Geez! Life has been whirlwind lately. I have a whole slew of post ideas that require my focus, yet I’ve been so busy with work and other commitments that I can’t seem to find the time to work on them.

Meanwhile, every year during the month of December, I want to slow down time and just sit and enjoy the twinkling lights on my tree and sip hot cocoa, but instead I’m scrambling to buy and wrap gifts in between working.

He agrees. He'd rather not have to work and buy and wrap gifts. Oh wait, he doesn't.

He agrees. He’d rather relax and not have to work and buy and wrap gifts. Oh wait, he doesn’t.

I took my niece to Six Flags Great Adventure on Sunday so we could get our season passes for next year. We hit up one of the roller coasters while we were there (Superman) and then went to the outlet stores a few miles away to shop.

Superman! My favorite ride at Great Adventure

Superman! My favorite ride at Great Adventure

That roller coaster in the background? We went on it earlier this year and we both freaked out because the safety harness felt loose!

That roller coaster in the background? We went on it earlier this year and we both freaked out because the safety harness felt loose!

Holiday in the Park!

Holiday in the Park!

I went for a quick run on Monday evening just before sunset to regroup.

i love when the sun sets and the moon shows up at the same time

i love when the sun sets and the moon shows up at the same time

I was feeling so frazzled and had so many things to tackle that it was easier to go running and think about how to prioritize my to-do list. I really love that aspect of running.

I had to bring my Subaru in for service on Tuesday and squeezed in a second run while I waited for it to be ready. It wasn’t a pretty route.

not the most scenic to run by

not the most scenic to run by

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I stopped to take a phone call from the doctor’s office to schedule an appointment which slowed my time overall but I actually kept a decent pace.

I basically ran over one of the biggest highways in New Jersey. But a run is a run right? There will be plenty of more scenic runs in 2017.

I also ran some errands with Mr. SOTSS while waiting for the car. We stopped at the post office for stamps. I hung back with the pooches.

Do you think he'll come out with biscuits?

Do you think he’ll come out with biscuits?

It’s really cold out today. Windy and in the 20s. Duncan gets static ears every year when it gets so dry in my house from the forced air.

So you're saying I need to tame the frizz?

So you’re saying I need to tame the frizz?

I took him to the vet this morning for routine stuff and to buy a 6 month supply of his heart worm and flea and tick preventatives. Geez. So expensive! Cost me over $300 in total. And he didn’t seem too appreciative. More like….”Can we go now?”

The "I got blood drawn" look

The “I got blood drawn” look not to be confused with the “you made me wear a halloween costume” look.

I took him to Petco after to pick up dog food…cha ching! img_8062And now he’s at the groomer which costs as much as a salon haircut and color. Plus, I’ll probably give his groomer a larger than usual tip for the holidays. In other words….I’m pet poor at the moment. But I wouldn’t have it any other way. 

We’ll I’d better get back to working to keep the kibble on the table.

Hope you’ve had a good week so far.

Anyone have fun weekend plans coming up?

Any solutions for static electricity (and shocks) in the winter?

Roller coasters? Yay or Nay?

Hi and Happy Monday!

I’ve been thinking more about my goals for 2017 and in addition to wanting to run with friends for that “conversational pace” at least once a month I also want to PR in the 5k. The reason behind this one is that I really want to be able to run just one time with Mr. SOTSS during a race. He agreed to slow down to a 9 minute pace for me if I can speed up to it. My current PR is 9:12 average pace so I just need to shave 12 seconds per mile from that.

This past weekend we ran the Big Chill 5k and while I wasn’t trying to run hard I ended up feeling good and finished in 30:11 (a 9:39 average pace per mile). img_7833

I love the long sleeve shirts they give. I now have 3 and use them for pajamas

I love the long sleeve shirts they give. I now have 3 and use them for pajamas

img_7839This was my 3rd time running the race and about the 8th time for Mr. SOTSS. It’s an awesome charity event. The “entry fee” is an unwrapped toy valued at $15 or more.

entry fee toys

entry fee toys

In 2014 I had to walk it because I had a sprained ankle. And last year I ran about a minute faster than this year finishing in 29 minutes. The entire morning was great except that Jane and her hubby weren’t there this year. But I did see my friend Amy quickly before and after.

The gymnasium at Rutgers University was packed with runners checking in. The back wall is all the toys donated

The gymnasium at Rutgers University was packed with runners checking in. The back wall is all the toys donated

I ran behind some elves

I ran behind some elves

After the race we went for breakfast and I was so happy for a cup of coffee because the cup I made before leaving the house in the morning had to get tossed thanks to some curdled cream….boo!

coffee...YES!

coffee…YES!

 

Other than the race Mr. SOTSS watched me put up my tree this weekend.

Keeping me company while I decorate my tree

Keeping me company while I decorate my tree

My newest ornament from my trip to Banff in September :)

My newest ornament from my trip to Banff in September 🙂

All done!

My tree is up!

We took the dogs for a few great walks in the park.

happy Chester

happy Chester

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me and my shadow....and my love and his shadow

me and my shadow….and my love and his shadow

I wonder if I look as happy as him when I run

I wonder if I look as happy as him when I run

We also went to a convention in Atlantic City for business but but enjoyed a nice meal and time away for a quick overnight. And I won $100 on the slots in the casino! Woot woot!

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pub food…yum!

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$100 payout in the casino and an overnight away with my sweets…. #winning

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How was your weekend? 

Hello,

Have I mentioned the fact that I can’t believe we’re more than halfway through the year already.

My folks were out of town for the weekend and I was tasked with getting their mail and newspapers. But more importantly to tend to their garden. I love it when they ask me to do that because I score some awesome herbs and veggies. The most recent haul consisted of zucchini, basil, oregano and some swiss chard.

Their basil plants are on steroids!

Their basil plants are on steroids!

I ran about 2 miles to their house and then 2 miles back.

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My body has been giving me some grief lately. My knee, is a bit wonky so I need to stay on flat ground and take walk breaks every so often. Also, the arch of my foot (on the same side as the knee) has been hurting (which i most definitely believe one is related to the other). And my left hip is still mildly sore. Batting 1000!

On Saturday I took a drive upstate to visit my friend Nicole. I spent some quality time with her (almost) 5 year old daughter.

 

I'm surrounded by cuteness

I’m surrounded by cuteness

I think I want a pair of silver sparkle jellies too

I think I want a pair of silver sparkle jellies too

And she made the best cake. It had hot pink frosting and marshmallow icing in-between the two layers of pink cake.

Pink poodle, pink cake. We take pink very seriously

Pink poodle, pink cake. We take pink very seriously

Duncan and I being silly

Duncan and I being silly

On Sunday I spent about 5 hours over at Mr. SOTSS’ to hang with Chester while Mr. SOTSS and his girls were away for the day.

You mean he's not going to be home ALL DAY?

You mean he’s not going to be home ALL DAY?

Chester gets depressed when his dad isn’t around but he was happy that I was there to feed him dinner and let him out in the yard and maybe he enjoyed watching the Olympic trials with me and Duncan?

Doing my freelance work, watching the Olympic trials and hanging with the pooches

Doing my freelance work, watching the Olympic trials and hanging with the pooches

I took advantage of the Chester-sitting visit to use Mr. SOTSS’ grill and grilled up all my garden loot. And while I was at it I grilled shrimp too.

getting ready to grill

getting ready to grill

I cut up the basil into ribbons and sprinkled it on the zucchini and the shrimp and then doctored everything up with olive oil, salt, pepper and some garlic.

Dinner is served! And I ate outside on the deck since it was so nice out

Dinner is served! Grilled zucchini and shrimp. And I ate outside on the deck since it was so nice out

In other weekend news, Duncan went to the groomer.

Before and After

Before and After

And now he smells delicious. I hope your week is off to a good start.

Do you have a barbecue? Do you like to grill?

Do you have a garden? What do you grow? I’m waiting for tomatoes, peppers and corn to come from my dad’s garden in the coming weeks.

Hi and Happy 4th of July!

The good old USA turns 240 today! But while running the other day I had a realization. I ran my very first race in 2006. (It was actually June 4th, 2006 so I’m a month late with the realization) That mean’s I’m celebrating 10 years (and 1 month) since pinning my first race bib. 🙂

first-race10 years: 7-marathons, 34-half marathons, 1-ten miler, 3-15ks, 15-10ks, 5-5 milers, 1-4.8 miler, 1-8k, and 4-5ks. And thousands of miles of training.

That realization made me smile.

My big plans for today are to try and get a short run in and then head to Road Runner Sports to try out the Asics Cumulus 18s which just came out. I currently have the 16s and before that I wore the 13s. I got an email that they are giving 20% off today for the holiday to VIP members. Woo Hoo!

I haven’t run since Friday morning.

When I set out for my run it looked like it might pour so i tied a plastic bag around my wrist in case i needed to protect my iPhone. :)

When I set out for my run it looked like it might pour so i tied a plastic bag around my wrist in case i needed to protect my iPhone. 🙂

I’m struggling with minor aches and pains and I don’t want them to get worse. So no long run this weekend. I’m going to limit all runs to 3 miles for a bit and have already introduced foam rolling, stretching and icing to my daily tasks.

This morning Mr. SOTSS’s girls wanted some kind of 4th of July themed breakfast so I tried to make a flag and some red-white and blue pancakes. Unfortunately the butter burned and left the stars on the flag unrecognizeable. A for effort though.

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It’s been really nice to have 4 days off in a row. I spent lots of time with these two:

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First time that I walked them together. And they were very good. Nobody pulled me down.

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The expressions on their faces. I die!

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Mr. SOTSS had to work Friday night through Saturday night so I kept an eye on Chester. Oh, and Duncan is all better!

I got some pretty flowers from Mr. SOTSS on Friday night….IMG_3999

And on Saturday night, even though he had only had 2 hours of sleep the night before, he rallied and we walked down the block to the lake to see a local fireworks display. We left the dogs home since Duncan really isn’t a fan of fireworks.

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Fireworks are just so much prettier in person. Photos never do them justice

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That’s all on my end. How was your weekend?