Just call me....busy bee!! I will try and catch you up!

I can't say why and I have no excuse other than I have been mentally busy. Huh?? Mentally busy....what is that?
Well, there has definitely been lots going on in my life but nothing that truly and honestly has kept me from actually sitting down and blogging. Just like there is no excuse for not fitting exercise into the daily schedule, there really isn't a reason other than....I have been thinking a lot....just not blogging about it. Yes, I have a full time job, a man and 3 kids and just last week had to put our oldest dog down, it's really not an excuse...it's just life. Things happen, and every day we have to put one foot in front of the other and keep moving forward. So I hope you to get caught up with some short rants about every week I have missed...just to catch myself up! Here goes...
Holy freeholies batman...it's been since really Jan. 12...oh, I am a busy bee.

Went to Miami in January with a co-worker for some work stuff. I had only been to Florida one other time and that was to Tampa Bay. Miami wins! I loved the beach, the food, and all the awesome shopping! But the people...wow, they seem very depressed....almost ho-hum. I have never been to a place where there were so many people, yet it seemed everyone ignored each other. The only time someone was actually nice was if it was our waiter or waitress and I am assuming because they love their tip money. From the airport, to the shuttle, to the hotel, to shopping...it was really weird. Maybe, I just live in a small town where you are greeted when you walk into an establishment or up to a counter to pay for something....well not here, the only 3 words that came out was "cash or credit". Not, "hi, did you find everything ok today" or "did you want to get another pair of earrings, they are 2 for $10"....just "cash or credit". My co-worker noticed the same thing so it became the running joke for the week. It was especially shocking because we were in a heavy Latino community and Spanish is the default language...EVERYWHERE...even the dressing room at Forever 21. No biggie, I can hang. So, although they were beautifully tan, gorgeous from head to toe, and had flawless bodies....they seemed, just very...cold. It was definitely odd! I can say going to Miami Beach was awesome though. We got to see 2 girls, that I swear, could have been off of the Jersey Shore show, totally hamming it up for guys and their camera phones. We went to a place called Mango's Tropical Cafe and that place was off the hook entertaining. Driving in Miami is an adventure all in itself. I think the cars in Miami have all malfunctioning turn signals, because it really doesn't matter how fast or slow a person is going, they just don't seem to work. I am an avid blinker user, and I think they were in shock whenever they saw one, because they did actually slow down and yield to allow me to merge. Where I am from, people see it as a sign to speed up and block you in...it's a fun game I guess. The funniest thing was everyone has to back into parking lot spaces, because appartently no one feels as though they need to yield when you are backing out. They just honk at you...as if, "how dare you back up", even if you were backing up before they came upon you at 45 mph. I can also say I have never heard so much honking while driving or being in a parking lot in my entire life. And they weren't honking at my perfectly, round, hot booty!! HA HA I had some fantastic food in Miami though, and I am thankful I don't live there, otherwise I would be 250 lbs. easy! Sushi is definitely different but fantastic, and lots of Japanese Steakhouses....one of my fav's. I was really good about working out while I was there even with the crappy hotel gym. 1 elliptical, 1 bike, and 1 treadmill. No weights, and it was hot as Hades in there because apparently no one actually uses the gym, so they don't keep the air on. I can say overall Miami is definitely a place I would like to visit more. Maybe the people are a little hum-drum in their lives, but maybe they just need a vacation from all the awesomeness of Miami!! It bores them apparently!

So I returned to my regularly scheduled life and here comes February...
Love Can Be Cold 5K - Feb 12
Valentine's Day - Feb 14
Hook-up Anniversary - Feb 19
President's Day - Feb 21

I have a new running partner. A co-worker of mine is single and trying to pick up chics and apparently thinks joining a running club is the way to go. I don't really talk much when I run, since the air I am desperately needing is being utilized...but hey, he doesn't really do the club scene, so I think it's great. Apparently there is some website where you can join different groups in your area depending on what you like to do. So if you like to go to movies, but don't really have anyone to go with, you join the local movie club...and bam, instant friends. At first I was like...seriously?? Well after looking at it, I kinda like it, because I found a group that Paddleboards and they provide them and show you how to do it! Yep, I AM IN!!! So I joined this running group with him as his "airbag"*. And out of obligation, I guilted asked him to run with me the morning of the 12th and it was great having someone there and not feeling like the odd girl out. So we ran and it was great.
*airbag - the equivalent to a wingman, but since I am a girl, it's called an airbag...learned this from an episode of Sex and the City.

Valentine's day was a Monday this year. I got flowers and a card, but I have to say this day isn't as big of a deal to us as maybe for other people. We are an extremely affectionate couple who shows are love for each other every day. So I think out of default he knows he has to at least do something...just because it's required. Duh, I don't want to be the girl that everybody looks at and goes...ah, she didn't get anything!! Well five days after this is our Anniversary. We call it the Hook-up anniversary because we aren't married. We were both parting ways with failed marriages, dealing with the emotions of that, and really didn't expect to fall in love like we did. I won't go into all the lovey dovey stuff, but it's been 5 absolutely awesome years and we have a 2 1/2 year old little boy to boot!! Woo hoo for love...So for the HU Anniversary we went to the Peppermill and got their awesome Tuscan Suite with 2 giant king size beds and a luxurious bathroom with a European Spa tub...or so I thought! Well, it's the holiday weekend so they were booked up and apparently they reserve the right to change what room you reserve so we didn't exactly get the room I hoped for! That was a little depressing but nothing can go wrong when I am with my yummee and we still had a great time. The next day, we got moved to the actual room we wanted and my mom brought the kiddos up and we all got to go and have some awesome family time at the heated pool. They got to run rampid around the casino and check out the awesome arcade and we made plans to go back for their birthdays...spoiled kids! Cut to...coming home....the "ol man" dog not doing so well. My mom had to carry him into the house the night before and he wasn't able to get up to go outside when we got home. His hips had given out. He was in pain and miserable and as much as I would have loved for him to just go peacefully at home, his body gave out before his heart. He was my first baby, before I had babies. Almost 15 years old and probably one of the best dogs I have ever known....and I had to put him down....let him go!! It took 2 1/2 days for the tears to dry up and I went back to work and pretty much pulled double shifts to catch up on some project work. We went to a friend's house over the weekend to have dinner and watch the UFC Penn vs. Fitch fight. It felt like forever since I had seen one, and there were some really good cards. I love to watch guys beat the crap out of each other in a caged setting, where I know at the end they will be getting paid vs. getting arrested!

So now we are at March 3rd, I have still been doing the Weight Watcher online thing. I love it and have gotten some really good ideas, tips, recipes, and I like how it tracks everything...but it only tracks what I put into it. Where is the auto-tracking gnome when you need one?? That's my equivalent to the Biggest Loser Bug thingamajig!! Speaking of Biggest Loser...I think that will be my next post...I am just not happy!

I have been running, cross-training, and pilate"ing"...although I definitely need to learn how to get my ass up in the morning and do it on the days yummee gets gym time in the evening. But I think I have discovered my legs just really don't want to perform at 4:45am....I know, excuses, excuses. I did join Anytime Fitness as we just had a brand new one open up in my lil' ol' town with the cool tv screens on the treadmills...I love the smell of a new gym!! That will have to be another post...gotta run...not literally...not until later tonight!

PS> Thoughts before I go....been baking more so need to cite sources and post foods. Let me tell you, the world of dairy free baking is AWEEESOOOMMMEE!!
more pics...get out of the shell, people are visual...just sayin'!