That Curl can RUN!

Hideo-ho! I was up at 5am to run 2 miles with my new running friend. She is a veteran marathoner that took some time off and is trying to get back to her old running routine. What this means for me is that I have someone that loves and understands running, AND runs at my pace now! Things I hope to get out of this: 1: Not get killed alone in the pre-dawn hours 2: Increase my pace by running with someone that trains harder than me 3: Decrease the girth of my ankles (maybe not a possibility) 4: Form a new friendship 5: Not get killed alone in the pre-dawn hours (this is very important, and very possible) We met at 5:15 and got in 2 miles. 11:04/pm pace. Very hilly route. This is the only way I'll get hills. I don't volunteer to run hills. Ever. I do run this stretch of road often because it's just part of the route I run, and let me tell ya, IT. IS. HILLY. Up and down for a straight mile. She's a hill runner. I thought I pushed it on hills. This is going to be ...

Good day to you. We are here, on Thursday, and it ain't so bad. It's still very warm here, and we've not seen rain in a while. I'm still looking forward to fall, especially since it's football season! BOOMER SOONER!!!! I can't wait for the season to start, I love football. :) __________________________________________________________________________ R4G and deer meat overload Last night I sat on the couch and ate an entire bowl of cold deer meat that I had marinated in red wine vinegar. The plan was to make something asian-inspired this week. I ended up having it as a prerun snack. R4G met for week 10 lesson, and week 11 run. I didn't get the full 5 miles in, but we did over 4 miles. Since it was 8:45pm and dark, plus I was out of water, we called it quits for the night. Super proud of all of us for grinding it out after sunset with our flashlights and glow sticks. We had 46% humidity, and probably over 90 degrees still. Drenched, sore, and tired. I...

I ran last night. I hate running. It's too hot, and my feet are too heavy. I super didn't like it at all and wanted to never do it again. I'm running tonight with the ladies from R4G. I know, I'm either a total liar or a runner. We be that way. _________________________________________________________________________  Eat After running I started to take a nap when my favorite guest showed up to check out the eats. I made an aged pork loin in the crock pot, and spinach salad, of course. I had that for lunch today as well. The crock pot really is a great invention. I have made so many things in there, and always forget how easy it is over the summer. Now that it's nearing fall, it will likely stay on my counter all season. Dips, soups, breakfast casserole, baked potatoes, roast.... What's your favorite things to make in the crock pot?                      ...

We have rain! Finally. You wouldn't think I would be happy for rain since we had the 40 days and 40 nights of rain this year, but it's super dry now. It started around 8am and all I wanted to do was crawl back in bed. I ran 3 hard miles last night in the 97degree heat. I was so depleted afterwards that I could barely stand up once I sat down. I only got up because the a/c went off, and I was sitting in front of the big vent trying to not die. Note to self: buy more pickles so you have juice. This morning we made it to the track for an hour workout. I got in 1 sweaty mile.  I didn't want to push too hard too soon. _______________________________________________________________________ Dinner? I had a bowl of Cocoa DynoBites for dinner, and then a bowl of Cocoa DynoBites for dessert. I really shouldn't be left alone, I eat like a 12yr old when I don't have to adult. We'll call that a Sad Apron meal. If you'd like more information on the ingredients...

It's Tuesday, finally. Did you think that Monday was going to last forever? I did! Last night we made Blue Apron meal #3. Mexican style chicken tortas with tomato, cucumber, and avocado salad. Our avocado went bad before we could get to this meal, but he wasn't heartbroken about that. I was. :(  The sandwiches and salad were sans avo, but you'd never know. Also, I skipped the cilantro given the recent illnesses in the news. I doubt mine was part of that, but just to be safe. (remember 'sketchy burrito' back in March? we don't want to go down that road again) We started with marinating red onion in red wine vinegar. Half was for the salad, and half was for the sandwiches. The salad was made of diced tomato, diced cucumber, avocado (omitted), sliced, marinated onion, salt and pepper, and a little olive oil. I squeezed a lime wedge over it also since I didn't need it for the avocado. The chicken was seasoned with a premade season mix. I...

It's so cold in my office! I'm drinking iced coffee, and that isn't helping. Congratulations on making it to Thursday everyone! I love this day. I get a lot done at work, I get to wear my favorite pants, and I get to really start thinking about my weekend. __________________________________________________________________________ Blue Apron #2: Crispy catfish and eggplant caponata I hope you all enjoyed my review of Blue Apron meal #1 yesterday. I wish I had gotten more pictures and done a better write-up, but I was in total anxiety/panic mode while cooking. You know how I have a serious fear of disappointing people...I was afraid I'd screw up the dinner. I'm a mess. You know that. Heart on sleeve. Foot in mouth. Tears on cheek. Smiles!!!! Last night we tried Crispy Catfish with eggplant caponata. ...and fried okra (not on the menu, but it always should be) The catfish sent by Blue Apron was impressive. They only send 2 filets, but it was definitely enou...

I LOVE this. I can just imagine Paul spinning on his heel to look Festus in the eye, and with a steely stare, boldly proclaiming "I am not out of my mind". Believers are often seen as weak for leaning on an invisible creator. Some say we simply are unwilling to face life because we trust that all things come from God with a purpose. We are seen as 'out of our minds'. Crippled, crazy, weak, and confused. Paul didn't believe that, and he didn't fear their lack of faith. He knew God was with him, in him, and for him. He didn't care whether or not they believed him, he was going to speak the truth, and stand his ground. Act 26: 24-29 24  And as he was saying these things in his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, “Paul, you are out of your mind; your great learning is driving you out of your mind.” 25  But Paul said, “I am not out of my mind, most excellent Festus, but I am speaking true and rational words. 26  For the king knows about these ...

It's not my Friday, but it's pretty close; it's TOWPICK Thursday!!! Are you sick of this outfit yet? Too bad! It's my blog and I'll wear what I want. ROAD TRIP!!!!  Tonight we're off to Falls Creek for some worship jammin', and fun-havery. God gave us a beautiful place to gather and praise Him, and while we're there, we like to laugh and be silly. Following Christ isn't all about 'rules' and having to say no to everything. There's lots of silliness, and pranks, and weird whatevers that go on at church camps, because we're all friends and love each other...right? I don't really think I'll be running around with glow sticks in my hair singing camp songs, but it probably will be happening somewhere on the campus. No matter what my role is, I've got a high spirit about it, and that famous big dumb smile on my face. __________________________________________________________________________  R4G Last nigh...

I don't know why so many of my pictures from past posts are missing. My apologies. If I figure it out, I'll edit them so you can go back and review my awesomeness whenever. Until then, just pretend I have a fetish with subtraction? __________________________________________________________________________  Caught in the Act R4G starts tonight, and in light of that, let's head back to Acts for our next lesson. This is a good lesson for today, since President Obama is in my little town. Right now he is about 1.5 miles from me, speaking to an invited 'public' group about economic impact, government involvement in the growth of small communities, and I'm sure a bunch of other things I have no information on. Whether or not we agree with him, whether or not we support him, he is in a position of influence. His policies influence us directly (our laws) and indirectly (international relations). We don't have to agree with what happens, but burying our heads...

I don't feel like having tacos today. Blah. What's wrong with me? What I feel like is running. Runnin' runnin' and runnin' runnin'.... I have to be in a swimsuit really soon and I don't feel ready. Tacos surely won't help either. Last night I had a sweet nap, a baked sweet potato (over sweet conversation with some of my favorite sweet people), a sweet soak in a lavender bath, and a sweet bedtime. Ahhhhhh..... I made it to the gym this morning before dawn for official week 2 of crazy workout. Pushups, lay down pushups, medicine ball squats, tricep dips, mountain climbers, bicycles, straight leg situps w/twist, and straight leg situps. It didn't seem all that difficult, and I did modify a tiny bit to keep from bending my toe ( you know, the SUP incident ), but man did we sweat! Our muscles just didn't seem to want to do anything. I haven't felt that worthless and lazy in a while....it was awesome!!!! _____________________________________...

It's 6am, I'm supposed to be stretching but instead I have been busy on Instagram,  so to balance it, I'll start today's post. Why am I stretching? Oh,  only because I RAN this morning.  Whaaaaa????? I know,  I am amazingly awesome.  Pre-dawn solo run because neighbor wasn't able to go. #1: humidity is a reality in Oklahoma any time of the day. #2: wash off your fake tanner before running in humidity. #3:  thank you drivers for seeing me. #4:  humidity is a reality in Oklahoma any time of the day. So I still love running,  but I really have to get back to it as I'm not acclimated to the heat this year. Our temps went from 60s, to a month of rain, to 100s. I need more time. _____________________________________________________________________ Are you willing? Peter, James, Saul. All preaching the word of God to many, all while being chased, imprisoned, and for James, put to death.  Speaking the Word of God, and being doubte...

I died last night. For about 2 hours I was super dead with my major headache induced nap. Eyemask, curtains drawn, snuggly blankie. Mmmm. I missed dinner...you know it's a bad night if I miss dinner. I did get a sweet awakening, and thank the Lord, my prayers were answered, my headache was gone. ________________________________________________________________________  Kicking back I didn't run, obvs, because of my weakened condition. Oh, stop, you didn't run either. We did go for a walk, and that probably did more good for me than a lonely, angry, painful run could ever do. There is something about the still of the evening, taking a stroll, and having a nice chat that can make your entire day turn on it's head. Yesterday was Monday, in every way. I needed a break. Thanks for the mini-vacation. Monday Morning Monday afternoon Monday evening As you can see, my Monday started and ended about the same. The pile...