What’s a girl to do when she is broke but still needing to exercise? Sign up for a 5K run and get out there! You weren’t expecting that were you? I’ve always said (at least I’ve said it in my head), “I only run when someone is chasing me!”. So what inspired me to do this? Well, alignment of the planets, the biggest Loser, temporary insanity, a little extra money in my pocket, and oh yeah, an incentive from WW to get something “free”.
- Am I running yet?
See all those people around me? Yeah, they went ZOOMING ahead. Let me give you some of my thoughts while I was running:
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“What the HELL am I doing?”
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“Crap, those 12 year old girls (the ones in the pink shirts in the above picture) are going faster than me.”
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“What the HELL am I doing?”
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As I made the turn at the one mile mark, the eventual winner for the 5K overall, passed me, going the other direction. “Crap.”
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“Do not stop. Small children are going through chemo and all sorts of horrible other things, you CAN and WILL finish this. Do NOT stop.”
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“I think I’m going to throw up.”
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Just as I got to the 2.5 mile mark, the winner of the 10K race passed me. “Crap.”
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“What the HELL am I doing?”
You get the idea. The girls in pink proved to be a saving grace for me. Since they were wearing those bright pink shirts, I could see what was left–1/2 mark, turnoff toward the finish, etc. Thanks girls in pink! I might have given up if it weren’t for you showing me how much was left.
The other person who gave me a boost was my sister-in-law, Shannon. Shannon cheers my crazy younger brother on when he runs, bikes, and attempts other acts of athletic wackiness. She did a great job getting me pumped up and then she helped me finish the race. She kept me going. I would not have run up that hill without her. THANK YOU SHANNON!
Getting to the end
My official time was 47:10. I figure I was running about a 16 minute mile. I read later on that moving at this pace is technically called jogging, not running. Oh, well.
Here’s what I’ve learned:
- Getting your big arse out of bed at 6:00am is worth it.
- Even though running itself is cheap, the accessories, not so much.
- Running a 5K was alot like labor and delivery. It sucked and was painful along the way, but now it is through, I’m thinking it wasn’t that bad. I swore I wouldn’t (in both cases), but I’m going to run another 5K and hell, I’m game for another baby too!
- It really helps to have great friends & family cheering you on. Thanks Ken, Tom, Joe, Kate, Tom, Shannon & Jacquelyn for the cheering and running beside me at the end.
- Water is an amazing drink.
So, what’s next? (here she goes with the bullets again)
- Another 5K in September. I’ve started training and although I haven’t set my overall goal, I’d like to see the pace time around 12-14 min per mile.
- Help my kids and the kids at Triangle Lake Montessori School get running. I’m not sure how I’m going to do this yet.
- Reading all I can about running and training. Got any good running blogs? Most of what I’ve found seem to be ads for something.
Although I can’t say I love to run, I can say it is growing on me. Guess I better start running faster!
Ignore my bad grammar.
I’ve been twittering or is it tweeting? Anyway, the other social media have been taking over my life..or at least spring break. So sad…but still entertaining. I’ve begun thinking in 140 characters or less.
So let me fill you in on what has been going on. Besides Twitter, I’ve been working on PTA stuff. Did I tell you about PTA? No? I must have been trying to block that out. I’ve been the PTA prez at the Sunshine boys school for a year. I’m also delusional enough to have signed up for another year. Crazy,fun, exasperating stuff but surprisingly addictive.
Family Fun Day–the biggest school fundraiser we have–took up most of my Feb and all of March. Check out the parade and pictures!
Sunshine daughter will be going to Pre-Kindergarten next year. Sad times yet joyful too. Now, I need to get a birth certificate to prove I didn’t just pluck her from the cabbage patch. Hopefully the price of that document didn’t go up since she was plucked born four years ago. Some days I wonder how those teachers are going to put up with her 4 yr old going on 15 yr old self. Then I remember they’ll have a room full of ‘em. Makes me glad I don’t teach.
Sunshine Boys # 1 & 2 had their 7th birthday a week ago. Every parent says this, but WOW, I can’t believe it has been that long. I miss the little bitty boys I snuggled. Every so often I get a glimpse of them and it makes me sad. I looked in on one two weeks ago and he looked exactly like he used to as a baby. So serene and kissable. Here are their cakes: Space Shuttle & Lego Rock Monster. 
Weight Watchers…wow. Been gaining and losing the same weight. STILL. There is no try. I’ve not even been trying. Time to write it and behave like an adult. Bad habits are hard to break after almost 36 years. Excuses I know. Say something to kick me in the a$$ (about the weight loss anyway!).
Happy Easter! Here are some of the pictures of the day. The church really cleared out quick this year and hubby was left holding the camera.
Thanks for reading the brain dump at Land o’Sunshine. Hopefully more cohesive thoughts will come since Family Fun Day has ended and the year is slowly drawing to a close…. Have a wonderful spring…happy itching & sneezing!
As for knitting. I’ve been working on stuff, but have not been using Rav. I knit the shrug Sunshine daughter is wearing. It is the Jane Austen Shrug from Knitting Outside the Lines from MDK. Great little pattern–through check the errata or you’ll think you’re going crazy. Ask me how I know. There’s been other stuff, but nothing spectacular. My knitting mojo is off twittering somewhere….
Except, maybe you do know. Ever since having kids I retell stories and forget who I told what, and most of the time just forget stuff.
Rules:
Once you’ve been tagged, you are supposed to write a note with 25 random things, facts, habits, or goals about you. At the end, choose 25 people to be tagged. You have to tag the person who tagged you. If I tagged you, it’s because I want to know more about you. you are obviously exempt if you have already posted. ***I think the tagging is bogus. I won’t do it. Feel free to post it on Facebook or your blog, but really, this isn’t first grade, so enough with the tagging.***
Here goes.
1. I’ve posted more tothe blog in the last two weeks than I did the months of October, November & December combined.
2. In some circles, I’m called Martha. Don’t ask. (I’ve forgotten so I can’t tell you anyway!)
3. I buy Extra sugar-free gum just about everytime I go to a store that sells it. Current gum pack count: 2 unopend, 2 half empty, and 2 small four packs scattered into single sticks.
4. I once pretended to revive a fetal pig. It was funny.
5. I once went to Paris, France for the weekend.
6. My birthday and anniversary are on the same day. It seemed like a good idea at the time…now, not so much.
7. I’ve seen Phantom of the Opera in New York City & Toronto. Toronto was better.
8. Grolsh and Goldschlager are wonderful things.
9. I frequently don’t friend people (Facebook & Ravelry) because I’m afraid they won’t remember who I am.
10. I have ODS. Oldest Daughter Syndrome. It is a horrible, incurable, syndrome seen in the oldest daughter in a family.
11. I am often a little bit jealous of friends whose parents live close enough to watch their children on a regular basis.
12. I have obsessions not interests. Facebook, Ravelry, CatholicMom, Weight Watchers, knitting, sewing., scrapbooking, etc. I devote myself to whatever it is and then become so wrapped up in it, I lose sight of every other hobby/interest.
13. I wrote a book of poetry in 10th grade English class (Mr. Kelly) and dedicated it too…oh wait, didn’t almost every 10th grade girl do that???? 
14. When my boys were two days old I remember crying because they were boys and I would spend my time as their mother “training” them for another woman to marry. Can we say hormones?
15. Each Christmas, we make 10 different varieties of cookies to give as gifts. That is about 30 dozen cookies. Surprisingly, I spend the weeks before Christmas wondering if people really want these cookie trays or if they are any good.
16. My husband is Jewish.
17. My confirmation name is Esther.
18. I just deleted my original #18 because I was afraid I would hurt someone’s feeling. No it wasn’t you, I promise! When hubby & I took our marriage prep class, we won “the newlywed game” that was played the first day.
19. Having a single child is sometimes harder than having twins. Not often, but sometimes.
20. My friends are all wonderful, smart, crafty, and I am incrediblely lucky to have found the SSSK.
21. I seriously don’t “get” the mind of a six year old boy. Right now, they are “breathing” on each other. Why? It is the beginning of the unfathomable depth (?) of the male brain.
22. I have a very difficult time choosing color and color combinations. Some rooms in our house are currently off-white because I can’t decide on the color to paint them.
23. I was a tomboy. My daughter is a girly girl. It really drives me crazy.
24. I really dislike crossword puzzles.
25. I now remember why I hated this meme. So that was really cheating. After I post this, I’ll find a bazzillion more witty and amusing things I could have written. Sometimes I will subtly encourage my children to say things the wrong way because I think it is cute. It will bite me in the a**, but it makes me smile. Example: One boy used to say “What doonin? ” Translation: What are you doing? Another loves to learn about Abraham Lincoln, but he ONLY refers to him as A Lincoln. It really cracks me up. Oh, and the girl…she calls Hello Kitty, Hello Cat.
So, to wrap up the reading of the 25 random things about my FAMILY!!!
Edited to add/change #25 & #18
Dear Children,
I love you. I really, really love you. You are funny, smart, kind and good kids.
However, your six and four year old selves are driving me crazy. If we are going to live in this house for the next 14-16 years, here are some friendly reminders:
- When I ask you to pick something up, I mean pick it up THEN, not sometime in the future or a to-be-determined date.
- Stay out of my craft supplies, scrap-booking materials, yarn, and basically anything else that might be piled up on my messy little space.
- YOU MUST GO TO CHURCH! Its my job to get you there and teach you something. I don’t want to go all the time either. Really. It is worth it though.
- Please pick up your socks. Better yet, keep them on your feet.
- Play nicely and stop the bickering. Is it the cold weather and being stuck inside? I sympathize, but seriously.
- To the male children, be nice to the girl. She adores you.
- To the girl, STOP WHINING! Ack. That is why they don’t want to play with you.
- PLEASE, please, please use a napkin to wipe your hands & mouth at dinner, NOT your clothes. Let’s try to not recreate the ninth century at the kitchen table, ‘kay?
- The words please and thank you go a LONG way. Please use them, thank you.
Dear children, I say write this to you so our lives will be pleasant and peaceful. I love you. Thank you for all the things you teach me and putting up with all the quirky things I do.
Love,
Your mother
So, my own personal pity party got me thinking about what 2008 brought. Yes, it is a little late in the month for looking back on things, but before I can totally face forward, I need to look back. It is really easy to forget all the things a year has brought. So here are some of the FO’s for 2008:
2008 Knitting in Review
Picture 1: Fake cable hat. Hand dyed Eco wool. Hat is now Sunshine #1’s, because I don’t knit hats well. Hat’s off to Anne for helping learn to dye!
2: Sundance Make-up bags. There are 4 of these in circulation. Knit from I Love This Cotton from the HL.
3: Waving Lace (??) from Favorite Socks. Knit from Bamboo/wool that has been lanquishing in the stash for a while. Glad I finished those!
4: Claytor Lake socks (Oak Rib pattern from Nancy Bush). Knit from Red Heart sock yarn. Really, try it, you’ll like it. Seriously.
5: Bunny lovie for new neice. Free pattern from Lion Brand, Knit from Cascade Tencel.
6: Jane Austen tea cozy. Knit for Anne because cold hot tea is just gross!
7: Seamless baby kimono. Also knit for neice. This is Bernat soy. Great stuff.
8: Mittens. I was mitten obsessed. This picture does NOT show the 5 other pairs of mittens I knit for me and the fam. In July it was all mittens all the time.
9: Beech cowl. Does this yarn look familar??? I knit the cowl and then didn’t like to wear it. Too scratchy for the neck. I undid it and knit the hat instead. The cowl was great fun to knit, just not to wear.
10: Faux Isle hat. Noro & hand dyed Cascade. Another hat which was given to the children. Fun to knit, just the wrong size and not long enough.
11: Craven-dish discloth. Where is this I wonder….hmmm. One cannot knit too many dishcloths, of course there are some who would disagree and doubt my mental capacity.
12: Grocery bag. I think this one is the Knitty version. I knit way too many of these things too–4 I think. This one is my favorite though. It holds buckets of stuff, and has great handles.
13: Selbu mittens. Love, love, love these. Again, part of all mittens, all the time. These were a combination of lots of people’s work. Knit from special birthday yarn.
14: Chocolate cupcake with strawberry frosting. Knit two of these. Fun. If you haven’t knit food yet–GO DO IT! Maybe that’s the answer…knit food instead of eating it.
15: Headbands. This is a free pattern. I needed a quick girly gift and these were free and knit with dishcloth cotton. Free, cheap, and fast. Who doesn’t like that???
16: Coffee cup cozies. End of year teacher gifts for the Kindergarten year. Filled with Starbucks card, chocolate, and gum.
17: Liesel scarf. Goodness I hated this thing. Ugly and pattern was bagh! Gave away to random Ravelry person in a yarn swap.
18: Felted slips. These were #1 for the year, but by the end of the year, there were 3 more. This pattern ROCKS. It is Bev Galakas. Awesome.
19: Wallaby. Sunshine #2 wears this ALL the time. It is getting a little short. Better get going on another one. Knit with Plymouth Encore. No hood. A much loved knit.
20:Baby Kimono from MDK with umbilical cord hat. This was a gift for sunshine hub’s coworker. Have knit another sweater for the child–seamless kimono.
21:February sweater. This was also a coworker baby gift. Loved knitting this and should do another. Once you get past that 7X4 thing, it really is cake!
22: Baby gift set: Elefante, booties, hat, & baby yoda sweater. This was for my cousin’s baby–first boy out of 5 girls.
23: Red wallaby. Sunshine #1’s version of the wallaby. Knit from I Love this Yarn. Did some MAJOR growing. Also, cuffs really are too loose and he rarely wears it. Sad, neglected knit.
24: Seaman’s cap for Sunshine hub. There are gloves to go with this. Hated the yarn I chose–some Bernat junk. Wanted it soft, so there’d be no complaints.
25: Sheldon. This is nekked Sheldon. When Sheldon fly to California, he was equipped with a shell, eyes, and a pirate shell too. Fun to knit and see it come together.
Gosh, are you still reading? Sorry there’s no Linky-love. Let me know if you need more info about anything in particular. I’ve knit more for sure, but this is all I had in my flickr. I also knit a sweater for myself, loads more dishcloths, baby stuff–bibs & burp cloths, Alice (Angelina’s friend). It was a very productive year.
I’ve already had some finished objects for 2009. Things up on the knitting needles? Sweaters for the fam & me, more EZ, dishcloths I’m sure, more socks, and some more toys & fun stuff.
Knit on friends and happy 2009!
Can I just say I feel as if I have never used WordPress before. When did all these changes happen? When in the world did I last write a post? (I’m sure wordpress tells me that information…somewhere)
As many of you know, the whole quotation is “Maybe if you would eat more comfort food, you wouldn’t need to go around shooting people.” Hurley’s quote says a lot about why people are overweight. Before you unsubscribe, hear me out. I’m fat.
In my head, I’m very comfortable with my weight, but no mirrors in my house are full length. I will avoid pictures of my whole self at almost all costs. I am fat.
I have been working hard–for over a year–to get my weight down. So far I’ve lost 55 pounds. How much weight do I still have? Well, weight watchers tells me I have between 95 and 105 lbs to loose. That’s a whole lotta sticks of butter, baby. I was going to save you the mental math, but, I chickened out math is good for you.
Back to the quote. I never really bothered to figure out why I was am overweight. I never thought about it. But really, it seems to be that rather than talking about something, I’ll eat. Rather than solve the problems or do something about what is bothering me, I eat. It is stuff my face (and those emotions) or shoot someone.
So why am I talking about this? Another great question, especially since I have another blog (that I also don’t blog on) devoted to my weightloss journey. Two weeks ago, I realized I have been gaining and losing the SAME eight pounds for over three months. I have been faithfully attending weight watchers, weighing in, and not thinking about it till the next Saturday.
I’m writing it because it is about being accountable. No, not to YOU. To me. I don’t want to be stuck at this current weight–although I don’t remember the last time I’ve been this weight–maybe high school??? I want to be…I’m not sure what I want to be. I want my daughter and sons not to have weight and food issues. I want to not start and end my day thinking about the food I would like to eat. I want to be healthy. I want to be thin. I want to finish my meal and not want to eat something else, even though I don’t have room for something else. I want to figure out what the problem is and how to fix it without food.
I have to count my points. I have to write down everything I eat–including the sneak attacks on the peanut butter jar. I will have to do those things for the rest of my life. I’m working on the comfort food or shooting people thing. I won’t be going postal and I won’t be regaining the 55 pounds I’ve lost. I’m working on using food for what it is for, supplying my body with energy to think, move, laugh, and enjoy life.
I’m fat, but I am NOT staying that way.
Do you ever think of what your life will be like after the kids have moved out of the house? If you’re feeling puzzled, keep moving, this post has nothing for you.
I think I have glimpsed my future and it is quiet…well quiet in the sense of dinner’s cooking, no one’s talking, music is playing, and I’m randomly moving between reading, blogging, Raveling, and knitting (ok, you caught me, I’m dancing around the house too!) It is strange…nice, but strange. There will be a day when my life and hobbies are my own again. Moments like this teach me to enjoy the volume that kids bring. The volume won’t always be this high and I’m sure I’ll miss it.
If you’re wondering where I’ve placed stashed put my kids are, they are out geocaching with the Sunshine grandparents. My in-laws are kind-hearted people. It is Sunday and that is all I’m going to say (otherwise I’ll have to go to confession).
Knitting action! My brother and girlfriend are going to become parents in December and the ultrasound predicts a girl. Little Lady Pryor will be my first niece. I’m very excited although I do wish San Diego was a tad bit closer.
This is the Seamless Baby Kimono. A great top-down raglan sweater. A great pattern. Looks to be about a 6 month size, no?
Yarn? Oh, the yarn. I love it. It is Bernat Soy. The color was creamier than this. It was like knitting with silk. So nice. The needles (US 6) made the fabric a bit dense, but still so nice. The pink is Cascade Tencel. It has the same feel as the Bernat (are you saying BER-nat or BER-nay?).
Thoughts: Great little pattern. Next time (come on people, more babies!), I would do the same detail on the sleeves that is on the bottom hem. Also, I’d do some garter stitch edging on the neck band to match the bottom and sleeve hems. The neck and bottom hem are both rolling (no, its not blocked…yet. The kid isn’t even here! I promise, I’ll block it.).
Gotta run and enjoy the solitude before the Sunshines return.
Despite the serious lack of knitting content (ok, any content), I have been knitting and even finishing things.
First up:
Pattern: Beech Wood by Ilga Leja.
Yarn: Cascade 220 hand-dyed (by ME!!!). I did the last Saturday in July with Anne & Denise. Anne is a master color dyer (don’t listen to her when she protests!). She had faith in this yarn even when I didn’t, which was pretty much the whole entire process.
Needles: US 6 Circs
Thoughts: Cowls are fun to knit. Round and round we go. The cascade won’t be too soft, but I didn’t really think about that until this was 90% finished.
Second:
Pattern: Fake Isle by Spunky Electric
Needles:US 6 Circsand dpns
Yarn: Cascade 220 in pink and Noro (gray/green) Kueryon
Thoughts: This is a gift for a friend moving to Michigan. I have a feeling it is too small. My gauge is a little small. If you have a teenager with pink fiber obsession or a small head, I’d be willing to send this your way….
Third:
Pattern:CravenDISH by Cindy Colbert
Needles: US 8
Yarn: Sugar & Creme in yellow
Thoughts:What a great pattern. Fast easy to knit when you follow the directions (which I forget sometimes). It is great for scrubbing. I’m thinking of modifying it to fit my Swiffer.
Fourth:
Pattern:Market Bags. I’m too lazy to link them all, but I finished up the 1Bag (1st pic), Bagstopper (2nd pic) and Mineco (not pictured).
Needles: US 5, 6, 8, & 13 Straights and Circs.
Yarn: Mainly dishcloth cotton.
Thoughts: I need about 3 more bags to make a full 2 week grocery shop fit with all knitted bags. Right now I have 3 I have knit and 1 I purchased. Harris Teeter does a great job with packing the bags. Walmart makes you pack them yourself–at least the cashier I had made me do it. Boo to Wallyworld. No matter which pattern I choose for the remaining bags, I will use a canvas handle and not knit them. Those knit handles stretch out way too much!
Fifth:
Pattern:EZ Norwegian Mittens & Hello Yarn Norwegian Mitten Chart hybrid
Yarn:Cascade Dolce. Buttercream & Teal. Love, love, love this yarn. B’day yarn and if the Common Threads hadn’t done a reorg, I never would have found it. Soft, squishy alpaca, silk, wool goodness.
Needles:US 5 dpns
Thoughts: I have new respect for designers. Tough work. $5.00 doesn’t begin to cover the time it took to create the chart for these mittens. The worst part is, I felt like I was redoing something that someone else has probably already done…. Oh well. I do have the Norwegian/Selbu mitten bug…stay tuned for more mittens.
Doesn’t seem like much knitting for one summer, but there are still 20 days left until school starts.
Today is laundry day at Chez Sunshine. Not really all that different from any other Monday, however, today’s laundry is extra wet and smelly since we just returned from camping in Virginia.
We traveled up to Dublin, Virginia and spent four nights at the Claytor Lake State Park. I cannot sing the praises of this campground enough.
- Hot showers? Check.
- Clean bathrooms? Check.
- Swimming area on a clean beach and an even cleaner lake? Check.
- Activities for the kids but not boring to adults? Check.
- Friendly and courteous staff? Check.
- Quiet & peaceful? Check.
- Big sites? Check.
Overall, 4.5 stars (out of 5). I did some research and found two yarn shops within 30 minutes of the campground, but I didn’t make it too them. The campground was just too much fun. We did have some rain, but it seemed to fall during non-shop hours, so it will be on my list of things to do next year when we return.
Was it all grins and giggles? Oh you know it was not. There were rain delays that caused activities to be canceled, time outs for bad behavior and privileges lost, but overall, it was a great vacation.
Here are a few of my favorite shots:
Camp on!
I’ve been stalking Ravelry again. For a while it just sat there…unloved. Yes, I extolled its praises, but I was too lazy busysomething to take pictures, upload pictures, remember yarns and needles to actually USE Rav.
For some reason, (I think it is the boredom with the 8 o’clock hour and Keith Olberman) but I have been SUCKED (with a giant WHOOOOOSHHHHH) back into Ravelry. Ravelry, how do I love thee?
- The message boards. Karma Yarn Swap. I don’t usually swap, but I have been tempted lately. There has been Noro and Malabrigo whipping through there like no tomorrow.
- Favorites…. Is it a sin to covet other people’s knitting? The sad part is I haven’t even scratched the surface.
- TABS!!! Who knew? I organized those sloppy message boards and but KYS right up there first thing. There’s local, why is this here?, EZ, non-knitting. At least Rav is organized even if the rest of the house isn’t.
- Friend activity. Gah, I check it obsessively, get busy friends! I need more friends just to get new activity. I’m not a big “friender” How do you find “friends” on Rav, other than the IRL or Bloggy friends?
- Groups. Did you know there is a group called the Red Tent? It is agroup for women’s issues and girl junk that has TMI. What isn’t there a group for?
I feel like Julie Andrew’s in the opening scene of The Sounds of Music–you know the one, spinning, signing, music rising. The site is alive, with the sound of needles. I’m ashamed to admit that I really want to convert the song to a love fest to Rav. You can say it…I’m a nerk (a dorky nerd, though I guess to be correct it is a nerdy dork).
So tell me, what faboulous group, message board, feature am I missing on Rav. I’m sure there is one, two, or a bazillon things.
