Team 6 - Team Ohana - Check in and introduce!

[jeanneg]

Shell: Where do you live? You mentioned the Bronx.....I am still a New Yawker at heart. I spent the first 30 years of my life in Manhattan. Hubby is from the Bronx. My sister still lives in the Bronx. My older son lives in Brooklyn and once my older daughter gets to NY I expect she will be searching for an apt. in Brooklyn also.

Which reminds me......I got an email last week that I was not selected via lottery entry for the NYC marathon this year. If I get turned down 3 years in a row, I automatically get in the 4th year (but I'll be ancient by then!). The email arrived on my birthday.......how nasty was that!

 

[Jen117]

First off... Jeanne that is too cool that you want to do NYC! And you aren't ancient!!!

OK, so I promised that I would report that I hit the road finally... and I did last night. 2 miles with my trusty partner Sadie (Golden Retriever). She is 8 1/2 years old and almost had a heart attack when she saw me getting my shoes on (I guess it's been awhile!). Seriously... are we going for a walk mom... are we are we?? That is what she was like. She is my buddy!!!

OK Debra - So you are a cougar. YIKES! I sometimes think that could be me as I was always attracked to younger men. DH is 5 school years younger (only 3 1/2 years tho)... I get harrassed a LOT about that. Good thing we met when I was 26 and he was 21.

 

[chimera]

You guys crack me up Now i can't wait for next month when I can be a cougar too! (So are the guys on the team just sitting back laughing at us...or are they afraid )

As long as we're having true confessions, Jeff is 13 months and two weeks younger than me.

Jen...I never would've guessed Paul is younger than you. Hope things get better for you soon. There's depression and anxiety in my family...sometimes I wonder when it will be my turn. Honestly, running helps me a ton. There's a study floating around that exercise can be as effective as Prozac for mood issues in some folks.

Shell...glad to see you're running again!

Robert...dude, take care of that knee! for the job situation.

Christa...have big fun at WDW! We haven't gotten to try the new Toy Story Mania ride yet.

And thanks to everyone for their concern I'm relatively okay today. The pain I'm having seems somewhat cyclical, so I'm off to the gyn next. Unfortunately, mine retired last year and I have to establish with someone new. My appointment's currently in August. I may see the gastroenterologist in between...I'm relatively certain I'm flirting with an irritable bowel diagnosis at this point. This must be the less fun part of aging?

 

[Jen117]

Mel - Well aren't you the sweetest!! Yah, Paul is younger, more so school age wise than real age wise. He started school a year late. And I am so sorry about all the aches and pains you have been having. I hope you get everything back in sync! At the Minnie I was struggling with back and knee pain, it was all feeling a bit better by the Madison 1/2 and now it is all feeling really good since I have been slacky at the running. But I am starting to think I needed this break.

As for depression... I have my ups and down. After Kate was born I suffered post partum and it was a nightmare at times. Because of going through that, I found myself being able to sense when things aren't going so well. Paul really works hard to help me transfer my energy else where. My mom seems to be doing better and that helps me out. Especially with work being horribly busy right now.

 

[deekaypee]

Johanna: Wow, that's a lot of late-night and all-day partying for your kids. They're so ready to be teenagers! (And maybe the teenaged rebelliousness will be over and done with by then, or they'll be blase about it.) I hope you all get a chance to kick back, relax, and catch up on your lost sleep soon. And then you can get back to us, your virtual family!

Julie: Many identities. Hmmmm, maybe I do suffer from multiple personality disorder. Just call me Eve. Today.

Jeanne: Awwww, but I thought I was already a member of the family? I'm sure your DS's--and Nancy's--can defend themselves from my "womanly wiles." Now if I could only figure out what they are.

Shell: Wow, that's a lot of lifestyle changes going on. So you're moving out--are you buying a house on your own? Sharing with a friend? (Not sure where you live, precisely, but know that the housing market in your general area makes adult roommates a real possibility.) Yeah for some short, "test" runs. Hopefully they go okay, as will your swimming, and your orthopedist has good news for you.

Jeanne: Boo to not making the lottery this year, but yeah for next year's NYC marathon! That'll be a great time. (And I just said this on the Lean Meaner thread...you're not ancient. You're like me, vintage. Very cool, very retro. Always in style.)

Jen: Awwww, you did your good deed for the day with Sadie. She sounds adorable! I didn't know DH was younger than you. But only 3 1/2 years? Psssshhhh. What is is that Ben Franklin said about marrying older women? They're so very grateful, I believe. And they're experience. (And I believe he said that "all cats look gray in the dark.") A very wise man, that Franklin.

It sounds like your body has been needing a little break, and it's part of what you're struggling with. I'm not trying to minimize the depression, but I find my mental state, my emotional state, and my physical state are very closely linked. In both good and bad ways. Like Mel said, running and being active help a lot.

Mel: I think the guys on the team should post some beefcake photos, seeing as they're in the presence of many pretty princesses. (Thanks to Dave, I know use that term. I still giggle, but I use it.) I'm glad to hear you're mostly okay. Establishing new relationships with doctors is always so time-consuming, and emotionally stressful in some ways. I hope it goes well.

As for me: Okay, my confession time. DOOD is actually older than me by about a year. But prior to my monogamous life with him, I dated across the spectrum--from 10 years younger to 15 years older. Equal-opportunity, I am. Part of the appeal comes from my own lack of maturity, I think! I think I can pass for younger, in my conversations and my interests, if not in terms of appearance.

Creepy story, though. I've been asked out over the years by many younger men, in part because of the university life. (Why they think asking out their former teacher is at all cool, I don't know. Ewwww.) But I was in a bookstore/coffee shop over this weekend, and this kid approached me. (He couldn't have been more than 21, 22.) He started asking me personal questions, referring to the paperwork on the table and my actions. He even asked me how old I was, and didn't seem to believe that I was 40. I answered his questions because, hand to God, I thought he was developmentally disabled and just being friendly. It took me several minutes to figure out he was hitting on me. Even then, I didn't quite believe what was happening until he asked me if I wanted to give him my number. (Um, NO. And by then I had opened a book and was ignoring him.)

And then it got creepier. He kept telling me about himself, including how he'd been evicted from his last place for check fraud, and returning to the "give me your number" request. I finally told him I was uncomfortable and was leaving--and he got up and started to leave at the same time! Luckily, my bookbag set off the alarms as I went to exit, so I went back to the counter and was able to avoid a confrontation outside the store. And that's the kind of quality, younger men I attract these days. Hmmm, maybe it's a good thing I finally married DOOD. It's a rough dating scene out there.

 

[gatorphipps]

Which reminds me......I got an email last week that I was not selected via lottery entry for the NYC marathon this year. If I get turned down 3 years in a row, I automatically get in the 4th year (but I'll be ancient by then!). The email arrived on my birthday.......how nasty was that!

Sorry about that...My good friend did not get in either. He is bummed....Come run Myrtle Beach on 2/14/09 ....Am I a bad mother for wanting to run that one...it is DD10's b-day....Hey a trip to the beach, it starts @ 0630 and I hope to do it in less than 4 hours...so I would be done by the time the fam woke up....right?

 

[Jen117]

Christa - GOOD LOGIC!!! I ran a 10K on DD's b-day and she wasn't too pleased about it. Especially since it was cold, windy and threatening rain and I made her come!!! I figure, if you can run it and still be done in the morning, the day isn't waisted and no one should hold it against you!!!!

 

[shell78]

Jeanne I live on Long Island, so the Bronx was just a daytrip for the game. I don't know the Bronx too well - the extent of my time there has either been Yankee Stadium or driving on the Cross Bronx which is my most hated road in all of NY (which is a shame since my favorite bridge is the GWB). That's too bad about the NYC marathon. I want to do it one day...when I'm not hurt - I always watch it on tv and dream! One of my friends is currently qualifying for the '09 marathon by running the requisite # of races through the Road Runners Club. He ran it last year and didn't do as well as he wanted so he's going back for more! I went to watch the race last year and it was pretty cool just to watch.

Cougars Man I *wish* younger men would hit on me! My troubles is that I get hit on by much older men. By much I mean anywhere from about 15 years older and up. Yes more than that! I am currently dealing with one guy who I work with who keeps trying - not sure how old he is but I do know he has a daughter two years younger than I. I am also dealing with a 76 year old man (no that is not a typo, yes I wrote 76) who is after me as well. He's very with it and not the senile type and I don't know if it is loneliness or what but I've gotten gifts, an offer to go on vacation with him (!!! !!!), lots of emails to the tune of "I'm thinking about you", to one this morning saying how he saw me across the field with my knee brace on and asking if it's acting up again. I thought I had put the kibosh on it all but I guess not. The worst is that he once bought one of my friends a dozen roses and asked her out but she never mentioned anything until I started complaining about my troubles. Now apparently though, he's also onto another one of my friends. It's just so bizarre. Can't make this stuff up if I tried!

Debra Right now I'm moving out on my own. Hopefully the finances allow me to live without a roomie. I'm looking forward to it. Housing market has gone down quite a bit and I've been saving saving saving to the point where it is finally "affordable" which is a laugh because NY is totally not affordable. So it goes. I love your story with the strange man in the store. Funny stuff.

Christa Sorry about your NYC denial too. Keep trying. A Valentine's Day marathon sounds fun especially if they would have chocolates at the finish line!

I alluded to it above, but unfortunately yes, my knee is acting up again. It was pretty sore after Wednesday's PT. I iced it down and all, I only played about 3/4 of my softball game last night and wore the brace and it was fine until after I got home and it stiffened up again (I guess while I was sitting in the car driving home) and it is bothersome today. Sigh. Still gonna try the swimming though because I need some ammunition for the doctor to just be like FIX THIS. We'll see...6 days and counting.

To be inspiring, there was this 49 year old man at PT this week who was in for his shoulder. He is still going to run his 50th marathon this Sunday. He's also twice ran a 135 mile race in Death Valley, CA held in June every year. The last time he did it he said he finished in 29 HOURS! The woman who won was 42 and finished in 25 hours! As if that is not enough, he wants to go run it at least one more time! So get out there this weekend people, start running!

 

[laughinplace199]

Shell - Congrats on house-buying. Have you found one yet, or are in in the process of looking right now? That story about the 76 yr old is just creepy. I hope he gets the hint and leaves you alone. Sorry to hear that your knee is acting up. Pixie dust for you and your knee!

Jeanne - Sorry to hear that you didn't get into the NYC marathon. Maybe next year?

Jen - Sadie sounds like a great running Buddy. My parents have a golden retriever that I would love to "borrow" for runs, but he's 12 and his running days are behind him.

Mel - Glad to hear that you're feeling ok. I hope that you continue to feel better.

Eve, I mean Debra - The story of the 21 yr old is creepy. Kind of scary when someone is so persistent like that. Being a cougar, you probably just inadvertantly send out vibes to those young guys, drawing them to you!

As for me, I had a lousy running week. My shin had a fight with the living room radiator and the radiator won, so I had to skip a run this week. I've been running slowly too, even before the radiator fight. Oh well, maybe next week will be better.

I am 10 days older than Rob (my DH). Does that make me a cougar? Or maybe I'm a cougar-in-training since I'm not technically 40 yet?

 

[laughinplace199]

Where is everyone this week? Was it something I said?

I finally got a chance to read and post last week and then...nothing. I hope all my cousins are ok and just really busy with real life.

Check in soon!

 

[jeanneg]

I"m still here, Julie. I took my daughter to the airport today so it's back to just John and me at home. She will be staying with a friend in NY until she can get a job and an apt. to share with her roomie from CA (who is doing the same thing right now) Once that is taken care of, the 2 will come back to NC and clear my basement of all their stuff......at least that is the plan. Now that it's just the 2 of us, I hope I can get back on track with everything else. The past 2 months have been crazy. Don't fret....Big Kahuna still loves all the cousins even if you don't hear from her too often.

 

[jeanneg]

Mel, Jen, Corinna: Any activity to report for last week?

 

[windwalker]

Mel, Jen, Corinna: Any activity to report for last week?

((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((Jeanne))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))

Not sure about them but you are way overdue a hit and run hug.

I hugged Jeanne!!!

Sneaky Panda

 

[jeanneg]

Thanks, Dave.....you have no idea how much I needed that!
Hoping that things will be a little quieter now.....

 

[laughinplace199]

I"m still here, Julie. I took my daughter to the airport today so it's back to just John and me at home. She will be staying with a friend in NY until she can get a job and an apt. to share with her roomie from CA (who is doing the same thing right now) Once that is taken care of, the 2 will come back to NC and clear my basement of all their stuff......at least that is the plan. Now that it's just the 2 of us, I hope I can get back on track with everything else. The past 2 months have been crazy. Don't fret....Big Kahuna still loves all the cousins even if you don't hear from her too often.

Jeanne, I'm glad someone is here besides me! It sounds like things have been crazy for you. I hope that things work out for your daughter with the job and apt searching.

 

[deekaypee]

Christa: I think you're a great mother to want to run MB. Sure, you're taking the DD's b-day into account, which is fantastic, but you're also a great role model for her!

Jen: And the above goes ditto for you! Just tell your DD you used to walk to school every day in such weather. And uphill, both ways! More seriously, I hope you life is getting a little less crazy these days.

Shell: Creepy, creepy old men. *Shudder.* Reminds me of that character on Family Guy (except he's into young boys). Dirty old men are sad, while cougars are very sexy. (Hey, did I just hit on you?? I'm so confused now. )

I hope you keep us up to date with your new house stories. DOOD and I would like to buy within a year, if we can find the right place in Squirrel Hill (also not affordable, although not NYC expensive). Until then, I'll live vicariously through your experiences in the housing. Not so much with the knee. I'm so sorry that you're continuing to have pain--it's really affecting every part of your life, I think, seeing as your activities are part of your social life too. Do you have any aspirations for Death Valley? I don't, as it just scares me, but I think DOOD would secretly like to do it. If he does, I guess I'll be pit crew.

Julie: Yeah, those vibes of mine. Gotta love 'em. Generally, I come off as one of the boys more than anything else; that is, when I'm not in teacher mode (and sometimes even then). Not the sexy-librarian kind of vibe, either. More of the "why aren't you wearing a habit because I can see that ruler" kind of vibe. So I just think the culture has this ever-increasing Mrs. Robinson thing going on and it's gone waaaay out there if young'uns are approaching me. Thank God for Ashton Kutchner and Demi Moore.

As for you, you're definitely a cougar. In spite of your youth and DH's age. Why? Oh, one cougar can smell another of her kind.

Jeanne: Speaking as a daughter, I wouldn't count on that basement getting cleared out anytime soon. It's cheap storage! I'm glad to hear the crazy schedule--plus all the travel, travel, travel--seems to be settling down so you can get back to enjoying your training and even have a little more "me time." You deserve it! And I'm keeping my fingers crossed for your DD. What an exciting time in her life!

As for me: Not much to report. I'm at a standstill with the moving. It's basically done, but you know when you move into a new place you suddenly need to rearrange things and to find new ways to organize? And that means that sometimes you need to shop for new things, like boxes and shelving and cool stuff. Well, that's where I'm at? The only catch? I don't like to shop for such things--really for most things. Especially not without DOOD to make the time go faster. So I haven't, and I've shoved boxes in corners and closets.

I'm trying to work up to more than maintenance training right now, and not feeling the love. I've been following my motivational program of "fake it until you feel it," a credo I follow in many aspects of my life. (Get your minds out the gutter, folks!) That's keeping me going for now. But I want more. So I'm moving onto bribery. Any suggestions for good bribes to get my running mojo back?

 

[Jen117]

Hey team. I am sorry I haven't been around. I am lurking but not posting much. My life is pure chaos and just getting worse. I am still dealing with more anxiety, both work and personal. I haven't ran since my 1/2 marathon, however I have gone out for a few fast walks. I have no energy and it really makes me sad. At one time I said running was a one time thing and then I would be done with it. Now 4 1/2 marathons and a full under my belt, I have given up and kicking myself. So I guess I better get back at it. I know I haven't lost all my fitness, but I be some of my endurance needs work.

I have a garage sale this weekend to raise some cash for our August trip. I am also trying to clear some clutter because by spring we hope to have enough money saved to clear some debt, sell this house and move to a better location. I hate this house (personal reasons dealing with my family issues) and just need something that makes me feel like I still have some privacy.

So that's what's up with me. I will try to not be so quiet.

 

[deekaypee]

Hey team. I am sorry I haven't been around. I am lurking but not posting much. My life is pure chaos and just getting worse. I am still dealing with more anxiety, both work and personal. I haven't ran since my 1/2 marathon, however I have gone out for a few fast walks. I have no energy and it really makes me sad. At one time I said running was a one time thing and then I would be done with it. Now 4 1/2 marathons and a full under my belt, I have given up and kicking myself. So I guess I better get back at it. I know I haven't lost all my fitness, but I be some of my endurance needs work.

I have a garage sale this weekend to raise some cash for our August trip. I am also trying to clear some clutter because by spring we hope to have enough money saved to clear some debt, sell this house and move to a better location. I hate this house (personal reasons dealing with my family issues) and just need something that makes me feel like I still have some privacy.

So that's what's up with me. I will try to not be so quiet.

Aw, Jen.

It sounds like your life is so hectic now and stress-inducing on multiple fronts. I can't imagine what it must be like if you want to sell your house for privacy. And then, not to be running when it means so much to you.

I'm sending PD your way and hoping your life gets easier. No pressure to be here, but know we're here for if you ever want to talk, or vent, or whatever!

 

[chimera]

Jen...let us know if you need anything. Like debra said, we take all venting here. You've got my private email and cell phone (I think). Don't hesitate to use either. Maybe we could even get Christa to conduct a group session for us

Debra...I'm in low stress mode right now, especially with running. I'm doing a combo of C25K and Hal Higdon's spring training plan. Just something light and easy without hardcore LR or speed work. Sometimes when I hit that loss of mojo, I try a new goal or focus...this time, it's to decrease or eliminate my intervals. I'm doing a 14:30 mile right now, but I'm enjoying it and seeing the progress thru the C25K plan replaces the pace progress I'm normally trying to see. And I'm doing it on the TM because it's hot and gross outside...and it allows me to indulge in light fluffy summer reading. I'm working on a Nora Roberts book right now.

Speaking of which, WISH team book club anyone? I think Debra would make an excellent discussion leader.

 

[laughinplace199]

Debra - Thanks for letting me know I'm a cougar too.

Jen - Sorry things are so crazy for you right now. I hope that things turn around soon!

Mel - I think that a WISH team book club is a great idea and you're right, Debra would be a perfect discussion leader!