Natural Childbirth

I am a big fan of this website. A huge fan, as a matter of fact. I check it every day - really for the "daily chuck" photo more than anything else. But today's post really just made me chuckle a little.

The reading, the researching, the planning, the meeting of the childbirth committee members... I can't wrap my head around it. I mean, you get pregnant and you give birth - the most natural event in any female species.

It's not like "I don't know nothin' 'bout birthin' no babies"...

Almost twenty seven years ago, I was a kid having a kid. And in my kid-like mind, I knew my baby was coming and I had no control over that WHATSOEVER. What I did have control over was that 10 inch needle going into my back - NO THANK YOU!! I'll take a little hit of oxygen every now and then and leave me to my heavy breathing. It'll be over soon enough...10, 15, 20 hours...but it will end. And it will all have been worth it and you come out of it with a clear mind and not having to wait for any numbness to wear off.

Hey, I respect every woman's decision on her method of childbirth - it's a personal one and one she has to make in order to be comfortable and retain her health and that of her child. But birth...it is natural after all.

Way to go, Heather! Way to go! You rocked this one!

Trace, Toby & Me Make Three

Just indulge me, won't you? (And I encourage you to click on the photos to make them larger).

I'm a fan of numerous musical artists - from all genres of music. But regardless of how big a fan I am, I draw the limit on the amount of money I'm willing to spend on a ticket to any of these artists' shows. These tickets - 6th row from the stage - literally fell into Michael's lap. No charge. Free. No gimmicks. No "I'll do this for you if you do this for me". Nothing. Free and clear. Tickets in the 6th row to Trace and Toby - free. I enjoyed the show that much more because of it!

I'd like to say that my close up and personal experience Saturday night with these two gentlemen has changed my way of thinking and that, from now on, I will mortgage my home in order to pay for tickets this good. But nope. I'll still monitor my purse closely and be happy with the nose-bleed section if that's I'll I can afford. But I sure did enjoy, and appreciate, the treat we had last weekend...

Our traditional self-portrait (wow, I have big cheeks and a big nose...guess that's just me, huh?!)

Sorry, but I don't have a PG-13 rated comment I can leave here. Let's just say Trace has his game on!

See, up close and personal.

A rare, quiet moment from Toby.

The grand finale with both boys. A perfect closing performance.

(*Edited to add...hey, Toby sort of has big cheeks and a big nose like me!)

SPOOOOOOKKKKKKYYYYYYY

My Halloween plans have been laid!

I'll be in VA Beach running the Blue Moon Wicked 10k with my Little Bitty (barring any unforeseen road block in my life)!! I am psyched!!! I think this is going to be hysterical, people!

I've never run in costume before and Brandi's never run 6 miles! This is going to be a great memory in the making!

We're taking suggestions on what to wear and may need the services of a local seamstress - so don't be bashful about bragging on your talents!

You will want to stay posted for pics from this event!

**Edited to note: Hey! I just realized! My last post (below) was #200!!! I think that's some sort of milestone!!!! Who knew I had so much to talk about?! Thanks for following!!

Just Once...just one time...

The Le Tour de Carrboro's "Four on the 4th" yesterday was FABULOUS!!! It couldn't have been a more perfect day - nice and cool in the morning and warming up JUST enough about an hour later. It was a record setting day with 565 registrants and a new course record of 20:01 (that boy was smokin'!!). Do the math, people... that's running a mile in 5 minutes - YOU try it!!

Because I was solo at the event and didn't have anywhere to be until much later in the day, I stuck around for the entire awards ceremony. Typically, there's an overall male and female winner and then there are age category winners - the top three - for men and women. I've never been particularly caught up in these awards but yesterday I felt a little pang of envy..."wow, look at her...50 and fabulous and running almost twice as fast as me...that medal sure looks good around her neck...I'd probably wear mine with my scoop-necked black ruffle blouse...how can she be that much older than me and run that much faster...what do I need to do to JUST ONCE win one of those age-specific medals..."

The best part about this sport is that literally ANYONE can do it.

From two year olds... (yes, that's a blue ribbon she's holding...that she won despite running her event in a pretty patriotic slip dress)

To seventy-two year olds... (yes, that's a Boston Marathon tech tee he's wearing...which he probably earned despite being almost TWICE my age)

The little green monster didn't sit on my shoulder long. I drove home very satisfied with my personal time of 41:44 (about 10:23 per mile). And really very happy for those who trained harder than me, who ate better than me and simply ran a better race than me and, as a result, took home one of those nifty, hand-made medals.



And to reward myself, I stopped at McDonald's on the way home and picked up a "skinny" vanilla latte. Hmmm... perhaps this could be the difference between bringing home a medal and not?

The First of Three

For me, like most of you I'm sure, today is my Friday! Can I get a "holla' " in the house...whoop, whoop!

No doubt, the weekend plans for most include a cookout of some sort...maybe an outing on or near water...time with family, friends and neighbors...and "oohs and aaaahhhhsss" at all the fireworks in our hometowns...all traditional July 4th celebrations.

While I'll be honing in on such a party somewhere later in the day Saturday, I will begin my 4th of July celebration at O'Dark Thirty doing this:

The Four on the Fourth is the first of the Tri-Fecta of races hosted by Le Tour de Carrboro. And I am a sophomore to this event this year!! I love running in Carrboro. The routes the race officials put together are some of my favorites. We wind through "downtown" Carrboro and through old, established neighborhoods shaded by beautiful pines and magnolias...it's a real treat! And because my other half will be visiting family in KY, I will be running solo...again. But I'm sure some fine, sweaty soul will graciously accept my request to take my post-run photo, which is tradition. So, stay tuned for that glossy shot!

And however you choose to celebrate our wonderful nation's birthday, just remember...be respectful of others, be respectful of our earth and with a burning passion I ask - - - please don't drink and drive.

God Bless America - Happy 4th my blog friends, happy 4th!!

Perfect Timing

I have faith. I'd like to think I walk by faith. And I believe, no matter how difficult the circumstances, that I am placed where I'm supposed to be when I'm supposed to be there. And because I believe this to be true, I listen. I listen intently and pay close attention because I believe I'm supposed to gain something from "it".

Have you ever been in church and realized, about a quarter of the way through the sermon, that the message was being delivered directly to you? Every time this has happened to me, it's been during a trial of some sort in my life and the information being delivered was perfectly applicable to my situation. Or, have you ever had a complete stranger make idle chit-chat with you and later realized that the words they shared at that moment on that particular day were just the words you needed to hear? I believe this is faith in its simplest form.

I have an appointment this week with the marketing director at the Chapel Hill Ronald McDonald House. My objective for this first meeting is simply to get to know him and this fine organization a little better so that I can determine if WLHC-FM (the radio station I work for) could help meet their marketing needs.


In preparing for my meeting and doing my research, I came across this "message" in their website:

"We could never learn to be brave and patient if there were only joy in the world."

What perfect timing to come across this message, wouldn't you say? Especially given the events (deaths) we've all witnessed in "celebrity-dom" last week.

I've posted this quote on my computer. I've read it so many times I've lost count. I'm committing it to memory and tucking it securely in my heart. Because I know this for sure, my world, nor yours, is not completely made up of joy. And as such, during my trying days and those days when I think I can't take anymore or my heart is broken, I will find this message and remind myself that I am in the process of learning to be brave and patient...

She Cracks Me Up

Bran called the other evening with some upsetting news (not to worry, an issue that can't be overcome...). The conversation went something like this:

Bran: "The Mama, you won't believe what happened this morning!"
Me: "What Bran?"
Bran: (she tells me about the unfortunate sequence of events here)
Me: "Oh, Bran. I'm really sorry to hear about that. I'm sorry there weren't warning signs so that the people could've been prepared."
Bran: "I know. Doesn't seem fair does it?"
Me: "No, not at all."
Bran: "So, I wanted to know if you'd put everyone on the prayer list at church?"
Me: "Absolutely, Bran. You know I will."
Bran: With all the seriousness she had throughout the entire conversation... "Good, 'cause there's nothin' better than a bunch of country people praying for you."
Me: I dropped the phone laughing so hard!