dailybreak

I just found out that the church secretary who was also the church organist for my church died yesterday. She had failing health the past few months. My heart goes out to the congregation and especially the Pastor. I belong to a small country church, St. Pauls, where everyone is close. I have only been a member for a short time (I was a field worker there for one year too) and most recently have been attending a closer different church, Holy Cross,(that I belonged to for 14 years before transferring to St. Pauls), but I know the congregation well enough to understand what a great loss this is for them and great sadness that fills their hearts.

I wish I had something deep to say. My mother in law is visiting from New Hampshire and has been a joy to have around. Abby took about a half day to warm up to here. But, after sharing a meal with her at supper, Abby was all talk and smiles. All the talking must be wearing her out because she (Abby) slept 3.5 hours today in naps.

Tomorrow, I am going to do something crazy. I have been thinking about wanting to get into the government/political system for years (a little unknown secret of mine) but never really made the jump. Tomorrow, I am going to get the necessary forms to run for the city's school board (there are five potential open seats up for grabs in April). I have not decided if I will go out and try to get the required 50 legal signatures and do all the necessary binding, notarizing, statment making etc before 5 PM Feb. 5th. Stay tuned. I am taking baby steps. The only person that I have ever really seriously talked about this with is my mother.
I read in the local paper tonight about the five potential openings and the article provided all the information to get the petition ball rolling.

I just ate almost a whole package of Haribo Gold Bears gummi candy. And not only a package but it was valu pak package; meaning more deliciously sinful gummi candy in the shape of cute little colored bears. Me wonder if one can get high from too much gummi? My mouth feels disgusting. Must drink water.

I have been taking a very smart, safe and mature route to running since having Abby. Instead of just running for running sake and not caring if I am hurting my knee until it starts hurting and I can't take one more step, I am trying to look at my running as something I want to do when I am 80 and not just today.

One big change is I take walk breaks. I am not going to be an elite runner, as cool as that seems, and thus it is okay if I walk.

This past November I started slowly increasing my running time by increasing my running intervals from 1 minute to 10. Now that I can go ten minutes before I take a walk break, I am working on increasing my overall running time from 30 minutes to, well, more than 30 minutes. I am basically doing this routine where for three weeks I increase my long run by several minutes and then week 4 I go easy. All the while taking 1 minute walk breaks every 8-12 minutes.

Today I ran 48 minutes w/ walk breaks every 10 or 8 minutes. Next week I will be back down to 30 for my easy week. But, after that I will try for a 56-58 minute long run. My goal is eventually 90 minutes so I can seriously think about doing a half-marathon. Which will require at least 2 hours. I have ran 2 in the past but I did not take them seriously and ended up w/ really sore knee from an aggravated illiotibial band. My chiropractor has helped a great deal along with some spiffy orthotics that fit like a glove in my Asics 2110's, which I just bought for 46 bucks free shipping...they retail for 90 bucks. Oh yeah.

It is National De-Lurking Week!

Like miss zoot I will be donating a dollar to charity  for every comment I receive. 

My charity is a program sponsored by Camp Luther where they try to send children to a week long camp for free.  I loved camp as a kid and think all kids should experience the joy of swimming in cold lakes and smelling like bug repellant is the next Chanel no 5. 

Of course, I don't have a lot of readers so maybe I should up my donation to 5 bucks a person commenting. 

Just say HI!

I am sure you are waiting by the edge of your seats to find out what I am going to prepare for my chef friend. Well, wait no longer my fine culinary friends...

SPANIKOPITA!

"Ah, Sarah, how much have you been drinking?

Not much, (just joking) but this is a recipe from my "Horn Of The Moon Cookbook". A total vegetarian cookbook that Mitch has owned for over 12 years. He says he has cooked every recipe from it. The dish consists of phyllo dough wrapped around sauteed garlic, onions, sweet basil, and oregano mixed with feta cheese, spinach and eggs. I even made a special trip to my favorite spice shop were you can pay 50cents for a fresh spices that at the store cost 4dollars or more. I kid you not! What a racket.

Happy for the weekend. Happy to wake up and the only thing to accomplish is playing with Abby, working out, and making some food. My new magazine addiction...cookbook mags. I can go through a food mag over and over again and always find something new I might want to cook. I am a little nervous (okay not really but I should be); Mon. I am suppose to deliver a home-cooked meal to a new mom who used to be a chef on the west coast for a well-known head chef. I am thinking I will just go simple and not exert any great amount of energy because I can't possible cook anything good enough. I am McDonalds and she is Le Bonne Bouche (a french pastry shop that makes food good enough for the best food mag).

Anchorversary? I just saw a commercial for Matt Lauer's 10th Anchorversary. The voice over was so serious too; as if I am the fool for not hearing this word before. That opens a whole new world of words for me. As if Bennifer and Brangelina was not good enough. I do believe those usages are out of style.

Hmmm...
When is your blogversary?

Resolution update:

55 pushups a day! I am crazy. Maybe I will just aim to do more pushups more days a week

I am almost done with reading "Little Earthquakes" by Jennifer Weiner and then it is on to a new book for January. It is wierd for me to say that reading one book a month is a big deal because in college I was having to read more than one book a week. Also, I noticed back in my school daze I was much faster at reading. The more I read the faster I read. One time in order to be ahead for a 4-week African American literature course, I thought I would go buy the books ahead of schedule and read them all before the first day of class. Great books by great African American writers. Then one day I was in the bookstore, looking up more books for the class, I noticed something. There were two African American lit classes, and I had been busting my butt reading for the wrong class. I stood in the bookstore for a second dumbfounded and not sure if being upset was a valid response, because I had read books that I most likely would have never read. So, I shrugged my shoulders and said to myself oh well and started reading the books for the right class.

Perhaps that is indicative of my response to mistakes I make, which I make a lot. Oh well, shrugg shoulders and move forward. I guess sometimes I even learn from my mistakes. Or better yet my reading the wrong books thing is more telling of the fact I don't always pay attention to details. I admire those that do.

I don't usually bother with new years resolutions but this year it seemed like a fun idea. Or, at least an idea; maybe not fun.

1) Go to bed earlier
2) Turn computer off by 8pm (this will help with #1)
3) Drink less soda by not keeping it in the house
4) Learn Origami (Have already made dog's head and nightingale)
5) Read a book a month that is not a how to be a better mom book
6) Go to a new restaurant every month; cheap or fancy
7) 55 pushups a day

Things I learned in 2006

Parenting: This is an obvious one but needs to be mention because there is not better education than the real thing. I am good mom. I am not your mom's mom or your mom or Abby's friend's mom or my mom. I am Abby's mom and she smiles everytime she sees me. She has yet to be sick and I know of no other 1 year old like this. I have my theories why: no daycare, breastfed, limited immunization shots, plenty of sunshine, good nutrition and plenty of sleep and love, but like I said they are just theories.

Friendship and meeting new people: I have made new friends this year which I am so very grateful for at this time in my life. A healthy friendship is one were the each person puts out the same energy into the friendship; be it a little or lot. As long you are equal it is good. Also, a friendship can't be forced; it must grow with patience. Sometimes there are people you just click with; don't ignore those moments. Being reserved does not build friendship; I have always had trouble opening up more but I am learning that being vulnerable and open with thoughts and feelings is not a bad thing necessarily. Finally, you get out what you put in. I have learned that from my mom groups.

Career choices: If I could do it all over again; I would be come a nurse or physical therapist. I still can but not for a few years.

There is a fine line between observing and criticizing, between understanding human weakness and judging it. I am a judgmental person; I come across that way at times. I am working at changing that. This ties in with being more open and less reserved. I have been through a lot of shit in my life and I need not to be afraid to let people know that I too have weaknesses.

On a more lighter note:

Justin Timberlake is awesome. Did you see him on SNL?

Mary J Blige is more awesome.

Red wine rocks.

Blogs are good and I enjoy reading them of friends and strangers.

Letterman is way funnier than Leno.

My new favorite group is Gabriel Y Rodrigo. Beautiful. Your life will be better after checking them out.

PBS has good cooking shows; and I need to cook more.

The Office (American Version) is the funniest TV show I have ever seen. I LOVE IT!

A few Blogs I read that are strangers to me:
www.misszoot.com
www.dooce.com
http://untanglingknots.blogspot.com
www.suburbanbliss.net
http://mightygirl.com
http://runningchick.blogspot.com
http://blogs.clubmom.com/daily_dose
Happy New Year

Abby thought the massager was very funny.


How many people does it take to put together a kid's toy?


That is Steve, the dog, he shows up in a lot of pictures unwanted. Steve, MOVE!


Abby loves the box more than the toy.


Books! You must read child.


Go hippo go...

Birthday Cake icing or should I say sugar shock. Abby did not care for the cake but she found the red icing interesting. I think most of it landed on her face.


Sesame Street cake; no princess stuff for my girl. She is all about the Elmo.


Abby and her presents. The bald baby I named Sinead O'Connor or "Shay-Shay" for short. Oh, I crack myself up.


Abby and Grandma (my mom) taking a break and enjoying some presents.

I should be in bed. But, I am up because it Christmas Eve and I love Christmas Eve. Mitch is at church. I went to church earlier tonight.

Overall, a good day. Slept in til 8am, went for a 4 mile run while listening to Christmas music on my ipod, spent a couple hours w/ my dearest friend Trudie. She was on post call yesterday and has to go work on Christmas Day. Such is the life of doctor; a darn good doctor at that. After Trudie's, Abby and I spent the afternoon at my parents where Mitch met us with the dogs. My dad and I went for a walk while Abby napped. We opened presents after she woke up and ate an early dinner. The ham and cherry cheesecake were yum.

Abby loves Christmas and she is so cute playing with each of her toys. Mitch did good the present front too. He gave me a new black Ralph Lauren purse, a very super soft blue blanket, 600 count sateen sheets, and a Brothers label maker (I love my labeler; watch out I will label you!) I gave him a new set of knives, awesome slippers that form to your feet, and a hand held massager from Sharper Image. Actually all of his gifts were from Sharper Image.

My mom gave me tickets to see the Celtic Women in April!! a Celtic Women Christmas CD and money.

I can't wait for the concert. It will be my mom and two friends and me all enjoying the really good seats up front. This will be the second concert I have attended w/ my mom the past few years. We went to Dixie Chicks together a couple years ago.

Merry Christmas!

But more, peace on earth. This is the angel’s prayer for the world. That there be peace on earth. Oh, it embraces that we lay down our weapons – including the horrific weapons we civilians know how to use on each other – the cutting word, the biting look, the bitter anger. All of it, laid aside. But also the weapons we actually use to blow each other up – to inspire fear and terror. The angels pray the night of the Savior’s birth that PEACE would really be upon the earth. That we would come to love each other with the same sort of love that rules in heaven above, where the Father, Son, and Spirit love each other and the whole of creation with a love undying and full of mercy. A peace the holy angels live in and which the evil angels have rejected to their own destruction. All of that, yes, but even more. -Pastor William Weedon

his blog where you can read all of his good sermons and more
http://weedon.blogspot.com

Dec 22nd. ONE YEAR OLD!! Happy Birthday Abby!

This week alone has been a week of realizing you are not a little baby anymore. You love to talk and talk in your cute language. You love to squeal at other babies. You love to reach your little fingers to the piano keys and play them; much to the dismay of the dogs.

Is that a cat? When you first said cat upon seeing the cat coming around the corner; I wish I could have gone back in time a few seconds to hear it again. It was a TIVO moment. You know; TIVO...it lets you rewind things. And fast forward. Sometimes I wish I could fast forward through those times you decide that nothing is appetizing. You tried Cheerios for the first time this week and they are a favorite now; at least for a few days until you decide that peas are your fave again.

When you were first born I had a couple of Baby Einsteins DVDS for you to watch that were very simple. For your first birthday I bought you a new one that is more advanced with sign language, more words and more puppets interacting with other puppets. You squeal with laughter at the puppets and talk to them saying "Ah yes that is so funny Mr. Puppet dog."

We have also tried taking you to church more and that is always an adventure. Each week your a little more vocal towards the pastor and other kids. And, I love my morning workout of trying to keep you from climbing over the pew. I have learned to never go on a empty impatient stomach.

Crawling as fast as you can you catch up to me before I can blink twice. You have also figured out how to crawl with objects in your hands so you can stop and bang them together. Crawling and clapping are two of your favorite things. Next month pretty sure you will be almost walking on your own. Stay tuned.

As you will soon find out you are a Christmas baby and your birthday might be overshadowed by Christmas. Whether or not we go to celebrating a half birthday in the summer or just make sure we separate Christmas and your birthday this time of year; always know, my love, that your birthday will forever hold a special place in my heart. I did not give birth to Jesus; I gave birth to you and a mother's love will always shine bright in the cold of December. As we celebrate both birthdays, Jesus and you, let us remember that both are filled with love. A gift that is too large to put in a pretty wrapped box. Happy Birthday.

This time last year...

I was in the first stage of labor. I am hoping I get more sleep tonight than I did a year ago when I was only sleeping 10-30 minutes at a time inbetween contractions. At about 4am I hit the second stage of labor. I did not go to the hospital until the next day at 4pm and gave birth 6 hours later. That is right...you read correctly. 30 hour labor from beginning to end. No drugs. Just my plain old crazy self getting me through it. I remember my doula kept telling me in the meetings prior to labor that her "runner clients" always make it without drugs. She said that running a long distance where your mind lets go and just goes with the flow is what a person has to do during labor. Let go and go with the flow.

Instead of being a time of unusual behavior, Christmas is perhaps the only time in the year when people can obey their natural impulses and express their true sentiments without feeling self-conscious and perhaps, foolish.


Selfishness makes Christmas a burden; love makes it a delight.

The MOMS club I belong to is a national organization. In our own group we collect money for a mother to mother fund that allows money to be granted to needy moms who are part of club nationally. I just got word that over $68.000 was given away this year to mothers who needed help throughout the country. What a blessing.

Time to breath a sigh of relief. I don't have my Christmas cards done yet but I did buy my last present this morning and arranged for the united states postal service to pick it up tomorrow. That is right...click and ship baby! I did not mind paying the extra buck fifty to have the lovely mailman pick up my package. Ahh.

This morning during Abby's nap I worked out to my new favorite workout DVD. The Ten Minute solution series are awesome. I own the Carb Burner and Fat Blasting Dance. They feature 5 ten minutes workouts that you can program to play all or one or whatever order your little tight tushy feels. I like to play the Carb Burner straight thru because it builds in intensity. By the end of the third workout I am totally out of breath and loving it. So, this new years when you are thinking of getting on the fitness bandwagon, I seriously recommended the Ten Minute Solution series. Dare I say, it is better than Tae Bo. Tae Bo has held my number one spot since 1999. I figure if I am ever attacked I can Tae Bo the hell out of someone. Don't make me go double time on you. That is what I would say.

Here is the link to all the Ten Minute Solution DVDs. I am going to buy the kickboxing one next.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/search-handle-url/index=dvd&field-keywords=10%20Minute%20Solution/104-1432891-0000753