Thursday 13 - Random Thoughts ..

So this weekend we are moving out of a great transition house. When I realized we were really moving out of Texas, I had about two weeks to find a house that would fit the three of us, plus a dog and a cat. This house fell on us .. the couple that own the house were going to Florida for the winter, and needed to leave a furnished house for five months .. it was perfect for what we needed. Now it’s time to move on .. and I am ready. It is just another one of my forward moving pieces. I am ready to make this next house a home for at least two years. In two years Noah will graduate, and Alet will have one more year left. It’s hard to imagine two years from now .. It’s hard to imagine my son will be graduating!! Then Alet …. ahh! and then??

Whoa .. let’s back up and enjoy the next coming months! So .. here is my Thursday 13 list of the things I am going to enjoy with the thoughts of this new house .. another step to the new beginnings …

Thirteen Random thoughts on the traditional T13 .. if you want to play, click here ..

1. better start packing! It shouldn’t be too difficult, I tried to leave my boxes alone …. It will be like Christmas again ..!
2. Some of those boxes were packed in October 2008, and just followed me  from Texas to Maine to Texas to Maine …
3. Bigger house = more rooms = more privacy!!
4. My landlord is already scoring the big points .. new washer and dryer, new dishwasher, new fridge .. new laminate floor .. new kitchen …….
5. April will be busy .. May …summer in sight!
6. Oh… I found out today that the teenagers are going to Texas for the summer ….. I’m single for the summer!
7. This summer I’m planning a couple of kayak excursions .. (that’s cause I can!! I’m single for the summer … oh, did I mention that already?!)
8. I can’t wait to decorate this house .. not that I have a lot of furniture … lol .. one oversized chair! I wouldn’t have been able to fit anymore into my 6 X 12 trailer .. (new beginnings = new furniture!)
9. Janine can’t complain anymore that I live soooo far out of the way! (it was only four miles extra ..)
10. I can now step outside and be a stone’s throw from a Chinese restaurant, pizza place, breakfast bakery, the gas station,  my hairdresser, the high school, 1/2 mile walk from the grocery store .. hardware store .. hmmm, we’re missing the local martini and wine bar ..
11. i wish there was an IKEA store around here …Pier One will work as well …I think I am going to add Asian flavor to this house … we always had several statues of Buddha in our house .. my dad was a collector of many things ..
12. I’m ready .. the teenagers are ready …
13. I think it’ll be a good Spring and Summer …

If you find yourself in town .. drop by, bring a bottle of wine .. you’re always welcome ..

It's an uphill battle ..

So whoever said 'what goes up must come down' certainly didn't run in Maine. Today was a glorious day .. 60 degrees by noon on March 20 ... I think in all the years I have lived here .. 60 degrees is unheard of! (the record high for today was 54 degrees.. so there's truth in the unheard of!)
Okay .. so I digress .. so today being Saturday meant a long run .. except my body at 7:30 wasn't willing to rise to the occasion ..so I choose to run at 12:45 instead ..
I set out - not sure how far, how long .. what route .. it was going to be one of those days .. like Dora the Explora .. (ha-ha .. not that my kids ever watched her ..) I decided to turn off the main road and run what I thought would be a decent loop. First hill ... okay, a little level, next hill ... within the first mile I hit three big hills!! The little voice in my head reminded me 'what goes up, must come down..' .. running and waiting .. up yonder, another hill .. .. I won't divulge the conversation that was going on between that little voice and the screaming thighs by mile 3 of hills... the "down" just never came ..
Those stories of " in my day, I walked 5 miles to school, in a snow storm, up hill, both ways ..." seem to have some truth to them ... or is it that I'm getting older now, and soon I'll be telling those stories .."at my peak, I ran up hill both ways ... in a snow storm .... on March 20 ..."
Thank goodness for good songs on the shuffle .. thank goodness it was a beautiful day .. reasons why I love being back in Maine.

Another moment ..

While driving Ms Daisy (aka Alet), I couldn’t resist stopping for a picture. (One thing I have learnt with my Rebel: When the moment presents itself,  take it .. you never know if you’ll get that moment again)

Another Day at the Gym …

Okay .. so I think I am ready to blog again … Tomorrow will have been three weeks of a silent blog brain. The last couple of days things were forming again .. I almost picture it as little voices talking in my head .. OH MY .. is that a sign of schizophrenia?? Maybe I’m going crazy .. that could very well be ..  2010 so far has been a crazy ride.

There have only been a few constants that I can depend on in 2010 .. my teenagers are still teenagers, and running is still keeping me half sane  … (okay, and Peyton Manning is still the best, Bruce drives me crazy and I am grateful I am living in Maine!)

I am contemplating a road race on Super Bowl Sunday .. a ten miler, the first since 1991 .. the only thing stopping me to fully committing is the weather. The race will be on the coast, and this is Maine .. it may be very, very cold! I’m spoiled now, running in the gym is always hot .. nothing was hotter than today … i think this is why my blog brain is back!

If you have followed my older posts, you’ll know that I do a lot of my blog thinking while I run … running for me is therapeutic. Lately my runs have been the best .. literally! I have been running faster and longer .. it is absolutely fabulous! (So really, what does that mean? Lots of therapy?)But today was just plain funny .. I wish soulsistah R would have been there .. she would have appreciated this run. (Soulsistah R was my coworker last year, we decided we were sisters from different mothers.. although our mothers sounded identical. She too loves to run)

Running on a treadmill is not the most exciting thing .. in fact, anything beyond 30 minutes and it gets quite boring. That’s why it’s important to have good music and at times an accomplice like R to keep it all entertaining. Last year we used to scope the male athletes and name them if they were worthy of a third look!! There is ‘Legs’ , ‘Rebel’, ‘Air Force Guy’. .. and then our favorite ‘Marathon Man’.

So, today .. 8:00am at the gym, the treadmills are almost all taken .. except for two. (For a Saturday morning, 8:00am .. that’s pretty amazing) .. So, I hop on, get myself situated, when  I look to my right, and realize it’s runner “Legs” .. “hmm,” I thought, “not too shabby” ..look to my left, and it’s runner “Nice guy” ..”I can do this ..”  the treadmill begins for the arduous 10 miles.

Miles 1, 2 and 3 .. easy and slow .. I skip through some songs ..nothing seems to zing me .. mile 4, I’m realizing I’m not even half way .. that little voice started talking .. “maybe we don’t need to do 10 miles .. if we do 8, that’ll be 25 miles for the week .. that’s respectable ….” Then it happened ..  .. Marathon Man hopped on the elliptical in front of me. Yes, in front …! (Normally I dread having anyone getting on a machine in front .. I don’t like the view) SOULSISTAH! Where are you??!! So .. re-energized, mile 4 turns into mile 5 .. enjoying my run … suddenly a thought ran through my mind .. to my right Legs, to my left, Nice Guy .. front right Marathon Man and front left empty .. Damn, Darn .. Rebel needs to be on the left front … then I could be Madame President with my four body guards …  out for my morning 10 mile jaunt … “c’mon boys, try to keep up…”

Hey, it was a thought … blog worthy!

(I got off after mile 7, even the body guards couldn’t keep me motivated! .. 20 minutes of weights, and I decided to finish the last 3 miles to music … it was safer that way!)

A quiet corner ..

 

It’s been very, very quiet in my corner… but I can feel my blog brain starting to stir..

A Foggy Day ..

It’s kind of like a mood .. or a moment. Foggy.  This morning I took a moment to catch up with some of my favorite bloggers, and read one that wrote about ‘being real’. It struck a chord .. being real… what is being real? (Foggy and being real .. where is the tie, you ask! Bear with me!) We all have our stories, our hardships, sadness and joys .. we choose to share some, bury others and explore the rest. In trying to be real, do we choose to be real for ourselves or for others .. or both?

To me, being real means being honest with yourself.  Being (self)honest is one of the single most difficult tasks. Being honest can uncover raw emotions, and soul conflict which can cause tremendous turmoil …. for what? The ever longing quest to be happy?

(so .. here is the tie in>>) I think we walk around in a fog .. sometimes a recognizable fog and other times a self preservation-self protection fog. Sometimes its easier to bury the emotions deep inside as not to deal with the realities of what makes us angry, sad or even happy. Often times we pacify others to make them happy, and in result neglect what we feel inside.

Unfortunately, we can only stay in that fog for a limited amount of time. Our soul will force us to “be real”  .. buckle up, enjoy the ride ..and make sure you turn on your fog lights, because the road ahead is foggy!

One

This flower/weed/plant (I'm not sure what this is) calls me every morning when I walk to the truck to take the kids to school .. I love frosty mornings in Maine.

Friday Fill In ..

1. The last band I saw live was _Parachute Express (1997!!)_.
2. What I look forward to most on Thanksgiving is _watching Noah and Alet be around the Bond cousins!_(my sister’s grown up kids)_.                                                                     

 3. My Christmas shopping is _going to be replaced with volunteering__.
4. Thoughts of _”oh-i-should-be-running-not eating those chocolate chip-cookies”_ fill my head.
5. I wish I could wear _ohh.. there is so much! __.
6. Bagpipes _make me cry___.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to _Fresh Maine lobsters in November __, tomorrow my plans include _moving some furniture, a little work, perhaps a run?____ and Sunday, I want to _watch the Colts and Pats … my two favorite teams, but only one QB .. Peyton_(sorry honey!)!

Thanksgiving '09

A New House in Maine

 

We have moved back to Maine .. son, daughter, dog, cat and me! I’m excited, nervous, scared and finding peace.

Life in a Box

 

Manic Monday

Thanks to Fleur de Lisa .. something I haven't done in a while! If you want to play, click here!

What's one new thing you have done this summer that you have never done before?

This is summer I learned how to rock climb (indoors) .. it was very interesting .. and certainly something if I had more time (and a little more courage) I would want to explore further. I had the best teacher, Richard, .. who was very patient and really knew how to talk me out of my fear of heights.

What is the one thing that you miss the most about summer when it is over?

One thing only?? .. I miss the long days .. I love that the sun comes up early, and goes down late into the evening. In the summer it's always about getting the most out of the sunshine ..

If you could eliminate one source of anger in your life right now, what would it be?

hahaha ... REALLY?? No, okay seriously ... one source of anger .. life is about choices .. so to have a source of anger must mean that you are choosing to stay in a position that would lead you to have a source of anger ... .. .. ... ... ... so, how do you eliminate the source of anger; isn't it just easier to make a decision not to be angry, or not to allow the source to influx the anger?

Okay, so I was a total geek this weekend and took over 700+ pictures of hummingbirds .. never have I seen soo many of this little creatures .. they were almost scary; large mosquitoes!

This last bird was my favorite .. you could only see his red neck if he turned a certain way and the light hit at a certain angle .. it was nice to take pictures .. I hadn't really done it like this since Maine .. too long!
HAPPY MONDAY!

Thursday 13 .. the letter B .. (really late on Sunday)

So this was supposed to be done two weeks ago .. for Thursday 13

The Letter B

1. My Boy - Noah .. did it again .. he tried a 3ft jump with his bike .. and landed on his shoulder, breaking his collar bone.

2. Boston four weeks ago ..... it was the Best

3. Bar Harbor last weekend .. Beautiful

4. I don't know where I would be without my Best friends

5. Blueberries in my yogurt and granola; daily around 10 am

6. Brandt!

7. I finally have my Red Sox Booties for my truck (okay, so that was a stretch .. I was thinking Baseball)

8. i really should be better about this Blog

9. My Black heels should have been sexier, Janine told me so!

10. My mom had a german shepherd named Beauty

11. Gotta love Barry White's bedroom voice!

12. Bangor, Brewer, Bucksport .... cities in Maine! (hmmm .. a theme???)

13. One of my favorite desserts: warm Brownies, Oreo cookie ice cream, hot fudge and caramel

Photo Hunt

 

 

I haven’t played this meme in a long time .. today’s theme is Rocks ..

These rocks came from Cynthia’s house .. I brought Bruce over for a play date with his buddy Seamus. We had been in Maine for 7 months, and he hadn’t seen Seamus yet. It was a wonderful reunion ..

Bruce is the shaven one, Seamus is laying down, and Molson is the inspiration to why we have Golden's!

Thursday 13 .. I will miss Maine

So, my time is ending in Maine .. and hence on Thursday, it is time for T13 and therefore it is time for Thirteen things I am going to miss about Maine. Of course these are not in any particular order, since I don't play favorites .. also this is quite a consolidated list, since there are so many more things I would miss .. and of course so many more people ..

Growing up my family moved around every three to four years .. I have learnt in the last three years that I really like being stable and in one place .. that is why I have grown to love Maine. I have always felt that my roots finally grew here when we arrived in 1998. The town that we lived in has been the longest place .. and the house that we owned for five years, before we moved, was the longest I had ever lived in! Maine became home.

1. Maine


2. Cynthia and Tim, most of all Cynthia!


3. Janine - see #8 ..


4. Rachel - and Jonesy? oh no, I meant work.. we worked a lot, and laughed a lot (at work, while we worked)


5. Being able to drive to Massachusetts on a moments notice to see my sister


6. Scenic road trips .. for so many reasons


7. My in laws knowing they are close by


8. Seadogs (okay .. maybe I should say "places out" since it's really about the wine and good company!)


9. Luna's (is that too close to number 8?)


10. Thai lunches


11. Subway lunches on park benches when the sun shines! (Must take advantage of those precious sunny moments!!)


12. Running Hills (a good work out after the wine!)


13. Feeling like I am home

Thanks to Janet and Megan ... if you want to play click here!

Friday Fill In .. on Saturday!

 

1. __There is a great big hill, which gets me all the time, when I am running towards_ home.
2. My favorite thing for dinner lately has been _dinner? is that when you cook? oh, going out .. quesadillas__.
3. _____ bark! bark! bark! (That’s what she said)
4. A nice long walk _can clear the mind _.
5. __Summer is virtually here, for Maine, that is _ some good news.
6. When all is said and done, _you will still need to look in the mirror _.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to _a night out with the girls_, tomorrow my plans include _a night out with the girls_ and Sunday, I want to _kayak early in the morning_! (out with the girls again?! LOL …. just kidding!)

Click here to play along … happy weekend!

Thursday 13 - 13 Reasons to Run again!

Happy Thursday …

So .. lately I have been on a non running streak .. kind of like having a blog block .. so for tonight’s Thursday 13 tradition .. pondering on what list needs to be created .. I thought it may be motivating to find 13 reasons to get back on track …. so, here it goes …

1. New running shoes: nothing feels better than a new pair of shoes
2. “I eat to run, and run to eat” ……  I love to eat … all day long .. no running means no eating??!!
3. Is that why I am feeling pudgy? …. ya, I’m not too happy about that!
4. I need to be able to answer “YES” when I get asked “Did you run today?”    (…..YES .. I ran today!!)
5. These are the last few weeks in Maine … go and run those hills .. we all know Texas has none!
6. I love smelling the lilacs this time of year
7. Get training for the half marathon ~ ambitious goal: Rock ‘n Roll in San Antonio in November
8. You just never know who you’ll meet running down the street .. or the sights that you see ..
9. ahhhh yes … the pain .. in the hips, knees .. I run for the pain …NOT ! (oops, this was a motivational list!)
10. My music … although I need to change it up again .. some of Noah’s music is getting a little too loud for me ..
11. That sense of accomplishment after a long run .. I need to feel that again.
12. Alone time
13. Nothing is more freeing then to step out of the house, knowing you’re running .. and not knowing where you are going, or how long you’ll run for … just ‘going for a run’

Thursday 13 .. Thirteen Things in May

The last Thursday of the month ..thirteen things in May, stolen in it's original form from Janet at T13 .. here we go:

1. Picture of: Boothbay Harbor



Aletta took this picture while we were in Boothbay Harbor .. isn't she just awesome?



2. Current Scent: I'm not a big perfumey person .. (although I love a well scented man!) .. so I rarely wear perfume .. maybe a spritz of China Blossom from Bath and Body ..



3. What I am reading: Sigh .. reading? a book?



4. Newest music I added to my playlist: I just added Second Chance by Shinedown



5. Movies I saw: Star Trek .. thank goodness for Noah .. he had to keep telling me what was going on .. I couldn't get into the past and future thing ...



6. Something Yummy: ..ahhh .. we specifically bought fudge from a great store in Greenville



7. The Last Place I ate out at: Noah, Alet and I went to the Black Frog .. in Greenville..



8. Something that made me cry: ahhh ... really? ..what about the latest recommendation to wear push up bras because the girls were hanging a little low .......? This recommendation came from none other than ..... Aletta. ... I love my daughter!



9. Something that made me laugh: the sight of the tall grass in the yard .. I need to mow the lawn!


10. Something that I look forward to in June: oh .. so much to do, to see, to explore .. to take pictures of ... and I still have to set my kayak in ...and then at the end of the month .. Texas



11. Something I am thankful for: the ability and opportunity of being here these last 7 months.



12. Something I want to remember this month: This was probably the most defining month in the last 6 months .. lots of up and downs .. laughs and tears .. realizations and recognitions ..



13. A photo I took this month: for our photography class I have been taking several ... but I realized our cat rarely makes it in ..

What a great weekend!

We had a crazy weekend .. now that the move to Texas is a few short weeks away, I have gone into over drive to ensure that I have all the experiences and pictures to last me until the next time we come back for a visit.

Being a long weekend, we would take advantage of that extra day off, and so we decided that going to the coast would be a great place to take pictures .. so off to Boothbay Harbor we went.

We had a great time .. we stopped and had lunch, and then decided to get ice cream. Standing there, waiting in line, I was doing what I love .. people watching, when suddenly I recognized a guy walking by .. I ran out of the ice cream shop .. my kids totally dismayed with the idea that I had just desserted the line we were in (no pun!), and started looking for what I knew would be a beautiful blonde lady.... and there she was! I yelled out "Kris?!?" .. low and behold ... friends of ours that we hadn't seen in 10 years ... They had come up from Massachusetts .. for the day to Boothbay Harbor .. our stars were in alignment ... it was so good to see them. We stood for 15 minutes trying to recapture all that lost time. It was soooo great to see them!

Friday fill in ..a little late

1. Moving _again, back to Texas, and this time I will enjoy what Texas has to offer. I have learned that Maine will always be "home" to me, and it will always be here... __.
2. _The simple things in life are _ free. (Well ... okay, sometimes an initial investment, like a kayak .. but then the paddling is free!)
3. My best quality is _(augh..struggle, struggle ..) I'm a good listener .....(what did you say?)_.
4. _Pay attention to the little _ details.
5. In nearly 10 years, _I'll be 50! That just seems so unreal .. my sisters are the older ones ... not me!__.
6. _Good motivation to run on a more consistent basis_ is what I need right now!
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to _Chinese food, and a movie with Noah_, tomorrow my plans include _going to the dump (yippee!), a modified run, and some photo opportunities__ and Sunday, I want to _go on a road trip for more photo opportunities or Kayak?____! ..and holiday Monday ... relax and enjoy Memorial Day (can I squeeze kayak here?).

Have a Happy Memorial Weekend ..... summer is here .... YEAH!!!! (oh wait, that means school vacation .... hmmm!)

Friday fill in ..

Thank you to Janet for Friday Fill In..

1. Why do we have to_go grocery shopping so often_?
2. _Early morning gym days_and eating all the time_ are now habits.
3. I have an insatiable urge to go kayaking .. I can't wait for the weather to warm up. I have missed the Maine waterways!__.
4. I had never heard the phrase "_adjudicate" and it _always makes Rachel and me laugh ..but then again we laugh at almost anything lately!_.
5. _The weekend is here, and mentally I create a large, not-enough-time-to-do-list,__ the way I always do.
6. How was I to know _life could take such sharp turns_.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to _taking Alet to the mall (taxi mom?), tomorrow my plans include _10 and Chinese food with the inlaws____ and Sunday, I want to _have Breakfast with Cyn, and relax____!