Oh, I am back, on the running thing that is!

This morning I woke up, feeling a bit guilty that I did not do anything active yesterday, so I laced up my sneakers and grabbed my dog and went for a run. I ran down my favorite street, Hudson, and around town, and back all in all about three and a half miles, and I did it In about 35 minutes, which is good. Deloris, my blue eyed pup was happy and exhausted when we got back and I was happy because I just ran a good run for the first time in a long time.

About two years ago, I was running a regular 3-4 miles a day, every morning, and I had to stop because my hips were hurting and I was hobbling every day. Now, I have been to the doctor, and received the news that I had not done damage to my joints, I had just developed tendinitis, and that I wasnt going to hurt myself by continuing to run.

I have been running on the treadmill at the gym, thinking that was easier on my joints, and I took a run last week, about a mile and a half and i was fine, so today was a test that went well!

I am so happy! I love to run, and to greet the morning with my dog at my side and the breeze on my face, and the sun rising in the sky! OH HAPPY DAY and many more ahead!

Oh, i am falling down on my duties!

It seems like my blog falls down on two occasions. One is when I feel like I have little going on. The other is when I am way too busy enjoying my life, and that has been this occasion.

I apologize for not recording all of the fun and productivity that has been in my life. I will be doing better at recording my captains log starting now!

Last night, I went to the gym, and then for the first time, I went to a yoga class. I found out about the class on a bulletin board in the supermarket. It said it was at the Lutheran church and it was only $1 (donation suggested)

I have been wanting to do yoga for a while. I used to do it in Auburn, but the only place i have found that has yoga here was the yoga studio which is about $50 a month, or $14 a day, which is way too much.

My first yoga class was nice, and a good stretch. It was just what i wanted! Thanks Lutheran Church, I will see you next Tuesday as well!

WHO DAT!!!

Ok, so all I have to say is WHO DAT!!!!!

The Saints won last night. It was such a good year for them (captain obvious no?) and I am thankful to be in the Saints Nation. I have never been attached to a pro team, in any sport. The Saints is my first, which I inherited when I moved to the coast.

Before any watching of the Super Bowl, I think it is mandatory that you eat and drink well. My friends Heather and Kevin invited us to there house to cheer on our team and, of course eat a lot. They dont mess around either. They cooked a whole pig, and boiled crawfish, and although i didnt take picture of it, they had a huge spread inside as well. To help keep our nerves in check, they had a game of horse shoes to occupy our time before the kickoff!

Here are some pictures from the evening.

Book 2: the Help

Man, I am flyin through this birthday resolution. I am also amending this resolution. I cannot buy a book. Some one has to loan it to me, or i have to go to the library, or i have to already have it. That is the amendment! Good thing that the first two books both fit under this amendment.

Book #2: The Help by Kathryn Stockett.

click here to go to the books page on Amazon!

This book was right up my alley. I have always enjoyed reading about the Civil Rights Movement here in the south. In addition to hearing about how people can overcome great inequity, it is also strange and powerful to know that i live in that changed place. And while i know that there is still much to be done, much to change and the country still has faults, it makes me feel like i am proof that change has happened. If i were born 25 years earlier, i would have been born into a segregated and violent time. So, thank you all of those who made my life better, and richer.

This book is about a group of black maids in the early 60s in Jackson Mississippi, and their interaction with the white families they served. It is powerful, and feminine. That doesnt mean that men shouldnt read it. They should. It is about women, strong women. I highly recommend this book!!! TO ANYONE. We need to remember all of the work that has gotten us here to where we are, and we need to thank those people who fought so hard.

This book was given to me by my friend Dawn. I share my Wednesday evenings with her and two other women. This book is one that three of us have enjoyed and the fourth is reading now! I am thankful for those women that I share a porch with, and I am glad they introduced me to this book!

I Hate Crape Myrtles

Thats not true. I think they are beautiful, especially in the winter, with their seed pods, and their peeling bark.

I AM tired of them though. I think that they are very over planted. I think that this world would be better off if another crape myrtle was never planted. WE HAVE ENOUGH!!!!

Almost every small town has them in their street-scapes. Every new development plants them. Hell! Almost every yard that gets landscaping work done has them.

They are pretty plants, but my suggestion is that if you dont have them in your yard, keep it that way. Enjoy them when you visit your friend's house, or when you go to church, or go the grocery store, or go down town, or walk down the street. They are in your life enough.

Instead, I think you should, and every municipality, church, grocery store, should start planting other small trees that have color different times of years. What about the redbud, or the gardenia(i know it inst a tree, but it is beautiful and smells good), or the magnolia, or the dogwood, or the grancy gray beard, or the popcorn tree. all are beautiful. What about a blueberry bush? What about going to the nursery and exploring what is there?

THERE ARE OTHER BEAUTIFUL TREES ASIDE FROM THE CRAPE MYRTLE!!!!

Make an adventure out of it. Find something that is right for you, not something that is so safe that you are sure to not offend!

Good luck and have fun!

I love fences that are messy

I was in Gulfport looking at a site and meeting a client. She called to say that she was running a little late and I was in an older part of town and I had my camera, so predictably, I started walking around. There were a lot of great fences.







And this super Mississippi looking alley.

Book 1: Happy Birthday, or Whatever

As part of my birthday resolutions, I am reading 12 books this year. My first book, with a very fitting title, was Happy Birthday or Whatever by Annie Choi.

Click to view on Amazon

I first heard of Annie Choi when I read Dear Architects, Im sick of your shit. It is a quick 2 page essay, that you should definitely read!

Anyways, Happy Birthday or whatever... It is memoir about a kind of spoiled youngest korean child, who had a insane family. I would recommend it to someone looking for a quick and funny read. It is not too serious, and unless you are Korean, it is a little view port into the American/Korean immigrant family life.

Next Book: the Help! (thanks dawn, for letting me borrow it!)