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Showing posts from 2012

News Flash

So today I'm not delivering a recipe (although I'm due for one). I'm not talking about running. I come to you with a rant. (Hence the name of my blog). I am not going to apologize in advance. However, I will place a warning. Some may find this a senstive subject. Some may think I'm being rude. I also want any people who know my on a person-basis to know I'm not directing this at any one person. In fact, as I deliver my disclaimer, I pray that maybe this turns a light bulb on. I hope this knocks some common sense. I hope this teaches some God-forsaken common courtesy. You know, manners. (Here comes the sass) I start by asking a simple question. Have you ever been sick? Have you ever felt so sick that all you yearn to do is lay your head down...be it a pillow, a germ-infested-stiff-moldy-airport chair, or a bathroom floor? You don't feel like talking about it, because all you want to do is lay down. Now imagine feeling that way because you have the flu, y

Now and Then

One of the biggest struggles I've always faced is letting my concern and worry for what's to come, affect my current state of mind. I got in that run this week, and am giving myself an offical swift kick in the you-know-what to snap out of that! I've been distracted lately. A lot of big changes face my future - and although they are exciting changes. All change comes with some form of compromise. As some of you know....my husband got a pilot spot with the Air Force, and will be starting training in January. The 1st 5 months, he will cycle through being gone 6 weeks, home for a few, gone 6 weeks, home for a few. Then in June, he moves to Mississippi for 13 months for UPT school -- where he officially trains on the jets. (But will then return to Tucson :D) Here are the options I have: a) Stay in Tucson. Keep my job that I love. Man the house solo. Live on the completely other side of the country from my husband and best friend. Miss out on a huge part of his life. Eve

Comparing Dreams

Since June ( and since I've really decreased my frequency in blogging ) - I have made some changes in my life! #1 - I landed my dream nursing job and became an ER nurse. I have learned so much thus far, and absolutely LOVE the fast paced environment. Now it would really be my dream job if I didn't have the work all these weekends and Holidays. But, unfortunately illness has no concept of convenience and time. In addition to moving to to the ER....I've also become certified as a fitness instructor! I'm actually certified in a specific classed called "Body Attack" -- which is a sports-inspired, agility & strength work out. In other words, no matter what fitness level a person is at -- this class is guarenteed to kick their a$$!! To learn more about it -- click here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSB8GOKVugE&feature=related  -- and look for your nearest Les Mills Sponsored club to find more great classes! (there's my marketing spin for the day.)

Preparations for the Woods

So this weekend is that time of the year where Ryan attempts to take me up the mountains and deep into the woods to see if I can be eaten by a bear...... I'm partially kidding. But seriously, we are going camping this weekend -- which is one of our most favorite things to do together as a couple!! So many amazing memories have been created on our camping trips. And so many interesting memories as well...(like our experiments with cheap row boats, nearly freezing to death, and meeting some true hill-billy fishermen). Remember those hill-billies, Lora (if you're reading this)?! This camping trip we strategically planned it 3 miles away from "Oktoberfest" on the top of Mount Lemmon. Beer, German food, and German bands/polka dancing in 70 degree temps? It doesn't get much better than that! Now we don't have to drive the hour home, we will just ride our bikes back to our campsite. Most people that enjoy camping during their adult life, enjoy it because they

Pushing Fall

Have you noticed how fast we are to push that it's the fall season? Or is it perhaps heavier focused in a climate where the temps persist in the 90-100's throught October. Whatever it may be, I am so ready for fall and here are a few reason I know why..... 1) When I left the house last weekend to do some shopping it was 88 degrees out, and I said "Well, it's under 90. I guess that means jeans and fall clothes." Was I a hot sweaty mess while trumping through the beating hot parking lot of Target? Yes. But I had cute skinny jeans and a cute scarf to accompany. 2) I have actually found the website that tells you "When Pumpkin Spice Coffeemate Creamer is coming near you". You type in your zip code, and it tells you which grocery stores carries it. Unfortunately, it's still not at my local grocery markets. I started checking in August. 3) I have "Cinnamon Spice Pumpkin" hand soap in the bathrooms of my home from kitchen. And the Wall flowe

Taking Care

Wow. It has been almost 3 months since I've shown my "face" here! Life has been kind of crazy lately. Instead of wasting your time and boring you by giving an update on "What I've been up to". I'm cutting straight to the chase! Today we're talking about injuries! Last time you heard from me, I was preparing for a training weekend to become certified as a fitness instructor. Well I did it, and it went great! I passed. Bad part? I got injured! Injured to the point where I limped for 3 weeks, couldn't run for 2 months, and couldn't even wakeboard when we visited the lakes with my family over the 4th of July. Very sad times. But I learned something. Just because one is young. Just because one is in great shape. Just because one has never had a serious ache or pain in their life......Does not mean one cannot be injured. How did it happen? I over pushed it. Too many plyometric lunges, too many jumps, too many sprints. Two 8 hour days of exe

I'm still alive!

It has been a long time since I've blogged. I'd love to start this post by saying "I'm going to start blogging weekly, here!" But I'm not even going to go there. That's similar to my New Years Resolution of "I'm cutting all sugar out of my diet" (and was noshing on dark chocolate by January 2). Or when I said "I'm going to foam roll and do stretches EVERY morning immediately upon getting out of bed" -- Whereas I've found those 10 minutes much more useful spent with the covers over my head in bed.... But I'm going to try . There's nothing wrong with trying. So since I've last really blogged, the following in my life has changed: -Ryan is going to officer school and flight school soon to become a pilot for the Air Force (part time) -I have obtained my dream job and landed a position in the ER -This weekend I will go through 18 hours of training to become an ACE certified Fitness Instructor through Les Mill

Happy Mothers Day

I've been rather absent from here lately. Life has been busy! But I won't bore you with the details of my business now. However, I making sure I take the time to get on here and make an official shout out to my Mom. My mom is most certainly my best friend, and I'm not sure what I'd do or who I'd be if she wasn't in my life. Growing up with her - she had a knack of healing any insecurities or hurts with her hugs. When I moved across the country, I worried I wouldn't have this luxury anymore. However, I learned that a good conversation with her does almost the same.  Some people go through most of their adulthood without a Mom. Some only get their Mom a short period of time. Some have their Mom, but experience a tumultuous relationship which causes great obstacles in their relationship. I am glad that not one day of my adulthood have I had to experience any of those. I thank God every day that I still have her part of my life. A phone call to Mom for coo

Currently

Yes, I am an extraordinarily creative blogger (Ha!). I am so very talented @ stealing "borrowing" post-ideas from others. So here I go! What I'm currently up to, what currently is populating my mind. Working, working, and Trying so very hard to be away from work when I'm away from work. Lately it's just been hard for me to "leave it at the door". Running! I finished my half marathon - so my plan was to STOP running. But that race got me so jazzed about running, and it's such a great release!! I've done some gorgeous trail runs lately! Need to get me some "trail running shoes". Landscaping. Well, we will be. The next 2 days, I will be spending most of my time using a shovel digging in the dirt. Ryan and I are going to dig up the dead grass, and lay rocks & flagstone. Should be interesting! Wondering. It's so weird that I have no idea what life will be like in 4 months. My husband will be leaving for pilot training for

Chicken Kabobs with Thai Peanut Sauce

It is time for a recipe post! On Saint Patricks' Day, I made corned beef & cabbage, paired up with Irish Soda bread, and I made a promise (on facebook) that I would do a post on that... But I just couldn't. I'm going to be honest & say I'm not a big "corned beef fan". The recipe turned out well, but I just don't love it. So I decided to throw this one at you all, instead! I highly recommend, as it is amazing. It was my "pre-race fuel" on Saturday night. I paired this with a whole-wheat pasta salad to get my carbs! 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter 1/2 cup reduced-sodium soy sauce 1/4 cup rice vinegar 1/3 cup sugar 1/4 tsp red pepper sauce 1 thai pepper (or jalepeno), finely chopped 1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts, chopped 1 bell pepper (I used 1/2 green & 1/2 red to add some color), chopped into squares pineapple chunk Red onion, chopped into squares Chop all ingredients & place into containers or piles for

I've got the fever

I've got the fever to do another race! Running is truely an addiction. The more events you partake in, the more you want to do. This weekend I did the Arizona Distance Classic Half Marathon. One of the fun parts of this race, is my I won the raffle for free registration! My hospital happened to sponsor this race. It was kind of funny, actually. I know I'd be seeing people I know at one of the water stations. Of course, they were stationed @ mile 12. This entire race was hills, so by mile 12 I was a breathless, sweaty mess. :-) So when they greeted me and cheered "Go Abby!" -- I was so hypoxic, I couldn't even find it in me to say "hi" or "Thank you". I was just making a whimpery moaning noise.....and nodded my head. The AZ Distance Classic was the most challenging race I've done. I'm not sure it was something I did nutritionally, training-wise, or hydration-wise? It could be that I hung out with the 1 hr 40 min pace team for the 1s

Attack of the Cacti: On Running in the darkness

Do you ever run in the dark? How do you do with it? Are you comfortable, and just enjoy the peacefulness & anonymity? Or are you scared of the dark? I try to be badass . I try to be fearless . I tell my husband "Pepper spray - schmepper spray" "alarm system? Sch-larm system" when he tells me to be aware of my surroundings. But really? Let's be honest. This lady is scared of the dark. Today I went for a run in my neighborhood for the 1st time ever in the dark. Usually when I work out before I go to work, it's still dark out. Therefore, I light weights in our "home gym" or I use a tredmill @ my gym. (may I add we live in a ridiculously safe, mostly retired, community...) But today I decided it's time to wear some reflective gear, wear my head-light, and carry some pepper spray & a cell phone. Sounds like I was armed, right? Didn't feel so. I was a nervous wreck. My first encounter was when I heard footsteps, and I s

Basil Chicken in Coconut-Curry Sauce

I've started to get better about blogging on more of a regular basis (for the past week). And lately I've done a rant..... I've done a blog on running (my Garmin).... Now I think I'm due for a recipe, right? (Hence the name of this blog) So part of my New Year's Resolutions was to "Try a new recipe weekly".. I've done okay at sticking to this. Well, initially I started out by cooking a "step-by-step" legitamate recipe. But for the past few weeks it's been more of Abby's traditional "a little this", " a little that". "whalla!!" However, this recipe I did a few weeks ago turned out delicious. It made our house smell like we were from India. It made me feel ethnic and cool. I wish I had a different ethnicity, that I could cook foods of my culture. Being German is great. The beer is great. The sauerkraut is fabulous. Other than that? I'm not really crazy about German food. No Sauerbraten for

Things you didn't know

Good morning, all! I stole this one from my sister Lisa . I like these kind of posts! Hope you all have a great weekend. I actually get a weekend finally, so I'm a very happy camper! I am rather pithy at times. I think often about the future. I know life is full of endless blessings. I have lots of painting to do, even though I've done hours of painting already..... The projects never end when buying a new home! I wish crystal balls were real - and they could tell me if my decisions would be failures or successes. I hate disappointing people. I miss my family. I fear that someday the US will be a 3rd world country. I hear birds singing outside. I smell coffee. I crave a day out on the lake. I search  for a place to get my hair done. It's been 2 years since I've been in a hair salon. I wonder what I will be doing 10 years from now. I regret not paying attention to the "formal meetings" when I was in a sorority in college. I went to my 1st

Garmin Grief

The time has come for a new Garmin. I am reaching out to anyone out there for suggestions....Here's what happened. (For anyone who doesn't know what a Garmin is, it's a running watch with GPS letting you know how far you've run, your splits, your elevation, etc ) Marc Antony is the name of my current Garmin. He is the second Garmin I've ran with. (I have a habit of naming my Garmin's Roman leaders & Gods. I don't know why. My 1st Garmin was named Julius. My next Garmin will either be named Spartacus or Pheidippides (the 1st marathon runner in history). Your vote ? Anyways...last Friday I was doing a nice 10 mile run (I have a half marathon in 3 weeks). And Sir Antony backed down on me. Luckily, I was doing an "out & back". I ran out 5 miles, and come 6.78 miles - he got "stuck". I assume it's early stage dementia. For after running about 300 more feet, he attempted to kick back in & act as though nothing happened.

Things we think & Do not say....

I'm doing it. You haven't heard from me in a while. It's been rather busy lately and when I'm not working, I'd much rather be outside playing, gardening, running, or in the kitchen cooking than anything else. But it's time for a rant. But 1st I must state my *disclaimer* * This is only humor. Please don't take this offensively and send me a personalized hate mail message or an angry annonymous comment saying I'm a cold, heartless, b*****. This is just a rant!* -Really?!, lady in the grocery store parking lot who is trying to desperately to Puuuuuush & LOB that grocery cart up on the crub. This is painful. You are expending so much energy. With ALL that energy you are expending...you could easily just walk those lazy little legs over to the cart rack and put the damn thing away. Thank you. -Hi new neighbor! Your chihuahua's constant barking needs to stop...or your dog is going to be fed chocolate by your new neighbor. Chihuahua's are

Let's try this again...

Last year we purchased soil, mulch, and all these plants that grow great in well-watered, rich-soiled areas. Then we went away for a weekend, and everything dried up like a prune. I was a bit disappointmented, as gardening is a hobby & passion of mine. In fact, I became quite frustrated with our hot climate. But we did some research on desert plants, and I found a new love! Desert plants are quite fascinating, actually. Their tough outer skin & small leaves result in maximum absorbtion of our spare water -- allowing them to thrive on little. They are also extremely regenerative. You can cut a branch or an arm off a cactus, and plant it in the ground somewhere else to create a new plant. So we found a very local cactus nursery last weekend, and got to work! Here are a few of the gems we planted. (These are pictures I've found offline, as I haven't taken proper pictures of our front yard yet due to the immaturity of our plants at this point) The Desert Barrel

I'm still alive!

Good morning! I just realized that I have been incredibly non-existent with blogging lately! My excuse? 2012 has been off to kind of a blah start. I've had a lot of career changes over the past few months. Working 14 hour days 4-5 days/week has gotten the best of me. And when I'm not at work, I'm stressing out about it and replaying the events from my day in my head. But things are bound to get better! I shouldn't be working this many hours. I'm not a doctor. Those kind of hours are for physicans..not nurses! ;) Besides spending countless hours in a hospital....my precious days off have been spent cleaning, cooking, gardening, and running! Weather has been amazing in SW Arizona. In fact, on Sunday I spend an hour laying by the pool, reading a book, drinking Sangria in 77 degree weather! In the kitchen.....I've been on a thai-food/Indian food kick lately. I've whipped up some delicious curries, and other good stuff! Ryan & I have also gotten an