Happy Birthday....To Me!

"They say it's your birthday...dadadada....well it's my birthday too!" Yea! The big double nickle.....Can't drive 55..............gee, that's all I could find on 55. But that's ok. It's going to be a grand day, I can tell. I just got an e-card from my friend Hester, and it made me laugh out loud, and that's a good sign. I'm going out for dinner tonight with friends, and the weather is simply beautiful. It's a wonderful day in the neighborhood!

I Feel Awful

No other way to say it. I feel awful.

This whole week has been one road block to healthy eating after another. We had a huge meeting at work and there was extra food everyday. I tried to be careful with my choices, but the caterer we use, Metro, is awesome, and their food is top-notch. It's hard to walk away from anything they serve.

Then, last night at the bookstore, the last Harry Potter book went on sale. I was scheduled the entire evening, 8 hours, at the register. We had a potluck, which was a good thing because there was no getting to the cafe because of all the customers, but it was all cookies and cakes, and something called Ooey Gooey bars that were wonderful, in addition to Death By Chocolate. I love that stuff (but it doesn't love me.....lactose intolerance hit about 12:45 am......sorry, Carey!)

By midnight, we had over 700 people in the store waiting to get their copy of HPVII, and the noise level was deafening. It was 1 am when the last customer left, but we didn't leave until 2:30 because the store was completely trashed. Once I got home, I was so keyed up I didn't go to sleep until almost 5, and had to be up at 9 am to head out and deliver the book to friends that had me get it for them. My tummy was still bad from last night, so I just ate tea and toast, and crackers and things like that all day. My comfort food is definitely carbs.

At 6pm it was back to the book store and it was still pretty busy. But by then, my legs and back were really starting to get sore from standing all those hours the night before, and I was sooooo exhausted! All my coworkers tonight had been there last night as well, and we were just completely wiped out. When I got my break, I just grazed the whole 30 minutes on more carb junk.

I feel icky, and it's all due to this week's diet (though I did get all my required walking miles in), and the salty food and not enough sleep. Well, I don't have to go to work anywhere until Tuesday night, so I'm going to "detox" until then. I'm going to follow Dr. Ian Smith's Fat Smash Plan, which has worked for me in the past, and drink lots of water, and get plenty of sleep, get my miles in (my training schedule is for 21 this week) and try not to read HPVII without stopping!

If I Was In the Simpson's Movie......

...................this is what I would look like. Meet Pixie Royale, of Springfield. She takes ballet classes, does genealogy research and practices the ancient art of haiku in between working 7 jobs. Her retirement plans include becoming the neighborhood's crazy cat lady.

Pixie likes long walks on the beach, Paris in spring and slacks that have elastic in the waist. Her favorite saying is "why have one cat when you can have seven?" Although she is not actively seeking a mate, she prefers men that have their own place, their own car and are gainfully employed. Pixie likes a man with a full head of hair on his head....just not on his back, knuckles, toes or growing out of his nose or ears. Other than that, she's not picky.

"You Are Strong, My Mother"

After work today I did my Monday training walk at Sharon Woods (3.8 miles). A truly gorgeous day, blue sky, light breeze, not too hot. About 1 1/2 miles down the trail, going counter-clockwise, there is a very steep incline (I was told by one of the rangers once it was a 12 degree incline). Anyway, if you want a cardio workout, that's the hill to do. I was about a quarter of a mile away from the hill, and this very tall (6'3 at least) young man passed me. He looked to be African, maybe Nigerian, very dark, very fit. He ran up the hill, then back down; ran up the hill again and back down; and as I was starting up the hill he ran effortlessly by me and disappeared into the distance. Let me tell you, my heart was pounding like a drum after only one trip up that incline and I wasn't even running.

Later, towards the end of my walk, the same young man passed me, still running in that seemingly effortless way, for the second time (yes, he ran the entire circuit 2 times). He had gone just a few steps beyond me when he stopped, turned to me and said, "you are strong, my mother" in a very African accent and then resumed his run.

It was a very odd, but inspiring moment. I got goosebumps when he said that. I am strong.

June Round-up--Yee Haw, Y'all!

I can't believe this month is over already! It's July 1st (my birthday month, don't you know) and the 3 Day is inching closer and closer. Lot's to cover, so let's get to it!

A great big shout out goes to my exec-director, Mr. T, a true southern gentlemen who really believes in what I'm doing. I'm still in awe of your generous gift. Diane and Beth, you're both so great. And of course Lee, a true benefactor if there ever was one. She presented me with a bevy of gifts today, including an official 3 Day training T, luggage tags and a photo album. I was overwhelmed to say the least.

Yesterday I turned in my first "Pop Cans for the Cure". I took 14 pounds of aluminum to the salvage yard and got $9.10. My goal for July is 25 pounds, so all you pop drinkers, get busy!

I lost 3 pounds this month, yea! BTW, I want to send out major props to Suellen, who has lost 10 pounds. Way to go! I've been averaging 15-20 miles a week, and feeling really good. The new shoes have really helped. I did some cross training by painting my bathroom this week. Up and down the step ladder, a lot of work with the arms. You would think I got as much paint on me as I did the walls.

This week I will start my letter campaign. I'm hoping to make it to $2,200 by August 1st, so I can go ahead and "check in". You all can help.....every $5 makes a difference. This is a worthy cause and the sooner we find a cure the better.

Ok, so if I want to have goals for July, I need to list them. Here goes....

• Collect 25 pounds in aluminum cans for recycling ($16.25)
• Walk a total of 100 miles
• Lose 5 pounds
• Make it to the $2,200 fund raising mark

That's a pretty good list of goals. I guess I'll start now and take a walk.