Mr Mack, you will always be in our hearts

I haven't blogged in a while, and I haven't ever blogged about my "crew" - two pugs, Eugenie and Eudora, and two Golden Retrievers, Mack and Einstein. They are truly our children, our hearts, and our souls. Around 3am this morning Mack lost the battle he was fighting with Pneumonia, secondary to what I believe to have been a case of Atypical Cushing's Disease. If you have never heard of Cushing's, as I hadn't this time last week, please take a minute to familiarize yourself with the symptoms here. The symptoms can be so very similar to the aging process that they can easily be overlooked.
Mr Mack, Mommy and Daddy love you so much buddy. I know you are resting peacefully at the bridge now. You were our faithful friend, loyal companion, and taught us the meaning of unconditional love.

Running Music

During the week I listen to my Ipod while running. I have a very long "Running Mix" but am always looking for some new tunes to keep me chugging along. Here is my list, please share songs I'm missing that you feel are a must have!!

1. Whoomp There It Is - Tag Team
2. I'll Fly with you - Gigi D'Agostino
3. The Thong Song - Sisco
4. Ass and Titties - Three 6 Mafia
5. Material Girl - Madonna
6. Shine - Lil Wayne
7. Dance Tonight - Lucy Peal
8. Senorita - Justin Timberlake
9. Right Thurr - Chingy
10. Hot Wheels - Jim Crow
11. Twurkulator - Ying Yang Twins
12. Ladies - Sarai
13. Holla at a Playa - Jim Crow
14. Omnibus - XTC
15. Beautiful - Christina Aguilera
16. Whistle While you Twurk - Ying Yang Twins
17. Good Luck - Basement Jaxx
18. Connected for Life - Ice Cube and Mack 10
19. Shake that Monkey - Too Short
20. Indian Flute - Timbaland and Magoo
21. Be with You - Attomic Kitten
22. Salt Shaker - Ying Yang Twins
23. I Begin to Wonder - Dani Minogue
24. Hood Boy - Fantasia
25. Stay in Love with Me - Mona Lisa
26. Addictive - Truth Hurts
27. Burning for You - Kreo
28. Filthy/Gorgeous - Scissor Sisters
29. Hit'Em Up Style - Blue Cantrell
30. Running on Empty - Diana Fox
31. We Be Clubbin - Ice Cube and Mack 10
32. I Believe in a Thing Called Love - The Darkness
33. Da Dip - Freak Nasty
34. Eye of the Tiger - Survivor (you knew it was coming!)
35. Since U Been Gone - Kelly Clarkson
36. You Can Do It - Ice Cube
37. Shorty Swing My Way - KP and Envyi
38. Stupid Disco - Junior Jack
39. Just the Way You Are - Milky
40. The Way You Move - Outkast
41. Pump It Up - Joe Budden
42. My Humps - Black Eyed Peas
43. Work It - Missy Elliot
44. Hung Up - Madonna
45. Getaway - Becky Baeling
46. Never - Tina Arena
47. Shoulder Lean - Young Dro
48. Milk Shake - Kelis
49. The New Workout Plan - Kanye West
50. Get Your Freak On - Missy Elliot
51. The Sound of Violence - Cassius
52. 100 Dollar Bill Yall - Ice Cube
53. Ms. New Booty - Bubba Sparxxx
54. Pimp Juice - Nelly
55. Naggin - Ying Yang
56. Nasty Dancer - Kilo
57. I Do - Toya
58. Round The Globe - Nappy Roots
59. It's Goin Down - Young Joc
60. Baddest Roughest - Backyard Dog
61. Hey Ya - Outkast
62. Golden - Jill Scott
63. Forever - Ian Van Dahl
64. Isaac - Madonna
65. Oohhwee - Master P
66. Pump It - Black Eyed Peas
67. Catch You If I can - Kosheen
68. No Letting Go - Wayne Wonder
69. Dragostea Din Tei - O-Zone
70. Icey - Young Jeezy
71. Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' - Michael Jackson
72. Bombs Over Bagdad - Outkast
73. Don't Mess with My Man - Nivea
74. Punjabi
75. Standing Still - Aubrey
76. I Don't Feel Like Dancing - Scissor Sisters
77. Senorita - Jen
78. Shake Your Body - Unknown
79. Daisy Dukes - 69 Boys
80. Airforce Ones - Nelly
81. Be Easy - TI
82. Move Bitch - Ludacris
83. All I Want to Do is - Geggy Tah
84. Vivrant Thing - Q-Tip
85. Breathe - Telepopmusik
86. Baby Mama - Three 6 Mafia

WHEW!! That's a long list!!! Congrats if you made it all the way through :)

Long Runs and Scrapbooking?!?!

John, my Dad, and I did our longest run yet on Saturday. It was chilly, but the skies were blue and sunny. I'm not sure of our exact mileage, but from looking at the course map it looks like it was somewhere between 8 and 10 miles. It have to say it was the most pleasant run of that distance I have ever had. I think I owe a lot of that to my new shoes and insoles. I went with the Mizunos, but with a higher stability since my knee has been giving me some more trouble. Here's a link if you are interested:

http://www.mizunousa.com/equipment.nsf/AllProduct/DD1D4580F8C836D8852572270072F103?opendocument&div=running&cat=womensfootwear

I also bought some Super Feet insoles. I really can't tell if it's the insoles, the shoes, or a combination of the two, but I truly feel that this is as close to wonderful as my feet have ever felt during a run.


While on my run I had a big decision to make. I recently began co-hosting a scrapbooking critique group, and Friday was the deadline to enter our first challenge. The challenge was an exercise in simplicity - you were only allowed to use one sheet of card stock and one sheet of patterned paper (unlimited embellishments). I went over each layout in my head while on the run and my thoughts kept returning to this LO by Lynette. Isn't it lovely??

Oh.My.God!

Just when I finally got rid of the clothes walkers - I assume they have finally abandoned their New Year's resolutions - I am assaulted by a new level of disgusting. While doing my three miles at lunch today, there was a girl running next to me in her work out clothes [read - Thank GOD!]. I'd say she was going a little slower than I was, but she was clearly running. She came in a little bit after I did, so she was still going strong when I hit the showers. While I am exiting the shower, she enters the locker room and proceeds to take off her running clothes, immediately put her work clothes back on and then leave. I stood there in shock. I sweat like a pig while running. I cannot fathom going back to work after a run without a shower, for my sake as well as out of courtesy for my coworkers. GROSS!!!

Second Long Run of the Season - CHECK!

John and I completed our second long run of the season today. Yes, I said John and I - Dad flaked again. Excuse this week - he didn't want to miss the Super Bowl Pre-Game show. In his defense, he did run 5 yesterday so I'm not going to be too hard on him. But next week, no more miss nice girl.

I'm not sure how many miles we did but I would guesstimate between 7 and 8. We ran for 90 minutes and took a more difficult route this week. At one point we scaled a hill that I know was more than a 45 degree incline. It was tough, but it felt good. I hope by integrating more hills in our runs this year that we will be better able to handle the hills in the marathon. Overall, the sun was warmer today and I really enjoyed filling my lungs with fresh air - file this one under good run!

The Impossible Dream

I have this irrational hope that one day I will find the perfect running shoe. The one that will be supportive, yet cushiony; make me feel fast, yet never give me a blister. I realize I don't have an easy foot to fit. I was cursed with flat feet the size of boats, however, I don't think that should damn me to running shoe hell - where all I can find are shoes that are hard as bricks or some God awful shade of orange. And please, shoe salesmen everywhere take note - suggesting I try a men's shoe is an insult.

After a long tiring day of shoe shopping I have narrowed the field down to two contenders:

The new model of my old shoe, the Nike Air Structure Triax X

http://www.runningwarehouse.com/descpageWRS-NST910W.html?from=nextag

and a Mizuno Wave Renegade

http://www.zappos.com/n/p/dp/6142712.html

I'm going to give myself a week to think about it. I'm really disappointed that the new version of my old Nike's has a lot less cushion than what I'm used to. I liked the Mizuno, but I'm afraid it's too narrow in the heel. You know these decisions would be much easier if these were $20 shoes rather than $100 shoes!