How is that possible??

So a while ago I went to see Jillian Michaels. 

I found out we were getting upgraded to VIP seats and I jumped up and down - and promptly fell. Womp womp! I broke my phone...

But I wasn't eligible for an upgrade for 2 more weeks - I figured I'd suffer and survive. Well the two weeks has long come and gone (almost a month ago) but I can't decide what phone to get... Do I get the iPhone 4S because it'll be crazy cheap or the 5 because its the "latest and greatest"

Either way I want this case

Because really, why not have a blinged out brass knuckles esque case right? 

But the moral of this is my current phone is a 32 gig 4 so I went to see how much space I'd need (so I could figure out how much the new phone would cost) and THIS is what I see:

Now really how does one FILL a 32 gig phone? Ohhhh wait it MIGHT have some thing to do with 2461 photos...

Any suggestions on what phone I should get?

I'm sick and the poodle is old

I've now been sick for a week solid, it's getting old!

Speaking of getting old - right before I got this stupid summer cold we had the poodles birthday party! It was cute (smaller than ever before owing to the rain and I uninvited most if the dogs since the party would be IN my house) but still a nice day and I think mr man was happy! 

My niece blew out the candle for him!!!

He is now four years old....

 

The nursing home we volunteer at had a party for him as well... All the cute old people sang! It was great!

Do you celebrate your pets birthday? Or have any home remedies that work for summer sickness???

I baked for a friend and it was good...

Can you believe it? I'm still amazed every time I make something and the recipient says they liked it. I made these:

<a href="http://happyherbivore.com/recipe/the-famous-carrot-cake-cupcakes/" target="_self" title="Best ever says Alicia " style="font-size:16;color:black;font-family:;text-decoration:none;">Happy herbivore carrot cake</a>

I am not sure why my HTML links aren't working anymore (I think blogger hates me) so copy and paste here (trust me its worth the effort

http://happyherbivore.com/recipe/the-famous-carrot-cake-cupcakes/

And they even looked decent

It was Alicia's birthday and I really wanted to do something special for her. She's such a sweet sweet and special soul.

And that is seriously all I've done for days :-( I am sick and my body just isn't up for much. There's been no gym, no running, no walking the poodle (poor baby) nothing but sitting on the couch and being a first class sloth!

So my advice - if a sloth can make these and have everyone say they are the best cupcakes they've ever eaten so can you... Go make them!

What are you up to? Can I live vicariously through you?

Past experience

Since I've been quiet a while (I swear my brain is on super slow motion lately) I thought I'd try some pre thought ideas so I googled "daily blog prompts" and it brought me to the one minute writer - yeah I think that's just my speed!

<B>What kinds of experiences have you had in hospitals, either good or bad?</b> 

well I've certainly had my fair share of hospital experiences some where I've made some great friends - spending weeks with people makes for truly knowing them and you'll either really like each other, or not!

For the most part my hospital (and by hospital i mean either residential or psych ward 8-O) experience has been ok other than the whole lack of control thing I can manage to get through it. The only time I *still* have nightmares about was the first time I had a feeding tube put in. The woman who did it (side note she still scares the crap out of me and every time I see her I lose my legs) was just not kind. But the nurse with her came back later to see if I was okay which was nice.

<a href="http://oneminutewriter.blogspot.com" target="_self" title="" style="font-size:16;color:black;font-family:;text-decoration:none;">Prompt found here</a>

Http://oneminutewriter.blogspot.com

<b>have you been in the hospital? Tell me about it (its supposed to only take a minute)

On running and such

Last night I ran a race. I know weird huh? A race on a Tuesday night but there it was.

I'm sick and have been for a few days, and I wouldn't have run this race if it wasn't the third in a series and the three races together made up a whole medal (quite cool really but it sucks when you're not feeling good).

Anyway I left the house telling the hubs I didn't know if I was walking or running - either way I didn't feel good but there were benefits to both, I was pretty sure if I walked I wouldn't puke (sorry for the tmi) but it would take me forever and I would just be out there feeling crappy for 3 long miles. 

Well I got there and to make a long story quasi short I decided to run - just to get it over with. I stepped in behind a man who looked like he was in pretty good shape but not a speed demon and figured he'd pace me without even knowing it. And he did! For the first mile and a half ~ then he stopped to walk I was like wtf buddy you're my pacer but I just trudged ahead. I ran without music (I have a headache so noise is bothering my ears) and in sun glasses (light is hurting my eyes) and I just ran. This wasn't a omg I love to run type of run it was a lets get it done run. As I hit 2.6 miles I was passing a nice guy who cheered me on with a go get it girl! Seriously if I wasn't sick I think I'd have turned around and hugged him! I finished the 5k, grabbed my medal and t and walked back to my car (seriously didn't stop for any of the cool post race stuff they had - though I think I'll join this whole series next year) and drove home. At a stop light I stopped to look at my run keeper app to realize that I just had a 70 second pr. Pretty cool huh? Now I wish I had at least enjoyed it!

When was the last time you PR'd? And have you ever had a weeknight race? This was a first for me - it was a makeup race for one that got snowed out in February!

My family

I've never even quite understood the concept of family. I guess it has something to do with blood or whatever. But to me, I have more family than that. I had a bio mom and have a god mom and had a god dad and have a bio dad. They all raised me.

Perhaps my confusion comes from being brought up on a dead end road with all of them living right there. My godparents lived across the street.

I belong to a fitness studio more than a gym. I've belonged to gyms in the past and I liked them but THIS is different. The other day I was in spin and I saw someone walk in through the window and my heart lightened. A part of that is undoubtedly the result of marathon Mondays attack and a part of that is the owners have cultivated a family. As soon as spin was over I walked out and hugged her (anyone that knows me irl knows this is amazing - I hate being touched). She didn't question it and just asked me how I was doing and if I was staying for the next class. I was and we chatted as we did a few more people came in and said hi or waved to us before class began, then it was all business. As class ended a new group came in and I left offering a few hellos and goodbyes as I did.

We are a group of mostly women (though there are a few guys) who genuinely like one another. I have spent time with a lot of them outside of the studio, and have had heart to hearts with so many of them. I've cried over parents lost, bad days and more recently knowing that they were okay. I walk in and relax knowing that I am in a place where I can be the most me that I am. This shocks me since I can't get myself to walk into a grocery store, department store, hairdresser or anything else where people know me. If I go somewhere and see someone I know I will leave whatever I am doing and "run for safety".

They turn a year old this week and I have to say I'm so proud of my little gym! The fitness studio that could :-)

do you love where you workout?

Picture source

I can't talk

About Monday's horrible attack at the marathon
I was there in Boston, not too far from where the explosions happened (though around the bend so I saw nothing, just heard the boom and assumed it was a car backfiring or a tire exploding - sometimes I wonder if I am simple). Yet I fully could not comprehend what was happening. I had to text a friend in another state to ask what was going on. I tweeted that I'd never seen so many police STILL not grasping what was going on (within a minute of the explosion). Then I saw a friends tweet and wondered what was up - I texted her and found out. That text I sent was the last thing that made sense to me. I got in my car (that i had thankfully taken a picture of where i had parked i thought with celebrating our friends finish i would forget - i forgot for a totally different reason) and slowly drove to tremont to pick up some friends who were stuck there because cab and t service was stopped and I brought them home (a 30 minute trip that took almost 5 hours). For the last few days I have walked around in a fog. I found out my friend who ran is okay and another who was cheering was hurt but fine. Accomplishing very little other than I took the poodle to do some therapy on some people who are having a hard time with the aftermath (he makes me proud). I am proud of my city. I am disgusted by the human(s) who did this and I am rendered speechless.
One of the best articles I've read

Well said Stephen Colbert

Photos courtesy of Boston.com

Except the incredibly classy Chicago times pic that's from their site