Bare Cupboards

Last night as we were all about to eat dinner; I got up and opened the refrigerator to pour a couple glasses of milk. My husband then commented on how bare our fridge is. I had noticed but not thought much of it. After dinner, however, I took a good look in the fridge and cupboards; it was like looking in a college student's kitchen - minus the beer.

Usually we go into town on Saturday to take care of grocery shopping, dry cleaning, or whatever other errands need to be taken care of. These past few weekends we've gone into town, but did not go to the store. We were so excited to break away from our usual routine that food was not a priority on our weekend to do lists.

My husband has so much faith in me; he thinks that I can concoct an elaborate dinner out of ketchup and noodles however, I prefer to have a little more to work with. So today Logan and I will be making a special trip into town to fill our bare kitchen back up and do ranch odds and ends. Grocery shopping is not my favorite way to fill a nice day, but at least it will get us out of the office for a while.

My Running Partner

I have read it over and over; the best way to keep motivated in your workout regime and lose weight is to do it with a friend. Some workout with their spouses or a group of girlfriends. This may be true for those who have spouses who are interested or friends nearby however, I don't have either. I tried the online sites where you workout virtually with a partner, but even those only kept me motivated for so long before it just became ridiculous. I have Biscuit.

Biscuit is not only my running partner but also my security alerter. Recently we have had the cougar and bear approach themselves closer to home and me running around in their territory may not make them all that happy. But I know if even a rabbit or coyote is nearby when Biscuit is around.

Like anybody else, there are days where he does not want to wake up before the sun to go out running with me. On several occasions now after passing the first cattle guard, he'll stop and watch me. I run a little further and ask him if he's sitting this one out or coming along. When he stops before the second cattle guard I know he's staying home. But he is always at the gate waiting for me when I get back!

The Inner Child

I purchased sidewalk chalk for Logan while out and about. Both he and I go out to the back porch to draw and color. Of course I am usually still going long after he quits. However, he does enjoy "erasing" my art work with the water hose!!

The water hose then becomes a spray of sprinkles for us both to run under; a mud hole for us to stomp in, a puddle where my art used to be to splash around...

Sometimes I sit here and wonder how I filled my days without him. What did I do? I have become so accustomed to spending these days with my inner child that whenever I am not around my son bringing that child out of me I feel...lonely? I don't know how to describe it.

Either way I am enjoying running around and being a "kid" again!

Race Ready?

Only ten more days until my first 5K race. Am I ready? Nope. I really began fretting over this last night after I talked to a friend of mine. Here I am just shooting the breeze, filling him in on what we've been up to, asking him about this and that, when I tell him about this race. He got all excited and asked more details; then said that he is going to go and watch! Uh oh.

The time just flew by so fast! When I had signed up for this race I had 3 weeks of training. Now as I look at my calendar I can not believe where the weeks have gone. I have run the distance plus more over the course of these weeks however, I have not put in as much speed work as I would have liked. Thus, I will more than likely not meet my race pace goal. Still, I will go out there have fun and let the adrenaline and excitement lead the way.

Opinions and Judgements

What is it with people who always have to have a say in everything you do? Particulalry with your child? For the past week I have had people give me more opionions and judgements on Logan than I care to hear.

1."He's not potty trained yet? My kids were all potty trained by 14 months."

2."When are you going to cut his hair? It's getting long. He should move to Madrid." (a nearby "hippy town")

3."He's still drinking on a bottle! He should be off that by now."

Good grief people. Sometimes I sit there and let the judgements/opinions go in one ear and out the other. Sometimes I retaliate. Usually when the latter happens I get another comment such as, "Well...he's actually not that bad," or "He is still quite young."

My favorites come from those who don't have any children of their own but feel the need to tell everyone else how to raise theirs. I have heard everything from what to do when he's fussy, how I should put him down to bed, where he should sleep, how he should sleep, when I should be feeding him, what he should be eating....I bet I can compile a list several pages long!

My opinion; this is all a learning process for everyone. Kids do not come with a manual. So just filter those comments you feel you can use and forget the rest.

Petroglyphs National Monument

Saturday was a lovely day hiking the Petroglyphs National Monument. Poor Logan, some of the rocks were like rock climbing for him, but he did a terrific job! I have a hiking carrier to haul him in, but he was content on doing things on his own. The only downfall was the heat. It was so hot and no shady areas. This was the cause of not hiking all the trails available. Next weekends hike; in the woods with lots of shady tree cover!!

Test Run

A while back I had purchased an infant carrier to take Logan on family hikes. Since then, it has sat in his room collecting dust. Part of the reason for this is that I wait on my husband to want to be a part of the things I would like to do. However, I have decided that I am tired of waiting; Logan and I are going to go do things with or without him.

It all started on the fourth of July when I researched and picked three different events for us to go to as a family. A rodeo and firework display in Morarity; a parade, fireworks in Albuquerque; and fireworks overlooking Elephant Butte lake in Truth and Consequences, NM. After sitting down to discuss these choices with my husband I was told, "Unless it can outdo the Fire Festival on my game, I don't want to go." So, another fourth of July passed that we stayed home and did nothing; and for me, this was the last straw. I wasn't angry. I just came to a decision.

Now, I never considered myself or was even the type of girl who couldn't do things on her own. From movies to eating out to hiking; I have done lots of things by myself. But somewhere in my mind I had events and trips planned that I figured we should enjoy as a family. Everytime I planned a trip it got shot down by my husband just wanting to stay home and play his online game. I understand that this is his way to unwind and forget about work; everybody needs this time. However to me, the game seems to rule everything and everybody else out.

Finally I asked myself, "Why should I sit around waiting for him to be involved while life is happening?" My decision; I sat down and planned several day hiking trips for Logan and I. Since he has never been in his carrier before, I decided to give it a test run last night. He climbed right in! I lifted him up on my back and away we went, first around the house. We walked through the bathroom so he can see himself in the mirror, through the living room and bedrooms. Now for outside. Away we went walking around the ranch, not too far away from home in case he had enough. When we came back to the house and I put him down, he didn't want to climb out. Success!!

Let's see how we do on our little trip this weekend!

Running

I never considered myself an athlete. Three years ago I talked to a fitness trainer about different cross training programs to add to my runs for my first half marathon. While discussing these programs she mentioned "...an athlete like yourself..." Me? I looked around to see who else was in the room; no one.

It was not until after that first 13.1 miles that I said to myself, "Maybe I am!" Now, after a long break from any kind of fitness regime, I am in the midst of training for yet another half marathon. Although I have to admit that this mornings run was not as graceful as previous runs. I woke up late, therefore not getting my full stretch and warm up in not to mention water intake. Then while crossing one of the cattleguards, I tripped and hurt my elbow.

It's moments like these that I agree with all of those who call me crazy for doing this in the first place.

Facebook

Well, I have done it. I have succumbed to the technological socialites and joined Facebook. I have heard that Facebook is a great way to network; you can post pictures, vidoes, tell your Facebook friends what you are doing every second of the day, and network for jobs.

Yes, I have fallen into the new age way of communication. No more cards, pens, envelopes and postage stamps. You can send all of that plus "gifts" via Facebook.

I admit I haven't done much on this vast networking engine; mainly because I don't quite understand it. There is an area where you type in what's on your mind, you can write on people's walls (which lets all of your other friends read it as well,) and applications for quizzes, etc.

Since I have joined, I have been able to get in contact with some of my sorority sisters; and my husband found some high school friends he lost contact with. It is interesting to see what everyone has been up too since high school and college.

Each day I take time to figure out just what the Facebook fuss is about and add more to my profile. I'm sure that once I get everything figured out I too will be a Facebook socialite!

Getting Lazy!

I think I got lazy on my trip in Iowa. For three days I had absolutley nothing going on; so I slept in, took a walk in the gardens (and smelled every rose in it,) cruised the college campus, etc.

Now that I am home again I have been working on getting back to my normal schedule. I have always been the first one up in the mornings already cooking breakfast and making coffee just as my husband gets in the shower. When he leaves I go for a run, cross train, strength and core train; whatever is on my fitness agenda for the day. When Logan wakes I get him ready for the day, we play and read together, then take care of all the household chores before heading off to work. And the day proceeds with cooking dinner and having family time, etc.

However, since I have been back my husband has been having to wake me up every morning and I haven't ran or done any of my fitness plans (which is going to make it hell for my marathon coming up.) The rest of my day is still on track but these mornings have been brutal!

I know what I need to do. I need to get to bed a little earlier, set the alarm, and when workout time comes; don't think about it, just do it!!