A Broken Spartan… Learning Patience and Fortitude By Force

There comes a time when finally you don’t have a choice but to slow down.  Most driven people ignore certain signs.  Aches, pains, time restraints… you get it.  Unfortunately, more often than not, the universe will interfere and said person will have to succumb.  And it sucks!  I injured my shoulder back in March doing snatches (giggle) during a workout.  I pushed through it, finished the workout, figured it was a pulled muscle.  Months go by and during those months, sometimes it would hurt, and I would have to modify, sometimes it wouldn’t hurt and I was fine with whatever.  Always trying to go faster, harder, heavier… which would lead to more pain, which would lead to ice and my beloved tiger balm, which would then make it ok.  Sort of.  Throw in an OCR or 20 and finally your body just says, “Screw you! I’m done!”  Back track a little.  I knew it was getting bad, I could always judge it based on how hard it was to change after a workout, and the fact that the bad arm would get longer.  Truth.  I had started getting adjusted by a Chiro and it was awesome!  I would feel amazing for a few days and slowly would start to lose range of motion as the week went on.  I always knew the adjustment was coming so I would push as hard as I could, always having to hold back a little mid-week, but then awesome again after my Friday adjustment.  Just know, that if you don’t stop, your body will make you.  This past Wednesday a few hours after the workout, it got so bad I could not even lift my arm.  Sleeping was next to impossible.  I frantically messaged my Chiro in the morning and pleaded to get in to see her.  I was quite literally lopsided.  Possibly only 20% mobility out of my right arm.  I had to use my left hand to move my right hand where I needed it.  The worst part?  It hurt.  I have a high tolerance for pain, and this freaking hurt.  Like tears in my eyes kind of pain.  My Chiro said she could fix me, but it was going to take awhile, and I was not allowed to workout for at least 1 week.  ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME????  Ok, so I guess she could tell by the look on my face that I was practically destroyed, so she reminded me that I want to get better and right now rest would be the best thing for me.  Honestly though, I could barely even pick up a pen, let alone try to lift anything heavy.  So, I’m sure you knew what happened next right?  I wanted a cookie.  Badly.  I did resist that time, but man did I want to eat a shit ton of cookies.  Being an emotional eater, and since I’m mostly always happy, it’s easy for me to keep my diet in check.  This was disastrous though!  I’ve tried being good, really I have.  A part of me is like, “Fuck it! Eat up Fatty.. Enjoy!”  Soooo… I’ve been going back and forth.  I enjoyed pasta and a few beers Saturday night.  I had orange juice and hash browns on Sunday.  I think I ate a year’s worth of cookies yesterday.  I feel bloated, I feel lazy, I feel like I’ve failed. I’m not angry or depressed though.  It’s a weird feeling actually.  The Holiday has kept me mostly busy which is good to keep my mind off it, but it hasn’t really afforded me the luxury of rest.  I’m sure this is what a bird with a broken wing feels like.  I’m going to kind of wallow in my misery for a bit.  Enjoy some “bad” food.  Complain.  Complain some more.  Look in the mirror at my dropped shoulder.  Mostly, I am going to look forward to being healed.  I have procrastinated long enough and my body has forced me to learn patience and fortitude.  I don’t have to like it, but I have to live it right now.  I have entirely too much to do in 2013 and I need to be at 100%.  So if I have to take a week (actually longer) off, then so be it.  Deep down inside, I know it’s necessary.  I also know it’s a minor obstacle that I need to interpret and overcome.  Which I will.  Anyone who knows me, knows I won’t quit, I won’t give up.  Learn from my ignorance though… don’t push yourself to this point.  Realize your pain is there for a reason and determine a path to heal it before you are forced to.  Moving forward though, I can only believe this will make me better than before.

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To Tame a Beast... Spartan Race Texas Beast 2012

Ever have that thought of having to do something?  Needing to be somewhere?  Well, that was me with the Texas Beast.  I don't know why, but I knew I had to go.  I signed up for the race months prior and up until just a few weeks before, I still wasn't sure if I was actually going.  I knew I had to... but how?  Suddenly, all of the planets aligned and the universe sent me to Texas.  I was excited.  Not scared, not nervous.  After all, Texas is flat.  No biggie.  This was a true testament of mind control.  Once the plans were set, I just counted the days.  I did nothing different.  No extra training and no tapering.  Texas is flat so easy peasy.  I can go through all of the events leading up to Texas, but you don't to want read about all that.  So we start at the start!  Here we are, my CornFed Family and I... some at the front, the rest of us at the back, of the first heat of the day.  The Elite Heat.  Crazy right???  Off we go and very quickly I learned how NOT flat Texas really is.  The ground was so uneven, there were berms and cactus, and poop and rocks... nothing like I set my mind up for.  We hit a few obstacles, nothing major, but then we came to quite possibly the only hill in Texas and we went up and down it about 50 million times.  The kicker?  It was all rock!  By mile 2 my IT bands were screaming and I could barely breathe, by mile 4 my hip flexors were on fire.  I really did not think I would be able to finish.  As the race went on, we hit other obstacles... walls, rope climbs, carry heavy shit, burpees, monkey bars which equalled more burpees, etc etc.  Someone thought it would be awesome to carry the men's sandbag on the sandbag carry... up and down that hill.  Then a different someone filled her bucket higher than half way with rocks, so I had to follow her lead.  And again, we were up and down the hill.  At this point, my shoulder was ready to fall off and I couldn't feel anything but burning in my hip flexors and rust bolts in my knees.  All I could do was smile... I knew what was coming up.  First we hit a 100+ yard swim, and yes the water was freezing.  Just keep your mouth shut, because 300 Spartans before you have probably peed in the water! Then the Herculean Hoist!  I got the female rock to the top in no time and then went to try the men's.  I did get it higher than the one at Fenway, but still couldn't get it all the way.  I tried and tried and just couldn't get it!  Helped a teammate get his to the top and then we were off again.  The Tyrolean Traverse!  Yes!!!  Got on, got across, rang the bell and dropped.  Awesome!  Thank goodness most of the hard stuff was over.  I had Popeye arms and no grip left!  Thank goodness it was mostly running from that point on.  Wait... did I just say that?  Ran across a few people that were quite obviously hurting... cramping seem to be an epidemic.  I was at the ready passing out salt pills and sharing whatever else I had.  The weather was perfect, the sun was apparent, yet not demanding.  I somehow managed to make it through and we knew the finish was right around the corner!  Help on the traverse wall, more mud, slippery wall, fire and Gladiator pit! When they say, "You'll know at the finish" this race truly proved that for me.  I got more beat up and hurt more in Texas than anything else I have done to date.  However, I also took so much more back with me.  My friends, more like family, would not leave me even though I know they could have smoked that course.  Along the route people yelled, "CornFed!" and "Hey CornFed!!  I love you guys!"  We were stopped a few times and were asked questions... even gear and training questions.  Are you for real???  We're just like you, but hey... do you need some energy or a salt tab?  Oh, and like us on Facebook!
Every Spartan Race I do challenges me somehow... this one was purely mental.  I know I can run, I know I can climb.  However, when you psych yourself up for one thing, your body reacts to that.  If you can't get out of your own mind, you will cause distress to your body.  I was cocky going into this race and that Beast sure tamed this Beast.  Confidence is one thing, but cockiness is another.  The reason why I had to go??  It was to ground me again.  To remind myself who I am and why I'm out there.  I am not out there for me, I'm out there for everyone else.  To pass along a kind word, a helping hand, a smile... and to offer encouragement.  I have experienced more this past year than I have quite possibly in my whole adult life.  I just hope to continue to motivate and lead.

Every time I think back to Texas I smile.  I smile at the joy I felt being with my teammates, I smile at the memory of all of those I helped along the way, I smile knowing I conquered another course.  Mostly, I smile because I continue to Live Each Day and I understand what it means to Know at the Finish.

Spartan Race Fenway Park Timed Trial

Soooo... it's been awhile since I've written. What better way to bring me back than one of the most amazing days I've had the joy of living so far this life.  After a long, long drive... 16ish hours and very little sleep... 4ish hours, so many memories were made.
A group of Cornfed Spartans decided it would be an awesome idea to drive to Boston and run the 1st ever Spartan Race Timed Trial INSIDE Fenway Park.  Cool right?  You have no idea!  At about 6:30am we were able to hear music from the park, which was right across the street from our hotel.  As we crowded in the window we could see Spartans running along the walkways and stopping just long enough to pick up huge water jugs to then carry down and back up stairs.  I was so excited I could barely contain myself!  We met up with the rest of our team and made our way over to Fenway Park.  Registration was awesome, gear was killer, the air was alive with excitement.  First of all to be able to run a Spartan Race inside a 100 year old Stadium was Epic enough, but to be able to it with some of the greatest people I have ever known brought it to an entirely new level.
Pictures, laughter, anxiety... is my bib on straight?  I hate when my bibs not straight!  Everyone ready?  Wait!  I have to pee!  In line before we know it and ready to go!  No one had any idea what to expect, we were just ready to kill it!  At the start... first obstacle?  10 burpees!  I love burpees!  We got this!  I almost lost my teeth at one point during the over / under stretchy cord obstacles that seemed to go on forever!  Leave it to me to get my ankle twisted up in 2 of them!  We may or may not have mooned each other at one point too.  Yup, full moon!  There was a water jug carry and of course in Cornfed Style those that finished early went to get their teammate's jugs to help.  We had 6, 7, and 8 foot walls.  We ALL made it over. There was running up and down stairs, in between rows, ball slams, hand release pushups, 500 meter row, more burpees, rope climb, herculean hoist, ladders, cargo nets, spear throw, traverse wall, ball throw, 20 pound rope jump rope- yea, that sucked, 60 pound sandbag carry up and down the aisles...which of course no sandbag was left behind, lift and carry heavy shit, more burpees, box jumps... I live for this stuff!!!  We had a pretty major injury on a 6 foot wall, but the determination was so fierce to finish and get that Trifecta that there was no stopping!  The finish is right around the corner, but first... The Gladiator Pit!  I was talking shit and then charged them!  Of course, they ignored me and went after my friends.  I was hoping they were going to take me out and let my teammates go... wrong!  As we hugged and smiled and posed for pictures we had no idea what was still waiting at the end.  We lost a teammate and we were all yelling at him to "Get over here for pictures!"  He finally came over and before anyone even realized what happened, he was on one knee, holding up the most beautiful ring to the most beautiful woman, while our Junior Cornfed Spartans stood behind us with the signs that read, "Maribel, Will You Marry Me?" TEARS!  I looked up and caught my teammate mirroring my happy tears and it was like time stopped!  Of course, she said yes as the announcer yelled out, " We have a Cornfed proposal!"  Words truly cannot capture how perfect everything was at this exact moment!!!!

I have had many pretty cool life experiences, I have made many friends, I have traveled all over the place, I have experienced good and bad... Nothing compares to the love I have for my Cornfed Spartan Family and the experiences we have shared and the memories we have made.  The best part?  This is just the beginning! Missy, Laura, Sarah, Maribel and Rick... thank you so much for making this race the best one so far!  I only hope I have encouraged and motivated you even half as much that you all have me!  The rest of my Cornfed Family.... please know, not a day goes by that I don't realize how lucky I am and how truly grateful I am to have each and every one of you in my life!   Thank you for welcoming me into your family and running with me, pulling me, pushing me, guiding me and loving me!  I can't wait to see what 2013 holds for us!

1 hundred million and a half jelly beans

Objects are closer than they appear.  Please forgive the random jump about!  :)  I have to admit, I started this whole blog thing with guns ablazin', committed to myself to write at least every other day.... and, well...I failed a bit.  However, here I am, with the newest installment of Once Upon a Happily to  discuss jelly beans!  Yes, Jelly Belly jelly beans actually.  These are my ultimate kryptonite.  I can count out a serving size, which is 37 beans, by sight.  Yes, I have this locked into memory from years of doing Weight Watchers.  This past weekend, I happened across a bag of beans and grabbed a handful.  Then I went back for another handful.  I think I hit that bag of beans 2 more times and then felt sick.  Angry.  Mad at myself.  Embarrassed and Guilty.  So I went to bed.  I did have a nightmare (don't laugh... ok, you can laugh) that all these millions of zombie Jelly Belly jelly beans had little arms and legs and were attacking me... starting at my toes.  I woke up in a cold sweat and remembered back to the many, many times in my life where I have fallen before.  We have all had low, dark times that we don't want to remember.  That we truly care to forget.  I have been called an inspiration a few times by some amazing people and I wonder how I could be an inspiration.  Me?  The Jelly Belly Girl???  I just try to live and love each day.  I have had so many ups and downs in life and have finally decided to live my life for me.  I am doing things I want and living how I want.  In my past, I have given into food, I have given into alcohol, I have given into cigarettes, I have given into caffeine, I have given into too much sleep or too little sleep, but mostly, I have given into everyone else.  There are things I have done that I am embarrassed to even remember.  I am not proud of choices I have made, but I have also realized that none of those things ever made me nearly as happy or as complete as I finally feel now.  Focusing on my health, my fitness, my glass half full way of life has completely turned me around.  In doing so, if I have been able to motivate others, that is an added bonus!!!  Forgive me, but I am completely selfish in my life now.  I am doing for me, finally, for once.  It has taken many trials and tribulations to truly realize that if I am not happy, I can't make anyone else happy.  This past year has been a very successful journey for me, and I am very proud of myself.  Yes, I still fall, but I wipe myself up and get right back on track again.  For those that I love and may have motivated even a little, please know, as easy as I make this look, it is a decision I make every day.  I wake up and choose to be happy.  I choose to be healthy.  I choose to try and help others.  I choose to smile.  I still make bad decisions, trust me, I do.  I have eaten a whole pizza by myself.  I have eaten a whole Five Guys double cheeseburger with everything AND an entire sack of fries.  I like beer.  I like cheetos.  And, then of course, there are the Jelly Bellys.  I am human.  I make mistakes.  I make wrong decisions.  I don't know everything.  However, I try to see the beauty and the good in everyone, including myself, everyday... even after a zombie Jelly Belly attack!  I tell everyone, I will help you, but you really have to WANT this.  Otherwise, you are wasting my time, and your time.  Once you really want it, it will work for you!  I have tried and failed as many times as there are Jelly Bellys that I have eaten!  Bottom line... you can do anything you want as long as you want it bad enough and you care about yourself enough to dedicate your life to you!  xoxo

Best Spawn Ever!!!!!!

For those of you that have children you understand the challenge each day can bring.  You also understand the joy each day can bring!  You would be lying to yourself if you said you had never imagined what life would be like without them, however, you also can't imagine life without them.  Every day I work my ass off so I can give to my son everything he could possibly want.  I know he appreciates it.  Is he spoiled?  Oh HELL yea!  Who doesn't want to spoil their children???  He is not greedy though.  In fact, he is one of the kindest, sweetest, most stubborn yet lovable 11 year old boys I have ever met.  I am not just saying that because he is mine.  I know he is not perfect.  Like the times he does not do chores.  Or when he carved the handles on the refrigerator door.  Or lost his phone x 2.  Or says he did something, but didn't, then tries to cover it up with a big smile and looking up at me with those big blue eyes.  Or when he flicks boogers on the walls.  You get the picture... you have the same battles... or you will!  There are those shining moments though that make me so proud!  The times he does extra chores.  The times I don't have to ask him 20 times to do something.  The times when he asks me if I had a good day, or if I am ok.  The hugs, the smiles.  The times he makes dinner.  Yes, he makes dinner.  And cookies.  Last night he made chicken and mushrooms.  Delish!  Even though he almost burned down our home.  Not really, I guess there was just smoke, a lot of smoke.  Enough to set the fire alarm off.  Was I scared when he told me about it?  Yes.  Do I trust him to know the right thing to do?  Yes.  It's moments like that when I realize I am succeeding as a Momster.  Even though I work a lot, I have taught him the right things about life.  Read the directions.  Don't over salt food.  If there is smoke, open a window.  Never use water on a grease fire.  If it makes noise, check it out.  Hot water and soap are a necessity, but test the water with your pinky first.  Don't be afraid to try new things.  Don't be afraid of the dark.  People are scarier than ghosts.  Trust needs to be earned.  You can have many people in your life, but you will only have a few close friends.  Rely on yourself before you rely on anyone else.  Don't give up.  If you work hard, good things will come to you.  Positive brings positive.  Hugs and kisses make the world a better place.  Dessert can be eaten before dinner.... as long as it is fruit.  Make eye contact with everyone and keep smiling.  Do what you want as long as it harms none.  That is probably the most important.  Even at the age of 11 he understands that it is ok to try new things and create new memories as long as no one else gets hurt in the process.  He sees my zest for life and seems to be following in my footsteps.  He wants to experience new places, new foods, meet new people and see new things.  I even have him talking about the possibility of being on The Amazing Race with me when he gets older!  I told him I started my training so he better step it up.  He said, "Ok Mom, next commercial..."  Alright, alright.... so I still have some work to do.  But I am proud of him, and he's proud of me.  At the end of every day as I lay in bed deciding which parts of the day I want to store away and which ones I want to discard completely, I cherish all of my moments with him.  Every single one!  I am so proud of that little boy and how far he has come after all he has been through!  I live to hear him singing and to see him dancing in the kitchen while I am making dinner, because I know he is happy.  And better yet, I know he is listening and watching and soaking up everything I tell him... even if it does not seem so.  Let your little ones experience more, do more, try more.  Allow them to be their own person and you better be their hero.  Do silly things together and check out fun places, don't just talk about it.  Do it.  It will mean everything to you and them!  xoxo

Life Eternal

Another rather slow day at work, but I knew this would be the case.  February is always slow in this industry.  Idle chit chat about the weekend, some people I care to hear what they did, some I walk away from.  I can't pretend to be interested if I'm not.  Sounds rude right?  Sorry, just keeping it real.  I think back to my weekend and realize how lucky I am to be able to do the things I want to do.  I reflect on some of the conversations I've had with friends and am grateful that I have decided to surround myself with such amazing people.  More people need to take their life in their hands and make it theirs!  Stop trying to please people that don't matter and put that energy into yourself and the ones that do matter!  There is someone in my life, whom I love dearly, that once said to me, "You are so amazing!  A true inspiration!  Your passion for life is inspiring!"  I think about that all the time and understand the importance of it!  In no way do I want someone to do anything to harm themselves or their loved ones, but I do wish more people would see one day at a time.  Live Each Day.  Love it and embrace it.  I offer help and guidance to all of my friends and loved ones and it is their choice to incorporate anything I tell them into their own lives.  I will not hound you, I will not demand of you, I will only try to help.  At the end of it all, it is your life and only you can make it your own.  Only you can make things happen that you desire.  Stop waiting for things to "get better" or "change on their own"  No one can make you be a better you.  Start small if you have to.  Detach yourself from all of the toxic people in your life and surround yourself with happy, upbeat, positive people.  Unless you like being miserable.  And if that's the case, you may not want to subscribe to my blog, because I tend to be pretty positive, glass is always half full :).  I am proud of my friends that have asked for help and have decided to make changes in their life.  I hope they realize how proud I am of them and hopefully they understand the huge step they have taken and shine in self glory and pride!  Change isn't for everyone.  Some people get comfortable and would rather be stagnant because they fear change.  I embrace change and see it as an opportunity to keep bettering myself.  Sometimes I fall back, but I always plunge forward twice as hard to turn it into a learning experience and grow from it!  I was asked this past weekend if I would ever get married again.  Years ago I would always answer immediately with, "Oh hell NO!!!!"  However, now I know that one should never be so quick to answer in such a negative way.  I am open to marriage if everything else lines up.  I would never put such a strict barrier on my life just based on one bad experience.  I will never rush into another relationship, especially not one as permanent as marriage, but I am open to it.  I will however never have any more children :)  Sorry, my son is perfect so why try again!  The title of this, today is "Life Eternal"... Why?  You all know I am not religious by typical standards as I have my own set of beliefs, so why "Life Eternal"?  In my hopes of having everyone see the beauty in every day I hoped you would take a curious moment to read this.  Some of you have known me at my darkest hours, some of how have only known me at my brightest moments, but please always learn to take each of your own moments and learn from them, as I have with mine.  A few months back I asked two of the most important people in my life what 1 word they think describes me.  The first person I asked said "Life" (this is the same person that said my passion for life was inspiring) The second person said "Eternal" because it was all encompassing.  I am eternally happy, eternally willing to help, eternally grateful for each day, an eternal friend and confidant... to me, that makes sense.  So I ask of you.... what mark are you leaving?  if you asked the people closest to you what one word describes you, what do you think they would say?  Are you happy with those answers?  If not, it's time to dig deep and make those necessary changes....

That AHAAAAA Moment....

Do you have one?  Think about it..... it could be good, or bad.  Do you have one?  I have had too many to name really!  The most recent just happened last night.  I was at crossfit, which I can't get enough of, and had a brief "I Suck" moment, followed by a standing "I Will Get Better" moment.  The warm up was a run... yes, yes, I have now run 2 days in a row and have not died!  Begin wod.....being that it was only my 2nd crossfit experience, my trainer told me to scale it down.  Which I was grateful for after what seemed like a 12 mile warm up jog!  I did the first set of sit ups and was fine.  Started throwing this 10lb ball up at the wall and catching it in a squat, and was fine. On the second set of sit ups, I literally pulled an ab muscle and it fucked me up.  Every set after that I had to pull up by grabbing on to my thighs for each and every sit up!  My scaled down reps were 25, 20, 15, 10, and 5 (I tried to be a trooper and did the last 2 at 20 and 10).  I did it, I was done!  I looked around and saw mostly everyone else was still working at it.  Amidst all of the sweat and grunts and groans, I kept smiling through the anger at my own self.  How do you hurt yourself doing a freaking sit up???  Why did I allow for a scaled back version?  Why didn't I get all the way down on those squats?  I know I'm better than that!  My trainer asked how I was doing and of course I replied with, "I'm fine, I'm good"  I should have said, "I'm pissed!"  That was my Ahaaaaa moment!  It wasn't a good one.  I realized that I am holding back on my workouts.  Why?  What am I afraid of?  I will hurt myself more by holding back instead of giving 110%.  Is it because I am new and don't want to get too comfortable too quick?  Is it because I am worried about not being good enough?  All I know is I owe it to myself, my trainer and my fellow crossfit members to go balls out (boobs out? don't have balls) and get after it!  I need to leave all of my fears at the door and get past them.  We all do.  What are you going to do turn any negative "Ahaaaaa moment" into a positive one?  For me, I know I will keep smiling, because that is what I do.  And I guarantee next time I won't hold back.... well, at least I will try not to :)

Happy To Be Me....

Ever wake up and have one of those days where you really loved your life?  I have those often, but today was definitely one of those days.  My alarm clock went off early... too early for a Saturday.  I was excited and slightly angered.  I knew it meant to get my sore and achy body up and get ready for spin class.  I kept hoping I was going to get that text from Jill that spin was a no-go.  So instead of getting up, I went back to sleep.  I woke up to Spawn's alarm clock going off... I freaked thinking I slept through Sunday and it was Monday!  I painfully rolled over and looked at my phone... no, it was Sunday, and it was 6:30am.  Took me a bit to get out of bed, but Spawn's annoying alarm motivated me.  I retrieved the phone from his room and smiled... I miss that kid when he's not home!  Needless to say, I went back to bed.  Forever later I opened my eyes to a bright room and a hungry feline trifecta.  It was my text notification that woke me up... Jill saying spin wasn't happening, a few hours after it ended, which I was totally cool with!  I laid there a bit longer.  Smiling at the pain I felt in my legs, stretching while in bed, thinking of all I still had to accomplish today, and thinking about what an awesome day yesterday was.  Woke up early, ventured out to experience crossfit... can I get a HELL YEA!?!?  All I can say is I think I found my newest addiction.  Left there, picked up Jill and went to bootcamp.  Dropped her off and went to the post office.  Came home, ate like a caveman, cleaned critter boxes, tanks and cages, did dishes, took out the garbage, made a grocery list, showered and got dressed.  Family party at 230ish and then dinner with my dearest and oldest friend (yea, she personally knows all my skeletons), Tonya.  Which brings me back to today.  I want you all to know that you can do anything you want to.  Seriously.  Don't limit yourself.  Take "I Can't" out of your vocabulary.  I get more done in a weekend than some people do in a week.  Why?  Because I Can. Today after I found out that walking on tip toes feels good when your legs hurt this bad, I checked and returned emails, checked my kingdom (shut-up, a girl can dream can't she?), stalked a few more crossfit sites, joined pinterest- still don't understand it, worked on receipts for tax time, caught up on my 365 project, helped some friends, talked to mom, made lunches for tomorrow, and read a bit.  Spawn came home stinking like a back alley bum, but so excited about his time at his friend's house.  The fourth time I told him to get in the shower was very loud!  Now... here I sit, thinking about work tomorrow, happy to have a job.  Thinking about this week, happy to have friends and things to do and options to have.  Mostly, wondering how bad it is going to suck getting up in the morning, but happy knowing I have my health which allows me to wake up every day.  I love all of you and I love my life.  I hope you realize how much you mean to me, and I hope you start meaning that much to yourself.  Blessed Be Friends and Sleep Well......  xoxo

Spartan Race Street Team Member! That's Me!!!

Everyone who knows me knows I am not happy unless I am planning, creating, or just doing... something!!!  I just can't be stagnant.  I can't not have something to look forward to, prepare for or plan for!  My newest adventure? Dun-Da-Da-Dunnnnnnn.................. SPARTAN RACE!!!!  and....... not only am I doing the race in Illinois, I am hoping to do the one in Indiana too! and..... ready?  ready???  I am a member of the Spartan Race Street Team!!!!  So, if you thought I was annoying before in trying to get you healthy and get your fat ass off the couch and take control of your life.... man, just wait!!!!  I want you to do something for you.  Finally work on yourself!  Challenge yourself!  Do something you never thought you could do before!  If someone says, "You can't do that!" ... I want you to respond with, "Watch Me!!!"  Don't wait until the weather gets better, or the kids are out of school.  Start now!  You need motivation?  I will coach you, I will help you, I will do everything I can... except I won't baby you or pity you!  Are you ready?  Let's do this!!!  AROOOOO!!!!!

What The Hell Am I?

Being new to this whole Blog thing, setting it up, wanting to customize it, etc has me a bit concerned.  I want to make it mine, but in the just over 24 hours that I started it, I have not had the time to sit and really focus on it.  For Jiminy Cricket's sake, it took me 20 minutes to figure out how to blog on my Day 2!!!  People that know me, know I am never at a loss for words.  I can talk even when I know no one is listening to me.  So today's curiosity was inspired by the fact that I believe I am a Scorpio.  Full blown Scorpio.  Now, my Blog says Libra.  How is that you may ask?  Yes... I am one of those darlings born on the cusp.  I've read Libra traits, which I possess.  I've read Scorpio traits, which I possess.  So what the HELL am I???  I finally found on article which described the Libra-Scorpio Personality and it is sooooo me!!!!! http://www.alwaysastrology.com/libra-scorpio-cusp.html The funniest thing about this is that these 2 signs are so polar opposite, but it completely describes why I am the way I am.  How else can someone be detached but intense? "The Cusp of Drama and Criticism is known for their ambition, intensity, powerful, mystical, loyal, romantic, and playful attitudes.  They can also be lazy, stubborn, sly, manipulative, sarcastic, volatile, self-indulgent and dictatorial.  They do work hard and have a strong sense of sexuality about them."  yep...I'm just me...

The First Day

So, I have often thought of starting a Blog, and then just never did.  I've never thought myself to be a procrastinator, but I guess when it comes to matters of me, I am.  Or at least, I have been.  In keeping with 2012 being all about me, here is My Blog... The First Day.  Typical Wednesday I guess.  I woke up... late, of course, but I woke up!!!  Made my Visalus with Nutella and almond milk, dressed in my too big clothes and off to work I go.  Exciting huh?  The Nutella was the high light... I swear that stuff was created by Hades himself!  Here I sit, at work, another day.  I know there is more for me and I am going to get it.  Starting now.  Fair warning... I may have boring days, I may have uber exciting days, I may have vacant days.  Just know I love life and I live each day.  I also ctrl+alt+delete each night and forget about the days badness, and file away the goodness!  Sometimes I drink, I swear, I dance and I sing.  I eat healthy, I exercise, but I am in no way a fanatic.  I am open to trying new things and people's thoughts, but  won't always agree.  I am extreme in every sense of me and have finally accepted me for me and embrace the me that I am.  I believe I am more accountable than I am so I know I need to work on that.  I am planning on running in my first 8k in March, and I am not a runner... so couch to 5k, here I come!  Follow me through my own FairyTale Life, because you reap what you sow....and I plan on sowing a lot