All over the place

So I'm really all over the place right now.
Work is busy, and homelife is busy.
Why is homelife so busy... Oh because we got a puppy.

After a few signs that Porter was telling us to get a particular dog, we did.

Doggie in the shelter

Well I did, D was in Jacksonville. Of course he called the shelter (not Humane Society) and asked questions of the dog, which the people didn't know. I drove 3 counties over, and saw the dog.
He was cute. They said he was 5. I couldn't get him last Friday even though I was there. They didn't take checks or CC's and I didn't have cash and they were closing.

So Saturday, I went back to the pound and got him. Because I lived out of county, he was $15. If I had lived in county he would have been $75.

Doggie needing help getting in the car and wanting that schmutz off his head

I got home and Guinness was not happy. We are watching another dog for awhile too, Panzer (yes he is a tank...100#s). Panzer and the new pup didn't get along, and new pup marked the entire house. I washed the pup because he had shit matted in his hair.

J came over and we watched Georgia Tech win the Coastal Division of the ACC. Then I took Guinness to see Santa Claus.

Doggie waiting for Uncle J to come over to watch Georgia Tech

Came home and played with everyone. D came home on Sunday.

Doggie showing the family jewels

Monday we named the dog Scuttlebutt (after the brewery not the nautical term). He had some other names during the interim (Smuttynose, Avery, Rogue, WakeNBake) but Scuttlebutt is the best.

Tuesday I had a complete meltdown. D called at 1 to tell me he had to go to Charlotte in 2 hours. I left work to say goodbye to him. When he got home, he had Porter's ashes. We said a few words, and then he was gone (D not Po). So my heart already broken, and I had to take care of 3 dogs for almost a week.

Panzer now can walk on a leash using the Heel comman and go to the bathroom on a leash. Guinness is being the perfect angel. And Scuttlebutt...he can lift his leg on a bush and fall over.

Wednesday I took my $15 dog to the vet (with Guinness who was due for a kennel cough vaccine). Guinness now is protected again (Panzer already was) and she got a flu shot. Who knew. Scuttlebutt got no vaccinations because he has roundworm, an ear infection and kennel cough. Luckily no heartworm. So no vaccinations or neutering. And Scuttlebutt MAY be 1, if that, not 5.

The rest of the week has just been a lot of walks, with Scuttlebutt still not understanding that he has to go outside.

Oh and before you think I gave up running, D, V and I are signed up for the Kentucky Derby Half Marathon.

Porter and Pearl Jam

For Porter (10/01/2001-11/06/2009)

D and I thought our baby was getting better and then she took a turn for the worse. On Thursday we took her to the vet, and Friday we had to make that awful decision.

I'm having a bit of a hard time. But each day I push forward.

So in my effort to regain some normalcy, D and I went lifting last night. He said he had a song to play me, of course Pearl Jam was playing. I told him I heard a song by them about a month ago. Then we got to the gym and did the exciting machines.

We talked about how people don't understand that Porter wasn't just a dog. I mean who else volunteers to be Santa at the Humane Society so his dog won't be afraid of him for Pictures with Santa (and yes, she was stupid, and was scared). She got to go to the beach twice, to Maryland, and South Carolina. She got tested for daycare and got in, and I used to watch her on the pet cam. She managed to get 2 dogs kicked out for their behavior. She spent many spring and summer days at Twain's (bar) on the patio sipping ice cubes and a little beer. Frosty Paws were her friend. So was every mud pit she could find or make.

Pumpkin Porter 10/04

Ballerina Porter 10/05

Porter's 6th Birthday Cake (Guinness ate part of it) 10/07

D, Porter and Guinness 12/07

Me, Porter and D sailing 7/08

Porter Sailing 7/08

Porter, November 08

What did Mom do to me, 4/09

Beach Porter 7/09

Ocean Porter, 7/09

Do, do, do looking out my front door! 9/09

Last picture of Porter 11/01/09

Back in the car Doug turned on the song. I of course cried because I had thought about this song on Thursday. I dared not mention it to him though because the one time I heard it, I thought about putting it on my death CD (CD of songs to play when I'm dead...yes, I'm morose).

So we listened to the song on the way home.

Yes I understand that every life must end, aw huh...
As we sit alone, I know someday we must go, aw huh...
I'm a lucky man to count on both hands
The ones I love...

Some folks just have one
Others they got none, aw huh...

Stay with me
Let's just breathe

Practiced are my sins
Never gonna let me win, aw huh...
Under everything, just another human being, aw huh...
Yea, I don't wanna hurt, there's so much in this world
To make me bleed

Stay with me
You're all I see

Did I say that I need you?
Did I say that I want you?
Oh, if I didn't I'm a fool you see
No one knows this more than me
As I come clean

I wonder everything
As I look upon your face, aw huh...
Everything you gave
And nothing you would take, aw huh...
Nothing you would take
Everything you gave

Did I say that I need you?
Did I say that I want you?
Oh, if I didn't I'm a fool you see
No one knows this more than me
As I come clean

Nothing you would take
Everything you gave
Hold me 'till I die
Meet you on the other side

Just Breathe by Pearl Jam

We miss you Porter Girl!

Well that didn't happen

So I think the last time I wrote (I could just go look), I had not run a 10K and instead drank some beers.

The following week was not for running. The ankle felt fine, but I had friends coming into town on Thursday which meant clean the house. That took from Sunday to Thursday, down to the wire. And then we had beer. We had Guinness to welcome them into town. We had Guinness the next day to see them off to a Fraternity Alumni Social. We had Guinness Saturday morning at the Ramblin' Wreck Parade. Then we had beer (not Guinness) at the Decatur Beer Fest. Yes, I sold my homecoming tickets to have beer. Then we had more beer at 2 bars, and then had more beers at home. So for Oct. 15-18, beer was consumed.

Tuesday (the 20th) I went for a 3 mile run. I ran a little differently...4 minutes run, 1 minute walk. My time was 42ish. It felt good. Except I got home and my hip hurt. #*@(~!
Thursday felt good. So I ran 2 miles 27ish. Saturday, D and I dropped the girls at daycare and off we went to Knoxville for beer... the Knoxville Brewer's Jam. It was a lot of fun and we had a good time. Sunday we drove home and picked up the girls and vegged.

This past week, we didn't run. We did go to 5 Seasons and have some beer, and then went to see the Capitals play the Thrashers. That was fun.

This past Saturday we got up to do Run Like Hell through the cemetery. We picked up A. We stood in line for our numbers and T-shirts. It was misting. We took our T's to the car. It was sprinkling. We walked to the start line. It was raining. We stood at the start line. It downpoured. We got wet. The wind kicked in. So now we were soaked to the bone, our shoes were heavy, and we were cold. D and I wanted to go home. A, being Mom, declared that this was "get sick" weather and yes we could go home. Hooray. So we ran to the car.

I didn't drink much beer this weekend. A migraine prevented that. Tonight we are going lifting.

Tomorrow, no run. We are going to the Left Hand/Terrapin Collaboration Beer Dinner.

Oh and if you have seen my HRM, let me know. I've misplaced it.

The Weekend Involved Beer but No Run

So Friday, I drove to 4 Seasons and went and got mine and D's T-shirts. D was hit by a fork-lift a few weeks back and has a deep bruise so he knew he wasn't running. Anyway the 4 Seasons valets were nice and let me just leave my car upfront rather than parking. I limped into the place and got my T's.

Then I remembered I had to go to Kroghetto, but also that the dogs needed poop bags. So I went to PetSmart and Whole Foods. By now, I was seriously limping. D and I were on the phone talking about what kind of sausage I was supposed to buy at WF, and he said to walk to the veggies to get basil. I seriously wanted to reach through the phone and smack him. Moreso when I got over there and they were out of basil.

Anyway I told him I was going to go see Clay since at this point I couldn't really go home and walk the dogs...but I could drink a beer while waiting for him to get home. Clay and I talked about his pup Jetta (so cute), and then I left. I did walk the dogs behind the house, and then D got home (after a trip to the beer store). We watched a ton of TV, and drank a ton of beers. And went to bed.

Saturday, the damn ankle still hurt. Dogs Rule Day was spent at home, napping and watching football. And drinking beer. And eating Chili. Georgia Tech's game was delayed but we did watch them beat FSU. And UGA lost! Woohoo!

Sunday D worked so I went to the grocery and to Lowe's to buy light bulbs. Then I watched the Redskins blow a 17-2 lead to the Panthers and really curse Dan Snyder and Vinny Cerato for how much they blow and why no coach in his right mind will coach there with those 2 losers there. D watched more football, and I watched Numb3rs. Very exciting.

Tonight is weight lifting.

So bummed

My ankle still hurts.
This bums me out. Tomorrow is my 10K which I was sure I would PR on based on last week's run.
Plus this was the first 10K I ever did (in 2007), and the course has stayed the same, so I wanted to see how I would do.

But I can't even walk .4 miles with the dog without my ankle wobbling. I can't drive to work without my ankle straining. I can't walk to the gas station to get a soda without a twinge of pain.
So 6 miles with more than 200# force on it just doesn't seem like a good idea. I know, I know, when have I ever let my brain stop me from doing something.

So I'll stop by the 4 Seasons on the way home and pick up my T-shirt and sleep in tomorrow. On the good note...I can drink tonight.

Wondering about the ankle...

So unlike a week ago where I "ran," this week I actually ran.
3 miles, 2 miles and 6 miles.

The 6 miles was great.

Friday, B and I flew to Maryland to see V. I had told V, I was going to run on Saturday morning because I needed to get in a 6 miler for my 10K this Saturday. "Sure," she said. "I'll run with you." I said nothing because V runs a 5K 10 minutes faster than I do, so I wasn't sure what drugs she was on. B and I landed and V knows me so well, and brought post-air beverages.

Woohoo. We drove to Frederick and got to her house which she calls the dilapidated mansion. It needs some work, but is a great house. It is a historical house and basically anything you do to the outside of the house has to be approved. From the sounds of it, it sounds like a big scam for some group to get money. Annapolis has a Historic Preservation Society and it is pretty cut and dry. Frederick's sounds hinky. Plus I'm not sure how glow-in-the dark house numbers really are in characteristic with the 1800s or bathroom tile stuck to the front of your house is. But that is me.

So we chatted and went to bed. Next morning, she and I got up and got dressed for the run. We walked as our warmup and then got running. After a mile, V started walking. I think she didn't realize the extent of "I run slow" is. At mile 5 she was wondering how my hips didn't hurt. Of course from Mile 5 to Mile 6 my hips suddenly went into agony. But we ran through some park, around Hood College, to the East (Industrial Side) of Frederick, by the canal, through a 1 mile race and ended up on Market Street. It was a really good run. The houses there are gorgeous. And the town is cute. Reminded me of Athens, GA or Asheville, NC. And it was nice to run with someone even if they did walk. Because I run so slowly, I never run with anyone. So I had a tour guide with me. The run felt good. Only mile 5 did I get tired, and that was more because I wanted something to drink. I think I could have run 7 miles or so.

So we got back to the house, and B was awake and dressed, so V and I got ready. Drank some beer, and off to the Market Street Fair. We stopped at a bar named Guido's. At this point it wasn't even 2pm, and we had some more beer. Then to another bar for more beer.

We had dinner and had margaritas (it was about 4). B wasn't feeling well, so we walked back to the house. While she laid down, V and I called various liquor stores to see if they sold Guinness. One informed us they didn't sell highbrow beer. But the other one in walking distance did. So V poured herself a beer, and off to the package store.

In front of the house, I fell. No sidewalks crumbling, no tree branches jutting. In fact I was just standing there and went down. Ankle turned on the left leg, right leg was scuffed up, palms of both hands scrapes, one wrist hurt and elbow bleeding. Rather than go back in the house, I got up and we continued our walk. We got to the liquor store and bought some beer. The guy let me have a Solo cup and I opened one right there. The walk back was fine. Lots of old men on porches talking to us. We sat in the back garden when we got back to V's and drank (I think that was the theme of the weekend).

Sunday came, and we did some shopping. I bought nothing (I bought Porter a birthday present the day before and Guinness a "being good" present). Then V took us back to the airport. On the flight home, my ankle really started hurting. My wrist is completely bruised. In the airport I was in agony walking from the terminal to the baggage claim. D came to pick me up. Funnily, coming back from MD, I saw Cal Ripken in the ATL airport. I noticed him because of his really ugly orange tie, and really $$$$-looking suit. I told D, so he tried to figure out why CR would be in Atlanta. He couldn't figure it out, but oh well.

This morning, I got up and my ankle is purple (not swollen) and hurts. So tomorrow, I'm going to *try* to run. If it is hurting I will rest. It has to be better by Saturday for my 10K.

Time: 8:05 (walk)
Mileage: .36 (22:27 min/mile)
Time: 25:55 (run)
Mileage: 2 (12:57 min/mile)
Time: 7:48 (walk)
Mileage: .37 (21:04 min/mile)
Calories: 475
Max HR 184
Avg HR 153
In Zone: 7:22

Time: 7:42 (walk)
Mileage: .34 (22:38 min/mile)
Time: 90:13 (run)
Mileage: 6.01 (15:00 min/mile)
Time: 10:28 (walk)
Mileage: .46 (22:45 min/mile)
Calories: 1369
Max HR 178
Avg HR 159
In Zone: 24:58

Bras!

So D does the laundry in our household. He looked at my first sports bra and deemed it pathetic. One of the straps is tearing, and a clip is missing in the hook. So he suggested I buy another one.

OK honey!

So I go to Team Estrogen and promptly put all of them in my cart. Then decided to actually go look at manufacturers and stuff (my bras aren't made any longer). So Enell smooshes, which apparently I wouldn't like. A Moving Comfort one is made of cotton, which perplexed me.

Then I got to Shock Absorber.
This is the funniest thing to me. (It is not Office-Safe)
Go to
http://www.shockabsorber.co.uk/bounceometer/shock.html
Hit skip, and then click on the Bounceometer.
Pick DD.
Pick Extreme Activity.

OMG! I was hysterical, because it is so true.

After I stopped being 7 years old, I read reviews and that one fell off. I was still between Moving Comfort and CW-x. CW-X seems to have gotten better reviews so I chose that one. Moving Comfort, don't worry...I bought a hoodie from you!

So I ran 2 miles yesterday. It was my sprint day. I wasn't in the mood to sprint, because I was enjoying the scenery. I ran next to a deer (she ran, stopped, I caught up). It was so cool. I ran by some geese and a squirrel. Nature day Thursday, I guess. Anyway, when I finished my 2 miles, I stopped my watch and stared at it in disbelief. 25:55. This is fast (for me), people! Below 13 minutes a mile! I was shocked. And I wasn't all that tired.

So my runs are seemingly getting faster. Hopefully it will hold true next weekend with my 10K. I don't have my info with me, so I can't post my stats.
Tomorrow is a 6 miler with V who I'm going to visit up in MD. I'm looking forward to it.