Running Thoughts

There won't be any pictures in this post.  This is just a post of my thoughts while I run.  I often think about so many topics on my long Sunday's.  I tell myself that when I get back I will write about it, but I never today.  I'm waiting on Preston to get back from his 20 mile (you read that correctly) so I thought I would go ahead and spill my brain.

I'm on week 9 of my training.  Week 10 starts tomorrow, which means only 4 more weeks until the half.  I'm feeling really positive about my running lately.  I have cut back on tremendously on my unhealthy eating and drinking.  I know it sounds very common sense, but whooza does that make a difference.  It is so worth it.  Last week I did 9 miles for my long run.  Today I was only needing to do 6.  It's funny to me as 9 weeks ago I would have never thought I could do 6 miles and think, "oh that's nothing!".  I got new running pants yesterday so I was excited to try them out.  They fit perfectly and will help me focus on my breathing vs my uncomfortable feeling of clothes.

As I set off for my run I tucked my new phone into my spy belt.  It's actually called that. Spy Belt.  It's really a fanny pack for runners, but I like calling it a spy belt instead.  Anyway, I have a new phone so my arm band is on order, thus me having to tuck the phone in the belt.  Without getting to boring, I am using a half training app.  I love it! In order for it to work properly, I have to run the apps in certain order.

Start running app
Start pandora
Then go back to running app

If I go away from the running app I am not able to hear the directions of "start running" "start walking" "begin your cool down", etc.  This is also the same if I lock my phone.

*****funny thing. I called my friend Lauren mid writing and the mid phone convo Preston came home from his run and I closed down my computer.*****

Just now getting back on here and have lost my focus on my "running thoughts".  What a lame post.

My Life Is Changing

In August I received an email about a job opportunity.  Normally I say, "thank you but no thanks."  However, this particular email was different.  I was genuinely interested.  4 interviews later, 2 test, and a background test I received a job offer.  On Friday, October 18th I accepted and put in my 2 weeks notices with Balfour Beatty Construction.  I worked there for 6 years so it was a tough decision, but at the same time...it wasn't.  I was ready for a change and a challenge.  Tomorrow I start my first day at my new job. Eck! I'm excited and nervous all at the same time.  Of course before I left my friends gave me a going away happy hour.  The cake I received was perfect!

This is Natalie. She is the mind behind the cake! 

I carpooled with Preston one last time on Friday.

So with that, my days at Balfour Beatty were over.  Saturday we spent the day being adults.  We cleaned the master bedroom including our closet which was horrible!  We packed up 3 bags of clothes that needed to be given away.  We also packed up a bunch of stuff in our guest bedroom to take to storage.  I sure do love the storage unit.  So easy and nice to get things out of our house!  After we dropped off the storage stuff we noticed across the street was a gas station with a clothes drop off box.  Surrounding the box were about 11 men.  This is a common site on Ross Ave in Dallas in the early hours of Saturday and Sunday.  They stand in the parking lots of gas stations waiting for someone to come by that needs cheap labor.  They will work for cash and at a good price.  Give them $50 and a subway sandwhich and they will move lumber for you.  Anyway, since the clothes box was right there, we thought, "hmmmmmm".  So I drove across the street.  As soon as we pulled up they ran to our car all saying they could help us with whatever.  Preston quickly said, "no labor. dropping off some stuff...unless...."  We both reached our hands out with the bags and they grabbed them soooo fast!!  The ripped at the garbage bag and were tugging at the clothes.  Whoa.  But it made me very, very happy to give them away to people that WANTED them.  

The night was low key with Preston making his wonderful Salmon patties.  We needed the engergy for our runs on Sunday.  They were long ones!  Having that kind of food in my system totally makes a difference!  I was very excited about my time.  For me, this is great!  I was so excited I took a picture. Hehehe.  

 

I sent it to my sister who lives in Germany.  She also had gone for a run that morning and she sent me a picture of her running path.  So pretty!  I can't wait to go visit them.  We don't have a date set, but sometime in 1Q of 2014.  

Tonight is relaxing with football and dinner.  I put a whole chicken in the crock pot after my run this morning so dinner was:  salad, chicken, carrots, okra, and our special treat when I make a whole chicken....fried chicken liver! Yummy.  I report to my new job at 9am tomorrow morning.  Wish me luck! 

Homemade Pumpkin Pie

Kroger has a bin of pumpkins with the vegetables.  They are about medium size.  The sign said 2 for $5 so I picked out 2 cute looking guys and brought them home!  They sat around for a couple of days when Preston asked me what I was going to do with them.  "What do you mean?" I said, "They are decoration"  It was at this point that Preston pointed out to me that those were cooking pumpkins....like for pie.  Whaaaaaat?! I picked one of them up, rolled it around in my hand and saw the sticker that I had still not removed.  Clear as day, "Pie Pumpkin".  Well, well, well...if it isn't so.  Naturally I went straight to Pinterest to find a recipe.

It was a 2 day process, but I did it!  I baked my first pumpkin pie from a real pumpkin.  No canned stuff here.  Nope.  You first have to roast the pie then let it set over night THEN you can make it into the filling.  Here is my camera play by play.

Our pumpkins!  

I picked the larger one, removed the stem, and cut it in half.

Clean out all the "guts"

Save the seeds if you like, we roasted ours...yummy

Coat the inside NOT the outside, the inside of the pumpkin with vegetable oil.  The inside is the side that you carved all the guts out of.  I used a cooking brush.  Place them cut side down in a roasting pan.  Add 1 cup of water and cook!

This is what it looked like when finished. Ewwww

Place on a cooling rake until cool enough you are able to hold them for the scooping

Scoop out the guts and place in a sieve to drain over night with either a paper towel or coffee filter.  (Place saran wrap over the top)

Next day....you mix the pumpkin with some sugar, evaporated milk, eggs, and pumpkin pie spices.  Place in pie crust.....and.....

Homemade Pumpkin Pie

It was super easy and taste waaaay better than a can.  The complete recipe can be found here.  The recipe gives you 2 options for the filling.  You can either prepare it with heavy cream and spices or follow the recipe on the can of canned filling.  You see, the pumpkin that you roasted and sit over night is the exact same thing as in the can.  So all I did was just look that up and it worked perfectly.  I hope everyone tries to make their own pumpkin pie this season!  I will never do canned again. (unless I'm super busy and don't have time)

Χαρούμενα Γενέθλια

With a little help from Bing Translator, I know that Χαρούμενα Γενέθλια  is how you say Happy Birthday in Greek! At least I think that is what it means.  If it means something else or is offensive, opps.  I'm trusting the internet on this one.  Anyway, I celebrated the Birthday of 3 precious little Greek ladies.  My friend and co-worker has a 3 yr old and twin 1 yr olds and asked if I would come and take some photos!  But of course I would.

1. The girls are soooooo adorable.
2. She's my friend, duh
3. I have been to some previous events she has hosted and she does an AMAZING job.

So Saturday afternoon I headed over and the Greek Birthday party begin!  I won't post all of the pictures as they are her private photos.  But she has allowed me to share some. Just check out these little Άγγελοι.

E woke up from her nap and looked out into the back yard to see a Dora Bouncy House! Whaaaaaaaaaat?! Literally speechless. 

For the cake time with the twins is was very clear right away that one of them was all about the smash and eat while the other just wanted to try a little taste and then chill.  It was so fun!

I love this one.  Z is thinking, "ummm...cake? nah I'm good." and K is going at it!

The difference between the 2 cakes.  

Best. Cake. Ever. 

Birthday girl LOVED the bouncy house!

So that was my Saturday. My friend sent us home with tons of food so we have been eating well for the past couple of days. Tonight for dinner it was delicious chicken that we paired with some feta, rice, and dressing of olive oil & lemon juice. With all things Greek surrounding me the past couple of days it makes me want to go back there. Sigh. I will leave you with one of my favorite memory photos of my trip from 2008. (ok, so I couldn't pick just one)

Texas State Fair: Part II

Went to the fair again tonight.  This trip will go down in my memories as the night I learned about Fair Food.  I knew it existed.  I saw the news stories and read the Observer.  But I have never been to the fair with people that actually participate in the purchasing of the food.  WOW. I loved it!  I saw a totally different side of the fair.  Typically I go and walk around, people watch, get my Fletchers Corney Dog with Lemonade and call it a day.  Play a game maybe, but that's it.

Tonight....was awesome. I went with this fabulous group of people.

The night started with getting to drive right on into Fair Park with a parking pass and then appear on the Midway.  FREE.  Thaaaaaaaaaaaaanks Bill!  We made our way to our meeting spot.  Big Tex, duh.

Never gets old. We are in our 30's.

After our initial meeting and "Look at me! I'm with Big Tex!" moment....it was time to start the food.  Summer and I walked around numerous times and just couldn't make our minds up.  We finally went back to our first stop, Fried Grilled Cheese Sandwich.  Just look at that! Perfect triangles of love.

The other option was the Fried King Ranch Chicken.  Bill got this little gem.  It was cool because it was in the shape of the state of Texas.  However it was murdered before I got a photo.  It's ok though, the flag is cool!

Back into the indoor food court we went.  Fried Spaghetti and Meatballs. 

Then it got crazy from there.  I don't remember everything that was ordered, but in no particular order you have the photos for the following:

Fried Oreo's

 Fried Cake Balls

 Fried Butter

 Fried Thanksgiving Dinner: aka The Best

 Red Velvet Funnel Cake

 Fried PB&J with Bananas

 And your classic, Turkey Leg

I would like to send a special thank you to Bill for allowing me to snap photos of him taking bites out of food.  You were a great model and I appreciate your service. 

Everyone was stuffed by the end of the night.  Coupons where bought and spent.  But besides all the food, I took some shots of the Midway itself. The Texas State Fair really is so much fun.  If you have never been to it, I recommend you go.  

 

 

Till next year.........