Liebster Award!!!!

Thank you so much Margaret at youngandrungry.com.  This was a blessing today because I was stumped on what to write about. The Liebster Award is an award given to new bloggers by other bloggers as a way to support and promote each other in growing their blogs.  It’s a great opportunity to build up some connections and maybe even make some new blogger friends and I am so excited to have been nominated.

The Rules:

1. Post your award to your blog.
2. Answer the questions that you were given from the person who nominated you.
3. Nominate a few new bloggers you’ve discovered.
4. Create 10 new questions for the nominees.
5. Thank the blogger who nominated you and post a link to their blog.

1. What inspired me to start a blog?
     A movie. Julie and Julia which is about a lady who wants to start a blog and decides to cook her way through Julia Childs Mastering the art of French Cooking.  I have seriously watched that movie so many times I had to buy another copy.

2. When did I start running?
     I never liked running.  When I joined the Army I was so horrible at running. After I ended my tour of duty I said I would never run again.  Then I joined the police department in Atlanta and got so tired of suspects running.  So I initially started to run then, however have been running races for three years.

3. What is something I have always been good at?
     Making other people laugh.  I guess if I can't be happy I at least want to make others smile and laugh.

4. What are 5 things that bring me joy?
   Ice cold Coke, my sons, making others happy, memories, Ambien (lol)

5. If you had to completely change the direction of your blog and could not talk about running or anything health related what would you write about?
   Probably my love of food.
6. What is the hardest thing to write about?
    Once I can find an interesting topic, I can write forever, it is the initial topic that gives me the most grief.

7.What is the strangest and most embarrassing phase you have ever gone through?
   I would have to say the high hair phase.  I used so much hairspray.  My hair was about two inches off my face and boardlike.  Sitting in front of a mirror with a hair dryer and hair spray. 

8. What is the most spontaneous thing you've done?
   Joined the Army I don't know what I was thinking, probably wasn't.

9.  What is something your followers don't know about you?
    I hate the way I look.

10. How would you describe your personal style?
    I love simple plain cute.

 

 

My Nominations:

 

Maddie~dixieruns.com 

 shay~greatnowwhatstk.blogspot.com

Mary~minutespermile.com

Jen~jenchoosesjoy.com

 

 

I am super new to blogging, like less than two months.  I enjoy reading everybody's blog.  If you want to answer the questions that would be great. 

 

I hope everyone had a great weekend.

 

                    

Things I have been up to...

I took a couple days off of blogging to catch up on life.   I found myself spending a little too much time in front of the computer....I love reading and commenting on blogs.  It makes me feel like I have a social life even if it just through blogging. 
Finally got around to carving pumpkins and had so much fun!!!
Mine is the top one and Zachary's is on the bottom.  I think they are so cute!!!

 

I mentioned a few weeks ago I was in the process of sorting through my spices and changing over to Morton & Bassett because they seem to be more to my liking versus the regular brand.  I never used Chinese Five Spice so I picked up a bottle to see what it was.  It has a really interesting smell kind of like black licorice and cinnamon.

Chinese five spice powder is a spice mixture, typically made from fennel, cloves, Szechuan peppercorns, star anise, and cinnamon.

 I was feeling quite adventurous and roasted the pumpkin seeds with it and they were awesome. 

 

Lots of miles and spinning going on.

 

Rest, I definitely needed some serious sleep lately.  Unfortunately, Prissy had started a bad habit of banging on the blinds at all hours of the night/morning to wake me up.  I put her on the bed and she jumps down and does it all over again.  I have had her for twelve years and this is something new, but I am really tired of it.  She just wants company.  I woke her up all day long today thinking she may sleep tonight, I hope so.  I do not want to lock her out of my room. She has Grinch paws!!!

 

 

I have two races planned for November.  One is an 18 mile trail run and the other is a Turkey Trot.  I have A LOT of work to do.  I am just so excited to be healthy and injury free right now.  I rested more than I liked. Usually I just push myself through an injury. 

Well that is all I have for now.  I hope everyone is having a great weekend!!!!  Good Luck to everyone racing.

Have you carved your Halloween pumpkin?
Do you have a pet that refuses to let you sleep?
What is your next race?

 

A-Z survey

Happy Tuesday!!!!  I have seen this survey floating around and I enjoyed reading it about so many people, so here we go!!!

AGE- uggghhhhh  44
BIGGEST FEAR-  Something happening to my kids.
CURRENT TIME- 0800 hrs
DRINK YOU LAST HAD- Hot apple cider it is so good!!!
EASIEST PERSON TO TALK TO- My oldest son Jordan
FAVORITE SONG- This always changes probably Taylor Swift Wildest Dreams
GROSSEST MEMORY- I am going to say crime scenes and leave it at that
HOMETOWN- Townville, PA
IN LOVE WITH- Prissy
JEALOUS- Fast runners
KINDEST PERSON I KNOW- Amy
LONGEST RELATIONSHIP- sighhhhhh  4 years
MIDDLE NAME- Ann
ONE WISH- I want my mental health back!!!!
PERSON SPOKE WITH ON PHONE LAST- Jordan
QUESTION YOU ARE ALWAYS ASKED- Whats for dinner?
REASON TO SMILE- Everyday is a new opportunity to improve.
SONG LAST SANG- Wildest Dreams
TIME WOKE UP- 0620 hrs
UNIQUE TALENT- Cooking
VACATION DESTINATION- Mountain cabin
WORST HABIT- Comparing myself to others
XRAYS- Skull, back, tailbone, arm, ankle
YOUR FAVORITE FOOD- Salads for sure
ZODIAC-  I hate my sign for so many reasons Cancer

I had the best run today!!!!  Probably the best run in over a year. 

 I hope you enjoyed this survey.  Feel free to share.  

The weather has been absolutely gorgeous here in Memphis,  I love fall. 

 

How is the weather where you are?

Pick a few letters and add, please

Are you giving out candy for trick or treating?  I cannot decide if I am yet

 

Police story ~ arresting a goat ~ seriously

This photo was taken in Washington DC. I rode a bicycle with several other law enforcement officers from around the country 300 miles to raise money for the Law Enforcement Memorial Fund.  It is a yearly event that remembers law enforcement officers that were killed in the line of duty.  I was so proud to do it. 100 miles a day from Portsmouth VA to Washington DC.  As part of the event you escort family members of slain officers to their seats during the ceremony.  I could not hold back tears.

One day I was dispatched to a goat in the middle of the highway, a four lane road.  I drove around but never found it.  This went on for a couple days.  Finally, I was dispatched to the goat trying to break into businesses.  When I arrived at the business where it was I saw the suspect.  It looked similar to the above goat but really dirty and evil looking.  This goat was seriously ramming into the front of a carpet store. I really thought it was going to bust the glass, but it was the shatterproof glass thankfully.  As I approached the goat it looked at me and took off.  I think it was at this point that I actually asked myself what the hell I was supposed to do with a goat. It was not like I had any tools or training in goat wrestling.  I cornered it and it started to charge at me.  I actually took out my ASP baton and hit it as it ran towards me.  It ran into the woodline and I just figured it would go back home.

Later in the shift the goat started dodging in and out of traffic which is never good.  I think this goat was on meth.  My partner and I cornered the goat near a day care center which was closed because it was the weekend.  Some citizens pulled up because they just always have to interrupt police business.  They suggested we get the apples out of our patrol car and try to feed it.  Seriously, do people really think we carry produce in the trunk of our patrol car?  My partner decided to pepper spray it, which did not work.  It was funny to see it run around covered in orange.

I continued to chase this goat for what seemed like miles at the time.  Police gear weighs over 25 pounds.  Several other officers joined in to try to stop this nuisance goat.  Finally after two days, being struck by an ASP baton, being pepper sprayed, and almost killed in traffic we were able to get it into an enclosed area.  Unfortunately it was a car dealership, and the goat liked to ram everything. It rammed three new cars, oops!!!  We tasered the goat and it screamed like a girl and pissed itself.  Some animal control officers tied it up like a cattle and took it to a farm.  The reason it kept ramming everything was because it saw it's reflection and thought it was another goat. 

I am so glad nobody was injured and that there were no accidents.

 

I am thirty miles for the week so far, I have noticed the pain is coming back in my calf so I a running this evening to give it a few extra hours to rest.  Have a great day

 

What do you think police officers have in their trunk?

Have you almost got in an accident because of an animal?

How is your week going?

 

 

I don't know why this particular story has been on my mind.  Just thinking about it makes me laugh.

The gas station vampire who wouldn't shut up

My running goal this week is 50 miles in five days.  It looks like I am going to crush this goal.  I ran 10 yesterday.  Tuesdays is my four mile run to the gym, hour spin class (25 miles), and then run home.  I took a little stroll through the park which put me at 9 miles today.  It feels so good when you finally are over the constant nagging injuries that seem to happen all at once.
I think that I may have mentioned that I live in a not so savory area.  Pretty much all of Memphis kinda sucks.  So today I was leaving the gas station where I get my Gatorade to chug real quick, when I hear somebody screaming hey you.  I kept walking but it kept getting louder.  I turned around and there was this homeless guy.

OMG.  I never ignore people,  I try to give all I can. But this MF was absolutely ridiculous.  Let's just start with what he was wearing.  Does anybody remember Mr. T. from the A-Team?  He had rings on every finger.  He had what appeared to be a chandelier medallion hanging from his left earlobe.  He was wearing the old Army fatigue shirt which I immediately questioned him about.  He tried to tell me he was in the Army and exposed to Seron gas.  Basically he was trying to fool me into believing some bull shit that I could see right through.  He had the "crackhead"  look.  He proceeds to tell me that he won a huge amount of money and smoked it all up.  That was probably the only thing I believed he had the two teeth left up top that looked like vampire teeth.  I kept moving away from him and he kept effing talking.  I did not give him and money, however he let me know his name was Leon and he is always there.  It amazes me that people think I am so naïve.  That is how I caught so many criminals in my day.  I look completely harmless and like a regular person.  But I am not I know exactly how people like that operate.  At least I got a good laugh.  I hope he returns that huge ass glass chandelier medallion to the rightful owner. 

The weather has been absolutely beautiful here in Memphis.  I love the smell of fall and the leaves. 

I have been leaving the door opened for the breeze to blow through and it is amazing.  I hope you all have a great day and enjoy the weather.

How is your week going?  Anything exciting planned?
Have the leaves fallen where you live?  They are just starting to here
Do you speak to homeless people?  I try to give everyone a chance.

Five things I did this weekend

 

Finally watched Quantico, which is a really great show. I cannot wait for the next episode.

 

Celebrated a huge milestone with my car.  She officially has over 200,000 miles on her and is going strong.  This car has had two people learn to drive in it. Moved more times than I care to say. She has taken a lot of abuse from three boys. Has been my home on more than one occasion. I love my car. Sorry for the blurry photo!!

 

Saturday after taking a double spin class I came home and cuddled with Prissy for the remainder of the day.  It was so nice and she really enjoyed it.

 

 

I finally tried Pyro's Fire Fresh Pizza.  Only I had a salad and Zachary had a pizza which looked delicious.  You get a huge bowl of what appeared to be spring greens and then walk down a line and select your toppings.  It is not like a traditional salad bar.  They had roasted potato cubes, roasted onion, roasted tomatoes, a large selection of various meats.  I made mine with black olives, roasted onions, roasted potatoes, mixed cheese, and ranch dressing. It came with two triangle garlic rolls which were ok.  pyrospizza.com

 

Made the best brownies ever, not from a box.  I like my brownies cake like.  Not to firm or dense. 

Sunday was my rest day for the week.  I have 10 mile runs planned each day this week and then double spin on Saturday.  Running is getting "easier" again and mostly pain free.  I still feel a little twinge of pain in my calf every now and then but it is bearable. 

I hope everybody had a great weekend.  Congrats to everyone who raced.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Friday Five ~ Five races

I love to check out races that I hear about through other runners.  While it is no secret I hate hills.  I have been running mostly "rolling hill" areas lately to increase my strength.  As I look at races for next year I am looking for races that are mostly flat, Boston qualifiers, fun, and places I have not been before.  My ultimate running goal is to run Boston one day before I need a walker.  So  I have come up with a list of five which I am going to do.

I have heard nothing but good things about this marathon.  It is supposed to be a flat-fast course.  With a party like atmosphere. I have never been to Phoenix.  It is also a Boston Qualifier.

Again I have never been to Louisiana, Boston Qualifier, mostly flat course.  This race is supposed to have some crawfish and creole food at the after party.

 

This is a race that is actually being run this weekend.  Good luck to all my running friends wishing you a speedy race.  I really just want to run a big race to say that I did it.  I think this would really be an amazing race.  It is fairly flat with lots of crowd support. I have never been to Chicago.

 

 

This race is in Corning, New York a mostly downhill race that has the highest percentage of Boston Qualifiers.  Downhill running, is not easy and can wear you out fairly quick.  I have been to Corning, however it was when I was a child.  The finishers medal is made in Corning at the glass factory.

 

Portland would definitely not only be a marathon but a great vacation.  I would love move there. It actually scares me because I know if I went to Portland I would not come back to Memphis. 

 

I hope this was not too boring of a post.  By Friday my brain is exhausted from thinking about meals, baking, running, etc.  ADHD is real and to be quite honest I am totally effing over it.  The doctor will not give me meds to control it. I have taken family members with me to explain how it effects my life. I cannot even go to sleep at night because my brain is always going. I guess I should be thankful that the jerk gave me sleeping meds. Did you know that medicine for ADD/ADHD is the most abused prescription medication?  Soccer moms give it to there kids to calm them down into little zombies, or they take it themselves to lose weight and fulfill their motherly responsibilities?  Now people like me who have a legitimate need for it cannot get it. 

 

I love to add funny things, because I love to laugh and hopefully this may make others smile or laugh today. 

Wishing all my friends running races this weekend the best!!!

What races are you planning on running next year?
Do you ever get frustrated at your doctor because they don't really listen?
What are your plans for the weekend?

 

 

 

 

 

The oldest person I ever took to jail.

When you think about old married couples you probably think about your grandparents, or the sweet commercials on TV.  Well, I did too until I got the call....

I got a call of a domestic dispute at an apartment complex.  As soon as I got there I saw an elderly gentleman carrying a 12 pack of soda into the house.  Seemed pretty harmless, right?  I approached him and asked him what was going on. He immediately drops the soda and runs into the house.  I ran after him, because I have no idea why he is running in the house.  Actually that is one of the worst feelings because you do not know if he is running to get a weapon

I followed him into the apartment he immediately goes towards the kitchen, I am so focused on him not getting a weapon at this point.  His wife was in the kitchen, he immediately just starts punching her over and over in the head.  To be honest I really thought 65 year olds were frail, well let me tell you he was a tough son of  a bitch.  Another officer showed up and we were able to get him off his wife (she was fine).

Well Mr. Senior Citizen then decided he was going to kick our asses.  My back up decides that pepper spray is a great idea.  Well pepper spray is a double edged sword unless the conditions are 100% in your favor, you are getting sprayed too.  I'm somewhat allergic to pepper spray.  I made this very clear to my officers.  Well the pepper spray got on us, the old man, it did not faze him at all.  He then continues to fight, out comes the ASP baton (retractable metal beat down stick that is what we called it)  I really just wanted this whole situation to be over at this point.  My back up strikes the man on the upper thigh and he starts to run out the door.  Finally I just tackle the mother effer.  We got him handcuffed and called an ambulance.

OK the ambulance is just protocol for pepper spray so we can make sure they are breathing fine.  I personally think that I should have been given some TLC by the hot firefighters.... 

The wife was ok, she had some swelling from before we got there, she was quite upset.  When we asked her what had happened, she talked about how this had gone on for years and she was done.  The fight started over shoes being lined up the wrong way???? Seriously, no joking.

We took him to jail. I was wondering why I never received a subpoena to go testify at his bond hearing.  Well don't you know a judge felt sorry for him and let him go home.  His wife refused to press charges, which means the assault that took place on me was also dropped. 

Things I learned this day:

Never judge a book by its cover.

Always line your shoes up neatly.

Old people can fight.

 

Have a great day

 

Have you ever seen an old person fight?

Do you and your significant other argue about silly things?

Do you think that people should get breaks because of their age? NO

 

 

 

 

 

Who Knew Wednesday

I would not even be able to enjoy it.

 

I can only imagine the look on the faces of so many young people if they actually new this.

 

But you can't drink apples out of a cute cup with great flavored creamers.  Who actually wants to go on an apple date?

 

I knew I was famous!!!!! You are too!!!

 

First, who gave the damned bear a bowling ball??  It is really bothering me that the word know is spelled wrong.

 

Hopefully I remember this!!!

 

I had a great workout yesterday.  I ran four miles to the gym, took an hour spin class and then ran home.  It was back in the 80s yesterday here in Memphis, not complaining at all.  Made a batch of oatmeal raisin cookies which were heavenly.  I really like the show Botched, its season premiere was on last night, so I actually stayed up a little later than usual. 

I have planned a long run for today, maybe 11 miles, not sure yet.  I am just happy to be running again.

 

Do you ever write with blue pens?

Were you aware of any of these facts?  Which is the most interesting?

Are you a little upset that your hair grows after you die?

 

I have bloggers block

I have sit here for two hours and cannot think of anything to blog about.  Is bloggers block a real thing? 

Yesterday was National Taco Day.  I made the meat eaters in my home regular tacos.  I just had some cheese dip and chips.  Nobody like the hard shell tacos. So I pan fry flour tortillas with butter until they get slightly crispy.  They are so delicious.

 

Today is mommy Monday and I am trying to brainstorm ideas.  I am pretty sure we are going on an ABC nature scavenger hunt.  We used to do this when he was a toddler, but I mentioned it yesterday and he was on board.  We just go to a park with a piece of paper with the alphabet written down the side and try to find something for each letter.  Fortunately his name starts with Z so I always have that covered. 

 

I was randomly scrolling through the local news yesterday and how about I found an article that said they are breaking ground for a Trader Joes in Memphis. This is good for two reasons 1) I love Trader Joes 2) my son who has worked at the one in Atlanta could possibly move here!!!!

This week marks my friend Cat's six months of sobriety and I am so happy to be able to go with her to receive her six month chip. We are taking her out Saturday to celebrate.

I am currently addicted to Sour Patch kids, and have no plans on quitting.  The blue ones are my fav.
After this past weekend, I realize how much I am not looking forward to the cold temperatures.  It was in the fifties and to me it felt like below zero. 
Today is my weekly rest day from running.  I am really feeling good when I run again.  I have really missed that feeling.  I am really excited for my friends who have big races this coming weekend.  Have a great taper week

Have you ever had bloggers block?
What is your favorite candy?
Did you celebrate National Taco day?

 

 

 

Happy October ~ This months goals

 

 I am so glad that September is over.  It was an up and down month for me.  I treat every new month kind of like a mini-new year.  I set new goals and try to maintain my positivity.

My first goal is to nail this 10k on Saturday.  I have been training really hard (I know it's a 10k) but I have not had what I would consider a good race in a long time. 

I am having a little get together in a week or two and I am definitely going to try this.  A goal of mine is to be a little more social so I have a few friends coming over.

 

I want to break 100 miles for the month running.

 

I want to run a Halloween themed run and actually dress up.

 

Bake 25 more recipes from my baking book-currently at 42.

 

Make these pumpkins aren't they pretty? 

 

Continue to work on social media-blogging-this is a hard one as I am transitioning from one device to the other and I am totally clueless at the present moment.

 

Go to a fall festival and have fun. 

 

Overall I would like to be able to enjoy things again.

 

Do you set new goals each month?

What are a few things you want to do this October?

Do you like orange or white pumpkins? 

 

My life lately

I am currently on recipe number 40 on my quest to bake through the Americas Test Kitchen Family Baking book.  I am still enjoying it, only one disaster, actually it tasted terrific just looked horrible. The Chocolate Tunnel Cake, which turned into the Chocolate Puddle Cake.  I figured out what went wrong.  I used a Pampered Chef stoneware pan and should have used a metal one.  Who knew???

Yesterday was Mommy Monday. We went to see Hotel Transylvania 2.  It was a really good movie, we laughed a lot.

If you have young children this movie is definitely a must see.

Zachary always tries to get me to get movie concessions and I just cannot spend $6.00 for a soda.  We went to Krogers before we went to the movie he got a Dr. Pepper, I got a green apple Gatorade, two bags of the Jolly Rancher caramel apple lollipops and chapstick for $6.00.  I am trying to make him appreciate the value of  money. We did not eat all the lollipops!!!!  I could have though

 I saw somebody had posted about these lollipops.  They are crazy good!!!

I have been taking it easy running with my leg acting like a complete asshole, excuse my term but that is exactly how I feel about it.  I have tried everything.  Yesterday I just said eff it and went running.  It was a little bothersome at first but I managed to knock out five miles at an 8 minute mile.  So I am satisfied with that.  I have a race on Saturday morning which I want to PR at.  I have been going to extra spin classes each week that way my cardio does not suffer too much.  

Thanks so much for stopping by, I would appreciate any feedback good or bad. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.  

Things I will not miss about summer....

I needed this little reminder this morning, because sometimes I find myself pre-occupied with what everybody else is doing.  How far did they run?  What are their paces?  What are they eating?  I am trying very hard to focus on myself, because the rest really does not matter.  

I have decided to do a farewell to summer post of things I will not miss..

1. PESKY FRUITFLIES- I hate fruitflies almost to the point I want to stop buying produce.  I wash it when I get it home but they still find their way in.

2.  THE UNDERDRESSED - You know the ones I am talking about.

3.  I am ready for the HEAT to subside.

4.  Farewell to shaving every day!!!

5. Cutting grass,  I am my over it.

That is pretty much what I want to be gone for a little while.  

I hope everyone had a great weekend.  Mine was very uneventul. I took a double spin class on Saturday.  Cut grass and did laundry yesterday.  I really wanted to see the Harvest Moon last night but it was super cloudy and we did not get a chance to see it.

Were you able to see the moon last night?  Share if you did

What is one summer thing you are over with?

What did you do this weekend?