March ends

Here it is.

75.77

Official end of March.  If you know me, you know what the number means.  Goal met.
Moving on to April.
TT

No scurrying

UPDATED:  Friday, 3/30/12 1:09pm
Just finished a 4.03 mile run.  WOO-HOOT!  I've sync'd everything up and it is showing I have 72.34 miles clocked for March.  I still have until midnight tomorrow to finish my challenges and with only a mere 2.66 miles to go for 75 it's in the bag!  I wasn't paying attention to those .32 and .22 and .43 miles at the end of each run this week and they are paying me back now.  But now I only have a bit of time to get ready for this wedding!  Talk about scurrying...
 
Original Post
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I don't really know what has happened this week.  It's Friday already.  Already.  And today I have a short day with a long list.  I've got a feeling it is going to be one of those accelerated days when I mean to do this and should have time to get that done at a particular moment and it might not happen and time will proceed while I try to figure out what happened to the time I thought I had and I start to scurry.  I don't like to scurry.  Scurrying is for small rodents.  And yet that is exactly how I feel when all the things on my long list get taken over by the short time I have to do them all in.  Like a brainless small rodent.
Ooookaaaay, now.  Um, if I might, I think I'd like to move away from that image and that way of thinking.  It probably isn't the way I should be taking on what I know will be a short period of time for the many things I have to do in a few hours that will occur from noon until 3:00 today. 
Basically, I will be at work until noon.  At noon I will leave and stop on the way home to purchase the wedding gift I didn't have a chance to pick up yesterday.  Since I know what I am getting and the store is on the way home it shouldn't take more than a few minutes (what 15-20 tops)?  Then it's home, dash to change, and out the door because I will, NO, this is priority, I Will dash out to run!  I will get my run in today and that is my allotted time.  Then after my run it's quickly shower, dress, change (yes, figured out the dress, shoes, and bag last night) and hopefully, by that time it isn't much more than 2:15.  I figure it is going to take me at least that long to drive to the church which might as well be on the otherside of the universe from me, it's that far.  The wedding starts at 3:00.  When I sit in that pew, then I can take a breath and relax.  Then the reception at 5:30.  And then I had this thought last night since I have been logging every single thing I have been eating lately.  Is it weird that I pre-searched the calories and nutrition in wedding cake and champagne?  4 oz of champagne has 91 calories and a slice of wedding cake has about 258.  I could skip the cake and add that amount for another glass of champagne with less calories...but then I have to drive back to my side of the universe and maybe it's a better idea to have a few forkfuls of cake with the 4 oz of champagne.  This isn't helping.  I've gone off in the wrong direction again.  I need to take it down a notch and hopefully I will get it all out and shake it all off when I go out for my run.  Because I will run! 
And no, none of this scurrying stuff.
TT

Barriers!

I just burnt my oatmeal that I was going to take to work for breakfast.  We switched the air conditioner on for the first time this year and it froze up.  I am attending a wedding for my co-worker tomorrow at 3:00 and I don't have a gift or a dress to wear.  I only have three days left in March and I still have 8 miles to run to hit my magic number of 75 for this month.  When?!
Jay says he is going to call the a/c repairman and try to set it up for them to be here right after work today.  Right after work today...the time I usually get my run in.  I was planning another 4 miles today to leave me four...and that last four miles I was thinking I could squeeze in on Friday since I'm leaving work at noon to be done with the 75.  The wedding is at three on Friday.  I figured I could run, shower, change and head to the church in that amount of time.  If I couldn't or something got in the way, I still had Saturday as a back-up for the four remaining miles.  Now I might have to use my back-up for an unplanned repairman and then what about Friday if that goes bust!?  And of course, I'll have to research my closet again to figure out the what to wear situation.  And a wedding gift?  I guess I'll shop today during lunch...quickly.  That can be done easily enough. 
I guess I'll just have to see what happens today and go from there.  If the repairman shows up early enough I could still get a run in tonight?    Aghh!  I won't let this get past me.  I am too close to let these barriers close me out and shut me down!  Be gone, evil spirits!!!
Oh...great.  I'm not sure throwing up my fists and growling really helps the situation but it seems to have helped me get myself back under control.
Now what the heck am I going to get for breakfast this morning!?
TT

Do-able

If I need 25 and already had 8 and then yesterday got another 5, I believe that would leave me with a mile less than a half-marathon to have 75 total miles by the end of the month.  Somehow that seems do-able.  Can I run a half-marathon in four days?  What a ridiculous question.  The answer would be a resounding, of course!  Four days, half-marathon distance, break it down, or don't even think about it because it isn't a question of can I do it, it's more of, when can I get started?  It isn't right now, with work needing to be attended.  As much as I would like to pull a quick run right this minute it will have to wait.
Yesterday was much the same.  I was getting a little worried about how overcast the day became.  I was almost sure the moment I left work for the day it would be pouring down rain.  Don't get me wrong, if I am out running I have no problem getting caught it the rain.  I have a slight problem that if it is already raining to push myself out into it.  But it wasn't raining and when I was a few blocks from home, traveling down the same streets where I normally take my neighborhood runs, I couldn't wait to get home.  I glanced out the window at my sidewalks that are so familiar and all I wanted to do was to be pounding away, step after step, right there, right that minute.  It's been a while since I've been able to capture that type of wanting.  It's been a while since I've done something because I can't wait to do it and not just because I should, or always do, or it's in the routine.  I couldn't wait.  And again, even after a good 5-miler yesterday, all I want to do right this moment is to put on my shoes and head out again.  Something happened to my motivation for a time but it seems to have found it's way.  I don't want to speak too soon, but somehow, someway, it seems to have crept back into me.
25-8-5=12.
TT

Daily flogging

I seem to be running the gamut lately.  Except that I didn't have a run yesterday if I was going to speak literally and that fact has me down.  So I'll speak literally and get that out of the way.  No run yesterday.  Feel bad about it.  Added pressure to finish the week and month.  Continuous flogging all day until the pattern either repeats itself or I actually do something to correct it. 
There.  Got that out of the way.
Now let me get a handle on another one of the other nine million one hundred and fifty six issues I have left.  I don't know where I come up with these numbers.  How terribly dramatic of me (or is that sarcastic)?  It really isn't like that at all but it seems like I have been a tad overwhelmed lately.  There has been a lot coming my way as far as work and I have been improving my consistency at running and I have been watching what I have been eating and I have, I have...yes, I have.
But I'm painting the wrong picture here.  It really has been good.  If I don't try to stop and bully myself about the fact that I missed a run.  And truthfully, can I really say I missed it when it was on a day I had already mapped as a rest day on my bigger plan!  Well, yes, I can, since that is what I seem to do because I feel I should have done it anyway because I have this short term plan and I would rather knock off the miles early instead of waiting...   
And that is how it goes.  But it seems the bigger plan might have won out for this round and that is the way it is and probably the way it should be.  I guess I'll just leave it at that.  It's now time to start the flogging of myself for eating those cookies last night...
nine million one hundred and fifty five...
nine million one hundred and fifty four...
TT 

Ready?

Here I go into the last week of March.  Monday morning is here and knocking hard on my door.  It seems anxious to get started and wants to make sure I'm up and ready to get going.  Well, yeah, I'm up!  I'm ready as far as being able to say I can get going and I will just need to put aside the sighing wishes of having more of the weekend.  There will be another coming soon.
I started out yesterday with an 8 mile run.  I wanted to be sure to get a head start on the 25 miles I will still need before the end of the month to put me at a total of 75.  The weather was still a little misty but pleasant all the same.  It was a good run and a good way to start the day.  I went to sync my run afterward to my site and (of course) since I had had such a good long run it glitched.  It gave me credit for the run in my overall total but it put the run on the wrong date.  I couldn't figure out why it wasn't showing up for March 25 until I realized it put the run on 12/8/11!  That won't do me any good for a challenge I have going in March!  I zipped an email out to nike+ tech support.  I got one back saying it wouldn't be a problem to correct.  I'm still waiting.  So if it doesn't move over from December and show up for March it's still in there.  I know I ran 8 miles and have 17 more for the week.  Maybe I have too many gadgets because now I'm waiting on nike and I'm still waiting on my phone and I'm definitely waiting for the weekend...
But I'm not just waiting.  I have all these things going on to keep me occupied.  And I better get going and open the door.  Monday can be so persistant.
TT    

A little fog

Yesterday completely got away from me.  I don't know what happened.  I couldn't recount it now if I tried.  I only know I woke up to a dense fog that left everything wet and dreary and then it was 10:30 at night and I had fallen asleep on the sofa while reading.  It feels a shame the day was gone.
I wish I was feeling a little better about it this morning but I'm gun-shy about it turning into another yesterday.  It's still a little wet.  I'm still a little in the fog. 
But then it's not as wet and drab as yesterday.  I can't go back trying to find time I've lost from yesterday.  It would only keep me from the time I have now and today.  So what's it going to be?  My choice, right?  It can be another dreary, lost day or, heck no, 7:15am and time to get moving.
Okay, hold on, maybe I'll give myself unil 7:30.
TT

Pondering

I've poured myself another large cup of black coffee.  I have time to sit and sip, ponder and type.  I still have a full day of work ahead but the weekend is looming large and I haven't figured it all out yet.  But the thought of it so close is refreshing.
I don't have any funny stories.  I don't have any frantic rantings.  I've filled a lot of my time with my head down and working away until I look up and find the time gone and diminished into the next thing to pick up and work on.  It can get hectic but here I am at the end of a long week sitting and sipping before I head out into it again for one more day.  Then it's my time, my schedule.  When I can sit and sip and ponder as long as I want, as long as it takes, wherever it takes me.
Sounds like I'm just about ready for the weekend.
TT

Done did it

I've done the deed and got the 50 miles for the month done did.  I can't go back, I can't take them away, and I can't un-run them.  They are in the books, on the charts, and that's the way it is.  That means I did meet the challenge I put myself in for the month.  I will be able to check that goal off the list. 
But I had actually signed myself up for two challenges this month.  The one for 50 miles I have already managed to complete.  I have another that I (foolishly?) signed up for that I also have until the end of the month to complete.  It's for 75 miles by end of day 3/31.  That would mean I have 25 miles still to go.  I've hit the 50 mile marker but I'm not done yet.  The month isn't over yet and what am I going to do?  I can't exactly sit it out for the next nine days doing nothing and wait until April 1st.
I might need to take a breath, regroup, think about...no.  None of that.  No need to re-group or re-think.  Taking a breath might be alright but then get out and run, silly girl.  Just get out and run.
TT 

Smarting

I'm using a loaner phone.  My smart phone blew a fuse, or angst out, or it's head exploded.  Let's just say on Tuesday on the way home from work it was working but when I got home it wasn't.  It did the equivalent of the dreaded PC bluescreen except on the cell phone it was black.  The power button refused to revive it.  It checked out.  There was a lack of communication coming through - smart or otherwise.
I drove to the store and they messed with it and then said they would they would get me another in a few days and gave me a loaner I could use in the meantime.  So, I don't think anyone would know the difference except me between one phone and another but  I had just gotten comfortable with using my own phone.  Now I'm trying to figure out this one.
This loaner phone actually rang yesterday.  I couldn't seem to answer it.  I saw the display.  I saw the number and the call coming in.  I heard it ringing (some strange chime-like sounds) but couldn't figure how to answer.  When your phone rings it should be an easy process to pick it up and say hello.  That isn't necessarily the case.  If the phone has been left for a while it locks so when you go to use it again you need to drag this bar over that appears on the face of the phone to unlock and release.  It really isn't difficult except when you have that panic moment of your loaner phone ringing for the first time and you can't figure out how to answer it.  What if it's the store calling that my own phone is back?  I can't miss that call! So I jab my finger all over the button that says answer and get frustrated that I'm not answering because I haven't dragged the unlock over to the side or up above or round the block like it wants me to.  And all the while the phone is tinkling strange chime sounds, and as much as I hate that sound I want it to keep it up or it means I've lost my call!
Well, I managed to answer it and it wasn't the store calling but some automated insurance company that I could have missed and not been bothered with.  But it gave me a quick education in how to answer the phone.  Let's face it.  It isn't the phones that are smart.  The person using them just has to be.
TT

Not math

Another run, another four miles and four more to go to hit 50 for another month.  I won't stop there.  The month isn't over and four miles will bag me one challenge and 25 more will bag me another.  Bag it up, all of it, I ain't leaving nuthin' behind. 
Energized, ready and able.  Wounds from last week are old, faded and forgotten.  I could have allowed myself to fall back to that lazy, hazy, don't wanna do it posture I've gotten so comfortable with but didn't.  It didn't happen because I didn't let it happen.  And where am I now?  I'm remembering that no matter how much I think I don't want to go out because of (fill in the blank) I always, ALWAYS, feel better afterward for doing it.  Always. 
Four more than four more than four more....maybe three a few times, too.  But this isn't about math.
TT 

How much is too much?

It seems of late the only websites I have been visiting are ones I am using as tools.  I am beginning to wonder if I am trying to keep track of too many things?  Is having an abundance of statistics at my fingertips going overboard when it might be the only thing that I am viewing? 
I think I might get the same answer I got when I asked if I was watching too much television.  At that particular time I felt, what I considered, an extravagant amount of time being spent immobile in front of the glowing screen.  It turns out I would be considered a very low and even extremely low viewer of the box.  Yet, in my mind I was watching too much.  The answer that was given me was that I wasn't spending too much time if I was enjoying it and it didn't hurt anything.
So, my tracking of myself isn't so bad?  Even if I know it is far more than anyone else would be doing?  And I only know that because I am mildly embarrassed to admit all that I have been tracking?  Because, let's see, it's come down to this:
Nike+  = All my miles.  Two challenges this month currently going on.  I have 139 miles left to change my color mode from blue to purple.  I have 8 miles to complete 50 this month.  I didn't run yesterday!
Wellness at work = Health articles, 6 week fitness program, web seminars, E-mail health coaching (exchanged three so far with coach)
Calorie Count = Newest obsession.  I am on day one of week four today.  Food journal logging (every day, every meal)!  Tracks portions and calories, nutrients and grades daily analysis.  Activity journal that turns workouts into calories burned.  Log for water consumed, weight trending and forums with real people and specific topics...like I'm over 50 and need motivation to work out and such.
Blogger = hmmm.  That place I can't seem to leave behind.  The original tool that I have been neglecting in order to pursue all the other tools.  But the creative space needs it's time, too, doesn't it? 
So is it all too much?  Does the same answer apply that I was given about television (which I haven't turned on in two days).
It might be when I was a little upset that my phone died last night and I had to go out and get a loaner instead of having a run.  I had to get a loaner...I have appls for all my sites on the phone!  What would I do?  But then what am I really hurting if anything?  When is it too much?  Or is it?
TT  

Talking about what?

Wait.  I think I've lost my place.  Where was I?  What day is it?
I remember having a really good weekend but was that ages ago.  And what exactly did I do that made it so good?  I'm trying to remember but there are new things coming at me I need to keep track of.  Or is it that I would rather be keeping track of?  Those new things...instead of trying to figure out the old?
I've been doing my fair share of cleaning out the old.  I recently (or am still trying) to change over to a new e-mail address so I've been keeping up with two at the moment.  I have been unsubscribing to emails coming into the old and if I want, I re-subscribe to the new.  It can be time consuming.  Some have the great option of asking if you need to change your address instead of opting out and then re-subscribing.  They have it going on!  What a time saver. 
I've also managed to get more running in gear.  After a great weekend of 6 and then 7 miles I actually pulled another three miles yesterday.  It's been a month of Sundays since I've ran on a Monday!  I've usually been taking Mondays as a rest day after the weekend and then stretch the rest day into Tuesday.  I don't need two rest days especially in a row but there were some weeks the rest would stretch into Wednesday...yikes!  I know the weather has helped in getting me going and now I just completed week three of using my caloriecount.com tool.  It's working for me.  I also garnered two supporters.  But no - it isn't a social network (thank goodness)! but there is the ability to comment to support others and join forums with specific information.  I think it helps that everyone there has a common interest and almost all have helpful information and are respectful!  What a concept.
So it seems today I am all over the place so maybe I should try to get a few other things done and then maybe I'll have a chance to focus. 
Where was I?
TT

Plain ole' Mexican Food

It's been a while since I've included any cooking lately.  I thought it would be a good idea to add this since we were cooking this up for yesterdays dinner.  It's our classic home-made Mexican food that always includes the traditional beans and rice and yes, of course, hot sauce.
After we spent almost the entire day out and about yesterday, Sunday afternoon turned into a slow as we go cooking fest back at home.  Some things take a while to slow simmer but don't have to be hovered over near the stove so other things can be done while the actual cooking goes on.  And let's face it...nothing can compares to cooking this up fresh!

Fresh jalapenos, tomatillos and onions boiled down and mashed for a great hot sauce.

Slow cooked pinto beans with bacon and onions.

Home-made spanish rice.  Fry up regular white rice in a pan with onion, bell pepper, tomatoes and don't forget the cominos, garlic, salt and pepper!

Pork steaks with chili colorado.  Re-hydrate that dried chili to the bottom left and it will look like the red goodness near the spoon handle in the pan. 

Add the corn tortillas, that green sauce and some guacamole and feast away!

  What a great way to end a great day! 
TT

Daybreak

7:00am Sunday morning.
I'm dressed and ready to hit the pavement but just waiting for the tiniest bit more light.  I'm anxious and looking forward to getting started.  It's been a long while since I've been able to go out this early, when it's quiet and the day is just breaking through.  Can't wait and I'm just stalling for time and light...
9:15am Sunday morning.
I've gotten my run in and there are promises for breakfast.  Yesterday I set my run for 4 miles and I did 6.  What's 2 miles?  Today I set it for 5 miles and did 7.  What's 2 miles?  It's great being able to start out the day like this.  It's still early enough to have the entire day ahead and I'm already energized and want so much more to do than sit in front of this backlit box.  I can hear the outdoors calling.  I mean really, look what's out there without going more than a few miles from home?

TT

Watch out

I went out and ran the 10K distance this morning that I missed last Saturday. It wasn't the official race that would have taken me to the coast and given me a nice weekend but it was the same distance right here in my own neighborhood when I was only going out for four miles. I know, I thought it would be four miles and then while running I thought I missed out last weekend and I was feeling unbearably good so I stretched it out a little. What's 2 more miles? It didn't feel bad at all even with the rough and tumble activities I caused myself from a few days ago. Jay was on my case about that again last night when he realized I had gone out for a run. He reiterated I needed to run at the gym. I solidly told him no. He said I was so stubborn. I said no again. He said what if I fall again and hit my head and die. I said what if I'm mopping the tile floor here at home and slip and hit my head on the corner of the table and die? He said then at least I would be at home.
Huh?
So I said, then it's okay as long as I'm at home?
Hmmm...I think he started to grin at that point. I think he realized the possible absurdity of that concept. I don't think he will bring it up again but I can never be sure.
And the run this morning...feelin' good, feelin' fine. What an enjoyable pleasure. It may not have been official, or by the water, but now I've got my day ahead of me and already feeling accomplished. It wasn't really all that dangerous but wait, sometime today, I might just take another big chance and mop the floor.
TT

Pour another

Coffee.  Where is it and why is the cup sitting to my right completely empty?  I don't remember drinking it.  I don't have an inkling when I drank it.  Have I been sitting here working so long and so intensely that I don't have a recollection of draining the cup? 
And it's not about the coffee, really.  That is just one thing that is a marker.  It's something that is around as a reminder to keep me grounded and is making me realize how much is going on.  Am I really doing more things than I might be able to keep up with?  It's been so long since I've felt there are more things to do than there might be time to do them all in.  And yet, like the coffee, they seem to be getting done.  The symbolic cups seems to get drained just the same.  Does it matter that I need to stop for a few minutes to go get another cup or is it only a needed break in what I am working on at the time?  A quick moment to pause and get my bearings without losing my train of thought?
There are certain times when it is good to be so busy, when it is good to work so intensely, so focused.  What could be wrong with that?  Especially when the coffee pot is still full.  All I need to do is pause a moment to pour another cup.  Then I can keep going on all the things I'm working on.
TT

Walk it?

Well, after yesterdays mishaps during my run and being busted, scraped, and sore I didn't just walk it off this afternoon.  I meant to take it easy and walk.  I knew it couldn't hurt to ease some of that soreness out by walking a bit the day after my tumbles.  I had already said that was what I was going to do.  After falling twice yesterday during my three mile run my lip is much better after bouncing it off the pavement.  I put some extra large band-aids on my meat-grinder knee and my elbow still has it's amusing red streak.  I hadn't noticed this morning with all the soreness how bruised my palms were and even my thumbs. 
But this afternoon rolled around and I had to make myself get outside because of this great weather with all intentions of walking.  Oh, come on now, you know I didn't walk.  I thought I was going to walk.  I dressed and tied my shoelaces and headed out the door and started to walk and then I thought I would just jog it out nice a slow.  I did take it nice and slow but I wasn't walking.  I'm sure I wasn't walking when I kept reminding myself to pick up my feet.  I'm sure I wasn't walking when I got past the rocky gravel area and past 2 miles.  I'm sure I wasn't walking when I past two other people that were walking.  And I got the entire run in and past the place where I fell the second time yesterday and was breezing it home.
I'm still a little busted up.  I'll need to keep the knee bandaged for another day.  The thumb bruises will fade.  Did I say I was going to walk it off?  Nah!
TT

Clumsy x2

There is nothing that feels as humiliating and clumsy as falling when you go out for a run.  The weather was another perfect afternoon.  I was itching to get my new running shoes on my feet and put my feet to the pavement.  The temperature was about 80, it was slightly cloudy with the sun peaking out in some spots, and it had been way too long since I had the chance to put myself into the mix.  There was no stopping me this time.  This run had finally surfaced at the top of my priority list and it was the perfect time to take advantage of it.  I wasn't going out long but for just a quick three miles around the neighborhood to prime myself for another glorious run the following day and the day after that.  I was finally going to be able to get this consistency back to where I want it and everything was falling into place quite nicely.
Falling.  Here is the key word of the day.  I hit mile one feeling absolutely great!  Down the street and turn.  Here is the rocky pathway that must be all of 1/16 of a mile, maybe that long, probably shorter.  I'm very aware of the jutting rocks half buried along this short path and I've fallen here before so I am usually on the look-out.  No matter.  Bam!  On the ground.  Slightly skinned right knee and mildly scraped palms.  It hurts more than anything else.  Pride the most, since cars passing on the side must have seen me fall and now see me sitting on the ground.  Then pain because of the small gravel I have to brush off my hands and knee. 
But I've done this before right here at this same spot.  Can't believe I've done it again but I'm feeling too good on this run to stop and it's time to get up and catch up with those other two miles I have to go.  And I did and I felt terrific!  It was easy, it was rhythm, it was all working and I was just a quarter mile from home.  And there I was again.  Again!  This time I'm on sidewalk that has only short grassy portions in between business driveways.  Bam!  I was on the grass and fell on the sidewalk.  Hard!  This time my foot got caught on some wire that was hidden in the grass and made me fall forward on the sidewalk.  I fell all the way down stopping myself with my right knee (again), palms and lip.  Ogufh!  Now I'm really embarrassed.  I know the man in the car passing must have seen me because I looked up and I saw him.  Then I hurt awful.  My lip hit a tooth and I knew it must be bleeding.  Geez.  Not pretty.  But get up and go home.
I'm still sore this morning.  My right knee is scraped up pretty bad.  My right elbow has an amusing red streak.  My palms are visibly bruised and my lip - yes - it's split.   It seems to be healing nicely overnight but still obviously busted.  I'm sore and humiliated and Jay wants me to only run at the gym which I told him no but I knew he would say something like that when he saw me.  It just adds to my humiliation about the silly incident(s). 
Nothing worse.  I might just have to walk it off today after work.
TT

Cookies Saga

It started with an unexpected phone call on my cell phone. 
"Hello."

Just like that.  I was sitting at my desk at work when my cell phone rang.  It was late Thursday morning and I didn't recognize the number displayed.  It was a woman and she wanted to order cookies.  Her company had done some recent business with another located here in my city and wanted to send them a thank you gift. 
I managed the phone call but it might have been better if I hadn't been so stunned by it all.  I am usually pretty cool and collected the few times I have received a call for a cookie order but that has been for orders of 2 or 3 and not the amount that I was about to take on.  She wanted 60 dozen of my assorted cookies.  She requested they be delivered the following Monday and she gave me her credit card.
I had an order.  No.  I had a corporate order for 60 dozen cookies. 
Does one person, owner, bookkeeper, receptionist, webmaster and baker, do this?  Yes?  If it's me and I have the time?  I did.

 When I got over that first initial excitement about the order I got myself in gear.  I spent the weekend in the kitchen (when I wasn't at the store buying ingredients I ran out of like flour and shortening).  I got into a groove which just seems to happen when I know exactly what I'm doing.  I know what I am doing with my cookies.  I came up with the flavor combinations and I know the recipe inside out.  I made batch after batch and then another batch after batch and didn't ever realize the time or any other things going on around me.  I was in the zone.  I was thinking this should be another selling point on my site that these cookies are done in small batches and baked to order.  So while I am the baker I am also my own marketing dept and I need to get ahold of the webmaster to update the site with new text that my writer comes up with. 
So when all that baking was done I needed to package.  I thought about using white bakery boxes but with such short notice the ones I went out to find did not come up to what I wanted to use.  I decided it was best to go with my own traditional packaging of my cello's.  This way the individual cookie flavors could be easily identified.  I had it all completed by 9:00 pm Saturday night. 
Sunday morning I baked a few more.  I had completed my 60 dozen order but Dante had gotten an order for another cello of 5 chocolate cookies.  I baked a batch of 5 chocolate and just because it seemed so easy I baked another of turtle cookies.  Just because. 
When Monday morning rolled around, I was anxious and nervous.  The confident cookie baking part was done but now I had to hand them over and even though I wasn't worried about the delivery itself it was just the entire experience that had finally caught up with me.  This would be the last part and nerves were running high.  I loaded my car, grabbed my chef jacket and took them on over to the location.  I stopped at their front desk, gave the security man the name of the person to contact and he asked me if he needed to sign as he waited for that person to answer her phone.  I told him no and made my way out of their building and back to my real day job.
Needless to say, I was a jittering mess when I got back to my desk at work.  I was back at the spot where it had all began when my cell phone rang.  Quite a bit had happened inbetween.  It was done but I knew I needed a moment to calm down.  And I did.  And now it's done.  And hopefully, they really enjoyed the cookies.
I just love it the most when they really enjoy the cookies. 
TT

What time?

A loud clap of thunder followed by a tearing flash of lightning woke me this morning.  It was raining murderously hard and I knew we were getting another very good storm.  I glanced at my night-side table clock and the red glowing digital numbers read 4:49am.  But it wasn't.  A few minutes later my phone alarm on the same table started it's weekend bleeping and it was 6:00am.  No.  The power had not gone out.  The red digital numbers on my clock weren't blinking.  The clocks were as accurate as they were set.  We lost an hour this weekend.  Gone.  It's 7:00am now and still dark but that might be due to the storm.  I can't tell yet.  It should mean the day will stay light longer.  Which is a good thing.
Longer light at the end of the day.  Warmer temperatures around the corner.  The rain storm will pass and leave  everything fresh and washed.  Sounds good to me whatever time it is.
TT

Can't believe it

I just realized I have been away from my computer for the past couple of days.  I didn't think it had been that long but I noticed the last post I have was from Wednesday afternoon.  Today is Saturday and I don't think I've stopped working since then.  An incredible thing happened Thursday afternoon that set all of this in motion.  It turns out I got a phone call for a cookie order that needs to be delivered this coming Monday morning.  I have been baking cookies the past two days. 
I need to stop.  I need to take a break.  I've been exceptionally good about cleaning up my mess as I have gone along but right now my kitchen has about every bit of counter space filled with baking cookery that needs to be washed, dried, and put away.  The counters need to be wiped down and the floor needs to be swept and mopped.  I'll get to that in a moment.  I'll have it all ship-shape and shiny real soon.  Just not right now.  I need to take a break.
If it wasn't such the cold, rainy, dark (evening type dark- really) at 2:30 in the afternoon I might be able to enjoy what I have accomplished in the past two days (non-stop).  Jay and I cancelled our trip out of town and I didn't run my 10K this morning due to all this cold, rainy, dark that was going to be where we were going and is also now here right at home.  The trip cancellation was a good decision not just because of the weather but because of all this baking I have spent my time doing instead.
It turns out this phone call I got on Thursday was for a cookie order of 60 dozen cookies!  Yes.  That's right - sixty dozen!  That is an enormous amount of cookies (for me) but believe it or not I am just about done baking.  I only have about 4 dozen left to bake and, sure enough, I ran out of shortening.  I ran out of flour this morning and went out and got that but didn't realize I was short on shortening. What can I say?  I've never baked 60 dozen cookies at one time before.  So I will finish tomorrow with the weather the way it is today.  And I'll take a little break.  Then I will clean up the kitchen.
Oh heck.  I'll clean up the kitchen now and feel better about it being clean and then I can take an even better break.  Except that I will be thinking about the last few dozen cookies that need to be baked.  And I should give everything another count.  Maybe I should count first and then bake, well, after I get more shortening but that will wait until after...
Can you believe 60 dozen cookies?
TT

Added points

The company I work for has been going with the trend of a wellness awareness program that is permeating so many of our larger companies these days.  They will reimburse employees that are active participants in this program and give them a certain monetary figure at the end of the year if they fulfill a predetermined amount of points.  You earn these points throughout the year by, well, by doing healthy things or learning about them.  They have been doing this a few years and provide a website and biometric screenings so you have an idea of where you are starting and to give you some points to get you motivated and to begin.
I've used the website they have provided and have been well over the points needed to bring home the monetary benefits at the end of those years.  This year they have done the same but the website has changed slightly.  To be perfectly honest, to me, they dumbed it up.  They made it less than it was.  I was looking and hoping for more and it seems they have given me less.  It seems now there is less access to articles and the tools are less informative.  They used to provide a food journal tool that could calculate your calories.  They had an exercise tool to track your work-outs and calories burned.  They had a report that could put the two together to see where you stacked up that day. 
They don't have that anymore.  Was that really too complicated?  Now the food journal is just a notepad to put down what you put in...to your mouth, I guess, without any nutritional values or caloric data.  There isn't anywhere you can log your exercise.  This left me searching outside my companies wellness website.  (Uh-Oh - I heard you).
I did some searching and found a free site (caloriecount.com).  Ta-da!  It has a food journal with a huge database to search not only the calories in foods but their nutritional value as well.  It has a place to enter workouts.  It has a place to track water you drink and weight you are at and where you want to be.  It has forums for motivation, questions, age groups, on and on.
I've been using it for 7 days.  Yeah, I've been logging my food and exercise every day.  They have you complete each day when you are done and it will go into a feed with everyone else that they call the Calorie Camp.  People will comment about their day, whether it was good or if they blew it.  It can be very real and it makes for some very good motivation.  It can be especially interesting when I view it in the early morning and I get all the people from Britain ending their days.
I joined one age group (50 somethings) forum and I noticed one of the topics was titled...List Your 5 Best Reasons for Losing Weight.  It sounded like fun so I read through the entries and since I was feeling a little cheeky at the time I decided I would add my own.  It went exactly like this.

Hmmm...reasons to lose weight. Let's give it a go.
1. I'm already old (56) and can't control that, so how about I try to do something I can control? I can...I can control it. I can too!
2. To give me something positive to obsess about like finding healthier and better tasting food alternatives instead of eating stuff I know isn't good to begin with.
3. So I can find reasons to go out and run instead of reasons I should stay in and eat and then feel bad about not going out to run.
4. So I can take 10 items into the dressing room and buy all of them because I love them or put all 10 back because I changed my mind and not because any of them didn't fit correctly.
5. So I'll be the best looking and healthiest person in the hospital when I die. We all will, 'ya know, so why not look and feel the best!

I was surprised when I got a message back from someone who had read it and said, "I like your moxie."  Well.  Now.  I'm not exactly sure I knew I had any moxie but, yeah, I'll take that as a positive since I was still feeling cheeky. (It must be because I had been reading all those Brits' end of day posts).
I won't get any wellness points for this.  It won't apply to my company's program or add to the monetary benefit at the end of the year.  But I also wouldn't have been able to find out that I actually have been eating too few carbs (Yes - can you believe that!) these past seven days.  That I could actually up my protein a smidgen and I don't have to worry at all about my fat intake.  I could probably benefit from a bit more of that, too.  So this site has been a great find for me even though I have strayed from the beaten path (yet again).
I also wouldn't have known I had any moxie at all.  That alone adds points in my book.
TT 

Vanishing act

As it turns out...
My head games from yesterday are gone!  Vanished.  Dissipated into thin air.  They are no longer plaguing me or holding me back.  I am thinking more clearly and haven't a thought if it isn't positive and happy.
What could make this sudden change, you ask?  Maybe you don't ask, maybe you think it, or maybe you don't even do that.  I'll tell you anyway.  It turns out we cancelled our trip.  We decided we aren't going this weekend.  The weather as we have been tracking it (and it wasn't me this time although I did look) is going to be mostly rain, rain and more rain.  Not just rain on the first day and not just the first and part of the second, or the first, the second, and part of the third, but the entire time.  And not just small amounts of scattered showers but large thunderstorm threatening percentages.  It's also more likely for that to actually happen and not just be a mild prediction since it's close to the water.  A rain forecast there holds more solidly than a rain forecast here.
So we won't be going and when the decision was made I didn't have anything to worry about anymore.  I will find another 10K to participate in, we will travel to the coast when the weather is more temperate, and somehow, someway, I will hunt down some fresh oysters this weekend!
But then, it always turns out, doesn't it?
TT

Head games

I have a 10K on Saturday.  It's at my personal paradise and this will be the third time I have gone out for this particular run.  The first year I did it I remember thinking what a great place to have this going on.  I was so excited and full to anxiety as I watched the weather turn from really nice to possibly cold and blustery.  I worked myself up into a frenzy but it was mixed with so much excitement I couldn't separate one thing from the other.  It turned out to be a great weekend.  I actually got a medal in my age group that first year...for my first 10K.
Last year I participated but had not run a single step in the two weeks prior to the run.  I'm not sure why.  I didn't have the same first time excitement and maybe since I had run a half marathon months before I felt like I could take a break? Whatever the reason, the weekend was great but I wasn't happy with myself about the run.
This year I have really mixed feelings about going out there to my paradise and to the run.  The last time we went we were in a bad car accident on the way back.  No fault of ours and nobody was hurt but I must say the thoughts keep going through my mind of traveling there again.  I can't help it.  I'm not dwelling but I can't say I don't feel a little something about it.  The race itself - I'm worried about since I was so unhappy with how I did last year.  I have been running much more consistently than last year but I haven't done a six miler in a while.  I've been keeping my runs around 3-4-5 miles and yes, I know that is fine but the doubt goes through my head anyway.
So basically I'm playing an extreme amount of head games with myself.  Worried about this and worried about that when really I know if I get past it all it comes down to this: I will be at my favorite personal paradise on Friday, the run will be 8:00am Saturday morning and it's one of the nicest places to run - right along the water.  Afterward, I get to go have fresh oysters that will have come right off the boat that morning.  I get to be where I would rather be, run where I enjoy so much to run, and eat some of the freshest things I could eat.  Somehow, if I turn my mind in that direction instead of the other it really is an all out win-win situation.  It shouldn't be the other.  If I could only get the other out of my head.
TT    

Quiet morning

It's a cold morning with promises of getting warmer fast.  I'm already dashing ahead in my mind of things on my imaginary agenda.  I poured my first cup of coffee before the machine stopped gurgling the last drops of brew.  I'm glancing at the living room as I go up the stairs thinking I need to sweep as I go up to my office.  I turn on the dryer for a quick warming of the towels I dried last night before I take them out to fold.  I enter my office and think it needs a major decluttering before I can start to set up my storyboard for my fiction.  I'll run this afternoon when the weather turns warmer as promised. 
Quiet mornings are the best when there is only my imaginary activity going on.
TT

New shoes

I got a new pair of running shoes this afternoon so I had to go out and give them a go.  There is something about sliding your feet into a new pair of shoes that cannot be compared to anything else.  I can tell when my old shoes have lost their inside structure.  I can feel it when I wear them and more importantly when I run in them.  It might not be that big of a feel difference but it's there.  I will put  off getting new shoes and think  - well, they aren't really that bad.  I did that with the pair before my last and ended up with a black toenail.  (It's only about half way grown out now so still pretty gross).  The point is I knew I needed new shoes.   I drove down to my usual store.  I went in and the clerk asked if I wanted the same brand I had before.  I told him I didn't mind seeing others within that type.  He brought out some pairs to try.  I pulled off my old shoes and slipped my feet into the newer version of the shoes I have been wearing.  There it was.  I could immediately tell the difference between these new shoes and the worn old ones I had before.  I tried on some others.  I eliminated one pair right off.  I tried on a few and walked around.  I narrowed the choices down to two.  One was the new version of my old pair and one was a different version of the same brand as my old pair.  Hmmm...which do I choose?  The new version of the old pair is a tried and true.  The different version is a little lower around the foot and weighs an ounce less.  It has a more forefoot strike which they try to tell you will make you faster.  I'm not worried about a heel strike because I am more of a mid striker.  I tried both pairs on again.  I walked around in both.  I ended up with the different version of my same brand.  I liked them.  They felt good on my feet and I'm open to try the new.  I don't think they will but it can't hurt if they actually do make me a little faster, does it? 
So I've given them a run and they'll do just fine!  I'll try them again tomorrow and I'll take them with me for my 10K next Saturday.
There is nothing like a new pair of shoes!
TT

A day with Mr. L

My newest grandson, Mr. L, is 2 months old.  Selma was scheduled to return to work this coming Monday and arrangements had been made for daycare and although she was not looking forward to it, plans had been put into place for it to happen.  Then her employer called and told her she needed to be at work on Friday (yesterday) instead of starting on Monday.  This was not only disappointing to Selma but the day care wanted an entire week of payment for the one day.  What?  Made no sense but that was their conditions.  Sonny couldn't do it since he didn't have any vacation time he could use now so everyone turned to the one person that has a storage shed full of vacation days.  Me.  It sort of threw me for a moment when Sonny first asked but yes, of course, I can take Friday off and watch him.
I got an early morning text from Selma telling me she was missing him already.  I'm not sure if she knew he hadn't arrived yet (Sonny was running late) but I told her he would be right here when she was done with work.  Sonny arrived with him a little later and went on to work.  I had diapers and formula and wet wipes and a note with how much, how often, how long things could possibly happen.  It was helpful.  It wasn't like I didn't have all the confidence that I could handle the day but it's been a long time since I've been in charge of an infant.
Mr. L started our day off together by having a massive hic-cup attack.  He didn't seem all that concerned about it but it seemed to go on for a long time.  If it's me I get totally frustrated with hic-cups so I thought he was being rather calm about the ordeal.  It was me that was getting frustrated and I wasn't the one with them.  I finally gave him a shot of plain water and (blow me away) it stopped.  The morning was just fun since he was awake and looking around and when I turned on the food network he seemed especially interested in the program about the cake and frosting that came on.  I'll take that as a good sign.  Sonny and Selma actually came over to the house at lunch.  That first day of separation can be tough.  I get that.  It's perfectly understandable but after lunch they went on back to work.
The note said he would sleep most of the afternoon.  I was totally playing this by ear and going by his cues.  What else could I do?  I thought if he napped I would do a few other things.  I could bring the laptop down and write.  I could get myself organized, I could plan a few things.  He never napped.  All afternoon.  Maybe I was hovering too close?  Maybe he wasn't used to the surroundings?  Maybe there were too many distractions for him to settle down?  He stayed up and I stayed with him.  Poor guy.  I knew by mid-afternoon he was getting cranky.  It was time for another feeding and that helped but sleep seemed to be something he was fighting.  I thought I was going to mess up his entire schedule!  What would happen that night if he didn't get this normal rest during the day? He was getting bags under his eyes! 
Finally, just 10 minutes before Selma arrived to pick him up after work he fell asleep.  Oops!  Was that supposed to happen?  She didn't think that was a problem at all.  She shrugged and said, "sometimes he does that."  Oh.  It's been too long.  I had forgotten they do that sometimes.  She also thought it would give her a short break since she was just getting off work.  Oh.  I felt better about that. Maybe it worked out for the best after all.
When Jay got home later that evening the first thing he said to me was, "Boy, you look tired."  I hadn't realized a vacation day could do that.
TT

Distracted

I was taking a moment to quickly re-read my recent posts.  I'm not sure what tidal wave of work and distraction has pulled me under lately but I couldn't remember what I had written so I was reading them again.  I found some pretty ridiculous error's on my post from a few days ago called Plenty of work.   It's truly humiliating to me that it was one post where I was talking about writing.  Why would that be more humiliating than any other?  Well, when I find any errors on past posts it isn't good and (yes) I will go back and correct a misspelling or tense.  Unfortunately, this particular post was about writing! and it was laden with errors.  Owwch!  Gads, girl!  You should have taken the time to have more coffee first!  I know you were frustrated about the fiction project but the total amount of mistakes I found this morning on that piece is embarrassing!  I can't believe I didn't catch at least a portion of them before I sent it out there.  There were soooo many errors!  I've tried to go back this morning and clean it all up but I'm afraid I might have missed another since it was so heavily...
So now that I've fessed up to my multiple sins, taken my self-inflicted scourging and said my penance maybe it should be all better now.  I should have done a highlighting, cross-out, circling in red of all of the errors I found and left it that way.  Oh no.  Enough already.  I made some mistakes, alright?  I found them and I'll just go on.
This isn't at all what I was going to write about today!
TT