Will Run... for Coffee

Oh yes, you heard right!

This morning 730 am on a Sunday morning I participated in the Java to Java 5k with Sarah & Rachel.

Got up at 6 to be out the door at 615 when Sarah arrived at my apt. We carpooled to the event. On the way there milestones were made:

1. I ate the breakfast of champions: kettle corn & pork jerky. I hadn't prepared & had a protein/banana from home. So I figured the kettle corn as my carb & sugar & jerky as protein. Like I said, bfast of champs.

2. Almost cracked a tooth + got busted: as I drove & ate, stuffing my face with carnival snacks, all while listening to SheDaisy <---- wow. I didn't know myspace still existed, I rolled my jaw whilst bitting down on the popcorn. Here's the got busted moment.

• K: oh my gosh - this popcorn is amazing!
• S: wow - i'm pretty impressed that you're eating that
• K: rolled jaw
• K: rolled down window, spit, spit, spit.
• S: what are you doing?
• K: I'm eating the breakfasts of champions! don't ruin my momentous victory over pre-racing food!
• S: wow, sorry. I didn't mean to call you out on your ish. LOLOL
• K: I rolled my jaw on the popcorn - don't notice the failure.
• S: Didn't know you were trying to be stealth.
• K: covers mouth, spit, spit, spit <---- that's me being stealth LOLOL

this is a true (in order of events) yet semi fictional 

(exact wording) story. i'm horrible at retelling stories - so take what you want from it. 

3. Drove to Del Oro park, by way of Clearwater & Dunedin. We drove 18 minutes out of the way of the race event location

4. Completed registration just when the blow horn blew. 

5. Had EIA attack @ Mile 2 = way better than last race. :( that I had an EIA attack

6. Shaved 10 minutes off my completion time :D

7. Had, what would equal to, 6 cups of coffee as a victory drink! (don't yell at me for drinking a dehydrant)

 .attempt #1 at running & taking pics.

 .attempt numero dos.

.sarah vb, me, & rachel s. = standing still

Completed in 47.43. 

Oh, and milestone #8: I am now a self-proclaimed Happiness Coach. You can pay me in coffee or actual money. 

xo, 

                                 

St. Patrick's Day

It's Saturday morning. It's St. Patrick's Day morning. Thoughts of Guinness, beads, green t-shirts, & shot glasses seem to be on everyone's mind. Mine too. But do you ever feel that what society offers is, well, blah?

This morning began with snuggles with the fur-baby - my golden retriever named Charlie.  He climbed into bed at the prompting of his mama & we laid there enjoying the cool air of our dark room. After 20 minutes, it was time to get up & embrace the day. Gotta get ready for that meeting.

I headed out to Library CoffeeHouse to meet up with Cait, LuAnn, & Brooke. The meeting went well & we have great plans for the Young Adults group at Christ the King. I ordered a Cafe con Leche - sweetened & made with soy. Cait: "the Beez Kneez" - an orangey, honey latte. LuAnn & Brooke got the "Milky Way" latte; the name speaks for itself. We were surprised with complimentary peanut buttery, chocolatey, rice crispy bites from the owners. It is a homemade recipe that Dawn makes. She's one of the owners. The owners of this quaint shop are, I think, sisters. If you ever get the chance to go - I highly recommend it.

I headed home to peruse through Facebook & catch up with friends. I came across a great article put out by LifeTeen. After reading it, I wanted to jump for joy. I am not alone. I want to say that I am neutral on the matter. I want to say that I am cool, part of the in crowd. I want to say that I am relative & "hey, kudos to you for celebrating how you want". I want to say that I am hip like that. But I'm not. Drinking to get plastered, all in the name of celebrating some "Irish guy", just doesnt sound appealing to me.

"You prude."
"You holy roller."
"You Jesus freak."
"You closed minded ass."

Yep, I know that's what you're thinking of me at this point. I know, because I've had it said to my face. I'm cool with that. No, really. I am. Here's why:

I'm a Catholic. There's a LOT of weight in that word. To some: a person who follows Christ & obeys the commands He put forth to his followers 2000 years ago. To others: a close-minded person who hides behind the crutch of "rules" made by some prophet who walked the earth thousands of years ago - of which those rules are now out of date, behind the times, & unrealistic with wants and demands of our society at large & condemns those who don't follow said rules.

I apologize if you ever felt that way. I apologize if religion has ever made you feel that way. The purpose of rules is out of love not condemnation. If you're a parent - you can relate. You put forth rules for your kids, right? Don't touch the hot stove. Don't lie. Do your homework. All these rules are out of love & for their betterment. It's not to be mean, to cause them suffering, or to make them miserable. You have rules because you love them. Don't touch the hot stove: you don't want them to burn themselves & to feel the pain of blisters or have them cry. Don't lie: You don't want them to hurt others or have others think you're child is dishonest or untrustworthy. You want others to see your kid & think of them as loving, reliable, & kind. Do your homework: you want them to excel in life - be smart, creative, & be independent. Harsh, unrealistic & unnecessary rules huh? Maybe in the eyes of your kids.

We are God's kids. He loves us. He's not sadistic. He doesn't put out rules to see us suffer, be miserable, or be in pain. He doesn't want others to think unkindly of us. He wants to love, be smart, be creative, be successful. He wants us to experience love & to love others.

Alcohol is good. It promotes community & memories are made over it. Heck, Jesus made more wine for a wedding reception when the hosts ran out for their guests. It's the excess of it that is pushing it. 

I'm not doing my job as a Catholic, as a follower of Christ, if I do not show love. I love you. I want the best for you. I want you to feel the love that I have with Christ & not to be weary of it.

You may still be thinking that I'm a close-mided ass. That's ok. I still love you.

Happy St. Pats. :)

Random Facts. Random Fiction.

As some of you know - I am a scrapping queen. Ok. Used-to-be queen. I gave up my crown this past year in the move to Florida. Much of my life & art is seen on my other blog. Now, my kingdom of paper is laying dormant in boxes & piles. I haven't had the drive to pick up my art.

((sigh))

The move to Florida has been a life changer. 3000 miles will do that to a girl. Yes, I'm still surrounded by sun & sea - but my California blood misses Thai food, art hippies, LA markets, the 15 freeway, and yes of course - family. But as I keep from diving into the mourning of my native land, I still have so many familiar things here in Tampa.

Sun: it's always sunny in Florida (and Philadelphia).

Palm Trees: Having just bought one for my patio - it calls for partial shade. Can someone tell me why they frequent islands & tropical weather. That's not partial shade. That's full-blown sun people. I think the Wal-Mart garden center lied to me.

Jesus: He'll follow you where ever you go. He's like a stalker. But that's ok. Jesus is cool enough to be a stalker. I kind of like the attention.

Husband: He'll follow me where ever I go. But that's ok. He's also cool enough to be a stalker. Well, my stalker.

Coffee: as a Starbucks (from this moment forward, now known as Star) Gold Cardholder ((three times over)) I am known as a coffee monster. I think it is actually part of my bloodstream seeing the amount I put into my body on a daily basis. I've moved past 16 oz mugs. Pshaw. That's a weak man's size. I've upgraded to 36.

This blog will be dedicated to my little stories - most of which begin as memories in progess or conversation ramblings between friends.

Well. It's after midnight. I just finished baking 24 Irish Car Bomb cupcakes & 3 dozen cakepops for St. Patrick's Day tomorrow. I just wrote my first post. I have to wake up in 8 hours to go into a ministry meeting. Oh yes, at the Library CoffeeHouse. I suggest the Cinnamon Bun latte, soy. No whip.

Night.