Social Butterfly

My friends, if there are any out there, I am a home body. J is out at a bowling tournament for work and was begging me to go, but I just don't want to hang out with drunk people from work. Yes, I was one of those drunk people from work back in the day, but I cannot do it anymore. I would rather sit here on the computer or finishing up season 3 of Supernatural up in my scrapbook room making cards from Operation Write Home. J is a social butterfly as well as Peanut Butter. I on the other hand struggle with small talk and would rather stick hot pokers in my eyes sometimes. Once I get to know someone it is all well and good, I can find a common ground to talk, but the whole initial conversation thing kills me, which is probably why I was that drunk coworker, just be able to talk. J gets upset when I don't want to do the bar scene anymore, and has told me people think I'm antisocial, well, that may be, and honestly when I want me time away from being a mom, I would rather spend it by myself in silence sometimes. I don't want to have to drink a six pack to be able to talk. I do wish there were other social outlets for me to get over my insecurities, but I guess one would need to make friends to be able to do that, which requires that dreaded small talk. I don't know, I guess I'll just be the quiet antisocial one. 

I've Gone Cuckoo

As I am "focusing" on my running and getting to the point I would no longer be considered to be a contestant on the Biggest Loser, I get talked in to craziness. A friend of mine at work, with whom I discuss working out and such, said, "Hey would you be interested in doing this obstacle course run with me and another co-worker?"  I said, yeah why not. Um yeah, I haven't signed up yet, and the time slot that they are running in is full so I'd be on my own doing the Warrior Dash. If this wasn't enough, they want to do the Madison Mud Run, which is 5 miles of hell in May. I have yet to run 5 miles, let alone through an obstacle course, but I for see it happening before May, since I am going to have to do this bad boy. I did do 4.68 miles Monday, but I probably walked about half a mile of that cooling down. But I did it in 55 min so, I should be able to get in before the 2.5 hour cut off. The only thing is, the other two want to run together and help each other through, but I have this feeling that once the thing starts, my competitiveness may take over and I'll want to go, go, go. 

Word Up

Over at Mom's Sippy Cup the idea of summing up what you want 2011 to be or what you want to focus on in one word. I have thought long and hard over this and mulled over quite a few words none quite working. I then decided on "focus." I need to focus on what is important to me. I need to focus on cleaning things up in my life. I need to focus on getting better with money, I need to focus on long term vs. short term. Yes, this is a cute shirt for PB, but that $10 should be put to better use or saved for the list of big items I want but have nickeled and dimed them out of my hands like a Wii or a trip to Disney for PB. I need to focus on less is more for a bit. Though folks I am going on a trip with my Mom, that is happening no ifs, ands, or buts. Hopefully my tax return will cover that.

I need to focus on keeping up with trying to "eat less, move more" as Cathy Z is continuing this year. I am going to try like her to document it and keep myself focus on the end game. I also want to focus on improving my running. I had a rough holiday season since I got sick right after Christmas and hadn't run in over a week, but I got on the treadmill and did three miles. Yes, I had to stop to blow my nose a couple times, but I ran much better than I had expected and may actually be getting used to the torture device called the treadmill. I am focused on getting back out on the streets weather permitting and I am hoping to focus on a 10k this year or do part of a marathon relay in my hometown. I also need to focus on not snacking the entire time I sit in what I have dubbed my crack den, my scrapbook room, where I stash good chocolate and m&ms and then hide away as I devour the stuff as I attempt to get something done.

I need to focus on me. I need to let go sometimes. I get so frustrated and pissed off very quickly sometimes and just blow up. I need to focus and take a breath and move forward instead of flying off the handle, but this is easier said than done. I need to focus on whether or not I should take some classes. I would really like to have a different job, however, after doing what I do for 15 years it doesn't build any real skills. I have been flopping back and forth what I should do and with a new governor in charge who wants to break our union and cut wages, well, I'm thinking I might have to do something.

I need to focus on my marriage. We had a pretty tough twenty-ten. I really want to work to get back what we started. We need to focus on some us time. We need to find something we enjoy together to do.

I need to focus on PB and make sure I'm raising a healthy, smart, good, confident girl.

I'm sure there are more things I need to focus on, but that is what I'm working on right now.

December is Moving Way Too Fast

This month is moving way too fast. I cannot believe Christmas is going to be here next week already. We have been pretty busy with life in general and add the approaching Holidays and my stress level has risen while my bank account is depleting very quickly. I have gotten some super deals and PB is getting a few things I hadn't planned on because of that. I just have to remember for the next week that she is finished no more, no matter what the deal. That being said here's what we've been up to.

I did an ornament swap and got these gems. Love 'em.

Peanut Butter had to decorate a Christmas Tree for school, she couldn't wait and had to color in the car on our way to one of the Boy's basketball games.

We caught the Holiday parade.

We baked cookies. I have never baked so many cookies for Christmas before. I have never seen cookies get eaten so fast in this house. I must be doing something right or it is all the extra sprinkles PB  adds.

I just have a few more things to get and get this disaster of a house cleaned up and then we just have to wait for Santa.

Still Alive

Yes, I am still alive and Peanut Butter also survived the week of deer hunting. It was a very long week of having J gone. I did catch the new Harry Potter movie, it was good, but I think I was so worried about where they were going to end it I didn't just watch and enjoy. I may have to see it again. PB and I also saw Megamind. It was ok. Good story, but it wasn't the best movie. PB is gearing up for Tangled one of these days. I also switched The Boy's room with PB's room and repainted both. The Boy's original room was disgusting. There must have been and inch of dust everywhere and a bagillion candy wrappers under the bed since that is an easier place to put them rather than the garbage can. I also realized that we do not need anymore stuffed animals. This is the crazy amount we had.

I narrowed it down to one basket, but then filled another with all of PB's babies. 

PB has been doing really well in school. She is so proud of the things she is learning. She is showing us how she writes her name and practices and practices. She cuts all the paper she can get her hands on with scissors so our living room floor looks like a confetti pile. She is getting very attentive with her coloring, stating, "I no scribble, see!" It takes her a long time to color this way and I don't think she is finishing some projects at school because she is so worried about coloring "nice." Here she is practicing some of her letters with Nana.

I was honored to be mentioned in Nicole's post on Mom's Sippy Cup the other day. It was a great post on deciding to put your mind to doing something and just doing it. I really miss Nicole blogging so it was great to read her in blog form again. I hope it gets her to start one again. It also got me thinking what I need to do now. I really would like to finish my degree at some point in my life. I don't know if I will ever use it for anything, but just to say I have one would be sweet. I am starting to look at some options. I am also lining up another race to run. I'd like to do this New Year's Day race, but it is 5 miles. I know, I know, I can do five miles if I put my mind to it. I have already run 4.5 miles, so I just have to make it work. If I put down the money for it, I will have to. 

Tis The Season.

Deer hunting that is. J is getting ready to leave tomorrow and will be gone until next Saturday. Hopefully Peanut Butter and I make it through the week plus with out killing each other. I am on vacation for most of the time, so we will have plenty of quality time. She is going to daycare on Friday so I can go see Harry Potter. I can't wait. I am contemplating switching PB's and the Boy's room, but haven't decided how gung ho I am about repainting both rooms.
I have decided to do an ornament swap though, if you want to join in you can sign up until Nov 20th.

I Did It

I officially ran my first 5K this am. I also ran it pushing Peanut Butter in the jogger. I am cuckoo. Oh and did I mention that it poured during the race. Double trouble. Amazingly, PB stayed in good spirits and I ran the whole thing with out killing anyone with the stroller, though I bumped a girl who stopped right in front of me. I have to admit it was extremely emotional for me for some odd reason. Someone yelled at me, "Go Mom, your doing great!" and I started to well up. I don't know if it is because I have actually accomplished something or what. I will say it is very hard to run a race with a stroller or at least this one was. It was the Girls on the Run 5K which supports getting girls running in 5-6th grade to boost confidence and esteem, so there was a couple hundred tween girls that I was trying to maneuver around and since the 5 of us with strollers started dead last, we had to get through quite a few people to get going. It was fun and heck, I might have to try another one preferably on a day that isn't rainy.