Strong Legs 10k at Turner Field

This past Saturday, I ran the Strong Legs 10k at Turner Field. It is one of my favorite races. This is the third time I have run this race in the past couple of years. My all-time favorite race to run is the Peachtree Roadrace, which is on the 4th of July. This year would have been my 10th year running it, but I was in Ohio for my family reunion. Someday I hope to run a marathon, if my feet will allow me. Hopefully this upcoming spring I will run a half marathon. For those that don't know, I have plantar fasciitis in both of my feet. It has been a challenge (and quite painful) running with such bad feet.

In case you don't know, Plantar fasciitis (PLAN-tur fas-e-I-tis) is one of the most common causes of heel pain. It involves pain and inflammation of a thick band of tissue, called the plantar fascia, which runs across the bottom of your foot — connecting your heel bone to your toes. Plantar fasciitis causes stabbing pain that usually occurs with your very first steps in the morning. Once your foot limbers up, the pain of plantar fasciitis normally decreases, but it may return after long periods of standing or after getting up from a seated position. Plantar fasciitis is particularly common in runners. People who are overweight, women who are pregnant and those who wear shoes with inadequate support are at a higher risk of plantar fasciitis.

"I always loved running...it was something you could do by yourself, and under your own power. You could go in any direction, fast or slow as you wanted, fighting the wind if you felt like it, seeking out new sights just on the strength of your feet and the courage of your lungs." - Jesse Owens

Live everyday like it's your last....

Today we have higher buildings and wider highways, but shorter temperments and narrower points of view.

We spend more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses, but smaller families. We have more compromises, but less time. We have more knowledge, but less judgement. We have more medicines, but less health.

We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk much, we love only a little, and we hate too much.

We reached the moon and came back, but we find it troublesome to cross our own street and meet our neighbors. We have conquered the outer space, but not our inner space.

We have higher income, but less morals… These are times with more liberty, but less joy… With much more food, but less nutrition…

These are days in which two salaries come home, but divorces increase. These are times of finer houses, but more broken homes.

That’s why I propose that as of today -- You do not keep anything for a special occasion, because every day that you live is a special occasion. Search for knowledge, read more, sit on your front porch and admire the view without paying attention to the needs. Pass more time with your family, eat your favorite food, visit the place you love. Life is a chain of moments of enjoyment; it isn’t only survival.

Use your crystal goblets. Do not save your best perfume… use it every time you feel you want it. Take out from your vocabulary phrases like, “one of these days” and “someday”. Let’s write that letter we thought of writing “one of these days…”

Let’s tell our families and friends how much we love them. Never pass up a chance at adding laughter and joy to your life. Every day, hour, and minute are special… Because you never know if it will be your last…

Makes Me Think

I am obsessed with stumbleupon.com. As I was "stumbling" this morning, I ran across a cool website that is the opposite of FML, called Makes Me Think (MMT). Just thought I would share it. You guys should check it out if you have time. The site is makesmethink.com. Enjoy!

Freckles

As I was washing my face this morning, I looked into the mirror and noticed my freckles more than usual. Since I have been tanning recently, they have come out more because the formation of freckles is triggered by exposure to sunlight. Most of you know that I hate my freckles, as it characterizes me as being a ginger- pale skin, freckles and bright red hair. As I looked into the mirror I noticed the faded white line on my nose that did not contain freckles and was reminded of a story of my childhood.

Back in the Summer of '92, my family and I lived on Marco Island in Florida for the summer. My Dad was taking a sabbatical from preaching and we lived in a sweet little condo right on the beach. Although I remember it being tough having six of us live in the small condo, it was one of the best summers of my life. My brothers and I ran around catching lizards, fishing with my Dad, and shopping at Piggly Wiggly with my Mom. Now, being from Ohio, I thought that that was the craziest name ever for a grocery store but I loved it. That summer we spent nearly every day at the beach and I was the most tan little red head you ever did see. Although my body would tan, sometimes my face would burn. One day, I remember getting burned on my face and then having a blister form on my nose. I began to pick at my blister and realized that a couple of my freckles were coming off. Not realizing the full effect of my actions, I began peeling the blisters to remove my freckles. My Mom caught me doing so and made me stop, but my full intention was to peel the freckles off of my entire face. That's how much I hated them. Later that summer, for some reason my Mom had a bad feeling and thought that we needed to leave Marco Island a couple days early. Just three short days later, Hurricane Andrew struck without warning and demolished the island. God was definitely looking out for us because our whole condo was washed away.

It is amazing to me how one glance in the mirror can bring back so many vivid memories.

Ohhh Bella Mia...

Preface: A couple nights ago I was outside with Jack and Bella letting them run around in the backyard. It was the first time Bella had been outside to play since she has finally gotten all of her shots and she was running around like crazy. My neighbors were outside and told me to be careful because several hawks like to hang out in the trees behind my house. I looked up and there were two hawks in the trees looking at my little pups. I decided to bring them in the house and we continued to play. Since then, I decided to only let Jack outside when he had to use the restroom since I didn't want them swooped up by the hawks.

Well, yesterday when I got home I followed my usual routine of letting Bella out of the bathroom (where she stays when I am not home) and then I let Jack outside to go potty. I have a door in my room that leads outside, since I live in the basement, and I always leave the door cracked so he can go out real quick and come right back in. As Jack was outside, I began to change out of my work clothes. I had just stripped down to my tank top and panties when I noticed that Bella was being awfully quiet. I looked around and did not see her and then I looked over to the cracked door. Sheer panic fell over me and I looked outside and Jack and Bella were outside playing in the yard. I looked up and saw the hawks. At that very moment, I had a decision to make. Go back inside and put clothes and shoes on and then get the puppies or run outside and get them and save them from the hawks. Being the near-perfect Mommy that I am, I chose the latter of the two and ran outside barefoot, in my thong and all. Now this was surely a sight because not only does Bella run away from you when you call her name (because she knows she is going to be put up) but there were also dog poopies everywhere from all the neighborhood dogs. So there I am, prancing around barefoot in my thong and tank top, trying to run around the piles of doodoo (as if they were landmines) all while trying to save my puppies from the evil hawks. I finally got the dogs back in the house and I pray that none of my neighbors saw me! Now if this isn't love, then I don't know what is.

This is how smart some people are...

I just thought I would share a couple of stories from work today that I thought would humor you all. For those of you that don't already know, I am a claims examiner and my account is The Home Depot. These are the type of people I deal with on a daily basis...

First, I spoke with a man who we will call Dick because that's precisely what he was. He filed a claim at a store on behalf of his friend who injured his left pinky finger on some tile in the store. He filed the claim two days after the incident occurred for his friend. I called the number that was provided for the customer who was injured at the store and lo and behold, Dick answered the phone. I asked to speak with the injured party, as he is the one who the claim is regarding. Dick then explained that he is the customer's advocate and would be speaking on his behalf. I kindly explained that I would need to speak with the injured party or his lawyer, if he had one. Dick then got upset and stated that he was sorry he didn't have a law degree and couldn't speak with me. I told him that I didn't know who he was and could not talk to him regarding this matter and that I am uncertain as to why I was speaking with him in the first place. He then starting talking about the weather and said that he thinks I was talking to him because he thinks I like him. At this point, I was irritated that he was wasting my time and I began to get sassy. I told him that I didn't care who he was unless he was the injured party or the injured party's lawyer and that I don't speak with advocates. He then stated that he was an advocate of justice and just wanted to help out The Home Depot. He stated that he has some very valuable information regarding a fraudulent claim pertaining to The Home Depot from 5 to 7 years ago that he thinks would be helpful, since he is an advocate for justice and all. I started laughing and told him to have the injured party to call me and then I hung up. Thank you Dick for wasting 20 minutes of my life that I will never get back. And no, I don't like you.

The second claimant I spoke to was a man that we will call Mr. Fix It. This good ol' country boy has a claim that dates back several months. I requested estimates from him way back and told him to fax me one estimate if it was less than $500 and two if it was more, regarding damage to his vehicle at the store. The customer agreed. The customer never sent in estimates and the file was closed. Today, I received an "estimate" from the customer that was written in Microsoft Word that had the customer's business letterhead (a boat repair shop) on top and then in the middle of the page it stated "Estimate = $500". I called the customer back and explained that he could not come up with an estimate on his own for any old dollar amount and that it would need to be from a repair shop with parts and services with their prices listed. He stated that he loves to fix things and figured he could do it with $500. I told him that that would not work and that I would need a legitimate estimate. The customer still did not seem to understand this concept but finally agreed and hung up.

These stories are nothing compared to the toilet claim, vicious frog claim, or the long distance dater claim but they will do for now.

Just a little insight into the life of a claims examiner... :)

Halloween :)

I must say that this past Halloween weekend was one of the most fun weekends I've had in a very long time. It all started on Friday night, when Wes texted me to meet him and Matt for dinner at the Tilted Kilt. At first I declined the invitation because I was already dressed up in my cat costume for the night. I later decided that I didn't care what people would think and I went anyway, costume and all. Matt knows the owner, Bo, and we had several drinks and shots before we went to Jaime's Halloween party. We even took a bottle of Goose with us on the way out. We then went to Jaime's apartment for her pre-Halloween party was held. I was so excited to see a bunch of my sorority sisters and friends from West Georgia. I had a lot of fun dancing and playing beer pong with everyone. I think I partied a little too hard the night before Halloween. I did not get up the next day until 4pm!

On Halloween, I went over to Ashley and Brandon's for their Monster Mash. All of my best friends were there and we had a wonderful time. We even have the pictures to prove it! ;) My brother and his girlfriend Daphne even made it, which made me so happy. We played several games of beer pong and danced our little hearts out. I swear I always say that it was the best party ever, but it really was.

I am so thankful to have such wonderful friends and family in my life. Being all dressed up makes it even better!