Monthly Archives: February 2012

Lenten Miles

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Tonight I accomplished a 1-mile personal record! I ran a mile in 9:57 just under ten minutes. It’s quite possible that I also did this during my triathlon since I averaged a 10 minute mile but there is no record of that. My 9:57 is on Run Keeper so it’s official!

Even more impressive (to myself) when I got back from my run I was taking the dogs out to relieve themselves but I didn’t take my running shoes off before that so they thought we were going for a run. When I opened the door they took off in the direction of our usual runs and I felt so bad (and still quite hyped up about my PR) that I decided to go another mile! Some may not think this is such a big deal. I mean in reality it’s not. I only went 3 miles total tonight; and the last two weren’t as good as the first, BUT that’s because I didn’t talk about yesterday run yet.

(Insert deep sigh)

I picked up running for Lent. Why? Because I hate running. Why? Because I’m über lazy. This Lent I will be running a minimum of 2 miles a day. By the time Lent is over I will have run over 80 miles, which happens to be more than I’ve ever run in a year’s time. That was the first thought I had when I saw my red sweaty face in the mirror after my first two Lenten miles yesterday… then I broke out in hives. Intense hives, so big they began to merge together. My skin felt like it was on fire. I was certain a trip to Urgent Care for a shot would be necessary. It was well over an hour after taking two Benadryl that the hives began to subside.

My husband just laughed at me.

Since we’ve been dating we have concluded I break out in hives for two reasons: I’ve lied about something or there is a possibility I will accomplish something outside my comfort zone. The first of the two has only happened once, I didn’t want him to know that I hadn’t started an extremely important paper that was due soon so when he asked I said I’d taken care of it. Hives consumed my body for the next three days. I don’t lie anymore. The second has happened on several occasions. I’m allergic to accomplishment… or even the thought of such. He is sure that if I could just control the strength my mind has over my body I could do amazing things. I wouldn’t know because so far the strength has only been used for evil. But I digress.

Let me get back to the point. While many great things will come out of me running for 40 days straight I pray that I do not take too much pride in the results and focus on the reason for my “suffering“. God has given me the gift of a strong body that is capable of many things but instead I choose to completely neglect it. So many people who love running truly suffer from bad knees, shin splints, and the ton of other running injuries. I, on the other hand, have the worst posture and can get up and run a half marathon with little to no training without injury. (I’m working on the posture part… and the training part.) I don’t want to take that for granted anymore! I hate to sound pretentious because I’m not a good runner by any means, but I think with dedication and focus I just might be able to be alright someday. And I think that would make my body, my husband, Our Blessed Mother, and her Son very pleased.

The two were one…

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Today would have been my parent’s wedding anniversary, 33 maybe 34 years I’m not certain. I tried calling my mom earlier today but she’s currently without a cell phone and/or internet which makes human contact a nearly impossible feat. Take us back to 1995 why dontcha. … Random thought: I should write her a letter.

I still miss my dad quite often but with better perspective now that I’ve grown older (and wiser… maybe).

I never got around to writing about our trip back to Houston last December. We went back to be with my family on the 5th anniversary since my dad passed. I set up a Mass Intention both at our home church here in Arizona and then in the church we grew up next door to in Houston. We all went to Mass together, even my dad’s sister and brother-in-law. The priest didn’t know that we were the family of one of the names on the Intentions list, and later we found out he wasn’t even on the list or at least the one they said out loud. But either way my dad was definitely remembered and his presence felt. Mark, mi sobrina, and I were asked to light the last advent Calendar at the beginning of the procession, then my brothers were asked to take up the gifts. The entire message was about the strength of women and our ability to love and heal our family, which I feel was directed at my dad’s three women: my mom, myself, and his sister. We all were hurt very much after losing him and for many years before. I definitely played a smaller role but I think they can never be reminded enough how much their love kept my father alive for as long as it did.

Even with the joy that Mass gave us we were all still mourning inside. We didn’t take any photos that day so we don’t have any picture to remember the whole family being together, but it happened and I will never forget it.

Pin-Tested – Rice Krispie Treat Kiss Style

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Yesterday I was avoiding my to-do list by surfing Pinterest (It’s the thing to do these days!) and I came across this ingenious idea to make chunks of Rice Krispies Treats shaped into a Hershey’s Kiss.

The photo above is what sparked my interest.

This is what my chunk looked like. No one sales those funnels anymore! They all have spill proof pouring spouts now. Very inconvenient when you’re using an oil filter as a baking tool! How dare those men that must have created that (just kidding).

Overall I guess it came out okay. My husband LOVED the surprise Rice Krispies Treat, and was especially impressed that the note I’d left inside opened up the wrapping just as intended on the original kiss. I was actually regretting giving him yet another Valentine’s gift that could be made by a five-year old. Ugh. But he really did love it! I’m glad I didn’t talk myself out of it because he loves Rice Krispies Treats oh so very much! And this was a fun way to present them.

As for my first Pin-Test. I didn’t really pick a great one because it didn’t link back to any website with instructions. Probably because everyone in the world knows how to make a Rice Krispie Treat. I’ll be sure to make my next test a bit harder! I’d like to make this a new weekly series. My “I Want To Make That” Pinboard keeps growing so I better start completely some of those!

Ingredients:

  • 4 tablespoons butter
  • 4 cups   miniature marshmallows
  • 5 cups   Rice Krispies®
Instructions:
1. In large saucepan melt butter over low heat. Add marshmallows and stir until completely melted. Remove from heat.
2. Add Rice Krispies cereal. Stir until completely coated.
3. Butter the inside of the funnel and press mixture inside to form a cone shape.
4. Place note strip on tin foil from center to hang off the edge.
5. Place cone-shaped treat on foil on top of note. Let cool to hold shape.
6. Wrap foil around treat letting the note strip hang out of top.
7. Share! Enjoy!

Weekend Adventures: Will Run For Food.

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I had the weekend off and it did not go as planned. Which isn’t a bad thing, it’s quite amazing actually. Saturday I actually agreed to ride my bike up South Mountain to the Summit. Which happens to have an elevation of 2330 ft.

Friend: “Are you going to join us for a ride in the morning?”
Me: “Sure.”
Husband: “South Mountain?”
Me: “Sure.”

What the what was I thinking? We rode 8 miles before even getting to the mountain and I fell way behind.

Me: “Don’t wait for me! I’ll be okay. It’s okay don’t wait for me!”

I wanted to turn back before I made it a mile in. And I sorta did.

Isn’t this photo so pretty and so clearly necessary? I must have stood there for around 5 minutes deciding if I was going to go up or not.

I finally got back on my bike and started trekking. At the 2.5 mile mark I gave up. I got off my bike and started walking it up the mountain. Lots of people sped past me as they went back down having completed their journey. They all smiled nicely at me. I smiled back. I couldn’t tell if they were laughing at me or with me, so I went with the latter.

Then out of no where some man pulls up next to me. Seriously I didn’t hear or see him coming up behind, he was just suddenly there!

Stranger: “WHAT ARE YOU DOING?”
Me: “I’m tired… of trying. So I just gave up.” (I don’t know why I suddenly wanted to be so honest with a stranger.)
Stranger: “Oh come on. Walking up this thing isn’t any fun. You’re on the wrong gear. Get back on and change your gear. Just turn around because you have to be spinning the pedals to change gears. Go ahead turn around. I’ll go with you… Watch the car… Okay you’re fine. Go ahead.”
Me: “Thanks!”
Stranger: “That’s it. I just spin all the way up.”

And then he was off. And so was I but much slower, so I lost him pretty quickly. I never saw him again though. May have been my lack of attention. Or maybe he was an angel that cycled back to heaven. Who knows? I get yelled out by the heavens often, so it wouldn’t surprise me if a cycling angel actually took the time to come down and yell at me face to face. It happens.

Whatever it was that man got me into the correct gear and up that mountain.

I never thought I would ever accomplish that but I did! And best of all, there at the time was my husband and great friend cheering me on! They could have went back down so much sooner and waited for me at the bottom but instead they waited in the cold summit air to cheer me to victory! I am so very thankful for the two of them and the stranger that called me out!!!