s p a i n

I have never been there.

But after my trip to New Zealand, I think I have a pretty real understanding as to what it would be like to cheat death from an angry bull.

{this is for you BDD}

I'm guessing my little bull-friend wasn't used to seeing American chicas pass by too often [on foot] on the nearby motorway.  Truth be told, I can't believe I actually ran on the motorway.  The posted speed limit was 100km. 

But I did just find this on wikipedia:

In many respects, New Zealand highways are simply the major roads between significant places and can be used by any traveller, including cyclists, [runners-I may or may not have added this part],pedestrians and even farm animals.

Yes, they are so NOT lying on the farm animals part.  I learned this fact in Waipu.  Yep, you got it pronounced WHY-POO.  Which Peanut loved.  "Mom, waipu when you can just pee?  It's faster."  nice. 

Anyway, while running in Waipu, there was a farmer [?] walking his cows on the motorway . . . ummm, ya this was after the charging bull experience so you bet your butt I turned around.

I'm really hoping I mentioned there was a fence between me and the bull.  Call me a baby, whatever but unless you've had a massive animal like that running full boar, straight for you . . don't judge. ;)

Have I ever mentioned, I am a treadmill girl.  kidding.  kidding.  So I had a week of me.  outside.  with nature.  in New Zealand.  no treadmills in sight :( .  If I was going to run, I was going to look around and enjoy every moment.  I thought it was so cool to run past animals, ocean, dead possums, mean Weka's, singing tui's, 75 year old women - - that when I saw the two massive bulls ahead I thought, "OMGosh, awesome, those are freaking huge bulls!" 

Then . . . . .

c h a r g e !

That thing snorted something fierce then came at me like nothing I have ever seen before.  [please keep in mind, I'm on a motorway {the ones with cars not farm animals} - I can't just move into the street!].  So, of course, I stop....still staring at the bull and now he and I are NO MORE than 3.5' away from each other [yes, the fence had stopped him].  looked at my hands.  s h a k i n g - uncontrollably.  Look at heart rate numbers.  Yea, I'm still alive!

All is well.  On the return, I was a smart little blonde and ran on the other side.  of course, I stared him down the whole time.  I saw him.  He was shaking.

[the motorway minus the bull]

j e t - l a g

Okay, that's my excuse anyway.

Here's my numbers:

*15 - hours Peanut slept last night.
*23 - number of possums [dead] I counted during my runs.
*1 - number of bulls that charged me while running.
*1 - amount of times I think I peed my pants from the charging bull
*1-Weka's that bit at my shoe thinking I was trying to steal her off-spring.
*14-number of dolphins we counted while on our "hole in the rock" tour in Russel.

*14-number of laps you have to run to equal 12 miles in Russel.

*7-number of times we ate fish & chips [uggggg]

which is partially why . . . .

Miles ran today 22 [20.47 on treadmill]  probably pretty stupid for the first day back at em'. [and no that's not tread-sweat it's from my Lysol wipes - yes, I'm a germaphobe]

*1-the number of iPhones I left in NZ
*1-the iPhone that is mine that was left in NZ
*44,444,444 - the amount of times I have wanted to cry about it.
*7-how many days I will be without it.
*8-how many days "Em, I'll get it off to you ASAP" means to the Pita's Sister.
*3-the number of 75+ year old women who watched me run my 800's by Poppy's house.
*444-how many times I thought "this is weird" that 75+ year old women are watching me run in circles.
*9-number of times the Pita asked if I'd move back to NZ.
*65-the age I told him I'd move back by.
*7-how many times Peanut asked if we could move there.

*1-how many times I barfed on our "hole in the rock tour"

*18-how many photos I have of rainbows [for you Amy!]
*4-times I was sad we didn't get to see uncle Rod. [or his undies]
*94-number of photos I still have to download.
*30-days until next marathon.

can I get a what? what?

106 - I have died and gone to follower heaven.

106?

Made my day.  I sat down with really good intentions to share a few random bits of the New Zealand Tour 2010 but the ambien I took 45 minutes ago is having it's way with my brain, typing and I'm quite sure my head is at a 45 degree angle as I write.

But man do I have some photos for you.  Hmmmmmm maybe even one from the Pita without him flipping me off?!?! [you'll be getting that one from me on your Christmas card!]

I will blame the ambien for the random facts you can look out for tomorrow . . .

what season is fall?
Sea level here?
charging bull
time? run over
do you see any others?
nevermind.
what "I'll hurry it off to you" means when a New zealander says it.
6 out of 7 days {FC}
possum count
barf count
ferry count
fit count.
jucy car.

I bet you can hardly wait.   [ha]

MISSED  YOU GUYS!!!!!!

leaving on a jet plane

Today.

I'm already worried that I'm not quite ready for the conversations.  I sat at my computer this morning to find an email from the Pita's sister. 

Here is just an excerpt:

"Hiya, can you please bring me some new trainers.  Mine are too small and have been needing to wear plasters with mine for months.  I'll pick you up at the airport.  Don't turn up in jandals!  It's cold!  Just so you know, my car has a bit of a pong to it but you'll live."

Oh man.  I don't even want to know what "pong" means.  And I'm hoping the "you'll live" part is a guarantee.

Check list:

*13.75 mile run in this morning.  check.
*3 new running books.  thanks Steve!  check.
*ambien.  check.
*Peanut's last day of 4th grade.  check.
*Peanut coming out this morning in this outfit proclaiming, "It's my last day.  I'm going to show them what I'm made of!".  I have no idea where she gets this [but see shoes below.]  check.

*sitter for Chuy [dog].  check.
*food delivery for Mase [dog].  Check.
*scorpion care taker. I refuse. [click.]
*Garmin watch. I am sooooo going to get lost.  check.
*camera.  check.
*these sweet new heels.  you bet cha.  you have to trust me guys/gals.  relax I'm wearing them with jeans [the sweetest part{s} will be covered].

trust me . . .when they are NOT paired with inappropriate leather, PVC and Lycra they actually do look MUCH tamer.  and I heart them.  Did I mention they were $695 and I got them for ---- well ---- a lot ---- LOT less.  check. 
*running shoes.  boring.  check.
*new zealand to english slang language converter.  [aka, iPhone google].  check.
*iPhone International phone package [$$$ ouch, this is robbery].  check.
*sleeping "u shaped" pillow thing that never works.  check.
*getting a surprise gift [and it is INSTALLED?!  what??] from the Pita last night.
said it was a "peace offering for the glitch in [running] training" [for July marathon] this trip may cause.

ummmm, want to go on any more glitch trips Pita?   check.
*two xanex.  huh, what?  Thanks Ashley! Man, I have awesome friends.  check.

Oh and now we'll be going here for three of the 9 days thanks to Uncle Rod's sweet bach in Hokianga.

Uncle Rod.  Is.  The.  Best. 

If I ever see him with more than his undies on . . . I'll get a photo of him for you.  Seriously.  The man loves his undies. 

And the bach?  Bare bones.  The Pita's mom sent me a text Saturday saying, "you know they are just drop toilets, and no cell service right?".  Uhhhh, ya, totally.  Duh, of course, I knew that.

w h a t ? 

This is going to be awesome.

Post edit . . . this email just in from the Pita.

Pita: "you know the water there is sketchy, right?"
Me: sketchy like - not clean?
Pita: Em, this is NZ - clean is standard
Me: sooooo you mean sketchy like "_____"
Pita:  like . . . not always available.

sweet.

Oh man, I'm so hopping I can figure out how to blog from there. 

I may have to run 20 miles to blog/get a signal/find water but . . ]

the human brain weighs 3 pounds

Oh, to be a fly on the wall inside my brain.

The things that fly would see.
 
This weekend, I found an old favorite on iTunes.  "What are you waiting for?"
 
I now realize that I lose all control [ok, not "all"] over my body when I hear this song.  Like clock work, it starts playin' and my booty starts shakin'.
 
AS I probably note frequently . . .
 
I'm
an
over-thinker.
 
But lately, every time I hear this song, I think what am I WAITING FOR? 
 
I'm one of those girls who said a lot of things like this growing up . . .
 
. . . . I can't wait until I turn 16.  I can't wait to get a car.  I can't wait graduate from high-school.  Can't wait until I go to college.  Can't wait until I find Mr. Right.  I can't wait to have kids. 

and I still do it today . . . [more than I'd truly care to admit] . . .

Can't wait until the house is paid off.  Can't wait until our 15th anniversary.  Can't wait until I get pregnant [again].  Can't wait until I run my 3:20 marathon.  Can't wait until I get a weekend get-a-way with my sisters. . . . . etc.
 
So while I was dancing around shaking my backside I thought, if I keep sitting on my bum waiting for these thing to happen - - - it's going to get pretty sore.
 
"Life is what happen when you are busy making other plans" - Thank you Mr. Lennon, I have come to understand just how true that is.  Yes, I believe God will step in and help us out with the direction we're headed but our agency & daily decisions sure have a hand in where we end up, too.
 
So what are you waiting for?  Is there something you really want?  Will things be better when you get it? 
 
Well, then . . . . what are you waiting for?

tag - I'm "it"

Yay!!  I was tagged by Marlene at Mission to a[nother] marathon.

This means you get to enjoy endure reading seven random factoids about moi!

1. I am one of five children. [I am the baby youngest].  We all live within 30 minutes of each other.  Each of my sisters/brother have four or more children.  I'm really holding the numbers back.
2. Nicknames growing up:  emilita-decarmelita, boomer, Emz, double E &volleyball Emily.
3. I get panic attacks.  I'm pretty sure this is about the worst feeling ever.
4. The only TV show I really watch is "modern family".  Sitting down is not a strong suit of mine.
5. In general, I find it much easier to "get along" with males than females. 
6. I love modern / industrial design.  My home is 85% metal, concrete & block.
7. I was born with a broken collar bone.

The Thursday Three

My three thoughts for this Thursday:

1. How lame is it to pull an AB?  I mean seriously, who comes home from the gym and proclaims, "people, I have a pulled AB."  ? ? ---- ummm, "ME!"

   2.  I walked in as Peanut was getting into her school clothes this morning to see her in her swim bottoms.  from.  when.  she.  was.  FIVE.  no joke.
I swear they looked like compression chonies. [please click here ---- we do not use the "p" word in my home].  She had semi-permanent looking rings around her thighs.

Me: Peanut, why the bikini bottoms???
Peanut:  I don't have any chonies
Me:  I do two loads of laundry a day - there is NO WAY you don't have clean chonies.
Peanut: They are all packed for NZ.

yes, she managed to pack [for the fifth time] while I was watching the Suns get spanked by the team I hate most [ l a k  . . ] I can't even write it.

    3.  The questions I get most . . . How tall is your Hubby, What ab workout do you follow & how did you start up your business?  The first & third ones, I "get".  He is freaking tall [and smokin' hot] & my job is awesome but seriously the ab thing makes. me. laugh.  Well, until Tuesday.  Walked in early to a spin class [not recommended] . . . the instructor came up to me asking question #2.  chat. chat. chat. She asks . . .You cycle a lot?  "Ha, no - - - I'm a runner just doing a little cross training trying to get my 3 hour 20 min marathon I'm soooo craving." 

big mistake.

For the next 57 minutes . . .

she
owned
me.

"hey abs, you think they just hand out 3:20's?", "PINK, it's supposed to feel uncomfortable.", "water break is in 30 seconds, put it down!"

it went on.  and on.  and on.

WHAT THE. . . . . ? ? ?  I think had she been able to see my eyes under my cap, my "look" would have killed her.  But instead, I dropped off a $20 Starbucks card to her this morning.

t w i s t e d.

love it.  love excellent instructors. 
You have a love/hate relationship with any of your coach/instructors/motivators?