Running Red Momma

Last weekend I ran the half-marathon.  If one takes off the seven minutes I lost looking for a race course bathroom break, I did well.  I was pretty happy to be in the sunshine with my cute hubbie and kiddos.  However, I turned a corner and there he was....the only break-up that did not go well.  This boyfriend took  me quite a while to get over.  We talked for a while. I learned we have the same number of kids and he seems to enjoy his profession.  He asked me where I was right now.  Instead of just stating my location, I had to explain how fabulous my husband was at his job. Thus, we had received numerous job offers before we decided to be where we currently live.  Was the additional explanation of my talented husband really necessary?  Me-thinks I smell a defensive ex-girlfriend.  When I saw his sister, she told me I looked the same more than ten years later.  I replied, "Well, now I have a Masters and three kids." Did I have  to say that?  Why couldn't I have been sel...

NPR has this cool segment in which people write an essay regarding a strong belief of theirs.  Well, I'm neither an English major nor strong writer. However, my essay would start woefully predictably like this: I believe in marathons . Yes, this cliche, grueling sporting event still evokes the strongest of emotions in me.  It is not a race I would recommend for everyone to try.  Nevertheless, each person can benefit from it in different ways.   One can stand and watch lithe runners string together twenty-six 4:48 miles.  Yup, you read that right.  You stand right on the street and not even hear them run by you. They seem more gazelle than struggling human.  I will never attain that kind of grace.  I love seeing it manifest in others.   On the other side, one can sit hours after the laurels have been distributed and watch moments of deeply personal triumph. I have watched people slowly cross the line with cheering friends and family.  Their faces show power gained in the battle ove...

Many of you know that IJ was in a Special Ed program for communication delays. He tested out of the program last year. Each day when we chat, I consider our lives to be very blessed. I still was concerned regarding his progress, so I enrolled him in a peer pre-school program with children having developmental delays. These last few years I have watched amazing special education teachers deal with children who scream, require wheel chairs, have break-downs, require oxygen, you name it. I have seen worn-out parents looking for some sanity,  learn coping tools. I have seen these teachers tenderly lift small children into wagons while giving parents the confidence and belief that they will make it. They perform miracles each day. If you have never been, go to a developmental center and thank someone today.

So, I couldn't think of a more clever title, but I'll get back to that. You know what I learned after being in a sunshine state of bliss for seven days? Well, I must add that I did not have my kids. Marriage is a lot easier without children. Marriage is a lot easier with maids. You know, on second thought, I need to make a list. Marriage is a lot easier : without kids with maids without cooking without snow without laundry without cars with sunsets with oodles of leisure time with enough sleep with enough money (or just ignoring the bills for a week) with lush beauty surrounding you with naps with holding hands each day with laughter I know we have made it through ten years of life. We have seen each other through children, unemployment (twice), medical scares, sickness, post-partum, life-doubts, fear, anger, bad days or months, family-problems, funerals and more body-fluid incidents than I care to describe. So, these seven days of idyllic calm were so simple and joyf...

A while back, I mentioned I decided to be insane and get up early and run .  Well, I did it :)  All of those early mornings have paid off.  I am running the Salt Lake Half-Marathon to celebrate a wonderful mother-in-law.  She has had such courage during her Chemo and surgeries.  I would put a picture of her here, but I don't think she would like that.  Instead, please celebrate her remission by donating to the Huntsman Cancer Institute .  For some of you, this is a repeat plea, but thanks anywhoo. 

I think there are two kinds of swearing.  There are really offensive words or tasteless words, which I avoid.  Or, there are the power words one can find in the bible.   I used to give myself full permission to use power words--don't look if offended easily--which are hell and damn.  However, I'm rethinking my position.  Yesterday, I kept it cool when IJ pushed a stick in the spinning bottom of a vacuum, stuck a stick in his sisters face to tell her he was going to "kill her",  got mud all over his new suitcase,  and peed in the garage. Yes,  I was fine.  However, it was the demonstration of his new found racquet ball which put me in the power play.  He threw the ball so it landed right in my rising rolls. If the videos in heaven got it fully, I would admit to letting a shriek, followed by heaving the ball across the kitchen with a power dammit/forceful removal of one child.  I felt awful. He cried while I apologized.  It just doesn't feel good.  Maybe I will leav...

I was in the store with my youngest, when I heard a loud intake of breath with a squeak. A woman bounded over and yelled, "Oh my gosh, it's Suri! Are you her Nanny? Are you married to Tom Cruise? Is this Suri?" She was so exuberant that it took her a while to understand I had no connection to famous people. Actually, I wondered if she were a little "sloshed". However, she had already taken a picture of my daughter as we had stood there. Should this worry me? But, more importantly, does she look like Suri? I'm not sure these are the best examples. Feel free to suggest better ones.