What Price Would YOU Pay?

So I said I would write about this and it obviously has to be something of great importance to break the secondary-pseudo cherry of my blogging.

I’ve had so many reasons to break back into this.  I mean first it was a running thing.  Then it was all my craft Pinterest Put-To-Rest posts.  Next it was simple transition to Mommy-world.  AND THEN LIFE…. well took a turn.  Long story made truthful.  I got a divorce and I hated it.  I dropped to my knees, I hit bottom, my tribe lifted me, I found myself and here I am back out of the darkness.  It’s this light that is making me write again.

So time to tell you about my PRICE.

I recently took a trip to Montana and all was pretty much booked through Priceline.  Now I should say before this, I have scoured the internet for the best deal and gone with that as far as flights and cars… but perhaps not any more.

For this this Spring Break I booked my rental car and flight through Priceline.

Upon arrival in Montana, I found out my car had been cancelled and given away.  I couldn’t be mad because I realized I had mistakenly put the time as noon and I arrived at 10:30 pm…. noon was a default and my drop off time.  Not only was my car gone but they had nothing else to rent me…. sigh…. $300 deal gone…. such a deal!

I was informed  other rental agencies had cars and would “help” me out.  Well… my first trip to the counter gave me a deal of $550 to which I said are you sure you are using ALL my discounts?  It was then I decided I would try booking through an app like Priceline or Kayak.  Priceline showed an available car and I jumped on it!!!! only to find out it was from the SAME agency that had no cars… wonk wonk ;(

So I succumbed to the fact I would have to spend the money and rent from whomever.  As we wrapped up our rental agreement, I found out the only SUV available was the “next” step up from what I was looking for…. $659.  My inner light shined and I said…. “What will be is what will be… Could be worse and I could have no car”.  I laughed with the agent and said, “Just take my card and don’t tell me the cost.”  As I left the counter my baggage knocked over their stand and I looked back to my new best friend and said, “It can only get better!  It will get better!”   I had a 1 hour drive to my final destination.    My friend was so great when I told her the entire story (even when I didn’t)!  She was willing to split the cost  no matter what even though we agreed to the original cost.  I couldn’t hold her to that and said it was my fault and whatever she wished was find with me.

Turned out Priceline charged me for the original car… Yeah… the one I NEVER picked up.  I called to say I didn’t get it and they verified to refund me.  Which they did  AWESOME! Right?  During the conversation they asked what happened and I told them I was referred to another counter.

But wait!

I also got an email they would refund me the difference for the car I HAD to rent because my original rental didn’t work.  WAIT? WHAT?  We couldn’t believe it and I thought for sure there was a catch.

So here is the truth and final line….

I SUBMITTED THAT PAPERWORK FRIDAY NIGHT AND BY SUNDAY I HAD MY RESPONSE.  I WAS GETTING A FULL REFUND FOR THE DIFFERENCE OF MY RENTAL COST.

no questions

no contests

THAT’S FREAKING AN AMAZING! and why I will be using Priceline for my rentals.

“Don’t worry about a thing
‘Cause every little thing gonna be all right
Singin’: “Don’t worry about a thing
‘Cause every little thing gonna be all right!”

~Bob Marly & The Wailers

 

One last item

Do you ever notice when you have a to do list you always save the most dreaded job for last.  Well I suppose in some ways I did the same here.

At the beginning of summer I made a bucketlist of things I wanted to accomplish this summer and for the most part… I did it!  I’m running Marathon number 2 in three weeks, I’ve dated, I’ve been flyfishing, I didn’t camp but did take my first vacation with just Henrik and I, and I have blogged about running.  That leaves one last thing.  Blogging about being a single mom.  For some reason this one seems harder.

Harder because it is so personal.  Harder because I want to be real and honest but hard because I don’t want to be negative.  However something happened this week that made me want to write about this.

It all started with sewing a grill cover.  I hate those black covers and I’m sure I could spend some big bucks for something high end but is still some dull color in the end.  A friend commented how talented I was and I replied, “I got my mad sewing skills from my Mother.”  It’s true I did!  She is the sewing Queen!  I have no idea how old I was when I started but I do remember sewing clothes for my cabbage patch kids, cross-stitching patterns, sewing mini-quilts and more when I was in grade-school.  My mom was always sewing something and showing me how.  It didn’t stop at sewing either.  My mom was a very independent woman… a single mother raising two kids while working two jobs.  We were very self-sufficient and she had that “Can Do” attitude all the time.  I never saw her break.

So mom came over to watch Henrik and I told her about my latest creation and the praise that I gave to her.  She replied, “Well I”m glad I did something right.”  I knew what she had… Single Mom Guilt.  How?  because I get it too.

I often feel bad that when Henrik and I are together I’m not engaged in every moment with him.  I don’t have wonderful things planned everyday.  I’ve always told myself that Henrik is not my life but a part of my life.  We share our life together.  Most of the time yes… when we are together I take him into consideration but there are days that we just have to do life things like mow a lawn, wash some walls, clean the bathroom, hang the laundry or rip carpet out of the basement.

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So it was a few days after the conversation with my mom that Henrik was helping me in the basement.  I was pulling up carpet and he was scrapping the floor.  He was having a good old time, holding up chunks proudly.  I didn’t have to coax him, beg him or herd him to stay down there.  He wanted to help.  It was in that moment that in my heart I felt I was doing this right.  I don’t have to give him every awesome experience.  I don’t have to bring him to the zoo, the museum, the pool, play sports, or the beach everyday.  I just have to show him what life is like.  Some days you play and some days you work and no matter what… it all can be fun.  We worked for another 20 minutes and I set down my scrapper and said, “You know what Bubby?  I think it’s time for a Popsicle… you definitely earned it.”

Henrik and I share our life together… I love saying that.  This is our adventure and as he gets older he gets a say more and more where it goes.  There are so many things I cannot wait to show him like fly casting or bowling but I’m in no rush.  I savor one adventure at a time and right now it’s bike riding.

My Mother thinks that she was a single mom who worked and perhaps isn’t sure if she did things right.   She did (as well as my Father and Step-parents).  They all did.  They all taught me how to be strong, persevere, be relentless and most of all be a confident and fabulous parent regardless of my marital status.

Dear Toenail,

I run… a lot. To be honest with you I have been very fortunate to have never had any real crazy injuries because of it.  I can say I have been sore, stiff, or perhaps just plain tired but never anything nutty.

So it is with great grief to report that I lost my first toenail.

I am a FReaK when it comes to cutting my toenails.  After typing that I realize I have just confessed and extended an open invitation for everyone to look at my feet and say, “Yup! she wasn’t kidding.”  I can’t stand my toenails long… never have, never could and probably never will.  So for that I can thank that the problem of losing toenails or anything associated with it has never been a running problem.

So just how does it happen?  Well somewhere in my favorite restaurant that serves the greatest Crack Fries, Mac n Cheese, Cheese Ale Soup, and Pretzel Puffs…. sits my toenail.  The boy and I now have a tradition of going to the Public Museum and then hitting up our favorite eatery for Crack Fries.  While entering and opening the great wooden door, my Teva wearing feet wear in the kill zone and with one swipe… there went the nail… clinging to life by a last ditch effort.

I knew it was over and with a held breath I took it’s life and discarded it on the floor.  What?  Did you think I was going to put it in my scrapbook?  I’m not the crazy.

So now comes an even bigger dilemma… something I have never faced.  Running without a toenail.  I’ve cut them short before but this is like a totally whole new soft tissue realm I’ve never explored.  The idea of friction kills me… more than chaffing… more than chaffing then showering.  Suddenly my toenail has become the “Best” side of one of those Best Friend necklaces.  It just doesn’t work without the other.

So here is to uncharted territories.  To becoming a more keratin loving person.  I just might paint you little toenail… when your grow in… if I let you.

Running a Race

Second time running this race and I can definitely say it is still not the same.  I don’t think any race is for that matter of fact.  You can sign up for the same race year after year and never have the same run… it could be weather, physical ailments, wardrobe problems or just plain drive.  Every run is different.  So naturally why would volunteering to work the second annual Meijer LPGA 5k be any different.

In 2014 I volunteered  to find out what it took to actually RUN a race… as in put it together.  This was my second year being part of this crew and just like the first year it was still as crazy, exciting, and on-your-toes as the last run.

However, I want to share a five things I have learned from being on the other side of running a race.

1. Thank the Race Director.  This guy/gal works their ass off.  You know that ribbon at the middle of a tug of war rope… that’s the race director. They tie all things together between the public and the sponsors.  They make it all come together.  If you see them… THANK THEM.  HUG THEM.  GIVE THEM A HAND SHAKE.  But never ever… complain… because most of the time… it was not their decision.
2. Register early.  You have no one to blame but yourself on this one.  I cannot tell you how many people came at the last-minute to register, or tried to get in on a freebie, or just simply wanted to register the day off.  If you want to do a race… REGISTER EARLY!  it’s usually cheaper and you are guaranteed your spot and shirt.
3. Packet Pick-up.  Basically don’t wait until 30 minutes until before the race to pick up your packet.  Enough said.
4. Packet Pick-up 2.0.  Okay… not enough said.  There are many reasons to pick up your packet prior to the day of the race.  First, you don’t have to deal with going back and forth to your car a million times to drop off your stuff.  Second, There might have been issues… computer issues or server issues… you might have not clicked yes and therefore didn’t complete your registration.  Third, you don’t have to wait in a line and can dance and sing and wait in line to use the bathroom because you have the “nervous pre-race poops”.
5. Volunteer.  Runner or not… volunteer to help out at one of these.  It’s the best!  My favorite part is standing 400 meters from the finish line and cheering every (YES EVERY!) runner.  The Asian and I don’t even stand together… so that we can concentrate on the runners and not on our conversation.  We clap and cheer and tell every runner and walker, “Nice Job!”, “Keep pushing!”, “Go Green!”, “Finish Strong!” and all the things we want to hear when we have giving our all, are at the end, and want that cheerleader there to remind us… We just ran a 5k.

I’m grateful for having this opportunity and all of those to give back to running…. it is something that has definitely giving me a happy heart and life.

My knees Have Heard Enough

So I created this bucket list and ironically I’ve done most of it this year except a few things…. one of which I have really neglected was blogging.  The thought crosses my mind and I’ve got a million things to say but in the end I’ve kept them to me.   I won’t say I will be better because I think in the end this is for me and what I want to share but I will try to be more braver.

So… with that being said… I’ve got a bone to pick.  In particular some in my legs.

I am so tired of people say shit about knees and running.  I actually had a conversation about it in my therapist office once (yes I go/went… everyone should… it’s amazing!).  This intern sat in on a session and I talked about all things going on and how nice it has been to run to help just be me.  I don’t know how else to explain it but running does that.  So here is this 25-something year old, future therapist, FORMER runner who says to me… “Yeah, I don’t run anymore because I don’t want to damage my knees.”

What?  Your on your way to getting your PhD and you were a runner and your educated and you should know that this is good for you.  IT’S A MYTH!  So I casually mention how there are studies about runners in the 70’s/80’s boom who despite all the fancy footwear (stability, neutral, barefoot, cushion boost) there is no significant increase in knee replacement surgeries or problems.  In fact they find them very healthy and still running.  However in today’s day and age, we are starting to see increases in this types of maladies… possibly obesity? or orthotic inserts? or perhaps iPad time?  Who knows but it is not because of running.

So I felt it was my calling when this article popped up in my FB feed to call BULLL SHITT to the world of nay sayers when they say, “your knees will go bad.”

Five Things Runners Should Know About Knees

So my knee history… I had achy knees when running and went to my doctor.  He told me that perhaps I needed to find a new sport.  Truth was I needed to find the right shoes and do some strength training and you know what?  No.  More.  Knee.  Problems.

Strength training doesn’t mean gyms and weights.   There are so many amazing Yoga Poses that do just the ticket. Many of these poses can get rid of many aches and pains you feel when running because they work those particular muscle groups.

I mean think about it… got a bad back…. work your core.   Got bad knees…. work your legs. This is where knowing and learning a few key moves to target those areas are crucial… so here are my go to moves lately (all Yoga of course).

• Bridge (great for hip strength)
• Warrior Poses (great for Quads)
• Downward Dog (great for stretching calves)
• Plank (core. core. core…. we all need it strong)
• Happy Baby (great for stretching hips)
• Chair and Power Chair (FULL leg workout… your legs will shake!)

Anyways…. stop saying knees will go bad to runners.  They won’t and in the end something is going to get us right?  I’d rather it be my knees than heart disease or obesity.

and…

There is nothing cooler than running with my son.  Something I want to do until I die.

~Love one Another… Live Life and Make your Story Awesome.