Total Eclipse Vacation Day 5 (Enjoying a Lazy Sunday)

If you missed Day 4 of our Total Eclipse Vacation, you can catch up HERE

Thanks to the strenuous hike yesterday, I slept like the dead! I think I got up once to pee, but I didn't have my watch on so no idea what time it was. When I woke up, it was around 9ish, and Hubby was already up on his tablet. Again, I was super-stuffy, but no headache. I took more Sudafed and an Aleve. Thankfully, no I just hiked yesterday aches or pains, which seems illogical. We lazed around in bed until noon or so, which just felt delicious, since there are so few times we ever get to be this lazy, before I got out of bed to start fiddling with my camera gear. I wanted to make sure that every single battery was charged, every SD card was cleared, and every lens was ready to go. I scoped out the backyard to double-check that I'd have a clear shot of the sun tomorrow, and thanked the Internet Gods for finding this VRBO for me.

I came back in and gave my sinuses a good steaming, which may have been the grossest thing I've ever done... there was drippage and productive blows that made me wonder what was going on in there! I took a super-hot bath for more steam power, and because I felt like dirty ass after that hike yesterday (and to use up the last of those contraband Epsom salts, too!)

After that, we lazed around on the couch, talking about a whole lot of nothing, then trying to make plans for our half-day in Memphis before we had to go to the airport. I got a lovely foot rub from Hubby (he never does that stuff), and I took his ass back to bed! 

Having worked up an appetite, we decided on Fat City Steak and Grill for dinner, but when we got outside, the poor SUV looked like an entire flock of birds decided to shit all over the car! It was disgusting! Like don't touch the door handle disgusting! We had to find a car wash, but apparently there's not many gas station drive thru car washes in Jonesboro...? We drove over to Tommy's Car Wash, but it was closed. Then we drove over to Rhyno Car Wash, which was also closed. Wat the hell, Jonesboro? You guys roll up your sidewalks at 7pm on Sundays? Everything was so quiet and closed! I was just about ready to give up when we saw a Take 5 Car Wash across the intersection that was still open. We dropped $20 on a basic wash, then got the remaining little poops off with their free cleaner and rags. 

Okay, now we can go to dinner! Fat City was very quiet inside, with only a few tables occupied with families or seniors... Huh. Craighead County is a Dry County, I wonder if that has something to do with why Sundays are so quiet everywhere... Anyway, hubby got his new love, a Club Sandwich, on a croissant, with no fries, while I got a plate of chicken fingers (so adventurous, right?) He loved his sandwich, while mine was just okay. They tasted exactly like the nuggets I make at home, with a basic flour dredge, and the fries were mid. Who knows, maybe my taste buds are still broken... 

Back at the house (and parked a little further away from the tree canopy), it was time to relax and Twitter and sleep, for tomorrow is THE DAY that this whole vacation was planned around. Is it an eclipse, the apocalypse, a rapture, or just a cool scientific and planetary feature that happens? Depends on who you ask!

I Gotta Get Outta Here! I Gotta Get Outta Here!

So, a few weeks ago, Disney reopened after being closed since March. I had really wanted to be there on Re-Opening Day, but no luck, due to their new Park Pass reservation system. I wasn't able to score an Annual Passholder reservation, nor could I find anything for July 11th (the day Magic Kingdom reopened). I decided on July 28th, which was the first day off after Hubby's birthday. I thought it would be a nice escape/birthday present. I was also looking forward to being back in my happy place and being able to take lots of photos of a mostly empty park!

I sat on this for a week or so, then asked him at dinner one night if he was ready to go back to Disney. He immediately said NO! He said that it didn't feel like Disney to him, and he refused to go. I told him that it was a bummer he felt that way, but I'd just go alone. 

After that discussion, I thought about it, and decided to go ahead and cancel the trip... If I went, he'd be resentful and grumpy the next time we went to Disney. If I didn't go, I'd be resentful that he spoiled it for me... either way was a lose-lose situation, but he can be a bigger butthead about things (I love him, though!), so I sacrificed the idea of awesome photos. But I never said anything to him about cancelling. 

Last week (on the 19th) when I picked him up from work, he was really grumpy and he told me that he was mad that I was going to go ahead and go to Disney, even though I knew he was against the idea. He felt it wasn't the right time to go to Disney, that it didn't feel magical. He could never give me a solid reason as to why I shouldn't go. He also said that "a good photographer would be able to take photos without crowds on any random day" which hurt to hear him say to me. So we agreed to disagree and spent an evening in silence. Yes, even though I'd already decided not to go. I was not going to let him think he "won." After a few days, we stopped tiptoeing around each other and got over it.

I officially cancelled the reservation the weekend before the trip, but I still wanted to GO somewhere... so where should I go? 

One of the BEST movies in the world!

Obviously, anywhere I go is going to have restrictions in place (masks, occupancy, etc). I debated going to Ocala for some junk food seafood at Long John's, but there was also this place called Busy Bee up in Live Oak that I discovered when doing some research for our Road Trip Adventure next year... It's a Buc-Ee's knock-off, basically. I could visit my old high school town and the place I lived for a few years, then hit up Live Oak and drive home. 

Map of my Trip

 I decided to do that, and skip Long John's. 

So, Tuesday morning, I was up at 9 and left by 10am. I picked up soda at Circle K, and cleaned out the trash from the trunk and backseat. As I was shoving stuff in the trash can, I realized that my ring finger wasn't catching on the lid of the trashcan (as it normally does, because of my rings), and I started freaking out! Oh, where are my rings!? I texted hubby, and he said he didn't see them "in the usual spots," so I headed home (I'd already looked around the Circle K area). I found them in the kitchen, hanging on the hook I always hang them on when I'm cooking... he forgot to check there. 

Also, at this point, it's probably 11am, and I'd not even had breakfast! I'd planned on going to McDonald's in the next town north, but never did. I drove to my hometown via county and state roads (you can't get there via the interstate), and it all looked so much the same, yet so different. It's hard to explain. The first part, along Highway 441 was familar to me, as many times we drove this way to go to my mother's house, but we'd not been this way in probably 5 years. But once I left 441 for 27, it was almost foreign territory. It looked "almost right" but not quite right. Many times I thought to myself did that used to be a gas station? or oh, they closed down Sally's Sundries. 

Coming into town was a surprise, because the town had grown over the past 15 years since I'd been there last. Oh, don't get me wrong, there was still no actual red light (just a 4-way blinker in the middle of town), but they had a McDonald's now! And a Subway! And a Dollar General! Very fancy. 

My first stop was Ivey Park, a natural springs in which I spent many summers swimming. Natural springs are 72º all year round, so in the hot summers in Florida, it's a shock to the system, but it feels great when you finally get all the way in!  

Full view of the springs at Ivey Park in Branford, FL

The water is crystal clear!

Looking toward the exit (on the left) toward the Suwanee River

The swimming hole was 99% the way I remembered, with a rebuilt boardwalk, and stairs where my favorite hangout spot used to be. 

Those stairs used to end at my favorite place to put my towel

I couldn't NOT put my feet in the water!

I took some photos then headed further inside the park to the boat ramps. I avoided the first one (near the picnic tables) because there was a large group of people there. The second ramp was peaceful, and I took advantage of the quiet to kick off my shoes and dip my feet in the Suwanee River. I sat and listened to the sounds of the area, the lapping of the waves from a passing boat, the wind through the trees.

One of two boatramps at Ivey Park

Looking up the Suwanee River

How could I not stick my feet in the water here too?

So artsy...

Unfortunately, a truck wanted to launch his boat, so I moved away and headed back to the car. Once I got to the car, I realized that the old Dive Shop was gone (I spent many dollars here, buying chips and Pepsi in glass bottles... yeah, I'm that old.)

They had metal screw-off caps and the labels were thin sheets of styrofoam-ish stuff

My next stop was my first real job - the Scaff's Grocery Store in town. Apparently now, though, it's an IGA! It looked exactly the same on the outside. Almost from muscle memory, I ended up parking in the same spot I would always park in when I was working there. I walked in the same door I'd always walk in on the way to work (it was the side that used to have a soda machine outside, but not anymore). 

On the inside, it was, again, same but different. In 1994, there were 3 registers and a customer service desk/manager's office.  The registers were manual (I had to type in .99 then hit the "grocery" or "meat" button to tally the groceries) and had round turn-tables to move the groceries toward me (no conveyor belts for this joint!)

These were notorious for smushing tomatoes

Now, they have 2 registers (with small belts), and the customer service/manager's office is against the front wall. I wasn't' expecting to see anyone I knew, but I was kind of bummed that I didn't recognize anyone. (I mean, come on, Lazy... it's been 25 years! They're probably all dead... they were old when you worked there!)

Other than that, the layout didn't change much. I peeked into the back room to see if that was the same, but it had been remodeled. 

Throwback Photo to 1994: Manager Paul (L) and Bagboy David (R)

After walking around like an idiot, I picked up a few bags of Uncle Ray's Hot Chips (the BEST hot chips on the planet) and made my way to the register. I chatted up the cashier, Marsha, and she told me that the store had been an IGA for longer than 3 years, though she'd lived in town for over 13 years, and when she first moved to town, it wasn't an IGA. She said it was "dark, dirty, and stinky" and she refused to shop there.

Once I left town, I headed for "home". 

It's funny to call it "home..." because I only officially lived there from 1993 to 1996, but my grandmother lived there practically since I was born (I think she moved there in 1980), and I would spend every long vacation with her - summers, spring breaks, Christmas breaks, they were all with her. She had a home across from the Suwanee River, and I loved it there. Summer couldn't come fast enough for me. 

I don't want to completely hijack my own blog post, so I'll just say... stay tuned for a new page on my blog called Stories of my Grandmother. I have lots of memories that I want to share and document, so now I'll have a page to just jot them down on when I have a wild hair. 

Back to the trip! 

I drove down Highway 349 and was sad to see that the small convenience store was closed and destroyed. It was the only gas station for miles between home and work, and I would often stop in for another one of those fancy glass Pepsis, or some Tom's Hot Fries (back when they were good). 

Past the gas station, was the road to my old house. I'd forgotten that the road had been paved about 10 years ago, with street signs and everything! (Yes, yes, we were the living embodiment of You Might Be  a Redneck jokes).

I saw that our neighbor Ed (yes, we called him Mr. Ed) was still there, or at least his trailer was, though the land had been cleared and looked to be planted with some random crop. 

Someone was living on our property, I could see a dark grey mobile home, but I was respectful and didn't go up the driveway to check it out. It looked like a different trailer from the one my parents purchased. I slowly drove past the house and headed towards what I thought would be the road to my old church, but I turned too early and actually passed my old BFF's house... I wondered if his mom still lived there (last I knew, he's living up north in the snow and cold). I came back and turned the correct way and drove to church. 

Hatchbend Baptist Church (Church on L, Fellowship Hall on R)

As a kid, I wasn't all that religious, but I was a good, churchgoing kiddo when I spent time with Grandma. Every Sunday I was at Sunday School, I sang with the choir, and got church giggles with the boys in the back pews. My (step) grandfather is buried in the graveyard here. Every year, I attended Vacation Bible School with my friends and fought over who would carry the flags during the evening processional, and who would carry the bible. I was even baptized again at this church in 1991. 

Unfortunately, the days of churches keeping their doors unlocked are over, and the church and fellowship hall were both locked up tight. I was able to park and walk around for a few minutes but it began to rain, so I ran back to the car, said a little prayer, and headed toward my next destination.

It stopped raining by the time I got to J.T. Earl Park (I think that's the name... I remember Earl anyway!). This park was directly across from my grandmother's house that I grew up in. We would walk over here daily to climb down a steep bank to get to the river. We didn't need stairs. We didn't need a ramp. We had tree roots and rocks. Of course, those are long gone or buried now, and I wasn't able to climb down this time.

The view from the river, looking towards Grandma's House

The view from the park, overlooking the river

Here, I simply listened to the lapping of the water, the wind in the trees, and talked to Grandma. It was an emotional 10 minutes or so, nothing I'm going to go into specifics about. I miss her. I've missed her for the past 15 years. It doesn't get easier, dealing with her being gone... It gets... less frequent. I think that's a good way of thinking about it. I can go for weeks or months without thinking about her, but then something reminds me of her and BAM! I can't breathe and my heart hurts. That part isn't easier, not at all.

Looking down at where we scattered her ashes in 2006

Once I had some peace with the river, I made my way across the street to her house. When she passed, she willed the house to my older brother. For me, she'd set up a savings account of a certain amount (which I decimated at a very young age, us being poor newlyweds and parents). I'm not angry about either of those things. It's her choice to decide who gets what. 

My brother, however, was not the most responsible person in his 20s and 30s (Neither was I, honestly, but more so than he). The property laid vacant and unattended to for many, many years after she passed. I knew that. Growing up here, I was very familiar with the idea that unsecured properties would be looted. That happened within a few years, I would guess. Made me angry, but I wasn't shocked. 

Logically, I should have expected what I got. 

Emotionally, I was not prepared.

Both driveways were completely overgrown. I couldn't get my car much further than off the side of the road. I picked up a stick and began to make my way deeper into the property (there were a lot of banana spiders and webs to deal with, hence the stick). 

I could see the 2nd story of the house from the street, but the bottom floor - what it was - was harder to see until I got further in.

So far, so good...

Growing up here, she had a single-level home that had a living room, dining room, kitchen, pantry, and bedroom. The bathroom was a separate structure set apart from the house (never new why...). In 1989, the year it snowed in North Florida, she was in the process of adding on an attached bathroom. After the river flooded her home multiple times over the years, she was able to afford to build a second story addition onto the house, ostensibly to be a new house. The new house would also have a kitchen, pantry, dining, living, and bedroom. The bathroom was still downstairs. Once she was done with the upstairs build, the downstairs became storage, and an extra kitchen for canning during the warm Florida summers. 

When I came into the clearing of the yard, I died a little inside. The entire 1st floor was gone. Just... gone.

That pile of rubble used to be the living room

If you didn't know there had been a home there, you wouldn't know now. There was a large pile of construction materials to one side, like someone took everything apart and stacked it up, but it was all warped and rotten, and none of it made sense. There was a rotting velvet couch sitting where the dining room would have been.

Her ancient velvet sleeper sofa

Her cast iron fireplace was gone, which wasn't surprising. It was a massive piece, and probably the most "Grandma" thing I could have ever wanted to keep from her house, but I bet that thing walked away real quick after she left the property. 

From the outside, the upstairs actually looked a little better than expected. I couldn't climb the stairs because they were all rotten, of course. But the door and most of the windows were still in place. Once I moved further into the yard, I could see that the roof had caved in (most likely due to a tree falling on the house), which either allowed the floor to rot and fall, or the tree came through the floor as well... I could see my grandmother's bed through the floor, and I could see the blue sky behind it. After seeing all of the damage, my assumption is that the roof had become compromised, which allowed rain to enter the home, and as we all know, Florida weather is not kind to wood structures. It probably began rotting within a season or two. I would love to be able to pull myself up to the second story with a ladder, just to see what's left in the kitchen/dining room area (the floor wasn't caved in there), but that will probably never happen.

You can see the edge of her bed to the left of the bright light

The entire original "Outhouse" was gone, of course. It was already falling apart at the turn of the century. Oh, and, no... it wasn't an actual Outhouse, it was simply a second tiny building that had a bathtub and toilet, as well as a laundry area. I don't know why it was all by itself, but it was kind of fun to be a small kid and be All Alone while I took a bath or brushed my teeth. It was miserable to go to and from the outhouse in the winter time, though!

Obviously, anything that was in any way important or useful had long since walked away, but I poked around anyway, to see if there was anything buried among the leaves and dirt. 

I found two glass jars, most likely ones that either once had food in them, or were set aside to be used for canning. One was an old Sanka jar, and the other was most likely a mayonnaise jar. I also found a small porcelain bowl that I didn't recognize, but it was in good enough shape that I knew I had to keep it. 

I found the top of her old Great American Popcorn Machine, which was a punch in the gut. I remember making popcorn in that many times over the years, putting a stick (yes a stick) of butter on top to melt and drip over the fresh popcorn. It had a few cracks in it, but it wasn't broken, so I tucked it safely in the car.

I want to go to eBay and buy a replica one day

On the way out, though, was the strangest find. Sitting there, on a stump (how did I miss it on the way in?) was a bright blue Bay Area Renaissance Festival stone mug from 1995. It was just... there... like a beacon. You know how, in video games, if there's something really important for you to find, it's sitting in a ray of sunshine, practically glowing? Yeah, it was like that. My father (Grandma's son) was heavily involved with that festival, and she loved it. I graduated high school in 1995, so while not oooooooooh, spooky!, it was still a kind of weird coincidence. Why was it here? Why was it not already stolen? It was practically clean, when compared to a lot of other things around the area. If she left it for me, I'm not sure what the message is... My dad my be an ass, but you're damn sure right I kept that mug. It has a place of honor in my home office now. 

But even more interesting than the mug was the last experience I had before I turned around to leave... I was poking at things in the dirt, when from behind me I heard a loud thump. I whipped around and saw a large black cat running deeper into the woods... My grandmother was always known as the person who would take in stray animals. When people dumped their dogs in the woods, they ended up at her house. When cats showed up out of nowhere, they ended up at her house. I can't even begin to count how many cats and dogs and chickens and things she loved over the years. I can't remember names, but I remember many of them. 

That my grandma's property is still giving shelter to animals... that's the best feeling. That cat made me remember how much I loved my grandmother's loving spirit. Even fifteen years after her passing, she's still taking care of cats!

As I walked back to the car, I turned around and looked again at the place I grew up, and I was angry. Girl, I was HOT. So I did what any rational thinking human being would do... I pulled out my camera and hit record. I tried to sound rational. I explained my feelings and why I was sad, and mad. But then I just had a bit of a meltdown. No, you don't get to see it. I probably won't even keep it. I'll probably watch it before I publish this blog and delete it because I sound like a crazy person... who knows!

Angry, and sad, and emotionally wrung out like a sheet, I got back in the car and left. I would probably never see this place again, I realized. I had no reason to come here any more. Nothing held me here... 

I really wasn't planning on having such an emotional crisis during this road trip, but it is what it is, I guess!

On the road again, I headed back towards town, driving to Live Oak, picking up some things I needed at Lowe's, and then onward towards Busy Bee's. 

So... lots of people say that Busy Bee is an equivalent to Buc-Ees. Now, I've never (yet) been to a Buc-Ees, but I do have eyeballs that watch YouTube, and I'll tell ya... this was no Buc-Ees.

I'll give it this... Yes, the bathrooms are very nice. The ladies' room is very large with plenty of stalls and sinks. The stalls had actual doors that, when locked, showed "Occupied", and they were huge, in fact, possibly too huge! I had to lean over to even reach the toilet paper!

I'd equate Busy Bee to this... a Cracker Barrel, a RaceTrac, and a Candy Store all got together and made a FrankenStore. It couldn't really figure out what it wanted to be. 

First, it has a store like Cracker Barrel, full of things that 67-year old rich church women would buy - expensive lotions, ugly leather purses, charm bracelets, etc. Very overpriced and pretentious (really, a leather purse for $150 from a gas station? Uh, no). They did carry a lot of BlueQ merch, so that was awesome.

Then, there was a Candy Store, but most of the candy bins were empty, so getting a bag of assorted candy was pointless. The back wall was full of bulk bins of M&Ms and nuts and stuff. 

Then, there was a Dunkin' and a BK. BK was dead (I picked up a burger on the way out), but Dunkin' was hoppin' (I picked up a maple frosted to go with my burger). 

Then, there was a Jerky and Sweets Counter. I could get fudge, truffles, dipped pretzels, and venison jerky, all from the same place! I got an ounce of original jerky (when I ate it the next day it was terrible! So dry and icky...)

Then, there was the Specialty Food section with assloads of specialty jams, jellies, sauces, salad dressings, hot sauces, and rubs. The way the foods were merchandised was terrible too... They were on short display tables like the one shown below, and since the bottom is so close to the ground, you couldn't really read the product labels, and I'm not gonna bend over that far just to "window shop" random barbecue sauce at a gas station.

The bottom rack is way too close to the ground to read labels

Then, finally, there was a convenience store and Truck Stop. They had a great selection of stuff at least. 

All in all, I ended up picking up some Bee Bits, Buttah Bees, Uncle Ray's Chips, Uncle Ray's Onion Rings, a small mix of candy, big Laffy Taffy sticks, and some Cowboy Jerky. Also, a cheeseburger, a fountain drink, and a donut. (We were more impressed with the Bee Bits than the Buttah Bees). 

Now that my "Homeward Bound" road trip was over, I hit the interstate to head home. I got home around 5:15, cried on Hubby's shoulder for a while, then picked up some fast food and ate in bed. I slept off my "No Food" headache, and I feel better today. Empty, but better than yesterday. 

I still want to go back to Long John's in Ocala, but I've satisfied my wanderlust for a while. Maybe I'll treat myself for my birthday in September. 

*I apologize for how wonky this post looks... I was forced to start using the new Blogger interface template and it sucks donkey balls...

Just wanted to share this

I just found a great blog post over at DrRachelRuns that is wonderful.

Request from the Back of the Pack

She says a lot of things that us slow runners really want to say to Mr Speedy Pants.

Correction to Last Week's 3.01 Mile Run Walk

So, once I came down from my Yee Haw High of being so fast, I went to Map My Run to enter my time and realized that my run was only 2.94 MILES!!  I didn't take a certain street during the route, which made me miss .07 of a mile.  Grrr.

I was determined that I would do 3.1 this weekend, so back at MMR, I set up a no-fail route, basically an out-and-back from my house.  It was actually 3.6 miles, but was able to see what street was at 3.1 miles, so when I was on the return trip, I'd stop my watch at that location.

All week, I was looking forward to this run/walk.  I made sure my MP3 player was charged, made sure my clothes were clean. I got myself psyched up so that I didn't let the couch suck me in. 

It started raining Saturday afternoon and was still raining Sunday morning. Sonofabitch!  I ate breakfast and waited for the rain to stop.  I checked my email. I checked my Facebook. Around 11:30, I gave up, did some dishes and ate lunch. Once I was comfy on the couch with my Publix Cuban sub, a handful of chips, a magazine, a cat and QVC - the rain stopped.  Sonofabitch!

After lunch, I threw on my gear and headed out the door, determined to beat my 52 minutes.  I walked down our street to Waldo and veered onto the greenway. It's nice and quiet, no creepy people who talk to themselves or smokers out for a stroll (I got stuck behind that guy last week...)  I was able to get in a few bouts of running, but even with the awesome new shoes, I think my ankles and shins just can't handle the sheer mass that they are being required to move so swiftly.  I feel like I'm near a 1:2 minute run-to-walk pace, which is good, but I know I can (and will) do better.

It seemed to me that the turn-around spot took forever to reach, but at the same time, I felt like I got there really quickly. It was kind of weird. I think it's because I drive that road every weekend and it seems weird to me to be ABLE to walk (next to) a road that I usually drive on.

As I paused to drink some water at the turn-around spot, I glanced at my watch.  I think it said 33 minutes. I knew then that I wasn't going to beat my 52 minutes.  I was kind of bummed, but used it as motivation to walk faster on my walk intervals and go just two or three more steps when I was jogging.

The walk back to the greenway exit was pretty fast, partly because I was now familiar with it's length and had made 'landmarks' in my head as I passed by them.  I could see street signs through the trees, so I knew when I passed the bread store or the flea market. I could SMELL when I passed Sonny's BBQ (I think I need to do lunch there one day soon, it smelled really good!) I began to see cars through the trees turning left and right, so I knew that the red light to my street was coming soon. It made me go just a little faster.

While I waited for the light to turn green, I checked my watch again.  I was about 5-6 blocks from the end of this walk and I was already at 49 minutes.  Bummed, still, that I wouldn't break that 52 minute mark, I powered on, running when I could until I finally got to the end of that 3.1 miles. I stopped my watch and looked down...

55 Minutes.

3.1 Miles in 55 minutes.Technically faster PACE than last weekend, but I didn't beat that 52 minutes.  Here's the pace breakdown.

2.94 Miles in 52 Minutes - 17.51mm pace
3.1 Miles in 55 Minutes - 17.49mm pace

However, I still must say that it is a lot better than I was expecting (I was thinking it would have to be at least an hour) and I did get a little choked up with happiness at that 55 minutes. I crossed the road when the light changed and made my way home.

I feel some trepidation about the upcoming 5k next weekend. I have a sad feeling in my heart that I will be dead last crossing that finish line, and I will probably get the pity claps and yells, but you know what?  I will have done the most important thing- I will have CROSSED THE FINISH LINE OF MY VERY FIRST 5k.  I will not quit, I will not give up, I will give it my all and I will cross that finish line, even if I am the very last person to do so.  There is no pity to be had, for I will have finished, and right now, that is the greatest thing in the world to me.

Then I'll go to Disney World :)

Easter Run and The Dreaded BEFORE Pictures

I never took any!

Before we get to that, let's back up to that morning. The weather was gorgeous, so I decided that instead of being cooped up in my bedroom on the treadmill, I'd actually GO OUTSIDE!

I put on my spiffy new compression capris and the teal top. The capris were actually ALMOST one size too big!  The waist was a bit loose, and I had to use the interior drawstring to tighten it a bit. That was weird!  The tee was just about perfect (I'm still retaining a Volkswagen, so I've bloated out to almost a full size bigger...) I tucked my cell phone into the little pocket in the back and headed out the door for an 'out and back' from my house to a major road about a mile away, giving me a total of 2 miles.

The day was gorgeous, not too hot, but after I got 3 or 4 blocks down the road, I realized that perhaps I shouldn't be doing this today - the winds changed direction and smoke from local wildfires began blowing my way!

The Caribbean, Olive and 8Mile are the local wildfires

It wasn't too bad, so I kept going. I would run 'from this pole to that pole' or 'this mailbox to that sign' until I was running about as much as I was walking. Running outside is very different from running on a treadmill!  I'm going to have to make sure I practice outside as much as possible, if I want to be ready for running in the Princess.

Anyway, by the time I make it to Waldo Rd (the big road and my turn around point), I looked at my watch and saw that about 16 minutes had passed. I must have not started the stopwatch correctly, that seemed wrong.  I turned around and headed home, missing a red light and having to stop for about a minute or two, which I took advantage of and stretched my legs.

When I got home, I looked at my stop watch, which said 34 minutes.  I looked at the microwave and it jibed up with my watch.  I DID 2 MILES IN 34 MINUTES!!!  That is a 17-minute mile, people!  1 minute off the race-required 16-minute mile!  I was stoked, so happy! I was also sweaty, tired and thirsty.  I grabbed a huge cup of water and headed to my bedroom to change.

When I got into my room, a though dawned on me.  I never took before photos when I started this journey. I've since had two separate people (who don't know each other in the least) tell me that I've 'got it goin on!' and that I've 'lost a fuck-ton of weight'.  My husband says he sees it, but for me - once a fat girl, always a fat girl.  It's very hard for me to see it. I decided that, before I got changed, I'd take some photos.

I have to be very clear on one thing:  In my before photo, I was sucking it in. In my current photos, I had to deliberately NOT suck it in, to get an accurate reflection of what my body looks like. As a woman, it is so hard to not suck it in!

December 2011 - About 225 Pounds

I don't know why I didn't smile.

I could fly away with those wings!

Side view - much smaller gut

 

Run Disney tech tee I recently bought

Back of Run Disney tech tee

SOON

I have a dilemma regarding this RunDisney tee. I bought it to train in.  It doesn't fit (it's so much scarier in person!).  Should I return it to get a men's version (that will fit my boobs and gut) or should I hang it on my closet (like in the 'soon' photo) and use it as motivation? If I hang it, I probably won't fit into it for at least 2 months. If I get the men's version, I can wear it NOW.  I'm so torn!  If I could find an extra $30, I could have both :)  Maybe I'll think about that a bit....






 So anyway, that was my Sunday. It was the first Sunday since I started (I think) that I ran. I'll keep it up as long as weather permits, but in Florida, summer comes early and it brings disgusting humidity. 

Training Part TWO

After the MoD walk, I learned something important - KEEP MOVING!  Did you know that if you go from walking 8.6 miles to sitting on the couch you will get sore muscles?  I didn't!  I made the mistake of going home and curling up on the couch with my lunch.  when I stood up, I thought I was broken!

This made Sunday even worse!  My legs felt like tree trunks when I got out of bed and my butt muscles (used for climbing those damn hills) were in so much pain, I leaned left and right when I walked. I was making myself seasick just walking around the grocery store! But, I think walking around on Sunday helped and by Monday, I was 'generally sore', which I equated to 'not as bad as how I feel after Disney, but worse than how I feel after treadmill.'

I worked late Monday, which I plan for, so I didn't have any training, but yesterday (Tuesday) was the first day of the Couch - to - 5k program.  I was to run 30 seconds and walk 90 seconds for a total of 20 minutes. I warmed up with a walk for about 4 minutes, then did my 20 minutes and gladly got off.  However, I can see why lots of people suggest the walk/run combo.  When I walk, I can do a 20 minute mile. Just with the 30/90, I did an 18mm!  I can only get faster from here!

On a different note, when I began this whole process, I made a note on my training calendar to reward myself with something when I finished the first 8 weeks. It turned out that the MoD walk was the final day of that training.  No, the MoD walk wasn't my reward!  But now, I have to decide what I want as my reward - a Garmin running watch or new sneakers?  I'm leaning towards the Garmin because it's techy and I like new toys, but I really should get running gear. Any suggestions?

There is one piece of running gear that I did buy today - a RunDisney tech tee!  It's new at the Disney Store online and I debated getting it (why spend $30 on a tee when I can get another one like I have now at JCP for $12?), but then I got an email today that the Disney Store had a 25% off promo code for TODAY only to celebrate their 25th anniversary. I decided to get it, and it's on it's way to my office, along with a cute little magnet.

$29.95 (Also available for men)

$7.95 (Also available for 26.2)

I can't wait to wear the tee next time I walk and I think the magnet will go on the fridge next to the dinner menu so that I don't overindulge on ice cream!

That's all for now. Just wanted to check in and let you know how my recovery was going.  Tonight is another off night, so I'm going to get some laundry done, some dishes done and hit the sack early! Well, after a hot shower and Jeopardy!

A Long Walk needs a Long Post

Today was the day I'd been waiting for for almost a month - the March of Dimes March for Babies!  I signed up at the beginning of the month as part of my company's team. As of that Friday (yesterday), no one else signed up for it! What the hell?!? 

I rolled out of bed at the ungodly Saturday hour of 6:30a.m. (I don't get up that early on a Saturday unless the day ends at Disney!) and began getting ready. I put my hair up in a ponytail and threw on a robe, heading to the kitchen to make some scrambled eggs and OJ. I watched the news while I ate and finally got dressed around 7:15 or so. I was on the road by 7:30 and realized about 2 minutes later that I should have left much earlier! I underestimated the time it would take me to get to the park, much less how long it would take me TO park!  I found a spot next to a church on 8th Avenue and hiked back to the park. Right before I got there, the 7:55 runners began, so I cheered them on as I hoofed it into the park. I made my way through the throngs of bodies to get a Walk Card, then made my way back into the crowd just as we all began to move en masse into the street!  It took about 2 minutes to get from where I was standing to the road, but once we did, I was off!

And we're off!!

The first mile kind of flew by.  

  

Walking up 16th towards 43rd

We headed down 34th, then veered into the Fresh Market parking lot. This was Stop 1 (1.2 miles). 

Why does that sign say Hollywood Video?

They were handing out awesome purple reusable grocery bags with the MoD logo on it. I totally grabbed one, because I love purple and I love bags!  There was a water stop and I grabbed a cup and proceeded through the parking lot, coming out near the entrance for Thornbrooke Village.  Back onto the road, we walked down and turned onto NW 43rd Street. 

Stop 2 (1.6 miles) was in front of FL Credit Union at the Nationwide booth. I grabbed a water and kept on truckin'. 

The sign never changed - I guess they wanted you to get a loan

Up ahead, I saw a big rainbow made of balloons.  It's the Campus USA booth at Stop 3 (2 miles) with leprechauns and green fortune cookies. OK, whatever. I grabbed a few (I think I'm the only one who actually EATS fortune cookies), a cup of water and moved on down the road. 

Really?  I'm frugal, but reusing crap from St Patty's day is cheap!

At the end of 43rd, we came upon our vet's office (Millhopper Vet Med Center is great) and cut through their parking lot and behind a big ol' bank. 

It's my vet's office! 

This turned out to be Wells Fargo, Stop 4 (2.4 miles) and judging by the line of grabbers, you would think they were giving away gold!  I saw one of those dorky basketball hoops you stick on your bedroom door and heard someone say they got speakers, but this wasn't worth my time! I got out of line and got the hell out of the crowd!  I hit up the Pepsi wagon, grabbing a few mini-cans of Pepsi Max and a bottle of water, tossing them into my nifty purple sack. As I walked across the parking lot, I ran into Stuart, one of my coworkers. I didn't know he signed up, but he said he did on Friday, so that was cool. I gave him a smile, put my earphones back in and took off.

The walk down 39th Avenue was pretty uneventful. Kind of neat to walk 'in the middle of the road' on such a busy highway, but nothing important happened. I forgot about the large hill on 39th, but I did okay. I took a photo of the folks behind me at one point, just to be able to say that I wasn't LAST!

The line of people goes back so far you can't really see the end!

We turned onto 34th and crossed the street over to North FL Regional Med Center Stop 5 (2.4 miles) and they had ALL sorts of stuff! There were bananas, OJ cups (sealed, I tossed 'em in the bag), water cups, fruit snacks, chips, banks, bubbled and little Milky Way bars! Yummy I grabbed a few of everything (including two bananas for my daughter) and maneuvered around the crowds to get back on track. 

Veering off 39th onto 34th, headed for Glen Springs Rd.

Walking through Glen Springs neighborhoods required us to stay on the sidewalks at all times. It was crowded and very boring. At some times, as I walked near woodsy areas, it smelled like my grandmother's property and I inhaled deeply. Other times it stank of road kill or something fishy. Oh, and poo. I smelled lots of dog poo, too. That was pretty bad. 

You could hide a body down there and no one would know...

While on GSR, we got to walk through Ambassador Mile, and there were all these happy families with their little cute babies waving and cheering us on.  One little girl was giving out lollipops and another one (she wasn't more than 2) was giving out fist bumps. I totally got in on that one.  

There was a great sign at Glen Springs Elementary School as we passed that I had to take a photo of, too. 

The only sign I saw that said Thank You. Thanks GSES!

Up past GSES was the Tower Hill Insurance Group Stop 6 (4.1 miles). They had Planet Smoothie strawberry-banana smoothies, water, popcorn (in a sports bottle) and soda. I grabbed a smoothie, popcorn, water and a soda and took a quick break. As I pulled to the side, I was run into with a jogging stroller. In all the years going to WDW, I've never been hit with a stroller, but my very first MoD walk, I do? How weird. There was no damage (and even if there was, she was long gone), but I took the moment to chug my smoothie (it was okay), drink the soda and head back down the road.

Yo, where my swag be at?

Further down GSR was the Memory Mile, which, frankly, was depressing as hell.  There were signs up along the road listing baby names. Some had dates and some didn't so I assumed the ones with dates were when the babies died? I don't know - it didn't say. I know the point of the Memory Mile is to remind us why we are doing this, but all it did was make me want to cry, especially when I passed one family who was pausing to take a photo with their 'child' at one of the signs. I kind of put my head down and pushed on at that point. It was hard.

It's like the Oscar In Memoriam show, but for March of Dimes

Between stops 6 and 7 was my favorite stop thus far - the Blue Bell Ice Cream Man!  They had grape or cherry popsicles, ice cream sandwiches and coupons. Be still my thrifty little heart! I got a mini-ice cream sandwich and a coupon. Doesn't it look yummy?

Please deliver this truck to my house please

It's small, but just the right size!

Florida Virtual School was Stop 7 (4.6 miles) and they handed out little sling backpacks.  I hate those, but grabbed one for my daughter. She'd like it. This stop also meant that I was over halfway done. Apparently, I didn't take a photo at this stop, but trust me, you didn't miss much. I don't even remember what they were giving out, but I didn't get any of it.

By this point, I was seeing lots of apartment complexes and I knew that we should be getting to 'civilization' again soon, so I was keeping an eye out for the Social Security building on this street.  I should have been keeping an eye out for the huge freakin' hill!!  Gainesville has a lot of hills. This was the nastiest, I think.  I felt like I was climbing a mountain. The incline on my treadmill doesn't even go this high! But I made it and I didn't even break tempo, either. Hell yeah! I think if I can do this hill, I'll be able to do the Contemporary Hill at the Princess Half in February 2013. Once up the hill, I saw a few ladies take advantage of a well-placed bus stop, but I just smiled and kept going. There's another stop ahead!

In front of Planet Fitness was the AvMed Stop 8 (5.7 miles). Sonic and K-Country were also there. I scored a cup of cherry limeade from Sonic and crossed the parking lot in front of Godfather's Pizza to the Pepsi truck where I got another bottle of water and a bottle of Diet Sierra Mist. I tucked them into my purple bag and continued to 13th Street. 

The K-Country Guys all looked bored when I walked by

What, no ice? C'mon that's my favorite part!

Traffic was blocked in one lane again, so I just strolled right down the middle of the street like I owned it. Walgreen's was Stop 10 (6 miles) and I got a plastic cup with water and another plastic cup with crackers. 

I'm walkin' right down the middle of Main Street USA.... No?

I drank the water and tossed all the cups into my bag while heading down to GHS, where Wal-Mart was Stop 11 (6.2 miles). They had a really good station with Gatorade, water, apples, grapes and my favorite, Sno-Cones!  I got a red one. I also grabbed a few granola bars for later. 

  

Too many people hate Wal-Mart; these guys were great!

Cherry Sno-Cone. 

As I turned onto NW 16th Avenue, my body was beginning to realize what the hell was going on and that I didn't plan on stopping. It's when I first began to notice my feet hurting, but I kept going, knowing how close I was to being done. I grabbed a GNV sticker from the Gainesville Airport Stop 12 (7 miles) and some water. The woman there tried to console me and tell me that it was only 1 more mile, but I guess she forgot that there was another .6 on top of that. 

The stop is WAAAAAY down there. RUN!

At this point, I saw sign saying "Victory Wagon Stops Here." 

Victory, my ass.

This sign means, "If you give up, wait here so that other walkers can mock you until the Sweeper Wagon can come collect you and take your loser ass to the finish line." Okay, so maybe it doesn't mean that for everyone, but it meant that for me. I'd been seeing them for an hour or more (since stop 2 or 3) and every time I passed one, I smiled and kept going.  This one, though, past Mile 7 made me stop to take a photo of it. I believe the narrative in my head while I took a photo of it was "no it DOESN'T motherf'r, not for me." I put that sign behind me and out of my head and pushed on to the corner of NW 22nd and NW 16th. 

Stopping takes away all my momentum. Hurry up!

We had to stop to wait for traffic, since we were crossing over to the left side of the street, so I took the time to stretch my poor calves.  

 Giggle was stop 13 (7.1 miles) and they had granola bars and dorky stuff. I kept going.

I wouldn't be Giggle-ing if I was right next to those!

RTI Biologics was Stop 14 (7.2 miles) and had one thing that I loved - a cheap little checkered flag. I loved it. I knew how close I was to finishing and that made me smile. The awesome mister they set up for walkers to walk through was pretty nice, too! 

The lady I walked behind was part of RTI's walking team

A bit past RTI, I finally made it to Wolf's house. I forgot how far down 16th he was, but I made it damn it, here's proof! Hi Wolf!

I don't think he was home at the time

After Wolf's house, I turned around and took another photo of all the people who are still behind me and trudging up the big-ass hill I finished tackling.  I'm still not last! Yay!

Still not last!!!

A few minutes later, I look ahead and see an arch made out of purple, lavender and white balloons. There is lots of cheering up there. Could that be the finish line? No, we're not there yet.  I think it was the One More Mile Cheerleaders.  

What is that? Is that .... the END?

I won't lie, I got all choked up when I went under the arch, though. I knew how close I was, how many miles were left (less than 1) and that I could do it. Let's go, bitch, walk faster! (Yes, I call myself bitch sometimes).

Not the end, but so damn close!

Finally, we've made to the corner of 34th and 16th. Everyone in Gainesville knows this intersection. We've all driven though it. I've never walked through it. Until now.

This intersection is usually MUCH busier!

We turn left and we are on a straight away to the finish line. I'm so tired, I know it's within my reach, I keep walking and FINALLY, I make it to the Finish Line and walk through!!!!!!!

FINISH LINE!!!!

Success!!! I got two stickers from the cute kids at the finish line that say "I did it!" I stick those suckers on my shirt and continue into the park. I run into another co-worker of mine who had just finished as well and we chatted for a minute or so, but I didn't want my legs to cramp up, so I took off in search of my Party in the Park food options. There was Sonny's, Moe's, Zaxby's, a few local places and Domino's (ewww). I settled on Zaxby's, grabbing my chicken sammich and sneaking out of the park.  Halfway across the field, I realized I forgot to look at my stopwatch, so I stopped for a moment to take a photo of my finish time.  3 Hours, 14 Minutes.  My goal was to finish in 3 hours, so I think that I met that.  I spent 5-10 minutes in the park, so not counting that, I'm right at or a little over. I'll take it!

3 Hours, 14 Minutes.

I limped my way to the church I parked near (probably another 1/2 to full mile away!) and opened the car, where I promptly took off my sneakers! Oh, that felt so good!  I started the car and got the AC going, had some water, then headed for home.

Once home, I think it took me 5 minutes just to walk from the car to the house because by then my feet hurt so bad, you'd think I went to Disney! Well, that and because I still didn't have my shoes on.

I got hugs from Hubby, whose first question was, "Did you finish?"  HELL YES I FINISHED! I want to scream it from the rooftops, I am so proud of myself!  I plopped down on the couch and elevated my poor feet and we all chatted for a bit. He brought me my Zax sammich, and I finally ate it (it was pretty good) while my daughter and I watched the last 15 minutes of "The Princess and the Frog."

2 Waters, 3 Soda, 4 Chips, 10 Granola bars, gum, lollipops, mints, awesome!

When the movie was over, I forced myself to get up and get moving so that I don't freeze that way and cause more pain, and I decided to take all the stuff out of my Swag Bag.  I ended up getting LOTS of stuff!  I gave my daughter a bunch of stuff and she took off with it back to her room and I headed in to my office to download all my photos and check out all the photos I sent to Facebook while I walked.

Wouldn't you know it, not a single photo made it to FB!  Apparently my upload email was incorrect. Dammit. Stupid Facebook.

I think it's time for some food. I'm STARVING!