Chasing Tail 5K

Pili and I ran today along with approx 15 of my coworkers. About half my coworkers brought their dogs too. And my friends Tabitha and Brandon ran and brought their dog Timber who just recently certified as a Therapy Dog. Way to go Mr. T!!!

The weather was beautiful - so close to 50 degrees and sunshine welcomed our run on about haf the course. It was a great day for a race!

My time was pretty good. I was 3 minutes longer than my last race (which was my personal best) in August. I think I could have matched or slightly beaten my last great finish without a couple obstacles. First being Miss Pili pooping on the trail and I had to stop and untie the poop bag from the leash to pick up the mess. Second obstacle was that Miss Pili's collar came off and we had to get ahold of her and get her back into the regulated course instead of the one she was enjoying making while off her collar. Thank goodness Timber and Tab and Brandon were running by us and helped get ahold of Pili to get her collar back on. So I guess if you really look at what my obstacles were it just boils down to Pili. I don't see myself running without her next year so I guess when it comes to this particular race my showing up and participating is more important than my finishing time.

This next part is relevant to the race, but I can't find a way to gracefully segway into it.....

In October 2008 I went to a new doctor. This doctor was worried about my blood pressure and my weight. I've got bad genetics and Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome and that makes my blood pressure and weight tough to manage. When my doctor wanted to see me 3 months after my exam last year my stubborn side kicked in. I wasn't gonna go back to the doctor until I could ease her concerns and I sure as hell wasn't gonna let myself take meds to manage my blood pressure or weight. So I took matters into my own hands.

A couple days after the doctor visit a co-worker encouraged me to run the Chasing Tail 5K and I paid the next day. It was my first ever 5k and it motivated me to keep running. I'm not the fastest or most toned runner, but I show up and I push and make goals and give my all.

I'm happy to let you know that I went to the doctor 3 days ago. My blood pressure was in the perfectly ideal range and I've lost 35 pounds!!!!

I'll keep running this next year (and Pili too) to be ready for the next annual Chasing Tail. Thank you for changing my life!!!

Here's me and Miss P after the race

This is my friend/coworker Peggy and her dog Diesel

Me and some friends who participated today

Me and Tabitha and Brandon and Pili and Timber

Doggie Drool

Its my nightly ritual to wake up Pili before I go to bed telling her that its time for bed. Without fail she looks up at me and stretches and usually gets a belly rub or an ear scratch before stretching off the couch or her doggie bed.

Tonight when I woke Pili to tell her it was bed time she was startled, which is common when she's had an extra long walk or Timber has come to visit, but the uncommon thing tonight was the drool I could visibly see on her and the couch.

Her sweet face looked tired and confused with her ears tucked back and the pool of drool just made me laugh out loud. She wagged her tail and kept her ears tucked as I laughed and reached down to scratch her ears.

It was such a sweet moment, my tired dog waking up from her evening nap and her paw and the couch cushion glistening with drool. Once again my Pili girl brought laughter and joy to my soul. I'm not sure there are many dogs better than she.

RINGTONES!

I work in an office which has an open floor plan. There are no cubicle walls. Before moving to this building we were given new etiquette rules and ways to be quiet and considerate of our coworkers. I can hear every phone call within 5 desks of mine. Many of my coworkers do not leave their cell phones on vibrate or silent. All day long there is a barrage of ringtones going off. I think its time to have a review of open office etiquette.

Damn Good Salesman?

I have to apologize from the beginning of this post. Well I don't have to, but I feel the need to. This isn't my most upbeat or positive posting. My intention is to get off some steam and let go of some thoughts I've been having which may come across as being a little bitter.

In my work I get to meet and deal with a good variety of people. Since late June I've had contact with a supplier, specifically a salesman at the supplier. Over the last several months I've gotten to know this man and I look forward to talking to him. He friended me on Facebook. It was nice to place the attractive face to the personality I'd been enjoying. He even helped move furniture to my house and meeting in person wasn't awkward at all.

Why am I bugged? We have continued to have flirty, extended length conversations pretty much weekly since the furniture moving. We've discussed our siblings, how he adores his niece, religious thoughts, vacations we've enjoyed, even a mutual friend who once babysat him. All signs from conversations lead me to think this guy isn't just another salesman I talk to, but rather - a guy who likes me.

And yet, its been 4 months and there has been no date. No initiation on his part of seeing me outside of work. I don't just open up to anybody, but I have been able to with him. It has been years, 7 or 8, since I have had such an easy, genuine connection with a guy. It would seem I once again have found a good friend. And it pisses me off. When do I get to be the girl who gets the great guy? When do I actually get to have a guy I like actually like me back? When do I just get to be a girl who actually has a date?

One thing seems true in this situation - he has a bright future in sales!

Death and all his friends

Yesterday at work my coworker, my friend, got a call that her mom died. I've never been present when somebody has received that news. It was a very numbing moment. Death is a very real occurrence, but we don't seem to realize its power until the moment it has influence in our lives.

Her mother's death was not expected. She was going in for a hip replacement surgery and there were complications with her blood pressure. And then she was gone.

The rally of friends in the office immediately at her desk warmed my heart. She was surrounded by us. She was hugged and assured of our love for her. Our friend is usually a little scattered so we are used to asking if she has her phone and her keys. This time, it was a loving inquiry rather than a teasing moment so we could send her home to give the news to her family and make their travel plans.

For the rest of the day I found myself pondering. We all live. We all die. Our births are mostly the same. Our deaths come in many different ways. It seems that those who love us and are left behind are never completely whole.