I just suck....but there may be a reason

 It occurred to me the other day that part of my loss of passion for both writing and running and a lot of things lately could be due to the SRI that I am taking for my anxiety.  It's not a bad thing as it has helped me immensely to sleep, to function at work, and to just function in life.  It for sure hasn't lessened my love for either of those things but I think that "need" that I use to feel is deadened.  I feel like that is why writing has become a chore and not something I want to do as badly.  I'm still doing vlogs on my FB page for Running with Reds but it's not the same.  Since I am two weeks behind here are some pictures from the last two weeks.  We've gotten rained out for two race weekends, so we filled it with music and concerts and friends.  

First of all, Happy Birthday Tony!  It's that magical time he and I are the same age for a few months.  He picked out the cake, and it was a very delicious ice cream cake.  Sorry I only had one candle!  

We took a trip down to Aggieville now that the students have all gone home for the summer.  We had dinner at So Long Saloon and had some famous raspberry bean dip.  They now have corrals outside that you can stay in and have a drink while you wait, and we had a couple of their famous Nancy beers while waiting.  If you've ever been, the place is tiny and eclectic, and we love going but not so much the wait.  

Three runs and two lifts the first week, one run and 3 lifts the second week.  The summer heat and humidity have finally hit and it's time to focus on strength for me.   Pray for Ollie.  She would run herself into the ground in the heat if we let her.  She would like to be running now and if I had an all-shaded trail or something with lots of water like out at Clinton, we could probably still run, but we don't have that.  

Also trying to spend more time out with Boom Boom.  Tony takes him to work a few times a week, and I am trying to take him on walks and hikes when it isn't one million degrees.  Mount Mitchell is perfect for shorter hikes but it's full sun, no shade which isn't ideal.  

The library mural is done and I just love it!  

Another weekend and more concerts.  Synth band at Switch Wicked and a country/rock band at Aggieville Brewing.  Why does my kid look like a grown man lately?

I'll end on this.  Work has been a little crazy lately.  I've been back from QC into my original RD lab and things have been a little rocky.  When I can share more, I will but know for now that I hope what is best will happen for all involved.  

Have a great week y'all!

Promotion!

More lasts this week.  Last week of middle school and on to high school. 

Hopefully not the last semester of all As.

Since he is not in honors classes, he doesn't have a 4.0 but I'll take it.  He just got all of his test scores back from the standardized testing and he is above the school and state average in all subjects   I will take it!  He doesn't need to be a copy of little ole me.  It's going to be so exciting seeing where he decides to go in high school and beyond.   He has signed up for band, choir, and art classes as his electives, and we are going to probably sit out all sports this next year.  I've said it before and I will say it again, I am sad to see him give up on some things that he could be good at eventually as his body matures but also, I am very happy that he is finding his own way and figuring out the things he loves and wants to do. I will throw my full support behind whatever he chooses because I want him happy and thinking about what career might make him happy for the rest of his life.  He has also become a very big advocate for himself in classes and in life and I love that.  

We had to move promotion due to predicted really bad weather.  We were VERY lucky in that we only got 80 mph winds and lots of trees and limbs down versus tornados.  I will take some clean up any day over devastation.  Our boss was very proactive in letting us off early so we could get home and get settled before everything hit and I am so thankful for that.  

I had a great time just spending the week with my mommy.  I am so screwed up on what week I am even talking about now since I am so behind at this point.  Her and my MIL came up from Tennessee to see Andrew's band concert, to see him race, and to see him get promoted.  Mom even got to listen in on one of his bass lessons.  I took a day off to spend with the moms, and they got to have fun spending their Mother's Day present at the local nursery.  I would love for my mom to live her and never leave but I am not sure when or if that will ever happen.  Why God chose to plant me in Kansas, I will never know but here we are and here we will stay.

We also had a race on the weekend that we could have attended a few hours away but decided not to.  Instead, we took in a live bluegrass band and just enjoyed each other.  After the whole Kyle Busch death, we've pulled a little tighter and are loving each other a little more.  You never know when it will be your last day.  

I did do some running and some lifting.  Even got a lift in right before the storm with my momma watching and cheering me on to go faster.  

To end here are some pictures from Andrew's ceremony.  I loved it!

Have a great week y'all!

Two weeks in one because I'm lazy

Three runs and two workouts both weeks.  Looks like run plus legs is my new future.  The next few weeks are going to be jam packed with concerts, promotions, and lasts for middle school.  Stay tuned. Plus, the temperatures will only be rising, I am sure.  

Morning running here I come?  Bleh.

The biggest story of the week was we raced!  I wrote a book on the book of faces about it but let me tell you, it was emotional.  Andrew has big emotions, always has, always will, and he's not afraid to show them to you.  Before the hot laps he was all tears and shaking again, just like last weekend.  This is all new and change is hard for him so we tried to just support him the best we could.  We know he can do it; he has the skill set to do well in this sport for sure, but he has to believe in himself, something we have struggled with for years.  As the night went on, he got more and more brave and comfortable, but he spun out in his heat race and didn't get to finish the laps and spun out twice in the Feature and didn't get to finish that race either.  I'm still calling it a win because he had seat time, he ended on a good note, and he won some money that gave him incentive to do better next time.  Since I am two weeks behind, here are some pictures.

It truly ended on a good note.  Charlie got third in junior sprints and Madden won restricted.  Can't wait for the next one at a new track Jefferson Speedway in Fairbury Nebraska.

The rest of the two weeks were filled with lasts.  Lasts choir concert, last solo and ensemble competition for middle school, and last teacher appreciation for our favorite teacher who does it all.  Can we just transport her to high school????  We also got a live band in at Aggieville brewing who needs a bass player (hmmmmm).  They play more 80s hair bands which he knows, but he's more of a 90s kid musically.  

Okay I know I need to be better about writing and posting but I've just been very unmotivated lately to write.  I have really enjoyed doing live videos even though no one watches LOL.  Have a great week y'all!

Dirt slinging

 

A week of firsts.  Let's start out with workouts.  Three runs and one arm work out.  One run was pretty hot, the other was perfect, and the third would have been magical had it not been for the humidity.  Sigh.  Welcome to Kansas where the humidity can be 100 percent and it's still not raining.  

Mudpig approves of the rain because rain equals puddles.  We did spend some time in the basement one night as there were tornados all around but for once they went south of us and stayed away.  

The highlight of the week was getting to practice in Andrew's new restricted micro.  I'm not going to lie, I have felt all the emotions leading up to this, scared, anxious, and excitement.  I knew he would be nervous, so I had to hide anything I had deep inside.  Here are the pictures from the day.  I am SO very proud of him for yes, being nervous, but digging deep, getting out there, and trying his best. 

Preload and load.  So different getting to all ride together and only having one car.

Nerves.

Friends.

New arm restraints.

Thank God for Micah being there to calm him down.  He stayed with him all day right by his side, never leaving.  He arranged for him to get to practice by himself to help with his nerves and helped him walk the track post practice to get an understanding of how the track changes.

Baby's first infield picture.  Thanks Josie Imm for taking this one!  I can't wait to see many, many more.  Just take my money!

I'm so excited for this journey and I can't wait to see what happens!  This year is going to be a year of learning and fun and I am here for it! No expectations and no goals other than improve every race.  

Y'all have a great week!  It's race week and I can't wait to see how much fun we have racing!