Angels

On my counter in my kitchen sits a slate sign that a very good friend gave me years ago. It comes from Ireland. So does my friend. It is very special to me and it has sat in every kitchen since I lived on West 82nd Street in New York. It slipped and fell onto the counter once, and broke in two. But I lovingly glued it back together. And it still sits on the counter. On it there is a picture of an angel, and a saying: "Angels are often disguised as friends".

How true is that?

My friend who gave me this plaque is, as you can imagine, a very special person to me. Someone who has been in my life a long time, but someone I know will always be there. She's been there, thick and thin. Boyfriends, jobs, apartments, pets... and yes, even a husband have all come and gone. Thick and thin. She, in a lot of ways, has been an angel to me over the years.

Since I moved here 3 and a half years ago, I really struggled to make new friends. It was hard. I didn't find people that I clicked with. I missed my old friends.

Finally!! Finally!! I did! I met some wonderful girls that I have so much fun with now. We talk almost every day. We share our problems, triumphs and excitement. I was really saved from the boredom, the depression and the anxiety of not having any good girlfriends brings.

Tonight, as I am cleaning up after having a couple of girlfriends over for wine, food, and a good chat, I notice my plaque.

Angels are often disguised as friends.

Yes, these two are also my angels. Aren't I lucky!?

Into Thin Air...

No, the title has nothing to do with the wonderful Jon Krakhauer book, just about time, and teddy bears.

The first... where does time go? How do I not have enough hours in the day to get everything done? I just don't understand. I thought that after preschool started again I'd have so much time on my hands (to train, and all the other things I want to do). But I found myself getting the kids to school, running a couple of errands, getting in a 4 mile run, a shower.... then back to school again! No time for much else.

After school, I did my shopping list (and coupon-ing) and brought the kids with me while I mailed a package, did grocery shopping, and went to the bank. Then it was time to go to a friends house for dinner, as our hubbys were both out of town. We definitely enjoyed the company and the kids loved it too. But on my way to her house I called her to let her know that I've been running a 1/2 hour late all day! Ugh.

Where does time go? Why can't we buy it?

The second thing this post refers to is the teddy bear. Angel has a new one. Daddy bought it for her yesterday and she LOVES it. And it has disappeared. Into thin air. I have a feeling it may have been stolen by our little dog... I can't get her to 'fess up though.

On a lighter note, I just finished watching "Dancing with the Stars". I loved Jennifer Grey's emotional performance. "The Situation" was good, but a lot too confident. And I want to be as sexy as Florence Henderson when I'm her age!!

What Comes Around.....

Years ago, when I worked in a bank in New York City, there was a lovely Indian chic there who spoke the English language very, very well, but she didn't always get hip or new sayings or slang. I know it sounds juvenile, but at some point some of the young "boys" were teasing her about something (likely her mastery of the language) and it made her upset. She said in a rather strong voice (for a bank in 1999):

"What comes around, goes around and around and around!!"

It was memorable mostly because it is so true and it was just so cute the way she said it.

But I truly believe that you need to watch your karma in this world and make sure that you are leaving the right "footprint" (to borrow a phrase from the eco-writers).

Run far, but make sure you run clean, and lovingly through life.

My wisdom of the day.

Be happy.

Post-Long Run

I woke up this morning feeling really tight, with a little bit of a headache. I got up and... oh the soreness!! In totally different spots than last time. I think that means that my other muscles got stronger! It was a good day, though I did have to hobble down the stairs a bit. And walking, sitting and cheering at the kids' soccer practice was a bit of a stretch. I did get to spend a nice evening with Hubs in the hot tub. Perfect!

My friend and I are working on a business together! I'm so excited, but it's a secret for now... so stay tuned!

Can You Say Hills?

I dropped the kids off at their pre-school this morning, parked, drank some more water, and headed out on my long run. My plans: 18 to 20, or as much as I could get in in the 4 1/2 hours I had while the kids were in school... by the time I actually got out running it was closer to 4 hours.

I have a 3 mile loop that I do near school. It is incredibly hilly. As a matter of fact these are probably the toughest hills that I have ever run in my life (that's a long time, heehee). So after each 3 mile lap, I replenish with water. After the first loop, I was fine. Ready for another one! Second loop, still ok, needed a bit more water... legs feeling the 6 miles (since I finished my last long run of 15 on Friday...) Third loop... 9 miles! Felt good, but at this point completely drenched in sweat. Starting to slow down a bit. More water. Fourth loop. Ugh. 12 miles. Almost a half marathon. But did I mention those hills? Really getting up them at this point was so difficult. Each step was an accomplishment. More water and half an Odwalla bar. Fifth loop. 15 miles. Again, the HILLS!! What's going through my mind?

Just keep looking down. I'm sure my sunblock has worn off, because I can feel the heat on my shoulders. Just keep moving forward. The song from the children's Christmas special: "put one foot in front of the other, and soon you'll be walkin' out the do-o-or..." Then: "I'm Mr. Heat Meister... Did I mention it was 90 degrees?

OK, one more loop. Loop 6. 18 miles. Barely got through it. The hills were a killer. I started to see my friends pass by in their mini-vans and SUVs passing me to go to the preschool to pick up their kids. And I made it back to preschool in time hobble in to pick up the kids. On the way out I said hello to the road construction worker that I passed 6 times. He was "mighty impressed"!

On another note, tomorrow is Show and Tell for the preschool class and they are supposed to bring in some thing that starts with the letter of the week, "L". I have picked some things for them to choose from. Here's my list:

Ladle
Light (small flashlight)
Lollipop
Lemonade
Lock
Lipstick

I wonder which ones they'll pick.

My Story

Hi there, I'm Deb. veteran marathoner, blogger, former banker, Mommy to 4 1/2 year old boy/girl twins, and CEO of our household. I have been blogging for about 3 years, but unfortunately, I had an event that left me no choice but to delete my other blog. It was incredibly sad for me. 3 years of work, of devotion, of writing and blogging pleasure, down the drain. Because I enjoyed it so much, I am tentatively beginning a new blog, and hoping that I can keep my and my family's identity anonymous.

I have run 6 marathons. The first in Burlington, VT in 1998. Then there was New York in 1999, and 2001, Marine Corps in 2002, and New York again in 2003. Then, after getting married (2004), getting pregnant (2005) and having twins (2006), I finally ran my 6th marathon in 2007 in Greenville, SC.

My next marathon is the ING New York Marathon November 7th, 2010. I am currently 11 weeks into training, and have run one 18-mile long run. I am currently preparing myself for a 20-miler tomorrow.

Pasta, Pasta, Pasta!!!

I get so tired of pasta sometimes when marathon training. I mean pasta with tomato sauce is great. Then there are the variations of pasta with meat sauce, pasta with meatballs, or pasta pesto. But at the end of the day, it's still pasta.

As I mentally prepared for my 20-mile training run tomorrow, I knew that tonights dinner needed to include pasta. There is nothing better than that to prepare the body for a long run. So I got this email from the Real Simple website that said: "A Delicious Chicken and Apple Recipe". That got me to thinking... at 3 pm! What's for dinner? I have chicken. I have apples that need to be eaten. So I put this recipe together:

1/2 cup diced onions (I use sweet)
4 cloves of fresh garlic
1 lb. chicken breasts (about 3)
flour
salt & pepper
2 tbsp. canola or olive oil
1 cup of apple juice (as a Mom, I always have this on hand)
3 small golden delicious apples
3 tbsp. honey
3 tbsp. mustard

1. Saute onion and garlic in oil until onions are transparent.
2. salt and pepper the chicken then coat in the flour.
3. Saute the chicken until done, about 3 minutes each side.
4. add the apple juice and apples, and continue to cook about 3 minutes.
5. Remove chicken and set aside.
6. Continue to cook the sauce until apples are soft.
7. Add honey and mustard to taste.

It came out really good. Of course I served it over whole wheat pasta. Lots of it. The kids liked it too. It was a variation of things that they like anyway.