Simple things

Sometimes the best things are the simplest. And one day I will train my husband and or children to make coffee in the morning out of the kindness of their hearts.
Once upon a time, a long time ago, all I asked for was dinner and some help cleaning up the house. It would have been the best Valentine's ever except the male brain interpreted it as roses, diamond chip earrings, and chocolate. Although I was grateful, it wasn't what I wanted. This was in college and a very long time before my wonderful husband came along.
It's the simplest gestures. Like coffee and eggs. Vacuuming, taking care of the car (car wash and vacuum just cause) or any given chore without being asked.  And all the other things that make you feel taken care of and loved. A friend said once he walked in and saw his dad mopping the kitchen floor. When asked why he was mopping the floor the dad said some times you just mop the floor.
There is always hope...for if there wasn't I'd be a crazed delusional woman.

Perfect husband

I've always wanted someone to dance with barefoot in the kitchen at night.

My Own Superhero

Sometimes I wish I had super powers. Which power or powers would I like, you ask? Ability to leap tall buildings, run as fast as a train (that'd be cool), see through everything except lead, strength of an Amazon, a lasso of truth, shoot webs and climb walls,. Then there's all the heroes that don't have powers but some very cool toys like Iron Man and Batman.
Every once in a while I get a glimpse of my inner superhero. Unfortunately I'm  usually asleep or just waking up. The other night I dreamt I was running. The weird part was it was around the parade field in Ft. Meade. I have often dream of Ft. Meade, my childhood home. That's another story for another day. I was running fast and light like a Kenyan.  Great dream.

Growing up as a bit of a tomboy  I could run, throw, climb, and fight like a boy. Those were the days. Running fast as you could and playing outside all day. I had to have a tough side, I had brothers and now sons. Then puberty hit and I soon discovered I had a secret power and everything went a bit whacky. Hormones will do that every single time.

Remember the movie Terminator 2 where Linda Hamilton was fanatical and had some kicking shoulders. One day I'd like shoulders and biceps like Linda's. Thank you, Linda Hamilton for the inspiration.
My friends also inspire me. T is crazy but so determined. She ran her first marathon last spring. Not only is she improving her times, she's placing in the top three of her age group. She's my running hero.

Now G inspires me in lots of ways. She's been a single mom dealing with life and has recently taken the plunge back into marriage. Her husband adores her and that makes him awesome in my book. When she first dating K she was training for a body building competition. Although she didn't do as well as she hoped I'm so proud of her. It takes a lot of self control and inner personal strength to accomplish such a goal. Imagine starting a relationship when your calories are counted and your extra time is spent lifting weights. And she wants to do it again. All this and she runs with me. G is really good at it. I wish I was half as good as she is at running. Then I'd be approaching awesome. Currently I'm still working on approaching my potential of awesomeness.

Being mom...

Being a mother is tricky. First imagine, if you will, riding a unicycle. At first it's difficult and uncomfortable but you get used to it. And then with lots of practice you get good at it. Or at least proficient. This is not the end of the analogy. The unicycle is just the beginning. Now start adding in the million things that a mom does...It'll begin to look a little like riding a unicycle, while juggling bowling pins, while balancing a knife on your nose, backwards on a tight rope during the three ring circus that is life.

If you have a child with an autism spectrum disorder there's more to it. Add to the backward, knife balancing, bowling pin juggling, unicycle in a three ring circus analogy bomb disposal technician. Sometimes I am awesome at bomb disposal. Other days there are explosions and tears. Every day is very exciting in our home.

Mothers do lots and are the most under appreciated in society. I did and do it to my mother, step mother, mother in law. So here and now I want to say  I appreciate you Joan, Fay, and Barb. More than I can express before I start bawling like a baby about it. I also appreciate all my friends who put up with me while de-stress regarding my children. Thank you.

I am the first to admit that being a mom is the hardest thing you ever do. And you won't love every minute of it. There will be tears. Theirs and yours. There will also be amazing moments that bring joy and probably more tears. The good kind.

All this being said. I love my boys. I miss the times when I could pick them up and cuddle. I'm not really appreciating them as they go through puberty. Though occasionally I get glimpse of the little boys they used to be. And every once in a while I see the men they are becoming. I'm in awe.

Food, Wine, Run...not particularly in that order.

When I grow up I want to be food/travel blogger. This statement is utterly ridiculous because I'm already fully grown. Maybe I should say that when I retire I want to be a food/travel blogger. But that will take way too long to come to fruition. So my great idea of the year is that my dear friends and I (and hubby if he wants in) would start our own blog on travel, running, and food. We would scout out locales that we would really like to eat, travel, or run (or any combination there of). Then we would take pictures, blog out hearts out, make a million dollars and well keep doing it forever. I'm getting ahead of myself which I often do except when running.

The Food Network's Guy Fieri is one of my favorites to watch. Friends and I tried a few of the places he been to in his travels. That is not saying a lot since he's been everywhere and tried tons of food. So in a way he's my inspiration. Thanks Guy.

This all began in North Carolina. We moved there due to a job opportunity for hubby. It was a huge change from our beloved Colorado but we had both grown up on the east coast. So in a odd way it was like coming home. My folks lived a mere four hours away from our new home outside Charlotte. Now if you've watched Triple D you know Guy likes Charlotte. Between the fried chicken and other southern delights it's a place that keeps drawing him back.

In North Carolina I discovered Shrimp and Grits. My first experience with this southern manna was after my first 10k (I'll say more about that later) and we were celebrating. The Village Tavern in Winston Salem changed my world that day. Great service and atmosphere. We brought our own wine to celebrate and I wish I could tell you more than it was a Malbec but that's all I remember. And that it was good. Very good. Try the Shrimp and Grits. It may just change your world as well.

One of the Triple D joints my friend T and I tried was Dish in Charlotte. Great location, service, and food. I had the Shrimp and Grits. Delish. T loved the Chicken and Dumplings with greens and biscuit. And of course we had wine. After all we ran, we shopped, we drove to a fabulous restaurant. We had wine and food and it was good.

If you need the best Bleu Cheese Burger in all of North Carolina go to Firebirds in Winston Salem. You know some days you need a bleu cheese burger. Not just want but need. T said it would be the best ever and it was and more. Firebirds is a favorite go to restaurant. Sadly though the closest Firebirds to me in Colorado is in Omaha, Nebraska. Of all places. You are so lucky Omaha.

Guess what I just discovered. There's a Village Tavern in Broomfield. I know where I'm having my next date night. Shrimp and Grits don't fail me now.

Battle On

And the battle continues...

About seven years ago I discovered that my thyroid was screwed up. This wasn't surprising because I was feeling like slower sadder version of myself. Low and behold my thyroid function was slow. So the fun began. When starting the battle against your thyroid you start small and wait. Then you test and wait. Then you try something different and wait. Then more testing and waiting. And every time you try something you have hope that this time its going to work. Sometimes it does and sometimes it doesn't.
After three years and lots of blood tests and lots of adjustments things started to improve. I was feeling better. More like the old me. The fog had lifted and brain function returned. I felt like being a mommy again to my kids and a wife to my husband.

So to make matters more interesting not only is it a low functioning thyroid but it is extra special in its non-function. I have Hashimoto's. I like saying it with a Japanese accent. Ay Hashimoto. So the battle continues against my thyroid. Sometimes I win. Sometimes I don't.

About 18 months ago I started running. My doc says the fact that I want to run and do so is a testament to the meds working. My first goal was a 10k last May. I ran very slowly but I finished in an hour twenty seven.  Then I ran all summer in the insanely intense heat of  North Carolina. But it was worth it because of the wine. They were all vineyard runs.
Along this journey I have been encouraged by friends that run oh so much faster than me. First T who is training for her first marathon. Oddly she often states how much she hates running but she doesn't it anyway. When I moved back to Colorado I kept running. Lack of oxygen didn't stop me but slowed me down for a while. My friend G took up the torch of running with me. She personally states that she never liked running until recently. She keeps me motivated and I pace her. We have our first 10k in March, a mere three weeks from now.

I figured something's gotta give eventually and it won't be me. I'll probably never be the svelte me I wish I could be. I'll keep setting new goals and meeting them. And seeing my endocrinologist regularly. So I'm picking up my broad sword, putting on my chain mail, and running shoes. Battle on.