Didn't Think I Would Run, Did You?

Yup. I did it.
Finally ran -- and quite well for having been OFF for 20 days! -- last Friday after procrastinating all day. Of course, when I ran again yesterday before the Super Bowl, it was very painful and a whole different story. But I did manage to finish almost 5 miles, at the slow/easy pace I wanted. The trick is not stopping -- during a run, or between run days. Once in motion, things are easy. Kicking them into motion is a pain.

I need a new challenge. Or two. Check out the two new icons and links at the left. WHY? I need my "own thing".

I so admire and respect Alex for his cave diving exploits and experiences (as well as his technical blogging). If I ever want to be his partner on "The Amazing Race", I just need to do this. Wouldn't that be a hoot? Watching Alex and I on national television as "The Dive Buddies" while we race around the world?

And I am so proud of Tracey! When I first met her, I showed her all about my REEF fish counting project. And now she has been selected by REEF as one of their "Advanced" counters to do research for their Grouper Project in Grand Cayman! And she can identify and count fish far beyond what I have ever been able to do. Oh, for the chance to humbly sit by her side in St. Croix when she leads a REEF trip down there in May (I hope, I hope)!!

Then, of course, my sister Linda. Everything she does in her life is something to respect and admire. I really want to visit the 7MSN sometime this spring and do a "dude ranch" kind of thing with her. And maybe because I've been sick for the past 3 weeks, I need to get back into some resemblance of FIT so I can tote bails of hay and pull loco weed with her - while I'm refreshing my horseback riding skills and running around the ranch.

SO ....., this is for me.
This year (hey, I know it's February; I just wasn't into making "resolutions" at the New Year) I will:

1. Run a 10:00 pace - consistently - for at least a 5K.
2. Complete the 100 pushups challenge.
3. And the 200 situps challenge.

The way I figure it, by next January, I'll be looking at a whole 'nother level of Half Marathons or some other wild and crazy challenge.

Still think I would do well on "Survivor".

Winding Down

See that countdown timer over on the left side of my blog? It's scary. Watching the seconds tick down until Disney. For the last 2 months, my life has been centered on Half-Marathon training - even when we traveled to Cozumel for 13 days and I was scuba diving. I had to schedule my runs before and after dive days so I wouldn't get "bent." Did it, too -- ran once out past the airport onto a gravel road where horses and campesino cowboys rode right towards me, headed for the big Mexican Independence Day parade; and again up north, at night, past the lighthouse and beach partygoers drinking beer and margaritas while I panted heavily, looking for water.

Guess it's that time of year when I start to "wind down" and think about the past: where we've been, where we're headed. I've been reminiscing about friends and family a lot recently. Always think a lot about my FBI friends and family - Brian (who has hopefully recovered from kidney stone surgery) and Faye; Allen (who calls me every year about this time); my former L.A. partner, Rich; Kenny D. (who is trying to get a crime scene job with the PD where I work now), Susan and Erich (now in Sofia, I think; I lose track of which embassy she is at!); Chaplain James Quinn, and my fellow runners on L.A. "Baker to Vegas" relay teams.

Family: Linda, my multi-talented sister, whose 7MSN blog I read every morning, before the paper - in fact, instead of the paper. I'm so excited because I should be receiving our Christmas gift from Linda today: even though I didn't win the Great 7MSN Giveaway, I asked for a canvas print of Micio for Christmas, and we collectively designed a really cool image. Mom and Dad (the best Micio pet-sitter!): we're planning a new traditional holiday here at the Villa: salmon on the grill, with baby potatoes, cranberries, and Whole Foods fruit tart. We saw J.P. while we were in Tampa on Tuesday night; he's headed up to New Jersey to visit Pat, Jr., and all the "Ants" at Christmas (we were invited, too, but we're not crazy; it's TOO COLD). The Antonas make me think of Claudia and Kevin and how much fun we had with them during our L.A. visit in September. And they make me think of Nolia and her family - I wish I would have taken the time to see them while we were in Tampa; I'm really concerned about how they are faring in these hard economic times - but I just couldn't face dealing with their marital difficulties.

Especially since Gianni and I celebrated our 13th wedding Anniversary yesterday! Where has the time gone? This is us, all dressed up for Thanksgiving Dinner in Cozumel. Kind of funny in retrospect: I'm not wearing a red dress (like I did for my wedding, but I'm still wearing red - a Mexican shawl this time!) Seems like it was just yesterday that we were packing up the condo and furnishings in L.A., getting married on Catalina Island, and traveling across country to Florida. A whole new life in Florida. New friends, new "family", new experiences.

Here's a picture of our "new family" at dinner one night in Cozumel:
Me on the left, with Andrew & Serena, Alex & Tracey, Gianni, and DAD! What fun we had eating tapas, laughing and planning our next trip.

Which brings me back full circle: past and future. I'm thinking Cozumel again next year (of course). Italy again? Fiji? First, of course, there's Orlando and Disney: and, I repeat, take a look at that countdown timer clock over there on the left. How much longer do I have to train? Gotta run hills tonight .... oh no, my aching calf!

Above Water, Non-Running BLOG Space

Love this idea! Posting a photo of where you blog.

And, yup, I'll give credit where credit is due.
First, to my sister, Linda, at 7MSN. I read her blog every day and regularly steal her ideas. But Linda was "tagged" by Pony Girl - so she gets credit, too.

I've been a closet reader of blogs devoted to horses, ranches, and cowgirls for several months now. Time to come out of the closet.

So this is "my space" - when I'm not diving somewhere underwater or out pounding the pavement in training for Disney 1/2 Marathon. (See the bottle of water on my desk? I'm drinking like a good girl.) Also notice the new ThinkPad perched atop my rolling desk - I am what my blog header says: a multi-tasker who just has to be mobile and doing many things at the same time. Also for those newbies who might be visiting this blog for the first time, that's my FBI SWAT "In Appreciation" plaque hanging on the wall to the right, just over the official White House Congrats card I received from George and Laura when I retired a few years ago. Guess you'll have to read earlier posts elsewhere (and some in the future) for more on that life.

There are two photos of me diving on my desk at left, my dive log books on top of the desk. I really do have to finish updating my Belize dive information and REEF Fish count stuff! My "I'd rather be Scuba Diving" sign is hanging over the printer/phone. And here's a sample photo from my recent Belize dive trip to National Heritage Site, "The Blue Hole" (140 feet deep!) Actually, this is a photo of a painted drawing in this itsy bitsy museum on Half Moon Caye. When my dive buddy photographers send me the underwater photo of me diving *in* the Blue Hole, you'll get a better concept of the whole experience.

In the meanwhile, if you're reading this and you have not posted a picture of where YOU blog, TAG ... you're it.

Less is More. Less is More.

Keep repeating it to yourself, Kat.
Less is more. Less is more.

So. Write more often. With shorter posts.
I really admire my sister's 7MSN blog and others, like hers, so humorous and easy on the eyes.
I've gotta write less - but more often.

Last Night: Ran 2.5 miles on the track. RAN the whole thing .... no walking. That's a first in about 2 months. Just as I suspected. My heart rate monitor has been set waaaaay too low. No wonder I've been WALKING so much during my "runs".

Re-focus. Motivation for re-starting Disney 1/2 Marathon training.
Yeah. Right. In the middle of the summer. In South Florida. In the heat. And the humidity. In hurricane season. I'm insane.

Ode to My Sister, Linda

My sister, Linda, received the "Great Horse Tips Award" yesterday from one of her companion bloggers. After Gianni and I spent a long dude ranch weekend at Linda's 7MSN Ranch ("7 Miles South of Nowhere", dontcha' know!), I am in total agreement with the Award.

In fact, Linda deserves rewards for many things.
1. Best Margarita Maker
2. Champ at Following Dreams
3. Blog Excellence (my running diatribes just aren't that interesting)
4. Gracious Hostess (Extra points awarded for tissue donations)
5. Creative Kitchen Culinary Concoctions
6. Most Patient Horseback Riding Instructor

And now, a Kathleen-designed Special Award to Linda for:
Most Inspirational and Patient Partner to "Dancing with the Stars" burro celebrities, George and Alan, of Mountainair, New Mexico

Check out this brief amateur video clip** from my camera and see Linda's training talents and techniques (using "Chuck"), and with a guest appearance by my favorite horse, Hank. It is brought to you here "live" for the first time. I can't wait to go back to The 7MSN (in good health) and see the burros Salsa!

**Unfortunately, the movie I made from this clip (edited out wind noise, titles, credits, music) won't upload here 'cause I created it in Microsoft Movie Maker and file is not compatible. Sheesh. Another reason I should have bought a MAC Book when I replaced my laptop computer!**