Post marathon blues???

What is that? First I heard of it today on Facebook. Seems that some of my marathon friends have the blues. They say the cure for it is to get back out there and walk or run. Hmmm. Makes sense, but I don't think I have the blues. Not yet anyway. In fact, I feel pretty good.....almost back to normal! Almost ready to get back on the greenway....except for hearing that cars are getting broken into. Yikes! Two friends had their cars broken into yesterday while they were on the greenway. I hate to hear of things like that happening. Anyway.....what's next? Memphis in December! Just when y'all thought I was finished...here I go again! Thanks for hanging in there with me....love y'all! xox

I. DID. IT!

I trained for it and I DID IT!!! I knew I could. At least....I hoped I could. My time was 3:20:40. Just 9 minutes over my predicted finish time. Lots of emotions yesterday....I was excited and anxious to start. Then once I got started I was a little nervous. What the heck was I thinking.....a half marathon?!?!? It took me about a mile to get over that. Then I think I walked the next few miles with a big silly grin on my face. All I could think was....I'm doing it!!! Once I settled down a little bit, found a pace that I liked, and some tunes to groove to....I was good to go. Mile 7 (as always) was tough.....and mile 11 was even tougher. The water stations throughout the course were invaluable. The cheers and high fives from the crowd were absolutely necessary. From the yacht man drinking champagne to the little girl in her mothers arms with her little hand out for a high five....they were all awesome! Most of all, the support from my family and friends was amazing. They have been totally supportive through my training, but for the last week.....y'all have been unbelievable. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. And last but not least....my inspiration...Karli, Makenzie, Savannah, and Bishop. When it got tough, I thought about these sweet girls....and everything that they are going through.....and I kept walking....and I thought about Graden...and kept walking. I came across the bridge...and people were cheering like crazy. I came around the corner and got the boost that I needed from a great friend....and I ran across the finish line. The king asked if I will do it again next year...I told him to ask me later. I think I will do it again....the time and energy to train....and the time and energy to do it.....so very worth it at the finish line. So......here we go...April 24, 2010...here I come!!!

Not the way I planned it.

That's the thing about plans. Sometimes they don't go according to plan. I am still walking in the 1/2 Marathon and my parents are still coming up. But, now we have to mix in a funeral. PawPaw Charlie passed yesterday morning. So, even the best plan, sometimes doesn't pan out the way that it's supposed to. We've adjusted things and I will still be just as happy and proud to cross the finish line as before...I will get my race number today, be there for my family this evening and tomorrow, and my ride will be here dark and early at 5am on Saturday morning. Karli's mom has written about plans that change and says that it always happens for a reason....we'll see. So, my clothes are laid out, my shoes are ready....I just need to fill up the iPod with some good tunes (thanks Sis and Roy!) and I will be ready. Y'all probably won't hear from me until I'm on the other side of the finish line....there is alot to do between now and then. So.....wish me luck...and when I come back....I will officially be a Country Music (1/2) Marathon finisher. xoxox

I didn't recognize you with your shoes on.

Here is another...."if you know me, then you know this".....I rarely have shoes on. The King and I have been married for 19 years...and I almost always take my shoes off when we go into somebody's house. So....I always take my shoes off when we go to Grandmomma and PawPaw's house. PawPaw Charlie has never gotten used to my naked feet. But that's OK...I still take my shoes off. The last time that we were there that PawPaw was able to get around and join us, I hadn't taken my shoes off yet. My back was to him and when I turned around....he said, "Oh...Tammi! I didn't recognize you with your shoes on!". I just hugged him and said, "Oh PawPaw! Yes you did!". So fast forward a few months. PawPaw Charlie is not going to be with us for too much longer. Soon, he will be getting his wings. It will be his turn to meet up those that already have their wings, and to watch over those of us that have yet to earn our wings. I will miss PawPaw Charlie. Besides my bare feet...my favorite story is about my fireplace mantle. When we moved into our house, there was a stone fireplace in the living room. The people before us had a gun rack hanging above the fireplace. (I swear, they really did.) So, I asked PawPaw if he would make me a nice mantle for my birthday. So, he came over and measured and got some of my ideas and went home and got to work. A few weeks later , my mantle was ready. Now, I have to tell you, that we hadn't had Wyatt yet. Our little family was just me, the King and Ben. Well, when PawPaw came over to put my mantle up, he had put pegs in it for us to hang our Christmas stockings from. There were FOUR pegs on the mantle. It wasn't too long after my mantle was hung that we found out that Wyatt was on the way. I'm not sure how the four pegs came to be or even why he decided to put pegs in it at all....it wasn't something that we talked about, but I'm glad that he thought of it, and I'm glad that he put four pegs and not five or six! So, to PawPaw Charlie....enjoy your journey and your new found freedom....I am almost positive that I will never have to wear shoes in Heaven. xoxox

Too late now.

On the way to Florida at Christmastime, Wyatt and I listened to Marley & Me in the car. If you haven't read the book, or seen the movie....be warned....you will go from hysterical laughter to big, fat tears at the end. So, last night...I was brave enough to watch the movie. Once again....big laughs, and Wyatt telling me to "grow up, Mom...it's not THAT funny" (it was THAT funny), to the kind of tears that you can't do anything about at the end. Conveniently, Wyatt left the room before the end of the movie.....so that he wouldn't get that lump in his throat, I presume. Once I recovered from the big, fat tears, I was all ready to post about the three that I love....one from doggy heaven and two right here in my house. I should have posted right that minute, because....I slept, and the words that I wanted have left my brain. Maybe they will come back, maybe they won't.....but I will tell you this...it's like Lola and Zoey knew what the movie was about last night. Lola was laying right up against my left leg, and Zoey just as close to my right. The closer to the end of the movie, the closer they got to me...until I was tucked in like a burrito....they each had a leg draped over mine and were sleeping soundly. Unlike alot of people, sometimes they just know....so when I make my daily list of things that I'm thankful for....I have to include my girls...I don't know what I would do without them.

My kinda day.

It's a gorgeous morning in Mt. Juliet. The sun is shining and the birds are singing. It's a little cool, but that's sure to change. I'm gonna have to make this a quick post...gotta get to Kaden's soccer game. We took him last night to get the cleats that we promised to get him for his birthday. What a little cutie! Kaden is 4 and just a little doll! First we took him to eat....of course we made our Friday trip for Mexican food. He wanted a bean burrito...with CHEESE SAUCE...no red sauce. I tell ya....that boy is serious when it comes to eating! Then we were on to the shoe store. He picked out his cleats and said that he needed some sandals too....and some shoes with lights. Boy, the shoe store sure knows how to place the things that kiddos want....and right at their eye level too! Anyway....yesterday was a pretty good day. 10 miles with Kay in the morning and hanging out with Kaden in the evening. Y'all have a great...sunshiney day! xoxox

Tammi is a Hebrew name.

Who knew? Probably alot of people, but I've had my name all of my life and just last night learned that Tammi is a Hebrew name. Sure enough, I googled it....and yep...Hebrew origins. According to one website, Tammi means palm tree and Tam means Twin. Works for me since I love the beach and I am a Gemini. So, you might ask...why the sudden interest in the origin of my name? Well, to make a long story short....I was at Opry Mills last night and got stopped by the sweetest Israeli girl. She works at one of the kiosk things in the middle of the mall...you know the kind. Anyway, she buffed my finger nail and proceeded ask me if I am Jewish. (No) Then she went on to tell me about the Dead Sea Salt and how good it is for my skin. My fingernail is still shiny, too, by the way. So 45 minutes later, with one side of my face "plump and pretty and LOOK! no lines!", I was on my way home....extremely conscious of the lines around my eyes, that I have never paid much attention to. Thanks, pretty Israeli girl. I could have spent $1,200 on all of her products and virtually erased the lines....but you know what? I EARNED my lines! When you get to be almost 40, baby.....every line has been earned! So, although the Israeli girl was very sweet, and pretty and said all of the right things.....she is 24. I don't think I will be back to see her like I promised. She even made me pinky swear. How 24 is that? (Sorry, Lindsay) Mazel tov to you all! xoxox

Happy Easter

Easter Sunday. Rebirth and new beginnings.
A few things that I remember about Easter....I remember coloring Easter eggs with my mom. We always would get the cutest kit that we could and make the prettiest eggs ever. Then we'd head to both grandparents houses.....in our Easter best. I'm sure there was a stop at church in there, but that's not what I remember the most about Easter. I remember the pretty eggs and the pretty dresses and sometimes there would even be a nice little dusting of snow. My sweet grandma would color her very own Easter eggs to share with me and my cousins. I would make a special egg (or 2 or 6) for her and she would then give me one her hers. Bless her heart...she would save my eggs. She would put them away and pull them out the next hear to show me. Thank goodness we never broke any of those old eggs! But she kept all of my Easter eggs in a special place just so that they would not break. I'm not sure what happened inside the pretty shells, but they all sounded like there was a little rubber ball inside....the yolk I suppose. Wonder why we never thought to blow the egg guts out and THEN color the shell for Grandma? I also remember my Easter baskets. My mom used the same basket every year and it seemed HUGE! I saw that basket a few yeas ago and it didn't seem so big at all! Anyway, she would fill it full of the best candy from the best candy store in town.....Rosalind's Candy Castle....best chocolate...EVER! Once I found my huge Easter basket.....I loved looking at all of the tasty treats that Mom so carefully arranged in the grass.....never any peeps or jelly beans for me (thank you, Mom!), just sweet, creamy milk chocolate....and my favorite chocolate covered pretzels. Happy Easter, y'all! xoxox

Almost there

Two weeks. Marathon Day. The last day that you will have to read about it, too. Sorry to go on and on about it, but it's pretty front and center in my brain for the immediate future. I got nine miles in this morning. Kay and I met while it was still dark out even! She had somewhere to be at 8:45 and I had something at 9:00. So we did it at 6am! We averaged a little more than a 14 minute mile. Not to bad if you ask me. I have to admit that there was a moment today (OK...a few moments) that I was seriously doubting myself. It was around mile 7...which turned out to be our fastest mile of the day...according to the gizmo on Kay's wrist. I wore my Karli's Kause shirt today, because that's what I'm wearing on "The Day", and Kay had all of her reminder bands on her arm. What pushed me through the doubt, was thinking about all of these children that we know.....fighting the FIGHT OF THEIR LIVES and the precious angels that have already earned their wings. Chemo, radiation, brain surgery, they worry about their blood counts and their hair falling out, to mention just a few of their worries. Their parents put on the bravest faces possible for their children and they all get through it the best that they can. How can I NOT get over myself and just walk???? So, that's what I did. These children...along with my boys....are my inspiration. So, bear with me for two more weeks....xoxox.

Skank fest.

So...I have a couple of glasses of wine with dinner, and apparently it gives them permission to go nuts. Everyone that knows me, knows that I love my baths. With bubbles. As often as possible. I CANNOT go days and days without bathing. I can't even go one day without a bath or a shower...most days I have one of each. Anyway, Wyatt happens to be the ultimate skank in the family. As much as I scrubbed him when he was little.....he can go days without showering. He doesn't...because I threaten to scrub him...but he could if I'd let him! So, the King and Wyatt.....over my second glass of wine...challenged me to a "skank off".....could I go longer than Wyatt, without a bath or a shower. The deal is...we can wash one part of our body. I won't disclose what part Wyatt chose to wash, but I'm sure you can guess. So, I poured another glass of wine, so that I could think about it some more....and I had to respectfully decline the offer to be the Skank Master of the family. Wyatt is the winner of the Skank award...congratulations son!

How many more?????

Warning: This is not going to be my all time favorite post.

OK....so y'all know about Graden....my first 'bonus child'........he died in 2005 from a rare form of brain cancer. Too tragic and sad for words. Since then, there have been numerous other children IN MT. JULIET to be diagnosed with some type of cancer. Right now, I have 4 reminder bands, plus Graden's, that I will be wearing in the Marathon. If these sweet, innocent children can go through what they go through, then I can finish the 1/2 Marathon. Easy. But....this post isn't about me and the marathon. It's about OUR children in OUR community that keep getting the dreaded, evil diagnosis. Are the statistics the same in other communities? I certainly hope not. What do we do to get answers? Who do we call? What tests need to be done? WHO'S FAMILY IS NEXT??? How many children went through this before Graden, that we didn't hear about? How many others are fighting for their lives NOW, that we don't know about? To take the questions to yet another level....how many ADULTS in MT. JULIET are fighting or have fought the fight of their lives? I'm afraid that number is alarming too. I read CarePages and CaringBridge everyday. I know that there are lots and lots of children...and adults... that get cancer. But why so many here? I think these children deserve some answers....I just wish I knew where to find them....CANCER SUCKS.

Here comes the sun....

.....and that's a good thing. I have a few miles to walk today. 6 to be exact, but I think Kay has plans for 8. Either way....it's nice to see the sun. We're 3 weeks away from the 1/2 marathon. Although I have been very, very determined to do it before my 40th birthday....I never actually allowed myself to think of it being this close. I've been confident that I can do it....just focused on training properly and .....well....just doing it. So, here we are....3 weeks out. I've registered and paid. My mom and dad are coming up and I've given them phone numbers to 2 local hotels. (Their choice, not mine.) I think it may finally be hitting me that I AM DOING THIS! You see....when I was a little girl....that's exactly what I was....a GIRL. Everything GIRLY...... that was me. Dirt...no way. Ball....no way. Snips and snails and puppy dog tails.....no way. Sugar and spice and everything nice.....that was (is) me. Fast forward 39+ years....and not much has changed. Since I have boys, though, I know a thing or two about the snails and puppy dog tails. I also know a thing or two about ball.....I know how many stitches are on a baseball (108 double stitches), I know the infield fly rule, and just enough to make the King nervous if I start yelling at the officials. Thanks to the boys.....I know about dirt now too. I still don't like it....but I know about it. So that puts me to today. THREE WEEKS away from walking 13.1 miles. I've never been an athlete....never wanted to be. But here I am. Although I am not competing with the entire field for the best time....I AM competing with myself.....stay tuned. xoxox

Get outta my bubble.....NOW!

I know, I know....I've already posted once today. BUT....a huge pet peeve just inspired another post. I have to be at a meeting at 7:45 tonight, so to waste a few minutes, I was checking email and catching up on Facebook. As Wyatt was reading over my shoulder (another pet peeve), I could feel him breathing on my arm. It wasn't just usual light breaths...He was breathing hard....ON PURPOSE! Now, since this blog is usually rated G...I will mention that breathing hard is by no means a bad thing. BUT....while I'm checking email, and minding my own business...GET OUT OF MY BUBBLE!!! It doesn't mean that I love you any less....just stop breathing in my space! I love you Wyatt...very, very much. xoxox

Rise 'n shine....it's morning time!

How many times have you heard that? Not as many times as I have said it! For some reason, the older the boys get, the harder they are to wake up. Ben is already up and out the door to work and Wyatt still has a few minutes of snooze time left. Ben was easier than usual this morning....I hope the trend continues with Wyatt. We're pretty low on the grumpy scale this morning too. I don't like morning grumps. Why get up grumpy....when there are plenty of things just waiting to make you grumpy throughout the day? Wake up happy that you woke up....happy that you have another day....happy there there IS ANOTHER DAY!

OK...off the soapbox now. We're halfway through the week...so far so good. No big plans for the weekend either. Just 6 quick miles for me and the usual weekend things around the house. Wyatt started the last 9 weeks of 6th grade this week and Ben will start his 3rd quarter next week. Time flies when you're having fun, right? Spring basketball is about to start. I miss my basketball friends....can't wait to get them back! I need to pour another cup of coffee into my body and hope in the shower to start another day. Have a great day....look up and smile at the sunshine!! xoxox