Oh, kids.

I was reading my sister's blog and remembering the good old days when my daughter used to blurt out awkward questions in public.
So, fast-forward two days, and I'm in TJMaxx with the big one and she is talking far too loudly. Several times I asked her to talk more quietly because I was right there, not across the store. I was looking through a rack of dresses when I came across a green one. My daughter exclaimed (loudly), "Hey mom, you could wear that when you go to the lumberjack party!"
"What?" I said, laughing nervously while glancing around sideways to see who was in earshot (the entire store) and motioning for her to be quiet.
"You know, the lumberjack party? When you wear your gold shiny shoes?"
Oh, good grief, I could only imagine what people were thinking.
Then it clicked.
"Oh," I said loudly and clearly, "you mean ST. PATTY'S DAY, the LEPRECHAUN party."
"Yeah, you could wear that green dress."
Thank you, child, for your suggestions.

Running Update

Today I finished off my last easy week of running. The 12 week plan that I have been following has an easy week every 4 weeks where you cut back mileage and don't do any difficult training. Today was the end of my last one, which means that I have 4 weeks until my race. The last month of training is often referred to as the 'monster month' because you're running more miles, more often each week in preparation for the race.
I'll be glad when this race is done. I feel like I'll be well prepared, but diligently following a schedule is not my cup of tea. It takes some serious discipline to stick to a running schedule, especially when it often involves waking up painfully early to run before my husband goes to work. I'm looking forward to setting my own schedule in a month, and more realistically, taking a break for a few weeks.

a taste of fall

When I woke up this morning it was 57 degrees outside. I sat outside on my deck, drinking coffee, and watching people walk along the path. The sun has a slightly less oppressive shine to it, the air has a dew-y coolness. The promise of fall is on the horizon. My favorite season will be here before we know it. Everything is best during these sweet months. The sunlight is best, the air is best, the colors are best, the produce is best, the clothing is best. Life is fun to live in the fall. My husband and I will be celebrating 10 years together in a couple of months and every year it seems like the fall renews that sense of new love. Granted, it may be 90 degrees next week, but the flavor has been sampled, fall is on its way.