When it Rains... it Floods.

Good Morning Friends.

This has been a very trying week for us.  Dee became very ill on Tuesday, and we took her to the WSU Veterinary Hospital (best place on earth.)  It turns out that she had become diabetic, and developed ketoacidosis and pancreatitis.  When they told me all of this on the phone - everything kind of became fuzzy, and I just remember hearing the word "crisis" over and over again.

She is currently undergoing treatment, but will for the rest of her life be diabetic.  The ketones in her blood have gone from extremely high, to mid-range - they should be zero.  She is responding well to the treatments, she is now eating, but she is so weak.  For those of you who know her - instead of running over and jumping on you, she just raises her eyebrows.  She is such a tired gal.  She won't even lift her head to drink.  My heart hurts for her.  I am going to go visit her again today - it is just so hard to see her so sick.  She is a fighter though, and I know that we will bring her home.

As you can imagine, all of this care is going to cost us an extremely pretty penny.  She is worth every bit.  Of course that means I'll be hounding all of you to try your hand at a Pampered Chef show, or to attend one. (Let me know if you want too!!!  and if you live in Ephrata please come to the show on the 4th of June).  Just when you think you are out of the woods financially, something like this happens, and BAM - someone pushes your head back under water.  I know that we will all pull through this, and that we will be stronger for it.  Our house feels so empty without the little blondie running around, or turning cartwheels at the door to meet you.  She is such a special girl.

May your day be filled with paw prints on your heart.

Andrea

Not Exactly Sure I'm GaGa.

If you haven't heard, Ms. Gaga released her new album this week.  I was pretty excited - I can't pass up a good pop jam.  (Don't worry - there is plenty of other "good" music on my playlist too.)

So, here I sit - on song number 3 "Hair" thinking - eh, when does the fabulous stuff start?  I'm as free as my hair??  I want to be your hooker??  WHAT?!?!  Is everyone eating crazy sandwiches, or am I missing something.  So far - I am not in love.  Granted, there is about 15 songs to go.  I'm hoping there is something sassy yet to come.

However, until that moment arrives - enjoy this awesome skit featuring the lady:

May you day be filled with fun and gags,

Andrea

In Need of a Smile??

I think we all have days where we wake up dressed from head to toe in grumpy pants.  We can shake them, as they are tighter than spandex... maybe this is why we are so grumpy - they cut off our circulation, and cause us to not think as clearly as we would like.

On days like this, I turn to youtube.  A simple smile is the only cure to loosen these grumpy pants.  AND what type of videos do I watch??  One's like these - enjoy!!!

May your day be filled with *treeeeeaaats*.

Andrea

The Pits of Being Poorly Shod.

Goooooood Morning Friends.

Well, it happened.  I had my first crap race.  Don't worry, this isn't one of those "oh, she is being to hard on herself posts."  This is more of a, "holy bananas my toe blew up!" post.

You see, salespeople are sneaky.  I came waltzing into a running store with one thing on my brain: Brooks Ravenna 2.  I left with a pair of asics, craptastic.  The first couple times I ran in them, the calf pain that I was experiencing went away.  However, I developed a blister on the middle toe of my right foot.  These shoes also made me run on my tippy toes, which made my coach VERY irritated.

Two days before the race the blister cracked, and bled, and what did I do? - superglued it back together.  Because really, superglue fixes everything - or so I thought. 

Race Day.  Warm up.  I get corrected no less than 10 times for running on my toes.  Damn shoes.  On your marks.  Get set. GO!!!  and we're off.  Mile 2, I finally pass the 16 year old kid in a pirate costume.  Mile 2.5, finally pass the 8 year old.  Mile 3.1, nearly choke on water (I really need to learn to run and grab and drink).  Mile 4, my toe explodes.  A blister had formed under the superglued blister, and it burst, and it bled, and it hurt.  Mile 5-6, ouch.  ouch.  ouch.  ouch.  get passed by an old dude.  ouch. ouch. ouch.

The upside to having this happen to me in a 10K was that I got the opportunity to learn from it.  It wasn't the marathon, or even the half.  I learned that when you know what you want, you shouldn't let anyone talk you into something else.  Go with your gut. Chances are, the person trying to change your mind doesn't have YOUR best interests at heart. 

Final time:  6.2 miles in 55:13.  Next race: Pendleton 15K... it's a doozy.

May your day be filled with happy feet and toes.

Andrea

A conversation with the Farmers.

Last night I informed my dear husband that I was in the market for a new pair of sunglasses.  These needed to be super fancy sunglasses that I could run in.  So, sporty sunglasses.  An hour later - this is the conversation that was had...

Shiloh - "I think I found you a pair of sunglasses."
Andrea - "Yeah, are they what I was looking for?"
Shiloh - "I don't know what that means..."
Andrea - "You know sunglasses that I can run in."
Shiloh - "Run in?"
Andrea - "Yeah, they have to be kind of fitted - they can't be like the ones I wear in the car."
Shiloh - after scoffing... "Yeah, I know the ones you wear in the car are ridiculous and good for nothing *pause* but looking ridiculous."

Wow... thanks for your vote of confidence dear.  It made me chuckle the rest of the night. 

But, seriously, if you know of some sweet running sunglasses let me know.  In the meantime, I'll be chillin' in my ridiculous sunglasses.

May your day be filled with unexpected humor.

Andrea