That Curl can RUN!

  I'm not on FB. Scrubs is back. People are wearing wired headphones. Being outside is cool again.  Let the wind blow through my hair, I cannot believe it, I think we're about to ignite the analog fires.  Calgon take me away, this is like watching the Summer '08 Olympics. I was younger. I didn't have social media. I was unbothered by politics. Save for the 90s, those were the days.  Here we come!

 I deleted Facebook. Again. May 2018 I decided to quit Facebook. I sat in my OB/GYNs office discussing anxiety and worry and all the other issues that a mid-30s gal might face at that time. At some point I said '...and then I see all the news, real and fake on Facebook and I just get bogged down'. I had said many things before that, but to that she said 'You know you can quit Facebook if you want.' Of course I knew that. Didn't I? I had thought about it. I had considered it, maybe. Did I know I could actually do it?...... So I did. Well, I deactivated it. Same thing, no one could find me. I did have a business profile though, I kept that to manage a small public service that I provided and the page was used for scheduling and announcements. No friends. I didn't follow anyone.  For 8 years that business profile has stood alone. I no longer use it, I no longer provide my service, but I still had the page. I joined a local PSA group for road closures and ribbon cut...

 Back?  Not really. At least I don't think so. Who has time for a comeback? We all want a comeback, but how? When? And why? Of course I've had plenty of great conversations in my head (and out loud with my steering wheel) over the years but those float off into space and only the Heavens here me. No one is recording, no notes. How would I recreate those here for your enjoyment?  Sorry to tell you, I can't.  I could try to put pen to paper, if you will. here as they come up, but I'm not available that much.  Do you work full-time? Do you have family? Did you go back to college? Do you like to sleep? Me too. That leaves little time for blogging.  I did find myself reminiscing today though, on a Thursday no less. Shouldn't it be Khaki Thursday? Or TWPICK Thursday? Or even TOWPICK Thursday? It could be. It's actually TPPIOK Thursday I guess. (those pink pants instead of khaki). I can't even find a good pair of khaki pants anymore. That's a rant for another d...

Have you ever had a deja vu moment? The kind that interrupts your day? The kind that you can't shake, that you know isn't just a 'feeling', the kind that calls out memories because it's a real thing? I'm right there, in the swirling middle of one. Stuck between what I feel, what I see, and what I remember. March something-th, 2007 I sat in my car in the parking lot of a large middle school, on the phone with my older brother. I poured bits of my uncertain heart out, with hesitation, because I didn't want to sound immature, afraid, or unprepared. He responded with thoughtful assurance, a few probing questions, and the great 'follow your heart' advice. I knew. I knew then how sure I was, about how unsure I was. I knew then what my heart wanted. I knew what God wanted. Did I listen? Well, you know how these stories go. Last night I sat in the car, on the way home, with my future behind the wheel, and my uncertainty behind me, on the phone with my ...

Hello old friends, and maybe a few new friends. It's been almost a year since we last spoke. When I left you I was headed into springtime with new goals, and the same lack of motivation. Here is a recap of where I've been. April : I ran the OKC 1/2 for the second (or third?) time. I was barely trained as I had spent most of the first quarter of 2017 with a respiratory virus. Blech. It was in the low 30s, and raining, for most of the race. My time was dismal, in my opinion, (#runnerprobs), but I finished. My guy was there, cheering me on along the course, and I had some great friends brave the cold to watch me cross the finish line. Real talk, that's what is important. May : I wasn't quite finished with my YTT, but I started teaching public classes at a local health and wellness business. Since then I've taught the football team at the university, a few local gyms have asked me to step in for random yoga sessions, I've taught some classes at the new spa dow...

How long has it been since my blog really made sense? I used to post daily, with regular features, and had some nice points from time to time. Blogging takes up a lot of time, in case you weren't aware. You have to plan your posts, write down your thoughts, organize the details, type it out, add pictures (because words are NEVER enough), proof-read, agonize over the look/tone/feel of the post. Once you finally publish it, you have to resist the urge to check 152 times a day to see how many views you have. Then you have views, but no comments. You find yourself thinking "Who is reading my blog in Russia? Why did 8 people read it and have no comment? Mom, did you check my blog from both phones, the tablet, the laptop, and call Cousin Pam so she could 'view' it too? You're not helping. ....check back tomorrow though". Blogging took up so much of my time, but I loved it. Then, I fell in love with something else. Someone else. Then I got back into running, anot...

Yes, these two things are related. Really? I promise. Good luck to all the runners in the 121st Boston Marathon! I, your friendly running curl, am not there today. I did run 12 miles (in my heart) yesterday. My feet only made for 8.7. I was fighting the barfs after Easter lunch. Did you run that far? Ok, so holster your judgement. OKC Memorial Run to Remember 1/2 is only 2 weeks away! Can you believe it? I'm excited/disappointed/nervous/scared/meh about it. It will come, I will run, I will finish, I will eat. Isn't that what happy endings are all about? INSOM-NAZON!!!!! I don't know if I'll have all of the purchases here, but I've brought a few for you to look at.   I bought 2 dresses on Amazon recently. One for work, and one for Easter, then work. I'm in love with the reviews section on Amazon. Women adding pictures of themselves actually wearing the items helps SO much. Both dresses were under $30 each, fit perfect, and looked great. ...

Coffee. You know I love you, but you hurt my bladder. Introducing Four Sigmatic!!! I received a box of 10 packets of their coffee with Lion's mane in my winter 2016 Mantra box from YOGABYCANDACE . I'm never afraid to try new (weird) things, especially if they are made from an offbeat natural source. I am in the bliss. I love this stuff. Not only does it have some caffeine to pep me up, but it somehow doesn't give me the jitters. You know I got serious jitters from coffee. Body jitters and the heart jitters. (So scary) No worries here. Prepackaged, ground coffee mix infused with mushrooms. Chaga is a counter to the acidity that causes stomach issues with coffee for some people, and likely my bladder issues. Lion's mane is used in Chinese medicine for it's cognitive boosting power.I'm no doctor, but I can tell you from my experience that this is a great alternative to your regular office coffee. I've purchased 3 boxes (one in the Mantra box) and have...

What's up blogosphere? Today is khaki Thursday and I'm wearing my most responsible pair of khakis. I have to do a few interviews this afternoon to fill an open position in my office. I can't have them thinking I prefer to be barefoot in running tights! I have to look like a boring, conservative boss-lady. #bosslady Monday began the weightloss challenge that The Dude is participating in at his office. We're winging it this week with recipes from Prevention Magazines 28 day challenge. I plan to do full meal-prep this weekend. I'm excited about this. I hate feeling rushed to come up with dinner during the week, since we both have busy schedules. I don't always know if he'll make it by for dinner and I feel awful if he shows up and I didn't cook. Meal-prep to the rescue!! YTT has taken full control of my schedule, and I couldn't be happier. I have to plan my 2 community classes soon, and am working on my 1 hour children's yoga lesson plan, tryi...

Running at night can be dangerous. Heck, running in the daylight is dangerous. People with malicious intent roam the streets at all hours. Runners aren't hurting anyone. Just leave us alone!!!! As a female, I feel more likely to be followed, verbally accosted, or physically attacked, when on a run alone. I would love to run with partners, but it isn't always an option. When training for a marathon you have to get in long runs, when you can, and usually that is after work. Daylight Savings means sunsets around 5:30pm, and that is inconvenient when you work until 6pm. What is a girl to do? Don't be fooled into thinking that a pepper spray or can of mace will save you. Many times it is used against the victim. You are taken by surprise, fumble to retrieve the canister (which the attacker suspects you have on you) and then you have to hope the nozzle is pointed in the right direction. Also, if you've had it for more than a few months, the nozzle could be clogged if ...

Running news! I'm in week 3 of marathon training. Total miles for the week: 0. uh..... I kept to my schedule for weeks 1 and 2, and even ran an extra 1.31 miles on my long run last Saturday. I offset that with 1.31 waffles, 1.31 extra pieces of bacon, and 1.31 extra creamers per cup of coffee.  I have YTT this weekend, and as per usual I'm behind on practice and homework. I decided to focus on my yoga this week, and catch up on my running next week. I wish I wasn't doing this, because we had 2-3 days in the 70s, so it was great running weather. But, I built 2 extra weeks into my training in case I got off schedule. So lay off! YTT You know how most people are afraid of performing in front of strangers? I'm the opposite. I fear my loved ones so badly. I think I'm afraid that they will be more critical because they genuinely want to help me by critiquing me. I don't want that! I want you to just do what I tell you, and not tell me to be better! I spen...

Are you alive? Did you die with 2016? Is it a terrible year yet?? Get over it. 2017 is just another year. Starting the month of January isn't any different than starting the month of July (which is the best month, in case you were wondering). What IS great is that God is the same today as yesterday, and tomorrow. Unless He comes back before tomorrow...well, no, because He'll still be the same, but we won't be. (insert long pause) If you waited until January 1 to change something in your life, I want to let you know that you didn't have to wait, but since you made the change, CONGRATULATIONS! Welcome to a new perspective. You might fail, but that is ok. You will fail at some things, but you will also succeed at some things. (This is the Dude's least favorite advice from me (I think it's some of my best)) Do or do not, there is no try. As long as you stepped out in faith, stepped out on the Word, stepped up to the plate, stepped in line, stepped out of l...

Happiness to everyone! This is the last Friday of 2016. Are you happy to have this year end? Are you happy to have a new year start? I'm not upset about this past year. Sure, 2016 brought me some bad days at work. I cried over a boy; well, he's not a boy, but that is how the cliche goes. I had disagreements with friends and family. I lost my grandmother.  I had many small bad things, and a few big, bad wolves. 2016 also brought me back to my love of running. I was accepted into YTT. I made some new friends. I FINALLY took a real vacation. I met the Wranglerstars. I cried over a boy (in good ways); again, not a boy, but you know. We can spend time focusing on how "bad" this year was, but if we do that, we're just wasting the last bit of 2016 being lame. We could be making GREAT memories! End this year on a positive note!!!! Quit feeding negativity. Get off of your soapbox and be amazing. Life is what you make it, right? So go make it something you want t...

Hey. It's Khaki Thursday ya'll! Man I love this day. I doesn't matter how tired I am (I woke up at 4am to a fake noise I 'heard'), how sore I am (running....), how grumpy I am (a few days each month, or a random day, or because #existence), I always have a little smile in there somewhere because it's TODAY! 4 AM: (my magical, amazing brain) What was that? Was that the back door? (slide out of bed, retrieve shotgun, pray the intruder doesn't hear the creaky wood floors and pinpoint your location). Sneak, sneak, sneak. How can I open the door without the handle making noise? Turning it to the right opens it easier, but louder. Turning it left eventually opens it quietly, but I may be in the back of a U-Haul by then... How much time did I just waste worrying about that? Crap. OPENS DOOR! AIMS! ....nothing. Like usual. What the heck am I hearing every night that is waking me up? This is why I used to sleep with earplugs in. Yes, that is dangerous, but if y...

Hey there travelers of the blog-sphere. I've been M.I.A. for about a million minutes. Did you even notice? TRAINING  Dec 25th may have been Christmas, but on a more serious (and terrifying) note, it marked 18 weeks until the OKC Memorial Marathon. Guess who paid for the full? Guess. Yes, the winner of last year's marathon entered. Yes, the second place person probably did too. Ok, ok, guess which non-winner paid for this year? Right! ME!!! This curl is gonna run (read: bouncing ponytail) 26 point flippin' 2 miles. I've committed to a 16 week program over 18 weeks to give myself some cushion. I know I can run 3-5 miles with effort, and could probably drag my rear for 6-8 if I was promised a hug at the end. Beyond that, it's a no. So, enter training! Oh, we know how much I love (riiiight....) training plans. I made it through 4 days of the last one; and that was my longest streak. I plan to use the extra 2 weeks somewhere in the middle for repeat weeks when...

RUNNING! I'm admitting it: I can't run well on my own. There, I said it. I am terrible at pushing myself on the pavement. I like my comfortable pace, and I proudly show it. I'm not comfortable with my time or my progress. I've registered for my first full marathon. April 30th, 2017. I've paid for it, I've told people about it, I'm doing it. I have realized that I can fake my way through 13.1 miles, but I cannot fake my way through 26.2 miles. I HAVE to train. For real. Fo' realzies. How does one 'train' like an 'athlete'? Running coaches. Or, for poor people like me, free apps designed by running coaches. My issue with this has always been that I have to show up, on a regular basis, on a schedule set by someone other than myself, and do what someone else tells me to do. I'm not an entitled millennial, I'm just a stubborn, know-it-all, 30-ish woman from the South. Yeah, you get it. Ugh, running. Double ...

Hello Friends. It's been a while. I've had quite a life going on, and honestly, I have been selfishly enjoying it in privacy. It's not that I don't love you all, or that I don't want you to celebrate things with me. Sometimes it's simply good to focus on the real things around you, and step back from the digital journal world. We don't have to share everything. Heck, we don't have to share ANYTHING! ...but I like to. You'll be pleased to know that I'm finally accomplishing some goals, I'm growing in both faith and self-worth, keeping active, and being a super person! Maybe we can get reacquainted? Maybe I can crack that door open a little, and let you peek inside? Maybe we can share some triumphs, and some heartache, and a little advice, and a lot of love? I think so; how about you? So take my hand, no, my other hand, there ya go. So, take my hand as we begin to walk through this life together again! I'll brief you on some ...

I'm on day 5 of trying Native natural deodorant. Let's take a quick trip though my sweat. I sweat. A lot. I sweat from my underarms, my back, my head, my forearms, my belly button, my tush, my kneecaps, the backs of my knees, my arches, and everywhere else that is covered in skin. I glisten, I glow, I gleam, I gush. I've used Dove, Secret, Degree, Suave. Regular, sensitive, clinical, prescription. Roll on, spray on, rub on. Clear, solid, opaque, glittered, gel, liquid, and unicorn paste. Nothing impedes it, it just keeps it from making people pass out when they get a whiff. "My, that river running down your spine sure smells fresh." Over the last year my concern has shifted from slowing the flowing to focusing on what's getting absorbed, and the long term effects. Recently I saw a study completed on natural antiperspirants and women. The top pick was Native. I've never heard of that and I live in Oklahoma. Everything is 'native' he...

Ugh......... how many days are there in a work week? Between setting fires with my mind at work, and my inability to sleep again, the past few weeks have worn on me. God help me, because I can't seem to help myself. _______________________________________________________________________ Mat Rat I've been back on my mat this year. I'm hoping to attend YTT in October so I'm focusing on my practice. Yoga is weird. I want to do it all day while I'm at the office, but early in the morning, and late in the evening I struggle to find the drive to get down and get yogi. I'm currently working on toe taps thanks to my Ab'Asanas e-book from Morgan over at the_southern_yogi (check her out on insta!) I'm also working on crow pose. I am dying to get deep into inversions but I need to learn good balance first. Check out my video clip on Instagram here where I didn't do so well a few nights ago. Meh, you gotta laugh at yourself.   Did I ever show yo...