"One Hundred Resolutions" - Sundowner

Each January, I find myself saying the same thing .  .  .

This year I will:

*  Not do laundry every day

*  Stop worrying if I have random unattached hairs on the back of my shirt

*  Have Peanut make her own lunch

*  Stop checking my email at every red light

*  Learn photoshop

*  Run outside once a week

*  Learn all my account numbers for my credit cards

*  Not have the TV on during dinner

*  Remember to call my family & friends on their birthdays

*  Read a [as in singular - ONE] book

*  r e l a x

*  Be a better friend

*  Never start a sentence with the phrase, "no offense"

*  Enjoy the process

44% [you know I love that] of all Americans make "New Years Resolutions".

res·o·lu·tion

   /ˌrɛzəˈluʃən/ Show Spelled[rez-uh-loo-shuhn]

noun

1. a formal expression of opinion or intention made, usually after voting, by a formal organization, a legislature, a club, or other group. Compare concurrent resolution, joint resolution.

2. a resolve or determination: to make a firm resolution to do something.

3. the act of resolving or determining upon an action or course of action, method, procedure, etc

 

However, I love the way Gretchin Rubin thinks of NYR's . . . . more like "COMMANDMENTS". 

 

12 Rules [commandments] to strive to keep for the upcoming year.

 

com·mand

   /kəˈmændmənt, -ˈmɑnd-/ Show Spelled[kuh-mand-, -mahnd-]

verb 

1.to have or exercise authority or control over; be master of; have at one's bidding or disposal:or mandate.

2. to direct with specific authority or prerogative; order.

2. to require authoritatively; demand.

So here they are in NO specific oder.

 

Emz Commandments:

 

1.  Make time for projects. 

2.  Go outside [enjoy being outside]

3.  Stay in touch.

4.  Be there.  Be Present.

5.  Trust my instincts.

6.  Be silly.  Be spontaneous.

7.  Aim higher.

8.  Spread joy.

9.  Choose not to take things personally.

10.  Motivate & encourage others.

11.  Be a haven.

12.  Be Emz. 

 

[and I just had to share my card from my Peanut for my birthday . . . ]

 

 

** Soooooooo **

Did you make any New Years Resolutions?

Any you want to share?

"Moment of Clarity" - Jay Z

I remember learning about bees when I was little. (Not the ones that go with birds, just the bees. The bumbling kind.) I don't remember much (blocked it out since I was terrorized by the close-up shots of yellow and black fur, enormous eyes and blurry wings, hovering over some innocent flower...or child...) but I do remember that they are always busy, busy, busy.

I think Peanut was a bee in a previous life. She reads while she eats. She sings while she cleans. (Let me re-phrase that...she sings while she pretends to clean.) She's constantly stealing using my computer paper, more markers, more tape, more string, more pens, more anything that might be useful. And then she sits at the kitchen counter and gets to work. (She swings her while she works.)

The topic of my birthday came up. Which always means, I get to hear what she wants for her next birthday, mingled with a barely audible, “momyeaIforgottogetyouapresent". She spent the next hour in her room singing, fumbling with papers and running in and out for more supplies.

Later, she emerged in the hallway, eyes lit up with pride. In her hands laid a few papers wrapped in tissue paper. On the cover, “Mom you freaking rock”.

　
I looked in her room.  Piles of who knows what.  A few drawing that didn't make the cut . . .covered the floor. 

I smiled.

"Mom, don't worry, I'll clean it up.", she said.Not even close to what I was thinking.

What I was thinking . . . . I am blessed. My kid rocks.

And . . . .Ohhhhhhhh, this is what my mom meant when she said “I just want a card for my birthday” . . . this time I actually believe her. The Pita would be more than happy to take her out “shopping” for my gift. But I’m guessing this is a gift I’ll actually remember getting . . . Like next year & the year after that.

I’ve got everything I need. Love. Encouragement. Appreciation. 

And understanding . . . . . well unless I do something SUPER silly like this on my birthday:

And that’s freaking huge.


Best. birthday. ever.

[May] "Memories" - Weezer

May.

I still have a difficult time thinking about May with out getting all teared up.

May was trying, emotional, exhausting, exciting,  busy & freaking life changing.
Here's a little more information about the "event" [here].

Anddddddddddd

Part #1.
Part #2
Part #3
Part #4
Part too many
Part - OVER! [the 100.16 mile finish line]

And part-extra finish line photos and interview.
The early part of 2011 I decided I wanted to do something big but for a reason.  For a specific purpose.

My little family & I attended the Sojourner Center in the later part of 2010.

One visit.
Just. One. Visit.

And I knew I needed to do something.
While I'm sure they'd have been just as happy if I had pulled out my check book & written a big fat check......
I wanted to take a talent I'd been blessed with & use it to help them.

Enter "The 24 hour treadmill run for Sojourner".

I was just the girl on the treadmill. The real action....was happening all around me.

I'll never be able to express in words my thoughts of this day. Never. And really that's just fine for me. It's the feeling I'll keep forever.

People I need to thank [for the rest of my life]...

Pita - supported me at every point, never doubted me, found my vemma sponsor!!

Mom & my sister happy - they'd have to answer in the time they put into this. It was way longer than any "training" I did.  I'm guessing 4 x all my training hours.

Peanut - weeks & weeks of her mom being quite a failure at her "mom role".....I'm big on making her breakfast & packing her lunch...I enjoy it. I can text & run.  Talk & run. But kinda hard to make breakfast on a treadmill.

My family - seriously.  where are the words?  Most of them were there 10+ hours.  best family ever . . . . EVER.

Dawn - let's come back for Dawn in a bit.

Channel 12 - amazing. A-freaking-mazing.

Vemma - not just the product. The employees. The staff.  Incredible.

 Chris & Caroline - GET. THIS.....two people I have never actually "met". Their support.... WOW.

Like this.... [CLICK] Cannot. [to this very day] watch it without crying.
what a freaking awesome mom, woman, runner & wife.

And the emails, iTunes songs [foo!] & have you seen my freaking belt?

Yep, he sent it to me after I did my 50 mile training run on the treadmill. 

I freaking love it.

Michelle & Tom.  They found the people who loaned me the Woodway Treadmills.  Kinda hard to run a 24 hour treadmill run without a treadmill......not only did they find me the treadmills ----- they found me WOODWAY treadmills!!

Aaron - The Pita's work friend who got me into this Ultra running thing by calling me "Barbie" --- sucka!  Ran about 22ish miles with me.

Summer - who organized a massive collection [of goods] for the Sojourner Center.

Dawn - well. . . I may have been able to do it without her being there but....it would have been ugly. She doesn't like me blowing sunshine up her [anything] but....we send approximately 100 texts to each other, daily, so she kinda knows I dig her & gets the "sunshine blowing" whether she likes it or not.

And I cry when every I read this:

It is a top three "moment in my life".

No new PR could ever - EVER top this.
Not sure anything other than another child will ever top this.

It wasn't anything amazing that I did.
The event.
The turn out.
The support.
The money raised....NOW that was amazing.

 Now......when do I get to do this again?

"Sweet Emotion" - Aerosmith

I've tried writing this "year end" post about 3 [or I'll say FOUR] times now.

I sit down.
and
I try to write down all that's gone on in 2011.

And
I
feel
like........My words aren't even close to capturing my thoughts & feelings.

2011
has
been
the
best
year
of
my
life.

without. question.

[January-April] . . . Ya, "MAY" needs it's own post.

January:

The Pita's family came.  Truly a treat.  His sister and niece hadn't been to AZ since our wedding.  I've only seen his sister 6 times in 13 years.  Not nearly enough.

I ran a marathon with my sister.  Her first marathon.

I had a decent showing at RNR AZ . . . 3:21 . . .

But more importantly . . . .
I got to hang out with Dawn, RL & D-Rog.  awesome.

February:

New PR.  Freaking finally.  3:18

The Pita & I went to Vegas for Valentine's Day & for a pretty amazing three nights of Rugby watching.

RUN EMZ shirts were designed by Mr. Happiness himself.  P-Funk. ;)

And rocked by many, including . . .

Ahhhhh Kovas.

March:

March means one thing in my household.

b a s k e t b a l l.

And a lot of yelling at the TV.

April:

Ya, like BOSTON April.
Best. Ever. 
Best race ever ....no - - - ran 50 miles 3 days before it but seeing soooooooo many bloggers/runners was amazing.

Petra

P-funk

Mel.

Mrs. SUAR!!

And Jim

And let's not forget the Pita acting all Harvard-y at Harvard . . . ;)

I got to meet up with Jess.  Adore her.

Then comes May. . . .

I go back to "May" every day.

More on that tomorrow . . . .

Do tell . . . .

What was your favorite thing that happened from January-April of 2011?

"Roc Boys" - Jay Z & Kanye West

Only 10 more days of 2011?!?

crazy.
freaking. crazy.

Life has been awesome lately.
Zero complaints from this girl.

I'd have to say the highlight of my day is usually around 10:45am when I see my mailman.

Been loving all the Christmas cards & random thoughtful gifts.

Like this one from the one and only MissZippy. 

I FINALLY get to meet her in February and I'm freaking excited.  She was one of the very first running blogs I ever followed.  She.  Rocks.

I got this from my Peanut.  [thank you Pinterest] hilarious.

"word to your mutha"

I received this from Jess at "Run With Jess" .......so freaking creative. 

Was instantly feeling really bad for my Secret Santa when I got her gift.  Coolest calendar ever!

And did I mention she just got a treadmill.  I've got a thing for fellow treadmill lovers! ;)

On the treadmill note . . .

I got this in this morning:

I'm
kinda
HUGELY
hoping
Santa
brings
me
a
Woodway. ;)

What. did. you. ask. Santa. For?

"Party Rock Anthem" - LMFAO [ A Peanut "fav" ]

So one of my favorite-est-EST bloggers Mooshy, errrr J-Moo [I love you Lady J!]  tagged me on a fun little post idea.

It was to provide seven random tidbits about MY Peanut.

easy. freaking. peasy.

uno - ella no hablamos espanol. BUT.  She does spell wicked awesome.  Ya, that does NOT run in the family.  In fact, Peanut will be representing her class in the school spelling bee on Monday. [just crazy]

dos - She just ran her first ever 10k.  And first EVER, actual race [like one that didn't go down at the local park vs. her dad]  she. rocked.

tres - the kid hates mashed potatoes.  She will dry heave every time. [I partially do it out of humor now......."you must eat one bite!" .....hilarious].

quatro - this kid has every stamp that I do in my passport.  She's been to eight countries.  The one she'd give her 5 pound gummy bear to visit . . . . . Japan.

cinco - she. loves. loves. loves. shoes.
how the freak did that happen?

Santa is bringing four pairs of shoes --- and let me tell ya . . . . they are sumthin' else.
I found a pair she had "designed" on the Converse website.  had to buy them.  HOLY. CRAP. awesome.

seis - she's. confident. and. I love. it. I was never a super confident kid [or adult for that matter] so it makes me smile.

yes, this is her "pooping sunshine".

siete - she loves to take pictures when I have no idea she has my phone.  I'm not about to stop her.

I. love. them.

Now to my four people . . . ya, I changed the number . . because I can.

Patrick - seven things you dislike [his rant posts are my fav, sorry]

Caroline - seven nice things you can say about U of A places you will go in 2012

Kevin - seven facts about pickle juice things you will do in 2012

Dawn - seven. freaking. anythings!!  will you blog already WW!?!  geesh.