A new half marathon PR!

My finish time for the half marathon was 3:06:26!!!  That is a PR by 10 minutes, almost a minute a mile faster than I normally run!!  I know I am not breaking any speed records but I am so freaking happy with my finish time!!  I was really pushing for under 3.  My splits were really good with only few that had some pretty slow times.  I figure those were either when I needed a gel or had to text Dennis that I was getting close to the finish.  I will get my sub 3.

My first half fanatic medal, and I got to spend some time in the marathon maniac/half fanatic tent.  I am so ready for the next one.  Maybe a back to back half, one on new year's eve one on new years day in Allen Texas.

OK, enough about my running exploits. 

I have to leave in a few minutes to court over that whole work crap.  Rumor has it that she sent an email saying that she wanted to drop the whole thing, although she still felt unsafe.  She asked to be reassigned to a Lake Office close to her lake house.  Yeah that won't happen.  Oh, and she called in and said she had a death in her family and would be out all week.  How convenient.

I suspect it will be a long boring trip to court for us since nothing was officially dropped.  I brought my Kindle so it will be better than sitting at my desk!!

11 Q and A's and an updated on the "good"sister adventure

I really do enjoy the questions people are sending.  Not only does it help you get to know fellow bloggers better, it makes you think a little.  So, here are the Questions Connie sent me.

How many states/countries have you lived in? I have lived in OK all my life.  I have done extended assignments in other states but I never had to change my DL or anything so I would say they don't count.


Shopping: online or in real-life stores?  It depends.  If it is a store I am familiar with I will shop online.  It is hard to find my size in stores.

If you had to pick between making more money but having a difficult boss or making less but having a boss who thinks you walk on water, which would you pick? Let’s say the difference is at least $5,000. Oh, this is an easy one.  Having an asshat for a boss I would totally pick less money/stress/better boss.

What do you drive: big or small, fast or sedate? I drive a lime green Ford Escape.  I love that car!!

What is your favorite book? That is a hard question to answer.  The first classic I read and enjoyed was To Kill a Mockingbird.  I also loved the Lottery. 

Is music important to you? If so, what kind?  Not like it used to be.  I still enjoy music but I don't have the time to get immersed in the scene like I used to.  I think it is important to support local musicians.

What was your first live concert? No making fun!!!  Poison and Warrant.

What is your favorite physical activity that you do for fun, not just for exercise? I took dance lessons my entire adolescence and loved it.  If I could find a regular dance class for adults I would totally take it; ballet or jazz, not hip hop.
Sweet or salty? both.  Pretzels in white chocolate, yes please.

What do you sound like—deep or high, loud or soft? I am loud though I try not to be.  I really try to tone it down.

If you could be any height, how tall would you be? I like being petite 5'3"


So on with the blog.  I know y'all can wait to hear about the evening with my sister. 

I met her at a restaurant with a nice bar next door to the Performing Arts Center.  I got there at 6:30, an hour before the show started.  My sister and her husband were there. I really like her husband and I hadn't seen or talked to him in ages.  They had ordered some happy hour food and we sat and ate, drank and talked.  Well, my sister gets a text message from a lake friend of hers who is also going to the show and is on her way to meet us at the bar.  Whatever, I am pretty laid back and get along with most everyone.  This lady shows up with her mother.  My sister says that she sees this lady every weekend at their lake house.  Again whatever.  They do kind of include me in the conversation but I had kind of checked out because they were being snobby mcsnobberson (my husband designs jewelry for me all the time).  Finally my sister asked me what we were doing for Thanksgiving.  I told her were are going out to eat.  The look of shock on her face was priceless.  She asked me why we were going out and I told her Mom had to have chemo the day before and we weren't sure how she would feel.  Her husband, not my sister, but her husband, asked how she was doing.  I briefly went over some of the problems including the one where she can't eat/drink/touch anything cold after her treatment.  Snobby friend said she didn't know that, my sister asked what, about touching something cold?  And the friend said, no that your mom was having chemo.  Again, she sees this lady every weekend.  Apparently my mom going through this isn't important enough for her to share.  However, they knew all about this lady's husband flying to New York to have shoulder surgery because "he is the best".  WHATEVER. 

Anyway, something was said about watching the voice.  I said I didn't watch it because I am the anti-fan of X-Tina.  She spent years making fun of people being fat and now she looks horrible and still dressed like a tramp with her fat belly roll showing.  I made the comment that since I had lost 70 pounds I feel like I can criticize her.  I saw my sister literally roll her eyes.  The two ladies of course had a fit.  I showed them my before picture and they couldn't believe it was me.  The BFF asked my sister what she thought about it and my sister said she couldn't tell a difference, I still look the same.  She kept insisting that she really couldn't tell I had lost a ton of weight. They asked what size I was before and after.  I told them I went from a 14/6 to a 0/2 and they gave my sister a hard time for not noticing.   But of course she can't, it isn't about her.  As we left, her husband gave me a hug and told me I looked great.

Once we got into the PAC I saw the line for the alcohol and that they now have sippy cups you can put your beverage in and take it to your seat (you used to have to slam it down before you went to your seats.  So I got a double "Mary Poppins Punch"  The rest of the night was fine from there. 

I have no idea how we are sisters.

Food Porn

What a week it has been, and it is only Wednesday!!

Gone last week, off Monday, then a water leak at the office forced us to leave at 11 yesterday.  I feel like I haven't worked in a month. 

I went to another food truck festival Saturday with my little sister.  We split several dishes and I ended up taking some of the food home with me but we did manage to sample 3 out of the 15 or so trucks that were there.  3 of the trucks were chains; like Dickie's BBQ so they didn't count. 

These were Kimchi fries with lemongrass chicken.  I had my doubts but they were really good!!

Meatloaf slider topped with mac & cheese.  I liked them both, but not together.  I ended up taking most of this home to Dennis.  It was ok but a little dense.

Fried chicken slider with honey chipotle sauce.  It came with cole slaw on top but I loathe cole slaw so I got it without.  It was really freakin' good!!

Lemonade with fresh basil.  It was also really good.

By the time we had made it this far the lines (according to Facebook) were 50 people long.  We made a stop at a t-shirt place to get a shirt I have wanted for several months and headed out.  On the way to the car another truck was just opening up.  We were first in line for chicken tamales.

The salsa was amazing.  I am kind of glad the dessert tamales were not finished yet or I would have stuffed that down and probably made myself sick. 

Tonight I am going to meet my sister downtown at a bar, of course, and then to see Mary Poppins.  I haven't really spoken to my older sister since before my Mom had her cancer surgery.  I would say this could be an issue but my sister is so self centered and egotistical that she probably doesn't even realize we haven't been talking to her.  She is such a bitch, but I am doing my part to keep the peace in the family.  She is my Mom's favorite so if I piss her off she will take it out on our mom and I will be the bad guy.  I may have some interesting stories to tell tomorrow. 

3 days and 16 hours until the half marathon.  I just hope to finish under 3:15.  I am not going to push for under 3 hours. 

The Liebster Award

Karen from Banded in Texas and Ashlee from My Lap Band Adventure have nominated me for the Liebster Award!!

http://uiwleelee.blogspot.com/2012/11/liebster-award.html

The Rules

- Once you're nominated, write 11 facts about yourself.

- Then, take a look at the 11 questions the person who nominated you asked and answer them.

- Get your thinking cap on and come up with 11 questions of your own for your nominees to answer

- Then choose the 5 bloggers you want to nominate (they must have less than 200 followers) & let them know they've been nominated (there are no tag backs - you can't nominate the person who nominated you).

- Complete this post and then link it to the person who nominated you (in the comments of their blog).

Hum, 11 facts about myself...

1.  My weight was down to 110 this morning, although I doubt the accuracy of my scale.  If this is right I am losing because I am actually eating more calories. Strange how that can happen.

2. Having Lap Band surgery was one of the best decisions I have ever made for myself.  My doctor tells me I am the model lap band patient and he tells all of his new clinic participants about me.

3. I am a homebody. Most of the time I would rather sit at home with one of my dogs in my lap than go out.

4.  I am definitely a dog person.

5. I have two tattoos.  One on my wrist that is done in black light ink so it is only noticeable to me unless I am under a black light.  I got it after my first half marathon.  The other one is the finishers medal from my first (and only) full marathon.  I want to get another one to commemorate making it into the half fanatics but I can't seem to find the time.

6.  I'm an NPR geek.  I took Dennis to see a live taping of Wait Wait Don't Tell Me.

7.  I love to dye my hair funky colors.  I am sure my boss hates it and I know I m getting too old for it, but I just get bored with the norm.

8.  I have a new fascination with food trucks. I have had some great food that I would have never tried otherwise.

9.  The holiday's make me sad.  It really brings back a lot of memories from my childhood and makes me miss my grandparents and can really put me in a funk.

10. I have a little bit of a shopping addiction.  I still go straight for the XL section even though.  I wonder if I will ever snap out of that.  I have to limit my access to the Coach website also, purses always fit.

11.  I love to read.  My Kindle Fire is one of my most treasured possessions.

Q and A from Banded in Texas

1) Your dream travel destination?  Norway, My great grandfather was a Norwegian immagrant.
2) Favorite movie?  Despicable Me and Up
3) Favorite book or magazine?  It depends on my mood I guess.  I like the movie Once and I am dying to see the broadway musical version.
4) Where do you see yourself in 5 years?  I hope to have a new house, still at goal weight.
5) You just won $10 million dollars. How would you spend it?  Set up a private trust to try and hide the fact that I won the money.  Travel, go to Best Friends in Utah and volunteer for as long as they will have me.
6) If you could meet/interview anyone living or dead, who would you meet and why?  Jimmy Carter.  I have so much respect for him as a humanitarian and peace keeper
7) What is the weirdest/craziest thing you have ever eaten?  Kimchi Fries?
8) Any phobias?  WORMS!!
9) What is your best trait?  That is hard for me to answer.  Hum, I will do almost anything for my family and friends.
10) What is your least-favorite trait?  I tend to be lazy when I lose interest in something
11) Why do you blog?  To help me remember my journey.  When things get hard I can look back and see that I have been through worse.

Q and A from My Lap Band Adventure

1. Favorite color? Green, I even drive a lime green car!!
2. Do you have any pets?  I am the crazy dog lady.  I have 7 rescued dogs that were supposed to be fosters, turns out I am a foster failure
3. Who has been your biggest supporter during your weight loss journey?  My boyfriend, even though he complains that I am getting too skinny
4. What's your favorite Band-friendly food?  soup, my favorite is El Chico Tortilla and Chilli's Enchillada
5. Do you have any guilty pleasures?  cupcakes
6. What's your favorite thing to do for exercise?  running, it is a love hate relationship
7. What is one of your long-term goals?  to maintain my goal weight.
8. How long have you been blogging? On Blogger a little over a year.  I also have a blog on CK that I have maintained for probably 5 years
9. Do you drink alcohol? If so, what's your favorite drink?  seldom but I love Heuberts Strawberry Dac.  I think it is a local thing.
10. What do you want for Christmas?  A new Kindle Fire HD but since I have to have a tooth replaced with an implant I am probably going to get a tooth.
11. How do you hold yourself accountable during your weight loss journey?  Used to have daily weigh ins.  Now that I am actually below my goal weight I try to just weigh in once a week to keep from being OCD.

No Place Like Home!!

After being out of town for work since Sunday night I am finally home with my little Sidney in my lap sucking up my body heat. 

The trip is/was a cluster.  I was mad when I left work on Friday because I had to miss the Bass Pro Half and a little distracted by the gazillion questions that people were asking me last minute.  So I left my computer access card in the card reader.  When I got my card I couldn't get internet connected.  When I got internet I couldn't get VPN to work.  So here I am at home working yet again.

Work itself has been excruciating.  They way overstaffed for the visits and instead of setting us free, the organizer is making us sit until time to go home, 10 hour days.  Without my CAC card/internet/VPN I couldn't even work on my regular work.  I ended up reading my Kindle most of the day yesterday.  I may sound nuts but I would rather be busy, makes the day go by so much faster.

Of course food has been meh.  I have been eating a larger than normal to me lunch and a light dinner.  It is so funny to see how people from out of state view Oklahoma and the cuisine here.  They all wanted a good steak.  I was like, yeah, go to Logan's...

Today we didn't break for lunch until 1:30 and I was so hungry that I over ate chips and queso and ate very little of my soup.  I will be nice and bloated up tomorrow. I need to make a grocery run tonight and get some not so sinful snacks for tomorrow. 

Tomorrow we are supposed to go to dinner at a place called Joe Mamma's in downtown.  They have a pizza called the incenerator that has wasabi sauce, jalapanos, habaneros and hot links topped with a ghost chili drizzle.  It was on man vs. food this season and the guys I am working with can't wait to try it.  I don't want any part of that but I will probably go with them.  I can guilt Dennis into going with me for a change since it is my birthday.  Normally he would have no part of work group gatherings.

I am just glad that the inspections are at the Tulsa Airport tomorrow.  I can sleep in my own bed and not go into the office.  I came up with a good strategy to work at the hotel the group is staying at on Friday and not go into the office for the rest of the week!!

I am not going to weigh until my normal weigh in day on Monday.  I know this trip will have an effect on me. 

OK, gotta get back to catching up on email.

NSV? WTF

I had a lady at work that I barely know come up to me and ask me, in front of a group of people if I had been sick because I have lost weight! Really?

quick ten things

because I am in a time crunch but really not ready to dive into the work stuff just yet...

1.  I am getting my first unfill today.  I have been ignoring a lot of symptoms that I really shouldn't have been.  Truth is, I am scared to death to gain any weight back. 

2.  Maybe with some more calories I will be able to run better, not get worn out as quickly. Just in time for my last long run (13.1miles) before route 66!!

3.  Today is the deposition because of crazy lady at work.  I am glad I have so much going on because I don't have time to dwell on it much.

4.  Next week I will be traveling around on a project for work!  A whole week out of the office.  Best part is I will be working in Tulsa Thursday and Friday.  Thursday is my birthday so I will be home for that.  Not that I celebrate it or anything but still.

5.  Not a lot of trick or treat monsters last night.  We used  have so many more.  I think people do the church thing more.  I only stayed out until 8:30 because I hate when the packs of teenagers come up, it just makes me and my dogs nervous.

6.  Leftover candy was sent to work with Dennis.  Of course with the way food makes me feel (reflux) chocolate doesn't even sound good.

7.  Route 66 half/marathon November 18!! 

8.  I can't believe the holidays are so close!!  Not that we will be able to do much with the whole dental surgery thing but wow, time flies.

9.  Need to figure out where and when I can do the early voting thing since I will be gone next week.  Not that it really matters so much, my ideals are completely opposite of the majority opinion in my crimson red state.

10.  Hope all of you guys in the east coast are safe and sound!!

UPDATE-------

Doctor Atkins took .5 cc from my band.  I made him promise that if my weight got above 115 he would give me another fill.  At home I had been at 112.2 for ever but it was to the point that I thought something was up with my scale.  I weighed at the doctor's office and I was 111.6.  He said that I probably wasn't having reflux, it was probably just my food moving so slow through my band that it was jut sitting there.  Either way, he said he suspected I was too tight for awhile but was doing a good job at finding easy band food (if that makes any sense)

There is a nutrition supplement store in the same complex as his clinic, he wanted me to walk over with him and talk to the guy to come up with some kind of supplements that will help me with endurance during running.  I got a couple of things.  I hope to be able to run tonight and give it a try, I really don't want to try it out for the first time on a 13 mile run.  My side is kind of sore where the fluid was removed.  I never have any problems after a fill so I'm not sure what is up with that.

Doctor Atkins also said he was going to see if he can find a port that is more low profile than the one I have.  Mine sticks out pretty far when I lay down.  Not sure I want to go through the whole process though.  I will try and take some pictures an show you what I mean.