Run, Stacy, Run!

I did it. My first running injury... and it sucks. I managed to hurt my hip. I feel like one of the ladies on The Golden Girls as I limp around smelling like Bengay all day. I am also convinced that a hip re-placement is in my near future. Well... it might not be that bad, but it is incredibly annoying. And worst of all, I know I need to take it easy for a few days but am afraid if I rest for too long I won't be able to or want to start training again for my first 1/2 marathon. Ugh. Frustration runs (no pun intended) rampant in my life right now.


Since I am talking about running - I started another blog called Run, Stacy, Run! I hope to figure out what I see in running as I train for a 1/2 marathon and a full marathon..


Check it out at runstacy.blogspot.com .

To Passionate to become a Jedi?

I recently had an interesting conversation with a friend about passion. Actually, let me back up, the conversation started out about possible career change to either become a Ninja or a Jedi. This was a career change for me. I know you are thinking, "Stacy becoming a Ninja or a Jedi...that is freaking awesome! I want to become a Ninja or a Jedi, too!" Please know if you venture down either of these paths, you have my full support as I have always wanted friends and relatives who are either Ninjas or Jedis. That being said, I don't think either path is meant for me. First of all, I was pointed to a website that teaches you how to become a Ninja (I asked my friend if there was a school for this or if Ninja's are self-taught) and after I watched the video on how to perform a neck under strike I realized I couldn't continue with the Ninja training. The guy instructing in the videos was very serious (Ninja-ing is a very serious business apparently) and all I could do was laugh. You would laugh too... his shirt was VERY yellow and I think he spoke with a slight lisp. The lisp on its own isn't funny, but accompanied by a yellow-shirted Ninja – it is damn funny! So as you can see, Ninja was marked off the list of possible career changes.

The Jedi route had some potential. I could really see myself performing Jedi Mind Tricks... just think how popular I would be at parties. Unfortunately, after I reading up on Jedism (I didn't make this word up) and the Jedi Code (yes – there is a code) I realized it wasn't a good fit. I know you are wondering what the code is and since I am super nice, I will tell you so you won't have to Google it. The Jedi code states: There is no emotion; there is peace. There is no ignorance; there is knowledge. There is no passion; there is serenity. There is no death; there is the Force OK...no emotion and no passion. Um, no... I don't think this will work for me either. I explained to my friend/career advisor that I could not live without passion; passion drives almost everything I do. When I mentioned this to my friend, he whole heartedly disagreed. He felt passion is what something is called before it becomes obsession and then becomes destructive. Hmmm, I can see his point. There have been times my passionate nature has bred obsession which was destructive to me. However, on the whole – I believe passion is necessary in life. I am not talking about just romantic passion (although that is on the top of my to-do list), but passion for life, for change, for innovation, for invention....  What do you think? Is passion destructive? Is it a necessary evil? Is there a fine line? I am curious to see what other people feel about this. So, if you are brave enough – leave a comment and tell me how you feel.

By the way, since I clearly can not become a Ninja or Jedi – my friend suggested I look into becoming a Sith. I believe they are the evil enemies of the Jedi (I will need to double check my Star Wars facts) and their whole code (yes, they also have a code) revolves around passion. Dark and twisty Sith – here I come....  just one question: Do I had to be bad? Couldn't I be a good Sith?

Trash becomes a bed

Check out Finn's new bed!  While watching the Superbowl yesterday I did what most people do—I sewed. Wait, what? Most people don't sew while watching the Superbowl? Huh... well I don't usually either, but I had a great idea for a dog bed and decided to make it before I got distracted by something shiny.

This lovely little bed (I actually made two of them – so easy) is recycling at its best. The cover is made out of an old fabric shower curtain and it is stuffed with an old egg crate mattress topper and old clothes (mostly things that were stained so I wouldn't donate them). the cover can easily come off so I can wash it, which will be necessary -- it is white!

Finn is loving it! And I love that is used things I was planning on throwing away.

But those won't fit my butt!

Prompt... I am nothing if not promt. Er, I mean, promt-ish. I am nothing if not promt-ish. Okay, who am I trying to kid? When it comes to this blog I am always late. I have the best of intentions, but my posts are always a few days later than I plan. Today is a perfect example. Last Wednesday night I went to a great little event and I am just now getting around to blogging about it... five days later! Oh, well, better late than never. Oh, wait!!! Let's just pretend I went last night instead of five days ago. You will play along, won't you? Great! Continue to read on (if you haven't fallen asleep already)....

Wow! I had such a great time last night! The Footzone (my favorite store in Bend) sponsored a Girls Night Out complete with wine, chocolate, free foot massages, chocolate, wonderful door prizes, and did I mention chocolate? Not to focus too much on the chocolate (this was at a running/walking store, after all), but they had these tasty little peppermint truffle-things. Oh. My. Gosh. Divine, simply divine. I may have had one or two (Or was it five or six?!?).  

Stacey giving Pam a foot massage

As you can see form the pictures, the place was packed. A pretty good turn out since the temperature was hovering in the teens.

They had some pretty great door prizes and BOTH Pam and I won something. Pam won these cool compression socks that are supposed to be great for preventing muscle aches and pains when running. 

Normally, I would be more than a little jealous but I won something too! I won a pair of Brooks running pants (which I had been coveting)! How exciting is that??? If only I would had remembered to not shout the first thing that came to mind when they announced my name. You see, they had all the prizes out on  a table so you could check them out before the drawing. When I was checking out all the goods, I had noticed the pants were a size medium. No biggy... I wasn't going to win, after all. So when they announced my name I said rather loudly (because I have a super loud voice) in front of a store full of mostly strangers, "But they are a size medium. Those won't fit my butt!" Dead Silence. Awesome, I spoke without thinking again.

Oh, for those of you who are concerned about the pants... they exchanged them for my size!

Looking like Crap

Right... so you know when you are at work or around town and you see someone dressed, well, a little a less than stellar? You think to yourself, "What were they thinking?" If you saw me today... you would be wondering this. In an effort to be honest (and to avoid any nasty remarks on this post) I will admit that I have several days like this a month. It isn't my intention to look like crap, it just happens. Today it happened because I didn't want to get out of bed. Ah... nice warm bed with two furry dogs to help keep me warm versus sub-zero temps outside. The warm bed won hands down! By the time I could convince myself to get out of bed I was running crazy late! How late you ask? Well... I need to be at work by 8:00 am and it takes me about 15 minutes to get there. I got out of bed at 7:22 am, this gave me exactly 23 minutes to get ready for work (and feed the dogs and start my car so it would warm-up ... which I went out and did wearing my short nightgown, ski parka and snow boots. Very attractive! )

After hoping in the shower with a shower cap on (no time to wash my hair and then dry it), I ran back to my bedroom and started to put together an outfit. Easy enough. Start with black pants, always a good staple to any wardrobe. Add a grey and black sweater that I have been meaning to donate because I don't like it anymore... not my favorite thing to wear, but it is presentable. Next came a pair of hideous socks that are also black and grey and look like I have had them since the early 90's. But the socks don't really matter because I am going to wear my black boots- you will never see them. Ah, but then at the last minute I decide that I don't want to wear heels today and opt for a pair of red flats. And even as I was slipping the red flats on there was a quiet little voice in the back of my head saying, "Don't do it! You will look like an idiot." I really wish that voice was a little louder. Actually, I wish that little voice would have started to scream and yell at me  because it wasn't until I was at work and went to the bathroom that I got my first glimpse of my whole ensemble.  That is when the little voice started to laugh and point (yes- I am aware that the fact I am referring to the little voices in my head is bad. And I am also aware it is even worse that I claim the "voices" are pointing. I am messed up... deal with it!) and say in a loud voice (finally), "You look like a freaking' idiot." All of you will have to take my word for it, because I will not take a full on photo. However, I will give you this little gem of just my foot. Enjoy!

Happiness is...

... watching my dogs play in the snow. 

Finn 

Gidget 

Ever so thankful

Hello everyone! I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving. I couldn't have been happier with mine. Wonderful family, yummy food, and no trips to the emergency room (you never know with my family).  I hosted the big dinner this year and may have gone a bit overboard, but it was fun.  This post is mostly pictures... I hope you enjoy!

I enjoy a pretty table and I wanted everyone to feel special and welcome at mine. I created one large flower arrangement and two other small groupings of flowers. In between the flowers,  I had several tea light candles that I set down into cranberries and pine cones. The table runner was just a piece of orange vinyl that I bought and cut to fit. The reason for the vinyl.... because everyone got a piece of chalk under their name card and were allowed to write on the table runner. Fun!

I set up a little something in the bathroom to keep everyone from digging around in my medicine cabinet...er, I mean to make the feel more welcome. Please note: I added the traditional Thanksgiving Buddha with my flowers in the bathroom.

While I was preparing the food, my dogs sat around anxiously waiting for me to drop tidbits on the floor. Finn took up a spot on the rug in front of the sink. PLEASE NOTE: I DID NOT CHOOSE THE BLACK SPONGE PAINTING IN THE KITCHEN!!! IT WAS LIKE THAT WHEN I MOVED IN AND I HAVE BEEN TOO LAZY TO FIX IT!

Then Gidget joined in and placed herself by the oven/stove (she knew where the big treasure was).

Finally they gave up... Finn fell asleep on my foot to start with and then both dogs found a sunny place to take a nap (and still be close to me in the kitchen).

I cooked two turkeys... one in the oven and one on the BBQ. I love the way the one on the BBQ looked after taking it off (It tasted just as good as it looked).

Ah... and then dinner was over, everyone left, and I got to clean-up... ok, so that didn't really happen. I just picked up a few things and then I crawled into bed!

Here are a few "after" pictures.

Thanks to everyone for a wonderful day!!!