Rants, Recipes, and Running

I'm going to be honest and say I wasn't exactly a "ball of fire" last week. I've hit the point of just being beyond ready for Ryan to come home. We are halfway through this 4 week period of not seeing each other. Although throughout all this 18 months of training, we've gone much longer than 4 weeks without seeing each other - this time around it's harder. I've hit the crabby point. I feel bad, as many of the people I saw this week probably thought I was a bore to be around - as I just don't have much to say about anything. #wahwahwah #woeisme #Ireallyhavenothingcomplainabout So as I'm preparing to start my work week, on this terribly windy Monday morning - I am going in with a new and positive attitude! So here's the headliners for last week: I think I am finally about "wrapped up" on my Spring cleaning. My "to do list" was rather overwhelming. There is nothing more therapeutic to me that throwing sh%t away! ...

I've never done a book review in this blog, but have been wanting to for quite some time. An expression of thanks is necessary to my sister, Lisa , who has really opened my world of reading. Reading has always been a hobby, yet finding books and keeping me reading past Chapter 5 was always a challenge. So this summer, when I was miserable in San Antonio - she graciously made me a list of "books to read". That really got me going. My family has started a "Virutal Book Club" - which has also opened me to new reads. And finally, I've started a book club with small & selective group of girlfriends (so far there's only 3 of us...) " Wild: Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail " by Cheryl Strayed, was given to me as part of my birthday present from a girlfriend, who knew I was getting into backpacking. This book was eye-opening for me, and interesting. It's about a 26 year-old women, who essentially loses everything. She ruins her marr...

I am so glad this work week is done. I'm not going to even start explaining, or this will turn into a ranty novel. All I will hint at, is I wish I had noise cancelling headphones while I'm working in my cubicle. And I am thankful that most of my work day is spent out on the floor interviewing patients, reviewing charts, and nagging doctors. (Yes, most of being a case manager involves nagging doctors. But I've become very talented at nagging in a manner that seems like I'm helping, instead of nagging. Anyways. I have found 3 new things this week that are wonderful. They are not related. But all amazing. 1.  Smoothies . I've found that I don't have time to eat breakfast in the mornings - because racing from my work out to the shower to work...doesn't leave me time to even eat. Maybe if I didn't do my hair and make-up. But then I look like I'm 15 years old. So I busted out our blender, and have made some of the most delicious concoctions every m...

I did my 1st trail race yesterday. And I am in love. A group called "Everyone Runs" here in Tucson holds a race at Catalina State Park twice yearly, but in the past I have always had to work that Saturday. (I love having a job that has given my weekends back....) So glad about my decision to register at the last minute (Monday). I went into this with no idea what to expect. I pictured myself hanging in the back of the pack with not a competitive bone in my soul. Until I crossed the start line........and I kept passing people. And realized there weren't very many people ahead of me. It was the most beautiful morning. It was slightly overcast, causing a 10 minute period of an orange sky. (I got to watch all this, because I arrived to the race way too early . My nerves always seem to do this.) Pictured below is a shot of one of the trails we took - prior to the sun peaking over the mountains.         It went from that, to this within ...

Today is my Friday! Thank goodness. Not that it was a bad week - but it just wasn't an awesome week. I don't really have a particular reason why my week wasn't spectacular. I'm just happy it's done. Period. I didn't do one last week...so I'm going to include the past 2 weeks headliners. Don't worry, it won't be too lengthy. Monday-Thursday of this week were pretty bland. My Monday night dinner dates with my friends Heather & Kristy and their boys. They are cousins, and have this traditional date every Monday night...but I have joined in the past 2 weeks. It's really been nice to catch up with them. I don't know what I'd do without my girlfriends!! Ryan's visit last weekend. We had a blast! It went faster than the blink of an eye! I got home from work Friday night, we went out for dinner, we had Saturday together, and he left Sunday after lunch. Saying goodbye gets harder every time..... I'm ready for this phase to be be...

This is almost 2 weeks late...but my computer has been acting up. And therefore, I haven't been able to blog! I raced the AZ distance classic half marathon March 23! I figured I better race recap before my 10 mile trail race on Saturday! My final time was 1:51 - with an 8:29/mile average. This is my 3rd time doing this race. Every time I forgot how hilly it is! Mile 8-10 were brutal. I went from doing 8:20's to 9:00's. So shaving my time down to 8:30 in the end made me satisfied! I finished my full marathon in January with such a bitter taste in my mouth, that I needed a redeem myself. I have to be honest this is the best I've ever physically felt after a race! I wasn't nauseated or sick to my stomach like usual. A crazy thing about the conditions in this race was the drastic temperature change. It went from 46 degrees F at the start @ 7 am. It was 79 degrees at  the finish line @ 8:51 am! Some of the people complained about the heat, but to be honest ...

I'm am really trying to get more consistent about blogging, as it is something I really enjoy. But my problem is I often will write an entire post, and then delete it -- out of insecurity. I have been thinking of doing a "weekly top 10" -- but I worry there will be weeks where I won't find 10 things to write about. ;)So here are my weekly headliners! What defined my week...... Monday I planned on driving home from New Mexico in the morning to get home in time to do some housework, laundry, and prepare for the week ahead. During my run that morning (while Ryan was at his flight) I thought - why not stay ? I don't really need to get back early. Best decision ever ! I cleaned his hotel room, make him protein balls, read, blogged, made him lunch - and surprised him when he came home at 1 pm! I only actually got about 30 more minutes with him...but it was totally worth it! My hospital went into a "Code White" this week. Code White means the hospital is...