CynTrueFusion

Training for Half Marathon

2011-01-04T11:14:00.000-06:00

As the New Year begins, all the usual resolutions are being made. All the usual goals plotted. This year my plan is to begin my training for my first half marathon in April. I will have to start back at near ground zero as I have put my running on hold for the last few months. So some of my future blogs will be the progress of this plan and tips I have amassed from various sources.

Tapping Your Inner Runner

Rob Udewitz, PhD., from January 2011 Runners World Magazine, advises on winning the mental battle to hit the road is to focus on the following key points:

Focus on time-Not Distance
Think Ahead-How you will feel afterwards
Reward Yourself
Listen to Negative Feelings-Recognize & Find Solutions to Resolve that Negativity
Set Goals the Night Before-Get Committed

According to Vonda Wright, Orthopedic Surgeon, the American College of Sports Medicine Guidelines call for :

2 resistance training sessions per week.
8-10 exercises working the major muscle groups
8-12 repetitions per exercise

Runners should target core muscles, the glutes, hips & lower back, as well as the legs and upper body. They should also work muscles differently once or twice a week with something besides running, like spinning.

Stretching should be done AFTER warming up and done so GENTLY. Runners should focus on stretching calves, hamstrings, hip flexors, butt & quads after every run. Another option to this is doing a Pilates or Yoga class.

New Year- New Plans and Resolutions

2011-01-03T12:13:00.000-06:00

Well as the New Year has finally arrived, I have taken a moment to reflect on this past year. 2010 was quite a year indeed for me. I experienced new adventures and situations. I have tried to broaden my awareness and my mind. I accomplished some real goals and failed at others. In 2010 I reached the ripe age of 50; ran my first 5K-and won an award in my age division; I went on to run more 5K's and more awards; I ran my first 10K and started planning for my first half marathon; I made new friends and lost others; I began training my new foal; I rescued a dog and brought it into the fold of my home and pack; I accepted tattoos as not quite the taboo they once were; I lost-and gained- some weight; I saw a white Christmas for the first time in quite a while; I forgave and forgot some transgressions; I accepted things that I could not change; I embraced things that were once un-embraceable; I ate things never before tried and I eliminated things tried and true; I went new places; I laughed and grieved more; I let go more; I held on tighter; I saw with new eyes; I turned a blind eye to other things; I explored new places; I learned some new skills; I embraced the artist within; I created; I embraced the sleeping athlete; I challenged myself; I became stronger; I did things I had put off; I did less procrastinating.

But perhaps the most profound thing that happened in 2010, other than my new found zest for life and becoming a more fit women-both physically and mentally is that- I saved a life. Without thought or hesitation, I jumped in and saved a choking stranger. The act was no big deal and hardly noticed. But the depth of how I feel about it is beyond words. If I never accomplish another thing in my life, I know that I was able to give a complete stranger-an individual with no connection to me in any way other than sheer twist of fate- more time- for whatever he chooses to do with it...

So with the new year I have high hopes, optimism and dreams of even bigger and better accomplishments. I may not save another persons life, but just perhaps, I may add to mine...So with a smile on my face, a lift in spirits and light heart- I am plunging head long into the new year...Here's to 2011!!

Karma, Fate, Destiny and Free Vacations

2010-12-15T11:08:00.002-06:00

Please forgive the length of this posting. I had a lot to talk about this time. I was fortunate enough recently to be given a free 3 night stay in the Smokies recently. I have a relative that has a time share at a Wyndham Vacation Resort. She and her husband were not going to be able to go on their reserved time and so she offered it to me. At first, I was going to say no because of the timing and the fact that my man couldn't take off work. But at the last minute I said yes and took my oldest daughter with me. I am so glad that I did.

The drive was about four and half hours away, but mostly interstate travel. We left around lunch on Friday and arrived perfectly for check in time. The trip was easy until we came out of Knoxville into Sevierville where traffic was bumper to bumper all the way in. I learned later that there was some kind of cheerleader competition going on that weekend as well as the Christmas parade that night.

The weather when we arrived was cool but clear. However, that would soon change. When we arrived at the Wyndham, the check in went smoothly and we were greeted by a very nice young man who made sure we got the best accommodations he could secure for us.

Once we found our condo, we walked into a very nice, impeccably clean 2 bedroom "home" for the weekend. Everything, with the exception of food of course, was already fully stocked. Our view was lovely from our balcony overlooking the complex and the downtown area with mountains in the background. The location was great for some outlet shopping, entertainment and a bevy of eating establishments. That first evening, after unpacking way too many suitcases, we did a little exploring, eating and settling in.

The Tanger Outlet Mall was a stones throw away so on Saturday we went shopping. Included in the outlet were the usual lineups: Banana Republic, Gap, Coach, Polo, Liz, Tommy, rue21, Kors; all the expected ones. Normally, I don't like to shop, but because it was so near to Christmas, I took advantage of the "bargains" to be found. Coach Purse had a line out the door and wrapped around the interior of the store for their huge sale on previous season's styles. Some at 70% savings! So we spent several hours checking out almost every one of the 100 plus stores in that one location. It was fun, but the weather outside was turning colder and wetter.

In addition to the shopping at the Tanger, we visited some of the other shopping venues there in Sevierville, Pigeon Forge and then drove over to Gatlinburg. At the end of the day, we were tired, wet, cold and hungry. It had rained on and off the whole day and snow flurries had begun with the cooler temps. We checked out the local TGI Friday's and had a good warm meal and returned to our condo, arms loaded with packages, to a relaxing whirlpool tub and comfy bed making our plans for the next day while snow flurries continued.

Sunday, we began the day with snow flurries but temps hovering above the freezing point.We did some more shopping in Gatlinburg, ate at the Pancake House and then decided to drive over to Cades Cove. Though it was early afternoon, I knew we would be pushing it to get there and back before dark. I really didn't want to be caught on the mountain road after dark as they are so winding and the weather was iffy.

For those who aren't familiar with Cades Cove here is the story:

Cades Cove is a broad, verdant valley surrounded by mountains and is one of the most popular destinations in the Great Smokies. It offers some of the best opportunities for wildlife viewing in the park. Large numbers of white-tailed deer are frequently seen, and sightings of black bear, coyote, ground hog, turkey, raccoon, skunk, and other animals are also possible. An 11-mile, one-way loop road circles the cove, offering motorists the opportunity to sightsee at a leisurely pace. Allow at least two to four hours to tour Cades Cove, longer if you walk some of the area’s trails. Traffic is heavy during the tourist season in summer and fall and on weekends year-round. While driving the loop road, please be courteous to other visitors and use pullouts when stopping to enjoy the scenery or view wildlife.

The deer here are usually abundant in certain times of the year, but we just wanted to see the valley no matter if we saw any wildlife or not. It was about an hours drive from our condo. The drive over was easy and traffic light. Once we arrived, there were a good number of other people on the driving loop so I didn't feel totally alone in our craziness to come there in rainy/snowy weather in December.

The first thing we encountered was a huge buck "in rut" unrelentingly chasing a doe. We were able to get some great video and pictures. The views were absolutely breathtaking from the very beginning. From the pasture of horses to the very last doe, it was worth every second of the drive there. But truly the icing on the cake was the encounter with the Black Bear near the end of the motor trail. I have seen quite a few over the years, but never one this big! It had to be over 400 pounds. Foraging in the trees just off the main road, we were able to get some very "up close" pictures. It made the whole trip memorable for sure.

By then, the sun was getting pretty low and I knew we had to scram. So with one last pit stop at the camp ground just outside of the Cove entrance, we started back. I made a last minute decision to go back over the mountain instead of back through Townsend that I would seriously question later.

At first, it was just light flurries-no problem. But as we progressed, it got darker and the snow turned heavier. Visibility got lower and lower until I was just creeping. At first, I had other cars with me but they had wisely turned at the Townsend exit miles back. I had already committed to the mountain route and by time I realized there might be a real problem I was afraid if I didn't keep going forward I would be in even more trouble. Let me just clarify that where I live, just the hint of flurries brings the whole area to a grinding shut down. We don't drive in snow flurries, much less real snow!

So with white knuckles and prickly hairs on the back of my neck I went forward. The only thing that actually brought any sense of hope at that point was that I met two cars coming toward me so I knew that since there wasn't any roads turning off of this road, that the road was still passable ahead.

The snow was coming down heavy and sticking to the road. My GPS told me I had 5 more miles to go until I reached the main road going into Gatlinburg. I felt that if I could reach that road, I would make it to the welcome center where if the roads were impassable, I would at least have shelter and help. Those 5 miles were excruciating! I could barely see in front of me. Pull offs were scarce even if I wanted to give up. The turns were hairpin curves with a mountain wall inches away on one side and a mountainous fall on the other; and we were all alone in the snow covered road.

But forward we went until with about 2 miles left to go to the welcome center, I met a car. It was a Park Ranger! He passed us heading in the opposite direction but immediately turned around in one of the rare pull-offs where another car was stopped. Knowing that in the worse case scenario, at least someone else was out there on that deserted snow covered dark road gave me a sense of relief. I was trying to stay calm though my daughter says that my fear was apparent. Obviously my daughter did not grasp the reality of our situation...

In what seemed like eternity, we finally made it to the welcome center just in time to see the road we just came over closed to traffic... Coming back into town, safe but rattled, where the snow fall was just light, we decided to stop just down the road from our condo to grab a bite to eat and a drink to calm my jangled nerves.

There was a Texas Roadhouse within walking distance of the condo, so that is where we opted to stop. Sitting in a bar area booth, we chose to just get an appetizer and a glass of wine. The place wasn't crowded but had a fair amount of patrons there.

I had just started sipping my wine, reliving our "harrowing" moments, taking my daughters chiding at my "panicky" moments coming down the mountain, when I noticed the guy in the booth beside us was in trouble.

The guy was trying to stand and was clutching his throat making gestures. I immediately got up and asked him if he was choking? He nodded an affirmative as he started heading to the floor. I yelled for some help and grabbed him from behind, gave him the Heimlich maneuver 3 times and he hawked up a piece of steak and coughed. About that time the burly bus boy came up and asked if I wanted him to take over and I stepped out of the way just in time for the guy to vomit all over the place. The way I saw it, vomiting was good at that point. At least that meant, he had a clear throat. I went back to my booth and plopped down. The guy sat down, composed himself and apologized to everyone, clearly embarrassed. He motioned a thank you to me and then the paramedics showed up.

My adrenaline was still pumping at full scale. The waitress came over with our food about that time. I informed her that I would be needing another glass of wine as I gulped down my first one. I had to go into the bathroom and splash cold water on my face in order to calm myself. Once I sat back down, the guy motioned another thank you to me. I told him that I was just glad that he was ok and tried to focus on our appetizers.

Meanwhile the paramedics assessed the situation and checked him out. They made him call someone to come and get him and that was that. He finished his meal and left.

Reflecting back, I remembered a couple of things. A lady at the bar had been obviously watching him for a while and may have even saw that he had been choking. She had done nor said anything because before I even sat back down in my booth she was saying "There is something wrong with that guy. I have seen him go out about 10 times tonight since he sat down."

OoooKaaay...So what did that even mean? Because he left his table several times, possibly even to go out and smoke or whatever, did that mean he needed to be allowed to choke to death? Jeez...! I later asked myself, what if I had been choking and because I had opted to have a glass of wine that night, someone decided I didn't deserve to live..? Frightening thought...

Another thing that I remember is how annoyed the people who worked there appeared to be. Granted I probably was a little sensitive at that point and maybe I didn't have all the information, but it just seemed weird. I realize that they were probably concerned about liability and all but the guy had just almost died. The manager never came over and thanked me for saving his patron. Actually no one did other than the guy who almost choked.

I have to ask have we as a society become so callous that we will let our fellow man die because of our prejudices and assumptions? Wow!

Perhaps, the thing that I took away from all of this was that had it not been for the generosity of my relative, I would not have been in Sevierville, TN at all. If not for my decision to go over the mountain instead of the easier path back to town, I would not have been delayed. If not for our choice to pick Texas Roadhouse over another restaurant, I would not have been there at all. If not for the choice of the booth instead of a table, I would not have seen the guy in the first place... so karma and destiny all played a role. So truly it was my relative that should be credited for saving a mans life. I was just a vessel...

Maybe sometime in the future, maybe if I am very lucky, hopefully someone will pay it forward...and maybe-just maybe- I will get another much needed vacation...

DNA Testing for Dogs

2010-11-12T12:17:00.001-06:00

     A few weeks ago, I discovered that there are tests that can detect doggie DNA for determining types of mixed breeds. After doing some research into the different companies out there I made a decision on one to test with. My research included talking with a vet, Professors of Animal Sciences at Auburn University and their Veterinarian School, as well as people who have actually tried the DNA testing for their own animals. One person actually knew the exact makeup of their dog but wanted to test the accuracy for future testings. The recommendation from these sources was that the testing at worst was about 75% accurate to near 100% accurate at best. So that seemed good enough for me. Being increasingly curious about Harley’s genetic makeup, I opted with a company that had a good reputation and fit the bill for what I desired: affordability, accuracy, communication, accessibility and results in a timely manner.

     The test cost me about $70 and was purchased at a local PetSmart store. They had several types of tests to choose from with varying prices. The test included 2 Q-tip type swabs, 2 tube containers to place the swabs in after collecting the sample, a prepaid postage envelope for returning the samples, and complete step by step instruction page. The test itself was very simple. I just took one of the swabs and rolled it around Harley’s cheek for about 15 seconds to collect DNA. Then I repeated it with the other swab. It didn’t hurt Harley and he didn’t mind at all. I placed the swabs in the container tubes after they had air dried, placed the tubes in the envelope, sealed it up and mailed it. Quick and painless…Except for the anxious waiting for the results.

     The company I chose was a company called Wisdom Panel Insights using Mars Veterinary’s proprietary breed detection algorithm methods. Their box stated it would take 2-3 weeks for results and their website said the same. It took 3 weeks to the day. Their customer service was very fast to respond to my anxious inquires and their website has a page that you can follow the progress on. Very cool.

     So on the 3 week anniversary my report was generated showing me what my Harley was. Not the Saint Bernard that I had thought but….a Great Pyrenees that I had begun to suspect…. with a very minor to possible none Collie breed thrown in. I had begun to see all the signs of the Pyrenees lately and am so glad to have it confirmed for sure.

I would recommend this testing if you are like me and want to know what your mixed breed dog is. I can now have a better understanding of why Harley does what he does and can employ better training techniques geared to his breed specific thinking process. What is really interesting is that the professor at Auburn said he thought this is what Harley was even as a young pup. Very smart guy… that may be why he is a professor of Animal Science at Auburn University.

Dog Treat Recipe

2010-11-10T10:21:00.003-06:00

Found this cool recipe for dog treats that I thought I would share.

Peanut Butter Treat

2 cups of rice flour

1 cup smooth peanut butter

1 large egg, slightly beaten

1/4 cup canola cooking oil

3/4 cup of warm water

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine all ingredients and mix thoroughly. Once it becomes stiff, start kneading until smooth, adding up to a tablespoon of water if needed. Roll out into about 1/4 thickness. Cut into desired shapes. Bake for 30-35 minutes. Do not over cook. Cool and treat your dog.

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Another recipe to try:

2 cups of rye flour

1/2 cup rice flour

1/4 cup cornmeal

1/2 cup vegetable oil

1/2 cup of water

Blend the flours and cornmeal together. Whisk the oil and water together. Slowly add to flour mix to the water and oil mix-forming a stiff dough. Add more water if needed to make the dough workable. Place the dough on a floured surface and roll out to about 1/2 inch thickness. Cut into desired shapes with cookie cutter. Place on non-greased cookie sheet. Bake at 375 degrees for about 35 minutes or until treats are crisp. Cool and treat dog.

Callie's New Beginning

2010-11-08T16:40:00.001-06:00

Callie is a female white Labrador Retriever. I say white because she is more white than yellow. She came to us by the usual route. She was a rescue dog.

     Her beginnings were sad. She was a young pup being raised in a questionable environment. She was left out in the elements without proper attention or care. She was run over by a car. The owners were going to shoot her instead of taking her to the vet to tend to her injuries. A neighbor stepped in and told them she would take the pup. She brought her in to the Veterinarian where one of my daughters works. The neighbor promised to pay all costs for the pup. The pup had several breaks in both legs and a broken jaw and some internal issues. But they were fixable with time and lots of care.

Well after about 2 weeks, the neighbor stopped checking on the pup, moved and left no forwarding address. Callie had to have her legs splinted and her other wounds tended to. Bruised and underweight, she was abandoned. Normally this would necessitate a call to the pound for pick up. Given her circumstances that would mean being put down for sure.

But being the kindhearted people they are at the Animal Hospital, they just couldn't bring themselves to making that call. Something about Miss Callie tugged on their heartstrings. So, for the next 3 months while she recuperated, Callie would end up being a guest at the Animal Hospital. The girls would take turns sometimes bringing her home with them for the weekends just to give her a chance to be in a normal environment.

Callie was growing so fast that she soon outgrew even their largest kennel area and more permanent arrangements had to be made. So I reluctantly agreed to let her come and stay at our home with the condition that another home must be found for her ASAP!

Almost 4 years later, she is still here...And Lordy it has been a ride with her. She adapted well into our home with the other dogs and a cat at first, but one day something set her off and she turned on her housemate Chrash; a black and tan mix. They tore into each other so viciously that stitches were necessary for both of them. From that day we have been unsuccessful in integrating these two into a peaceful coexistence. They will try and kill each other at every opportunity. They have successfully crossed paths on at least 3 other occasions that resulted in horrifying attacks on each other. We literally could not pull them apart without using our entire bodies and strength.

The hatred they have for each other is limited to each other for the most part. Callie shows none of that same aggression with any of the 3 other dogs, though I am very alert to any signs that she is becoming agitated. Chrash is completely fine with the other dogs and never shows any aggression to them.


We have asked ourselves could this be a result of not being socialized properly as a puppy? Or is this some form of plain old female aggression at its worst?

Callie & Chrash in better times

Today, we must play musical dogs every time one has to go out. They must be kept separated to avoid another fight. That means constantly monitoring the situation without any room for error. I can't afford any more trips to have one of them be sewn up. I wonder what Caesar would have to say about that?

Callie has suffered many health issues over the years. The latest being an allergy issue so bad that most of her hair fell out. Thankfully that has been resolved now after spending over $600 at a dermatologist for dogs that included pathologist and blood work. She is a true and loyal textbook Lab to a fault. She requires thyroid and allergy meds twice a day every day. But aside from the issues of hating her house mate and her health problems, she is probably the most consistently well mannered dog we have. Go figure...

Those best laid plans will screw with you every time...

2010-11-08T15:57:00.002-06:00

       Sometimes even the most resolved intentions, with the map plotted to perfection will go astray. In my last posting I wrote of my training for the half marathon next month in Las Vegas. But expectations were running high then and reality gave me a sharp smack to bring me back down to earth.

       No worries though. I have not given up on the dream of running that half marathon; I have just adjusted the sails a bit on the when I am going to do it. So now I am shooting for the Oak Barrel Run in Lynchburg, TN as my inaugural half in April. That gives me ample time to get ready and if the Gods are smiling upon me, actually run a decent time.

      Watching the ING New York marathon this weekend inspired me all over again. I felt the exhilaration and excitement of the crowds even though I was almost a thousand miles away. I jokingly told my daughter that I actually could follow what the announcers were saying as they spoke their coded language of running.

       I look forward to the return to training. I miss it like on old friend. The hot humid weather of the summer proved to be more than I could handle while working toward that 13.1 mile goal. But now that Fall has arrived, my intent is to embrace the cooler temps and plod away. I am making plans with great anticipation of my breaking in my new pair of Brooks Adrenaline's, If I find those not to my liking, then its back to the Nike Structure Zoom's.

      Either way, I plan to enjoy the ride, because lately I have been thinking a lot about what tomorrow might bring. That uncertainty is bringing about a sense of urgency to create the memories now! Live each day as if it might be the last so to speak. Wish me luck and perseverance... I will keep you posted..

Day One Training for Half Marathon

2010-08-30T19:18:00.006-05:00

Today began my first day of earnest training for the half marathon coming up in a couple of months. It is my plan to run in the Las Vegas Rock and Roll Series Marathon and Half Marathon. On the first day of my training program I was to run a easy 30 minutes. No problem-right? I have already participated in some 5Ks and a 10K. So naturally a half was the next logical step. Granted it has been 3 months to the day since I laced up my running shoes, but it should still be easy right? BULL!

For this "easy" run I decided I would have my man drop me off about 3 miles from our farm and while he tended to the critters, I would just jog on there. No problem. Nice winding rurally road. Little traffic with a little bit of scenery along the way. Ideal plan. Ha Ha Ha.

The first omen that things might not be so smooth was when he decided to drop me off in the local funeral home parking lot. Mind you funeral homes don't spook me in the least, but today the vultures were circling as he drove off. Literally. Big ugly turkey vultures with their big ugly wrinkly naked necks landed near me as I started down the back road. It was as if they sensed a meal in the making.

As I jogged along at a brisker than normal pace (maybe just to get away from the spooky carnivores), I was soon leaving them behind. About half a mile in is where I started smelling the stench of death. Surely it wasn't me already. Nope-just a dead possum whom had the misfortune of meeting the front bumper of a local citizen. Lordy did it stink.

As I plodded along, my lungs screamed for air, my pace slowed and I soon started questioning my sanity. But still I continued, stopping ever so often to catch my breath. As I was half way through my "run" I reached an open stretch and kicked it up a notch. I heard the "vehicle" if you want to call it that, before I saw it. As it came around one of the 4 very sharp turns in the road, the yahoo driving it saw me and gunned the engine. I looked around in time to see him accelerating to what seemed like a 100 miles an hour in that short stretch headed straight for me in the opposite lane. I started looking for a spot to jump out of the way, but would have to jump into a drainage ditch to avoid him. Just as I was about to take the dive as he closed in, he veered off-chortling at my panic. He flew on down the road, around the curve and out of sight. Red-Neck Idiot!!

I composed myself, I continued on, a bit shaken, but determined to get this over with. I was over half way to the farm, about to run out of steam with a pounding headache, and a stitch in my side.

As I jogged past the country cemetery, I felt a shiver creep up my back even though the temp outside was almost 80. I could have been in one of these if that idiot hadn't veered off in time. IDIOT!

Just as I was approaching the final stretch to the farm, my other "worst" fear came dashing out of one the yards. A large mixed breed dog zeroed in on me, nose low to the ground and accelerating towards me. Dang! Just my luck. Armed with only a water bottle. I stopped and demanded that he STOP! Didn't work. Hmmm. It always worked for Caesar when he did it on TV. What the Heck! Well, I knew not to run. I stood my ground and waited. Thankfully all he seemed to want to do is sniff my feet. However, he was getting pushier and I needed to get on. Trying not to let him sense my discomfort, I moved forward, commanding him to go home. Then when I was just about to get a little more panicky at his insistence, I looked up in time to see my man coming to my rescue on his white horse, er.. I mean white truck. He pulled up and I jumped in. "I thought this one might give you some trouble", he said. Ahhh, my prince.....

So with my head pounding, red faced and slightly nauseated, I had completed my first training run in my quest to run that cursed half marathon. All I can say is they had better have some really awesome goody bags and a super neat t-shirt for this....

Time to Get Committed

2010-08-29T10:54:00.004-05:00

“There’s a difference between interest and commitment. When you’re interested in doing something, you do it only when circumstances permit. When you’re committed to something, you accept no excuses, only results…”

      After a long summer filled with remodeling projects, my running has been put on hold since the end of May. I have missed the discomfort of sore muscles and aching feet. I have not missed the ever creeping expansion of my waist band from my lack of sustained exercise. So with the advent of cooler temps outdoors, I have decided that it is time to regain my sense of accomplishment and just do it-again…
      Commitment has always been a problem for me. Maybe it stems from some mental defect I have, but to commit means to obligate myself; my commitments mean to complete in its entirety. Therefore, I pick and choose my commitments cautiously. I will not commit to just any old thing, person or event just for the sake of saying yes.
       So with that said, I have decided that I am going to train for a half marathon. 13.1 miles of running! I know that in the times to come I am going to question that commitment, but I made it- so now I am going to have to see it thru. The good times, the bad times and all that comes in between. I will get psyched for it- I will create my happy place- I will succeed...
      My end goal is to prepare for this in time to run in the Las Vegas Rock and Roll Series by December 5th. The time limits are that the half marathon must be completed within 4 hours. This averages an 18.32 minute mile pace. Hopefully I can do this (or better) if I train hard between now and then. Even though I feel that I will be starting over again from scratch- I will tie on my running shoes, pull up my compression socks, slip on my running shorts and shirt and hit the pavement; Running the path of self discovery and success.
      Stay tuned for my journey notes, they should prove to me quite interesting...

"Losers visualize the penalties of failure.

Winners visualize the rewards of success"...

Trying to Overcome Prejudices

2010-06-27T11:39:00.002-05:00

Recently my oldest daughter decided that she wanted a tattoo. My initial reaction was not what she had hoped for. My thoughts on tattoos were not positive. The people that I knew personally that had “defaced” their bodies were few. I just knew I didn’t like tattoos, especially in light of the white hot spotlight on that nasty tattooed stripper home wrecker that Jesse James had been caught with recently. Her parents must be sooo proud….But I digress….

So when my daughter announced that she was getting one, I tried to discourage her any way that I could. I did not prevail. So I decided that (after a lot of convincing) if she was determined to do this act, then I needed to be sure that the place she went to was the “right” place. Not dirty and disease infested. I am a mother-what can I say?

After doing some online research of places in the area, she had it narrowed down to a couple of places. Off we went to check it out and talk with the people there. Let me say right off I was not really impressed with the outside of the first establishment at first glimpse. It was in an area that the offices were being completely renovated and they had a mess everywhere. The shop that we went into was upstairs in a row of offices. Most of the surrounding offices were out of business. I was a little skeptical and apprehensive about this place.

However, once we were inside the girls there were super. It was a clean place and they had all their proper paperwork. They took a great amount of time patiently answering our questions and allaying our fears. After giving it some thought and discussion, it was decided this was the place that would give the tattoo.

We looked through the portfolios’ that were out showcasing the work and style each artist performed and made a choice based on what we liked. Leah was the girl we chose. It turned out to be a good decision. My daughter told her what she wanted and gave her a sample sketch she had drawn of the design. Leah gave some suggestions on how to improve it and promised to work on it before she returned. We made the appointment for the next weekend and then we left.

On the day of the appointment, my daughter was anxious and nervous. I was resigned and a little sad. But I wanted to be supportive of her since she was old enough to make this decision on her own and had made up her mind to do it with or without me.

Once we arrived, Leah was ready for us and was meticulous about her tools and supplies and the cleanliness of her working environment. I was relieved by this. She provided an area that was screened from others as my daughter had chosen her upper thigh as her tattoo placement.

Leah worked diligently for about an hour or so until she had it perfected and I must admit the finished product was impressive. I was pleased with her level of artistic expertise and her friendliness.

All in all the experience was not what I expected and was pleasantly surprised that my prejudices’ were shattered after going through this with my daughter. Again I had to be shown that I need to be a little more open minded about things.

As that old saying goes-the older I get the more I realize how much I don’t really know… Granted my daughter has assured me that this is the only one she plans to get and I am happy to hear that. I must admit though that some evil part of me took a little pleasure in knowing that it hurt a little bit in hopes that it would discourage her from getting anymore. As open minded as I am trying to become- I still believe that I brought her body into this world “unspoiled” by ink and dyes and would like it to remain that way as much as possible….

I am a Dreamer

2010-06-27T10:58:00.000-05:00

I can literally sit for hours wasting time day dreaming. I can dream about “if” I only had a studio space I could create great works of art-even though I have yet to complete anything worth writing home about.

I dream about “if” I had enough space I could have a fabulous farm complete with horses, cows, chickens, goats and anything else I could think of-though I have 14 acres of un-bush-hogged field and a chicken pen that is in dire need of cleaning out; horses that need riding and tack that needs repairing.

I dream of the exotic plants that I would grow “if” I had a greenhouse-though I find it difficult to remember to water my two tomato vines 10 steps out my back door.

I dream of redoing and updating my old house but I can’t find the time to paint a single room.

I dream of losing weight and running marathons-yet I have all but abandoned any running when the temperatures rose.

I dream of winning the big lottery-yet all my tickets have expired.

So you see I am a dreamer who never follows through. Oh how I dream about when I am no longer a dreamer-but have become a doer…..

Voting In Primary Election

2010-06-11T10:17:00.004-05:00

A couple of weeks ago, I had the task of working at one of the election polls in our most recent primaries. I would like to share a few impressions and observations about this day with my readers.

In our particular polling precinct we have almost 3,000 registered voters. We use 2 voting machines. In the course of this particular day we used 10 workers. Assignments ranged from the clerk taking ID’s and verifying the names on the registered voters list to the clerk asking which party the voter chose to vote in-to ballot clerks issuing ballots to the clerk giving out “I Voted” stickers and directing to the exit. Then there is the Precinct Inspector overseeing it all.

The single act that caused the most agitation to the voter, by far was the issue of declaring which primary they chose to vote in. Their reactions ranged from blank stares to outright rage. Which brings me to the topic of today’s blog:

Primary Election Voter Education….

I have worked the polls for at least ten years now and I can NOT for the life of me understand how some people’s minds work. When a voter comes in to vote, one would assume that if they made the effort to come to the polls to vote they would at the very least have some idea about what and who they are voting for. But unfortunately the fact is that a good 70% (or more in some situations) seemed to be ignorant to most of the issues associated with primaries. So in the interest of educating and keeping it simple, I will try to demystify the process.

First of all, a primary is an election that decides which person will be in the General Election in November of an election cycle. That simply means that all the weeks prior to an election, when the politicians are rallying and knocking on your door-promising to do a better job, etc. -it is just so they can be nominated as your district-city-county-state or national representative in the primary election in June. That means that there may be as little as 2 or as much as 6 or more candidates running for one spot in the Republican or Democratic or Independent or Libertarian slot. Most of the time there will be a Republican and a Democrat. In Alabama when you come to the polls to vote in a June Primary-you must declare your Party in order to get either a Blue Republican ballot with all the Republican candidates on it or a White Democratic ballot with just Democrat candidates on it. You can ONLY get ONE ballot- either or- you CAN NOT cross party lines in a Primary Election. You may cross party lines in the General Election in November.

Why this is so upsetting to voters is beyond me. One thing voters need to know is that we polling officials DO NOT care how you vote. Nor do we remember how you vote. It doesn’t matter to us. We are impartial (theoretically and legally) to your voting decision. Voters need to understand the process. Voters must select, or narrow the field if you will, so that there is only one nominee for each party in the November General Election. Republicans versus Democrats (or Independents and Libertarians as the situation dictates). But a Primary is for narrowing the field down to just one candidate per party.

With that said, as often the case, there is a July run-off election held when the votes are close and a decision hasn’t been made as to who is the most popular choice. After 6 weeks from the Primary election, a run-off vote will make that determination if it is not yet clear.

The actual process goes like this: You-the voter come into the polling precinct with your ID ready to be shown. Usually you wait in line until the next clerk is available. While waiting you will notice all the posted signs giving you every possible direction from which ID’s are acceptable to what your rights as a voter are, to step by step instructions on how to vote. READ the signs… You will also see do’s and don’ts such as no cell phones in the polling area, no campaigning within 30 feet of the entrance; you must enter one way and exit another, etc. These are state, county or city mandated rules. NOT the poll workers rules.

The poll workers are simply your neighbors volunteering their time, effort and patience for a very nominal fee. They must attend election school the week before to cover the rules and guidelines. The inspectors must attend 2 schools, and be responsible for all things that occur on election day and up to the point of surrendering the ballots and documents at the end of the election night. The workers must be at the polling place the day before to set up and then be at the polling place by 6AM the morning of and then are there until at least 8 PM or later. Some precincts are unheated and/ or not air-conditioned. They will receive dozens of complaints ranging from the before mentioned primary choice to having to walk too far to “I didn’t bring ID” to “I don’t want to write my name” to “I don’t like how the ballot is designed”. Some will be so irate that they actually hurl insults and profanities to actual objects at the workers. Come on people! We are your neighbors just trying to help out. If you are that displeased with the process, then why not get involved and try to change it in a fashion that is more helpful than hurtful. Honestly, the whole reason that I even agreed to get involved all those years ago was because every time I came to vote, I was taken aback by how rude the poll workers seemed to be. It was intimidating and off putting. I was determined that kill them with kindness would be my motto. As of today, I can honestly say that every single one of the workers at my polling precinct (with the exception of one) will greet you with a smile and a wholehearted attempt to help you in the voting process. Ahh- but I digress.

After you have shown your ID and been verified and declared your party choice in the primary election, you will sign the appropriate book while the clerk writes your name in the corresponding book on the corresponding line that will be turned in to the board of registrars at the end of the day. This will notify them that you have voted and prevent you from being placed on the inactive list after not voting in 4 election cycles. Once you are put on the inactive list, you will be allowed to vote only after you have completed an update form made available to you on Election Day. However, if you have failed to complete an update form after so long you are purged from the list and will have to re-register in order to vote. YOU CAN NOT REGISTER at the voting precinct on Election Day. You must go to your board of Registrars to do this in advance.

Sometimes in the process of signing voters in there are human errors that must be corrected and this means that you may have to wait until they have been taken care of. It happens. No one is perfect. The mistakes must be corrected before moving on to avoid bigger mistakes later. It is a process. Please be patient.

After being signed in at the Primary Election, you are issued a slip that is either blue or white indicating which ballot you will receive. The type of ballot is determined by your primary choice and by where you live in the district that you are voting in. District lines are drawn up in advance and can be confusing to voters. You may be voting in a different district than even your neighbors across the street. Again, the poll workers have no influence in this and you should address any issues you have with this with your elected officials AFTER the election.

Once you have your slip indicating your ballot style you will give it to the ballot clerks who will in turn issue you the proper ballot. Some voting precincts do not use pens and use levers instead. In Alabama, we are pretty universal and use the marking ballots. You will be given a marking pen and a privacy folder and then be directed to go into the voting area to mark your ballot. The voting “booths” are set up with dividers for your privacy.

When marking your ballot, you should be careful to only mark on the ballot where indicating your candidate or issue choice. Any stray marks or changing after marking will kick out (reject) your ballot as unreadable or overvoted. Don’t panic-it happens. Don’t be embarrassed or upset. You aren’t the first voter to have this happen to and you certainly will not be the last. Poll workers are equipped to handle it. If this happens, you will be asked to fold your ballot in half in order to ensure your voting privacy and the top corner will be torn off so that it cannot be fed into the voting machine. The “spoiled” ballot will be placed into an envelope designated as Spoiled Ballots at the ballot clerk table and a new ballot will be issued to you. At the end of the day the spoiled ballots will be turned back in along with all the other documents, unused ballots and voted ballots. While the votes on the spoiled ballots will not be counted, the number of spoiled ballots will be. ALL ballots must be accounted for at the end of the day and reconciled to the number of ballots originally received at that precinct.

Once you have completed your choices on your ballot while sitting in the privacy booths, you will then take you ballot to the voting machine. The machine will take your ballot in a designated slot with arrows. You can place your ballot in upside down, upright, or backwards and the machine will read it. It should read it anyway but sideways. The machine will make a beep and your vote will be counted. The machine will display a number but not how you voted at that time. You will then proceed to the exit where you will drop off your marking pen and privacy folder and receive an “I Voted” sticker. This sticker is given to you to designate you as a voter and to remind others to vote when they see it on you. Wear it with pride. Remember that you have just had the honor of doing something that not everyone can do.

You will exit and hopefully your experience has been a good one. At the end of the day the poll workers will make a reconciliation of all ballots with the number of voters. Tapes will be printed in that process that must be sent to various places and put in different envelopes. A printout of the results will go to the Republican Party, the Democratic Party, Independent, Libertarian, etc. A results printout will be posted on the precinct window for anyone to view. A printout will go to the news media, the Probate Judge and Sheriff and/or other designated officials. The results printout will have a tally of all the votes. Not who voted but just the results.

All the results will be taken to the proper authorities at the end of the Election Day once balanced and reconciled. Then all the machines are zeroed out, and supplies packed up to be returned to the proper places. The voting area cleaned up and put back in order. The Election Day in the history books and put to bed; ready for the next run-off or General Election.

In the General Election, the voters will be able to vote on their candidate or issue of choice without declaring parties.

Beth Chapman - Alabama Secretary of State says:

Crossover voting occurs when a voter who participated in one political party's primary election votes in the primary run-off election for an opposing political party. Alabama election law authorizes each political party to establish rules governing its primary elections (§17-16-14, Code of Alabama, 1975, as amended), including the establishment of rules as to who may vote in its runoff election

The Democratic Party has adopted a crossover voting rule that prohibits a voter from participating in its primary runoff election if the voter participated in another political party's primary election. For example, a voter who participated in the Republican Party primary may not vote in the Democratic Party's primary runoff.

The Republican Party has not adopted a crossover rule. Thus, voters who participate in either the Republican Party's or Democratic Party's primary election may legally vote in the Republican Party's primary runoff election.

Alabama Republican Party Chair Mike Hubbard says:

Right now, Alabama Republicans allow what’s called “crossover voting,” meaning anyone can vote in their runoff elections, even if they voted in the Democratic primary on June 1st. Democrats put a rule in place several years ago that prohibits that, and Republican party chair Mike Hubbard today said he thinks the Republicans should do the same before the July 13th runoff.
“I think that’s something we ought to consider,” Hubbard said Wednesday. “And I think it makes sense, I don’t know anybody who would have a problem with that. It just stands to reason if you voted in Democrat primary, then you shouldn’t be able to come over and have an influence in who the Republican nominee is.”

--------------------

However, as of June 11^th, nothing has changed and crossover voting still occurs. But more importantly, voters should take the time to investigate the issues and the candidates. Check out the voting records, the ideas, the supporters making the contributions. One vote can make the difference.

Check out some of these web sites to become informed:

http://www.lwval.org/ef/

http://www.politics1.com/al.htm

http://www.uselections.com/al/al.htm

http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/

Publish Post

EuroCross 2010 Huntsville, Alabama

2010-06-05T13:55:00.000-05:00

Today in the muggy 80 degree Alabama heat, on the hidden depths of the UAH campus back fields, the Eurocross race was run by about 200 plus people in Huntsville. A 5K and an 8K were being run. This was my first experience with the Eurocross and while I had planned to run it, at the last minute my daughter and I decided to just watch it as spectators. I am so glad we made that decision.

As we made our way through the wet grass to the starting line area, we met up with a friend who had just run the 5K portion of it. He was covered in mud, soaked to the bone, and out of breath. He recounted his run and relayed that while he was glad he did it, he thought this would be his last. Finding it to be a pretty challenging course, he thought he’d stick to the regular races. Again, glad we made the decision to just observe.

We watched the end of the 5K race and I quite enjoyed listening to other runner friends describe their runs. Afterwards, we made our way to the area of the first water crossings where the swollen water was at least thigh deep due to the downpours of the previous night. Already muddied by the 5K runners, it was very slick on the banks. This should prove to be interesting indeed.

Then it was time for the start of the 8K run. We watched from our vantage point along the side of the first water crossing as about 50 or more runners, mostly men, hit the wet grass running. Wearing their assortment of gear from Nike, Brooks, Asics, to Reebok, Adidas, New Balance and Mizuno, to Izumi's, Saucony to the Montrail and Vibram shoes to just plain bare feet they ran. Giving it their all, hooping and hollering and huffing and puffing, smiling, laughing to grimacing...Making me wonder again, "why do we do this??"

The Trail itself was a freshly mown path through fields looping around and then through 4 points of water crossings along the way, through some woods and up a very steep embankment, then looping again. Proving to be a challenging course especially for the first timer.

As with most of our races around here, the first runner to reach the water was Hirbo Hirbo. Way ahead of the rest of the pack, he easily crossed the water and was out of sight by the time the next racer reached it. As soon as the front pack made their crossings, we moved a few yards over to the next water crossing that the runners would loop back around to. As they began to make their way through many were already winded and some struggling.

All in all watching the race was very entertaining. We cheered them all on and in the end it was Hirbo winning with a time just over 30 minutes for the 8K victory.

As reported recently in the The Moulton Advertiser after winning the Jesse Owens Memorial Run in Moulton , Hirbo Hirbo, told reporter Jonathan Deal he began running as something to do when he was bored just a couple of years ago. The 23-year-old Florence resident moved to the United States from Ethiopia three years ago with no running experience. It was only by chance that Hirbo became involved in running as a sport.

“Two summers ago, I had nothing to do, so I went out and ran about a half mile,” Hirbo said. “I was sore for about three days, but I came back after that and have ran ever since.”

That statement can either inspire us or depress us…Either way, I’m just going to keep on plodding forward. One foot in front of the other until I can’t anymore. And oh yeah, I remember now why we do this...because we can... :-)

Here are some pictures that I took of the runners doing their thing…

2010 Cotton Row Run 10K

2010-06-03T10:11:00.002-05:00

Well after signing up over a month ago, the day finally arrived for the 31st running of the Mercedes Benz Cotton Row Run in Huntsville, Alabama on May 31, 2010. Some 5,240 runners had signed up for the three races, 10K, 5K & fun run and for the Fallen Officer's Memorial Walk. The weather was overcast and a big muggy and humid.

After suffering from shin splints from “Hades” in the past, we got out our Kinesio Tape the night before and applied in the appropriate places. I looked quite the bionic woman afterward. Bright blue tape up and down my leg, strategically placed to prevent the pain that I suffer after each race.

The night before, my husband whom I think believes I have lost my mind anyway, quietly cornered me urging me to at least drop down to the 5K if I was dead set on running in this race. Oh if he only knew how those same thoughts had crossed my mind more than once. But I am a stubborn woman and I had decided I was all in.

After another sleepless night before, I woke at 3 AM to prepare for the day. My usual pre-race nerves were at an all time high that morning. For some reason I just can't seem to get a handle on them. I had a lot of anxiety over the usual issues like will I be able to stay with the running pack and will I look stupid running, do I need to drink my coffee or eat something, and if so-then what? If I eat will I get the runners trots, and if I don't eat will I be able to make it on empty. What will I wear? If it rains or I run through the sprinklers will my shirt be see through? All the usual crazy things going through my mind..

Worse still, that morning I woke up with my previously broken foot hurting me. I had not run in 3 weeks. I just didn't feel at the top of my game. I was going to run in my largest race ever going farther than I ever had in a race and I was not physically prepared after not training for so long. What was I thinking?

A friend had called the day before to ask about riding together and I really considered backing out of the whole thing then. But I told myself that I had made a commitment and I was going to see this through. My daughter and I had run the course 3 weeks earlier just to be sure I could complete it. A group was meeting every weekend morning for the whole month to train. We went. It was torture. I walked/jogged and ran it slowly and not even within sight of the others, but I finished it. My daughter stayed with me as we made our way.

But today was the day. Monday, Memorial Day 2010. As my daughter and I drove to my friends house to pick him up, I truly felt sick at my stomach. It was beyond butterflies- it was an “I may need to pull over and hurl” feeling all the way there. We drove the 30 minutes it took to get there with my husband and other daughter following behind us in the pre dawn dark. In my Nike Structure shoes and my Reebok running pants and top with my blue taped legs, I was as ready as I was going to be. But definitely was questioning my sanity at that point.

We were early and got a prime parking spot. The setups were just getting underway. We had time to walk around and relax a bit before things started jumping. It helped. As the people poured in, I became calmer and “zen” like. It took effort, but I reminded myself that my goals were simple that day. Foremost it was just complete the race. Secondly I would like to not be the last person over the finish line. Thirdly, have some fun and enjoy the race. I realize this sounded like some very low goals to the diehard competitive racers, and I must admit not my usual mindset when competing. But I had to realistic. I was undertrained to expect anything more.

Once we were instructed to line up at the 7AM start time, I went to the point near the back of the pack. Then I decided to move up more to the middle of the pack as everyone tightened up the lines. As we stood in line, the officials gave us a speech about how this was a challenging course and that only those truly fit should run it. That if you weren’t there was no shame in dropping out. Great! Just what I needed to hear when I was already feeling a bit overwhelmed. Good Grief. But stubborn and determined I held my place.

Then after the pre-race ceremonies were over, we were off. A throng of thousands literally, elbow to elbow for at least the first half mile and then it started opening up as the faster runners pulled ahead of the pack.

As I ran through the streets of Huntsville with my fellow runners, the spectators cheered us on. Hundreds of people had come to cheer on their loved ones and strangers as they each worked to accomplish their own personal goals for the day. It was such a neat sight to see and made me feel so good.

As we made our way through the 6.2 miles, we would talk amongst ourselves. I met new people and heard their short stories about their experiences that day or why they were running. Some were running for their first time, some were running their 100^th time and recovering from injuries. Of course the faster runners were long gone from our area of the pack, but you felt like comrades as you ran together and chatted; happily knowing there were quite a few more runners behind us. Validating that while we might be slow, we weren’t the slowest; not that being the slowest was bad.

The topic always turned to the hill ahead; that hateful straight up hill that seemed to go on forever. I knew where it was and I knew it would take all my mettle to reach the top. Once we made it through that point, we would be half way and the rest would be relatively easy after that. As I was running I encountered four 15 year girls running their third 10K together. These girls were so funny. Ah youth… But being able to say that I was able to hang with the 15 year olds for most of the race made me feel a little better about it all. Now they may feel differently because they have to say they ran with the 50 year old. And we followed the 70 year old that beat us all…

Once we reached the bottom of the dreaded hill, someone had the theme from Rocky playing loudly to spur us on. It did inspire me to run the first quarter of it before my legs said “What you talking about woman?!!” NO WAY! So I walked the rest of the way up; at one point almost crawling it as my nose came closer and closer to the asphalt. When your car actually has to strain to get up a hill, you know its steep.

However, once I reached the top, the guys carrying the American Flag were there to cheer us on and congratulate us for our successes. The water station was ahead and a sprinkler was set up to run through to cool us down. Thank you Huntsville!! After that point, it was another smaller hill and then the very steep downhill descent. I turned it on as fast as I safely could. I reached the bottom to the blaring sounds of Alicia Keyes’ Empire State of Mind. Just what I needed to give me that extra push along. The people standing in their yard cheered us loudly and we all had a bit of dancing in the streets with the music as we went by. It was a priceless moment. Next, it was a shout out to some more friends who lived along the course way and some more cheering on. By then we all knew we were going to make it. It was mile 4 and only 2.2 more to go…

As I pounded out those last couple of miles, loudly breathing, trying to conserve that little bit for the sprint at the finish line, I was smiling and feeling that this is where I needed to be. Maybe that was that runners high I had kept hearing so much about. I truly loved the moment. This was the first time that I could remember actually enjoying the run itself. Before, the enjoyment always came after it was over.

That last quarter mile was priceless. The crowds cheering, the music playing, the excitement in the air; it was all good. As I crossed the finish line, my friends and family were there waiting and cheering me on. They had run good races and were feeling good too. My husband was smiling and proud of me also. The first person I saw was the smiling face of my younger daughter as she whooped and hollered for me; it was all perfect.As I sat at the base of a big elm tree I savored the moment. I had accomplished my goals. I had done IT! I may be slow, but I still did it. It was just bliss. I can’t describe it any better.

The day was a great day. The race was perfectly organized. The rain had held off. The crowds were huge. I saw no one injured or sick. It was just good fun!

Maybe –just maybe-there is still some kick left in me yet….

Granted I have been sore all over, but no shin splints. Yea Kinesio tape!

Springtime in the South

2010-05-15T22:08:00.001-05:00

Today was the epitome of what Spring in the south is like. The right of passage that begins every season for me with a trip first to Lowes to find those perfect flowers for my planters. Today it was pale pink Dahlias and Purple Lavender. I felt these would complement my aromatic Star Jasmine that was in full bloom of cascades of white blooms.

We also bought some yellow Lantana to complement some red Geraniums with a splash of Purple Heart Vine around the mailbox. The vine will bloom delicate red pinkish blooms when mature.

The front shrub bed already has a mixture of Boxwoods and Nandinas with some Azeleas and purple Loropetalum from the Southern Living Collection of landscape plantings. Also in the shrub bed is some variegated Lithrope. Also in raised planters sitting among the shrubs are some geraniums. We added some additional Purple Heart Vine.

Rounding out the bed will be some Red Knockout Roses. I think this will be a nice finish when we have it all completed.

As I trimmed my climbing roses, I clipped a few blooms to bring to the table. Tucking in a little Jasmine into the arrangement made a lovely table arrangement.

I took a few minutes to vacuum the pool and check the chemical levels for the right balance of PH and Chlorine. As I performed the repetitions of back and forth with the pool vacuum, I let my mind wander to the possibilities of what might come. The clear water looked inviting on such a hot humid afternoon. But there was work to be done still.

It was time to be off to the farm to tend to the horses and chickens. Once we arrived, the smell of the blooming privet competed with the sweet smell of honeysuckle in full bloom. A friend recently said to me of this wonderful mixture that if heaven didn’t smell this way, they weren’t sure they wanted to go there. Adding to this spectacular smell was the hint of fresh mown grass. It was almost too much for my senses to take in.

After returning home, my attention turned to my goldfish pond and some maintenance there. Simple in design but so enjoyable to loll by as the fish slowly float by. Occasionally I can spot a bullfrog. This was one of my better ideas.

Later in the evening as we were grilling steaks, the smell of the Jasmine was thick and sweet in the hot sticky air off the back patio. As I entered the house through the side door, I brushed up against the pot of Lavender and it caused a release of the most fragrant delicate aroma. I love Lavender! Later as I sat on the front porch at my little bistro table, the smell from my pot of Rosemary was the perfect ending of olfactory stimulation for the night.

Now when I lay my tired head down, I will envision the sights of the flowers I have planted and those already established, the scents still fresh and lingering in my senses. It is indeed Springtime in the South. Can’t you just hear the crickets chirping and the bullfrogs croaking…

The Push for Minimalistic Running

2010-05-15T18:23:00.000-05:00

As long as you are moving forward---Don't worry

Lately there has been a lot of talk about minimalistic running, aka running barefoot or with a special shoe that mimics bare feet. I can certainly see the appeal of this type of running for some, but as an “older runner” I can’t help but believe that my minimalistic era has come and gone.

As a child I spent more time out of shoes than in them. We lived in the country and our drive was a chirt (dirt & crushed rocks) road about a quarter of a mile from the main paved road. My grandparents lived just down the way on that same chirt road. I would trot down to and back from their house no less than 10 times a day. I developed some very tough feet from those visits.

In reflection I realized that I was a runner of the truest nature even way back then. Yes I ran some competitive events when I was in my early teens and was active throughout high school. However, the most competitive events were those that included trying to beat my older brothers racing through the fields and down the road. Again, more times than not I was without shoes. Believe me when I say those fields and that road were extremely rocky and uneven. It is a major wonder that one of those many cuts that I received didn’t turn into something really bad. I have no doubt that in these days I would have contracted staff or some other horrible disease. I ran through some pretty nasty terrain and livestock area. I waded in muddy ponds and dashed through mud puddles.

Ironically it was when I was a small child of 5 and was actually wearing shoes at the time that I almost lost my foot to a horrible tractor injury. It was such a serious injury that my foot was almost severed in the middle. One doctor simply said he couldn’t do anything for me. Thankfully, I received care from a very compassionate and skilled doctor that allowed me to have full function of that foot. While I did survive, I did so at a price. Today, I have heel spurs that flair up among other foot issues. One foot is a whole size smaller than the other. I have wide feet and some major arthritis that makes me limp like I am crippled when I first get up in the morning.

Yet I still keep moving. Running is something I plan to continue until I can’t anymore. I am blessed to be able to do as much as I do. Yes the end of the day brings aches and pain and the morning is misery until I work out the kinks. But I can’t help but think about those who wish they could walk- much less run- at any age. So I will keep my complaints to a minimum.

As far as the minimalistic push is going, I say been there -done that. I leave the minimalistic push to the young people of the running world and to those who haven’t had the pleasure of the experience. These days I embrace anything that new technology can give me to make it easier for this old woman to keep on moving forward….

Taking the Road Less Traveled

2010-05-13T10:43:00.002-05:00

Recently I read an article in Running Times Magazine about running on pavement versus running on trails. It discussed all the advantages and disadvantages of both. It was an interesting read. The thing that stuck in my mind afterward though was how this whole debate could be applied to life in general.

For example, when I run I will more often than not choose to run on pavement. It’s a smooth, even path that is tried and true. An easier road- if you will- that is familiar and one that I can get in-get out and get on with. I realize that by making this choice, I can achieve my best time, without giving it too much thought or effort.

Now on those other rarer occasions, I will choose a path through one our local green-ways that will take me off the beaten trail. Choosing to go instead through the woods, up and down the steep hills, over the rocky terrain, going by and over the water. By making this choice, I must slow my pace and choose my steps carefully or risk face-planting a root. Sometimes even stumbling to my knees in the process. But when that happens, I just take a moment, pull myself up, brush myself off and get moving again. Running this path forces me to focus on the here and now instead of slapping that one foot in front of another scenario.

Can’t we equate life with this parallel? By making the easy choices (pavement) aren’t we literally taking the easy road? By taking this route we are missing out on some really incredible chance encounters.

When I choose the road less traveled is when I am truly at my best. Maybe not my best time, but most definitely my best and happier inner self. I work harder but the rewards are much bigger than any personal record on the pavement. If I hadn’t taken the “off road” experience some the most glorious views would have been missed. I would have missed nature at its most preserved state. Mostly I would not have had the opportunity to realize what motivates me to run, or jog, or hike in the first place.

Each of us has that own personal relationship between ourselves and our inner peace. Each of us knows what motivates us to want to become closer to understanding it and achieving it. For me, it is about the desire to be healthier and live longer as a healthier person; to cope with the daily annoyances without becoming postal. To strive to be the best that I can be.

That’s not to say that there isn’t a place and time for the tried and true road. Sometimes that familiar “rote” run on pavement is what I need; mindlessly running in my Brooks Adrenaline shoes can do wonders when I need to not think about anything. But by taking the occasional detour on the “off-road” trail, we literally stop and smell the roses. And to me that is very much time I have well spent!

So my advice to everyone is to go a little crazy. Have some fun. Spice it up and every now and then take the road less traveled. Try going off-road. You may be pleasantly surprised. How you choose to apply this to your daily life is completely up to you…

Training for the Cotton Row Run 10K

2010-05-10T14:19:00.002-05:00

This week I have begun training for my first 10K. Even though I have run more than the standard 5K in my weekly runs, I usually have some resting time in between and I am not racing against a time clock and other runners. So this week in preparation for the 10K at the end of this month, I ran the course with my daughter.

The Cotton Row Run is a fairly flat course for the first mile or so but then it begins to rise into a rather steep elevation halfway through the course. The grade at the highest point is quite steep. After that steep climb you have one smaller hill heading towards Monte Sano Mountain before it turns and heads back down a sharp descent for about a mile down Bankhead Parkway. Once that descent levels off then it is back to a level course into town until the finish line back on the corner of Clinton Avenue and Monroe Street. You will pass Maple Hill Cemetery and weave through some lovely neighborhoods along the way.

For our “trial” run, we joined a group of twenty or so other runners that were also training, led by a delightful woman representing Fleet Feet Sports. Sporting my new Brooks Adrenaline shoes and my new Reebok top, I was ready to go.

I had already decided before we arrived that morning that I had a couple of goals for the day. First was to finish the course under the required cut off time. Secondly, not to try and set any records, just to enjoy the run and see if I could do it without killing myself. I knew I would be at the back of the pack and was okay with that for this trial run. Mostly I just wanted to be sure I had the stamina to finish.

With my trusty water bottle in hand, we began downtown near the Von Braun Civic Center and then proceeded down Church Street to Lowe and onward. As the other runners took off at the speed of light, I found myself struggling from the start. As they all passed me, I was surprised that it didn’t bother me more. I didn’t have any pressure on me to do anything more than finish. It was a beautiful cool morning and the traffic was light. So when I needed to walk-I walked. Once I felt ready then I ran again.

As the rest of the pack moved further away I just kept going. My resolve to enjoy and not be bothered by being left in the dust was waning. I was becoming frustrated and my stupid water bottle kept leaking. What was I doing thinking I could do this? I was still struggling with 5K’s and now I thought I could tackle a 10K?.. Stupid, stupid, stupid!

Finding myself all alone, I reached a curve in the road bordered by a hedge row feeling a little dejected and sorry for myself. Happily, as I reached the other side of the hedge row was my daughter standing patiently waiting for me. “Hey Mom. How are you making it?” she asked. So sweet that one. “Not so well I’m afraid…” I replied. “Well then I will just run with you.” she said. I protested but she insisted. Knowing she had no trouble finishing the course she said she wanted to stick with me. Probably worried I would have a heart attack. So together we trudged on with her encouraging, cajoling and sometimes ordering me along. Suck it up woman-you can do this!

About the time we reached the bottom of the highest elevation hill at about 3 ½ miles, we heard some horrific sounding screaming coming from further down the road. It appeared that some loose larger dogs had attacked a smaller dog that a woman was walking on leash. It was horrible to hear and we considered seeing if there was anything we could do, but some men had come to her aid and we decided to keep going. The dogs had run the opposite direction, but we warned some people we passed who were in their yard with their dog to be vigilant.

As we started up the hill with that hateful elevation, I really had to dig deep to make it up to the top, walking (almost crawling) pretty much the whole thing (of course). We were both quite winded once we reached the top and I was out of water thanks to that dumb leaky water bottle. Gasping, exhausted and wondering if I was going to make it, another surprise awaited me.

Thankfully at the very tip top of the hill was the sweetest, most angelic little girl standing there with a cup of cold lemonade for me. She and her brother and her young parents had graciously volunteered to hand out drinks and had waited on me to get there. She looked to be about 5 years old and bless her soul was so precious. That was the best tasting lemonade I have ever tasted. The parents encouraged me and told me it was all downhill from there. I felt that I would be able to continue after that.

After leveling off and then climbing another small grade, the road quickly did a switchback and it was a rapid descent. My daughter told me I looked like a crazy out of control hobbit running down that hill, flailing my arms for balance. I just laughed and kept going. I didn’t care; I was actually enjoying myself at that point, knowing I was over the halfway mark.

At the bottom of the hill we were back in a neighborhood and zigzaged around until we reached the busy intersection of Pratt and Gallatin and then proceeded through downtown again. Heading back towards the Civic Center, I was never so glad to see the finish line.

I had done it!! Granted I am not sure I would have persevered without my daughter by my side on that initial run, but now I know I can do it. My goals for the day were accomplished and knowing what I face, I feel confident that I can improve my time and not be too embarrassed when I run (hobbit looking or not)...

As one of the more experienced runners told me the other day when I was complaining about my poor performance as a new runner, “At least you are out there doing it!” I say “Thank you!” I needed to hear that. Thank you for once again reinforcing my feelings that runners are some of the most optimistic, encouraging people I have ever met. So to all you old runners, new runners, and any in between- I want you to know, it really does matter when you pass along a kind word to your fellow runners. Please remember that…it might just make the difference between someone continuing this sport or giving up.

Mother Nature at Work

2010-05-03T11:02:00.000-05:00

Today I just want to share some beauty…After the rain and floods through the weekend; I felt we could use some signs that there is more than this to Spring…

So lets take a moment to savor the finer things in life....

Harley's Story

2010-05-02T11:27:00.003-05:00

Recently, when I was returning home from our farm, I found myself in a dilemma. I was traveling a road that I traveled everyday to check on our horses and chickens that lived about 15 miles from our main home. Not too many cars traveled this route during that time of the day as it was off the main road. There were a few houses on this road, but not many to speak of.

As I came around the curve at the bottom of a hill on this narrow country road, I slammed on my brakes. Sitting in the middle of the road, clearly terrified, was a puppy so young it was barely old enough to walk. My first instinct was to get this puppy out of the road before a car came barreling over the hill and squashed it. While, as I said, the road wasn’t a heavily traveled road, cars did still come by and the danger was clearly present. The poor little thing didn’t know what to do. It didn’t try to scamper away. It just looked miserably at me with the biggest, sweetest big brown eyes I’d ever seen. I scooped him up and moved back to the car. He was the softest, most cuddly creature I’d ever met. He was so small that he fit in my two palms.

Once inside I scanned the area to see if Mother dog was anywhere about. No other dogs were seen. No other cars. No one around. I did a quick visual to be sure he wasn’t obviously injured. I decided that I would start by going to the nearest house and see if this was their pup. First house I went to the sweet elderly lady told me that she didn’t know anything about the pup. The second house, the same. The third house, no one was home, so I left my name and number. Those were the only houses for a mile. This pup was way too small to walk that far, much less more than that. When I heard back from the third house, the news was the same-not theirs and they knew nothing about it, nor did they want to.

I mean what was I supposed to do? The temps were supposed to drop into the lower 20’s that night. He was alone in a road. He would either die from an auto, coyotes or cold. I would not have been able to lay my head down at night if I had left him there; even though my own words to my daughters echoed in my head “Girls, You can’t save them all”.

I had resigned myself to the fact that this pup would have to go to the pound. I had 4 dogs already and could not take on another rescue. One of my daughters works at a Veterinarian Clinic so I took it to her to check it for injuries. The Vet examined it ($$) and said it looked to be only about 5 weeks old. Too young to even be weaned. It was also determined that the little fur ball looked to be a Saint Bernard puppy. Oh Geez! Otherwise healthy, I took it home to try and find its owner over the weekend before we took it to the no kill shelter in town.

I made up flyers with photos ($$) and posted them at the local grocery stores, drug stores, banks, the library, corner market, everywhere I could think that someone might see it. I called people I knew in the area asking if they knew who it might belong to. No one claimed him. One weekend turned into a week before I knew it.

In that week, I absolutely fell in love with that little poot-head. He was the most adorable puppy I have ever seen before (or since). His personality is just a melt your heart, can’t believe how cute, how precious and sweet kind of thing… (aka SUCKER!!!) Of course everyone in my house fell in love with him. His antics are as entertaining as they get. All he has to do is look at you with those big brown eyes and you melt.

Soon a week turned into a month and this precious little stinker had firmly planted himself into our household. He was smaller than our Chihuahua when he first came. But by the months end, he was the same size. We already have a Lab, a Coon-Dog mix, a Chihuahua, and a Chi-Terrier mix. So I simply cannot believe I have yet another dog in my house. Is this what hoarding feels like? And before you send the ASPCA over to my house, let me clarify. Originally the plan was that a friend was going to take him once he had completed his shots series. The weather was still quite cold and unsettled and this friend wasn’t set up for a puppy. But that plan fell by the wayside and Harley, as he has been named (among other things) is now a member of our home. Luckily my daughter works for a Vet and my other daughter is going to college to be a Vet. We have a farm that provides plenty of room to exercise and play. But g-whiz! Sometimes it is overwhelming…

Everywhere we go with Harley, he is ooo-ed and ahh-ed over. He is just that sweet and cute. He never meets a stranger and has this annoying habit of wanting to follow anyone and everyone else. He wants to investigate everything. He is still easily frightened and hides behind my leg if he is unsure about something. He reminds me of a year old toddler. Everyone wants to pet him and thankfully he is very social and friendly. I only heard him bark for the first time recently and that was a playful bark. We joke that he looks like George Washington when he puts his ears back. When he is nervous or alert, his hair lies down on the top of his head and he looks like a balding man. His baths were quite a struggle at first, but are getting better now. He must be dried with a hair dryer and he wants to play tuck and run the whole time. Afterwards he loves his ritual of laying half in my lap as I “pick out his afro” after every bath. He lays there sucking on his “blankie” (aka a rag) the whole time….This takes a long time. And he is a pro at getting dirty, especially with all his slobber.

Every animal in my house is a rescue animal. Each has their own heartbreaking story to tell. I will give each one their own page to tell their story. But we have decided that Harley (aka Bulldozer) must have been dumped that day. Not an uncommon practice in that area. Some cruel hearted fools will either shoot them or put them in a sack with rocks and throw them into the river. I can remember meeting a car that day as I entered that road. Could it have been the “dumpers”? If so, Harley will never know how lucky he was that day that I just happened to be there at that exact time. It was obvious that he was disoriented and petrified. His inaction to do anything more than crouch lower into the road would have doomed him to certain death if a car had come over the hill. But it didn’t, he didn’t and I didn’t….so all is well for Mr. Harley D.. But shame on whomever allowed this poor dog to be out in those elements, becoming a victim of circumstances and uncertainty…

Once weighing a mere 5 pounds, Harley has gained on average three pounds a week, He now weighs almost 60 pounds, just a few months later! And is still growing!! But he is worth it all. He loves us with all his heart and we love him. He actually acts grateful..He has fit in with the others seamlessly. His favorite is our Lab, who seems to enjoy him almost as much. Our Chihuahua and he play nonstop; which is so comical to watch. Our Coon Dog not so much but tolerates him. Our older Chi Terrier won’t allow him to be too rambunctious around him but it all works.

So, we shall see what the future holds for our sweet Harley. His slimy drool slobber and all, his huge muddy paw prints aside, and his need to snuggle at the most inopportune times notwithstanding, he is a pretty neat companion. Next week he may not feel so loveable though because it includes a hospital visit for neutering….No more puppies!!!

Harleys Youtube video as pup

Run Through The Roses 10K

2010-05-01T14:47:00.001-05:00

Today the “Run Through The Roses” 10K was run in Madison Alabama. Over 500 runners registered to run. On the morning of the run, participants were sporting everything from Nike’s to Asics to Brooks to Reebok’s to Saucony’s running shoes and everything in between. Every array of athletic wear was worn on the backs of the elite to the weekend warrior to the first timers. The weather was tempestuous at best, with tornado weather moving towards us from the west. However, spirits were high and the nervous excitement was contagious to all those around.

The race was presented by Eagle Rehab Services and sponsored in part by Fleet Feet Sports and Dominoes Pizza, among others. Proceeds of this year's Race and Celebration will go towards a Children’s Living Library to be built at the City of Madison, AL Public Library. This garden will be located in the front of the Madison Public Library. It will feature areas such as a life-size Scrabble game with benches that look like the tile-holders, a vegetable garden, butterfly habitat, mini-amphitheatre, and will include lesson plans that incorporate children's literature as well as environmental lessons. The wonderful thing about the Children’s Living Library is that admission is free, and it will be available to each and every child. Knowing that our race fees go to such worthy projects only adds to the satisfaction that our money is well spent.

The course itself, all 6.2 miles, went through the streets in Madison, starting at Bob Jones High School and would wind around making a huge loop through closed streets, ending up back at the school. Not the easiest of courses, with the last mile and a half featuring a hill from “Hades” that seemed to stretch into the clouds before it descended rapidly into the direction of the finish line. This was the defining stretch for many, often bringing the unaware to a complete standstill as they awed at the feat ahead. It is in this stretch that would test the mettle of the determined and rob you of precious time on the clock. At least it seemed this way for most, with a notable exception of Josh Whitehead who finished in 33 minutes and some seconds. Very impressive finish indeed. The last runner sprinted to the finish with 45 seconds left until the two hour cutoff point. It proved to be a very well organized event with excellent traffic control as well.

This was the City of Madison’s first annual Run Through the Roses 10K Celebration. It is a USATF sanctioned event. The route highlighted Madison's signature plant, the Radrazz Knockout Rose. A good place to try and improve your personal best, but not an easy one to achieve this on.

The usual gang of participants were there. Some surprised themselves at how well they did, and others felt they should have done better. Pretty much the norm for these events. I believe in our hearts we all dream that we run like a Kenyan.

The evening following the race will is slated to continue the celebration also. There will be live music and an auction Kentucky Derby style. The ladies need to find those derby hats.

All in all, this is an event that I believe will only grow in popularity and will have continued success! Kudos to all… As usual, this is the most supportive, optimistic and positive group of people that I have ever had the pleasure to meet!

Fleet Feet Sports Store

2010-04-30T11:52:00.000-05:00

Once I decided to commit myself to the sport of running, (and please believe me, it was not a decision that I came to easily), I was informed that a proper running shoe was in order. Knowing that not ever foot is created equal, it is important to have the proper fit. A local sports store is the perfect place to get that shoe. Fleet Feet Sports store is a specialty store that can help anyone and everyone decided what is best for their individual needs.

Let me state for the record, I am not affiliated, nor do I have any vested interest in Fleet Feet. I just believe in telling others when I have “discovered” something or somewhere that I like. My daughter, whom had taken up the sport, had heard about this place from friends and touted its benefits. So I agreed to make the trek with her to check it out even though it wasn’t exactly close to us. Always up for an adventure we headed over the mountain to Jones Valley in Huntsville. It was a surprisingly small store in a new strip mall location among the scenic vista that is Jones Valley.

Once inside, the staff was super friendly and helpful. Bustling with customers trying on shoes and checking out sports apparel, we blended in to see what all the fuss was about. It was on this first visit that we met a sales clerk named Matt. Little did we know that Matt would become our go-to guy all future questions about shoes and local races.

I am convinced that Matt has a photographic memory because he remembers everyone and everything. He remembers the shoes we wear and the socks we bought. The races we’ve run and the times we’ve been there. No matter what the time span is between visits! He is amazing. Friendly, helpful and smart all rolled into one package. A shoppers dream!

The first thing he did was have us run/walk a short distance on a treadmill in the shoe area. He was able to record our feet as we took steps to check for our foot stride and strike patterns. This helped him determine any special needs that we had when choosing the proper running shoes. Of course he questioned us about our goals and distances, etc to determine first what type of shoe we needed; ie: running, tennis, walking, cross training, etc.

After trying on several pairs of shoes and getting encouragement from the sales staff there, we selected our shoes. I chose a pair of Nike Structure and she chose a pair of Brooks Glycerin. We both have been satisfied with these selections, though at this time after logging many miles I have found that my Structures are beginning to fray in areas and it is time for a new pair. I have been getting shin splints recently and think I need more support in my shoes.

My daughter has logged many more miles than I have and she is about to buy a new pair of shoes as well. As her shoe has aged (100 miles +) she is complaining that they no longer give her the support she needs. One other complaint that she had with this shoe is since she has been blessed with long toes, she has too much space in the front of the shoe. An orthotic support has helped this problem but she feels its time for a new shoe.

Fleet Feet carries over ten major brands of footwear. We have found running apparel in the newest styles that we haven’t found anywhere else. The prices are reasonable and sometimes less than other places (and sometimes more). They don’t have a huge inventory, but it is ample. They also carry all types of running accessories from watches to sunglasses to GU supplements to monitors. They also carry swimwear items and accessories as well.

What is so neat is that if you can’t find what you want there, there is a Dicks Sporting Goods next door.

Lynchburg Oak Barrel Half Marathon

2010-04-30T11:50:00.003-05:00

On April 3^rd the Lynchburg Oak Barrel Half Marathon was run. The course started on the Lynchburg square and went through the beautiful countryside of Moore County Tennessee. The run finished at the Jack Daniels Visitor Center where Jack Daniels hosted the post race festivities.

While I didn’t personally run this event, my daughter and some friends did. For some of them it was their first half marathon. For those who don’t know what a half marathon is let me explain. It is running for 13.1 miles! A marathon is twice that far. I struggle to run 3.1 miles so running thirteen miles is a bit overwhelming to think about.

A couple of days before the race, we drove up to Lynchburg to pick up the race packet and check out the course. But before we arrived in Lynchburg, we decided to make a few stops along the way.

A quick trip to Fleet Feet Sports store in Jones Valley area of Huntsville, Alabama to look for some athletic gear was first on the agenda. Because you know it’s all about how you look when you are running for us gals. The better you look-the faster you run…This is a scientific fact. This is also a very valuable lesson for all you new runners out there, so file that in your must have file…

For those of you not familiar with Fleet Feet Sports store, we’ll let me tell you, these guys and gals are awesome. See my blog about my experience with them. They will put you in the right shoe to help you be the best “athlete” you can be.

Then it was back over the mountain for some retail therapy at the Parkway Mall in south Huntsville. We still had some additional shopping to do. My daughter had an Easter event to go to that weekend and “needed” a new dress. Never mind that her closet is overflowing with clothes.

Of course by then it was lunch time and a stop at Panera Bread was a must. A chicken Caesar sandwich and some black bean soup. Yummy! We dined on the patio in the warmth of a spring sun. It was heavenly.

Finally we were ready to make our way through the hills to Lynchburg. The weather was nice and pleasant and the drive enjoyable. Beautiful country vistas along the way once we were able to make our way out of the crowded streets of Huntsville. You are just kind of driving along and then you come upon this quaint little town that has a town square filled with neat shops. Old southern homes surround the area and everything is centered around the Jack Daniels Distillery industry. It is very clean and well maintained area with some really nice and friendly people.

While the town itself sits on a flat area, it is surrounded by some rather steep hills and somewhat mountainous roads. As we were driving in we were getting antsy about seeing where the course route was going to take us. As soon as we arrived in town we stopped at the Jack Daniels Distillery to pick up the race packet. The crowds were already pouring in by then and it was still two days until the race.

The organizers had the pickup booth set up on the porch of the Distillery and things went very smoothly. They were very helpful and answered all of our questions. The shirt was neat and there were lots of goodies in the race packet. Most importantly, the course map was in there and we were able to plan the drive to see the elevations.

The course itself was not too horrible. But there were some steep hills along the way, with one in particular that looked very daunting. Nicknamed whiskey hill it was a major switchback that pretty much had everyone walking it. It was definitely the hill that separated the pros from the newbies.

After driving the course, my daughter had some time to mull it all over. At least then she knew what she was facing. Luckily we had been training on some hills that were comparable and felt it was a doable course.

The morning of the race it was drizzling rain as we drove through the 4 AM dark roads. Having taken a different route there, I had to drive through some winding unfamiliar roads in the fog. Once we arrived safely, thank goodness, the crowds were gathering and we were super lucky to get a prime parking spot in the area designated just off the town square. The rain went from drizzly to hard rain while we waited for the race start.

The tension and excitement in the area was palpable. Nerves were on edge and everyone seemed ready for the start. There were almost 700 runners ready to race the streets of Lynchburg. As I waited on the sidewalk out of the rain, I envied those out there in the rain. I wanted to be a part of it but knew I wasn’t ready.

Once the race started, they were off into the rain and over the hills, through the valleys and back to the Jack Daniels Distillery for the finish. As the race had progressed, the rain had become torrential at times but no one seemed to mind. It actually cooled things off. The biggest complaint that I heard was that it made their shoes feel like weights on their feet as they ran.

When it was all over, the first runner, a 33 year old man from Georgia, had completed the course at a time of 1:17:00. Six hundred and eight four racers later, a 46 year old man from Nashville had finished the race with a time of 3:49:38. There were young people to old people and everything in between people running. There were marriage proposals and breakups. There were people running together as teams and individuals running to represent struggles overcome. There were cancer survivors and handicapped runners. There were those running for the first time and those running their hundredth run. It was an awe inspiring event. They all came together to achieve some inner goal and accomplishment all the while cheering on their fellow runner until the last man crossed the finish line. I love this atmosphere!

The medals received at the finish line were heavy and impressive. Just like the feeling in the hearts of every runner who had entered that last leg of the race to the cheering crowds and crossed that line at the finish….

Spring has arrived

2010-04-29T09:22:00.001-05:00

As Spring has approached, the days have gotten longer and warmer. Lately though it seems every weekend has been filled with rain and storms. Yes, I realize that is the ultimate “definition” of spring time. But it still aggravates when we are planning some outdoor activities. So today’s blog will be about brighter days ahead.

When I see natures’ beauty I feel compelled to capture it for posterity. When visiting the Botanical Gardens recently we were able to capture some truly beautiful nature shots.

I believe that the real sign that it is truly springtime is by observing the animals that live so closely to the subtle changes that occur way earlier than we humans can feel or see.

Seeing the sheer exuberance that our horses flaunt as they thunder through the fields as the new grass sprouts up from winter worn fields makes me smile.

Watching the mothers tend their babies as they explore their new surroundings is priceless and evokes memories of my own “babies” first steps.

The new baby chicks that are so cuddly and soft can still make me act like a kid.

Even the wildlife that have emerged have their sights set on new beginnings.

We are so blessed to experience Mother Nature’s bounty.

So as we wait for the stable days ahead, let us relish this time of the renewal of spirit.

Soon we will be enjoying the lazy, hazy days of summer.

Scout- A Mastermind of Games

2010-04-28T18:23:00.000-05:00

As childhoods go, mine wasn’t what I would call always idyllic. But the brightest spot in my life at that time were my grandparents. I was very fortunate to live literally only a stone’s throw from them. So I would spend many hours at their modest home.

Living in the country afforded me opportunities to commune with nature and learn to love all things farm-like; whether that be animal, vegetable or mineral. I grew up with assorted varieties of chickens, turkey, guinea fowl and even a few neighboring peacocks. There was always a plethora of dogs and cats. Any number of interesting wildlife creatures could be encountered from opossums, fox, squirrel, skunks and the other usual suspects. We had cows, goats, and to our greatest joy, a Shetland pony named Scout aka Skalt. As with all my subsequent pets, Scout had a little story of how he came to be a part of our lives.

My dear grandmother would often lay a sheet over her unfolded laundry on the bed to keep it clean until she got time to fold it. With four rambunctious grandchildren ranging from ages five to eleven crawling over everything, it would seem a necessary chore. As the youngest at the time, I was probably the peskiest. I had an older sister and two older brothers.

I was about five years old and I can remember coming into my grandparent’s house one morning as was usual looking for something sweet to eat. Grandmother was cleaning up in the kitchen and I was left to my own devices of “rambling”. I can remember going into the back bedroom and seeing the sheet covering what I thought was laundry on the bed. But this time the sheet was lumpier than usual. It looked and felt like it was covering shoes. Knowing how grandmother never allowed shoes on her bed, naturally I was fascinated and had to investigate even more.

Slowly I lifted the sheet and saw some weird leather and wood protrusion. I didn’t understand. So I lifted the rest of the sheet and saw what I would later come to know as a saddle. Mind you, at the age of five I had never seen a saddle before. Even to this day I can remember that intoxicating earthy aroma of horse and leather.

Immediately I ran into the kitchen to demand answers. Grandmother was somewhat peeved at me because the saddle was supposed to be a surprise for later. Still not grasping the implications of what a saddle meant, I was excited, but didn’t really know why. Grandmother just smiled and explained. I listened mesmerized as my grandmother told of how our sweet Granddad had secretly bought a pony for us four grandchildren. However I wasn’t supposed to know yet and couldn’t tell the others.

Now in the mind of a five year old (and plenty of fifty years olds as well I suspect), this was a secret of huge proportions. A secret much, much too juicy to keep quiet about. So Grandmother decided to keep me close until Granddad got home so I wouldn’t have the opportunity to spill the beans and ruin the surprise for the others.

When Granddad did finally get home after what seemed like an eternity, they called us all together. He uncovered the saddle for the others to see and their faces were stunned shock at first and then astonished joy. I looked like the Cheshire Cat straight out of Alice in Wonderland because for the first time I actually knew something before my older siblings.

Then he took us up to the barn on the hill for us to see our new addition to menagerie already there. In a small stall stood the most beautiful creature imaginable. A magical mythical unicorn couldn’t have elicited more love from me than that magnificent pony that stood before us. Black and white and small in stature, he looked at me (because at that moment in my mind, it was just the two of us) instantly bonding and foreseeing a future filled with exciting adventures together. I am sure that my siblings had their own similar imaginations and memories as well. Little did I know that while the future was full of adventures together, most were centered on how the heck Scout was going to get us off his back the fastest way possible…

The next months on old Scout were probably the most miserable that poor pony would ever experience in his life. All he wanted to do was live his life in peace nibbling on grass and some occasional hay flake. All we ever wanted to do was ride, ride, ride. Often all four of us would climb on his back at once. It was no wonder that every tree, bush, low limb, or tree would be his best friend; it was a certainty that we weren’t. If nothing could be found to “rub” us off, then ole Scout would just lie down and proceed to roll over us if we weren’t fast enough to move out of the way.

I harbor no ill will or hard feelings toward this old friend. He had to be miserable and probably hurting most of the time. But he gave us so much joy even when we were in harm’s way and just didn’t know it. The memories of running through the fields trying to catch him as he ran from us; the fun of playing “dodge the hoofs” as he tried to kick us into submission. His favorites had to be “roll the kids” or “bite the arm” because he was a master both. Oh the joys we had. The oblivious danger….

Eventually Grandmother lost patience and Granddad had to give him away. By then we were older and had become savvier at maneuvering old Scout. But I still find it highly amusing that the final straw wasn’t that Scout had nearly killed every one of her grandchildren, but rather it was the fact that while attempting to dismount one of us, he killed her favorite flowering shrub. I still chuckle over that one to this day. The image of her taking a switch and flogging that impervious and impertinent pony with a fury that was rarely seen in my grandmother was priceless and not one that I would have ever wanted to experience for myself.

Another memory that will always stay with me is of when Scout decided to follow the goat up the loading shoot of the barn and upward to the roof of the barn. I won't ever forget waking up to the sight of one spotted Shetland pony standing beside a white goat on top of the barn. He stayed there for 2 days before he figured out how to get down...

While we probably suffered equally with Scout the indignities of owning a equestrian pal without the proper knowledge of just what that entailed, it set the stage for a future that I hope will always include hoofed compadres.

The lessons learned from that ill fated adventure were brought full circle when as an adult I was able to buy our first horse for my then thirteen year old “horse crazy” daughter. Perhaps subconsciously I had fostered that love with my own fond memories of Scout. I had pestered my husband for years that I wanted a horse, but he just scoffed at the absurdity of it. Then later when it became the “popular” thing to own among his friends, he reconsidered. Whatever the reason, I was thrilled and nervous when it all came together.

That same dear Grandmother had died and left me her land. No longer the farm I had remembered as a child, it was more scrub land and privet fields with boggy swamps. Neglect and misuse by the tenants renting and using the land had taken its toll. My husband and I spent many hours and dollars toiling away clearing the fields and building a small barn structure using recycled materials. A younger brother helped me with the fencing of property lines. Not exactly the tautest or straightest fences, but they sufficed. It was hard and laborious work during some truly brutal weather. I truly loved every single minute of it.

I felt that I was building more than a farm. I was building character and a future hopefully filled with happy family moments. Scout was long gone by then but the memories of our time together spurred the longing of a simpler time that I wanted my daughter to have the opportunity to experience.

Meantime my daughter was kept in the dark and we were able to surprise her on her thirteenth birthday with a thirteen year old horse named Doc. She had ridden this horse numerous times at a friend’s farm. He was the perfect first horse and when we were able to buy him it was a blessing. Not cheap but well worth the investment. A beautiful gentle roan quarter horse with just enough spirit to keep things exciting but not so much that he channeled Scouts dangerousness.

As her sister rode him down from the top of the hill, she was at first puzzled. She couldn’t figure out why her sister was riding a horse at first and then she couldn’t figure out why she was riding Doc. When we started singing “Happy Birthday” she was stunned. Tears rolled down her eyes in astonishment and I knew that we had pulled off the best surprise of her life.

Doc would give us several good years before he faltered in the field after a bout with cancer. I can’t remember crying so much over the loss of a pet as I did then. But in retrospect I can look back now without falling apart and be so thankful for the joy and happiness he brought as well as the peace of mind that we had chosen the right “first” horse.

His legacy would live on when we bought or acquired new horses along the way. I know that my Granddad had the best of intentions when he bought us old Scout. However, best intentions can have tragic results. Luckily it didn’t for us but the dangers that we were placed in on a daily basis gives me shivers today. Knowing the real and certain dangers that a horse can present to unskilled or even to skilled riders should never be ignored. This can’t be emphasized enough. Horses and ponies are a lot of fun but can be very dangerous creatures if not taken seriously.

Any one even thinking of getting or riding a horse or pony should first read everything they can get their hands on before considering taking on such an venture. Visit a local stable or farm and observe the interaction first at a distance and then with the supervision of an experienced owner. Never walk behind a horse without due care. And never let young children be around a horse without supervision.

Horses can bring such joy to us and give us unconditional love. But they can also bring some pretty nasty lessons too…..

While there are hundreds of really good books out there here is a short list to get you started: Getting Your First Horse by Judith Dutson; or The Everything Horse Book by Cheryl Kimball

In future blogs I plan to list other books that we found useful and informational. I also plan include the stories of our other horses and our “rescue” pets that we have adopted. Each one has their own unique story to tell and lessons learned. Please visit often and share the life lessons and adventures with me.