{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual started by SouleMama. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

SELF-DIAGNONSIS and SELF-TREATMENT PLAN

This past week was a scheduled low-mileage week. Meaning my weekend run was a mere 12 miles.

Nice.and.easy.

My parents were in town for K's birthday parties (yes, there was more than one) so that meant 12 miles with D. We didn't get out of the house on Saturday until 3ish. We had to party, eat lunch, settle down before nap-time, goof-off, find clean running clothes.

It was a warm afternoon with temperature well into the 80s. We got off to a good start and ran solidly for 6 miles. At mile 6 I started regretting having french toast for breakfast and lunch.We walked for a quick 0.2 miles, ran to the boathouse, refilled our water bottles and set out for home. I struggled with an upset tummy, chaffing, and a sore left hip. There wasn't much I could do about my tummy or the chaffing. So I focused on my technique and form; hoping to reduce the pain in my hip. Much to my pleasure the focusing worked and by mile 9 or so I was feeling much better.

We finished strong with our last 1.1 miles right at marathon pace - 9:05.

We walked home and spent the evening recovering.

On Sunday morning I got out of bed and it felt like I was stepping on a nail.

And I know what stepping on a nail feels like because I did it in a cheap pair of flip-flops the summer before my senior year of college.

The nail pain stayed with my all day Sunday. I attempted a recovery run, but it was too painful. So I went home and iced. And iced some more.

By Monday the pain had subsided, but it was still there with me.

After a little bit of internet research and a couple of conversations, I'm diagnosing myself with plantar fasciitis; brought on by lots of running and my tight calf muscles.

Treatment for such an injury is ice and stretching.

So that is what I am doing. I'm also only running every other day at this point.

Running plans for the next four days include: a 10K this afternoon, an easy 3.6 miles tomorrow AM, 20+ miles on Saturday, and a brief recovery run on Sunday. Monday I plan to walk some hills (instead of running).

I plan to ice my foot each day and stretch my calves at least three times each day.

Hopefully this will keep things under control.

Philly Marathon is 5 WEEKS AWAY.

THE BIRTHDAY GIRL

HOME

After...

1 high speed rail trip (1.5 hours);
1 taxi ride to a hotel;
1 night in a Taipei hotel (more on our swanky digs to come);
1 shuttle bus ride to the airport;
3 airplanes (Taipei to Tokyo to Detroit to DC);
2 metro trains; and
1 leisurely walk with two suitcases, a backpack, two carry-ons, a computer bag, and a stroller

we are HOME.

More than 25 hours of travel (thankfully broken up by a glorious night in a swanky hotel).

All of this with a toddler, who did NOT have her own seat on the airplane.

We had a wonderful time in Taiwan visiting family and enjoying everything there is to enjoy about Taiwan (highlight: all the yummy food). Many stories and pictures to come.

But for now... bed. I haven't slept in 25 hours and more than likely K will be up around 3am.

Here's to getting over jetlag quickly....

"Will you marry M?"

Wedding flipflops created by Becky L.

Five years ago TODAY D asked me to marry him.

We dated for nine months before getting engaged.

We each have a specific "Ah-ha" moment, in which we knew the other was the one.

For D the moment he knew I was the one came after a long and stressful week of work. We had made plans to spend Friday evening together, but he was exhausted and in need of some downtime. Knowing that an evening of activities was out of the question, I suggested that we order pizza, drink a beer, and watch TV or a movie together (at the time I was living in a Capitol Hill apartment with FREE cable - a total luxury for both of us). D was excited about my plans. More importantly he felt like I understood what he needed after a long week of work, and he was appreciative of my willingness to just be and relax with him.

For me the moment I knew he was the one came about two months after we started dating in March 2005. I mentioned to D that I was thinking about running a marathon. He quickly responded with, "then let's train and run the Marine Corps Marathon together in October." I was thrilled that he thought we'd be together some seven months later and that he wanted to do something crazy like run a marathon together.

In September 2005 we traveled to South Carolina to spend a long weekend at the beach with my parents and aunt and uncle. On Sunday morning we headed out of a medium-long run on the beach. It was a hot morning and about 1/2 hour into the run we were both hot and tired and in need of some rest. We started to walk. D went ahead and told me not to look until he said so. When instructed I walked over to where he was and there written in the sand was the message:

Will you marry M?

M? Who the heck is M?

D quickly moved in and changed M to ME.

In the heat of the moment he made a grave spelling error. I quickly answered yes to his proposal. He quickly slipped a blinkie ring - costing $0.50 at the Capitol Hill Safeway - on my finger. My actual engagement ring did not ship in time for D to get it before we left for South Carolina. I, however, was thrilled to be engaged and was in love with my blinkie ring. It blinks, for goodness sake.

We spent nearly an hour just enjoying our engagement by ourselves. We then went back to our beach house to share the news with my parents. My father knew about D's plans, as D had talked to him earlier in the week. My mother, however, was totally caught off guard. She quickly switched modes and began planning and baking cookies with much joy.

The night of our engagement, my aunt and uncle prepared a wonderful meal for us - complete with pecan-encrusted salmon. We shared champagne and wedding/marriage stories/advice with each other. The evening ended with my uncle putting on a wonderful fireworks display for us on the beach.

Five months after our engagement, we were married...

{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual started by SouleMama. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

GUILTY PRESSURES

I cannot get enough. I'm totally addicted to Whale Wars.

And if we're being completely honest, I'm also watching Make It or Break It and Covert Affairs. Covert Affairs (though not as good as ALIAS) is quit enjoyable and was picked up for a second season.

I'm also enjoying the fact that K is napping for three hours most afternoons.

And that I've taken a nap nearly EVERY afternoon this week.