All is Well

Come, come, ye saints, no toil nor labor fear;
But with joy wend your way.
Though hard to you this journey may appear,
Grace shall be as your day.
Tis better far for us to strive
Our useless cares from us to drive;
Do this, and joy your hearts will swell -
All is well! All is well!

Why should we mourn or think our lot is hard?
'Tis not so; all is right.
Why should we think to earn a great reward
If we now shun the fight?
Gird up your loins; fresh courage take.
Our God will never us forsake;
And soon we'll have this tale to tell-
All is well! All is well!

We'll find the place which God for us prepared,
Far away, in the West ,
Where none shall come to hurt or make afraid;
There the saints, will be blessed.
We'll make the air, with music ring,
Shout praises to our God and King;
Above the rest these words we'll tell -
All is well! All is well!

And should we die before our journey's through,
Happy day! All is well!
We then are free from toil and sorrow, too;
With the just we shall dwell!
But if our lives are spared again
To see the Saints their rest obtain,
Oh, how we'll make this chorus swell-
All is well! All is well!

That has always been one of my favorite hymns and the I always get teary when it's sung in church. We didn't sing it yesterday, but while I was not paying attention in Sunday school (shocking, I know), I was flipping through the hymn book and took a few moments to really read the lyrics.

Then the tears started.

If you've been following my blog for a while, you know that the last two years have been really hard on my family. We've had struggles that we never expected and yet somehow we've survived. This hymn really encompasses my feelings--things were hard--but, they could have been worse.

But now, a new chapter is opened: my husband starts his new job tomorrow. This has been a long time coming.

All is Well.

(ps. If you want to see the beautiful version that makes me cry like a little girl, click here)

Updates. Because that's all I've got.

Yes, I am a bad blogger--sorry! I blame work. I mean, I gotta blame someone, this can't possibly be my fault. Or can it? Hm. Something to ponder.

1. I took off a week after Cowtown, which was dumb, and now I'm faced with 18 miles on Saturday. HA! That is a funny, funny story. My hip begs to differ, as does the fact that I'm hosting a baby shower at my house, sooooo, I'll be cutting the run short so I can zip home and make myself pretty before the guests arrive. See also: Why do I do the things I do? It's a mystery folks.

2. Last year, I was getting ready to run the Catalina Marathon. I'm more than a bit pissy that I'm not doing that this weekend. It was so.much.FUN!

3. I'm also more than a bit pissy that I might have to work an event in New Jersey instead of you know, watch the royal wedding and such and also miss out on running the Oklahoma City Marathon. Priorities people, priorities.

4. I shouldn't be so bitter and pissy. Our receptionist bought us caffeine free Diet Coke. Obviously, there's a correlation.

5. My home decor projects are coming together! Hopefully they'll be finished by the time this girl comes to visit me in April. Otherwise, I apologize in advance and I'll pay for your room at the Hilton.

6. It's a really nice day here today. I should be eating chips and queso on a restaurant patio or something. I'm not, obviously.

7. I haven't cooked an actual meal in like a week. Again, I blame work.

8. I had lunch with this sweet mama to be yesterday. It took everything I had not to slap her for being so dang cute. I have no babies and am going gray. She on the other hand, is pregnant and looks younger. I'm gonna need to know her secret....

9. I fully intend an Anthro shopping spree this weekend. I have a sore throat, that will help right? Like vitamin C for the soul?

10. My niece has gone to like 500 doctors in the past month--poor girl, they can't figure out what's wrong with her. My sister is about to lose her mind. I wish I lived closer!

11. It's almost Spring!

12. It's almost Friday!

What's new with you?

xoxo,
SP

Blogging Is Weird*

*No need to point out/remind me that I'm weird. I'm fully aware.

But, isn't blogging kind of strange? (however, I do mean that in a nice way!) (if it wasn't for blogging, I wouldn't know like 90% of my friends!)

For example, I missed a very special friends baby shower over the weekend because I had to work, but, thanks to blogging, I feel like I was there! (ok, so, reading about it on the blog is not even the same and I'm sick about missing such an important part of her life and that wasn't a really good example because now I'm all pissy and annoyed that I wasn't there for her)

Better example: I don't get to see a lot of my friends all the time, in person, but, we're still involved in each other's lives. There. Better example.

Which leads to this: It can be months between visits with some of my favorite gals, but, I "talk" to them almost daily via Twitter or their blog. True, it's kinda voyeuristic, but, let's move past that, k?

I feel like I know what's going on in their lives all the time as if we'd had a real honest to goodness conversation.

I like that.

I don't like that I'm kind of lazy and kind of a bum and need to make more of an effort to actually see my friends face to face instead of being all "Ohh! I saw that on her blog!", but, such is life and such is growing up and such is being busy.

Can't win them all.

It is pretty awesome to have such a great network of friends near and far--friends I see all the time and those I might only see once or twice a year--to those I've never even met. How cool is that?!

Y'all will never know how much I love and appreciate you all.

Really.

xo,
SP

Back In The Game

I had this race over the weekend. It was a half marathon. I had signed up for the ultra marathon because a) I wanted redemption from my failed attempt and b) one of my friends signed up for it, so, I figured "hey, instant training buddy".

But, life got in the way. I was super busy with work. Sick. A lot. Tired, and just plain burnt out.

Running wasn't fun anymore. It was a chore to get up before the sun to get in a few miles. It was a chore to attempt to race home from work and get in a few miles before having to cook dinner and settle in for the evening. It was just too much.

So, I wasn't running. A secret I hopefully was able to keep from you all, but, I wouldn't be surprised if you figured it out either. I wasn't exactly spouting off about my awesomely wonderful 15 mile runs.

I knew that if I didn't run on Sunday, I would regret it. I would kick myself and I'd be annoyed.

I also knew that it could end very, very badly, but, at least I'd have a shiny new medal and a few miles under my belt so gosh darn it, let's do it.

So, I did. 13.1 miles, done and done.

It was a strange race.

My Garmin decided to die minutes before the start, we were almost late to the start and the course changed so much to become flatter, that instead of being hilly but at least scenic and interesting, it was flat and boring as all get out.

I was bored out of my ever loving mind. My iPod was handy, but, I couldn't see my pace so I had no mental games to play with myself, so, it was just "keep a'movin'" until I couldn't.

Luckily, by mile 8, the miles started ticking off faster and after a hell of a hill climb at mile 9, I was on the downhill (literally) stretch home.

Today, I'm sore, go figure, but, I managed to pull out another race.

Two massive blisters, a swollen ankle and exhaustion, but, I'm still so glad I'm a runner. It's who I am, after all.

Here's hoping I'm back in the game!

(in case you're wondering, my knee and IT Band held up amazingly! I'm hopeful this is a sign of good things to come)

Proudest Day of My Life

If you follow me on Twitter, you know that there was a lot of talk about registration for the Marine Corps Marathon yesterday. Registration opened at 11AM central time yesterday and you can bet your bottom dollar I was hitting "refresh" on that website every five minutes starting at 10:30.

I got myself a spot in my most favoritest marathon ever and did a happy little jig around the office. My office mates were not amused.

Then, on my post marathon registration high, I remembered that my mother in law had told everyone at Christmas that running a marathon was on her bucket list (no, really, she did. I have witnesses). She had been to my first marathon and was really inspired.

I told her that Marine Corps would be the perfect race to do because it's the end of October, which gives her plenty of time to train, and it's such a unique experience.

So, I started harassing her via text, g chat and email. I didn't hear back so I assumed the answer was no.

Well, on my way home yesterday, she agreed to go for it! She's registered for the 2011 Marine Corps Marathon! Y'all, I want to cry I'm so excited. She's not a runner. Like, at all. Even a little bit. We're starting from scratch, but, I know she can do it.

I'm workin' up a training plan and cannot wait to cross that finish line with her. I am going to be by her side the entire way. If that means we walk/run, that's fine with me.

If y'all thought I was emotional about Marine Corps last year, just wait until I recap running a race with my favorite lady in world. It.will.be.AWESOME.

In other news.... my freaking IT band sucks booty and I'm totally gonna have to basically walk this damn half marathon this weekend (yeah, remember when I signed up for the ultra? Yeah, janky hip puts a hitch in that plan. 13.1 it is. Although this bad ass chick is running the ultra). But, I gotta do it. I gotta do it!

Can't wait to tell y'all about my momma's marathon progress!

I Got Meds

I suppose that is a bit better than Johnny Cash's "I Got Stripes" seeing as how I'm not in prison and all....

Where was I?

Oh yeah. I finally went to the doctor yesterday--which, I tried to go 500 times last week, but, getting in was like I had to sell my left foot or something, so, no, and then yesterday they were all "Yeah, we have all sorts of options". Um?! What was happening last week that had everyone running to the doc?! I could have gotten in last week and saved myself a weekend of bed rest, but, noooo. (although, the weekend of bed rest did allow me plenty of time with Dr. Chase, so, really, I will not complain. Too much)

I digress. Diagnosed with "a severe sinus infection" and armed with enough pills to kill a horse, here's hoping I'm A OK in 7-10 days like my doctor promised.

(I got all excited because he gave me amoxacillin and I used to looooove that as a kid--it tasted good. So, I'm all excited to go pick it up and no. It's horse pill. Lame. But, I will be better in 7-10 days, right?!)

And also: go wish my dear friend, Erin some happies--she has some exciting news on her blog!

xoxo,
SP

Which of These is Not Like The Other

Remember those SAT questions? Well, this is kinda like that. Only not. And doing well on this test in no way results in getting into your top choice college. Also, I sucked at the SAT. ACT I killed at, but, whatever.

Moving on.

Which of These is Not Like The Other: Weekend Edition.

Things I Did

-Didn't leave the house.

-Slept more than a bear in hibernation.

-Only slept during the day because I cough all.night.long.

-Possibly watched too many episodes of House and Friends.

-Had French fries for dinner.

-Lived in my jammies.

-Washed and dried hair.

-Took too much cough medicine.

Which one doesn't fit?

Also, what did you do this weekend? Please tell me so I can live vicariously though you all since I won't actually have a weekend off for like another month and a half and I need to read all about your fun weekends since I spent my one free weekend sick. Boo.

But, you'll all be proud to know that I am going to the doctor today. And am not leaving without Super Magical Amazing Healing Medicine that will get rid of the cough and also help me lose 10 pounds.

This means I may need to move into my doctor's office since I doubt such a pill exists, but, we'll see.

xo,
SP

The Time I Had Mental Breakdown at Pottery Barn

(Yes, two posts in one day. I’m sorry, but, I have to share this)(Because even though this is kind of a Debbie Downer, I personally think it's hilarious. Because only I could have a breakdown at PB)(Please laugh with me. Please.)

So, today is kind of rough. One of my bff’s is going through some stuff, and I had quite possibly the worst day at work, and I'm not going to get to see my husband all weekend and I am fighting a cold from hell aka I still have a cough but it’s an awesome ab workout.

Armed with my need for instant gratification, I mosied on over to Sephora on my lunch break. Truth be told, I needed new face wash (Bliss The Youth As We Know It) and needed to get out of my office.

On the way to Sephora, I passed the Pottery Barn store. I peered in the window to see if they had the throw pillows I’d been stalking for six months in the store. They did! Mental note, swing by PB on the way out.

I make a couple laps through Sephora trying perfumes and such since my favorite is a limited edition and lord help me what will I wear?! And then it happened. I couldn’t bend my knee. I could hardly walk. A pain I was all too familiar with came racing back. IT Band. Effff.

I tried to walk it off and that didn’t help. It hurt more.

I made my purchases and headed off to Pottery Barn. It would be ok. I was just imaging things because the sales associates at Sephora were circling like hawks and I just wanted my face wash damnit! The stress was causing me to imagine the pain.

I see the pillows I’ve been stalking and I love them even more in person. Yay! I do a cursory lap through the store and find some other items I want to look at for the den and maybe the guest bedroom. But, those can all wait.

I’m utterly in love with these pillows and cannot wait to get home and put them on the sofa. Also, the dogs will be banned from the sofa starting now.

As I’m clutching my two pillows and a candle, my leg locks up. AGAIN. This time so badly that I have to sit down (thank you Pottery Barn for having furniture in your store). I drop my items and attempt to slyly stretch and or massage my leg. I’m sure that didn’t look awkward at all.

After a few minutes, it still hurts and I’ve got to get back to the office.

Feeling defeated, I limp to the register where the very nice sales manager made the terrible mistake of asking “And how are you today?”.

To which I replied “I’mnotdoingsowellmyleghurtsandIthinkI’minjuredagainandit’snotfair
becauseallIwanttodoisrunandIcan’tbecauseI’vebeensickandnowIfeelbetterbutIcan’tevenwalk
andIhatemybodyI’mtooyoungforthisandwaaahhhhh”.

(in case you didn’t get that, it was: I’m not doing so well, my leg hurts and I think I’m injured again and it’s not fair because all I want to do is run and I can’t because I’ve been sick and now feel better but I can’t even walk and I hate my body and I’m too young for this and wahhhhh)

And then he asked if I wanted the pillow inserts which are crazy expensive but because I basically had a psychotic episode I figured I’d give PB the extra cash and buy the inserts that cost as much as my first apartments rent.

And that, my friends, is how I had a psychotic episode at Pottery Barn.

(Honestly y'all, I'm cracking up at this situation. Although it is a literally painful reminder that this year might not be my great racing year as I had hoped. It's ok. I'll get over it. And probably buy more pillows)

Bullet Points

• My BFF is coming over tonight for some TV and ice cream time--very excited.
  
  
• I think I'm still recovering from the wedding over the weekend. Lack of sleep or just the fact that the groom was belting out "Take it Off" by Ke-DOLLARSIGN-ha. Trust, if you were there, you would find this hilarious as well.
  
  
• My breakfasts this week have consisted of dry Lucky Charms cereal because a) we didn't have milk and b) we didn't have bread or eggs and c) I was too lazy to go to the store to buy milk, bread or eggs. Classy.
  
  
• I've got 14 miles on deck for manana. Lord help me. I've been so sick I haven't run even one step this week. HAHAHAHA. <-- That is the universe laughing at me.

• I have missed all my shows this week. I'm bitter. Also, I'm my 85 year old grandmother who says "shows".
  
  
• I had a rough day at work yesterday. I'm going to Sephora at lunch to make up for it.
  
  
• Lovely dinner with these super awesome ladies.
  
  
• It freaks me out that my little sister is on facebook. Especially when I'll get posts or something from her when I know she's supposed to be getting ready for school and or asleep and I'm like "OMG, I am so calling dad and telling him--like the time I called mom and told her there was a picture of a pot leaf on your page so help me I'll do it again!" and then I realize that my dad won't do anything and I'll just piss him off for calling. And that would make me the lamest big sister ever. But she's 11. 11!
  
  
• I really want my husband to get a job. Like yesterday.
  
  
• My nieces are prom dress shopping. I cannot handle this.
  
  
• Lord help me when they get engaged. I will threaten those boys.
  
  
• My poor future chuldren.

Whew. So. Those are my thoughts for today. Scary, right?

Hope y'all have a great weekend!

xoxox
SP

Operation Skinny

You may or may not recall that I messed up my knee/leg/hip/something during Marine Corps Marathon. It left me literally hobbling for weeks. Walking was even hard. I'd battled injury before, but, this was seriously the worst--I pushed through IT band pain (like an idiot), but this? I could not even walk through.

Thus, I haven't been able to run and train like I want. It seems that anything over 4 miles and I'm a hobbling mess. I took time off. I cross train. I stretch. I yoga. I do it all. But, the pain is still there. I attempted a 14 miler with my friends on Saturday, bound and determined that I could do it--after all, I've done 14 milers after weeks of 3-4 mile training runs. Surely I could do it again.

I was wrong. Mile 4 and the pain was so excruciating, I thought I might literally lay down and cry.

So, I made it about 7.5 miles. Hobbling the last 3.5 miles.

This whole not being able to run like a crazy person thing has put a major cramp in my style. I can't eat like a runner--obviously, but, my stomach refuses to accept that. Thus, I am all sorts of soft and double chinned. NOT GOOD.

So. My bff and I have decided that this nonsense is over. I got in pretty good shape when I had a trainer last year, but, I don't want to spend the money again--but, I know it's possible for me to get back into shape. And preferably before summer, thankyouverymuch.

Thus, we've formulated a workout plan that relies on good old fashioned ass kicking. Mostly deduced from my days of cheer, rowing, and dancing. Last night involved push ups, sit ups and squats. Nothing fancy, nothing hard, but, an ass kicking nonetheless.

Needless to say, I'm hurtin' today.

The good news? I'm hurtin' today.

Operation Skinny. The final frontier. I refuse to let not running define me. I refuse to be 26 and wear mom jeans.

I will do this.

(this doesn't mean my days of running are over--I fully intend to run Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon and Marine Corps Marathon this year--who I am if I'm not a runner? Wait, don't answer that)

Further Proof That I'm 150 Years Old

Over the weekend, my former boss got married. It was a beautiful wedding and I was so humbled to be part of it (it was a small guest list). Of course, the fact that I coughed through the entire ceremony probably made her regret inviting me.

Yes, I was fighting a cold. AGAIN. But, I was not missing out on this special day!

Anyways. Gorgeous wedding. When I wasn't busy coughing up a lung I was crying--I rarely get choked up at weddings, but, boy howdy, I was a mess (lord help me when this girl gets married. In Italy. In a castle. Duh). It was just so sweet! And I'm beyond so happy for her.

It was an evening wedding. Which means it was well after midnight (ahem, after 1am) by the time we finally got home.

And then, up and at it for church yesterday morning (with a famous special visitor! Who was very nice and very sincere--a true stand up guy) I was spent.

I did not leave the sofa all afternoon. And crawled in bed before 9PM. Word.

So. To recap: I'm going gray, and cannot stay out until 1AM. My 19 year old self is kicking my ass.

(I will say however, it was probably the most fun I've had in months. Mostly because I spent a good hour laughing with my bestie after the wedding)

Oh, also, Happy Valentine's Day!

xoxox

The Great Debate

I heard something on the radio today about how when a woman makes some drastic change with her hair, that means there's some bigger issue. I have to agree and disagree. I think it can be foreshadowing, or it can just mean that girlfriend got bored, saw something she liked and marched into her hair stylist and said "do it". I buy both options.

For me, I've been hemming and hahing about changing my hair for a while. Shocker: This doesn't involve me asking you if I should chop it. I've made peace with the fact that it takes me an hour to do my hair in the morning. I'm zen. (and by "zen" I mean 90% of the time it's in a ponytail/bun/braid)

No, no, the debate comes in the form of hair color.

For most of my life, I've been a bottle blonde. There was that brief stint after my mom died when I was a brunette, but, we don't talk about that. It wasn't until recently that I finally accepted my auburn roots (look, I'm funny) and owned up to red.

But now? Now I'm a teensy bit bored. And, since I'm going gray (cue tears) it's evident that I'll be either amping up the red, or highlighting for the rest of my damn life.

A few years ago, a friend of mine told me she thought I could pull off Blake Lively's color. Being too scared to go that blonde, I dismissed her idea. But now, I'm willing to reconsider.
Jennifer Morrison (aka the big ol dumb ho from House--who leaves Chase?!) has great hair--the perfect shade of natural blonde.

But what about my tried and true? (aka I'm naturally auburn)

Y'all know my love for all things Isla Fisher, including her hair.

Howver, instead of that fun and flirty strawberry blonde, mine is more the dark auburn route, more like Debra Messing--which I blame on my dad's side of the family and their darker coloring.

(photo of me taken a month ago that I hijacked from Sara)

So, dears, what to do? Beach Blonde Barbie, or Spicy Redhead? GO!

(also, this is where you tell me I look just like Isla Fisher and that if Chase was a real person and all, he'd come looking for me. Never mind that I'm married. Not the point.)