Look! Hugh Jackman!

If you follow me on twitter (@shabbyprincess) you know that I'M GOING TO SEE HUGH JACKMAN ON BROADWAY! Yes, that deserved to be all shouty. I can't get over it. I honestly might die--I'm not joking.

I'm crazy stupid excited. Le bestie and I are going to NYC to celebrate our birthdays (me November, her January, so, we're going in December) and see our two favorite singing men.

Hugh and Harry. Duh.


So, in honor of our NYC Birthday Extravaganza (official title), I went shopping. (is anyone surprised?)

This is my "I don't need a job, I don't need a baby, I'm going to see Hugh Jackman!" dress.


Obviously, he'll see me and want to run off with me, yes?

Now, most important question--black, gold, or leopard print heels?! Related: It'll be December in New York, am planning to wear tights with the seam on the back--very Mad Men. Now, shoes, decide! (I only ask because y'all were so helpful on the hair debate--dark it is!)

Oh. And this, this is my Phantom of the Opera dress. I have a mad crush on the guy who plays The Phantom--loved him since he was Marius in Les Mis. Also, his name is Hugh. Sense a theme?
Can we discuss the back on this thing??!?! Good thing I did some push ups this morning, lawdy.
I've already warned Sara that I will be camping us outside the stage door in the freezing cold in attempts to see the leading men--obviously, I must look killer. It's gonna be so cold. So, so, cold....WORTH IT.

After dresses and tickets were purchased, I spent the weekend prepping--even though we aren't going until December. (reality: I was home alone and bored)

Which included painting my nails sparkly pink (why yes, I am 12).
And honing my spoon singing skills while I made dinner. Related: I have no shame.
What'd you do this weekend? Any fun holiday plans?

(dresses from here and here)

Someday Life

In my someday life, me and this girl will live next to each other....

This will be our view...

We will have little miniature farm animals (yes, I will name it Kevin Bacon) and our children will grow up and get married--and then we'll officially be related....

This girl and I will own a villa here... and we'll have assistants who tell us that our offices cannot rotate and we'll never fly coach (inside jokes--do y'all watch Mr. Sunshine? If so, you miiiight get those!).

(Ren, I would have posted a picture of you and me, but, I don't have any that you approve of!) (be grateful I didn't post a picture I found of the two of us from initiation brunch um SEVEN years ago. When did we get old?) I'll wear fancy shoes and Isla Fisher will ask me for fashion advice. Oh, and, I'll be skinny, duh.

I love my someday life. What does your someday life look like?

xoxo, Mrs. Igelsias Princess Counsela Banana Hammock

(oh my gawd, everyone, please go see Bridesmaids when it comes out so you'll understand my ridiculous quotes)

(pictures from here, here and here)

Dear Brain: Stop it. Now.

Scene: Me being a responsible little elf and trying to clean up the house and get things in order before my aunt comes to visit this weekend. And get to bed at a reasonable time so I can get up and kick ass at my track workout the following morning.

8:15PM: Take an Advil PM so that I will be able to fall asleep as my knee has been hurting lately. Putz around the house moving candles and pictures while keeping entertained by watching Bones in the background for a little bit.

8:45PM: Decide I'm feeling a little sleepy and decide to capitalize on that and get ready for bed (yes, I go to bed early).

9:05PM: All snug in bed with a beagle and am getting close to falling asleep. Success!

9:30PM: Still awake. Still awake. Dear brain, please turn off.

10:07PM: Go to sleep! Go to sleep! You have to wake up in like 6 hours. Go to sleep. The house will still be messy and you'll still hate the way the guest bedroom looks in the morning. It's not like you can clean right now. Or can you?

10:09PM: Ponder getting up, cleaning, rearranging and basically pulling an all-nighter. What? It worked it college, surely it would work now.

10:11PM: No, I'll just go to sleep. Damn. I should take another Advil PM. But, is that too much? Will I be able to wake up? Hmm.. I should have gotten that melatonin stuff our receptionist told me about. Also? I never thought I'd be the person worrying about sleeping meds. If I was on Twitter right now, I would use a hashtag for this as #I'mold (I'm old. Not I mold. Obviously).

11:15PM: Sigh. I'm over this.

1:39AM: Seriously?!?

3:55AM: Oh my jeeszus, the alarm goes off so soon. Please, just a few more minutes.

4:23AM: Alarm goes off. Oh hell no. Snooze.

And that my friends, is how I managed to miss yet another run because I am a damn insomniac these days.

Either that, or the taper is making me crazy.

Obviously, this results in Oreo cookies and Diet Coke for breakfast. Awesome.

Breakfast of champions, y'all. I hear this is how Ryan Hall starts his day too.

Freaking out, freaking out, freaking out

Y'all.

Y'ALL.

Marine Corp Marathon is less than three weeks away.

Excuse me while I go pass out from a panic attack.

Be back soon.

....................
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......
....
..

OK. I'm back. Still freaking out and all, but, back.

When did this happen? How is it October? How am I less than THREE WEEKS AWAY from marathon number five?

::crawls into fetal position and rocks self::

I demand that time stop now. NOW. Stop it! Stop! Also, if time stops, does that mean my wrinkles reverse? Cause that would be awesome.

Goodness. I am so overworked and undertrained that I'm sure marathon number five will be a fiery disaster. But, I rocked out a good solid 15 miles yesterday and have 22 on tap for next weekend (I just gagged), so, I CAN DO THIS. Right?

What can you do that you never thought was possible?

Judgement Free Zone

True Story:

I was almost late to church yesterday because I got sucked into a 90210 marathon on SoapNet.

For real. (you will not judge me for this)

I was out of town and working on 9/02/10 so I was unable to enjoy the amazingness of 90210 day--I figure 9/19/10 is better than nothing, yes?

I freaking loved that show. I can't even tell you.

We lived in the sticks for years and when we finally moved into town and had cable I was so excited to watch 90210 again that I don't think I turned my TV off for three whole days. It was glorious.

And I'm not even a little bit ashamed that I drove like a crazy person to get to church. Donna Martin is totally worth it.

I'm totally naming my firstborn child Donna Martin.

(image from here)

Losing Sleep and Losing My Mind

Y'all, the last few nights I have not been able to sleep. I mean, maybe 2-3 hours. Which means that I'm a real peach, which also means I'm downing the Diet Coke like it's my job, which also means that I cannot get out of bed, so, I'm not running. Driving.me.nutso! Nuts, I tell you! 18 miles this weekend? Ha. Funny! Lord help me.

You see, I can't sleep, because my mind is racing. I can't turn it off. When I get on something, I cannot stop until it's complete. Yes, I tend to obsess. Over stupid stuff.

What's keeping me up these days?

My house.

For real.

This is two fold.

1. We moved in two years ago (count them, 1, 2) and I'm still working to get it just right. I blame this on my annoying sofas (they were free and big enough for the room, so we said "yes, please", but, they are mauve. HATE. And haven't found slipcovers that a) fit, or b) I like. And recovering them would cost the same as new furniture--you see the issue). And my ghetto mantle. It's a shelf, with creepy little Danish (?) people on the hooks. Perfect for hanging stockings at Christmas, annoying the other 364 days of the year. We have a gorgeous fireplace, but, the mantle is a total killjoy. So, I've literally spent 2 years trying to make the mantle pretty and make mauve work.

We're close, people, so close! I finally got a pretty set-up on my mantle and it's only missing one thing. That one thing? Is stressing me out. Tall taper candleholders. How stupid is that? That I'm losing sleep over it.

Like I said folks, I obsess over the dumbest things. I don't have children, so, honestly, this is what I obsess over.

2) I'm starting to freak out that we may have to move sometime in the relative near future. With month 20 looming over our heads with the husband unemployed, we're starting to discuss that we may have to move. And none of that "he would have a really long commute" type stuff, we're talking a whole different state (holla, Erin, he applied for a job in Denver!). Which makes me super duper sad because this was our house to raise a family. And damnit, I don't want to move. Which then makes my first point stupid, because, why am I putting all this effort into it if we're just going to leave? And will we ever find a house we love again? Can we afford to move?

Stressed out.

Did I mention that the husband hasn't even had an out of state interview yet? And I'm still freaking out.

As you can see, I'm crazy. Like, losing my mind, out of this world, crazy.

Honestly.

I need a new distraction.

That doesn't involve Pier 1, Target, Pottery Barn or Crate and Barrel. However, if you know where I can get some tall and relatively inexpensive taper holders, I wouldn't turn down the advice.

Just sayin'.

Anyone else have any silly things they obsess and fret over?

I'm falling apart, obvioulsy the husband will need to trade me in for a newer model.

Which is sad considering our 4.5 year age difference and the fact that he alternates between acting like a 12 year old or an 80 year old. If we go with the 12 year old option, he'll obviously need to date a toddler. However, if we got with 80, then I'm pretty much walking the tightrope of The Girls Next Door territory. Yikes! Neither of these are ideal.

So, in between not being able to move thanks to my personal training session the other day ("easy" my ass! I can't open doors people, can't open doors!) and the fact that my face decided to act out in response to my skincare SOS, I now have no less than 5 zits that hurt like all get out, I'm pretty much falling apart.

Am going to die.

And, naturally, because the Universe has a sense of humor, I'm only just GAINING weight and am dreading the thought of going out for an anniversary dinner with my husband this weekend because I look like the damn Michelin Man, and that is only cute on babies. Not on 25 year olds who want to be able to look back at their photos and not cringe (so far, hasn't happened in a good 8 months). This is ridiculous.

Plus, nothing I own fits me, so, it is entirely possible that I will have to go to dinner in my pajamas. Which would be comfy, but, I don't think many restaurants would let me in the door in my jammies and slippers.

On the upside, I have more hellish El Scorcho training this week. Hopefully, it will go better than last week! Fingers crossed kids, fingers crossed!

(sorry, I just realized that it came across pretty whiney--not my intention! Just a rant. We could all use a rant now and then, yes? Plus, the bonus of having no clothes that fit is that I go shopping at Pier 1, so, my house has never looked better!)

Runnin' With The Fireflies

Y'all know that one of my favorite things about summer in the South is the fireflies. I love them. They make me so happy. They remind me of being a kid and having hot summers in Iowa with my grandparents.

Anyways.

As some of y'all may know, I recently started my training for El Scorcho which is an all night 50k (no need to remind me that I'm insane, I'm fully aware, thanks). So, a group of us got together and decided that doing our long runs at night would be beneficial to get us used to running when we should be sleeping. According to El Scorcho veterans, that's the hardest part. Yikes.

I had a really hard week last week, like as in--well, it was bad. I was tired to my bones and wasn't looking forward to running--I wanted to get home from work and get in bed. But, that wasn't in the cards.

We met up at 9PM for a Lake Loop. It was hot. And humid. And then humid again. But? It.was.awesome. The fireflies were out, and it was just us and them (and of course the kids you know, using the lake for you know, the pot and the drinking and the other things we will not mention on the blog!).

We talked about everything. We laughed. We were soaking wet when we finished. We were fairly certain we looked like some kind of group of homeless vagabonds. We went back to our meet up point and ate watermelon and strawberries.

And then we all said our goodbyes until next week.

I drove home in a punch drunk stupor. I've been struggling with my running lately, but, that was such a unique experience and so out of the ordinary, it really renewed me. Renewed my love for running. Made me grateful for my house only a few miles from the lake. Made me grateful for my legs that can run. Made me grateful to stay up past my bedtime with some great friends.

And then after a quick shower, I climbed in bed with my silly Ella Mae beagle and went to sleep.

And got to sleep in not having to wake up at 5AM for my weekly long run.

I could get used to this running at night thing.

I ran 9.4 miles this morning

Just to prove how crazy I really am. (which, was there any doubt that I was loony?)

I also weighed myself. Big mistake.

Good thing I just signed up for a gym membership (first time I've paid for one in 6 years!) and have a free fitness consultation. Maybe my new "fitness consultant" can finally help me drop these damn 15 (yikes!!!!) pounds.

By June. Because I want to look pretty for our 5 year anniversary dinner (yep, no vacation for us this year. AGAIN. Bitter as hell).

Oh, and, I got in to work early. Early. How? How is that even possible? I'm still not sure.
(because it takes a long time for this slow poke to run 9.4 miles)

But, whatever. 9.4 miles!!! That's more than a 15k!

Heck.yes.

Catalina, Catalina, Catalina!

Eeeek! I'm so excited I could die (but, I won't). This marathon has been my "goal" since last summer. Last summer when I hadn't even completed marathon numero uno, last summer when Danica blogged about Operation Jack. It's finally here.I can't believe it!

It's going to be a butt kicking, I'm not entirely sure I'll be able to walk on Sunday, but, helllloooo, I get to run a marathon on Catalina Island! How awesome is that?!?

And, I'm running for Operation Jack, which as you know is so important to me. The inspiration from Sam and what he's doing has kept me going and I couldn't have gotten through my first marathon (and second!) without all his encouragement and advice. True, I'm going to run a few more for Operation Jack this year, but, this is the big one.

Thank you to all of you who donated (and to those who didn't, DO IT NOW) (seriously, donate! Go without your latte for the day, it won't kill you) (promise) (and, you'll feel so good about it!).

I hope that I can truly make a difference in Sam's goals this year for Operation Jack and Catalina is a great start.

I'm scared, I'm nervous, but, I get to run a marathon here:

(photo from here)

Eek!

California sunshine, here I come!

PS. Donate!

Marathon Monday (again) (and, what have I gotten myself into?)

Wasn't it just yesterday that I was gearing up to run a marathon on Saturday? No? Two weeks ago? Yikes.

Well, like it or not, the time has come. The time that I've literally been thinking about last summer. The Catalina Marathon. For me, this might as well be Boston. This is it (sure, I've got OKC in less than 7 weeks, but, whatever, if I finish that, I'll be happy) (and I will finish. And I will PR. Even though I have noooo idea where I'm going to get my 20 miler in for that--yeah, I'll be out of town that weekend) (crap, I might really bomb OKC. That would suck).

The granddaddy of my marathon life thus far. And probably this year. It's going to be hard, it's going to be long, it's going to take every last ounce of energy I have to finish--but, it's going to rock. (see how I do that? Positive thinking, kids, positive thinking)

Sure, there's a ton of stuff to get done before now and when we leave, sure, we'll get back on Sunday night only to leave at 6AM Monday morning for 3 days of hiking and whatnot with a group of teenagers in the soggy Texas hills (did I mention it's supposed to rain for the next few days? Awesome). Sure, I'll get home Wednesday from hiking, caked in mud, sore, hungry and exhausted, only to pack my bags and head out of town on again Thursday night. Yeah, sure.

But, this Saturday, I get to run The Catalina Marathon! Are you kidding me? That's so exciting and crazy I can't even believe it. I am scared to death, have no idea what I've gotten myself into, but, by Saturday evening, I'll get to look back on it and say I did it. Hellloooo awesome.

My long run on Saturday didn't go as planned--I guess The Cowtown finally caught up with me and I struggled big time. But, I planned a hilly route knowing I'd need the hills for this weekend. I didn't get near the mileage I wanted, but, oh well. It's not about last Saturday, it's about this Saturday. I'm a little sore and worse for wear, but, I'm not running Catalina for time, so, if I walk like 75% of it, I don't care! (Lord help me that I don't walk 75% of it!)

Best part? I get to see my dad, step mom and half sis, possibly my in laws and I finally get to meet Sam of Operation Jack! The whole reason I've become a crazy runner in the first place.

No matter what, this weekend will be great.

Even if I do have to be heavily medicated on Sunday.

Excuse me while I panic

Have we discussed that I'm running a marathon tomorrow? Because I am. Tomorrow. Not on Sunday. Tomorrow. As in, in 24 hours, I'll be like half way into 26.2 miles.

And the panic is totally setting in.

I haven't really been eating enough carbs (gummi bears? Yes)--what if I don't have enough in the tank? What if I get really hungry at mile 9 (like I'm prone to do). What if Mystery Illness 2010 hits at mile 19? Then what?! What if I wear a tee and capris and it's too cold? What if I wear capris and a long sleeve half zip and it's too hot? What if we don't get there in time?

Full.on.panic.attack.

(I've had like 3 this week--awesome)

And it doesn't help that the headband I ordered for this marathon hasn't come yet. That's just bad juju. (which also means I'm buying one today on my lunch break. Yes, I have 50. But, I don't have one with yellow on it, and if it's warm tomorrow, I'm wearin' yellow! If it's cold, I'm wearing pink--I've got pink totally taken care of)

But! But! But! I feel excited, I feel anxious, I feel jumpy and I feel like I can tackle the world tomorrow. In the form of running 26.2 miles of course.

And, I will not have a mental breakdown at mile 17. I will not. (mile 20, maybe)

Ahh! I can't believe it.

I've slipped up and told a few people at work, but, hopefully they'll forget (doubtful).

I'm just so damn excited. Even though the finishers medals are weak (yeah, they're part of a 5 year series--in 5 years, you get a big ol' 5 point star medal thing. Really? 5 years? That's asking a lot of me. Can I just get the big 5 point star now? K, thanks).

Bonus? Tonight is graduation (yes, I get to graduate from a 21 certificate training--shut up).

I think it shall be an awesome weekend.

PS. Good luck to Sam and The Redhead who are going to rock their marathon (and Sam will rock his first 15k!) this weekend too!

Marathon Monday

Well, I know it's not technically Marathon Monday, but, it's my Marathon Monday gosh darn it!

The CowTown is Saturday (I big time puffy heart Saturday races) and it's so weird because I don't feel like I have a marathon this weekend, which is a good thing, and a bad thing. Good because I'm not stressing about it, bad because I've got so much other crap going on this week I'm stressing about that instead. Oh, and, I'm still sick. Sheesh.

But, I did manage to get in a kick booty final "long run" on Saturday. It was a lot harder (and hillier!) than I had anticipated, but, the harder the training runs, the better the races, right? (just agree with me here, K?)

I'm ready. I'm ready to run. I'm ready to PR. I'm ready to have fun.

I'm ready to run on my home turf and to giddily drive home with that post marathon glow (that's also called sweat, fyi) to my puppies and crash on the sofa with them before getting take out and watching movies with my family (yes, I have high expectations for my post marathon weekend).

The clothes are picked out, the gear is ready. Now, the weather just needs to cooperate and we'll be fine. None of this scattered showers and 39 degree high nonsense. I don't enjoy that. I'm constantly freezing and do not want to run 26.2 miles in layers, understand Weather Gods?

So, it's Monday.

The Monday before I marathon. Again.

Eeek! Wish me luck. (I'm still kinda scared)

Congratulations, Universe, you win (again) (as always)

So, in 8 days I'll be running a marathon (because I'm crazy) (and like torture) (and am really just a show off).

Since the start of 2010, I have been 150% more dedicated to my training than I was in 2009. Which is awesome pants, if you ask me (and, by reading my blog, you did in fact, ask me). Of course, 26.2 miles is a long freaking way and anything can go wrong anywhere along there. Trust me, I know.

So, I've been trying to get good solid runs in and good strength training, etc. I'm feeling strong, confident (but not overly so--I'm still scared to death!) and good. Which had made me just that much more exicted about running in general. Which is the point, right? Right.

Until Wednesday night.

When I got hit with mystery illness 2010. (it's actually the same thing that haunted me in 2009, but, it's now 2010, so....)

And a cold.

I spent the entire day in bed yesterday (and there was nothing good on TV. I can only watch curling for so long--why I have missed the ski jumping events is a mystery) except for the 20 minutes that I thought it would be a good idea to go for a run in my new Brooks tech tee. Because obviously, I need to try it out. (obviously)

Lesson? Do not attempt running whilst hopped up on DayQuil, pain meds and the like. It's not a fun experience. Even if your pace was super speedy, you'll be too sick and generally out of it to enjoy the euphoria.

(but the tech tee totally rocked)

So, I didn't get my miles for the week and I'm still sick.

Oh well.... Excuse to eat too much and gain even more weight? Yes.

(I swear I'm thisclose to swallowing a tapeworm a la Kelly on The Office) (not really cause that's ick) (maybe I do the Emily Blunt from The Devil Wears Prada: "Well, I don't eat anything and then when I feel like I'm going to pass out, I eat a cube of cheese") (I'm lactose intolerant) (sure)

Say what you will

aka, "yes, I'm fully aware that I'm crazy. Thanks".

Last night, I forked over the cash and signed up for The Cowtown Marathon.

I thought about it all weekend and I thought about my training for Tulsa and I thought about how much better I feel now than I did 25 days out from Tulsa and about how I just feel better about running and yes it will probably be 150% detrimental to me in Catalina, but, I can't run Catalina for time, it's basically all uphill--and, a week post Tulsa I felt great (hoping that translates to two weeks post Cowtown). Obviously, I'm hoping I'll be feeling up to the challenge of Catalina, but, I also hope that Cowtown will give me a much needed confidence booster before those 26.2 miles of hills on a damn island. I'm actually going to great lenghts for torture!

Also, this will be the first and only marathon this year that I'll run at home. I'll get to wake up in my own bed, eat my happy normal breakfast, run my heart out, hop in the car, drive home, eat at my favorite restaurants and nap in my bed versus the car. This is reason enough people. Plus, I've totally picked out my post marathon food (since post Tulsa was McD's french fries and ice cream--don't judge, it was sooooo good!) (this time it will include a burger from Jake's and fro yo from I Heart Yogurt where one of my sweet youth girls works).

I accept that it may be a huge mistake, but, I'm not telling anyone (except you guys!)--no one from work knows, etc so, there's no added pressure. And, it's a Saturday marathon which means I can be back to work on Monday.

I think it's kind of perfection.

Yes, I'm still scared. Yes, 26.2 is a long way (I know, I've been there). But, with a successful 18 miler under my belt and time enough to get two 20 mile runs in, I know I can handle it. And honestly, I'm probably not going to PR at this, and that's fine with me (which is sad considering I had a total meltdown in Tulsa which probably cost me a good 10 minutes or so). 26.2 mile training run, I do believe.

Yes, my knees might kill and my IT band might hurt like the dickens (although, kids, honestly, soooo much better than I felt at the beginning of November--seriously) but, I'm so looking forward to Catalina and know that it will seriously kick my butt that anything before that is childs play.

I have a body that can run (for the time being) so I might as well take advantage of that. It's not like I have anything else that exciting going on in my life right now.

Plus, I'm just so gosh darn excited! (and that always helps)

So, shh, don't tell anyone. This is our little secret.

Insane? Or best idea ever?

Probably the first.

This is where y'all weigh in (also, regarding weight, I've lost 2 lbs! ::does happy dance:: stupid Weight Watchers and counting points like a crazy person really does work--I would sell my left arm to be one of those naturally skinny people--and I'm left handed!).

So, today has been a rough day. Like, really, really bad. Which I hate because I don't need to be all Debbie Downer and trust me, my husband and sis in law do not need it either. Plus, in generally, nobody likes Debbie Downers. It's a known fact.

While I'm all trying to figure out when the crap a door or window will be opened for me to leave my current job or learn whatever lesson it is I'm supposed to learn while I'm here (ugh!). I had a thought. (and profound because usually these thoughts fall along the lines of 'what kind of disease could I come up with today?' or 'could I go back to school for a master's in something? How much could I get in student loans?' and other rather ridiculous thoughts because hate it or not, I'm not goin' anywhere anytime soon)

You see, I want to be a Marathon Maniac (yes, I know). I am running a marathon in March (Catalina) and one in April (Oklahoma City). To qualify for Maniac status, I need to run a marathon in May. Sam has this all figured out and says I should run the Orange County Marathon in California the first week in May (ahem, which is also a week after the Oklahoma City Marathon, which I am running because I just paid for hotel and race so, come hell or high water, I'm there!). This is all well and good because then I could go on vacation at the end of May (and that's really what we care about, yes?).

However... However, if I can't fly to California for that, (because I'm sure my employer would be thrilled to know I'm running two marathons on back to back weekends--they frown on this behavior enough) it will leave me high and dry as May is a sloooooow marathon months around these parts.

Solution? February, March, April.(I know, I'm a genius)

I haven't signed up for The Cowtown (half) yet, so, should I just buck up and sign up for the full?

It's 4 weeks away. (I just died a little)

Discuss.