ATL! ATL! ATL!

I am off today and Monday, so you know what that means? Yep, headed back down to Atlanta! My cousin is at some offsite training for her job, and won't be home until 6:00pm. So that means I won't leave here until around 2:00pm, most likely. I need to beat the traffic that's headed from Charlotte to Gastonia. I have resigned myself to sitting in traffic in ATL because I'll get there smack dab in the middle of rush hour. I'll just pack plenty of snacks and go from there. LOL!

My birthday was pretty cool and mellow, as I expected. I actually had to go in to work late that day, because I needed to renew my license. At least I don't have to deal with that for another 8 years (provided I stay in NC). I took it easy at work, but I still got some things done. Imagine my surprise, when at noon I get called to the front desk for a delivery. LDR sent me an Edible Arrangement of chocolate covered fruit! He got me good. I wasn't expecting that at all. I wasn't expecting anything. Needless to say, that became dessert after lunch. Pineapple, orange slices, strawberries, bananas, grapes, and Granny Smith apple slices, all partially covered in chocolate. So much for watching calories!

Last night we went to a lounge here in CHarlotte called Apostrophe. They had hip hop karaoke. I had a great time. We laughed so much. The only thing was, they didn't have the lyrics available. Now I love music. I know all kinds of old school hip hop, as you saw from the playlist I posted a few weeks ago. But, I don't know ALL the words. Like not enough to just get up there and freestyle. LOL! So, I did not participate, but clearly I need to learn a song for next time.

Now I'm about to hit the shower and get ready to head to ATL. I really hope this "rumor" of snow is just that...I'm not ready to deal with the crazy drivers on the road.

I hope everyone has a good weekend!

Still Sick...and Other Randomness

So, I'm still sick. I got sick Christmas Eve, with what I thought would be a simple cold. It morphed into bronchitis and sinusitis. I went to the EENT (ear/eye/nose/throat) doc on 1/5 when I returned from Atlanta. He gave me an Rx for an antibiotic called Cefdinir. I believe this is what they gave me when I had my ear infection last year. Needless to say, I was not amused, because I hate taking antibiotics. I get the two main side effects every time - disruption of the digestive process, and disruption of the good bacteria...you know what that leads to.

I took my Cefdinir for 10 days and felt like I was getting better. I had a slight cough, but I wasn't waking up in the middle of the night with coughing fits, or coughing up the yucky stuff. I was still able to go running on 1/18 and 1/20. Both days were relatively warm for us - in the 60s, even. I was feeling great! Then Thursday set in, and suddenly the cough was getting more aggressive. By Friday I KNEW it was coming back with a vengeance. I had planned to get up on Saturday (1/23) and do a 5 mile run that morning. Needless to say, I woke up hacking up phlegm and and lung, and decided that was not a good idea. Sunday, I did nothing but lounge around on my couch. I didn't leave my apartment until around 9:00 that night, and that was only at the urging of a good friend who insisted I needed Robitussin...lol. I'm sure had he lived here, he would have already brought it over to me.

Yesterday, I went back to the doctor. No wheezing in my lungs (which I already knew). This time he put me on Augmentin for 10 days, and the dreaded Prednisone for about 6-7 days. I'm not happy about either one of these things. The last time I took Prednisone, I felt like I wanted to eat my desk every day at work. I was ravenous. And of course, I ate all the wrong things. After that little adventure, I found myself not fitting in clothing that had just fit 2-3 weeks prior. Not cool! I am going to make a conscious effort to have good snacks around, like fruit and veggies, for when these cravings do start. Right now, I'm not really that hungry. My sense of smell is gone by the wayside in light of the sinus issues, so I don't have cravings or anything. I don't even want to eat. I force myself to eat because I know I have to. I had oatmeal for breakfast and I'm eating an apple now.

Another reason why I really don't like taking these drugs, is that I'm trying to remove as many synthetic things from my body as I can. Prednisone is soooo not natural and it has crazy side effects if you take it for long periods of time. I decided that with this go-round of antibiotics, I'd start taking the probiotics as well, instead of letting it all wreak havoc and THEN taking the probiotics. We'll see how this works out. I'll have to update the blog if I have success, in case anyone else has these same side effects.

A few weeks back I posted a blog on LDRs. I really do dread them, really. But I decided to look into with some caveats. I've told the person that we can absolutely spend time getting to know more about each other, but I have no plans of moving up north. None. Zero. So, if this were to truly blossom, he's gotta move. And obviously that can't be a half cocked decision. I'm actually having a good time with this. When you're not in each other's faces you HAVE to talk...you can't get so wrapped up in the physical. We talk about everything and nothing. Did I mention this is someone I've known since junior high? I think I feel more comfortable it because we know so many of the same people, I know his dad, he knows my brothers...I feel like that cuts down on the propensity for BS (although I know it can still rear it's ugly head!). We didn't interact very much back in the day. Frankly, I didn't think he noticed me much back then. I'm sure that his personality now has been shaped by life's experiences, and is different from what it was back then. I will admit I DID have some preconceived notions about him. When we started talking, it was initially about running, how I got started, why did I run the half marathon, etc. Really, simple things. But it sure wasn't anything I thought he'd be interested in. He surprises me with how much he actually LIKES to talk. We talk pretty much on a daily basis. Anywho, long story short, neither of us has said anything to the friends we have in common. I think people have an inkling...but they're sort of thinking, "y'all two? Nah." LOL! He'll be here in March (he has some family here), so we're going to hang out then. It'll be interesting to see how this ends up.

And in other GREAT, random news - my 35th birthday is tomorrow! I can't believe it. I think back to age 25 and wonder if this is where I thought I was going to be when I turned 35. The answer is, "not quite." But I'm still happy, and at the end of the day, I'm still blessed. I think 2010 will be the year when I finally learn how to get out of my own way (for real, for real), and stop blocking blessings! :)

Dude...seriously??

So...at the end of 2008, beginning of 2009, I was talking to this guy I've known for a few years now. Prior to this time it had been strictly platonic, and then that fall we decided to try dating. I don't know if you can call it that, because at the time we were (and are still) in different cities. I think I talked about him before on here, but I don't remember what his nickname was. We parted ways mid-February 2009.

Anywho, after the lameness in which we parted ways, I just stopped talking to him. He would send me emails occasionally, and at first I was giving really short, curt answers. But when he asked about my dad and his cancer battle, that softened me up a little. So every few weeks we would communicate. Definitely not every day or every week.

Now I've known that basically right after he stopped dealing with me, he started dating his old co-worker. I called that one from jump. Yesterday, I was out of the office. This morning I get in, and there's an email:

"Hey,

How are you doing? I just wanted to let you know that I got engaged.
I'm not sure if it matters to you or not, but I did want you to know."

Um...I don't care. And I don't mean that in a mean way. I mean that I'm indifferent about the situation. I'm not happy, I'm not sad or upset, I simply just don't care. Really, it isn't any of my business. At no time have we ever discussed our dating lives during these emails. At this point we are acquaintances, nothing more, nothing less. If we were FRIENDS, maybe this would be a little different. Maybe.

Why do men do stupid stuff like this? When I get engaged (I'm just gonna go ahead and say "when" and claim it), I will not be seeking out ex-flings to make special announcements. Da heezy??

Product Rave: Aubrey Organics Honeysucke Rose Conditioner

INGREDIENTS: Coconut Fatty Acid Cream Base, Organic Aloe Vera, Organic Shea Butter, Wheat Germ Oil, Organic Jojoba Oil, Organic Rosa Mosqueta Rose Hip Seed Oil; Extracts of Fennel, Hops, Balm Mint, Mistletoe, Chamomile and Magnolia; Honeysuckle Oil, Carrot Oil, Aubrey's Preservative (Citrus Seed Extract, Vitamins A, C, and E)

The girls over at Long Hair Care Forum have been raving about this product for a while. Affectionately abbreviated as AOHSR, I've read as they have extolled it's virtues, but I just tried it this evening.

This? Absolutely, positively, ridiculously GOOD and will become a staple! I can't believe I waited this long to try it! I'm not usually a fan of "floral" type scents, but it's more honeysuckle than rose, and it's not overpowering. This conditioner is so thick and creamy. As you can see, there's no water listed in the ingredients. If the top is off and you tip this over (if you're coordination-challenged like me, this is bound to happen at some point), nothing is coming out. You absolutely have to squeeze this bottle in order for it to come out.

I usually wash/conditioner wash my hair in 4 sections, using butterfly clips to hold the sections apart. I worked a generous amount into each section, then took care of the rest of my shower duties. When I went to detangle the back right section, working from the ends of my hair towards the roots, the comb just slid through like BUTTAH. Minimal shed hair lost. I'm in love!

I detangled all four sections and rinsed, and my hair felt so moisturized. Sometimes, after using a commercial conditioner, my hair would feel moisturized while still damp, but as it dried it didn't feel the same. Not the case with AOHSR. I can't wait to see what it feels like in the morning when I take out these flat twists! I am going to use this to deep condition as well - I will add it to the coconut milk/olive oil/honey mixture to help with slip.

I am definitely going to try some more of the Aubrey Organics products, as this was a great introduction to that line. It's all natural, no synthetic ingredients. 5 stars, 2 thumbs up, and 3 snaps in a Z formation!

Product Rave: Dr. Bronner's 18-in-1 Hemp Citrus Orange Pure Castile Soap

INGREDIENTS: Water, Saponified Organic Coconut & Organic Olive Oils (w/Retained Glycerin), Organic Hemp Oil, Organic Jojoba Oil, Organic Orange Oil, Organic Lemon Oil, Organic Lime Oil, Organic Grapefruit Oil, Citric Acid, Vitamin E

So, I'm a sucker for anything citrus. I just love the scent. I used to use Dr. Bronner's castile soap back in 2005-2006, not sure why I stopped using it. I would use the peppermint or the almond. Back then, I don't think they had the citrus scents.

Castile soap is the greatest. You can clean just about anything with this. You can do laundry with it. You can clean your whole body, head to toe. I use it to wash my hair and to wash my body. I love the scent and the fact that it's derived from oils and not synthetic fragrance. This product is 100% natural. Woo hooo! It creates a rich lather. When washing your hair you only need to shampoo once...unless you have a lot of product build up, or you just love that "squeaky clean" feeling. If you use this with a pouf or a sponge, you won't need much to make a great lather.

My only con - it burns like the dickens if you get it in your eyes. Other than that, I have nothing bad to say about it. It will be a staple from now on. I think I'm going to go back and get the orange to try out, and I'm currently using up a small bottle of almond. I may use that in the laundry, though.

This soap gets 5 stars and two thumbs up! :)

Today's Run

Today I decided to go for a four mile run on the greenway. On my side of town we have the Mallard Creek Greenway, and then we have the Clark Greenway. They actually kind of intersection. When the Mallard Creek Greenway gets to 3 miles, it cuts to the left...but if you keep straight, the Clark Greenway begins. It took us the longest time to figure out how they were marking the miles. Reading is fundamental! But in our defense, we never started at the beginning of either of the greenways (they have several entrances), so that's why we were confused.

Anywho, the Clark Greenway has more little hills. We're not talking about huge elevations here, just enough to make you feel like stopping to walk when you haven't really been dilligent about training. As I left the apartment, I was trying to rationalize going to Mallard Creek, which is relatively flat. Ultimately, I knew better, and I hit up Clark.

It was gorgeous today! About 60 degrees when I left the house at 4:30. Considering that the temps were in the teens a few weeks ago, I was loving it. And so was everyone else. Lots of walkers, joggers and bikers on the greenway. I was feeling tired, sluggish, and just plain not wanting to be there, but I knew I had to get it in.

I told someone that I wanted to keep it between 11:00 - 11:30/mile for this run. That's so slow, but I'm trying to work my way down. The first mile took 10:52 and the second took 10:56. My Achilles started hurting so I stopped and walked for a couple of minutes and then did some stretches. I started back on the third mile and ran it at 11:17. I went another quarter mile before I had to stop and stretch again. Clearly I did not stretch enough before I got started!

That last .75 I just tried to kill it because I was ready to be done. By the time I finished up Nike+ said I was running at 8:55 pace when I hit pause. Of course, it still needs to be recalibrated. But still. That lets me know that I was pushing it towards the end. The total running time (not including the 3-4 minutes of walking/stretching) turned out to be 41:55! Not bad for someone recovering from bronchitis. :)

Slowin' Down...

This morning I went to the Mallard Creek Greenway to run with the Purple Butterfly running club. It was so nice to see all those ladies, from beginner to intermediate, out there exercising and making the committment to come out there on Saturday mornings.

I only ran 3 miles and I felt so sluggish. Nike+ is now bugging out. Not only does it need to be recalibrated, it is not uploading my workouts to the website. They're on the iPod and I can see them, and in iTunes it claims to have uploaded the data, but I can't see it online. I know they switched websites from nikeplus.com to nikerunning.com, but that shouldn't have affected everything. I ran a Google search and others have been having this problem. I need to call their customer service. In one of the Nike Plus forums the csr indicated he could see all of a runners workouts, and he did something to make them actually post to this person's profile. I hope they can do that for me.

I really wish it would warm up and we could gain more daylight minutes right now. I definitely need to get back to running outside! I'm losing my mojo and my speed. This morning's run took 33:42. The best part about it was that we saw 4 deer cross the path. They were so cute! They were about 20 feet from the actual greenway path when we went by. They were all staring at us as if to say, "what are you doing out here?" LOL! At least it was the does and not the bucks. I'm not sure how the bucks would have reacted.

I'm committing to Monday through Thursday running for this upcoming week. Friday is my bowling get together for my birthday, so I'm not even going to try on that date. I should be able to make it out with the running club on Saturday as well. I also need to find a race to sign up for.