The post where I come back

Well, hello! How are you? How've you been since January? Has your year gone well?

I had all good intentions of getting back into writing this blog at the beginning of the year. I did a few posts, then stopped. I don't know what happened, but I'll be honest, I kinda lost the password to get into the blog. And with that, I stopped posting because I didn't feel like I had anything good to post about.

But, I decided I wanted to have this back. I wanted a place where I could share what's going on and ask questions and show off my cats. Ha! You will always see pics of the cats!

So, I'm back. I'm not going to write multiple posts about what has happened between January and August, so I'm going to do a quick recap and start going forward from here:

• We had 30" of snow in these parts back in January. Made getting to work and training for Shamrock Dolphin Challenge a bit challenging;
• At one point, our schedule became so busy we started doing our long runs on Friday nights. It was actually fun and I loved that the runs were done so I could sleep in on Saturday mornings and sometimes get a second run in on the weekend.
• I ran my favorite three races in March - St. Patrick's Day 5k in Baltimore and the Dolphin Challenge in Virginia Beach. I didn't set any PRs, but I had fun. 
• I missed running one of my other favorite races in April - Sole of the City 10k in Baltimore - because I killed my back the week before and I just could not imagine running a 10k. It made me sad because hubby ran it, but I knew I did the right thing.
• In May, I decided with my Y membership running out in June, I needed a gym closer to home and one that I would have the ability to go on weekends. So, I joined the local Gold's Gym in town.
• June changed my life dramatically {and I am not exaggerating} when I fell off a stair in my backyard and broke my right ankle. It has been a rough summer and it is not healing as fast as I hoped {and read about}.
• I missed another race. I was signed up to run the Baltimore Women's Classic the following Sunday, but with a broken ankle, that sure didn't happen. I was not a happy camper.
• June also saw us plan our 15th wedding anniversary trip. We go to Jamaica every 5 years and this is the year we go back. We visited the travel agent and booked our trip!
• After the ankle break, the summer stopped. I used a scooter for almost two full months before getting the ok to start walking without it. It really messes with your mind when you always thinking about whether you can do something or not. I highly recommend not breaking anything from the waist down. Break a finger, your wrist, elbow, shoulder, ANYTHING but below the waste. It seriously impinges your ability to do anything.
• August brought some good news - the ability to stop using the scooter, then the ability to start walking without the air cast, and my husband's 40th birthday.
• I spent months {ask my friend who listened to me go on and on about what to do since February} planning a party for him, then I broke my ankle. I then had to re-do the whole party. It turned out well and we all had a fun time. That's what matters.
• We also went to Atlantic City, NJ for three days to celebrate his birthday {and to try to take suspicion away from the party}. We had a great time, even with my limitations. I got to put my feet in the ocean, even though I couldn't go swimming. It was something.

So, we are all caught up. Here's what's coming up in the next few months:

• Getting back normal movement in my ankle.
• Working with the doctors on some health stuff that's come up because of the ankle.
• Getting back to the gym, getting back to running {though I'm sure that will take longer than I want}
• Work on getting my eating under control. I didn't adjust the diet with the broken ankle and gained some more weight. Need to find a way to start eating healthy and stay consistent with it.
• Writing a journal article on the 1918 Influenza Epidemic in Philadelphia. My first attempt at being published.
• I also have an idea for an ebook that once my journal article is done, I will be working on.

My goal is to get back to writing on the blog several times a week, probably not everyday, but sharing my life and answering questions if you have any. Thanks for checking back in and we'll chat soon!

Elizabeth the Kitten

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TGIF!

Hello all! Happy Friday! It's been one heck of a week around these parts!

Last Thursday I was rear-ended coming home from a veternarian's appointment with my Lizzie.

She's having teeth issues and had a follow up. We're fighting not having her teeth removed, so far the meds are working. Anyway... I was rear-ended by a van and have been dealing with the insurance company {who honestly have been exceedingly easy and kind to work with - yes, I know. Good insurance people do exist}. While Thursday night I didn't think the car was totaled, Monday came and with it the news from the service people that it indeed was.

The extent of my injuries were a couple bruises. Lizzie was completely fine. Thank heavens!

So, this week has been working with the insurance company on compensation and finding a new car. Still waiting to hear back from our loan people about the pay-off on the car, but once that happens, off I go to pick up a new one. As quickly as possible. This sharing a car is rough!

Tuesday, I was selected in the Broad Street Run 10 miler lottery. Surprised the living daylights out of me, but there it is. I entered because it's the perfect accountability for The Wild Half Half Marathon I'm running two weeks later. I'm looking forward to it. Hubby ran it in 2010 and I think it's a great race...especially now that there are medals. ;-)

Lent began on Wednesday and I decided on my Lenten sacrifices:

1. No sweets - cookies, cakes, pies, brownies, frozen yogurt {allergic to ice cream}, creme brule, etc.
2. No soda
3. I re-joined WW in the hopes that by sticking with it I will have good habits in place by Easter.
4. Daily devotional. I'm not great at remembering, but I do catch up on each day's even if it's not read that day.

There you have it. My week in a nutshell. It's been crazy and I'll be honest, not one {referring to the car accident} I would like to do anytime soon! The positive is, I'm fine, Lizzie's fine, and this should be behind us come next week. When I pick out and purchase my next car, I'll let you know!

Have a great Friday and weekend friends! Make it count!

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January 2015 Review

Hard to believe January 2015 is already over. That went quick! It seems as you get older, the time really does fly by!

January did not go as well as I had hoped. Not by a long shot. I didn't make a single goal I set for myself. As a review, here are the goals I set for myself in January:

Here's a breakdown on each:

1. Lose 7-8 lbs: Gained 1.6 pounds
2. Run 48 miles: 16 miles {32 miles under goal}
3. Follow meal plan: Not 100%, but actually not too far off. Some nights swapped a meal from later in the week. Ate out a few times more than we should have, but overall stayed on track better than usual.
4. Read 10 books: 9
5. Post Eastern State Penitentiary photos: Still on camera

I will say that I missed a whole week of runs due to my back the first full week of the month, so I knew I wasn't going to hit that 48 miles for the month. But, then I just lost total motivation. I couldn't bring myself to go out and run. Some of it had to so with snow, some of it had to do with my work schedule changing around, but mostly I just couldn't bring myself to do it. I lost the desire to go out. I don't know what happened, but this whole running thing just wasn't it this month.

Kinda annoyed I missed my reading goal by one book. Bah! Last January I read 19. Guess that's tied to that whole I lost the desire to do it this month. 

Not sure why the photos didn't come off the camera. I honestly thought about it many times. It just never translated into me actually doing it. Maybe this month?

So, I guess February is a new month and a new start. The monthly meal plan is written out. I do need to go over goals for the month, but at least I kept the one positive thing going...the meal planning.

How did your January go? Did you meet your monthly goals?       

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Weekend Round Up

Well, I promised I would go weigh-in this week.  Headed over to the center and weighed in.  And to my great surprise, I was down.  Lost .4 pounds over the last two weeks.  It was WAY less than I wanted this month, but I still lost.  I am down 3.2 pounds this month, which is not horrible.  Yes, I gained 6 pounds over the holidays and yes, I only lost about half of what I gained over the holidays, but I am on the way down.  So, it was a good month.

The goal for February is a pound a week.  That is my goal for the next several months, one pound a week.  It's not grand or exciting, but it's my plan.  We're going on vacation in several months and my goal is 12 pounds before then, so one pound a week will get me there.  If I lose more, great, but I'm not aiming high.  I think this last 22 pounds are going to be real hard, so I'm going to not going to push for big weeks.  Slow and steady wins the race.

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The weekend was ok.  Friday night we went to a great place right near where we went to college for Beach Party night.  Had three and a half beers, all the same.  LOL!  Shared a pretzel and beer cheese appetizer and one cheese puff.  Dinner was a delicious sandwich with ham and proscuto, cheese, and veggies.  Delish!  I also had the world's SMALLEST piece of apple pie.  I honestly thought about it later and realized I should have sent it back rather than spend the money on it.  Ah well.

Saturday, I had a baby shower.  Not for me!  On the way there, I was sooo tired.  I stopped at the world's best convenience store WaWa and got a coffee roll.  Delish!  The shower was fine food wise - a hot roast beef on a roll and one piece of cake.  But, on the way home I had to use the bathroom and stopped at a different WaWa and bought a package of Peanut Chews.  Oops!  When I got home, hubby and I got pizza, fries and macaroons for dessert.  Yum!

And today, back on the wagon.  Had a yummy Eggo waffle breakfast with bacon.  Snack of two WW candies, which I LOVE!  But, back to eating healthy this week.  I have a pound to lose you know.