Forward, March!

Remember my Tipping Point post some time ago? Well, there’s even more tipping to share!

After an interview process (yes, seriously), I was accepted as a My Favorite Run brand ambassador. There are some exciting things happening soon with My Favorite Run so standby for big reveals. Whoohoo!! I’ve been keeping up with the happenings at My Favorite Run for awhile, so when opportunity knocked…you know the rest.

The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.
Eleanor Roosevelt

Today is a shorter post because what I originally had planned to post had some hiccups and I was left scrambling on a Sunday afternoon nearing 3pm with no backup plan for Monday. Beyond irritating, it’s concerning because I feel like it might be a precursor to a bigger issue. More things outside of my control. I shall let go. There’s no photos to include in this brief post either. Hope you all can read!

In keeping with the title, I was privy to an awkward silence when, in front of a group of children playing Simon Says, they were instructed to “come to attention” which I seamlessly executed while all the children began to salute. Some were more Hitler-style than others, but that’s a different conversation. They thought I was in the wrong. Little did they know…

Lastly, my terrible funeral and death humor history made an appearance, when my supervisor shared his upcoming career plans. He recently buried his father in law and the grief was still very fresh. Upon his professional sharing, I asked, “So that’s the drop dead date?” Oh, Kel, why. As I painfully laughed and stammered my apologies at being incredibly insensitive, he laughed and stated he knew what I meant, it was ok. If only he knew how often this happens to me.

I give up.

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I ask you –

Do you remember Simon Says? What was your favorite childhood game?

Any advice for a change in leadership?

Describe a time you put your foot in your mouth!

Wk 4, HM Training

Figured out how to calibrate my watch, whoohoo!

*You are worth taking the time to take care of yourself and do the things that make you feel alive. It isn’t selfish. We can’t help others if we aren’t taking care of ourselves too.

*Running outside in the shade in the upper 60’s is the best life for me!

*But what’s better than the 60’s? THE 50’s! Celebrated with a post-run smoothie after my final run of the week. Gorgeous Saturday morning, caught the sunrise and a fabulously cool head wind. Still got some work to do, but it’s getting there.

*Peach Banana Smoothie:

1 very ripe peach, cut into quarters, seed removed
1 ripe banana, peel removed
1 small container whatever flavor yogurt – I like to use low or no sugar
Some ice
1 shot of milk
Some water, to your desired consistency
- Whirl above ingredients in a blender until smooth (makes at least 2 smoothies)

*Today’s running friends – every duck in the state of Texas!

Hope you all have an incredible weekend!

Humor Knows No Bounds + Tetris Master?

The adventures in Bonnywood Manor are some of my favorites to read. Brian’s humor is the best!

In keeping with more office-themed things, here’s a few nuggets: my title should be changed to calendar girl. But not the sexy, mildly inappropriate calendar girl you may have immediately been considering. More like I play Tetris with calendars and am on standby for changes at a moment’s notice. In fact, a wonderful co-worker called me with these words – “Let’s play a game!” – which really wasn’t a fun game at all because it involved moving around days’ worth of events to accommodate some last minute silliness. Good thing I love her.

She said “Can I take my own picture?”

Also, as the reigning queen of dad jokes, it’s my sworn duty to entertain strangers with punny, simple jokes. To my own delight, of course. I feel like our security team draws straws on who has to deal with me when my car rounds the bend. I’m on the “do not engage” list. Occasionally they laugh with me (at me?) and I congratulate myself on a job well done. I’ll be here all week, folks!

Hallelujah for the return of football

Lastly, soon they’ll be requiring IQ tests in my workplace. Hahah, I wish. Short of missing a few crayons, inability to decipher which floor we’re on, and following basic computer instructions, I think it’s going well! It’s just a three ring circus without a grandmaster.

Clap, clap. Ohhhhhhh, cabana boyyyyy!!!

_______________________________

I ask you –

Want to join my circus?

Are you the problem child of your organization? Be honest!!

Please check out fellow blogger, Brian Lageose. He’s hilarious!

Staying Between the Lines

“Someone will love you, someone will love you, someone will love you. But someone isn’t me.”

I’m teaching my child not to accept mistreatment. She is loved and joyful. First time, shame on you. Second time, shame on me. How difficult is it really to acknowledge another’s feelings? Perhaps acknowledging your own was the problem. For those who claim communication is the most important part of any relationship, you really suck at it! Well…more the giving end than the receiving end. But then again, you suck so what did I expect.

You’re enough.

If only people would communicate their intentions. Or be honest when there’s no expectations. Did you think I wouldn’t notice? Surely there’s a fancy list of all my indiscretions again. Remember? Nothing is ever your fault.

So you just stop, like that? Seemed so easy. No work, no cares, no…nothing. Silence can be unbearably loud. But I couldn’t hold it together, keep going on like it didn’t hurt. Blessed numbness. Whatever you’re searching for yet haven’t found – I hope the best. I still care. Let’s make it about you. Because it always has been.

Kel, life will continue without you. So don’t let it. You are strong and capable.

OY3, out.

——————-

I ask you –

Cryptic or no?

How’s your self-talk game going? Great, why thank you for asking!

Tell me about your day!

Wk 3, HM Training

Outside run early in the week = small mistake 🥵

Office Life / Cold Front

My office has a serious Crumbl cookie addiction. As well as donut addiction. If you want to get something into the hands of leadership quickly, we can be bribed. Everyone has a price!

Speaking of office stuff, when the going gets tough, I remind myself of an instance where I helped a stranger get into their master’s program. Well, it was a miniscule part but I played it. Seeing as how it was several years ago, I imagine they have since graduated. Pretty proud!

Again, on the office theme, I have encountered some really beautiful sunrises lately. The only problem is I’m usually driving and too lazy to pull over. Being punctual is my thing. Although my phone doesn’t take the best sun photos, you get the idea. I adore the mornings. There’s just something about a new day, waking up before others, the quiet stillness of the world early in the day. Before life gets crazy. Before the sun starts boiling me alive. The days are getting shorter hence the darkness is lasting longer. Bring on Fall!

We’re getting closer to the closing of Hell’s Gate aka end of summer in Tejas. Not close enough. Sadly I missed the opportunity to run last week when it was a blizzard-like 59°. Break out the parkas, folks. I’ll get my cold weather running gear. It’s a party!

Alas, a day later, it was 99° outside and 78° in the office. Have I mentioned I miss teleworking?

________________________

I ask you –

Does your office have a particular addiction?

What are the average daily temperatures where you live?

Tell me an office skill you’re not proud to be good at! I’m getting good at work order requests.

What Matters Most / Prioritizing

Making Priorities

Faith/Family

Forgiveness. Redemption. Grace. Kindness. Among many others, these are words that mean much to me. Being responsible for a family unit is quite a burden to bear which is why I believe the next few points are incredibly important. Responsibility weighs heavily on the shoulders of those who choose to accept the load. (and sometimes there’s no choice)

It has been said that ‘the two greatest days of your life are the day you were born and the day you find out why’. God created you with a purpose in mind (2 Corinthians 5:5). Indeed there are big plans for me.

Sleep

My body has an internal alarm clock prompting me to go to bed at 8:30pm. Every. Single. Night. Like my dad, I’ve always been a morning person. It has served me well! 9 hours is my optimal, pre-programmed amount of sleep necessary for a fully functioning day. I’m a light sleeper and have little trouble falling asleep, but find difficulty in staying asleep.

This may sound like I put way too much priority on knowing about my own sleep patterns. However, recognizing the importance of sleep and how it affects your body is something I think many take for granted. Sleep – or lack thereof – is attributed to weight, outlook on life, stress, and disease. When we sleep, our bodies recuperate from innumerable daily encounters with germs, people, and events, as well as prepare us for days ahead. Personally I think consistent sleep schedules are one of the most important ways to set up children for success.

Running

As I’ve probably mentioned before, streaking is such a confidence booster. Even when it’s only 1 mile a day, the proof is tangible. Typically I notice a difference 2 weeks into it – I’m lighter on my feet, stamina is high, and the urge to keep running is overwhelming. Although I despise treadmill running, the routine (aka priority) of running at lunch (aka runch) is much needed. My lunch hour at work is nearly sacred. Soon enough, you can find me back on the roads near the office happily making the rounds.

It’s important mini sees me doing what I love. Running helps in many ways: decreases anxiety, increases the feel-good hormones, and recharges my people’ing batteries. We all need an outlet, if you will. Mine is found inside a pair of running shoes.

_____________________

I ask you –

How many hours of sleep do you average nightly?

What is your outlet?

Share a priority I may have missed here!

Wk 2, HM Training

Day(s) in Photos, pt 29

Finally found a huge pretzel! It’s not pretzel bites, but it will do for the time being.

When I have time on my hands, I attempt to decorate them.

Beer shoes?!? Brooks outdid themselves this time. I feel like these shoes speak volumes to runner’s priorities.

Although I love the below list of words, I feel as if it’s missing one: whackadoo!

Credit: @hardcorecomedy2.0 via Instagram

Finally, the moment you’ve all been waiting for – ta da!!! 2 years of Gummies netted me a whole hour of unlimited line boosts. I was super excited by this prize until I realized it was not the same as a whole hour of unlimited lives. So in approximately 12 mins I was out of lives and had to wait 10+ mins to get another life, repeat, etc.

I really need to get help.

_______________________

I ask you –

On a scale of 1 to no longer being my friend, how much do you love huge pretzels?

What word is missing from the list?

Honest opinions only: is my Gummy addiction out of control?

Fall Training Schedule

Considering this upcoming race. Coincidentally – or is it? – a trip to TN would enable mini to see her dad and family during the Thanksgiving timeframe.

No word yet on Morgan from Oregon’s plans to attend Run the Rail mid-October. Since I got the plague from hell in August, discontinued my run streak, and had to remember how to breathe properly, anything long distance before November is probably a no go.

There’s also Rock ‘n Roll San Antonio. The Stars at Night Half isn’t a viable option this year because it will be the same weekend mini heads back to TN for Christmas break.

Speaking of, I was a few paragraphs back, there was a week in there where I went to the doctor or was on the phone with a doctor at least once a day. They are nice and all, but I try to avoid, know what I mean? Anyway, I began to notice a troubling pattern. They don’t measure how tall adults are anymore. Yes, they ask how tall you are, but they don’t physically verify. Two problems: 1) I could be lying when I say I’m 6 ft (yet she didn’t even blink an eye) and 2) hearing the words “You’ve grown” isn’t exactly a compliment as an adult. Bet she didn’t really write down 6ft on my chart. Hmmmppphhh.

Relatedly, sort of, in the Navy they called shoes “go fasters”. The more I think about it, I realize that was the ‘kind, new Navy’ saying something positive about passing a PRT, etc. because I have never called my new running shoes “go fasters”. Instead, I internally refer to them as the shoes that will kick someone’s a**. I will outrun a cheetah in my new shoes! I am faster than Olympians in my new shoes! There’s a meme circulating on social media that says something like…why doesn’t anyone ask me (as an adult) how fast I can run in my new shoes…and I totally agree. It’s BS. You better ask me!! And I’ll be happy to demonstrate. But sometimes I just ask my shoes to get me home. You know what? That’s ok, too!

Hotter’n Hell Hundred went off without a hitch, to my understanding. More like best guess, Kel. I went to my usual viewing spot and didn’t see a single thing. Not one kit-clad cyclist was located. For a minute, I thought I got the date wrong. Alas, my final thought was since the annual bicyclist event was not held last year, they had an extra year to work on speed and sped through the course in record time. It could also be because I slept in and was approximately 2 hours late to the location. Or I read the map wrong. Really, it’s anyone’s guess what happened. I’m going with extraordinarily fast cyclists though. Just pretend there’s a super awesome photo here of thousands of cyclists.

______________________

I ask you –

Any race suggestions? Or know of something I’m missing? Preferably early December.

Does your doctor ask how tall you are or take a measurement?

Participants in Hotter’n Hell Hundred next year – leave your name below so I can get insider information. I need an accountability partner!