Blog Motivation & Holiday Happenings

I have been struggling with blogging motivation lately. I was looking through my posts from the last few years (especially last year) and I blogged much more than I do now. I wish I could say I have the same desire to do that now...but I don't. I have contemplated keeping this blog up and running or taking a step back and trying to become more private (I feel like since I started blogging, social media/internet has really taken the place of so much of what this blog was for me in terms of saying how I was feeling and documenting parts of my life). I find that instagram is my new "daily life" social media avenue. Also, the less I am on the internet/blogging, the happier I actually am, but I do enjoy having some sort of personal diary to look back on, which is essentially what this blog has been for me. I have some posts planned for the remainder of this month, but I may take a step back in 2016...we'll see!

It didn't take baby Libby long to knock over my small tree!

Updates for me as of now...I finished my 4th semester of PhD work! It was a really nice semester between supervising master's level students and taking a Statistics class. It was also very easy semester for me, and the spring looks to be much more busy, so I have definitely been spoiled! I am a little antsy about needing to do more research though. Presenting and teaching is not a problem for me (I am getting paid to teach adjunct next semester- woot woot! and I have a big presentation coming up in March in Montreal), but I do need to align myself with a professor to do more research. However, I really have enjoyed this PhD experience so much that I almost don't want to ruin it with "feeling" like I have to do anything. It has been much more of a personal growth and learning for fun experience (imagine that-> school can be fun?!). I have ideas of what I want to do when I finish, but I am not in a rush about anything. Even if I graduate and stay doing things similar to what I am doing now, it will have been worth it. As I get older I realize what a privilege it is to be able to afford to continue my education and how learning is a wonderful/insightful thing, and I want to keep it that way:) I am exactly halfway done with classes now! I have one and a half years to go until dissertation time...it's flying by!

Besides finishing classes, I have been playing with my new kitty (baby Libby) and her brother and celebrating the holidays! I have also been running more casually since I don't have any big races on the calendar for a while. It has been nice to run a more normal amount (aka not 15+ miles at a time), but I still enjoy my Saturday morning group runs!

Work Holiday Party!

She is so sweet when she sits still!

Tacky Lights!

This picture makes it look like they actually get along...

James Center!

The Jefferson Hotel decorated for Christmas!

I have one more day of work before my two weeks off (!!!) and many more parties this weekend (I have three alone Saturday night)!. I am heading to the Outer Banks for a few days early next week before Christmas, and then family comes in afterwards. I am very much looking forward to the break! I still wish I could take a bigger trip during these weeks off, but it is a hard time of year to travel with people and for good deals. Don't worry- I have a spring and summer full of great trips that I am sure I will document even if I blog much less:)

What funs things have you been up to?

Thinking Out Loud

Here I am 5 days out from my the marathon. I can successfully walk without pain, had my first short run back today (2.5 miles on the treadmill, thank you rain), have rehashed the race with all my running buddies, and feel like my appetite and energy levels have gotten back to normal. I think my recovery this time around was faster than last March, but it is still a surprise to me how long it takes me to feel normal again after a race like this (aka bathroom habits, sleep schedule, body fatigue, ect). These marathons sure do put a toll on your body! How ANYONE can do a recovery run the day after a marathon is beyond me. 

I posted some race photos that my friends and family took of me, but let's check out the attractive official race photos... (notice I am not posting them all)

Mile 20...about a mile before I started to die.

Down the finish chute!

Salty goodness!

I went to dinner last night with a group of people I trained with during the weekday morning runs (and who also did the Saturday training teams). It was awesome to hear everyone's feelings about the marathon and how awesome/hard it was. I kept thinking how runners are really amazing people and I am so glad I have found a community that share this passion with. We were talking about how we were sad the training program was over because it leaves such a void in our week. As exhausting and time-consuming as it is, I really enjoy how even though running is such an individual sport, you really become part of a group while doing it. We all understand the aches and pains and how many of our days revolve around running (whether they should or shouldn't)-> Going to bet at 8 PM? Totally normal! Who has time to date when you are training for a marathon? -> I won't miss having to run 8-10 miles before work, but I will miss the people and having a goal. After all, isn't that what it is all about?

So it's been a good week, albeit a slight letdown from the anticipation of race week! On the plus side, I AM adopting a new kitty from work though. I need name ideas! 

Tony Romo's new baby sister.

I get to bring her home on Wednesday! I am excited to spend Thanksgiving with her and her aunts and uncles!

As for me this weekend, I have Friendsgiving (I am hosting) on Saturday afternoon and a quick trip to Charlottesville to see my friend's new baby boys! Other than that I am going to try to not spend money, as November has ended up being an expensive month between socializing and my new car. I gotta save up for the holidays and hopefully a trip during my two weeks off from work. 

How did everyone else's recovery go this week? Anyone running races in the next few weeks?

Work Lately

We have a Vet Science class at my school, so I have been enjoying the animals lately! Especially as I am battling being so tired/sore/sick this week from marathon training and a cold, getting to hold and spend time with the animals really is like therapy. It also calms the students down. It is amazing to see their demeanor change when they see animals in the building (one student who was having an anxiety attack was completely calmed down by a kitten). Animals are universal healers! I think they should be in every school:)

Chef J's dog, Maisie!

Hershey!

Hershey and friend.

Sweet Becky!

The kitten I am SO TEMPTED to adopt...Feisty!

Another one of our coworkers dogs!

So as you all know, I have a cat, but do we think I can adopt another one? I think Romo might like a friend to play with...

Thoughts?

Mom if you bring home another animal....

Have a great weekend with your furbabies, families and friends:)

Milo

If you know me or have read this blog, you know I am a cat lover. My boys, Milo and Romo, have made appearances numerous times.

Romo loved Milo, and Milo took the role of big brother pretty well:)

I got Milo in the spring of 1999 as a kitten. He was my dream cat- an orange tabby- and was named after the similar cat in the great movie "The Adventures of Milo and Otis." My family's cat Beanie had passed that February, and Milo was a welcome addition a few months later. He was the very first kitten we ever had, and we loved the energy he brought with him (but not that whole clawing the couch/climbing curtains thing...#webelieveindeclawing)! He was also our first boy cat, so we discovered what fun they are, which would eventually lead me to getting another boy cat 9 years later.

He quickly became friends with our dog, Ginger, and tormented our other cat, Mandy. His personality was nothing but fun and social from the beginning, and he was popular among friends and family. He even sucked his tail when he was a baby:) It was the cutest thing ever! I wish I had those pictures scanned.

Milo grew to be a very big boy (18 pounds- but I stand firm that he was big boned NOT fat) and never let go of his cool demeanor. He tolerated Romo when we got him, and always won the fights they would have. Though as he got older he definitely got grouchy, he was a snuggler, always let me pick him up, napped on my dad's lap every day, and always meowed loudly when I would sing to him (I think my pitch hurt his ears)! Though I think my parents didn't appreciate his 5 AM (even on weekends) wake-up calls for food or his preferences in seating areas (he was a GREAT seat stealer- warm spots were his favorite).

Our first cat to drink from the toilet...and he sadly isn't our last.

Chillin' in the tub...because, why not?

His last few years weren't as great- he developed diabetes that required twice-a-day shots- but he still never lost his personality. We didn't know what went into taking care of a cat with diabetes (it is a lot), and we were thankful that we were able to control it for the last 5 years. The vet had warned us that cats with diabetes don't typically like past 16 years, so we were always watching out for changes in his behavior. Sadly, just a month ago we noticed he was losing weight and discovered a tumor in his mouth. We were able to prepare ourselves and made sure the last few weeks were as comfortable as possible for him. Yesterday we found out that the tumor had broken his jaw and he no longer could eat. We made the decision to end his pain then, in a way I hope was the right choice, and one in which I wish we could offer to people:(. My mom and I got to spend some nice time with him to say goodbye before it was done.

Christmas 2014

Milo was 16 and a half years old and brought joy to out family and our friends. I never will probably have another cat with the same laid-back, social personality (nor one as big), and I will for sure never forget him. He is the 100% reason I became a cat person!

We will love and miss you, Milo, and we hope you are now pain-free and at peace:)

No explanation necessary

Do I always have to have a reason to post something? Because the above picture is just too good not to. I'm sorry, but cats are amazing creatures.

I just went on my last run (tear) for two weeks! I did 4.1 miles at a good pace, especially considering the hot weather in Virginia today. You know I don't like running in heat, so an 80 degree run is pushing it! But I felt good. I will do a shake out elliptical workout tomorrow morning before heading to the beach to visit a friend and that will be it for two weeks. Think I can make it? I'm not so sure!

However, I did get to finish the book I am reading by the pool as I cooled off after my run. I love the evenings this time of year because you get chilly but not cold when the sun goes down, so it is enjoyable being outside. If you are interested at all in television networks and why they make the choices they do in terms of what shows get on air and what the process is like, you should read "Desperate Networks!" Or maybe I am a nerd who really likes all that stuff (remember my Nielsen Ratings post?).

A funny cat picture, running updates and a book recommendation- what more can you want from a blog post? 

Changin'

 

It seems to me that the more we change...

...and grow...

...the more we stay the same...

...and keep on staying...

... I guess part of who we are is innate from birth.