Get the funk out..

I've been in a running rut for several weeks and I'm desperately trying to find a way out of it. I have really got to get back into my regular running routine. Its time to stop making excuses and get back into shape!

I had a not-so-great 8 mile run on Saturday, but I finished it. That's all that matters. I have another marathon in two months, so hopefully that is motivation enough to get re-focused.

It was great to see Jamoosh out at the park on Saturday! Been a long time my friend!

Congrats to Doug and Jennifer for their great runs in the RunWild Half Marathon yesterday. Jennifer placed second in her age group. Woo-hoo!

Where have I been??

Wow, its been a while since I posted. I didn't realize how long. Have you missed me, blogging world? Probably not, but posting is more for my benefit that anyone else's I guess. Therapeutic certainly. Its been a busy and hectic and stressful (to say the least) couple of weeks at work, though the recent 4-day weekend was very welcome and restful.

I have suddenly decided that after being in my home for a year, its time to start thinking about some minor home-improvement projects. What I'm pondering tackling is re-tiling my fireplace (I've retiled a kitchen table before, and it was actually fun and looked nice, until I got rid of it.). I've ordered some cool tile samples that I think will look great around my fireplace and go well with my current colors and decor, so we'll see what happens. I figured the area is small enough that if I completely mess things up, it shouldn't cost too much for a professional to fix it. But, fortunately, if I follow instructions, I can hopefully end up with a nice finished product. Just in time for the birthday party I hope to throw for myself in May...

Running update: Yes, I'm still running sporadically, mostly on Saturdays with the Knuckleheads. I ran 7 miles this past Saturday and plan to run again this weekend. I'm also signed up for the Armadillo Dash 1/2 Marathon on March 1 in College Station. I figure after that, I will start training more seriously, since I have the Nashville Marathon at the end of April.

CONGRATS to all my friends who ran the Austin Marathon/Half Marathon. I heard it was a beautiful day, and I'm sorry to have missed it, but I definitely needed the rest. Plus, it gave me a chance to enjoy Valentine's Day...

My dancing Goddaughter: Sweet Emily is going to be in a dance competition in Galveston soon, and I can't wait to go see her! She is a fantastic young lady, and I wish I could see her more often. I'm really looking forward to making the quick trip down to the island, and it will be interesting to see how it has recovered from the hurricane.

My adorable nephews and niece: Thank you to my SIL Kristi for sending more pics. I miss these little ones terribly!

Changed my mind...

I have decided NOT to run the Austin Marathon this coming weekend. I'm tired and don't feel like traveling and spending money on a hotel and dinner and gas. Even I am starting to feel the economic crisis. Sigh...

See, I can be creative sometimes...

My primary hobby/passion is running. Without it, there would be no point to this blog. However, I, 26.2 Princess, have another hobby that I take up every now and then: art/painting. Yes, I sometimes tap into the right side of my brain. Crazy, I know!

I really started this hobby when I was recovering from neck surgery several years ago and had nothing else to do (plus I was chock full of meds...aren't all great artists?? I kid, I kid.). And as is too often the case with my spur-of-the-moment projects that get me in over my head, I always thought "how hard can it be to paint something like that?" whenever I saw abstract art somewhere. Answer: not easy, or cheap. And I have zero art/painting training...

Over the years, I've painted many pieces, and even had an art show for friends and neighbors early on in my hobby. I've sold some pieces and given some to family for gifts, and a handful are in my storage closet because they just don't go with my decor anymore (I can't have just ANYTHING hanging from my walls...it has to match/blend in). But I do have several pieces, some older, some newer, that are currently displayed in my home.

My art might never be displayed anywhere else or fetch alot of money or even appeal to 98% of the population, but I like it; it fits me and my tastes. The beauty and appeal of art truly is in the eye of the beholder...I spent alot of time in the Louvre and the Rijks Museum, and even the fine arts museum in Houston, and quite frankly was bored...those kind of paintings have never appealed to me. I like "abstract" but others don't, so I won't be offended if you think my stuff is crap. In fact, I laugh when I show friends and family a piece and their reaction is clearly "yeah, I don't like that one so much" though they would never say that out loud (maybe behind my back).

Anyway, thought you might like to see my creative side:

My latest piece, just finished on Wednesday:


Something I painted just before I moved into my home last year:


Others:

My in-depth analysis of Superbowl XLIII

First 57 minutes = Yawn.

Last 3 minutes = More exciting, with a couple of minutes of hope for the underdog. I hate the Steelers.

Commercials = Meh. Though we did finally found out what "G" is.

Halftime show = Bring back Prince, or someone controversial. No point in EVERYTHING being boring.

Pre-game = WTH happened to John Elway's face? He looks 83.

National Anthem = Jennifer Hudson did a very good job, but Whitney Houston still gets my vote for best anthem ever (1991).