Random Tuesday Thoughts about a Super Sloth with a Cough, a Sociopath, Some Hot Stuff and Track Tuesday

For the past two weeks, I had been suffering from a really nasty cold that I just couldn’t shake.  One of the fantastic symptoms of my cold was a horrible, wet hacking cough, like a smoker’s cough. No exaggeration, I sounded as though I had been smoking unfiltered Lucky Strikes for 20 years. With the cough, I also had this horrible tightness in my chest, which made it very difficult to breathe.

Despite not being able to breathe, I decided to go ahead and run in the 5 Miles for Moffitt race.  I already had skipped out on the Crazy Sombrero 5K the week before due to my cold and I didn’t want to miss another race.  Besides, my aunt spent the better part of two years fighting lung cancer, the least I could do was suck it up and run with a little chest cold.  Admittedly, that wasn’t the smartest thing I’ve ever done.

Just as the experts warn you, you shouldn’t run with a chest cold.  A runny nose or sore throat is a different story.  Limited breathing due to chest congestion is not a good thing and I truly believe running in the race extended the life of my cold.  So, let this be a lesson to you. Learn from my mistake.  Always listen to the Livestrong Gods.

So while I spent the time recovering from my cold, my blog suffered.  Actually, everything suffered.  I didn’t have the energy to do much.  I missed out on the superhero challenge.   I missed out on the Track Tuesday speed work.  I missed out on logging miles for the Joggermom Marathon. It made me sad to miss out on it all.  For almost two weeks, I was a super sloth with a cough.

Then when I woke up on Saturday morning, I could breathe, but I waited a couple more days just to be safe. I started running again on Monday and today it was back to business as usual with my speed work.  I am happy to be back on “track” now.

Now that I’m all healthy again, I’m a #superhero once again doing my Spiderman and Superman sets as well as running and blogging again.  The first half of the month may have been a loss, but next couple of weeks and the Joggermom Marathon will end on a high note.

Although my running may be back to business as usual, my blogging still had a slow start because yesterday, I totally flaked on a Music Monday post, which is a first in almost 3 years.  I’ve been playing catch up now that I’m feeling better and blogging a music post didn’t make the must-do list.  I felt horrible about it too since I’m an honorary co-host this month with Xmas Dolly and 4M crew.  Plus, this week’s theme was a song from a movie and movie soundtracks are my thing, a lesson I learned from the late John Hughes.  And I had such a good one in my head, but it just never made it to the blog.  Aw hell, I’ll share it now.

Is anyone else sad that all the shows are ending?  I am not happy about all these season finales and cliff hangers.  I am completely addicted to Once Upon a Time and that cliff hanger was the worst best.  Of course, if the show is not renewed for another season, I would be happy with the ending, without giving too much away.

Please tell me I’m not alone with my Once Upon a Time obsession!  I can’t wait for the Season 1 DVD to be released (August 28) so I can watch it all over again.  Seriously, it’s that good.

Once Upon a Time: The Complete First Season [Blu-ray]

When I am really into a show, like I am with this one, I visit the show’s website and read all the actors’ bios and watch the interviews.  I love reading where the actors studied and what other shows they’ve done.  Since I’m a bit entranced by the actor who plays Rumplestiltskin/Mr. Gold, Robert Carlyle was the first I investigated.  Imagine my surprise, when I learned he was the actor who played Begbie in Trainspotting.  Actually, I wasn’t truly surprised, because Rumplestiltskin in pretty creepy as is Begbie.  But Begbie gave me nightmares.

In case you aren’t familiar with it, here’s a glimpse.  Warning: Begbie is a psycho sociopath and these clips are violent and riddled with vulgarities.

Robert Carlyle may be better known for his role as Gaz in The Full Monty. (Be sure to click on that link and watch the movie clip.  Gaz is one sexy thing. lol)  Truthfully, I prefer to remember him as Gaz than Begbie.  It also demonstrates the depth to his acting ability.  Plus, with Donna Summer’s passing over the weekend, this scene and song seem very fitting pretty fitting.

 

So, there you have it. My Music Monday post may be a day late, but Track Tuesday is now literally Track Tuesday.  And now for the sprints…

1.1   Mile

Time 11:05

Ave Pace 10:05

 

Lap 1 –  0.25 mile

Time 1:73

Ave Pace 7:37

 

Lap 2 – 0.25 mile

Time 1:73

Ave Pace 7:37

 

Lap 3 – 0.26 mile

Time 2:01

Ave Pace 7:53

 

Lap 4 0.24

Time 1:52

Ave Pace 7:39

 

1 mile

Time 10:14

Link up and share your speed work and some music for your Track Tuesday/Track Tuesday post.


*Also linking up at*

Stacy

Denise Mestanza-Taylor+

Run to Get a Good Feeling and Crash Your Party

This Sunday is the long awaited St. Pete. Rock ‘N Roll Half Marathon.  I’m not expecting any great PR (personal record) or PB (personal best) because I haven’t trained as hard as I would have liked.  I’m just going to get out there and run.

As long as I finish around 2:15 (my last half marathon time) and before 10:00 a.m. to see Flo Rida perform at the finish line, then I’ll be happy.  I’ll get a good feelingYeah.

If I don’t make it to the finish line in time, then I’ll be sure to crash the after race party.



Visit Xmas Dolly and Hairbows & Guitar Picks for more Music Monday fun.

It’s the End of the World

Ever watch Ancient Aliens on the History?  I’m a bit obsessed with the show.  On New Year’s Eve, the History channel aired an Ancient Aliens marathon and I was glued to the TV.

For the most part, it’s complete science fiction, but there are some interesting theories about ancient civilizations and their possible connection to extraterrestrial beings based on stone carvings, cave paintings and other artifacts.  The Mayans are mentioned in nearly every episode.

I suppose the powers that be at the History channel felt airing a back-to-back episodes of Ancient Aliens seemed appropriate since 2012 is predicted to be the end of the world.  After all, the Mayan calendar stops on December 21, 2012, which means the end of days, of course.


 
Should we take cues from a civilization that is completely extinct or should we not even give a second thought?

I liked Ricky Gervais’s view on it all.

 

In the meantime, I’m just going to keep on running and enjoy each day as a gift and not worry about ice caps melting, Armageddon or aliens collecting people.

 



Visit Xmas Dolly and Hairbows & Guitar Picks for more Music Monday fun.

Sweet Child{ren} of Mine

I am blessed with three beautiful, brilliant children, who constantly make my smile.

I love the little people they are growing up to be, but the true blessing is that I get to watch it happening before my eyes.

Every day, they amaze me.

And every day, they give me another reason to celebrate whether it’s making honor roll…


or a little man who picks up after himself.

I am so thankful for the laughter and joy they bring, the tears I get to kiss away and the cuddles that my children continuously give me.

I am so truly thankful for each one of them in my life.

Last week, I let my blogging buddies down when I didn’t share an 80s tune, per my request to Xmas Dolly. Although I missed the memo, everyone else played along with 80s tunes for Music Monday.  To redeem myself of my epic blogging fail, I shared an 80s tune today while giving thanks.  All better!  We’re good now, right?

For the next four Music Mondays, I’ll be counting my blessings through song.  Each week in November, I will be singing my praises and giving thanks by sharing a song that symbolizes one of the many blessings in my life.  Come count your blessings with me and link up while you’re here.  What a blessing that would be!



Visit Xmas Dolly and Hairbows & Guitar Picks for more Music Monday fun.

This Sets Us on Fire

The meteorologist lied.  She said that Hurricane Irene would pull of the moisture out of our atmosphere in our area as the hurricane traveled along the eastern coast.  We had 2 days with little to no humidity, but on  Saturday morning the air was so saturated it felt like I was running in a sauna.

The heat is so unbearable right now, I’m afraid I may spontaneously combust during my long runs.

Every time this Kings of Leon song plays on the radio, my husband loves to share an interesting lesser know fact about it.  Well, since I’ve heard his trivia countless times, it’s not so lesser know to me.

The lyrics to Kings on Leon’s Sex on Fire is really this “set is on fire”.  As the story goes, a producer walked into the studio and heard the song as the band played.  The producer commented about the lyrics he heard, “sex on fire”.  The band thought his twist to the lyrics were funny and it stuck.

Speaking of twists and other dance moves, this week I’ve been selected as a spotlight dancer for Monday’s Music Moves Me by Xmas Dolly and the gang.  Yay!

Xmas Dolly

And while I’m sharing randomness (And it’s not even Tuesday!), next Monday is Run DMT’s Music Monday one year anniversary.  I would LOVE for you all to celebrate the occasion with me by linking up and sharing your favorite party song.  After all, we have to keep the party going strong for another year because Music Monday sets me on fire is like sex on fire.

Thanks for all you love and support!

Visit AmandaXmas Dolly and Hairbows & Guitar Picks for more Music Monday fun.

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All Star

A few days ago, my girls and I were talking about school starting up again.  We got to talking about their teachers which led to me sharing stories about teaching days.

I told my girls how I would sing to my students my own version of Smash Mouth’s All Star when they made their reading goals associated with our computer-based Accelerated Reading program.  I explained that the words to my revised version of the song hung on a wall in my classroom and every Friday, we celebrated the students who made their weekly reading goal by singing the song and had a small party.  And then, I busted out the tune to my girls:

Hey now!

You’re an A.R. star

Get a book and go read.

Hey now!

You’re an A.R. star.

Get the points that you need.

All that reading is bold.

Strengthens your mind.

Make that goal.

 

“You sang that to your students?” Allana asked with a sneer.  “What grade did you teach?”

“I taught third graders,” I replied.

“Oh my God.  They must’ve have thought you were such a dork.”

“My students LOVED me! And you would have thought I was cool too if I was your teacher instead of your mom. So there!”

Boy, kids are tough these days.  Glad I’m not going back into the classroom again this year!

So with my girls returning to school today and ready to worship their cool doughnut-giving teachers while continuing to poke fun at their dorky, very uncool only-feeds-us-healthy-stuff former teacher mom, I thought this song only seemed fitting.

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Airplanes

Emmalynn began taking ballet last fall, but we took a break during the holidays.  Once we recovered from the holidays, we resumed classes at a new studio, but missed registration for the recital.  Even though she wouldn’t perform in the recital, she still learned the steps for her class’s number.

One evening, Emmalynn asked me, “Mommy, do you know the Airplane song that goes I could use a wish right now.  Wish right now.  Wish right now?”  Then, she began spinning and flying around the room demonstrating what she claimed to be her recital routine.  Her interpretative dance included several spins, a landing and chopping some vegetables for a soup she prepared in her home.  I thought this seemed like a very bizarre ballet performance, but so be it.

Later, I learned that her class was not dancing to Airplanes, but rather Fly Me to the Moon.  That’s my Emma, my free spirit.  She dances to the beat of a different drum.    

“If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away.”- Henry David Thoreau

And speaking of airplanes, Little Lion Man loves to feed himself.  Typically he’s double-fisted with a spoon in each hand, but he’ll drop those boring ol’ baby spoons for his big boy airplane spoon.  Vroom!

Visit AmandaXmas Dolly and Hairbows & Guitar Picks for more Music Monday fun.

 

Hello Dolly!

It’s Xmas Dolly’s birthday this week and she requested Monday’s Music Moves Me participants to select a song just for her.  Of course, y’all know I love my Broadway tunes, so I couldn’t resist sharing this song just for Xmas Dolly.

But perhaps Hello Dolly seems a bit silly because not everyone likes show tunes.  So how about a song that is a bit more upbeat and contemporary?

After all, Xmas Dolly’s birthday falls on the same weekend as the two 5K races I just finished and finished strong.  When it comes to my running, I’m on the right track, baby.  My times just keep getting better and better and it makes me want to dance.  In fact, I think I will do the Gaga dance across the finish line at my next race.

So, let’s celebrate who we are because we were Born This Way!

Happy Birthday, Xmas Dolly!


Photobucket

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Loco Para Cinco de Mayo

The names for the NYC Marathon have been drawn and I wasn’t one of them, but it’s all good. Es no problemo.

Now that the selection process is over, I can redirect my attention onto the other races I have coming up like the Crazy Sombrero 5K this Friday.

To get into a Cinco de Mayo mood and into the Crazy Sombrero spirit, I’ve been downloading some Mexican dance music. Hey, whatever it takes to be a Speedy Gonzales for this race. ¡Ándale! ¡Ándale! ¡Arriba! ¡Arriba!

Visit AmandaXmas Dolly and Hairbows & Guitar Picks for more Music Monday fun.

Empire State of Mind – God, I Hope I Get It!

This Wednesday, names will be drawn for the New York City Marathon lottery. Running in the NYC Marathon this November would be a dream come true for me and I know it would make my NYC native parents proud to see me running through their home turf.

I’ve got my fingers, toes and running shoelaces crossed hoping to be picked. This obsession with the NYC Marathon has caused me to preform spontaneous and random interpretive dance moves during my runs to a number from A Chorus Line.

God, I hope it get it.
I hope I get it.
How many people does NYC need?

God, I hope I get it.
I hope I get it.
How many boys, how many girls?
How many boys, how many…?

Look at all the people!
At all the people.
How many people does NYC need?
How many boys, how many girls?
How many people does he…?

I really need this jog.
Please God, I need this jog.
I’ve got to get this JOG!

On Wednesday, I’ll be watching the lottery live at noon. Until then, excuse me if I seem a little distracted this week. I can’t help it.

I’m in an Empire State of mind.

Visit AmandaXmas Dolly and Hairbows & Guitar Picks for more Music Monday fun.