I think I'm getting a cold. My throat is sore and my head is fuzzy.

Yay!

Hey all. Thanks for awesome PICTURES OF VICTORY, Drew! Or as I like to call them, Victures. Or, Pictory. The jury's still out on that one.

Can I request some ~ma for my Grandma? She is having a hard, hard time these past few months since she packed up her life and left her home of 40+ years, and moved to a assisted lviing/condo type place. She is scared, and lonely, and in a lot of physical misery and discomfort (I think it's a family trait for stress and anxiety to manifest in GI problems). She asked me to pray for her and ask God to help her get through this. I don't know that I believe in God, but I definitely believe in Buffistas, so I thought I'd ask for some powerful ~ma to head Mary's way.

Much ~ma for Mary...and some prayers too, just for good measure.

I don't think I'm going to get this quiz done. Ah, one more thing to turn in late. Hee!

Hmm. Thanks for that, Raq - that's another encouraging story about running. I mean, I know it's not a particularly interesting activity, but the simple process of engaging in physical activity and NOT hating it/feeling like a failure is very new and quite exciting in and of itself. So I think I'll maybe have a crack at running in January, then, and perhaps work out a Weight program with a personal trainer for once a week or so. Maybe. Because I'd like to develop some upper body strength.

I'm only planning on being in Egypt for another year and a half; after that it's probably going to be the Far East, or India, or the States. Maybe then I'll be in a location where I can try fencing/martial arts.

Much ~ma for Grandma Mary.

Timelies all.

Fay - I'm bookmarking that running site. I have to do something to get in shape and maybe K-Bug will be willing to do that with me. Always nice to have a partner. I've been slowly gaining back some of what I lost and that needs to stop.

DH has a job interview today, so any interview~ma anyone can spare would be GREATLY appreciated.

eta - Health ~ma to Grandma Mary (that is my mom's name too)

Fay, I went from not running at all to training to run a 1/2 marathon last year. I had been doing some cardio, a little weight training, and pilates for a little while before I started running but I was not particularly active and certainly did not consider myself to be athletically adept at all.

I started out doing long walking/short running intervals which helped because I could change the intervals slightly, like adding a minute to the running interval, and feel like I was making progress QUICKLY.

When I had tried to run in the past I always gave up right away because I'd get shin splints. So when I took it up seriously last year the first thing I did was go out and buy real running shoes. Expensive but very much worth it. ALSO expensive but so so worth it--hardcore jogging bras.

What also really helped keep me motivated is that I was running the 1/2 in honor of my best friend's good buddy and colleague who had died suddenly and way too young earlier that year. He was a kid who'd been super unsporty, always picked last for the team etc., who took up running and got really into doing triathalons and who was always incredibly supportive of his friends' athletic endeavors. So when the running was utter torture (as it often was and sometimes still is) I'd just think of him and how he would have been cheering me on.

I did find that the pilates helped me out a lot with posture and, to some extent, breathing while running. Actually yoga helps even more with the breathing and for stretching out the tight muscles. So I've been trying to do at least one class of each every week (I know I should do more but too much other things to do usually...like work).

Good luck!

Timelies all!

Good luck on the running program, Fay.

~ma and prayers for Grandma Mary, health, friendship, and peace to her.

jobma for Suzi's DH. I hope he gets this one, and quickly.

Be kind to yourself today, vw.

The babies are on the bus and heading for school. Aidan seems to be just fine but Kara still has a bit of a croupy cough. They've been out 2.5 weeks, which is way too long. Kara didn't want to go and told me, "I think I will be sick all day today so I can't go to school." I'm sure she'll improve that story over time, but today it didn't work. She hates the school food so we packed a lunch of cheese chunks, baby carrots and grape tomatoes, her choice, and she only cried a little when she got on the bus. I called her teacher who is very nice and said that she'd try to leave Kara alone to settle in again today.

Aidan's teacher was so excited that he's coming back that she squealed. She told me that he may, however, be transferring to the local public school program in February. He has to be tested next month to see if he can hack it with the big (3 year old) boys.

Health ~ma to Grandma Mary (that is my mom's name too)

Same here, on both counts.

I've bookmarked that site Fay. For the past 20 years I have walked and not jogged. I did 4 marathons at a walk pace. Lately I've been thinking that jogging at least some portion of a race would be so nice. 7 hours straight of strolling along with a few thousand strangers is a whole lot more fun than you would think, but I would love to do it in 5 instead.

I've been alternating the jog pace with walking on the treadmill, but not in any consistent manner. Same with my weight training. It has been very random which isn't very helpful.

Deena! I had a dream that I was trying to call to talk to Aidan and Kara, and I realized I was calling from a hotel room phone and wanted to call from another phone. Needless to say, Kara was NOT impressed with my mad dream phone skillz.

job ~ma to the MG DH.

Thanks for the ~ma, everyone. She sure needs it.