I Threw On Some Neon Socks and Dabbed On Some Lip Gloss

It's race week. I've been carbo-loading and forecast watching. I've also been 'resting'...otherwise known as sitting on the couch watching TV. A few nights ago I mentioned to Nick how I was unusually tired and hungry. I blamed it on the weather, lack of sleep (even though I can't stay up past 8:30) and pre-race stress. Deep down I knew the 'resting' was getting to me. I was slipping back into my old I'm-too-tired-to-exercise ways. What a shame considering it's race week and all.

I keep track of my exercise info on dailymile.com, so I went to see the last time I logged a run. Ten days ago. Ten. Oh my word! I did a 12-mile run the weekend before last, then I rested that week while having my calf muscles fixed by an ART guy. Last weekend I was scheduled to run a 6-miler, but that got put on the back burner because...well it WAS Easter...and rainy...and the whole sitting on the couch thing seemed important, too.

In order to make sure my legs still worked, I knew I better get moving today. Considering my unusual tiredness, I really wasn't feeling it. And considering my recent unusual hungriness, my muffin top was in full force. Neither, of which, were particularly motivating. If anything, they just made me want to 'rest' more. I needed to think of something drastic. So, I threw on some neon socks, dabbed on some lip gloss and went for a run. If you can't feel awesome in neon socks and lip gloss, then you just can't feel awesome.

As it turns out, my legs remembered what to do. They should work fine on Sunday. But, if I see a couch on the side of the course, I can't promise I won't think about 'resting.'

- S

May Blog Design

I designed the May blog template with the uber cute new kit, 100% Organic, by Tracie Stroud and MLE Card.

Thanks, Tracie, for making cute, yummy graphics for the world to play with!

- S

For the rest of my life I will tell the story of....

One day, five months ago, our ice dispenser quit working. It was a sad day. Nick promised to buy the replacement part and fix it. But...no part was ordered.

Fast forward to earlier this month. I wanted ice, I couldn't get it, I posted this on Facebook:
If you are friends with Nick Trougakos you might want to call him and either 1) encourage him to quit procrastinating and buy the ice maker part that allows his wife to get ice from the fridge or, 2) say your goodbyes.

That didn't help. So earlier this week, I posted this:
Important lesson: If Nick Trougakos hasn't ordered a replacement part for the broken ice maker in the past five months, he's probably not going to do it. So, I ordered it myself...took me three minutes. I could have saved myself five months of frustration. I will install it myself and for the rest of my life I will tell everyone the story of how my husband wouldn't fix the ice maker for me.

My part came in today. I couldn't fix it on my own, I needed stronger arms. I posted this:
Ice maker update #283: For the rest of my life I will tell everyone the story of how Nick Trougakos wouldn't fix the ice maker for me...and how I ordered the part on my own...and how I couldn't install it because GE makes parts that only come off with the help of Gaston...and how the universe is working hard to make sure my ice maker remains broken.

So, I waited for Nick to get home. After fumbling around we decided to hit the Internet. I found a video on YouTube (what did we do before YouTube?) showing us exactly what we needed to do. We did it. We fixed it. We have ice.

Thank. You. Very. Much.

- S

Happy Earth Day!

Love your mother.

- S

Eight Years and Counting

Eight years ago today....

...I married a cute Canadian.

Best. Decision. Ever.

To celebrate our eight years together, I've compiled a list.

Top Eight Favorite Things I Love About Nick Trougakos:

1. I love the way he confuses the wait staff at restaurants with the unorthodox way he orders food. It makes me giggle. They never see it coming, I always do. Suckers.

2. I love that he will randomly start singing "Blue Jays all the way, Blue Jays all the way, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, Blue Jays all the way." (I can't explain this, you'll just have to ask him.)

3. When he's pretending to talk like a redneck, he pulls his chin in tight to his chest and talks in a high-pitched voice. I have never seen a redneck talk like that, but I love him for trying.

4. I love that he wants to know how he can get elected to serve on the board of the Reedy Creek Improvement District. (And I love that he knows what this is without having to google it.)

5. I appreciate that he thinks I'm a little crazy but loves me anyway. For example, he is often hesitant to take my medical advice and often blows me off. He normally gives in, but not before asking me if the doctor I've suggested is "into witchcraft and stuff." 

6. When we plan to travel, he will spend hours upon hours trying to convince me that we should drive instead of fly. He will research routes, determine how long it will take us, sign up for bonus points at frequented hotels and calculate the cost of gas vs. the cost of an airline ticket. If I say no, he will go back and find more evidence and present it until he confuses me into submission. He's passionate about road trips and I'm glad because some of our favorite memories together are of hitting the open highway. 

7. I love that we have a secret handshake. 

8. I love that he's my best friend. Best damn best friend I've ever had. Seriously.

I love you, Nick Trougakos. I dedicate this song to you.

- SC

City Boy Gets a Tick

While in training class at work today, I got a phone call from Mason's school. Normally they call with pre-recorded messages and one time they called because Mason was sick. I blew off the phone call assuming it was a message about an upcoming dance or chess club meeting. Then I thought "Good lord, what kind of mother are you?"

I texted Nick: Did the school call you?

He texted back: Yes. Mason has a tick, and they are not allowed to remove it. They want to know if we can go 'help out." Are you able to get away? If not, I'll go.

I thought, "That Nick...again with the jokes."

After I didn't respond, he texted: OK, they are holding him in the office, so I'm heading up that way.

I'm hitting the bad mother thing out of the park today. 1) How did my kid get a tick? 2) How did I not see it? 3) Why do I think this is all a joke? (One day I'll tell you about my barefoot, meet the new neighbor, our dogs eat their own poop story.)

What's with the tick drama (you'll soon find out)? I grew up in Broken Bow, Land of the Ticks. We had a spray painted billboard on the outskirts of town that read "Take A Tick Back To Texas." You laugh, but every summer those darn Texans flooded our small town of 4,000. The least they could do was to take a tick back with them. I got a million ticks growing up. You just pulled it off, threw it down. If your mom saw you throw it down without killing it she yelled at you. At that point you just pretended like you killed it or you just flushed it down the toilet. (I'm not killing it...do you know the gross stuff that squirts out?) {sorry, Mom}

But in Deer Creek, ticks are a big deal. The child is quarantined, the parents have to come up to school and pull the tick off and then apparently store said tick a Ziploc bag for future testing (if needed). This all seemed a bit extreme to Nick and I. While there Nick said "So what, did someone sue you guys for pulling off a tick or something?" To which they replied, "No, someone died."

Snap. An administrator in their district died a few years back from a tick bite and so they now have a strict policy. *Mental note: refrain from sarcasm when your child is quarantined.*

I do understand policy and I'm NOT mocking the rules OR the death. Just sharing another adventure and pointing out that City Boy got a tick and it turned into a big ordeal in our family today.

Cross your fingers for no Rocky Mountain Fever.

He probably got that stupid tick from hanging out with the local hoodlums.

- S

2011 Oklahoma City Redbud Classic

Yesterday was the 2011 OKC Redbud Classic. It was a warm, sunny day and we all headed out for exercise. We've started a tradition of sorts with the family. Nick and I tackle the 10k and...

...Mase and Grammie tackle the two-mile walk.  

We like to race.

Grammie and Mase did great. She tested out her new Barefoot Merrell shoes (with success!), and Mase enjoyed stopping for Powerade at the water station. He apparently also enjoyed playing a little I Spy along the way. I may try that during my next race to pass the time.

The 2010 Redbud Classic was my first 10k race ever. It was one ugly race. I hadn't trained well (if at all), it was hot, the course was hilly and I was the biggest complainer on the course. I'm lucky I have such a patient husband. Because no one knows as well as he does how whiney I get when I'm tired, hot and uncomfortable while doing something athletic.

This year was hot and hilly again, but I'm in MUCH better shape and killed my time from last year. Go me! Nick and I worried about this race a bit, he's been struggling with hip/foot issues and I've had troubled calves. But, we finished the race pain-free and are ready to tackle the OKC Memorial full (Nick) and half (me) in May. Bring it!

- S

Mom and Prince Dance Design

This was designed with Scent of Spring by Tracie Stroud. So fun!!

Also, the blog background was designed with Beauty in the World by Tracie Stroud.

Check her out for your own delicious scrapping goodies!!!

 - S

Activity Box - Counting Down the Days

How fun is this!?

Mase and I have started collecting things for his activity box (a box of cool stuff he takes on road trips). We were in Target the other day and found this for only...wait for it...$6! It's a fun clipboard loaded with colored pencils, crayons and markers inside. He's jazzed. Imagine all the things he can draw on our 20+ hour trip. I better make sure I pack enough paper...and maybe another container for the finished art...

We've been counting down to Disney like crazy at our house. Nick and I have already hosted our Annual Shorts Tryin' On party, good times. If you haven't hosted one of those, we highly suggest it (beer makes it more funny). We get together and try on shorts from last summer...seriously. Laugh if you want, but who wants to pack shorts the night before a trip only to realize your belly doesn't fit in them anymore? (I won't admit if this ever did or did not happen at our house. And I will not ever admit who was or was not hanging out of their shorts.) I'd like to think we're prepared for any pre-road trip curveballs. Or we may just be a bunch of over-planning goofballs...either way we know we can fit in our shorts. Check.

A song from the Princess and the Frog soundtrack is in my head right now...
"And I'm almost there, I'm almost there, People down here think I'm crazy, but I don't care."

-S

All you need is love...and a guitar.

Monster Boy