Category Archives: 50 in 50

Motivational Music Monday… and stuff

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May is a busy month in this house.  This past week we’ve celebrated a birthday and Mother’s Day (and we still have an anniversary coming up).  We also did a happy dance when the child returned home from Hawaii.  AJ is the one buried in the sand (his father did his laundry, 😀 ).

The day before AJ came home was James’s birthday.  I bought him… (notice I said him, not us)… I bought him a nice dinner and dessert on his birthday, and when AJ got home, we celebrated properly.

It’s Sunday night, so I’m on day 12 of The Whole 30.  All of my cravings stopped on day 6.  I wasn’t even tempted with cake or naughtiness even with all the celebrations going on.  I will admit, as I hate cooking, I’m a bit tired of spending time in the kitchen, but again, it’s all in the planning.  I made enough food on Thursday and Friday to last me the weekend, and the boys were on their own.  Mostly.  I’ll always share my veggies and chili.  (#spottedtheGroot)

I also did my long run today.  It went well.  I felt strong and full of energy.  At mile 4, I ate a few too many raisins (portion control matters) and my stomach cramped up; however, as I was doing an out-and-back, I had no choice but to power through.  Sometimes not having a choice is a good thing.  I also had the trail mostly to myself.  Nice.

Although… sometimes being on the trail alone can wreak havoc with the imagination.  I wore my hydration pack, kept hearing the sloshing of water, and thought someone or someTHING was stalking me as it sounded like the bushes rustling.  I don’t have a clue what bedded down in this huge patch of grass the previous night, but I’m glad it was gone (the grass is actually as high as my hips).  The blades were clearly flattened right smack in the middle:

A successful week in eating and a successful week in running (with even some cycling thrown in for good measure), so now on to Motivational Music Monday by 50 in 50 Marathon Quest.

Tonight (Mother’s Day), U2 are here in concert, so James opted to pay tribute to them.  I’m not a big U2 fan, so I’ll pass on playing a U2 song.  I will, however, follow suit with the title. “It’s A Beautiful Day” has helped me pick up my step during many a long run… and it’s Michael Bublé. It just doesn’t get any better than that.

Hoping all y’all have a happy week!!

Shape of You

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James has posted his weekly update and MMM song over at 50 in 50 Marathon Quest, so it’s time for me to follow suit.

Ed Sheeran… know this guy?  He’s tearing up the charts worldwide right now.  He recently released his latest album, ÷ (Divide), and in the UK, he currently occupies 9 of the top 10 spots on the Billboard Top 100.  I’m not quite sure how they configure this… maybe it’s the top downloads for the week, and as his album was just released, that would make sense. Regardless, the number one song in the world is “Shape Of You.”

Have you heard it yet?  Probably, yes.  Overplayed?  Definitely, yes.  A great tune? Without a doubt.  It’s also my song choice of the week.

While the song itself has nothing to do with shapes or sizes of bodies, the words “I’m in love with the shape of you” are powerful… especially in this day and age of Photoshop and body shaming.  Which makes me love the song all the more.

  • Are you enjoying Ed Sheeran’s new album?
  • Do you think “Shape Of You” is overplayed?
  • What’s your favorite song this week?

En Vogue

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Way back when, late ’80s/early ’90s, I lived in the University of Arizona district in Tucson.  I walked everywhere.  To and from work, I walked.  Restaurants, stores, I walked.  Even in the midst of the summer heat (one time in 117 degrees F), I walked. And I never went anywhere without my Walkman (for cassette tapes) or my Discman (for CDs).  I was always plugged into music and had favorite groups I would listen to over and over again. En Vogue was one of those groups.

For #FlashbackFriday and for #MotivationalMusicMonday over at 50 in 50 Marathon Quest, I present to you En Vogue… Free Your Mind!  An inspiring song, especially with all the separation that’s going on in our country now.  It’s also great to get up and move to!

And just for extra fun, Hold On… the first hit from their debut album.

Oh, I can’t stop there!  Giving Him Something He Can Feel just makes me smile!

And last but not least, Yesterday.  You had to own the album to actually know they did it, but this song showcases their true talent.

Saturday morning, James and I are headed to the Lake Sammamish Half-Marathon.  He’s running, and I’m sitting out this time… for once I get to be the cheerleader!  Yayyy!  It’s supposed to snow again (boooo)… so be sure to wish him good luck!  He’s going to need to run really really fast just to stay warm!  (Please wear your Hoka’s, hunny… you don’t own YakTrax).

Have a fantastical weekend!!

I Can’t Drive… 55!

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This is my bestie from high school, Sheryl (on the right, 1985).

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This is also my bestie from high school, Mindy (on the right, 1987… no giggling at the funny old pictures).

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We were as close as sisters and were always there for each other no matter what.  And the trouble we used to get in… well, that’s a story for another day.

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Sheryls wedding, 1987

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Graduation, Baby! 1985

Anyway, just before our senior year of high school started, Sheryl’s dad won a car.  Not just any car, but a 1985 Dodge Daytona Turbo Z and the very first one to come off the line.  The license plate read CAR-001.

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It had a factory stereo in it that could blast the ice off the windows.  Turn up that bass!  Which we did… often.  You could hear Sheryl coming from a block away.

One day we decided to go test just how sporty this little car actually was.  We went across the river to the backroads of rural Graham County, Arizona, where we had miles upon miles of empty road with all kinds of hills and twists and turns.  Sheryl managed to exceed 80 mph on one stretch… keeping in mind that this was back in the day when the legal speed limit on every major highway was only 55 mph, so hitting 80+ was a big deal.  If we would have been caught, Sheryl surely would’ve had her license revoked.

Needless to say, Sheryl acquired many speeding tickets during the next couple of years.  It’s a really good thing her brother was a cop.

The following was a song we would crank up in that sporty little car of hers with the kick-ass stereo whenever we would cruise the backroads because it was oh-so-true. This is also my pick for James’s Motivational Music Monday this week.  After all these years, it still gets the blood and the heart pumping.

Sadly, Sheryl died in 2012.  However, 30+ years later, Mindy and I are still in touch.

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AJ, Me, Mindy, 2013

50 in 50

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Thank you to everyone.  Your amazing support and loving comments have helped me tremendously in my most recent struggle to deal with my mother’s death. You have no idea just how much you’ve helped.

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And thanks to James for all his loving support, help, and the kind words he has written.  You can read about it here.

It’s a race weekend.  In the words of Queen’s Freddie Mercury… The Show Must Go On…

Watch out Bellingham… here we come!

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Life In One Day

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It’s Monday! Ummmm… yay? Okay, well, yay for Motivational Music Monday at 50 in 50 Marathon Quest!  Time to post some music that you’re enjoying this week!  Got any ’80s songs that you’re in love with?  Shout ’em out!!

I mentioned yesterday that James and I went to see Howard Jones and OMD over the weekend, so I think it’s most fitting that I come up with something from good old Howard, one of my all-time favorites.

I think one of the reason’s I was so drawn to Howard is because he was a fabulous lyricist.  His words had meaning, and, as an impressionable teenager, I could relate to most of what he was trying to say.  The song I chose is probably not a mainstream hit, but it is upbeat and a happy little tune, kind of quirky really.  It’s called, “Life In One Day.”  The lyrics follow, but I also chose a video that plays the lyrics.  The original video is actually quite annoying, with breaks here and there and people talking in the middle of it, and if you’re actually going to listen to the song, then I want you to hear the song as I heard it back in the day.

Lyrics

The old man said to me
Said don’t always take life so seriously
Play the flute
And dance and sing your song

Try and enjoy the here and now
The future will take care of itself somehow
The grass is never greener over there
Time will wear away the stone
Gets the hereditary bone

Don’t try to live your life in one day
Don’t go speed your time away
Don’t try to live your life in one day
Don’t go speed your time away

The old man said to me
Said you can’t change the world single-handedly
Raise a glass enjoy the scenery
Pretend the water is champagne
And fill my glass again and again
While the wolves are gathering round your door
Time will wear away the stone
Gets the hereditary bone

The old man said to me
Said don’t always take life so seriously
Play the flute
And dance and sing your song

Try and enjoy the here and now
The future will take care of itself somehow
The grass is never greener over there
Time will wear away the stone
Gets the hereditary bone

I tried to live my life in one day
Don’t go speed your time away

I bit off more than I can chew
Only so much you can do

Wolves are gathering round my door
Ask them in and invite some more

I tried to live my life in one day
Don’t go speed your time away

Of course, the song that got me started on my positive thinking way of life was from him, “Things Can Only Get Better.”  I listened to that song over and over again until I truly believed those words, heart and soul (it’s not easy being a teenager).  I recorded a snippet of it at the concert… I wanted to sing and dance, too, but no way was I doing that on camera, so I only recorded about a minute.  The lyrics to the first verse follow.

Lyrics

We’re not scared to lose it all security throw through the wall
Future dreams we have to realize
A thousand skeptic hands won’t keep us from the things we plan
Unless we’re clinging to the things we prize

And do you feel scared, I do
But I won’t stop and falter
And if we threw it all away
Things can only get better
Wow wow wow oh, wow wow wow oh oh oh oh

Have a super great week, my friends! 

 

You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet

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Having just got back from Montana, I’m running a bit behind on everything, but I’m working on catching up, really I am!

In the meantime, rumor has it that it’s Motivational Music Monday over at 50 in 50 Marathon Quest!  That means it’s time to share a song that you are enjoying this week, possibly one that is making you move… or boogie…

I haven’t had the chance to write about what a good time Missoula was yet; however, in case you were wondering, yes, I finished my half-marathon!  I’m still suffering a bit from the plantar fasciitis, but it’s getting better now thanks to some wonderful advice I got, so all I can say about what’s to come for me in the future… well… hey…

You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet!

Have a great week!!

 

Can’t Stop The Feeling

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It’s time for a little Motivational Music Monday over at 50 in 50 Marathon Quest!  If you have a particular song this week that’s really getting it done for you, go let James know what it is!  New, old, fast, slow… something’s gotta be making you happy!

James is going with running cadence this time as he’s chosen a fun little tippy-tappy ditty.  I’m following suit, of course.  The song I’ve chosen is supposedly best for a 13:42/mile pace, which I find to be interesting.  I do have it on one of my playlists, so I’m going to have to give it a test to see if that’s really the case.  Regardless, it’s a great little upbeat song to run to and what a great video to boot!  If you woke up this morning, there’s no reason you shouldn’t be dancing… it certainly beats the alternative!

 

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Make it a great one!!

Try A Little Tenderness

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It’s time for a little Motivational Music Monday over at 50 in 50 Marathon Quest!  If you have a particular song this week that’s really getting it done for you, go let James know what it is!  New, old, fast, slow… something’s gotta be making you happy!

James is going with a karaoke-inspired song this week from The Commitments.  I love that movie… it’s one I could watch over and over and it would never get old, mostly because the music is just so good.  So while you’ll have to pop on over to 50 in 50 to see what James came up with, I am going to post my favorite song from that movie, Try A Little Tenderness.  This is the best version of the song I’ve ever heard.  While I couldn’t find the actual movie scene, I did find one with lyrics, so you can read along.  Have a listen:

Now, here’s the funny thing… my boy MB also does a version of this song, but I’m sorry to say, The Commitments’ version is still my favorite.  However, one can never go wrong with Michael…

I think the first time I ever heard the song itself was in the movie Pretty In Pink.  Jon Cryer did a bang-up job in this scene… with the original version by Otis.  Go ahead… watch and have a little smile…

Happy Monday my friends!  Hope you have a smashing week!

Bang Bang

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Yes indeedy!  It’s time for Motivational Music Monday from James over at 50 in 50 Marathon Quest. Everyone is encouraged to play, so please head on over to his site (even if it’s not Monday no mo’) and tell him a song that makes you happy!

In case you missed it, we just completed the RNR Seattle Half Marathon (well, James completed the full).  They played some great wake-up music at the start line, stuff that made you want to get up and shake what your mama gave you!  This was one of those songs!  I also had this on my playlist, and when it finally came on somewhere down the road, it helped me to get one of my best splits of the race, plantar fasciitis pain and all.

  • Today is also #MoveItMonday!!  What will you be doing to get up and get your blood flowing?!
  • Have a great one!!