I'm Orange!!

Since I got my iPhone I have been also using the Nike+sensor to log my runs and this morning I moved out of the yellow zone (beginning zone - logging a total of 0-30 miles) to the orange zone - YEA!! And I got props from Lance Armstrong - his recorded voice told me that I logged my fastest mile to date - YEA again! Now I know that when you start out from 0 miles and really slow it can only get better but still....I feel pretty damn good today! Look out Philly Half Marathon - here I come!

Goal Setting After 40

I want an iPhone...like bad. Training Buddy has one and we ran a 5 mile training run this weekend and she has this really cool app that tracks your run and I REALLY, REALLY, REALLY want that. I haven't been running as much as I used to so I am thinking this little app will help me get my ass off the couch and move - or will it? I used to be pretty darn active - running a good 20-30 miles a week and usually trying to convince friends to do crazy things like run a marathon. But I have lost the edge, gained some weight and find I enjoy cooking & eating good food more than going out for a run. I admit I was my skinniest, fittest when I was probably not the happiest person around. So what, now I'm happy & I have to be fat? I don't think so..... I'll probably never get down to my svelte just divorced figure and that's Ok - I'll take the happy part but the fat part I don't have to . So... instead of trying to fit into that cute little outfit or some other girly thing - I am going to set my goal to get a new iPhone. And the only thing that stands between me & it is 25 pounds. We'll see how bad I really want it...

A Recipe for Success

Well, life is getting back to normal. Back to work full time, watching what we eat, not drinking and we joined a gym. WHAT ??? WE... Hubby & I joined a gym? Yes faithful readers WE did. I have been going to the little workout room at work and since Hubby couldn't join that one (doesn't work in the building) we joined a real, grown up gym. And the shocker is we actually got up at 5:45 this AM and went to the gym. Maybe this clean living is agreeing with us. Well, Ok after two days it is agreeing with us.

I have the usual resolutions, but one thing I saw on one of my favorite blogs, The Perfect Pantry

really caught my eye. This is such a great idea and really hit home for me the issue of childhood hunger. We may not have had much extra fancy stuff growing up but we always had a good meal on the table. I think instead of focusing on me me me for my resolutions I will try to add some things I will start doing, not just stop doing. Supporting my local food bank consistently seems like a good place to start.

After a whole year, well almost the whole year of following this blog A Year of Crockpotting
I am having withdrawals. I hope you are having fun visiting the Mouse, Steph! This is a very cool site and the best part is she gives the real low down or verdict on the recipes.

And since it is Tuesday, I will re-visit Ten on Tuesday this week, Ten Things I Want To Do in 2009. Per usual - in no particular order
1. Complete in a reasonable time (and not hurt myself) the Hyannis Half Marthon next month.
2. Remember my resolution to give back, I am starting training to volunteer at a local Hospice unit this month.
3. Not get sick on our trip to South America.
4. Think positive more than think negative.
5. Continue to care about what I eat, drink & exercise.
6. Never have my friends or family doubt how much I love them and how important they are in my life.
7. Finish at least 2 quilts and learn how to knit socks.
8. Make it to a couple of Red Sox games.
9. Go watch the 'Fins play somewhere fun.
10. Not slide off the driveway during our bad weather, which we happen to be having tonight. Maybe I should put that one at the top of the list?

Fillin Friday

Another Friday - I need about 3 extra Fridays this month to finish some Christmas projects I got going. And to think I promised myself less stress this year - HA!



1. Friends are the best thing ever - I've got great ones!

2. Good health; it's nothing to take for granted.

3. I'm ready for going out to dinner tonight & enjoy the company of an old friend and a new friend.

4. Old Spice (my Dad used to wear it) is one of my favorite perfumes or aftershaves or smells.

5. The oldest ornament I have is , since my brother doesn't read this - I have the blue Silent Night ball!!! A very big deal in our family and it was wanted by both of us - Mom likes me best, she gave it to me!

6. Take some hot tea, honey, lemon & whiskey, mix it all together and you have an awesome hot toddy.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to dinner then working on Christmas gifts, tomorrow my plans include running....gulp.... 8 miles and packing up gifts to mail and Sunday, I want to work on Christmas gifts, watch the 'Fins win & enjoy the Niantic Christmas parade!

The port is gone....

Ok - it FINALLY snowed Sunday, we woke up and there was snow on the ground but we must SEE it snowing before we can drink the port. So around 11:00 Hubby yells rather happily - "It's snowing - can we drink the port?!!" And even thought it was 11:00 AM we had a couple of nice glasses of port ( thanks again Lizard family!) and then we went out for a walk while it was snowing. It was beautiful! And on Saturday - I met Training Buddy and we ran our 7 mile training run and I didn't die. I couldn't believe how good I felt afterwards but admit I am so sore now. I really think running up to 8 miles is more mental than fitness as long as you have a baseline of ability. So now I'm screwed....

I saw this meme on Carole's blog and really like it. It gives me a lot to write about without thinking too much and that's good - we had Reiki Buddy and her husband over for dinner last night - it was really nice, we had a great time, lots of good food, conversation and wine. They left at a reasonable hour but I was all wound up and had to watch football/Sports Center/'Fins highlights until midnight.

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? It depends, I use both.

2. Real tree or Artificial? Real! It's not Christmas with an artificial tree - we cut ours down this weekend at Charlie Brown's Christmas Tree Farm.

3. When do you put up the tree? This year we put it up early, usually we don't get our act together until a couple of weeks before Christmas.

4. When do you take the tree down? The Saturday after New Years.

5. Do you like eggnog? Love it! Love the Starbucks Egg Nog Latte ( Venti with an extra shot, please) Love it with dark rum.

6. Favorite gift received as a child? No special gift really stands out - I always got good stuff from Santa.

7. Hardest person to buy for? My brother.

8. Easiest person to buy for? Our friend Nose Dive - I usually shop all year and I see things all the time she'd like.

9. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes, but it's glass so I didn't put it up this year - Nelson would have it in pieces.

10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail - I didn't send any out last year as we had company for the entire month of December. If I get my act together we mail them from the Christmas Festival in Bethlehem, CT so they have a special cancellation seal. I wasn't that organized this year but maybe we'll head over this weekend - we love to go to GW Tavern.

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Probably a London Fog rain coat from my ex-monster-in-law. She bought all her kids expensive gifts, like paying off their car, big screen Tv, diamonds, etc. ( Her husband died and I think she spent all his life insurance money on the gifts). Anyway - my marriage was on the rocks and when I opened that gift I knew it was over. The next week the ex asked me for a divorce - on the phone while I was in Montana - and he was in Florida. I think the monster-in-law had a borderline personality disorder anyway... And the divorce was the best gift the ex ever gave me.

12. Favorite Christmas Movie? A Christmas Carol with Alistair Sim, we also like Scrooged with Bill Murray - it is 80's fabulous...

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? All year - I try to pick up things when I am on trips or at craft fairs. I usually get about 75% of it done before the fall.

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? I don't think so - I did give gifts my ex- boss gave me to the Goodwill store. They were too ugly to re-gift.

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Everything - I love pot lucks at work.

16. Lights on the tree? Yep - white & colored.

17. Favorite Christmas song? Carol the Bells although the Garmin commercials are trying to ruin it for me. I'll Be Home for Christmas always makes me cry so I like that one too.

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? I prefer home but when we've traveled it's always been interesting. Like when we were at my brother's and they "forgot" to shop for Christmas dinner stuff ( although his mother-in-law made the turkey - Thank God) and we had to dig in their bare cupboards (because they really don't cook much) and had Rice A Roni and Jello made with tonic water as side dishes. That was memorable..

19. Can you name all of Santa’s reindeer? Sure, but I’d have to sing to do it. ( I liked your answer, Carole!)

20. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Morning!

21. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? My brother NEVER gets our gifts to us in time for Christmas. For some reason it bugs the hell out fo me every year. I don't even care what we get - just get them to us by Christmas!

22. Favorite ornament theme or color? No real theme, my Mom gives us homemade Santas ever year so we have those all over the house. My favorite ornament is a homemade ornament from my quilting buddy, Emily. She made it when she was in her 80's. I loved her like a Grandma and every year that is the first ornament I put on the tree and the last one I take off.

23. What do you want for Christmas this year? A sewing machine I can use to machine quilt - I believe it is under the tree already.

24. Angel on the tree top or a star? Tree topper - no angel or star.

25. Favorite Christmas dinner? Prime Rib, Crown Pork Roast or Turkey. This year it's turkey since we didn't get any leftover from Thanksgiving.

Ten on Tuesday - we'll be doing that on Wednesday

Yoowwza - it's already Tuesday. Well - ya got to know I'm happy about the 'Fins game on Sunday. And Shana, I was a loser and did not complete my long (5 mile) run on Sunday because I am a loser & started to watch the football game with a glass of wine in my hand. But I ran yesterday and actually am going to hold all my thoughts for this post until tomorrow so I can go and run now (on a treadmill which is boring but it's dark so there you have it).

I've been a bad blogger...

I hate it when my favorite blogs don't get updated. I forget these people most likely have lives outside of entertaining me. So for all my dear readers I apologize - usually Ten on Tuesday wakes me up and gets my arse motivated to post something. Or when the 'Fins manage to squeek out another win.But I've been busy and then tired. Hubby & I have been car pooling since my truck stopped running so I've been hanging with him (unless I'm at work). And now , on our 3rd year anniversary, my truck will be ready for me to take home and there will be no more "forced togetherness" on our drive in to work or home after work. We are going to go out for a hamburger tonight to celebrate the 3 year anniversary thing, however.

I have included a photo of our favorite hot dog stand in CT. When we moved up here from FLA we were surprised at the New England obsession with hot dogs. People are very loyal to "their hot dog joints". We drove by this place for almost 2 years while we were working on our house before I finally couldn't stand it one day & stopped. And let me tell you - these dogs are great! They park this trailer in a parking lot on the side of the road ( next to a Subway shop which is sort of funny) so if you are really lucky sometimes you get to see them driving down the road and it does make you feel extra special - I don't know why, to see the hot dog going down the road on their way to the parking lot (open at 10) or on their way home (close at 2). They are also open seasonal so when you see them in the spring it is hopeful and when they tell you they will only be open for another week ( like they did Saturday) it's a little sad that another hot dog season is over. They have been doing this for 23 years - WOW! So thank you Hot Dog Lady for another great season and for giving me extra incentive to keep running so I can burn the calories from two cheese hot dogs with relish, ketchup and horse radish mustard!