The Manliest 24 Hours of My Life?

Yesterday, I ate half of a half pound venison burger killed by one of my closest friends. I dropped an F bomb at the dinner table, talked about MASH, watched South Park, and finished the evening with talk of breast implants over a beer.

Today, I set up my cable - with HD. I called my HOA and argued with someone. I went to Lowe's on my lunch break. Bought lighting and boxes. Managed a big blue flat cart (barely, but managed). Got all of that stuff into my car and wiped some sweat from my brow. Stopped at sonic for lunch - paid cash. Had my windshield replaced in my office parking lot by a guy named Jason wearing Ed Hardy who gave me a lesson in knives and glue. Thanks Jason.

However...

1. I have a 5.8 pound chihuahua

2. I blush when I curse

3. I support hunting because I believe it is a humane, organic means of getting very healthy meat from animals that have lived fulfilling lives, not in cages (ask me more about this later), which is why I ate the venison burger, but won't eat chicken

4. I miss my dad when I am: 1) pushing/carrying anything heavy; 2) dealing with anything involving my car; 3) using any kind of tool; 4) at Lowe's

5. The only part I enjoyed about my trip to Lowe's today was spending money on things I thought were pretty

6. Jason called me honey

7. I did it all of this while wearing a skirt

On the scale of manly, I think today I score about a 4. Too high people. I am working to get back down to my usual -7 over the next 96 hours by attending book club at a wine bar, spending the weekend in Oklahoma at a baby shower and a wedding shower, blushing at every mention of anything gross, and giving my 5.8 pound chihuahua thousands of kisses.

Wish me luck.

SES

Yes You Can!

Well, I did it. I completed the OKC ½ Marathon this past Sunday.

I ran the entire 13.1 miles without stopping, which was my main goal. I was determined not to stop. I don’t know how many times I told myself, “Do Not Stop,” or “Keep on Going.” It was a total mental game for me, trying to psyche myself out to the finish line.

Mile 5, I was wanting to take a pit break, mile 10, I didn’t think I could go on any further…then I got to mile 11, and I started crying. (well, I got misty eyed) I am still not sure if I was tearing up out of desperation/pain or because I knew I was going to reach my goal. I think a little bit of both.

The OKC Marathon did not disappoint this year. Crowds and crowds of people lined the streets to cheer people on. It’s amazing to see the amount of support the local neighborhoods give. True “Okie” style. There’s a news segment on one of the OKC news stations titled “Is this a great state or what?” I thought that many times as I was stumbling through the streets of Oklahoma City.

My official time was 2 hours, 29 minutes and 3 seconds. Much improvement from my poor 2 hours and 52 minutes last year. (DISCLAIMER: I am a SLOW runner.)

There are many motivators in the OKC half marathon- one of them being what the race stands for. Running in memory of all the people that were affected or lost their lives on April 19th, 1995. As I was running I just kept thinking how thankful I am to even be able to do the run, and it kept me going.

I am still trying to figure out how people run the full marathon. I am not going to lie- around mile 9’ish I started thinking how stupid this was, and asking myself why I was putting myself through this? Of course, once I finished, I know why I do it, and I know I will be doing it again. But still… I don’t think I could get my motor to go 13.1 more miles.

In fear of sounding like an ultimate cheese ball, I have something to say: I really think you can do whatever you put your mind to. In 2007, I could not even run a mile. I literally thought I was dying when I tried and would blame it on asthma. (I grew out of asthma before I was 10 years old.)

So like they used to sing on saved by the bell: ‘PUT YOUR MIND TO IT, GO FOR IT, GET DOWN AND BREAK A SWEAT, ROCK AND ROLL….YOU AIN’T SEEN NOITHING YET!

Agh, got to love Jessie Spano, Kelly Kapowski and Lisa Turtle.

**That is my neice and I after the run, with our medals. She ran the Kids Marathon.

Three things on my mind today...

In order from least on my mind to most on my mind...

1. The Oklahoma City Thunder in the playoffs, playing the Lakers tonight in OKC. Seriously, as a kid growing up in a suburb of Mary's hometown, I never thought this scenario could ever happen. I will spare you another I love Oklahoma post, but I have to say our state capitol has come so far. Thanks Maps project, Thunder, and finally completed capitol dome.* Coming soon to your favorite city just off I-35 N: the training "grounds" for the US Olympic Crew team.
2. The Earth. Really, she is on my mind everyday. Especially today though since today is her day. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle - to those of you who aren't doing this yet, START.

3. And, finally, Sam Bradford. Oh Sam, I have met you twice before and both times you were so sweet. Even that time when I saw you at Cretia's and said "I just have to tell you, Boomer Sooner." "That is what I like to hear," you replied. Or that time when I saw you at 747 and two of my unnamed friends made me ask to take a picture with you after the A&M game, and you said "no, I can't do that." To which I replied, "how is your shoulder." And, you responded, with a smile, "it is just fine." Well, Sam, in my eyes (and everyone else's), you are way more than "just fine." You are just about the biggest bad ass around today, and I am so happy for you. Boomer effing Sooner.

* For those of you who are not from our great state, the Oklahoma state capitol building was completed in 1919 with plans for a dome. This dome was not completed until 2001, until that time Oklahoma was one of two states in the nation with an un-domed capitol building.

Green, Green.

Ganga glad you came to our blog today? How did 4/20 become “4/20?” I was wondering the same thing. Here’s some helpful information from our friend, Mr. Wikipedia:

420, 4:20 or 4/20 (pronounced four-twenty) refers to consumption of cannabis and, by extension, a way to identify oneself with cannabis subculture.

The term originated from a group of teenagers at San Rafael High School in San Rafael, California, United States in 1971.[3][4] The teens would meet after school at 4:20 p.m. to smoke marijuana at the Louis Pasteur statue.

According to an April 2009 article on the The Huffington Post, the group called itself the Waldos because its members hung out by a wall after school. Writer Ryan Grim, citing interviews with anonymous Waldos, claims that the group met by the statue at 4:20 p.m. to begin a search for a crop of abandoned cannabis growing near Point Reyes that they had heard about. They never found the stash, Grim writes, but smoked plenty of marijuana while looking for it.

However you plan to spend this Tuesday 4/20 afternoon, go in peace.

And one more shout out – Happy Earth Week.

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.

I love Oklahoma

I couldn't decide whether to comment on Ande's post or to write one of my own...

On April 19th, 1995, I was sitting in my 6th grade math class when we heard a faint noise. Our math class happened to be in a tornado safe room with cement walls and all sorts of extra safety precautions. As a result, we barely even noticed when the bomb went off. It wasn't until after we went out in the halls and heard everyone buzzing about a bombing downtown that we realized something was up. I remember walking around super confused until the teachers started ushering us all into our classrooms and we were told we couldn't leave again till they said it was okay. Then they tried to explain what happened.

About an hour after that, the notes started coming. They were pink, just like they always were when you got a call at the front office or you had to visit one of the administrators. Today, though, it meant something totally different.

We all sat there holding our breath till we got word that our parents/aunts/uncles/neighbors were okay. Some of us never got that news. It took three days to find my friend's dad. He was a secret service agent, and one of the eight counts of murder that Timothy McVeigh was charged for. I remember the day he got his note.

I will never forget that day, or the days following. I will never forget sitting in front of the tv for hours and hours watching the names come across the screen. I will never cease to be thankful that my family was safe on April 19th, and I will never stop sympathizing with those who weren't so lucky.

People always ask us Oklahomans why we love our state and our hometowns so much. It seems impossible to most outsiders considering that we are all just a little bit small town and slow paced, and everything is totally flat. If you had the chance to be in Oklahoma during the aftermath of the bombing and experience all of the love and compassion that everyone had for their friends and neighbors, you would see why. This feeling is still there today, and will be forever. That is why it is such a wonderful place. I am so thankful and proud to be from there. I love Oklahoma.

And, Ande, I think you are so awesome for doing the Memorial Run next weekend. I am sure you are going to finish the half marathon with flying colors. I am so thankful for the gift of a friend like you. And, I am so proud of you for working so hard to get ready for this. Good luck!

Thankful.

I’ll never forget what I was doing April 19th, 1995. I was in 6th grade, dressed like a total tom boy (mesh shorts, dr. martins t-shirt and nike sandals, ewwww) and looking at the 6th grade science fair projects. (Thank you mom for doing my science fair project and winning me 1st place. Loved that trophy.)

It’s hard to believe it’s already been 15 years. Seeing something hit so close to home was and is still so scary to me. Being able to see the building and knowing people who lost their lives was also, and still is, so scary.

I also remember what I was doing September 11th, 2001 – I was in psychology at OU and I remember Brad W. telling me, we are going to war. I was so scared. We sat in our dorm room all day watching the news. I also remember that this was the day I was “going to start working out again.” It didn’t happen and the freshman 15 continued packing on.

I was thinking this morning that these events are something we’ll never forget in our lifetime. Much like the assassination of JFK. You can ask anyone that was old enough to know what was going on back then, and they can tell you where they were when they got the news.

This also reminds me of how precious life is and how things can change in an instant…which brings me to the Central Market parking lot yesterday afternoon: I was almost ran over. I am not exaggerating. I was less than 6 inches from this girl’s wheels. I screamed a dirty word so loud, but I managed to hold on to my groceries. I definitely dodged a bullet.

So where am I going with this? I am remembering all of the people that were affected by April 19th, 1995, today. Two idiots ruined a lot of lives.

This day also brought people closer, and the people of OKC continue to remember those lost and effected, which I will too, this coming Sunday. This Sunday marks the 10th annual “Memorial Marathon.” It’s such a great run, I don’t know where to begin. Being by the Memorial site and seeing all 168 chairs, and remembering all the lives that were changed that day is a wonderful experience.

I will only be doing the half marathon, but I am already shaking in my asics. For some reason, I am getting all sorts of nervous.

I am done rambling now, but just remember how precious life is. I could have been ran down yesterday. One minute on the phone- next minute dodging a car tire.

Happy freaking Monday.

All you need is...

Tug on your heart strings, make you love love, want to fall in love,
dance, wear your red dress, swing those hps, sigh, believe in
yourself, imagine, and smile...forty years later still just as amazing.

To John. Paul, George and Ringo, I will dig your pony till the end.

It's a fool who plays it cool by making his world a little colder,
SES