Things are settling into a bit of a routine, and I think I’ve found a new running schedule that will work for me.  We’ll see how it all pans out.  For now, I’m planning to run MWFS and do my long runs on Mondays.  I don’t know how LONG my long runs will be since at this point I’m not registered for another race, but I’m guessing I’ll probably just do 6 miles or so.  Maybe every once in awhile I’ll build up to 10 again.  *shrugs*  I’ll just take it as it comes I think.  :-)

This morning, I ran about 2 miles and it was COLD!  About 50 degrees, actually.  It was a welcomed change from the summer heat and humidity I’m used to, but I think I’m going to need to figure out a new shirt to wear or something.  The short sleeve shirt I had was okay, but 3/4 sleeve would have been better.  Overall, it was a good run.  Felt pretty good, had a good pace.  Feels good to be running again!

One crazy update, though – I’ve lost weight!  Not really on purpose, and probably not in the best way, but I’m now down to 141!  We’ll see if I stay there, I kinda doubt it.

- build a bench

- paint our house

- get our roof replace

- PICK a roof color and paint colors

- finish installing bathroom hardware

- patch the wall in our master bathroom

- paint the hideous red room

- shop down a bunch of bushes I hate

But, lots of non-house stuff has been happening that is WAY cool.  For instance, my husband went to Turkey!  How cool is that!?!  I was majorly jealous, but it was a quick work-related trip and would have been a huge sacrifice for me to go in terms of money and work.  But, he brought back fun stuff – a pillow!  Yay!  And a fancy hand painted bowl.

Cool thing number 2:  I was asked to photograph another wedding!  And with that, I am now seriously SERIOUSLY investigating starting my own business. SCARY.  I love the idea of it, and I love photography, and the more I learn about business, the more I’m actually excited about it.  But.  It’s hard to go through that much transition and change.  You have to be pretty sure.  And I’m still not at 100%.  Any words of encouragement or advise from anyone who has started something new, taken a big risk, or just understands business would be MUCH appreciated!

Cool thing number 3:  it’s fall!  And that means tomatoes and peppers and CANNING!  I need to learn to can first, though.  Ha!  Perhaps this weekend I’ll try pickles since I have about 30 cucumbers in my fridge waiting to be used…

I posted pictures on the Eat.Pray.Run portion of my blog – here’s a copy for ya!

I finally got pictures uploaded for sharing from my half marathon last weekend!  The race went pretty well.  It was much harder than I expected, and the heat tired me out pretty fast.  Thus, I walked a lot more than normal and my finishing time was NOT what I expected.  But, I finished.  And for my first race, that’s all I can really ask for!

My brother, me, and my sister before the race.  Proof that even at 5’9″, I am still the shortest in my family.

The whole group – David, Kevin, me, Carrie, and John.  David kicked some major butt in the 1/2 – he finished number 15 overall!

Carrie and her husband, John, after finishing the 5K.

My brother and I toughing it out in the last mile – I was SO tired at this point.

Finally finished – and totally ready for a nap.

Will I do it again?  Probably.  Though I will be smarter and choose a race in the fall or spring when the weather is a bit less extreme.  :-)

My brother, me, and my sister before the race.  Proof that even at 5’9″, I am still the shortest in my family.

The whole group – David, Kevin, me, Carrie, and John.  David kicked some major butt in the 1/2 – he finished number 15 overall!

Carrie and her husband, John, after finishing the 5K.

My brother and I toughing it out in the last mile – I was SO tired at this point.

Finally finished – and totally ready for a nap.

Will I do it again?  Probably.  Though I will be smarter and choose a race in the fall or spring when the weather is a bit less extreme.  :-)

Wish me luck.  I’m excited, and nervous.  I’m really hoping the weather is good

So now’s your chance!  If you have a question that you’re dying to ask or there’s a question you wrote in a comment that I never answered, write it in the comments.  Now is the time!  I’m not sure I”ll answer EVERY question, but I’m pretty open about most stuff, so ask away!

Eat

We made the mistake of baking a cake last week.  Sure, it tastes wonderful, but there’s really no reason we NEED the cake.  :)

Several special events – hosting some friends for dinner, and a wedding reception – have led to copious overeating.  Whoops.  I need to exercise more self control!

Pray

I’ve been spending a lot of time praying for patience and less stress.  For some reason, panic has set in a bit and I had a little bit of a weird instance this weekend where I had a bit of a stress induced panic attack.  NOT fun.

I’ve also been continuing to study John in preparation for the semester.  Like I said before, Jesus says some WEIRD stuff!

Run

Saturday was a total bust.  I felt awful and it was ridiculously hot.  I completely skipped my run, which means last week, I only ran twice!  It was very strange, which makes me think that maybe, just MAYBE, I’m actually becoming a runner.  Crazy to think about.

Monday was my last long run before the race – 11.3 miles.  It was super humid, but I toughed it out.  My legs were definitely a bit tired towards the end, but I was feeling pretty good still and could definitely have gone for a full 13 if I had felt like it.  Honestly though, after mile 10, I was just getting a bit bored and wanted to be done.  Since there was a threat of storms, I stayed closer to home, which towards the end meant that I was running laps around a local park.  That got old REAL fast.   My overall pace for the whole run was around 11 min/mile, which I’m okay with.  I’d love to go a tiny bit faster, but I think on race day, I’ll probably settle in to a similar pace.

Tuesday was a rest day, and today I’m supposed to go for a short run.  It’s pretty crummy outside, so we’ll see…I may just end up at the gym or doing another Turbo Jam video like last week.

In the end though, I lost the battle.  And now, we welcome “Silvia” into our home.

That’s her on the left, next to the coffee grinder named “Rocky”.  And to complete our own in-home coffee shop experience, you can see our tea kettle and the french press as well.

I have to say, they all look sleek and stylish hanging out together, don’t they?  Like they could be best buds.

I’m pretty sure with the addition of the espresso machine, my husband has an internal debate each morning – “coffee? or cappuccino?  or maybe latte?”  Lather, rinse, repeat.

Unfortunately, I get next to nothing out of the whole deal.  I’ve never liked coffee.  I tried really hard when the TV show Friends was popular and coffee shops suddenly became THE place to be in 1998 when I was in high school – but I remember gagging on my first latte and swearing I’d just swallowed arsenic-laced mud.  Coffee and me just weren’t meant to be.  Luckily I can handle the smell, but I doubt I’ll ever become a coffee drinker, much to the amazement of every overnight host whose jaw drops when they ask if I want my morning coffee and I politely explain my lack of interest.

In college, I discovered tea and chai, so at the very least I can now have a lovely homemade vanilla chai latte  But first, I have to learn how to USE the thing!

How about you?  Are you a coffee drinker?  Or maybe married to one like me and don’t quite understand the morning ritual?

And what is on your countertop?  Do you have any prized appliances that have a permanent home there? (I’m thinking a countertop tour is in order!)