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Today is the 3rd anniversary of my 29th birthday. My birthday celebration started yesterday with a trip to Pier 1 Imports to buy the Hayworth mirrored jewelry armoire. It continued with a dinner date with Michael and a bottle of Pinot Noir at The Melting Pot. Today we enjoyed my birthday lunch with the boys at Red Robin, Alex's choice. I wanted to relax today. I have been hanging out in my bedroom this afternoon, reading and watching A Chorus Line.

I wish I had a picture of 29 to post, but for all my jokes about hating aging, I look so much better at 32 than I did in my late 20s. I am so much healthier! I ran 46 miles during my 8 day vacation. That is just amazing to me! Still, aging sucks. Despite running 46 miles and spending most of my days on the beach with the boys, my metabolism crawls. I gained 5 pounds last week on my mom's greasy soul food. Anyway, happy birthday to me!

Pawley's Island 2009

Childless

Well, sort of. Friday was the last day of school. The boys are going to the Jewish Community Center's day camp again this summer, but camp doesn't start until June 8. Fortunately, my brother Andrew is a wonderful uncle and willing to step in and keep the boys this week...for a small price, of course! The boys are in Greenville with my family, and we will be reunited in Pawley's Island on Friday. Ah, vacation...I will be at Pawley's with all the Rowells (minus Madeline) for 9 days. I am so excited to hang out with Matthew and his GF Leland, Jason and Jenny and their baby Christopher, Andrew, my parents, and my boys. The highlights of the week will be flat running (no hills!!!), my very loud, obnoxious and loveable bros, beer, the beach, books, and corn hole.

Ok, but back to being childless. Michael and I handed over our children Sunday afternoon. We went for a very hot 2:30pm 5-miler and later enjoyed a relaxing meal at Za's. We also got to watch an entire movie without little-boy-interruptions: Role Models. Very funny.

Monday is a rest day, so we slept as late as possible (6am), dined at California Dreaming, and went to bed early with 3 episodes of The Sopranos.

I have a running partner this week! Michael got up and ran 6 miles with me Tuesday morning. He had a golf date Tuesday afternoon, and I had a coffee date with Gwen. Michael ran a 5-miler with me this morning, and we are meeting friends out for dinner at Rosso in Forest Acres this evening. Thursday night's plans are up in the air. Michael might have card game, and we have to pack for our vacation.

Although I am giddy with excitement about our beach vacation, I don't want this week to end. Every now and then parents need a break. I adore my boys, but it has been so nice to run with my husband in the mornings. It is amazingly stress-free to only have to get myself ready for work. No carpool lines, no fighting. My house is so peaceful and clean! I have been physically, emotionally and spiritually exhausted the past few weeks and I am so grateful to Andrew and my parents for giving us this special gift. It feels like we won the lottery--if only for 5 days.

Purging

My house is clean and clutter-free. Well, mostly clutter-free. We did not go on vacation or do anything remotely fun Memorial Day Weekend. We took a 1/2 day on Friday and spent 3 1/2 days cleaning our house. I bought a box of heavy duty contractor trash bags and threw out approximately 15 bags of junk. When I was still in a slightly thrifty, green and giving mood I made a few bags for Gwen, my family, and Goodwill. Unfortunately, that mood only lasted a few hours.

We attacked bedrooms, closets, the kitchen and the basement. I introduced Michael to the split-second decision to trash something just because we don't have a place for it. Trash! Trash! Trash! It felt wonderful! I feel lighter, more alive, and incredibly peaceful. I am aware that I should feel guilty for throwing away things that could have been recycled or shared, but I just couldn't take it anymore.

This weekend I threw all of my beliefs about conservation and thrift to the four winds. I confess: it felt good.

Now that my house is in order, I will try to get back on the wagon.

10 Mile Playlist

I ran 10 miles again this morning. I am still amazed by how cool the mornings have been in Columbia the past few weeks. What an awesome experience! As most of you know, I run alone. As a general rule, I do not get bored during runs. I do need a bit of encouragement when the run is long and the terrain is hilly! Here is my 10-Miler Playlist...just a few more songs than I need to finish an hour and forty minute run.

Gives You Hell by The All-American Rejects
Walk Away Renee by The Left Banke
Our House by Madness
Livin' Thing by Electric Light Orchestra
Spaceman by The Killers
Coming Undone by Korn
St. Elmos Fire by John Parr
Light & Day by The Polyphonic Spree
Gonna Fly Now by Bill Conti (Rocky!!)
Home Sweet Home by Carrie Underwood (Sorry Ozzy!)
(Don't Fear) The Reaper by Blue Oyster Cult
Jump by Van Halen
Baba O'Riley by The Who (My all-time favorite song!)
Float On by Modest Mouse
Desolation Row by My Chemical Romance
My Life Would Suck Without You by Kelly Clarkson
Do Ya by Electric Light Orchestra
Shut and Let Me Go by The Ting Tings
Peace Frog by The Doors
And We Danced by The Hooters
Surrender by Cheap Trick
Smile Like You Mean It by The Killers
Indestructible by Disturbed
Fox on the Run by Sweet (ME!)
Sweet Talkin' Woman by Electric Light Orchestra
Human by The Killers
Show Me What I'm Looking For by Carolina Liar
Word Up! by Korn
Barracuda by Heart
Tumbling Dice by The Rolling Stones
You Are the Best Thing by Ray LaMontagne
99 Red Balloons by Nena (English version)
Gone by Kelly Clarkson
When You Were Young by The Killers

This playlist rocked! Well, I guess it literally does rock with a heavy dose of both classic and hard rock, with a hint of Top 40 pop. My 10 mile route is very hilly, but I often forgot how hard I was working because I was jamming to my tunes!

I ran 10 miles today.

Today was my first 10-miler. Wow. I am still pumped about it! I started out at 6:30am and it took me 1 hour and 39 minutes to cover 10 miles. I ran the entire distance and only stopped to drink and eat energy candy. Nothing hurts, but unfortunately I have not been able to stop eating all day!

Those of you runners out there, tell me if I did this right: I have a fuel belt, so I started drinking gatorade after 1 hour of running. It was only about 70 degrees this morning, but I poured sweat. I do not like gels, so I ate a handful of Sharkies every 15 minutes after I hit the 1 hour mark. I don't know if this was the right way to fuel a run, but I did not bonk and I felt fine after I finished.

Ok, so I said nothing hurts, but I did encounter an unfortunate biomechanical problem with my left foot. I have Morton's Toe, which means my second toe is freakishly longer than my big toe. My running shoes have plenty of toe room, but my second toe talked to me during the entire run. It wasn't screaming at me, but it probably will as my mileage picks up. This week I am going to research gel caps and other orthotics before my next long run. If any of you have this problem I would appreciate any advice you can give me!

Mother's Day Rocks!

I have lots of catch-up blogging and picture-posting to do this week. I will actually be home for an entire week!! In fact, I don't travel again until the first week of June. Anyway, my Mother's Day rocked. We spent last night in Ninety Six with Michael's family. I woke up at 7am (very late for me) and ran 4 miles. That 4 miler capped off a very nice 28 mile week! I am so proud of that 28 miles. After coffee and toast, I covered the boys in sunscreen and they went fishing with Pots (Michael's dad). Michael and I joined his parents at the lake for a few lazy hours of sunbathing. We went to the Grand Harbor Clubhouse for the Mother's Day buffet, and then we hit the lake for several more hours of skiing and kneeboarding. The boys had a blast, and I enjoyed the lounge chair and much needed conversation with my sister-in-law Laura. I enjoyed my day and I love my Mother's Day Running Geek gift: 3 pairs of Injinji toe socks and a 4-bottle Helium Fuel Belt.

So Mother's Day rocked, but this actually was a pretty rough week. Athena had surgery Monday to remove a cancerous tumor on her neck. Our vet thinks she got it all with the laser, and Athena does not have to have chemo or any other treatment. We just have to watch her carefully for anymore growths. I will let her eat a hundred Vera Bradley purses if she will just stay healthy! I love love love that dog. I was in Boca Raton, Florida through Wednesday. Thursday was my only day in the office and I hardly had time to go to the bathroom. I left work a little early, picked up Alex, and hit the road to Greenville to see my family. Friday's highlight was a 3 1/2 hour graduation ceremony at Clemson. My sister Madeline is my parents' fourth child to graduate from college. Alex and I met Michael in Clinton on Saturday for my sis-in-law's much-shorter graduation ceremony at Presbyterian College. Whew! This working mama is weary.