Why I Love The Old Friends

So, one of my Chil Co girls posted a link to my facebook wall about an event that we are going to do, it is called Warrior Dash. Oh, and we're doing it in May. You get a Viking Helmet and a medal, of course we're doing it. So, I look up the event to see what to expect and this is what I've found thus far:

* A 3.02 mile run

* Jumping over fire, running up rope ladders, trampling through mud, figuring out how to run through tires?, and sliding through mud too.

* Beer, Viking Helmets and Medals at the finish line.

I cannot begin to describe how excited I am. We have such a fun group of friends anyway, this event can just go on the list as to why my friends are probably more fun than yours. Of course, we enjoy the "normal" nights out, but we pride ourselves on being different. We don't live for the club nights or bars, although we go on occasion. We like random/awesome stuff. So, be jealous my fellow bloggers. We. Are. Awesome.

"Music washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life"

"I think music in itself is healing.
It's an explosive expression of humanity.
It's something we are all touched by.
No matter what culture we're from,
everyone loves music."
~ Billy Joel ~

So, this coming Wednesday, not my clinical week Wednesday, but the next....A good friend and I are going to see one of my favorite bands...Grace Potter and the Nocturnals at Workplay. I love listening to them more than I could ever describe. I play the piano, since I was four actually, and that isn't something that most people know about me. Before I became a runner, playing the piano was some quiet time for me to just relax and enjoy the talent that God gave me. To be honest, I still take any chance I have to sit and play, but my keyboard definitely doesn't fit into my little apartment.I have recently ordered some sheet music to Apologies by Grace Potter and the Nocturnals and am looking forward to some down time to enjoy playing it. In case you are like my lovely roomie and have no clue who they are here ya go, enjoy.Maybe you'll become a "Grace Junkie" like me. :)

"You've Got A Friend In Me"

There are a quite a few perks to having your internship at night....babies are sleeping, good conversation and time to kind of think to yourself and reflect on life. I've developed a quote journal almost....here are a few of them:

"I value the friend who for me finds time on his calendar, but I cherish the friend who for me does not consult his calendar." -Robert Brault

"I've learned that no matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow. I've learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights. I've learned that regardless of your relationship with your parents, you'll miss them when they're gone from your life. I've learned that making a "living" is not the same thing as making a "life." I've learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance. I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands; you need to be able to throw something back. I've learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision. I've learned that even when I have pains, I don't have to be one. I've learned that every day you should reach out and touch someone. People love a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back. I've learned that I still have a lot to learn. I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel."
-Maya Angelou

"The only way to have a friend is to be one." -Ralph Waldo Emerson

"You alone are enough. You have nothing to prove to anybody." - Maya Angelou

"If we find ourselves with a desire that nothing in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that we were made for another world." - C.S. Lewis

"Now and then it's good to pause in our pursuit of happiness and just be happy."-Guillaume Appollinaire

"The only escape from the miseries of life are music and cats..." — Albert Schweitzer

"At the end of your life, as a female, having three or four best girl friends...now that is something to be thankful for. Anyone who thinks she has more than that,is only fooling herself."- Unknown

Mercedes Half Marathon 2011

We did it! Another 13.1 long miles has come and gone, and my roomie and I felt pretty awesome about life after we finished this one. There were about 7,000 people to come out for this years Marathon weekend and supposively each state was represented....and probably a few countries.

To start the morning off, we woke up at around 5:30 am. Ready to go....that is, until we stepped outside and realized it was a whopping 28 degrees. Chilly? No, more like absolutely painfully freezing. So, we jump in the camry and head downtown; getting pretty fired up that we were going to do this again. I'm so thankful to have an awesome best friend, she is my only college friend that is: A. Legit in shape. B. Runs like the wind. (Correction: Ashley is one of my few fit friends, Aereal is quite the beast these days. Zumba goo roo. Love her. :) )

So, we get there.....no parking. Great. We drive around for what seems like forever and finally park in some sketchy parking lot of a church, we said a quick prayer for two things: A. No boots on the car and B. To not get towed. (God provided, and my car was there after the race and bootless. :))

After getting the necessities together (ipod,car key and number) we jump out and book it to the starting line, we got there with 5 minutes to spare. Then comes the fun part- fighting the crowd to get closer to the 7:30/8:00 mile pace. We FINALLY get up there and start truly appreciating all the body heat. My heart was about to jump out of my chest with all the excitement.

Then, they shoot the gun. Boom. And, We're off. 13.1 miles to go. My playlist this year is a big part in my finishing this race and my time, that and my new found love, GOO.( Aka- liquid flavored carbs) Ash and I get seperated about mile 2.5 or 3.0.....I don't really remember. But, I do know I got to run by this awesome man, Rick, who was a veteran half marathoner as well....who sang outloud and kept everyone in his pace group super motivated to keep it up. I was so thankful for that guy since I hit my "wall" at exactly 11.5 miles. Everything in my body was on fire: quads, calves, hamstrings...even my arms were cramping. Rick was shouting out the lyrics to "Living On A Prayer" and I literally was...The idea of running this dang half marathon no longer seemed like a sane or good idea...it seemed insane. Then, the lovely people at the water station had GOO...So, I gladly took that pouch and squirted it in....felt like a new woman.

So.. now I'm at 11.5 miles, goo'ed up and literally talking myself into finishing. I am creeping up on the 12 mile marker and see tons of people...stopping.....for beer? Seriously, you just ran 12 miles and you stop for beer? No. Thats the last thing I could have thought about putting in my body...I kindly declined and kept on pushing. Coming down through the tunnel I see the usual clowns...which I hate...and sprint past because of my HUGE fear of clowns...plus they are playing accordians and beating spoons together...creepy.

Finally..after what seems like forever, I can see the end. All the people waiting for their loved ones to cross....Rick starts chanting something..it didn't matter, I just get excited and push myself across the finish line. Done. I finished. Grabbed a powerade and a banana and try to go find my support crew and watch for Ash. I felt awesome.

Running takes all I have...but it gives back so much. Training for Nashville now, cannot wait. (pictures from this run to come.)

In My Mind, I'm a Kenyan

My best friend and I love this month. No, not for black history month or Valentines Day: Mercedes Half/Full Marathon Weekend. This is the third time I've done the half and I think I'm more excited for this one than the previous two. We are currently in the mindset of training for the Country Music Marathon, (yes, the full) and when I've told people that, I get the awesome responses:

1. Why would you run that?

2. How far is THAT marathon?

3. I'll only run if someone chases me.

4. I hate running.

I guess, we're weird. We've accepted that fact. We have recruited one person to run with us, Kayla. We are both so excited to have someone to run these ridiculous runs with. Here are a few quotes/sayings to explain our weird addiction.

1. "No matter how slow I run, I'm still faster than my couch."

2. "Running.......because dieting isn't an option."

3. "I run because I used to be envious of people that could run, and now I'm that person."- Kendra Hudson

4."You also need to look back, not just at the people who are running behind you, but especially at those who don't run and never will...those who run but can't race..those who started training for a race but didn't carry through..those who got to the starting line, but not the finish line..those who once raced better than you but no longer run at all. You're still here. Take pride in wherever you finish. Look at all the people you've outlasted." -Joe Henderson

5. "Toenails are for sissys."

6." The miracle isn't that I finished. The miracle is that I had the courage to start." -John Bingham

Running is my time to meditate on whats going on in my life and just enjoy not talking. My body tends to hate me for running and I've had to have a little help to keep my hobby up, but it's working out just fine. :) I'm thankful for each day I lace up my Mizunos and hit the pavement. Some people paint, drink, take bubble baths, etc for stress. Well, I run.

2010 Susan G. Komen 5k. We had such a good time together and it was quite the turnout for such an amazing cause. (Me, Tiff, Ash and Kelly)

This picture was taken RIGHT after our first half marathon in 2009. To say we were starving, thirsty and cramping up....would be an understatement. We were so excited to take this picture, and I won't lie....we felt pretty awesome. (Mercedes Marathon Weekend 2009)

Life's Gifts

"Make new friends, but keep the old." These girls are absolutely wonderful and we have lots of memories together. They keep me sane and I like to think, there is nothing that compares to our crew.

My precious Clanton neighbors. I love these children probably too much. Jacob, Anna and Sam- not to mention their sweet parents; Chris and Shellie. What an amazing family and wonderful mentors. I have spent countless hours with them; Sunday afternoon advice sessions from Shellie, getting whipped by Jake in air hockey, letting Anna bug drive me in that go-cart, and of course, NOT getting hugged by Sam. (He's just too cool for me.) :) Truly a blessing to live beside them and watch them grow up. How precious they truly are.

Oh the joys of nursing school. These girls are some of my favorite people in life. We really didn't have a choice in becoming friends; we lived in the nursing building 24/7 and found that we have a pretty good time together. Two Words: Hurricane Bar.

This is my best friend. I am always catching myself being so thankful for her. It doesn't matter what kind of day either one of us had, we vent to one another and our friendship has become one for the books after these college years. She is an amazing person and I treasure our sweet and blossoming friendship. She's my person.

Loving Little Ones

It has been a long time since I blogged. Free time seems to be slim to none these days. Currently in my life, I am interning at Children's Hospital and I love every minute of it. When I first started nursing school, I remember thinking this was never going to end. From night shift at Cooper Green, psychiatric rotations at Trinity and finally now at my last rotation. It seems surreal actually. Lately however, I've noticed that the old time saying,"When you find your nitch, it won't feel like work."- really is true. There is nothing better, then getting a hug from your patient after talking with them or playing the Wii and getting your butt kicked by a 6 year old in the cow racing game. How can I not enjoy my job? It truly takes special people for all walks of life, my mother teaches special education- and I think she must be an angel- with that said, I know I am right where I am suppose to be. I keep waiting for God to show me what I am suppose to do after this, not patiently waiting of course, I'm working on that. Maybe the meaning of all of this, is just to be silent and enjoy each moment as it comes and goes. Life is going so quickly these days: graduation applications, NCLEX stuff thrown at us from right and left; grad school or no grad school; apply for jobs now or wait.....ahhh. I thought maybe graduation came with peace. Wrong. I found that peace doesn't mean being in a place of no noise or worries; it simply means being in the midst of those things and still being calm in your heart. That is my new years resolution. Keep calm and carry on.