My Random Musings | Peaches Prattlings

{March 12, 2014} A response to a comment

A friend from high school, MDC, read my post last night and had a few things to say about it.

First thing I would like to say is bravo for telling me what you thought of my post, honest and open. I loved it! And I agreed with some things and disagreed with other things.

She felt that my post was more about body image than running and a commentary on the article I referenced. I suppose that could be considered true and not true. I know, confusing.

I’d like to address a few points. She thought I wanted to be a wickedly skinny minnie [size 3] or at least, that’s the size she mentioned more than once. I can assure her and you that first, I have no desire to be a size 3 nor would I ever get to that size, I don’t think that would be healthy for me. I’m a 12, got there about 5 years ago and I like being a 12, but I would prefer to be a more fit 12, like I was when I first got to this size. [I remember the day I was able to pull my jeans on and off without unbuttoning, what?] If I even got to a 10, more power to me, but I’m happy with my number.
I want to be healthier and feel better in my skin, that’s really all.

She said that society has helped in screwing up our self images as women and she’s absolutely 100% correct! Not everyone is meant to be thin, genetics play a big part in how you grow and develop.

You can be fit and not be a size 3 and you’re right, but you can also be a size 3 and be unhealthy. The last “acceptable” discrimination is making women of average weight or being curvy and/or voluptuous as disgusting or unsexy. I both agree and don’t agree. I agree that there is a lot of discrimination against average weight or voluptuous women, but on the other hand, there are some great strides being made in the world of modeling, Emme, the “first” plus sized model, more and more spokespeople, well, spokeswomen, are coming out encouraging that we should love ourselves as we are.

She said if I am athletic, I should focus on that, I wish I could say I was athletic! ha ha! I’m working on it! Or, focusing on it! I promise that I don’t feel inadequate because I’m not 90 pounds, I hope I never get to 90 pounds! People will really start to worry about me!

I loved her last directive: I admire your aspiration/ dedication as a runner…..That’s all! You rock and run with pride!!! I say to that “Yes ma’am!”

Again, MDC, I say thank you, first, for reading my blog, I am more flattered and honored by that than anything! Second, thank you for your honesty and openess with your opinion and feelings. Don’t stop!

{March 11, 2014} I —-n’ Rock!

This was a post on FaceBook today that might have surprised a few people.

It started “To the fatty running on the track this afternoon”: Facebook user pens surprising message to overweight runner. Don’t discount it, please read it, it screams to anyone who is just starting out, running, overweight and running and just getting off the couch and moving!

http://www.closeronline.co.uk/2014/03/to-the-fatty-running-on-the-track-this-afternoon-facebook-user-pens-surprising-message-to-overweight-runner

I know I joke about running, say that I do runs for the t-shirt, don’t get me wrong, it’s mostly true, that I keep doing races until I enjoy running [and now my punchline is that I’ll probably die first], but I’m not going to stop. I am that overweight girl who can’t seem to drop the amount of weight that i want to, to get to my “ideal weight”. I’m lucky to be in a relationship with someone who doesn’t seem to notice that I have any extra anything, gawd love him!

But…when I am steady with running/walking and my eating, I don’t want to say dieting because it’s not a diet and that turns it into a chore, I feel better and sometimes, I even lose a little.

People keep asking why I do the 5ks and 10ks, especially if I don’t enjoy them. They get me off the couch, get me moving and when I am not running or walking, I feel like crud. I went out with some friends from work yesterday, we walked a few miles, today I did a few miles on the treadmill, I’m ready to start getting back steady. I’ve admittedly used the excuse that work is getting in the way and it has, I’m too beat to get on a treadmill some nights and it might just be an excuse, but no one has to live with that except me.

I’m the one who listens to music through headphones because I don’t want to hear myself panting, I watch a movie on the treadmill so I don’t realize how long I’m going and usually stop when I can’t breath or am completely drenched. I sometimes don’t want to put on the workout clothes because they show too many rolls and imperfections, [I once joked, to you I think, that I would continue to wear the clothes until my shadow slimmed down!], my feet hurt incredibly when I’m done, I have trouble breathing sometimes, panting for a long time after.

BUT…I am doing it! I got up, I got dressed and I got moving! I admire the people who are much heavier than me sometimes moving faster than me a race, sometimes I even set my pace by them. If I don’t do it, who do i have to blame but me.

Every time I see this commerical, I actually tear up. It reminds me of my first 5k, when I was coming around the bend and I saw the clock, my time was better than I imagined and I finished! When I did my first [and only to date] half marathon , we had 3 hours and 30 minutes to finish. I did it in 3:21:21 and you know what? They were pulling the cones and mile markers before I got there, but the finish banner was still up and there were people cheering on the sidelines. I FINISHED! Just like my new hat says, “Walk, Run, Crawl, FINISH!”
http://www.values.com/inspirational-stories-tv-spots/124-Finish-Line

This article was dedicated to all those people who are getting out there and doing it, getting off the couch, taking that first step. I applaud everyone, myself included for just getting out there and doing something! Who needs a t-shirt! [I know, a few people just had a huge intake of breath in shock!]

YOU GO YOU!

{March 10, 2014} Ouchies!

Why do the little owies and ouchies seem to hurt the worst?
Yes, I used the words owies and ouchies!

I know breaking a bone, falling down and bruising yourself, twisting an ankle, just to name a few are things that are incredibly painful, but doesn’t it seem like the little things hurt like you know what!

For example…how bad did that papercut you got hurt? Stub your toe on the bed? Step on the Lego or toy car in the middle of the night? Catch your fingernail and it bent all the way back? Bit the inside of your cheek? Swung an arm and hit the wall or table? Or maybe, like me, today, which inspired this post, bit the side of your tongue? [then I did the fingernail thing too!]

The expression is “it’s the little things” I think they were referring to the little things that make the difference, more on a positive note, but in this case, it’s definitely the little things that make you say “OWWWW!”

That’s all.

{March 9, 2014} Who knew skiing with a cold could feel good!

Today I knew I was going skiing, all depending on the weather and the weather was good, so away I went!

We got up, had breakfast and I took off, I wanted to get a head start on my day and DCM was heading to Błackhawk for a poker tournament a little later. Apparently I had been spoiled in my other trips, this one took almost two hours! There was one spot with some slow down, of course, no reason for it!

I decided to go to Keystone, it was do crowded, that I had to go to another lot and get shuttled to the gondola. I had taken DayQuil when I had gotten up and then when I got to the mountain and up I went, hoping for the best and it was awesome!

Being out in the cold and having the wind go through me was fantastic! I didn’t sniffle, my nose only ran twice, it was terrific! I did six times top to bottom, some times going half ways down and taking the chair lift back up. I took trails I had never taken before and realized why I hadn’t before and won’t again!

I encountered a lot of nice people, on the chair lifts, when I wiped out several people stopped, I gave them the thumbs up, one of the emergency guys helped me get my skis out of the very deep powder! I even met a field mouse, what are the odds? I saw something moving across the mountain, realized it was alive! I hope it he made it to the other side.

After a few hours, I was ready to head for home. I stopped at one of the stores having a sale, got a hoody and a new ski jacket, orange this time with lots of zippered pockets and some inside pockets! Both half off, how could I say no?

I was still feeling great, nose clear and then as soon as I got back in the car and started driving…stuffed nose and sniffles, boo hiss! Here I am, back at home, NyQuil taken and laying in bed,hoping for the best. I need to get back on the mountain!

{March 6, 2014} Being sick on the road

Being sick stinks, but being sick on the road sometimes stinks worse.

I am sure that you have figured out that I am in that category as we speak. I was doing fine, my nose had been running, but I didn’t think I was sick, until tonight when it wouldn’t stop running and I knew something was off.

When you’re sick, you prefer to be in your home, in your own bed, surrounded by familiar things, loved ones, sometimes to take care of you. Friends want to help, which is great, but it’s not the same.

So…I went downstairs, got some Nyquil, took it and before I fall asleep at the wheel of this keyboard, I’m going to crash. Tomorrow’s a new day and hopefully a healthier one!

{March 6, 2014} Think before you speak

Once you say it, it’s out there and you can’t take it back.

You can apologize, but as I mentioned, once it’s out there, it’s out there and sometimes there is no way to make amends for what you say.

As a blogger, I am very cognisant of what I blog about. If I ever want to lash out or rant, I have to be very aware of what I am saying, once I put it “print to paper” as the saying goes, it’s out there and you can’t take it back.

I’m sure you noticed that I never use anyone’s name, only their initials and I know you’ve gotten to know people from that, but I will tell you that people I am friends with ask me who everyone is, you almost need a spreadsheet to keep up! But that is so important to me, it’s no one’s business but mine and theirs to know who everyone’s initials represent.

There are things that happen day to day that I want to talk about but won’t and sometimes that’s hard! Sometimes I want to rail and rant and rave and I can’t!

I can say that I am very glad I have the friends I do! Share, share, share! THANK YOU!

{March 3, 2014} Flyin’ High Now

I know as soon as you read the title, you heard the song in your head and you started singing like I did.

I was flipping channles and there was Sylvester Stallone and Burgess Meredith, of course i was mezmorized and had to watch for a few minutes, next thing I know, it’s that scene…he comes out of the house and starts running, then he’s running through town, through neighborhoods, waving at people he knows and who know him.

The next thing we see is kid after group of kids running with him through Philadelphia until he reaches those iconic 72 steps he runs up in front of the Philadelphia Museum of Art http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rocky_Steps.

I think for the entire scene, i was riveted, I couldn’t turn or look away, I couldn’t change the channel, I just had to watch and you know what, I was smiling the entire time. It brought back so many great memories from childhood and these movies. DCM and I were just talking about the Rocky series over the weekend, so seeing this clip made me smile for so many reasons.

Here’s the clip, enjoy.

{March 2, 2014} Name dropping

Really? Who does name dropping serve?

Depending on the situation, name dropping is just pretentious. Now, when you’re interviewing or networking or meeting people for the first time, sometimes having a name to pass along is a great door opener.

When you’re bragging or trying to improve your position, name dropping is tacky. Bully for you that you know someone. Ok, so you’re a diamond/platinum/gold mile whatever, good for you!

As I mentioned, depending on the situation, name dropping has it’s merits and advantages, but sometimes…
Sorry I sound so snarky, someone I was sitting next to on my flight was doing that and it was kind of annoying.

That’s all I have to say on that matter!

I left Colorado and it was 5degrees, 1 when I landed in Michigan and it’s gone up to a balmy 11. Stay warm my friends!

{March 2, 2014} Thwarted by the snow…darn it!

“I can’t go skiing because of the snow”. Huh?

Yes, I uttered this sentence today and didn’t it sound silly? Yes, it did!

I had intended to go to Breckenridge or Keystone to go skiing today while DCM went to Błackhawk to play in a Texas Hold ‘Em tournament. Well…Mother Nature had other plans for us, and that was ok, when I got up. I looked outside and there was a pleasant blanket of snow on the ground and it was coming down steadily, not looking to stop any time soon.

Since the weather was like that, DCM decided to take his truck to the shop for some work instead of heading to Błackhawk. I thought two things…one, if he wasn’t going, I would stay to spend the day with him and toe, even thought Annie got us up to the mountains all those other times, it wasn’t actively snowing when I went and while she’s a trooper, she’s not a truck with four wheel drive, so a day with my beau was on the menu.

We got up leisurely, took the truck in, headed out for breakfast, did some shopping then headed to the apartment to settle in and relax. We caught up on some shows we had missed, lazed on the sofa and enjoyed each other’s company. That sounds pretty good to me.

Tomorrow, I head back out to Michigan for another week, so I am enjoying each moment we get to spend together.

See you tomorrow!

{March 1, 2014} Happy to be home

It’s cold in Michigan, that’s all I have to say!

When I left Michigan, it was -12, yes, I said negative twelve! It had warmed up though! The schools were not closing because it was above negative twenty! What? Let’s just say, it’s really, really cold!

It’s crazy, it was -12 when I left Michigan and when I got to Colorado, it was fifty! No jacket on, I shed the two extra layers I had on, dropped the top, cranked the seat warmers and headed home, it was wonderful.

It cooled down considerably as the evening wore on, but that’s to be expected. Not sure what tomorrow holds, actually it’s supposed to snow, but we’ll see. I just know it’s warmer than Michigan! But don’t be too jealous, heading back in two days.

Of course, seeing DCM was the icing on the cake, that warmed my heart and I am settled in for the night, happy to be home.

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