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!