Pepper Paints

The OCD Of My Running

Seven months ago I started running. I started from scratch. I was NEVER a runner. I could barely run for 30 seconds straight with out feeling like I was going to die from lack of oxygen. Really, I am not exaggerating.  I hated running. I never understood my husband and his family’s running for enjoyment.  But I was feeling extra large and decided to join some friends in a May, 5K goal.  I followed a couch to 5K podcast program and it was HARD.

I didn’t know that it would get easier, that my lungs would get stronger and I would not be gasping for air  three steps in to a 30 second run, that I would not over heat or explode,that I would not die of thirst or be stranded on the trail and not able to hobble home.  No one told me that it wouldn’t always be sooo hard. That I would find my breath and my rhythm.  Well-they did but I didn’t believe them. I was SURE that maybe everybody else could run…but not me. I hated the jiggly, heavy, tromping way my body felt when I  my feet hit the ground.  I was just not made or built to run. You see, I am not skinny. And I equated running with skinny people.

I was thin once in my life for about six or eight months. So thin in fact I shopped in the children’s department.  But that was a long time ago.  ( I am just over 5 feet tall so it’s not that far of a stretch to be in a small size) When my daily routine consisted of smoking, coffee, smoking, walking and eating salad and cereal. That was about 3 children and 15 years ago. Now I am healthy and sturdy. I am a pillow for lounging children and someone who has trouble buckling ski boots over her ample calves. Don’t take that the wrong way. I like the way I look. Sure I wish my belly was flatter or I was a few inches taller. But all in all, I am OK with my body. (You may remember a past post where I explained my image in my head doesn’t always match the image in the mirror or a photo of myself. I feel much better about the way I think I look. Call it denial, but it works!)

Anyways, back to running-Seven months seems like yesterday. Sure there was lots of pain, I had terrible shin splints some chafing. It really was only a few weeks ago that I realized that I finally shook the little voice that told me to turn around and go back home a few hundred yards after I started. It was a struggle to keep going when I heard that voice EVERY time I ran. I always thought about quiting a few minutes into the run. And worse if I skipped a day, I was sure my body would forget and I wouldn’t be able to run. I would be back at day one once again.

Then, one day soon after that voice in my head went away, I realized I actually liked running. I even looked forward to running . I tried to challenge  myself to run further and further.  And I could do it. Amazing! My body is amazing!  I am in awe of the fact that I can actually run 5 or 6 miles on any given day now. And that I am training for a solo- half marathon. (long story)  Really it seems like only yesterday that I was running for two minutes and walking for one. If  I can accomplish this anyone can.

So here is the OCD part. What I want to know-actually I find it fascinating-what rituals or routines (or in some cases obsessive compulsive disorders)  do you follow when you run?  For example-I only run in the morning after my coffee has jump started my colon. I brush my teeth, put my hair in a pony tail and take 2 tiny sips of water and then try to pee again.  I always  carry a stick or two of gum with me in my bra and I can’t stand to wear headphones because my ears get too hot and I get tangled up in the cords. I do the same 4 quick stretches, I follow the same route 95% of the time because then I can run on auto pilot.  I never think deep thoughts. I keep it light and relaxing. Today for the first time I carried a water bottle with me and it was OK!!  I know some runners do crazy things before they hit the trial!! What do you do?

Part of me-even with all the confidence I have gained in myself, still thinks that if I don’t follow my routine or do these “things” before or while I am running-I won’t make it. I will have to turn around and walk back home. But somewhere deep inside I know better…I think.?

Candyland LIVE!

For those of you  tuning in for the headline-it’s buried at the bottom of this post. But well worth it, cause it’s a great activity. But in the mean time we did other things yesterday too. Like sledding!! Hooray for the sun!!!!!!!!

I even got in on the fun, as did Abby’s shadow!!

After all that fresh air everyone was sufficiently tired and crabby. And when dinner time rolled around and I stuck to my guns of, “I’m done cooking dinner for a complaining crowd”  that I made the night before. Even more crabbing and crying and carrying on ensued. I let the little monkeys fend for themselves so that they will eternally appreciate my hard work of listing, shopping, chopping, preparing, serving and cleaning up the meals (that I rarely eat by the way!!) that at the very least, one kid each night, moans about. Did they learn their lesson? Probably not. Will I cook for them tonight? Probobly-although my husband thinks I should hold out. But it’s really hard for me to watch them eat “inappropriate dinner food.”  Not that a few days of that is going to kill them, but it makes me crazy!! Along with the crying and carrying during their own meal prep and clean up. Maybe some good headphones would help!

Anyways-during that time I made my self a really great raw dinner and dessert. I did share my raw choc brownies with them-BAD IDEA!! The almost 1 cup of cocoa in them must of had enough caffeine to fuel a large tanker, because they were bouncing around until 10:00, even after all that sledding!! So what do you do during all that bouncing? Play Candyland LIVE!!

But instead of using those cute, little, bow tied, plastic people we used ourselves!

Even if we do have bad, winter pedicure disorder!

There are colored pieces of paper taped to the floor through out my house!

I call the colors and the players move accordingly!! And it is no where near as excruciatingly long as the board game!! Especially when I cheat!!

Look How Much Weight I Lost!!!!!!!!!!!!! (And Creepy Faces II)

Gotch ya!! Not really me, but my closet. This is embarrassing but I am going to let you look in my closet, yesterday…..

It was bad I know! But after a few hours yesterday and about an hour today, I manged to purge ALOT!

Plus a hand me down bag to a friend. At this point I must tell you that I buy 90% of our clothes second hand-and not at upscale consignment stores either. I prefer thrift stores that are packed floor to ceiling with hidden treasures. I love the thrill of the hunt! I occasionally buy things new-sometimes I splurge on really expensive things, like on the two new pairs of shoes I recently purchased, or the winter coat I bought three years ago. And sometimes I buy at Old Navy and Target. But the packed garbage bags that are headed back to the thrift store as a donation are filled with the many treasures I buy at the VOA or Salvation Army or my favorite Village Discount. For some, the great thing about shopping second hand is the savings, and I am no exception but really in the long run, because I buy so much, I probably don’t save as much as most thrift store shoppers. I posted awhile back about how I am not a simple person-and my closet confirms that story! But with some trimming of the fat…it looks a whole lot better!

I parted with lots of treasures, but one pair of old favorites will probably never leave my closet. Not on my butt nor in a donation bag. They will sit on my upper shelf, buried by things that now fit my 40 something year old figure.

Oh, if these cut offs could talk! They may utter the name, written in marker, on the inside of the front pocket, that is crossed out, to become the property of a younger brother. That younger brother would be my husband. Not long after we met in college, I claimed this pair of Sears plain pocket jean shorts. I wore them through every season. With tan legs in the summer and tights and long johns underneath them along with slouchy boots in the winter. It has been a few years since these fit me (comfortably). But they are a reminder of my youth. What once was. Something I may never part with.

I found a few strays in the mess too. I thought the combinations of these lost and found items were really funny!

On day one, I found-a ballon, a dice, a ticket stub, broken jibbet, a doll shoe, 2 hair clips, my drivers liscense I had to replace, my matching slipper covered in dog fur, an acorn top, one of Gingers old slippers (yea-the match is in the basement).

On cleaning day two, I found a headless doll, Some Kodak movies (Need to find a projector) and a pair of magic magnet rocks (Yeah! A pair).

My goal is to not bring tons of stuff back into that closet. I am going to try to be a little more thrifty!

As far as the creepy faces-well those apples are still wet. They are beginning to mold too. So into the compost bin they shall go.

My Trip Back Home To Cleveland

I now call Clintonville home, but like so many others here in Columbus, I did not grow up here.  Thanks to OSU my husband and I are transplants.  I really like it here and if given the choice we would not move back to the east side Cleveland, but a visit back to your roots  is especially gratifying when you have a small audience to help you enjoy the  highlights of your past.

First we rode The Rapid downtown…

We passed the usual looking scenes..

As well as a few new ones..

We visited The Great Lakes Science Center…

Also a new place to those that grew up in Cleveland.  We decided to share one of the best things about Cleveland with our friends; Murray Hill AKA Little Italy.

First we had the worlds best pizza at Anthony’s and then had the worlds best treats at Corbo’s.

I tried making these photos smaller-but they really deserved to be big!

Then we rolled back to our downtown hotel that overlooked Playhouse Square.

Of course there was swimming.

Monday was a day of disappointment.  First we headed to Edgewater Park for “a day at the beach.”  Never mind that I poo-pooed that beach choice the whole way there.  We NEVER went to that beach growing up.  It turned out you couldn’t use flotation devices there so we packed up and headed to my beach-in Willowick.  Well, remember how we learned about erosion back in school-my beach was a perfect example.  It is the beach of no more.  So we headed out to Mentor headlands where we all got sunburned and found lots of sea glass.  A memory-check!

Then we headed back to Shaker to eat at Best Steak (not me-just everyone else!!).  The sign said closed for a few days-but it looked much grimmer than a few days.  My poor husband was about brought to tears.  So we went across the street for the worst Chinese food in the dirtiest restraunt I have ever been in.  It didn’t help that husbands families other favorite deli, Sol’s, was gone too.  W hat were we thinking-we should have gone to Corky and Leni’s!

But now we are home and the reality of  my life here in Columbus is hitting me over the head.  I promise some crafty posts sometime soon!

1 word answers-that’s too hard

Meme with one word answers…One of anything is really hard for me!

1. Where is your cell phone?  charging
2. Your significant other? redhead
3. Your hair? too long
4. Your mother? onlyonewordcontroling
5. Your father? finis
6. Your favorite thing? vacation, beach
7. Your dream last night? gone
8. Your favorite drink? starbucks lots of creamer
9. Your dream/goal? working photographer
10. The room you’re in?  my orange dinning
11. Your church? none
12. Your fear? death, sickness, widowhood
13. Where do you want to be in 6 years? Traveling
14. Where were you last night? home
15. What you’re not? glamorous, fussy, punctual
16. Muffins? not really
17. One of your wish list items? macro lens
18. Where you grew up? clelveland-east side!!
19. The last thing you did? coffee
20. What are you wearing? shorts & T
21. Your TV? Small
22. Your pets? 1 old 1 smelly a few small all hungry
23. Your computer? loud and slow
24. Your life? full
25. Your mood? raring to go
26. Missing someone? no
27. Your car?  vw bus- sorry it’s new
28. Something you’re not wearing? I would lose in strip poker-see #20
29. Favorite store? thrift store
30. Your summer? great-wish it was never ending
31. Like(love) someone? kids, husband, dog
32. Your favorite color? green, purple, blue
33. Last time you laughed? Today
34. Last time you cried? last week
35. Who will repost this? uncertain

Found my Backbone

The unschooler in me has left the building.  At least for  few days.  I don’t make a habit of forcing my kids to do too much.  They usually have a compelling reason if I give their side consideration.  But Molly has several craft projects started ,very few finished and is signed up as a vendor for KidzArtz on Saturday.  Her cousin is in town visiting for the week and the fun is calling her away.  I was a bitch and said “No.”  I told her she needed to finish a few things this afternoon before she could go visiting.  Maybe I should let the natural consequence of disappointment be my guide.  But I decided -not this time.  I think I the consequence of follow-through and commitment are the route we will be taking this week.  Go me!

So today was a day of crafting.  Molly spent a good part of the day at the sewing machine.  They did some painting…

some dumping and cooking…

Too hot to cook…so egg salad is is on the menu…

But not for me!!  I am going OUT for free Wifi and ladies night..woohoo!

And come to think of it…I actually I used my spine 1 1/2 times in the last 24hrs.  Yesterday we found 2 kittens outside our library.  The animal lover (sucker) that I am took the babies home..just until we decided what to do with them.  I never really wanted 2 more cats!!  But of course my kids were crying and making lots of promises.  I couldn’t make a decision…so my husband came home made a few phone calls and asked me what I thought and I said, “Take them away”  I had a very upset 9 yr old girl for many hours and thought I was a horrible parent, cuz they can guilt me real easy like that!!  But not a mention was made today of those kittens-I am so glad we didn’t keep them!!-So there is my 1/2 a spine story.

Oh my-I was upgraded and now I  have no spell check…Dawn??

Patriotic Accessories

For many years now, maybe 8 or 9 , we have had a 4th of July party. We used to have a cook out and walk the mile to the park to watch our communities fireworks. Then 5 years ago we moved closer to the park and had a huge party. We literally invited everyone we knew. Each year after that we cut the list a bit shorter to save some money and allowing my husband and I the chance to actually spend time and enjoy our guests. Even with a smaller group the house still needs cleaning, food needs to be purchased and prepared and the yard needs a bit of tending to. In years past we have made 4th of July T-shirts. This year Ginger asked to make some jewelry. So I pulled out all the red, white , blue and silver beads we had….

Molly was really busy!! She plans on changing her jewels throughout the day! And finally Ginger’s “foot necklace” (ankle bracelet).