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I'm Still Alive!

I don't know why I've been going through a non-blogging phase lately. But I'm back, and here's some of what's been going on.

A couple of weekends ago, we went back to the beach with Mark's sister and her husband. We stayed at a beautiful place in Panama City. The condo had a wrap around balcony and this was our view from it:

It was amazing. We had a great little club next door that had food and live music. And we went out to Captain Anderson's restaurant one night, which was our favorite eating place on those high school beach trips. Very nostalgic. We also went to a new shopping venue, Pier Park, which was lots of fun. It also reminded me of our high school trips because it has an amusement park with a ferris wheel just like the old Miracle Strip Amusement Park. Well, maybe not just like that rickety old thing!

Last weekend, David "met the parents." He went home with his girlfriend Katy who was celebrating her 22nd birthday. It seemed to go very well. I made them stop for a photo before they left.

I'm taking some Photoshop classes at lynda.com and practiced some on this photo. 

And I read this fantastic book. 

And have to say I'm so proud of our Crimson Tide for their win against Penn State. Just can't wait till Mark Ingram and Marcelle Darius get back out on the field! Till next time!

All scrapbook supplies from Digital Scrapbooking.

Finally--The Running Post

 

It's time to say it. I've been running for a few weeks now. I have always stayed in pretty good shape, but I never believed I could run for exercise. I've been inspired by Gretchen McElveen and Cathy Zielske to try it out. Cathy recommended reading John Bingham's work, and I'm reading his book The Courage to Start, which has some sage advice from a seasoned runner on everything from common beginning mistakes to how running has changed him not only physically but emotionally too.   

So what I have learned in these weeks is:

1) I'm still not sure I can do this. My heart and lungs are taking to it a lot better than my joints. I was doing great until this week, when I started having some left knee pain. I think I have zeroed in on the problem, though, and I'm doing some exercises. So far, so good, but this is still a wait-and-see proposition. 

2) As much as I hate to get up at 5:30, running in 95-degree heat just isn't smart. 

3) Small victories count. Just to get out there is really saying something. Some days are better than others, and I need to learn to be content with whatever my body can do on any given day.

4) My husband is supportive! Yes, he is always supportive, but I was afraid he would frown at this, because he thinks running is hard on you as you get older. But he is celebrating my successes and cheering me through the painful moments. And he likes my more toned physique!

5) Running on the open road in the wee hours is just exhilarating. It's relatively cool, the birds are chirping, and it's just a great time to think. 

If you haven't tried this, I would encourage you to give it a shot. Just move your body to the extent you can. When John Bingham started running, he was in his mid-forties and 100 pounds overweight. The first time he put on running shoes, he ran to the end of his driveway. That was it. But he had a small victory over himself that led to a changed life.  

If my knee doesn't fail me, you will be hearing more about this I'm sure!