merry christmas and a happy new year!

hey guys! I hope that everyone had a wonderful, very meaningful holiday season filled with laughter and time well spent with friends and family.

 I  am keepin on with the running.. and have been able to be fairly consistent over the holidays and as 2008 draws to a close ( yippee) here is to a brighter tomorrow. A future filled with hope and promise and many, many miles. 

 I found this quote from the RW website very inspiring and wanted to share it:

" the more I run, the more  I want to run, and the more I live a life conditioned and influenced and fashioned by my running. And the more I run, the more certain I am that I am heading for my real goal: to become the person I am."-- George Sheehan MD

running revival take 3....

 hi guys!!

 well, I am making my third attempt at running on a consistent basis since little Todd was born 13 months ago. my running has been very sporadic and erratic in every way imaginable since last November. Words can not express how happy I am to have my family. My kids are everything.. haha but sometimes I think my Achilles heel.. is that my kids are everything. 

 My husband works out of town monday through friday and I am EXTREMELY limited in getting someone to help me watch the kids ( even for an hour or two, come on!) so I can run.. ALSO.. since brock is gone all the time working very long hours.. the last thing he wants to do is babysit when he comes home because he is so tired. SO the past year, in essence I have watched my kids pretty much 24-7 with very little reprieve..

 I have a treadmill and an elliptical, and I kinetic trainer for my road bike. but there is just no comparison to training and running outside. 

 I get so depressed and discouraged because I feel so trapped, tired( constantly tired) and pretty much filled with self loathing in general.  I struggle inwardly because I feel EXTREMELY selfish for wanting things to be the way they were when my first son was small.. my husband, was home every evening. I could go run,  I would race on weekends.. it was a wonderful social outlet, and I was healthy and FELT GREAT about myself.. 

now I just feel sluggish, toxic, tired and old.  I feel like I'm sacrificing myself COMPLETELY to just be perfect supportive unwavering wife, and SUPER MOMMMY and there is zero time to myself or any energy left for me.  and then I feel guilty because I complain that brock works too much, when really in this economy, I should be HAPPY he has so much work..  Brock is sacrificing for us.. He doesn't want to be working out of town week after week after week. 

SO... after months of being in the doldrums of depression..over this, over never getting to really spend that much quality family time with brock and feeling like he is missing out on so much of our kids lives,  over the loss of my brother, I have decided I have GOT to make myself run everyday.. even if its on a treadmill.. I have completely guilted my mom into agreeing to watch the kids for me for 2 hours twice a week for me to get in 10 mi runs--- because I am sliding into a deep dark abyss, I am so afraid I won't be able to pull out of-- I'm afraid I'm going to end up being this tired, haggard shell of myself..  and while I act like everything is all perfect on the exterior, on the inside I'll just be this bitter, resentful person.. ( ALL OVER RUNNING??) 

 I don't know how to describe it, but running really HELPS ME..  it is this detoxifying experience in every sense of the word. It makes me feel better and stronger physically, it makes me calmer mentally.. clears away all the mental clutter and noise... 

ALSO...  I am in the planning phase for next year's CTR 10k!!

 I have it up on state of franklin track club's website. it's listed under EVENTS.. the day is going to be 8-15-09!  www.runtricities.org

 here is a link for the entry form! I am including a 2 mi walk this year as well!

http://www.runtricities.org/asp/racecal_manage.asp?action=view&racecalid=808

 the race truly is something special in my life!!  I can't wait to see how this year's race unfolds..  I do enjoy each phase and aspect of getting it ready!! august will be here before you know it!!

 I am shooting for running MB half- marathon on valentines day as a fun run.. and I am just hoping and praying that  work settles down some for brock so he isn't so overwhelmed..

I'm going to richalnds tomorrow( an hour away) for a 10 mi run, My parents live there and my mom is going to  watch the kids while I go run... so here I go, let's hope I can maintain focus and things will go smoothly for me for here on out..  fingers crossed. 

I'm bAAAAAck..

 hey guys! I have been gone FOREVER it seems! I just got back from a 2 week vacation with the family. We went on a Disney cruise for a week and then the following week we spent in FLA for a couple of days and then North myrtle Beach before heading back home to Bristol. 

I hope Brock got a well deserved rest. I think I definitely came back more rested. 

 I did get several running days in after the cruise.  So that was a nice change to run in some warmer weather... with NO hills:o)

While we were gone it was both my boys birthdays.. jack turned 4  on the 12th and Todd just had his first birthday on the 19th. So that was fun celebrating those milestones. 

 On the trip I read a cool book called "EAT, PRAY, LOVE" by Elizabeth Gilbert.  I enjoyed it.   I had a hard time finding empathy for the protagonist ( which was the author) there at first, but has I got into the book, I found her control freak persona somewhat endearing.

one thing I noticed when I got home was that OMG the catalogs that were in the mail!!  I don't know HOW or WHAT occurred for me to get so many, but I was mortified. Stores that I had never purchased from sent me these HUGE Christmas catalogs. such a waste. I think that perhaps it is because of the economy?  I think it's just major over compensation from retailers to get people to buy things early( all with free shipping)... still I  guess you never realize how much junk mail you get and throw away everyday until you see the  sheer BULK of 2 weeks worth sitting there on your kitchen counter. 

 I have  become a little obsessed with John Hardy Jewelry. I was/ am a big David Yurman fan, and pretty much every birthday/Christmas/anniversary etc for the past 2 yrs that was what I would ask for.. but John Hardy's things are VERY cool indeed.  www.johnhardy.com 

if any of you guys want to check it out. I REALLy want this dragon bracelet.  I guess it's not that big of deal..  but the bracelet itself it very cool..

can you believe this? small world.

 well sorry it's been so long since I last posted.  I have had a week filled with preschool, playdates, and  just non stop childcare because brock has been out of town the majority of the time the past 2 weeks. Rough.  I miss him so much when he has to be gone for work. 

  okay subject change:

 in 2006 I ran leadville trail marathon for the first time. While I was running, I met THE NICEST lady from Georgia who was just AWESOME. very strong athlete.  We ran about 10 miles of the marathon together. Her name is Belinda. Well, that race i ran with a disposable film camera and took pictures. When Belinda and I reached the summit. She was nice enough to take my picture, THEN I made her get beside the flag to take hers.. and she asked "why?" and I told her I would get the picture to her...

   WELL... I kinda lost the camera after I got home, and I kept hoping I would somehow run into Belinda at another marathon or trail race,  and even when I ran leadville this year, i was hoping and hoping she would be there. :o(   she wasn't.

Guess what??   I was fall cleaning in Jack's room this past weekend and I decided to go through his toy box and get rid of any broken toys or cheapo happy meal toys and junk and what did I find? THE CAMERA!! I wondered to myself: could this possibly be the same disposable camera I ran with at leadville??? So I took it to ritz and had it developed, and IT WAS!! The pictures ended up being pretty awesome.. I was in GOOD shape then. I truly hope to get back there soon!! ( life and family responsibilities  has just kinda stood in the way of making time to train the way I used to)

 anyways, I looked up Belinda's name on white pages.. got her number, left a message on her voice mail, and this evening she called back!!! It was SO awesome talking to her again! She ran pikes peak this past summer!! and had actually looked for me through state of franklin track clb, but they didn't have my contact info.  I got all her contact info now, and her picture of her standing 14,000 ft above sea level is now in the mail!! 

So that is awesome I was finally able to come through and get that to her!  We are going to try to plan to run some marathons together next summer!! I really am so looking forward to it because she is just so much fun to run with, and had such a wonderful time talking to her during leadville.

 here are the two pictures from the little crappy film throw way camera!!!

happy first day of fall!

hey I hope everyone is having a great fall equinox! (11:44am) summer comes to a close and it officially becomes fall Hooray!!:o)

here are some of my favorite things about fall:

1. running on cool, crisp fall mornings.. or even frosty late fall mornings! love it!

2. all the pretty leaves! and looking at the mtns! and even just the SMELL of fallen leaves on the creeper trail. 

3.  drinking hot apple cider, apple pie, just eating apples in general. ( nutmeg, ginger, cloves all remind me of fall too)

4. wearing jeans and hooded sweatshirts

5.  fall marathons!!!:o)

 I really hope you guys have a great day today! it's afresh new beginning/new season and I can't wait!

take care!

jenny:o)

sorry it's been so long since my last post!  Things have been fairly busy around here.   Today I just wanted to share a couple of books I find I use every single day! I love reference books!

First I read these Intellectual devotionals every morning: I read both the US History ( love history and the general one.  it kinda just gives my brain a boost, and something to reflect upon while I'm driving jack to school. 

Another book  I love just leafing through, and if I have a question on ANYTHING is the NY times Essential Guide to Knowledge

That book is SO freakin cool. If you are ever just roaming around a bookstore, go to the reference section and check it out, you will see what I mean.  oh if only I knew about this book when I was in high school, I would of been UNSTOPPABLE at model UN!!:o)

and lastly COOKING! I love to cook.  I love GOOD food. I happily and readily admit I listen to "the splendid table" every sunday and podcast it when I miss it.  Williams and Sanoma and Sur la Table are my favorite stores!  I love going to all the little gourmet wine and cheese shops in bristol and abingdon. SO the end of the day when i am preparing my evening meal, I ALWAYS end up looking at 2 books: JOY OF COOKING 

and the FOOD LOVERS COMPANION

well, I know this isn't that much of a post, but I just kinda wanted to share that because although, I read many books through out the year, the past several months ( years for JOY) those books have become a big part of my everyday life.. which I don't know if it's good, or just means I'm incredibly boring:o)

 the picture is one I took of a rainbow last week in my back yard.  It really reminded me of my cousin Amy who has a very entertaining blog I have listed in my "commonly read blogs" section. if you haven't already, CHECK IT OUT!  I love to read about her musings and adventures!

Cheers yall!:o)

what would it be like to live a century?

 I have been asking myself that lately. My grandmother is celebrating her 100th birthday on Saturday.  I am in awe of the "longevity gene" that runs on my mothers side of the family. My grandmother's mother lived to be 108.  I remember attending her 100th birthday party when i was a little girl. It was quite a large event, and here 26 years later her daughter, is celebrating her 100th birthday. wow. 

My grandmother has seen so many changes through out her lifetime, and so many historical events that occured through out the 20th century, it actually blows my mind how she can recount these events and give me her perspective on them through her eyes. She experienced many moments of sheer joy and happiness, and also moments of shattering heartbreak and toiled very hard many years while she raised her family of 11 children.  I asked her if she had any advice for me on how to "make it" through life. She told me to always trust in the Lord, not in people( because they can often disappoint you), and to be able to adapt and deal with change because that is what life is all about. Life is always in motion and always changing. So even when terrible events occur, it's important to just keep going, even when it's hard, even when it's the last thing you want to do, you have to "keep on going". 

such sound advice, from such a spectacular lady. 

  I had the pleasure of living with my grandmother for a summer after I graduated from college in 2001. It was such a positive experience for me to get to know her as a person. She taught me so many things. I am so appreciative to her for teaching me to make gravy, cornbread in a cast iron skillet. She taught me how to make biscuits and fry chicken. We tacked together several quilts that summer.  That summer although it wasn't that exciting to be living day in and day out up in a holler in buchanan co, va. probably taught me more about life in general, than a semester of college. It was time well spent, and an experience that I wouldn't trade for anything.

Happy Birthday Mamaw!! I Love you!

 the picture is one of a sunrise I took this weekend with my new Nikon D60.  I REALLY am starting to like this camera. 

busy week!

 This week has flown by! my oldest started preschool!! AW! It has gone very well. He loves school, and has made all sorts of new little friends. 

The weekend is almost here! HORRAY!  I am planning on going to boone, NC tomorrow. I am so excited. Boone is one of my favorite places to go visit! I love just walking down king st and looking at all the shops. There is a great health foodstore/supermarket, I always go to. Then I always have a delicious lunch either at Melanie's Food Fantasy or Black Cat Burrito. 

 I just love the hustle and bustle of this little mtn college town. There are always many cool things going on!

Saturday, I plan to go on a long run in Damascus, Va. Jump up on the AT for a little off of the creeper trail.  I will bring my camera and take some pictures,and post them on here. 

cheers yall!

May the Force be with you...

Hey! I am having a pretty good weekend so far! I got up this morning and went to the Martha Washington Inn for a deep tissue massage. NICE!!  I literally fell asleep on the table. Then I went to the farmer's market in abingdon. (which was awesome) and one of my favorite gourmet/wine shoppes: Wines of Distinction (also in abingdon) I picked up some cheese, pasta , capers, and some other ingredients for the dinner I had planned. Then I went to "the shouting sprout" health food store in Bristol.  I was somewhat enjoying my new found freedom of navigating the tri-cities sans enfants, when my blackberry started ringing and text messages started coming in all from brock wanting to know when ( if ever) I was planning to return to resume caring for our children. ( I think I learned today 3 hours alone with the kids without me there is about all brock can take:o) SO I returned home, and we took the kids to one of Jack's friends birthday party!! It was So much fun, it was Star Wars themed. Jack dressed up like obi-one and little Todd was dressed as Yoda. So many other kids dressed up too. my personal favorite: this one kid who was like 9 dressed up like boba Fette, and let me tell you this kid made such a great impression on me. He KNEW his stuff!!  I had this 20 min conversation with him how boba fett was my favorite bounty hunter, and how he was cloned from his dad janga fett. and he KNEW it already..( this is star wars stuff that isn't really in the movie but in the books.. and this little 4th grader was VERY knowledgeable!) SO CUTE!!

after the party, I came home and prepared a wonderful dinner of chicken Parmesan. ( all made from scratch except for the pasta itself that I had gotten earlier that day from the wine shop)

 it was SO yummy.  ended the evening hanging out with Brock and the kids on the back porch. sipping espresso watching the sun set.

well, I will post more later. Happy Labor day weekend!!!

completely rough day

 man alive! today was a BEAR of a day.  I am so exhausted I don't know if I can even recount the random events of today!

 it was one of those "when it rains, it pours" type days.

 I had to take my oldest son to get a school physical for preschool ( and had to take the baby with us because I didn't have any childcare) I went to go start the car, and the battery was dead. So then I hopped in my beamer that I had parked in the garage ( to keep it nice and clean) and DING! DING!  a steering malfunction light came on and the "service engine soon" light came on.  I kept it started but was very sketched out about even driving it with my two children with me. Brock is 350 miles away in west VA. USELESS!! THE AGONY! 

 I decided to proceed to the dr's office, on the way there I called the bmw dealership, to see if I could get a loaner and drop the car off because I didn't have anyone to follow me there and take me home.  and They didn't have any loaners or so they said. GRRR. just great. oh, and my mini cooper, it was never an option because it had a flat on the rear passenger tire and I knew it. So three cars and something wrong with each one of them!! why???

but when I thought things couldnt get any worse, and I was just ready to SCREAM!

After the Dr. visit ( which did go surprisingly smooth even though I had to drag two kids in there) The dealership called and someone DID bring in a loaner and it would be ready for me after lunch. That took care of one car. 

 I got a hold of my mom and dad who were EXTREMELY nice enough to drive an hour one way to come to my rescue. Dad helped me hook up the charger to the battery, and then we got out the air compressor and filled the mini tire with air and gauged all of the other tires while we were there. 

SOOO that took care of the other cars. SO THANKS mom and dad!!  I so would do that for my kids too:o)

 I went from NO reliable transportation back to three( although actually my beamer is still being worked on)

So I guess all s well that ends well.  I just hope tomorrow is WAY more calmer.  It wouldn't of been half as stressful, had it not been for the fact on top of dealing with all the automotive issues, I had two little kids depending on me to take care of them. it was just difficult to juggle it all. 

 well, good night yall! I am beat! here is hoping tomorrow will be a MUCH better, brighter day!

  I have been busy this week getting my little boy ready for the start of preschool! He is so very excited! I often wonder how different it will be once the little guy begins school, getting up every morning and attending school, being on a set schedule... It's going to be a new experience for all of us. I'll let you know how he transitions.

anyone watch the demo convention last night? I usually end up watching bits and pieces of both. Michelle Obama's hair was so shiny!!  I really tried to pay attention to her heart felt attempt to humanize her husband to the masses, but the thought that kept creeping into my brain was "man, her hair looks amazing!" So I guess the question is, if her hair didn't look so wonderful, would I of paid more attention to her speech, or thought to myself that her hair was a mess?

They pulled out all the stops with Senator Kennedy making an emotional appearance and "passed the torch" from the Kennedy family to the Obama family. hmm  I just don't think that the Obama's will ever have the same mystique and intrigue that the nation felt the Kennedy family possesses but I GET what they were attempting to do/say. 

 I really don't mean to be so passive about the election.   I am a political science BA  holder, but it seems the older I get, the more life experience I accrue,  I become more acutely aware of really how dirty politics and our political system is... both parties.. They're NASTY, dirty:o)

 I have to go to kingsport today to take my car to the dealership...  I hate hyper sensitive computer systems..

 the picture I have today was one I took on my birthday at Tomi Thai! YUM! I think I am going back there today to eat lunch! I took this picture with my little sony cybershot.  I believe it's 10mp. 

cheers yall

let's go racin boys!

 hey guys!  I had an AWESOME birthday yesterday. I started off the day getting dressed up in this white sundress( because 1. I never get to dress up and 2. it's almost labor day and I was afraid I wouldnt get to wear the white dress until next summer!)

 The doorbell rang, and there was my mother inlaw with a birthday cake she had made for me! If you guys only knew how much that meant to me! That gesture in itself was so sweet! and I was thinking the day before how I wouldn't have a cake unless I made one for myself:o) 

Then the doorbell rang again and there was flowers and balloons from my parents! again, things like that mean far more to me than anything! as winnie the pooh says : " no one can be uncheered by a balloon!";O) so my kitchen counter was beginning to look very festive!

So Brock and Jack had some errands to do( haircuts for the "big boys") So little Toddy and I took off to Kingsport and we went and ate lunch at Tomi Thai!! It was so wonderful. I LOVE thai food, and I was SO impressed by this little place! The food was awesome and fairly authentic, service great.  Little Todd was so relaxed and pleasant, so I just fed him baby food and snacks while I ate my yummy super spicy red curry and Tomkaa soup. :o)

Then Todd and I ventured to JC for a couple of hours and then made our way home. ( stopped at a couple stores)

THEN  I came home gave Todd a bottle and got freshened up and changed into jeans to get ready for the Food City 250! FUN!

We dropped the kids off at brock's parents, and then we went to go eat dinner at THE HOUSE ON MAIN in abingdon va

Brock's uncle owns this restaurant and the food  there is AMAZING.  I was worried that I wouldn't be able to eat AT ALL because of my very heavy lunch, but I was somehow able to manage:o) He gets his seafood delievered fresh daily ( so all of that is so great tasting) I am not typically a steak person. But their hand carved NY strips with honey-chipotle dipping sauce and roasted potatoes was too good to resist. :o)

So after dinner, we took off to the race in the mini cooper ( makes parking and driving in traffic much easier) and we just had the greatest time. Actually, it was cool just getting to spend time together. With his work schedule and having two precious little boys: that doesn't occur too often. So I was super appreciative just to be able to have " a date" on my birthday:o)

now, I am all gearing up for the Sprint Cup night race tonight:o)

cheers yall!

that'll work...

hey! 

well, I got back from Richlands. I have been over there all day. First I went to mom and dad's farm and dropped off the kids, then I went and got my hair done. ( it had been 8 weeks since the last time and I had roots BAD):o) so my friend keisha, completely saved me from being completely two-toned another day. ( it was killing me) Another great thing about keisha other than her hair coloring ability, is that she doesn't take that long. So an hour and half later, I go back to the farm, have coffee and sit on the porch with my Dad. (which was nice) Then after I got both the boys down for a nap. I actually got to take a nap, which was AWESOME! I haven't napped in MONTHS. so that was SWEET!!! I slept so hard, when I woke up I didn't know where I was or if it was day or night. haha. 

Then i ate dinner with my parents and my nephew Brian,  loaded up the car and drove back to to Bristol. 

The Bristol races are this weekend. We always go to both the fall and spring races. Brock's dad always has a block of 10 tickets ( always the same seats in the allison terrace). Consequently, as I have mentioned before, Friday is my birthday! So I get to people watch and get all excitement from the night races, my birthday weekend. It's fun as far as entertainment value goes.  I kinda don't like being in a crowd of throngs of people (especially trying to leave the track after the race) also,  I do have qualms about certain aspects of it. The advertising, all the consuming going on( SO MUCH TRASH and so many people buy things at wally world), and wastefulness of it all...all the unhealthy food, cigarette chain smoking,( why can't it be smoke free?cough cough wheeze) and beer guzzling on a mass scale....  i guess it's not a moral thing, it's just more me not enjoying breathing cigarette smoke, and having to fool with people who are extremely drunk.:o)

 here are some pictures I took 2 years ago at the grand canyon with my canon EOS

CTR 10k pictures and a dead bird on my porch

 Well, I finally got the race pictures uploaded on my laptop.  I am going to post some of my favorites! hope you guys enjoy it!!  my mother in law took these pictures with my canon EOS

 They are of my overall male finishers, my buddy john from KY finishing the race and showing off his award, beth the ultra running goddess finishing the race, and one of me explaining the course set up ( look at the horses! I just thought the morning sunlight made that picture look neat) and the start of the first annual CTR 10k!!

   I am going to Richlands tomorrow to the farm to spend time with my parents.  I am looking forward to going. It's nice to go home:o) AND it's my birthday on Friday. I will be 30!  (which is kinda freaking me out)

 Today the saddest thing happened! I had just woke up this morning and I heard something slam against the front door and my little yorkie fred took off to the door ( like someone was there) I was a little apprehensive, but then I remembered that the front door was locked and I had the security system set. 

SO I finally got up to investigate, and there was a bird laying flat on it's back on my front porch! it had ran into my door. I told it: "please be gone when I come back in 5 minutes" I was hoping it was just stunned or it had knocked itself out.  I went and fixed myself a cup of coffee, and walked back to the front door and no, unfortunately the little birdie was deceased:o( It accidently killed itself. how terrible!) By that point Jack was up and about and  saw it. So we had to have a conversation about the finality of death and then we buried it.. I just was so afraid that a cat or dog would get it if I left it there any longer.  and It was such a pretty bird, I wanted it treated with respect. poor thing. So Jack and I laid it to rest. RIP little birdie. 

blurry action pictures

hi! Sorry I haven't posted any pictures from the 10k yet. I have my "good" memory card at ritz, while I was running the course, my sweet mother in law ( who is a wonderful photographer) volunteered to take all the pictures at my race ( with my cannon of course!) So I will hopefully have some of those pictures up tomorrow.

until then: here are some pictures I took while running the course( I ended up being a "bandit" at my own race) if you look at the results at state of franklin track club's website like next to last it says "en bandit" yeah, that's me. but I SWEAR. I didn't "run" that... I just kinda jogged with my nephew and rounded up the back of the pack, and spent time whooping and hollering at all the runners coming in.

The reaction from the runners who ran the race the past couple days has been SO positive! I am still so elated that everything went over so well!

what do to now? I need a goal!! haha I think I am going to take it easy for a while. Although, believe it or not I still have some loose ends from the road race to tie up. I sent in the names and addresses of my runners to runnersworld(since they gave me the free racing bibs, I have to give them the names of the people who ran in return, hope yall dont mind)

Tomorrow I have to do some accounting things for the foundation, and I am working on setting up a website for the scholarship.

then Friday ( which is my birthday ( i am turning 30!) and Saturday I am going to the bristol races. Then after that, Brock, the boys and I are going to the beach for a week. WOO!

sorry the pictures are so blurry they are of NIck whited( my cuz) who got second overall and eric grossman( SUPERSTAR!) who won overall. I have to say how awesome it was that Grossman ran my race. He told me it was his first 10k in over a decade!! I am so humbled that he came to my little race and was supportive of my cause! really kuddos to all the iron mtn crew for running my race. It really meant SO much to me. It was like a big hug to just see my friends out there.

I took the pictures with my olympus stylus 850 sw.. too bad they didn't turn out better. but it's the same camera I ran with at leadville, and those turned out great. win some. lose some. I say the ones my mother in law took with the cannon turned out much better. Guess we shall see tomorrow!

cheers yall!

the 10k was AWESOME!

The first annual Christopher Todd Richardson Memorial 10k went off without a hitch! Everything went SO smooth and SO perfect! It was just an absolutely positive experience for me! My volunteers were TOP NOTCH!! Every facet of the race went exactly like I had planned! I really hope all the runners come back next year and bring friends!! I am so extremely tired from the past couple of days!

 but I will upload some of my favorite pictures from the race tonight and post them!!

love yall!

productive day

well, I got everything straightened out with the Jerry's signs people. So horray for that. The CTR 10k will have a banner after all. Still annoyed that it was SOO extremely difficult to get this accomplished with them, but still, they apologized and I want the banners.. sooo it will all work out. 

The shirts are awesome! I am so happy with them! Dad and I went and picked them up today! The race shirts are white underarmor material and the volunteer shirts are blue( same technical material).  I really think all the runners will love them.  I drew the graphic on the front.:o)

Dad and I also went to Home Depot and got the water coolers for the race course, a couple big rubbermaid trash cans with liners, etc..

 I about have it all completed. I still have some odds and ends to do tomorrow with the computer, and then Friday I have to go get the bagels and bottled water and gatorade.  

 I can't wait. 

 after the race, it will be nice to unwind and focus on some different projects. I can't believe this one is in it's final stages!

haha I want to focus on my running, and read about 20 books, and plan our "big" family vacation. We are going to the Caribbean  in Nov. to three islands.

Jack starts preschool the first week in sept.

well, I am extremely tired. I am sorry my sentences are so choppy, but I'm about to collapse, I am so tired.. so time to turn in!!

 I took these pictures of a yellow mum and hydrangea bush at my mom's house with my canon EOS. I just bought a Nikon N60. I am taking some pictures. jury is still out on whether it's better than my canon.  I will upload some pictures from it soon on here. so you guys can see for yourself. 

monday, monday

 so here it is Monday before my brother's road race. I have been working so diligently to get everything done in a orderly and timely manner, so that I would not be stressed or overwhelmed this week.  However, "other people" have absolutely thrown a sprag in my little aspirations. grrr! 

obstinate people #1: JERRY's SIGNS

 I went to this company a month ago ordered the start/finish banner. They told me they would email me a proof and then  they would make it. Would probably take a week. Never heard from the people, so LAST Monday 2 weeks before the event, I called to touch base, tell them I haven't ever received a proof and wanted to get the ball rolling on the project. The secretary put me on hold, then told me that I would for sure have a proof by Friday. Friday comes and goes, no proof in my mail box, inbox, junk mail: NOTHING. They are closed over the weekend. So this morning I call and explain my dilemma and that I need a banner NOW IN four days, and I was kinda frustrated because I had ordered this a month ago. She got my number and NO ONE has called me back!

 I really wanted to speak to the owner of the company, because his employees are completely dropping the ball here!! So if there isn't a banner at the race, sorry yall it's not like I haven't been trying!

Second frustration: the shirts. I think it's all going to work out fine, but the shirt people have been giving me the run around too a little. So I called them this morning and the guy is supposedly supposed to go get them after lunch, and I am supposed to go get them from his office this evening. So fingers crossed on that one.  Shirt company has been FAR better in communication than the jerry's signs people: WHAT LOSERS!!!!:o(

Sweet Jesus people! they act like I can DO EVERYTHING on Friday evening before the race apparently!!!! I need to get tasks completed through the week for this all to come together. I have 2 kids and Brock is out of town. I can't DO everything (race packets and gather all the materials I need for the race) the day before just IMPOSSIBLE. 

So here's hoping it all comes together okay ( I feel like it will, but I had to vent a little because certain vendors are frustrating the bejeezus out of me!!!)

 here is a picture of a toad I took in my courtyard last week!

busy week. I just got back from Richlands. We spent the past two days on the farm with my parents and brother because today makes it a year since we have lost my brother Todd.

We had a memorial for him today on the farm, and it truly was one of the most spiritual, moving and pure moments of my existence here on earth. I really truly just feel fortunate to have had the time I did with Todd, and that I have such a wonderful older brother. I also am just so happy that I am in the family I'm in. My parents and brothers are loving people. Brock took off work today to be there with me and my family, my spouse is so loving and emotionally supporting. :o) love you Brock!

 I am so tired, the past 24 hours have been really hard emotionally, I will never get over what happened to Todd or stopping missing my brother, but the only recourse I have is to just try to do everything I can to keep the memory of Todd alive, and help other people through his memory through the scholarship and the road race. 

 the picture is one I took today after we launched some balloons into the heavens at the memorial, I love the way these pictures turned out.  I took about 20 in rapid secession with my canon EOS. the landscape picture is one of some of the land on my parents 171 acre farm that straddles both Russell and Tazewell counties

haha aren't my richmond marathon  pictures so pretty?! Those are from 11/2006. The other one is from this years leadville marathon, in that picture I am on top of mosquito pass ( mile 13.1) up 13, 900 ft. 

It's one unreal hill. It goes straight up for pretty much 4 miles of incline with no breaks, just more swtich backs. SO FUN.  you do climb up 3,200 ft from the town of leadville to the top of the pass. Things didn't go too well for me about mile 18, due to me losing my salt tabs at the very first aid station at mile 4. hypotramenia is real. haha I now know if  I ever get to run an ultra, I don't know how well my body can respond to running for 8 hours. is  but I really do want to go back and run this marathon AGAIN( it will be the third time) maybe not next year but the year after. 

marathon training has really been impossible for me the past 8 months.  I keep trying though. Just with brock's work schedule( he is gone ALL the time like mon-fri every single week) and me keeping my two boys 24/7  I just can't get in the long  runs I need. I use the elliptical and treadmill, but  nothing is the equivalent of good quality training outside. 

 but I know things will get better, brock's work can't be that constant(crazy busy) for forever, although it has been for the past year.  I just say that because we have had other years were he isn't gone that much at all, maybe just a day or two a week. ( I long for those days again haha)  and my kids ( who are very small) will grow, and then I can run all I want, but I will never get this time with them back. SO I am trying to stay focused on that, then I can go after all my athletic pursuits.

 In addition to running, and riding my road and mtn bikes, I really would like to take tennis and golf lessons. I know it probably sounds lame, but it's an insecurity  I have.  I am not really skilled at either, and would like to improve.  I think both of those games are important, and something I will do more and more as I get older, so I would like to excel at both.

ah, so what a vapid little post. ALL ABOUT ME.   I have a busy week coming up, many things to do for the road race! only 13 days left!

BOOM!!

hey guys, sorry I haven't blogged much this week. It's been a hard one. I have been really busy tying up all the lose ends of Todd's 10k, and then on wens morning, my uncle cecil ( my dad's brother) passed away. His funeral was on Friday. So that was hard, and kinda a reopening of an old wound since it's close to a year since I have lost my brother. But I got through it. My uncle had suffered with failing health for approximately a year as well, so I really feel that he was ready to go and tired of suffering and being so very sick.

you really wonder about what the purpose of life in general is sometimes. It can have so many wonderful moments, but also be filled with so much sorrow and pain.

my family and I are getting together on friday to have a memorial for my brother Todd. Friday will make it one year. So we are going to gather together and have a little service ( just immediate family only) on the farm, each member of the family is going to have a turn to speak or share something they have written or contribute in their own way, then, we are releasing some balloons. Which I am excited about and yes, it's my idea:o)

but I just feel so helpless... what can you do? nothing I do, scholarship, the race, nothing I do will change the end result of what happened, or really even make me feel better. However, I do want Todd's memory honored, that is extremely important to me, so if I can't have Todd here with me, the least I can do is help other people in his memory. To have something good and positive come from the darkest day in my life. I just struggle with my emotions because I keep waiting for things to get better or me to feel better, and it really isn't happening. It's just this vast void in my life knowing Todd isn't here with me and my family. I miss him so much.

well, I will try to write more tomorrow( hopefully, I will be in a lighter mood and not so dark)

the pictures: I took the barn and the day lilly with my canon EOS and the bleeding heart was taken ( at my moms) with my Nikon 35mm SLR.

home from wild wonderful WV

hey! well, the kids and I made it back from charleston in one piece. It was so hard leaving brock there though! I can't wait for him to come home on thursday!

We stopped immediately on ext 14 and picked up fred. He just had gotten groomed and was SO cute! and so happy to see me! Fred literall leap into my arms and started licking my face. AWw. missed you too buddy!

I unloaded the car, and tried to put things away. I have a mountain of laundry, since I brought home brock's work clothes from last week.

I got a call from the Cave House and the pottery ( trophies) for the road race is finished! HORRAH! I am SOO happy!! I can't wait to go get them on Friday. The artist who made them, wants to meet me! So i am going to meet up with her.

the Highlands festival is going on right now WOO! cant wait to go experience that:o)

sorry...

 I have been SO bad this week when it comes to keeping up with my blog.  It's been a fairly busy week. Brock has been gone all week working in West Virginia, and actually I drove up here with the kids yesterday to see him because he isn't coming home until next weekend. 

 I accomplished more things for the road race! I ordered the banner for the start/finish line, and I received several more entries in the mail! ( which is very exciting for me)  I sent out a volunteer "roll-call" to organize the volunteers and so I would have an idea of who would be there to help. I received a positive response to that as well. I truly am appreciative to everyone who decided to me honor Todd this way. The staff of volunteers are composed of family, friends and co-workers of my brother( and a few of my personal friends). I truly am blessed when it comes to the people in my life. I don't have many friends, but the ones I do have are great people. Also,  i have a wonderful family. I don't know what I would do without my family or Brock's family. 

If you don't have family, you really don't have anything. 

 I had the most wonderful breakfast this morning ( eggs Benedict) my favorite! I am going to get ready and stroll little Todd around capital street and look in all the shops. It really is surprising how urbanized Charleston, Wv is now. There are parts of the city that are kinda shady and ghettoised, but the area around the capitol building and the town center is rather nice and pedestrian friendly.

 so I am looking forward to that and spending the day with Brock

the house on main

I went to my husband's uncle's new restuarant tonight with my husband's parents and my kids: The House on Main in Abingdon, Va. I thought it was great! the desserts were the equivalent ( if not better than any 5 star restaurant I had ever been to) Very nice! great job Timmy!

I finally got around to going to morrell's shoe store to get jack his shoes today! I got him 4 pairs of shoes! I just couldn't help myself! they had so many cool shoes for little boys. So I got 2 pairs of 9's and 2 pairs of 9.5 for later this fall.

Brock is in morgantown, looks like me and the kids are going to drive up to see him one day this week. Can't wait. I really like the drive there. So many trees.

there was a hellacious lightening storm this evening. I wish I had my camera so I could try to take a picture of some it. It was an amazing display to say the least.

here are some pictures from my yard. I took them with my canon EOS rebel xt. I took the morning scene with my canon telephoto lens. The iris and the bird was taken with my wide angle lens.

 Saturday! My Day began at 6am! Pretty much today was utilized as a "restocking day" as a family, we ran out and gathered some things that we were out of: food, cleaning supplies, water etc. It actually was one of the more easier and more pleasant excursions we have gone on( shopping with a toddler and a baby can be overwhelming and tiresome sometimes) but today the kids just seemed so cute and giggly: well behaved. So I was glad(There is hope for not being isolated from the public in the future!)

So we came home, unloaded the car and put everything away. Then I set out to marinate some filets with this apple chiptole sauce and a dash of dale's. They turned out well. In addition to that we had some very nice twice baked potatoes! T even ate one for dinner!

tomorrow is going to be busy, and unfortunately brock has to go work for awhile. He has alot of jobs! I am toying with the idea of driving to morgantown to see him over the weekend, but I haven't decided yet what I would like to do. 

 I am sorry that I have such a filter on my blog. I have alot going on, but I just feel so self conscious about blogging about things occurring in my life, my inner dialog or feelings on things,  or even blogging too much about my kids.. (which is crazy paranoid) I just feel so very aware that what  I write can be read by anyone, and I really don't want to reveal so much about myself to where my transparency is perceived as a vulnerability. but that is why I don't post pictures of my children. I just don't want *just anyone* to have access to all sorts of information about me or my kids or the happenings of my life. That is the major reason why social networking completely sketches me out. I don't do it. 

it's FRIDAY

hey, Today was a busy day.

   My friend k and her kids came over to play, and we had a great time. Then my mother in law brought my little nephew over( he is 2) and he played with all the kids. The weather is VERY hot, but then it's july.. so I guess, it would be weird if it wasn't hot.  I was just amazed how ( usually I walk around barefoot) and I found it virtually impossible to do so today! the astroturf at the playground ( as my son jack says "uchi, ouchy!") my deck where the sun was hitting it,(EEOW!)  So I ended up being so mindful about slipping on my flip flops today, because when I would absent mindedly walk out the door, I would be walking back quick for my shoes!

Brock finally made it home. HOORAY! only to be gone again monday (BOO!) but we have a good weekend planned. 

 There really is so much more going on, but I am so worn out writing this, I'll write a longer blog tomorrow.  I am proud that I at least wrote everyday this week! hoorah for me!  I really feel that writing some everyday, has to be beneficial on some level. 

( although the whole time I have been writing this, I have been zoning out on "deadliest catch"  on our tivo)

waah!

 hey yall. Well it's Thursday. Brock is coming home tomorrow, and jenny has survived yet another week just her and the kids here on big knob. 

kinda had a crazy morning. I ended up getting a little cabin feverish, so I took the kiddies out with EVERY single intention of going to get little jack some shoes. He has outgrown 7's, and I surmised by looking at his foot that he was about a toddler 8 1/2. WELL, we go to southern shoe connection which is this huge metal building filled wall to wall with shoes. They measured jack's foot and sure enough, the youngun is now an 81/2. Easy part. the hard part: couldn't find ANY shoes.. other than these girly keds ( do boys even wear freakin white canvas keds?!) I wasn't about to buy them and then have my baby ridiculed by the bus kids in Sunday school. So we left with ZERO pairs of shoes. I had planned to buy several pairs too. So back to square one with that one. ( if people knew all the energy I had to expend to get the stroller out, the baby, then jack strap them in, then push the gargantuan   stroller through double glass doors( and NO one ever bother to help. They just always sit there and watch me struggle and try not to squish my kids in the doors( which ALWAYS makes me super mad, I always help people with doors especially if they have a stroller why are people so lame sometimes?) THEN I get in the shoe store and NOTHING in this kids size in the WHOLE store.(except of course, the femie looking keds that would get him a wedgie if he wore them around other kids) UNBELIEVEABLE. )

So I cut my loses there and we went to TJ Maxx and Target for me to just see what is going on there, since I hadn't been in town for a couple of weeks. scored a cool ed hardy belt and some cute steve madden sandals that are mustard yellow. Jack was so funny. When we pulled into the shopping center he looked at me and said "exactly WHY are we here?" haha. Both he and Todd got a toy at target, so they were all good when all was said and done. 

I got the racing bibs in today from Runners World for the Road Race. I am SO excited how everything is coming together. The 16th will be here very soon. 

 well, I am tired, I guess I will go relax and read for the rest of the evening. 

somewhere down the line

 well, I am over here in Richlands, VA hanging out with my parents, letting them enjoy the company of their grandkids:) Actually, jack is out in the garden with my mom digging potatoes, and gathering squash and cucumbers. My Dad is mowing the yard, and I am in the house with little Todd who is getting ready to take a nap. So that pretty much is the run down of what is going on here. 

My nephew, Brian, who works for consol energy, will be home from work around 4pm, then we will all have dinner together before I head back up the road to the mean streets of Bristol. 

  Brock is working in West Virginia. I can't wait for him to come home on Friday. 

I really want to go make a trip to Boone, NC sometime soon. I have alot of things coming up the month of August, and really don't know when I can do everything I need to do. Ever feel that way? so overwhelmed by tasks at hand, that there literally doesn't seem like enough hours in the day.  but once we have my brother's memorial road race, the Christopher Todd Richardson Memorial 10k (  www.runtricities.org )  I will have some more free time on my hands.  I would like to go to Grandfather mtn and check all that out up there. I really enjoy the town of Boone itself. I love going to the mast general store and all the stores on Kings st.  I guess I just love that it's a college town ( so there is art, culture, free thinking etc) maybe it's just a way for me to attempt to recapture lost youth to just merely go there.  I feel like I have aged so much the past year.  I feel OLD.  Maybe it's just the confines of adult life and adult responsibities( caring for two small kids constantly ) I love my family. but it presents a whole special set of challenges that are new experiences for me, and have definately taken some modifications on my part.

 I just have to keep reminding myself that really I just need to enjoy the moment and phase of life that I'm in, while yes, it's hard to handle a toddler and a baby, but they will grow so quickly. (which will be sad) and then I will have all the free time to run, train for races, and travel: but I will never get this time back with them while they are small. 

 I  took the picture of a flower beside my house with my canon EOS.. isn't it awesome looking?!

here I go again

 I really am going to try to make a last ditch attempt at keeping a blog and keeping it current. 

Today I took my oldest son Jack to check out his preschool.  I think it went well, and he will enjoy it there. It's a smaller private school, but I think he will benefit from all the individualized attention, and small classes etc.  There was a summer enrichment program going on while we toured, and Jack just took off with them to plant flowers outside while I went to go over the paperwork and sign an agreement (guess my fears that he'd cling to my leg screaming the first day of school were unfounded)

Then we came home, jack took off with his grandmother to visit some of her relatives this afternoon. (again, does that kid ever miss me?)

 I pretty much spent the rest of the day playing with my little 8month old, Ranzey Todd. He is growing so quickly, and his little personality is really just developing into this uber sweet individual.  We play with toys, sing songs(well, i sing) I read him books. Then the rest of the time just is devoted to his primary care ( bathing, feeding, changing, you get the picture)

All the while anxiously anticipating the return of little jack:  who rolled back into town about 9am. Fun Stuff.

 I really can't wait for brock to get back into town so that I can go run. I ran 5 miles the other day ( I am kinda post marathon recovery mode which stinks) wasn't too painful.  I really have so much I would like to do( run, bike, tennis, golf) but until he gets back all my athletic aspirations are on hold haha.  I really have just come to terms that I will have to wait until both my kids start school before I can actually set lofty athletic goals and train on the level I want.( ACCEPT IT!) 

We just got back this past weekend from a 2 week jaunt out west. I took some amazing pictures, and had an amazing time as well. I just can't get over how much I love colorado. It truly is such an awesome place. Especially the town of Leadville.  The picture is me at the top of mosquito pass at 13, 900 ft during the leadville trail marathon. ONE TOUGH CLIMB. it makes me HATE swtichbacks so badly! haha it's maddening trying to get to the top!

Tomorrow I am supposed to go to Richlands to visit my parents farm. Jack is excited. He loves riding the tractor with my dad and seeing all the black angus cows.  I enjoy going just to spend time with them. It seems the older I become, the more I am aware of how important it is to spend time with our immediate family. Really, without them, my life wouldn't have much meaning. People define themselves through various ways: careers, hobbies, likes/dislikes; the crap they own but I really think that with some serious self reflection, one can see how really interaction with family and life experiences past, present and future is what molds and shapes us into WHO we are. 

current events very quickly: the dow dropped below 11,000 points (bummer), GM is cutting jobs(RIP), oil went down 7 bucks a barrel today. Sad state of affairs if you ask me. I don't even want to get into politics ( odd since I am degreed in political science) today.

 Book I am currently reading : "How the Irish Saved Civilization"

Favorite gadget: tie between ipod-touch and blackberry world. use them both equally the same

* I love my Mac Book, and will never use windows again.*

 cameras: use Canon EOS rebel XT primarily for digital pictures can't say enough positive things about this camera. for a smaller digital, I am  currently loving olympus stylus. its orange and can go underwater, shockproof etc.. I carried it during leadville marathon and I thought the pictures turned out great.  

film camera: Nikon 35mm SLR. 

 Over and out.