The Cat's Meow

Saturday was the big day -

I've run in a fair share of little races, both locally and out-of-state.  But this one will be fondly stored in my long term memory as one of the best.  Not only did I have the company of these little bitties...

...but the majority of the 5,000 runners were in costume.  We saw everything from Dorothy and her entourage to a pair of pink dice (attached just like you'd find to toss over your rear view mirror back in the day) to pirates, Richard Simmons and two girls dressed as pigs - one was H1 and the other, you guessed it, N1.  I don't care what you say, that was freakin' funny!!  Because all of us ran the race and we didn't have any family there as cheerleaders and bag holders, we weren't able to get any "during race" photogs!  You'll simply have to trust me when I tell you it was an adventure.  And you'll have to settle for our own little montage of pics...here we go!

Two little kitties ready to roll!

JC giving his finisher's medal a little smoochy!

Little Bran proudly sporting her finisher's medal!

And I'm pretty happy with mine, too!

...I think I'll call her "Princess"...

What a wonderful weekend for this "Mom Cat"!!!

It Was A Tough Day...

"I am not alone, I thought.  I was never alone at all.  And that, of course, is the message.  We are never alone.  Not when the night is darkest, the wind coldest, the world seemingly most indifferent.  For this is still the time God chooses".  - Taylor Caldwell

The hardest part for me to wrap my mind around is that just one short hour before, she was talking to me.  We laughed together.  And before I left her room she said to me, "sweet thing, I just want to die and go to heaven.  It's so hard here for me anymore.  Will you pray for me?".  And I did.  And one short hour later her prayer was answered and His will was done. 

Love the ones you're with...because in just one short hour...things can change.

Yep, it was a tough day.  And I think I need to accept that I'll have many more.  But that also means having the opportunity to meet some great people - people like Miss Ruby.

A Special Moment

There's a story here, Internet, but one that's too personal for even me to share...

Just know, that in this minute, that in this captured moment, I've never adored my daughter more or swelled with such pride.

I am your biggest fan Little Bitty, your biggest fan....

A Murder

Ha!  Bet that got your attention!

Did you know that a group of crows is called a murder?  Not a flock or a herd - nope, a murder. 
I was reminded of "a murder" the other day when those nasty, eye-pecking, black, shiny birds had my Yodie surrounded.  I know there was a plan - a devious, harm-seeking plan to take out my Yodie.  But I'm sure, after closer inspection, they decided against it...I mean, just look at him...

The leader of the group probably surmised that "this is bad meat"...

Two Down, One To Go

Hello Internet!  I'm just going to post here as if weeks haven't gone by without me giving my little online diary any attention...

I mentioned here that I planned on participating in this Tri-fecta of races again this year.  Today was race #2, "Le Tour De Carrboro 10k".  And here I am...

What a beautiful day for a run!!  A little chill in the air when we started out and then perfect just a few minutes into it.  I was solo, again.  But that's okay...  (Marianne, if you're reading this, jump on this wayward bandwagon with me!  I get lonely out there and could use a running buddy!!).  There's always another runner girl to snap a photog or two for you!  Thanks unknown runner girl!!

I was pretty happy with my time.  A 10k is approximately 6.25 miles and I completed my run in 1:04:54.  And if you know anything about Carrboro...it's not flat.  So, my goal is to finish the Wicked 10k in Virginia Beach on Halloween in an hour or less (insert prayers here).

I came to the conclusion this morning that I am only and will always only be a pleasure runner - I run so that I can eat dessert almost guiltlessly.  My conclusion was drawn because it occured to me, as they were handing out the awards to the fastest runners, that I would have to shave 15 minutes off my total time in order to even be CONSIDERED for a prize.  Yeah, those lovely aluminum baubles aren't THAT important to me!

Look out Gallop & Gorge (Thanksgiving morning), here I come!! 

Fins To The Left, Fins To The Right

It's been awhile, huh Internet? To say that I've been overwhelmed these last few weeks would be quite the understatement. The new "career" at the hospital is moving along nicely. I've never worked these sort of hours before (work a few days, have a few days off... work 12 hour shifts, which really mean 13... work until 11:30 at night and get in bed around 1:30 AM...). Thankfully, I've wrapped up the classroom work at the hospital and just am continuing my orientation on the different floors. This has been, and will continue to be, an eye-opening experience.

At the same time, I'm enrolled in two online college courses; Computer Literacy and Psychology. I am struggling! I am not the virtual student type! Nope, I need a classroom to go to, an instructor to listen to, classmates to interact with, a whiteboard to take notes from and a STRICT schedule to follow!!! I will do my best to see through these two classes but after that, I'm fairly certain I'll be heading back to the campus next semester. Sorry Internet, but as much as I love you and the ease with which you bring me information, I can't trust myself to continue my education through you.

Of course, my little book club is chugging right along but I'm afraid I've made that the caboose on my little train of priorities. Between working these nutty hours that I'm not used to, stumbling through those classes on the computer and trying to maintain some sort of normalcy in the upkeep of my house and marriage, I'm lucky to read a few paragraphs of our monthly book (and, quite honestly, that happens when I'm in the bathroom!!!) every few days! I used to read faithfully everyday during my lunch break in the past but these days during lunch, I simply want to enjoy my meal and look out a window and watch the healthy people go by! I'll fumble along, however, and do my best to read as much as I can. And regardless if I finish the book or not, I will NOT miss the meeting because that would mean missing out on the fun and fellowship with my gal pals and, well, the wine! Oh the wine!!

I took a reprieve from this mess I call life this weekend. I went home to visit my family. I needed it. I also spent some time with Jess, although not enough, and tried to take in some deep breaths so as to remember his "horsey smell" that fills my heart with true contentment. It was an exceptionally good weekend because we didn't really have anywhere we had to be (except Saturday night) so we simply "hung out" with one another. Friday night was dinner out, Saturday morning was leisurely coffee and a little shopping and Sunday Brandi and I got in a 5 mile run with the traditional bacon and eggs breakfast my dad is so famous for making waiting for us when we were done!

The only place we had to be this weekend was at Nissan Pavilion - for Jimmy Buffet! Because JC (my son-in-law) couldn't make it, I got to be Bran's date! This was an experience. If it's a long time before I see a grown man with a beer gut wearing a grass skirt and coconut bra, I'll be okay with that. Really, I love my husband enough to tell him, "honey, that's just not a good look for you".

Here are a few shots of our evening - enjoy! We did!

Jimmy on the jumbo-tron

Bran and Me ♥

A better, close up of Jimmy on the jumbo-tron

The band on the tropical stage

More Jimmy (he really was very good)

Bon Appetit!

I am fortunate to be the type of person who requires very little to be happy, content, entertained, moved or amused.  As such, yesterday will go down as one of my favorite days - for a variety of reasons.

I am between jobs right now.  I wrapped up my career, albeit a short one, with the radio station last Friday and won't start at the hospital before next Thursday.  This has afforded me this entire week off.  And it's been a productive one. 

Yesterday, I spent the entire day, 11:00 until 6:30, with my buddies Cathy & Linda.  I couldn't think of a better way to spend a day...

We met for an early lunch here:

There was eating and chatting and catching up on what we'd been up to...  frustrations with life in general were shared, rejoicing in accomplishments brought about ohhhss and ahhss and laughter, always a lot of laughter.  I love these women to the deepest core of my soul - truly...

And after lunch, we hit this:

Where we saw this:

(Cathy and Linda)

(Cathy and Me)

I LOVED this movie - loved it.  I had a grin on my face the entire time - except for maybe a total of 5 minutes where there were some "soft spots" that made me a little sad (i.e. a tender moment between "Julia" (Meryl) and "Paul" (Stanley) where they were sorely reminded of their inability to have children - which I didn't know about them).  While I suppose this was literally a film about cooking, I thought it was more about relationships, specifically the marriage between a man and woman.  And if Paul Child were like this in real life - - - WOW, what a guy.  I think he truly adored Julia...I wonder what that feels like...

After the movie, we were ready for dessert...take a look at these little beauties...

That's a turtle cheesecake on the right (full size) and one of the little mini desserts Johnny Carinos offers for $2.00 on the left (Chocolate Moulten Cake)!  A perfect way to top off a super sweet movie...CHOCOLATE!

None of us knows what the future holds and I don't doubt that that's a good thing.  But I have to say that I can't help but hold out some hope that my life's path will take me to Eurpoe one day.  As much as I want to see different cultures and architecture and people in general, I want to eat the food!  Really good food.  And food brings fellowship, it brings conversation, it brings contentment - at least when it's served at a table with everyone participating (hello American families eating from a sack).  

So please let me know when you're coming to visit.  Because I promise you this, friends, we will eat and we will eat well and we will enjoy dessert and we will chat and we will laugh and maybe even exchange a recipe or two - and we will have made a memory around my table.

I applaude all involved in the making of this film.  It just goes to prove that special effects aren't needed, there doesn't need to be gore and terror at the turn of every corner and their certainly doesn't need to be nudity and groping going on...

All you need is bread, good wine, a frying pan and butter...lots of butter.

Bon Appetit!