Right, so it's still June. At least I think it still is.
I think I've kind of missed the ball on the whole Junathon thing - again. Though in my defense I managed to go longer and for more miles than last time. But then I'm petering out instead of being taken out by injury, so... I guess we'll call it a draw then shall we? I'm not saying I'm really going to bail on the whole thing, just you know gonna scale it back to normal proportions. Or say, any other month that doesn't end in "athon".
So, the plan for the rest of the month? I think I'll for sure do some more yoga cuz that's always fun, in a ridiculously hot, sweaty way. Then I think I'll throw a couple 10ks in just for fun - cuz that too is always fun.
Not to worry, I'm not giving up, I'm just giving into the laziness...
Current Music: Theme from Star Wars (but not because I'm a geek and actually have it in my itunes, but because Family Guy is on and their doing yet another Star Wars episode).
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Day, ummm. What day is it?
Posted by Mandy Lou at 11:02 PM 4 comments
Thursday, June 02, 2011
Day Two
I could have sworn it was supposed to be day three by now...
The good news is that I actually ran today, almost 3 and a half miles. Not too shabby! Though the stitch in my side that lasted over a mile. Is it good or sad that I still did it in my normal time?
Current Music: Feeling Good - Nina Simone
Posted by Mandy Lou at 11:59 PM 1 comments
Labels: Juneathon
Wednesday, June 01, 2011
A Sad Start
Right, so Juneathon is off to more of a whimper than a bang. I only managed a pitiful walk around the block with the pup. And I figured an equally pitiful blog post is totally appropriate.
Posted by Mandy Lou at 11:20 PM 1 comments
Labels: Juneathon
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Look, it's June!
Right, so... that whole Janathon thing...
I gotta say, it was a great idea. And I really did hit the ground running - well I hit it right after I pulled myself up off the bathroom floor (since starting a running challenge on New Year's day after a very long and alcohol filled New Year's Eve isn't the easiest thing ever). I really was trying super hard (I mean I did run with a big hangover) and then... I dislocated my knee on day 5.
Needless to say, my hopes of a fabulously fit New Year kinda went down the toilet. On the upside, it was just my patella and I was up and around in no time, and back to wogging with in a couple of weeks.
So that brings us to June (I know, it's not like I couldn't blog about other stuff in the mean time, but I was busy and ...well, just scroll down to see all the other lame ass excuses I've used in past when I haven't been blogging). And what makes June so special? Why Juneathon of course!
So Juneathon is the same idea - only better weather and (theoretically) fewer hangovers. We run (or exercise in some way shape or form) every day and then blog about it. All good. Can't wait. Totally stoked for it. Only, I'm totally booked for the week and, oh yeah - I might die on Sunday. Perhaps I'm being overly dramatic, I may not actually die, but I may no longer have use of my feet or legs after Sunday.
See, I'm running my first half marathon on Sunday and I'm just not sure I'm going to make it. On the plus side there will be champagne and chocolate at the finish line and that's a helluva motivator. But really 13.1 miles?! What was I thinking?! I can barely run a 13 minute mile let alone stack up 13 of those in a row. And yet I have friends that do it frequently and swear that I can manage it. And I can totally walk it, there's no shame in walking right?
All right, enough whining. It'll be a cake walk right? 13.1 miles - no big deal. A month of running - easy peasy. So now I can just stress out about remembering to blog.
Current Music: London Bridges - Fergie
Posted by Mandy Lou at 10:51 PM 0 comments
Monday, January 03, 2011
Three in a Row
Next time I think to do any "A-Thon" I need to remember not to do it in a city called Canyon Country. For the obvious reasons...
Posted by Mandy Lou at 8:58 PM 5 comments
Sunday, January 02, 2011
I Double Dog Dare Me

Posted by Mandy Lou at 8:03 PM 1 comments
Labels: janathon
Saturday, January 01, 2011
Janathon Anyone?
I know I'm supposed to do a post everyday for Janathon, but I'm totally out of time today (and you know, I'm kinda lazy). But know that I dragged my hungover ass out into the So. Cal sunshine and ran/walked/crawled my way through the first workout of the year!
Posted by Mandy Lou at 4:53 PM 0 comments
Labels: janathon
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Hello Bloggy
You never call, you never write...
Posted by Mandy Lou at 2:52 PM 0 comments
Labels: ramblings
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Shameless...
Yeah, so it's been a loooooong time since I've blogged, and I have all sorts of excuses rationalizations really good reasons as to why I haven't been around. So why blog now? Well I figured what was a blog good for if not for shameless self promotion and winning a free prize...
Posted by Mandy Lou at 2:03 PM 1 comments
Labels: blog-a-licious, WOO HOO
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Can't and Won't
Call it semantics, but it's a big deal around here. We were raised by a man that knew his grammar. I can't tell you the number of times my Dad corrected any of us, including my mom, about the correct use of can & may, can't & won't, who & whom. He would even correct random folks (which I'm sure really made their day) And now I hear my sister drumming it into my nieces all the time "Mom, can I have that?" - her response "Sure you can, but may you?" Dad would be so proud.
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Cancer for Dummies
Right, so I thought that I would be all witty by saying how "I wish there was a Cancer for Dummies book", turns out there is (and there's MORE than one). I guess now I'd thought to write this post and search Amazon before now.
Posted by Mandy Lou at 10:30 PM 2 comments
Friday, January 01, 2010
Happy New Year!
I've got to tell you, I'm exceptionally happy to see the back of 2009. It was not what I would consider to be a banner year. In fact, what's the opposite of banner year? Because, with a few exceptions, that's what it's been - an "unbanner year". Though, upon a little reflection, I think I could easily say that I'm glad to be rid of the whole damn decade. Sure there are some wonderful things that have happened in the last 10 years - my sister got married, my nieces were born, we bought our first house, etc. Some really great things to be sure, but then the really bad stuff seems to eclipse it all.
Posted by Mandy Lou at 7:25 PM 1 comments
Labels: devastated, family, whining
Monday, August 17, 2009
Would you like some Cheese with that Whine?
I know I keep saying that I don't have a lot to write about, and in a lot of ways that's wrong. There's tons of random things rambling around up in my brain - but they just aren't that interesting. In fact, it's mostly just a lot of whining.
Posted by Mandy Lou at 7:21 PM 6 comments
Monday, August 03, 2009
It's a Wonder
Right, so I didn't blog yesterday. But I have a really good excuse - I had nothing to write. It occurred to me that part of the reason that I haven't been writing much is because I haven't had a heck of a lot to say. And sadly, that is still the case. But I said I was going to write, so I'm going to do it (even if it is a bit lame and regurgitated).
Posted by Mandy Lou at 8:39 PM 4 comments
Labels: deep thoughts, ramblings
Saturday, August 01, 2009
Tomorrow I Will Blog
Right, so last month's theme for NaBloPoMo was "routines" - and I had high hopes of getting back into the routine of blogging. I miss reading, I miss writing. But then there are so many things that I miss lately - lots of things that I haven't been doing that I should be.
The new theme for the month is "Tomorrow". So tomorrow I will blog (and go to the gym and clean my house). I'll do my best to do the NaBloPoMo thing, sometimes I just need a little self imposed guilt to get me back into the swing of things.
See you tomorrow...
Current Music: Killing the Blues - Robert Plant and Allison Krauss
Posted by Mandy Lou at 7:48 PM 1 comments
Labels: deep thoughts, resolutions
Thursday, July 02, 2009
Routines
The topic of NaBloPoMo for July is Routine. And (as always) I'm not saying that I'm for sure gonna do it, but it's a cool topic. So it's tempting...
Especially given the fact that my routines are about to be blown all to hell for the next week. That's right, it's vacation time! I'm headed home to Cali, for a whole week, no holiday drama (just the regular kind) and Scott free, which means that I'll be able to see my friends with out hearing him sigh heavily (you know that exasperated "I can't believe that I have to endure this again, you're sooooo gonna owe me for this" kind of sigh).
My plans as of this moment are to see a whole lot of friends and a bit of family. In between all that, I'm hoping to spend some time in my old stomping grounds - walk around Noe Valley (stop at my favorite jewelry shop), head out to Livermore and maybe do a little wine tasting, drive along the coast and sit by the ocean.
That's a biggie, sitting by the ocean. I REALLY need to do that. When anyone around here says "beach" they mean the lake - and that's nice, it's sandy and there's nice water. But to me it's just not the same, it's not a "real" beach. I need waves and salt air - that's a beach. And I'm not even sure why I feel such a compelling need to do it, but I do. I can't wait to dig my toes into the sand, sit down and breathe.
As for all the other stuff, I know I'm trying to squeeze a lot in, but I just really feel this need to reconnect with my family, my friends and my home. Ever since I decided to go, I almost cry I'm so anxious to get home (which really is strange, since usually I sort of dread going home). I'm not sure I really get it, but hopefully once I get there things will get clearer.
And we'll see about NaBloPoMo.
Current Music: Daydreamer - Adele
Posted by Mandy Lou at 8:31 PM 1 comments
Wednesday, July 01, 2009
Crisis of Mid-Life Proportions - Bad to the Bone
And now back to the Mid-Life Crisis already in progress...
I've always been a pretty good kid, done what I was told, when I was told to do it. Curfews, yes ma'am. Cut classes, no sir. But I have to say that, for the most part, it was pretty easy to be good. Of course nothing comes that easily, there had to be a few sticking points, right?
When I was growing up I wasn't allowed to have my ears pierced. According to my Dad, only bad girls had their ears pierced (you know the kind that broke curfew and went around with guys on motorcycles - and probably hung out with Danny Zuko and Kenickie). So I waited, and waited. By my senior year I'd figured that I'd have to get it done when I moved out - clearly that was going to be the deal. But then, for my High School graduation, I was given a pair of amethyst earrings - a lovely gift from my Father of all people. Off to college I went, a bad girl with pierced ears.
But by then, everyone had multiple piercings. I wasn't bad enough, I needed more! I'd finally turned I'd turned 18 and boy did I make up for lost time - the final count six. Each piercing drove my Dad nuts, and by the time I got the navel piercing he was shocked, but he was getting so used to me showing up with new jewelry that he just said "well, at least it's not another hole in your head".
So imagine my Dad's reaction if I'd ever gotten a tattoo! That would have been a doozy! He would have assumed I was doomed to a life of Motorcycle gangs and teasing my hair. (Though, in his defense he did fairly well when my sister dropped trow at a family dinner and showed off her new tattoo. And in her defense she turned out pretty all right, tattoo and all.)
Poor reaction or not, I've always wanted a tattoo. Always. And not just because it would piss off my Dad, and not because my sister got one - I just dig them. You'd think that I'd have gotten one before now but the fact of the matter is that I've never really figured out what I wanted to have on my body for the rest of my life.
I didn't want to be that old lady with a Winnie the Pooh on her ass, and I really don't want anything that's your "traditional" tattoo (you know, anchor across the chest, heart with "Mom" in the middle). And I really didn't want to be the gal that got a tattoo in just the wrong spot and by the time she was 50 you couldn't read it anymore because it was so stretched out. So I've waited, figuring that if I ever happened to find the right thing, at the right time and figure the right place - then I would get a tattoo.
A month or so after my Dad died it occurred to me that the two things that define me the most and are most dear to me are my family and my California roots (did I ever tell you that I'm a fourth generation Californian? Yeah, me and Cali go way back.).
So keeping those two things in mind (and of course gravity and likely fat deposits), I finally go my tattoo!
It's a golden poppy, California's state flower - along with the word "Eureka!", the California state motto (which means "I have found it", and was reportedly said when they first found gold - which coincidentally was when my family moved to California).
I. Love. It.
As a friend of mine said "it's your soul", and she's right. Some people wear their hearts on their sleeves, I now have my soul on my ankle.
It's been almost a month now and every morning I look at it and smile - thinking of California, of where and who I come from. Although every now and then I catch a glimpse of it and giggle, thinking "hey, I'm a bad girl with a tattoo!".
Way back when I first started writing this post, I hadn't gotten the tattoo. Everything was still sort of coming together. Plus I really was worried that some would consider it to be a mid-life crisis sort of thing, (Scott thinks that's what it is, in fact he asked a number of times if it was permanent). But really, with the exception of getting this tattoo in mid-life, there is nothing mid-life crisis about it. Just me finally figuring something out about myself, but maybe that's what a good mid-life crisis can do for you.
I'm sure my Dad is looking down on me from somewhere, shaking his head. But hopefully a little bit happy that I've finally figured out what my family history means to me (even if it means being such a bad girl).
Current Music: She Moves in Her Own Way - The Kooks
Oh, and for those of you playing at home, cojones. I'm guessing that I must have been thinking about how scared I was of the pain, which, as it turns out, really wasn't that bad!
Posted by Mandy Lou at 5:56 PM 3 comments
Labels: Mid-Life Crisis
Sunday, June 21, 2009
The Trifecta
June is a usually a good month - well at least I used to think it was. Really, what's not to like? When we were young it was the beginning of warm weather and summer vacation, camp, sleeping in, goofing off with friends till the sunset then running home for dinner and then heading back out for more. I suppose getting older makes June a little less magical, more bridal and baby showers to go to or weddings attend, maybe having to deal with those irritating teens hanging out at the mall. But it's still the beginning of summer - even if we don't quite celebrate it the same.
When I lived in the Bay Area summer didn't really get into full swing till August, but June usually held those first few peeks at what was to come - it meant that San Francisco could actually get to 70 degrees and we could shed our sweaters and go for lunch outside. In Oakland, you could get out a pair of shorts and walk the dogs late into the evening (as long as the fog didn't roll in).
Once I moved to Michigan I really learned to appreciate June - by June Spring has usually sprung and then sprung away. The farmers market is starting to get the first real harvests in, all the geraniums that the little old ladies planted in May are blooming all over the place, and the grass is green - no matter which side of the fence you look on. And it means the beginning of an incredibly busy season of parties, hanging out with friends on the beach and generally soaking in every bit of sun, sand, water and fun that you can so that it can keep you warm all winter long.
So all things being equal, June should rock - and it did before my Dad died. June used to be a big month for our family, it was sort of an end of the season of celebration (all of our family's birthdays are over by June, so June was the last big deal till the holidays). It started off with Dad's birthday, going right on to my parent's anniversary and then rolling on to the big day, and always my Dad's favorite, Father's Day. When my brother-in-law came on the scene we celebrated his half-birthday in June (long story, but it makes June all the more fun) and when my nieces were born we had another dad to celebrate. June was a great month in our house and now it's just turned into the Trifecta of Crap-tastic-ness (a newly coined term, feel free to use it!).
As this June approached and Father's Day got closer I've been desperate to find a way to deal with today. Should I just hide out? Should I go out and celebrate with other dads? How can I make the day ok - still enjoy it as much as he did when he's not here.
And then it occurred to me - baseball. I may not be able to celebrate with my Dad, but I sure can go do something he loved almost as much as Father's Day (well, probably more, the man did love baseball). So we're off to watch the Tigers take on the Brewers, we'll sit in the sun, eat hot dogs, drink beer, sing take me out to the ball game and maybe (if I'm really channeling Dad) I'll listen to the radio broadcast and score the game like he used to (but probably not, since it's kind of dorky and we used to make fun of him for doing it). Hopefully it will be a good day, we can be happy for the time we had with him and enjoy what he loved - Father's Day and baseball.
But could you all do me a favor? Hug a Dad for me today.
Current Music: Somewhere Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World - Israel Kamakawiwo'ole
Posted by Mandy Lou at 4:55 AM 6 comments
Thursday, June 04, 2009
Random Post on a Random Word
I was just going back to an old draft post to try writing it again. I gave it a quick read through and then started a few edits. As I got to the end I found the word "cojones" at the bottom.
Posted by Mandy Lou at 12:53 PM 1 comments
Labels: random
Sunday, May 17, 2009
I'm Here...Kind Of
Just checking in quickly.
In the good news category:
- Scott got a real job (well kind of).
- That real job comes with real health insurance (instead of the expensive half-assed version that we had before).
- Because of that insurance I've finally decided to get my sorry ass into therapy.
- I got to drive off to DC to meet up with my dear friends to go to the Big Gay Hoedown again.
- I got a sassy new hair cut a month ago, and the bangs are good (I know, I can die happy now, right?)
- It is finally green here, mostly.
- I'm still employed, for now.
In the bad news category:
- The real job that Scott got only helps us go broke more slowly.
- The therapist as diagnosed me as clinically depressed (which I really didn't think I was, but hey, now I can get some cool drugs if I want to).
- I got a ticket on my way back from DC - that sucked.
- It's still freaking freezing here, we've had like 3 warm days and I've either been out of town or in the office.
- I'm not sure how much longer I'm going to be employed, or how much longer I want to be employed.
Other than all that I'm soooo in the middle of my little mid-life crisis. Darn it, I started it without you guys, now I'm in the middle of it and you all don't even know about it. Let's just say that I've done some less than healthy things (less than health for my emotional well being and possibly for my marriage) and am now reaping the rewards. Once I get my head clear(er) I'll report back.
But know that I'm here, mostly. I'm reading your blogs, checking in with you all - even though I'm not commenting much. Really I'm trying to dig out of this hole I've found myself in.
Current Music: We Made You - Eminem
Posted by Mandy Lou at 6:39 PM 5 comments
Labels: deep thoughts


