 min warmup, 6 x (1 minute 5K pace then 3 min easy), 10 min cool down Tuesday: Spinning Wednesday: Run - 2 miles easy, 2 miles @ half marathon pace, 2 miles easy Thursday: Spinning Friday: Rest Saturday: 8 miles easy Sunday: Rest

Catering Corner: For you paleo kooks, - a link to a fun paleo crockpot blog (I tried the Curry Chicken): http://paleopot.com/ For the rest of you, - a poem . . . I eye my prey; my teeth sink in, my eyelids limp, delectable sin. (I call it “Ode to Cookie”)

Marathon Plans

I know!   My photos never match my story!  :)

So, I signed up for the Chicago Marathon! I'm sooooo excited - or excited as you can be for something that is 246 days away. It is going to be good.  So, every year I have the same goals for the marathon. . .

1. Start the race (I'm 6 for 7)
2. Finish the race (I'm 5 for 7)
3. Celebrate the day (7 for 7 baby!!!)
4. Finish in under 5 hours (0 for 7 – that's right ZERO! NONE! NILL! NEVER!)

But this is the year – I will come in under 5 hours.  The end. Done Deal.  No take-backs. 

At this point training is still pretty mild. I'm at 20 miles per week with an 8 mile long run. Nothing stellar, but I'm building slowly (for my dear sweet knee who is going to cooperate with me this year thank you very much).

     Sunday: not a darn thing!

     Monday: 6 mile run (slow and easy)

     Tuesday: strength work (a la Jackie Warner)

     Wednesday: 6 mile run (slow and easy)

     Thursday: killer spinning class (a la Dawn)

     Friday: rest day :)

     Saturday: 8 – 10 mile long run planned

And now it's time for QUOTES and THOUGHTS (drum roll please):

QUOTES FROM THICH NHAT HANH (read in calm, slow, soft voice for best effect):

“Because peace in yourself is peace in the world.” . . .

“So making peace with our body is very important.” . . .

“You have to treat your body with non-violence.” . . .

THOUGHTS FROM ME (to be read in a fast jumbled no pauses squirrel brain voice for best effect):

OK, so, is training for a marathon treating my body with non-violence?  I don't know. I'm hoping so. I'm being kind to my body - exercising is good - right! I try to put good things in my body.  I keep bad things out (ok, ok, ok, not being completely honest there, but we'll talk about the beer and chocolate later).  Well, whatever, I'm calling it nonviolence so there.  boom!  (maybe I should take a break from listening to monks).

New habit check-in:

January: Begin Meditation Habit (I'm 34 for 34 in 2012!!!)

February: Begin Regular Blogging (at least Weekly) (1 for 1 in 2012!)

What to Watch: Sliding Doors

The Lola Production Company brings you:

What To Watch: Movie Reviews From the Treadmill

Today's Review:

“Sliding Doors” 

written and directed by Peter Howitt

starring Gwyneth Paltrow, John Hannah, John Lynch, Jeanne Tripplehorn

4/5 stars

I just finished an 8 mile run - very slowly – it took my 94 minutes which was just about perfect for this lovely 99 minute movie. As you well know, I'm a pushover when it comes to movies and will ooooh and aaaaah over just about anything, but don't let that keep you from this little gem. I adored it! Set in England, Hellen (played by the lovely Gwyneth Paltrow) is sacked from her job and misses her train – or does she? We are graced with both possible versions of her life.

In the first, she almost gets mugged (gasp!) and is suspicious but unaware of the cheating ways of her boyfriend (played by John Lynch). In the second, she catches her boyfriend in bed with another woman (Jeanne Tripplehorn) (gasp!). Despite the unpleasant beginnings of both versions of her life, you will find yourself wishing she had caught the train – especially with the charming John Hannah playing her suitor in that version. Can I just stop here and mention that I am, in fact, quite in love with John Hannah at the moment (even more in love with him than I was during the funeral scene in “Four Weddings and a Funeral”).

Things get complicated with pregnancies, close calls, and misunderstandings but they all led to a lovely happy ending – or did they . . . I was devastated by the ending, but things are not always as they seem – I got over my dismay quickly and was left filled with hope (which is, by the way my favorite way to leave a movie).   The only drawback is that you will be left wishing you were blond, impeccably thin, and had an English Accent (that Gwyneth!).

Garbage Day

I took a walk along Grays Lake the other day – with my camera. I wanted to slow down enough to see the beauty all around me – and capture it on film. There was a time when I had pushed away all of my creative desires. It had seemed childish to try capturing beauty. The sunset or a child's laughter is a fleeting gift to be celebrated, not captured. But I've found that we don't see the beauty if we aren't looking for it. We are too busy with our lives to notice.

So there I was with my camera – trying to capture me some beauty. It was garbage day in the neighborhood surrounding the lake and there were two trucks parked nearby. I'd been taking pictures of the reflections on the lake when one of the garbage men called to me. He told me he knew of a great place to get water reflection pictures and described a scene from his Wednesday morning route. It sounded beautiful (apparently, his fiance takes pictures too). It was a short but lovely conversation – his enthusiasm made my day. In my quest to capture beauty, I'd never have thought to ask the garbage man where to find it.

Evening Drive (5,4)

The following is a result of rolling a five and a four . . .

Grace nervously gnawed on the red vine, glancing over her shoulder into the back seat. She knew Diggins was back there somewhere, but it was too dark to see anything. Dark in the car. Dark on the road. She was sure that she would feel perfectly safe if she had ever seen this stretch of road in daylight. It was probably lined with lovely houses full of kind and friendly people. Still, she couldn't shake the unease and sheepishly locked her doors. A big tough protective dog in the backseat would make her feel a lot safer. But sweet little Diggins was just a puppy, eager to meet every dog, squirrel, child, mailman, or even axe murderer. She didn't discriminate – she knew nothing of evil. Even if Diggins sensed danger, she was securely fastened in her harness – perfectly harmless.

Diggins had been whimpering and Grace realized that she'd have to let the dog out to pee soon. Her little Ford Focus was not fancy, but she still didn't want it to smell like dog pee. “There, there sweetie. You did soooo good in puppy class tonight Diggins. Yessss, who's a good dog – yes you are.” Her hands, and therefore the redvine, smelled vaguely of Pupperoni dog treats so she tossed it into the car's trash. Every few hundred feet there were the beginnings of roads to turn off on. Each was blocked by a construction barrier. It was too dark to tell if the roads continued after the barrier. The whimpering continued. “Well, shit Diggins, you win. But you'd better be quick about it.” Her tires rolled over the construction gravel as she pulled over and the car slowed to a stop. She clamored over the seat to unhook the harness and attach it to the leash. Suddenly eager to get the whole business over with she opened the door and coaxed Diggins out. The air was cold and she had not bothered to put on a coat. She held her arms closely and shivered, pleading with Diggins to stop sniffing around and just pee. But Diggins was accustomed to well groomed lawns so the tumbled dirt and rocks at the side of the road didn't feel quite right.

The headlights in the distance didn't help matters. Grace wasn't sure who was behind the wheel or whether they'd approve of her make shift parking spot and dog potty. Feeling very exposed she averted her eyes as it drove past slowly. Then it stopped. And it backed up. Gripped by an irrational fear, she snatched up the the dog, shoved her in the car, apologizing, “You can pee in the car if you want to.”  She struggled to close the door jumping as a man's voice called from the dark depths of the truck's front seat, “Are you OK.” Her reply was hurried and awkward, “Yes – I'm fine.” She threw in a “thanks for asking” as she stumbled into the front seat, slammed the car door, and shakily started the car.  Back on the road, she felt ridiculous - embarrassed. He was just trying to be helpful. “I'm sure I looked like an idiot,” she said to herself.  And then to the pup - “but you can shit in the car too if you want – we're not stopping till we get home.”

The man in the truck shrugged as he watched the woman drive off.  He peered over the back of his seat, “Thought maybe I'd found you a friend,” he drawled to the wild eyed young woman gagged and bound in the truck's back seat.