I call the first two miles of any of my runs the "Ass" miles. I'm dragging ass, I feel like ass, I want to kick my own ass for convincing myself that running a marathon is a good idea. ... You get the point. But once mile 2 (ish) rolls around, my shins go numb, that oh so wonderful burn in my thighs subsides and I feel like I've sprouted wings.

With every run, I get tired further and further out. Running 7 miles was almost easy the other day. Running six today would have been a breeze if I hadn't been doing a tempo run. (Run at an easy pace for a mile, run at an elevated pace for four miles, run at an easy pace for a mile, lay down on the floor and gasp.)

I've been training consistently and hard since my knee healed up (and I'm being careful). I'm almost to the point where I actually think I might be able to run this damn marathon!

15 weeks and 4 days to go...

 

Finally!

I've finally been able to run again after roughly two months off due to the injured knee. Following the doc's orders, I've started slow and easy. I hit the treadmill four days per week and I've been running a slow 11:19 minute mile. Plus, I do it in intervals; run for 2 minutes, walk for 1. Next week, I'm going to start adding a minute to my run time each time I run. I'm going to work myself up to 12 minutes of running and then 2 minutes of walking. This way, I should be able to make it through the marathon!

I'm also back in school this semester. Now that my mom has recovered from her breast cancer surgery (from last fall), and no longer needs as much help, I should have time to devote to finally getting my degree finished.

On a side note, I've been trying to review a couple of my fellow authors per week again. I'd gotten out of the game (and out of practice) over the past year or so. It's time to get back in the game! And there are so many great stories on here!

Life is busy, but that's normal... and even welcome! I can't stand being bored.
 

Thank goodness too! I was getting worried. In the past week, I've written one rough draft and revised yet another story. If you feel like taking a gander, I'll post the links.

"Snapperhead" is in "mind dump" form. All that means, basically, is it was a free-writing exercise. It hasn't been edited in any way, shape or form. The inspiration for it was kind of odd too.

A pack of peach flavored Cheyenne's I saw in a convenience store.
My boyfriend's brother's band by the name "Snapperhead"
And Harry Chapin's "A Better Place to Be"

Anyway, here it is if you want to read it...

"Snapperhead"   [13+] by Karen Just Got Married

The other one, "Mirror, Mirror" was revised this evening. Thanks to the adivce from authors here and from my second family on http://www.tawmis.com I think I got some great stuff in there.

"Mirror, Mirror"   [18+] by Karen Just Got Married

Enjoy! And let me know what you think.

 

My day yesterday was not a dull one, but I did discover that I seem to be a well-rounded woman. Not only did I make wheat bread from scratch, but I also repaired my own roof (with help from my father who had the supplies)!

First, the bread. As most of us know, prices at the store are HORRIBLE. The cost for a packet of chicken breasts has nearly doubled down here. It's no wonder I don't eat much meat any more. I can't afford it. Because prices seem to be on the rise, I decided, "Why not. I'll try making my own wheat bread." It wasn't as hard as I'd thought it would be, though it is somewhat time consuming. And it came out YUMMY. Especially toasted. I admit though, I had to get used to the taste at first. Homemade stuff always tastes different to me than the store bought stuff. Must be the lack of preservatives.

Bread making observation: Women in the "olden days" must have had some buko arm muscles. After ten minutes of kneading bread dough, my arms were burning!

The roof saga.

Thankfully, I was home yesterday when it was pouring down rain. I was able to witness the river running down my dining room wall. After a few moments of panic (which involved running around in circles with my hands in my hair going "What do I do? What do I do?") I gathered wits back and did what I could to mitigate the damate in the dining room and sun room. Then, when the rain slowed down enough, I scaled the walls outside the sunroom so I could take a peek at my sunroom roof. (That's where the leak was coming from since I couldn't see anything in Pierce's room ... which is above the diningroom.)

It turns out, there was some metal peice, that's normall flush with the roof, all sorts of discombobulated. All the nails had come up and it was directing the water into the walls of the house instead of off the roof. So, after work, my dad brought his trusty supplies and we set out to nailing the metal thing back down and applying sealant to the cracks in the walls and over all the nails. Today when it rained, I didn't see any water.

Thank Goodness!

Roofing observation: Getting up on the roof is a lot less scary that getting down from it.

Anyway, my arms and shoulders are feeling delightfully worked out after kneading bread dough and leveraging myself onto the roof a couple of times yesterday. And I feel all accomplished and stuff!

 

... is good, actually!

My meniscus (sp) is injured, but not torn. Meaning, it can heal on its own if I am careful over the next few weeks. If, in 2 months or so, my knee is still bothering me, I'll have to have it scoped. But for now I'm on a modified exercise plan. In six weeks, I can start jogging again as long as I'm careful.

And, the scans didn't show any stress fractures yet either. So my "no weight bearing exercise" plan for the next two weeks, then light weight bearing for the four after that, should help my shins heal up as well.

Doc says that as long as I'm careful and take things easy, I should be able to run the Disney Marathon in January.

Yay! I am pleased.


 

Ok, so apparently, there is a possibility that I have a torn meniscus (sp). I have an MRI tomorrow morning at the ungodly hour of 6:15. Maybe I can sleep in the machine....

But the doc has said "no weight bearing exercise" until I see him again. So, for the time being, I am sidelined from running. I can however swim and bike (as long as my knee doesn't hurt). Today, I biked (until my knee got sore, then stopped). Tomorrow, I will attempt to a) shoe-horn myself into a bathing suit and b) remember everything I learned at those few swimming lessons last year.

Anyway, keep your fingers crossed for me. I am NOT missing this marathon...


 

*Beware ... this blog post contains randomness. Continue at your own risk!*

Ok. Here is a glance at my week as I train for the 2009 Disney marathon that I was insane enough to sign up for. It's in six months and for those who don't know ... it's 26.2 miles. ... of running ... on foot...

Anyway...

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday: 45 - 60 minutes of cardio (either elliptical or running) and then weights (however long that takes). I rotate through arms/shoulders, chest/back, and legs.

Sunday: Endurance run. Starting now, I'll be adding one mile to the run every Sunday.

Thursday: Day of rest.

So, my random complaint is this... in the past two months, with that schedule, why the hell have I gained six pounds? WTF!?

As you were.

 

I've been putting off announcing this because I wanted to wait until I had some pictures to show. Unfortunately, I'm an idiot and keep forgetting to bring my camera over to my new house.

You read that correctly. I closed on my house on Monday. Tracy and I will be painting this weekend and moving in next weekend ... or when the paint dries...

How does it feel? I'll let you know when I get over being numb from the experience. I think the numbness is going away, slowly... I now feel it when I walk into the walls!

 

"Fear Burns Calories" has been published! That makes two stories this year. WHOOT!

You'll find it here - http://www.freewebs.com/farsm/magindex2.htm - on the Far Side of Midnight.

 

I have taken on an incredible challenge. On October 24th, I'll be walking 60 miles over the course of three days, camping out at night with thousands of other women and men taking this journey with me.

It's for an event called the Breast Cancer 3-Day, which benefits Susan G. Komen for the Cure and the National Philanthropic Trust Breast Cancer Fund. Every advancement in breast cancer research, treatment, education and prevention in the last 25 years has been touched by a Komen for the Cure grant. They are working hard to build a future without breast cancer, and my team is planning on raising $10,000 to help bring us closer to that goal.

Please consider making a donation of whatever amount you can. If you would like to donate a large sum but do not have it available all at once you can spread payments out over (up to) 4 months, using the payment plan option, if you donate online at http://www.the3day.org/. Please also ask your employer if they will double your donation with a matching gift.

My mother is a breast cancer survivor and I work with, share my gym with and know other women who have fought this disease. Chances are, you know someone too.

Without a cure, one in eight women in the U.S. will continue to be diagnosed with breast cancer. That's why I'm walking in the 3-Day. Because everyone deserves a lifetime.

To make a donation, go to my personal fundraising page http://08.the3day.org/site/TR/Walk/AtlantaEvent?px=1834653&pg=personal&fr_i... . If you don't want to donate online, please fill out the donation form on my personal page and mail it to the address on the form. Or you can call 800.996.3DAY to donate over the phone. I would like to reach my personal fundraising goal of $2,200 by this summer, so please don't delay!

Thank you for taking the time to read this, and thank you so much for your support!!!

 

I have discovered that I have a problem with “Romance.” And I don’t mean because I’ve been married (and divorced) twice and am now making my current boyfriend wish he lived on Pluto instead of three miles away from me. While the above does indicate problems in the romance arena, I’m not talking about “life” problems.

I can’t write “Romance.”

Here’s the deal. StoryQuarterly magazine is holding a contest centered on Love in any of its forms. The grand prize is $2500. Since money speaks to me, I decided to put fingers to keyboard and give it a whirl. But, dagnabbit, I’ve hit a wall!

I have no problem writing about a mother waking up to find that her children have turned into flesh eaters and she’s on the menu for breakfast but I can’t seem to write about a woman set to marry the man of her dreams only to find her ex girlfriend crashing the wedding.

Oedipus Horror comes easier to my mind and my pen than Romantic Comedy. I almost fear what that says for my mind.

So what am I to do? I have the rough draft for the contest story done, but it’s so dry. There’s no feeling in it. I don’t know how to convey love and a broken heart, though I have experienced both. (Apparently, I have no problem conveying anger and fear. Again, I may need to get my head examined.)

So now, I am asking for advice. What do I do? Where do I turn? How do I convey something that is as elusive as a hare running from a fox?

And if you know a good shrink, send me his/her number!

 

January 11, 2009 will see me back at Disney. This time though, I won't be stopping at 13.1. I'm going the whole 26.2!

The Goofy Run was full already...



 

The Constitution, whether it be the federal one or a state one, should not, I repeat NOT be used to legalize discrimination.

http://blogs.tampabay.com/buzz/2008/02/gay-marriage-ba.html

If you find gay marriage abhorrent, then don't marry someone of the same sex.

And I find the argument that gay marriage is a threat to hetero relationships ridiculous. How? Back that statement up with some facts and figures. Don't just sputter religious doctrine at me. I can tell you, from personal experience, that the only threat to my hetero relationships is me! Not the friendly gay couple (who have been together for 25 years) down the street.

What gives anyone the right to dictate how someone should live their life and whom that person should share his/her life with? And now, there's a possibility that this state may be joining the other handful of misguided states that have effectively discriminated against an entire segment of the country's population. Maybe this country needs to refer back to the document that lays out certain "unalienable rights" before adopting any more discriminatory laws.

Here's a quote, from our Declaration of Independence, that seems to have been forgotten ...

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."

Please, people, get over yourselves. I mean that with all due respect. If you feel threatened in your marriage, then get thee to a counselor and root out the real cause of your marital troubles. If you are threatened in general by gay people, then get thee to a counselor, or do some serious soul searching, and root out the cause of your bigotry (and get over it). This country has had more than enough discrimintation in its history....

 

Spreading the word for my fourth Seester.


Hello everyone! It's that time of year again! If you did not participate in our walk last year, please register to be on our team, Angels Remembered, or if you can't march this year your donation is appreciated. I am participating in March for Babies because I believe in the March of Dimes mission to save babies. Please support my fundraising efforts by sponsoring me in March for Babies today.

Contributing to my walk online is fast, easy and secure. You can donate directly from my personal webpage with a credit/debit card or PayPal. If you prefer, I can also accept cash or check. Just click the appropriate box on my webpage. The website is: www.marchforbabies.org/mslejp
(copy and paste web address)

The money we raise helps save premature and sick babies. Premature birth is the #1 cause of newborn death and the biggest threat to babies’ health today, and through March for Babies, the March of Dimes is funding important research to find out why premature birth happens and what can be done to prevent it.

I’ve joined with millions of compassionate people across the country who support March for Babies each year. Won’t you please help me in this worthy cause? Visit my webpage and sponsor me in the walk that saves babies!

With your support, there’s hope.

 

Well, due to some child support issues, and other general financial issues, I've had to pull the parking break on the home purchase. In a way, I'm sort of relieved. It gives me some breathing room in having to come up with a total of $9000 if this grant falls through. Unfortunately, unless the child support checks start arriving soon, I'm going to dwindle the money I do have saved in just paying the every day stuff...

On the writing front, "Mirror, Mirror" just got submitted. I'll keep my fingers crossed and you guys posted!

Later folks!

 

Well, while I was cleaning up the kitchen, the eldest decided to check his email. First, however, he decided to read the story I'm working on. (It was still up on my computer.) Apparently, I am now the reason he is a) going to have nightmares and b) afraid to look into the mirror.

The story in question, "Mirror, Mirror", was inspired by a joke slogan of Tracy's for a plastic surgery clinic - "When you look in the mirror and your reflection screams ... " - The story itself is more toward the creepy side (or at least I hope it is).

Here's a snippet from the beginning.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sadie’s legs wouldn’t stop bouncing. Run, they urged her as her knees bruised themselves on the underside of the table. Run and we’ll get you out of here safely.

“I can’t,” she whispered to them, pressing her hands to her thighs to quiet her jittery legs. She felt the sweat coating her palms soak through the silk of her red pants and swallowed back a giggle as she pictured the sweat stains looking more like bloody hand-prints on the fabric.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I told him that, from now on, he should ask before he reads. LOL! Hey, if I can't inspire a nightmare or two in my children during their lifetime, then what kind of mom am I? Right?

On the upside, he loved the story ... even if it will have him asking to sleep in my bed tonight....

Ok, enough with the incoherent rambling. Back to the next work in progress - "The Hand That Feeds".

 

The first issue of The Far Side of Midnight, which you can find at - http://www.thefarsideofmidnight.bravehost.com/index.html - is up and within it's dark pages you'll find a little story called "Funeral Misdeeds" written by yours truly.

So, grab a flashlight and burrow under your covers, The Far Side of Midnight has arrived!

 

The Disney Half Marathon is an amazing experience. They pull out all the stops, really. There were fireworks, bands, food, and merchandise! And that was just pre-race (3:00 am - 6:00 am).

The race itself is awesome. You run through some boring stretches of road, or they would be if they didn't have radio stations and marching bands all over the place urging you onward. My favorite part was running through the Magic Kingdom. All the cast members and early morning guests were lined up along the street cheering on the runners. It's a different experience, having thousands of people cheering for you. It's really indescribable.

Now, the big question. How did I do? Well, aside from a medical issue that had me side-lined around mile 11 for 20 - 30 minutes, I did just fine. I ran across that finish line just under 3 hours. Without being side-lined, my time would have been fantastic.

The official race photos will be up today I think. Check out www.asiphoto.com and look for bib number 29112. The event is Walt Disney World Half Marathon (2008).

Speaking of Disney, that's where I'm off to now! Catch you guys later!

P.S. "Clif Shots" are kind of nasty. They handed them out at mile 10.1 and while they definitely do their job, they don't taste all that great....

 

Finally! This is it! In ten minutes we're on the road to Disney!

By this time Saturday morning I hope to be rounding mile four. Wish us luck!