I love the library. I love it so much I could visit it every day. One day I will have my own library. I have asked Dave for a library in our next house about 1 million times. When I was 20, I sketched a picture of how my library should look (I still have the sketch). I am now about to turn 33 and I don't have that library yet. One day....with the Camaro...
My favorite thing these days is putting books on hold from home. I get on the library catalog from home, place books on hold, and pick them up when I have time. Awesome!!!!!! Tonight I just piled the dogs in the car for a little family trip to the library, quickly picked up my books on hold, and drove home ready to snuggle and read!
I don't buy books...unless they are really great. They have to earn a place in my collection. Why buy when something called a public library exists? Unless you are great- then I will categorize and alphabetize you in your own little section for display and reference.
And tonight, I thought I had found the solution to the Kindle I received for Christmas. Since I don't buy a lot of paper books, I REALLY have a hard time considering buying....e books? I can't fill the shelves of my library with e books!!! But guess what! You can borrow e-books from the public library!! Oh yes!!! Now I can have the library accessible to me at all times!
Oh no. Apparently you can only rent e-books on things like the Android and other gadgets I don't have and don't ever care to have. Not the Kindle. Nope.
SHOOT!!!! So, the Kindle is still just sitting there with the only two free books on it I would care to have in my collection. The Count of Monte Christo and The Scarlet Letter. I cannot seem to find any free e-books on Amazon worth anything. Dern it!!!
And that is why libraries are cool and we don't need all of this "technology."
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Sunday, March 6, 2011
13 Pain Free
What do these two things have in common? They both = I finished!I finished only my second 13 mile run in 2 years today. Yea me!!!! I was excited to return to my 4th Little Rock Half Marathon. This is hands down my favorite half marathon course. It is a hilly race that adds just the right amount of challenge. Errr...but I wasn't all that excited when the weather made a turn for the worse in the south, leaving today bitterly cold with some snappy wind. But, I survived (although I have not been able to get warm since the race).
Last night I was on the phone with Dave, and I was a little panicky. I didn't have the miles. I didn't have the racing. I have only run 13 miles one time in the past 2 years! Ahhh!!!! What was I thinking? I knew I was not ready to race, but to be honest, I didn't know if I was ready to even run efficiently. How do I pace? What do I do????? Dave said the right thing to help me go to bed peacefully. He told me "you are a distance runner at heart. You are good at distance running. You like running distance. You will be fine tomorrow and will remember how to pace."
So, the plan today was to start out with a conservative HR and just let it be. Normally, my self talk in these races sounds like this: "can you pick it up. Just a little. A little more?" but today it was this: "can you hold this pace for the next 9 miles. are you sure? do you need to slow down?" Ahhh...the difference between being ready to race and just doing the best you can do. :)
So, I did start off slow, didn't get discouraged, and picked it up for a nice overall negative split. First mile 8:10, last mile 7:23. It was a nice way to re-enter the half marathon distance as I just had no clue what kind of pace would be good for me today. 1:43:34 for 13.29. I really have no value or judgment on the time- it just is what it is. Here is where I am today.
There was only one time I felt negative on the course, and it may have lasted 60 seconds or so. I started comparing myself to others, wondering why I have so much trouble getting faster...thinking "it is not fair!" My pace is pedestrian!!!! The journey sometimes seems so hard. I realized fairly quickly that it was not productive to be so negative and judgmental as I was running. Really, it made me an a-hole, not only to myself, but to others, and I don't want to be that person. I will continue to work hard, even if it does not come easy to me. I will be proud of my hard work regardless of the number posted.
So, I call today a success. The miles are starting to climb again and my pacing skills are returning.
But there was one superstar in the house today.
Last night I was on the phone with Dave, and I was a little panicky. I didn't have the miles. I didn't have the racing. I have only run 13 miles one time in the past 2 years! Ahhh!!!! What was I thinking? I knew I was not ready to race, but to be honest, I didn't know if I was ready to even run efficiently. How do I pace? What do I do????? Dave said the right thing to help me go to bed peacefully. He told me "you are a distance runner at heart. You are good at distance running. You like running distance. You will be fine tomorrow and will remember how to pace."
So, the plan today was to start out with a conservative HR and just let it be. Normally, my self talk in these races sounds like this: "can you pick it up. Just a little. A little more?" but today it was this: "can you hold this pace for the next 9 miles. are you sure? do you need to slow down?" Ahhh...the difference between being ready to race and just doing the best you can do. :)
So, I did start off slow, didn't get discouraged, and picked it up for a nice overall negative split. First mile 8:10, last mile 7:23. It was a nice way to re-enter the half marathon distance as I just had no clue what kind of pace would be good for me today. 1:43:34 for 13.29. I really have no value or judgment on the time- it just is what it is. Here is where I am today.
There was only one time I felt negative on the course, and it may have lasted 60 seconds or so. I started comparing myself to others, wondering why I have so much trouble getting faster...thinking "it is not fair!" My pace is pedestrian!!!! The journey sometimes seems so hard. I realized fairly quickly that it was not productive to be so negative and judgmental as I was running. Really, it made me an a-hole, not only to myself, but to others, and I don't want to be that person. I will continue to work hard, even if it does not come easy to me. I will be proud of my hard work regardless of the number posted.
So, I call today a success. The miles are starting to climb again and my pacing skills are returning.
But there was one superstar in the house today.
Dave and some of his men's team won their bracket in an indoor tournament. I got home in time to watch the finals today. 
And wouldn't you know Mr. Superstar scored 2 goals...including the goal that tied the game back up with 3 minutes left. Now, I know we all brag about our loved ones. But, Dave is an AWESOME soccer player. He has a true gift. I love watching him play. And I really thought it was funny when some girl (girl as in younger than me, but aren't they all these days?) in the stands shouted, "Dave, you're my hero!" I was thinking...who are these girls cheering on my husband? I didn't realize my husband had fans. Maybe I should attend more games.... Nah, gotta work on my run.
Friday, March 4, 2011
Do all posts requires titles? Let's just pretend my posts are continuations of the same chapter. I could aptly name most of my posts: stuff.
So, I am going to have to post more dog pictures. Sorry. It is all I have, and I like to post pictures.
I told someone the other day that I really think I could stay home and take care of 30 dogs. As my job. Wouldn't even have to be dogs. 30 animals.
Bundles of joy- and a top reason I love my life.
There are 4 dog beds in this house. 4. And an open spot next to Dave on the couch.
And, I finally got the dern bike computer stuff all worked out. I replaced the battery in the Cateye and got a Garmin for some cadence monitoring. Unfortunately, I was getting used to not knowing my speed. It was kind of fun to race and wonder about my pace- and then when the race results were posted it was like a big surprise.
And I need to clean my bike.
Happy weekend!!! ;)))
So, I am going to have to post more dog pictures. Sorry. It is all I have, and I like to post pictures.
I told someone the other day that I really think I could stay home and take care of 30 dogs. As my job. Wouldn't even have to be dogs. 30 animals.
Bundles of joy- and a top reason I love my life.
There are 4 dog beds in this house. 4. And an open spot next to Dave on the couch.So this weekend I am running the Little Rock Half Marathon. I think this will be my 4th time? I absolutely love this race...mainly, I guess, because I get to see my family. Otherwise, the course is hilly and hurts.
Of course this was my grand idea in November. And come mid-February I was still only running about 15 miles a week. For me, I really need to be running at least 30-35 miles a week for a half marathon. I really like to run more if I can. Everyone is different, but I feel better with more miles. So, I have recently yanked back the speed work and started re-building my mileage. I think I was up to 26 or 27 last week with no problems, so I am on the right track again. It is just too late for this weekend.
So, to make sure I don't go out too fast, have unreasonable expectations, or hurt my own feelings, I am going to ride 3 hours tomorrow so my legs are a little tired for Sunday. This is not normal half marathon practice for me, but it will help me make the race a nice training day. This was also not my idea, but I kind of liked it.
Of course this was my grand idea in November. And come mid-February I was still only running about 15 miles a week. For me, I really need to be running at least 30-35 miles a week for a half marathon. I really like to run more if I can. Everyone is different, but I feel better with more miles. So, I have recently yanked back the speed work and started re-building my mileage. I think I was up to 26 or 27 last week with no problems, so I am on the right track again. It is just too late for this weekend.
So, to make sure I don't go out too fast, have unreasonable expectations, or hurt my own feelings, I am going to ride 3 hours tomorrow so my legs are a little tired for Sunday. This is not normal half marathon practice for me, but it will help me make the race a nice training day. This was also not my idea, but I kind of liked it.
And, I finally got the dern bike computer stuff all worked out. I replaced the battery in the Cateye and got a Garmin for some cadence monitoring. Unfortunately, I was getting used to not knowing my speed. It was kind of fun to race and wonder about my pace- and then when the race results were posted it was like a big surprise.
And I need to clean my bike.Happy weekend!!! ;)))
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