Warm Beer, Fat Farms, & Working Vacations

My best friend Trisha called the other day to say that she unexpectedly had some free time in late January, and what did I think of the idea of taking a quick 4-day vacation together? "Somewhere warm," she said.

We aren't looking to spend a ton of money, so we tossed around the idea of Florida. "Hey, we could be ugly girls with cheap beer again," she said, referring to an event from our junior year in college where 5 of us piled into a station wagon and road-tripped to Florida for spring break.

Upon arriving we were tired, gritty, and make-upless but nevertheless grabbed a six-pack and strolled the beach. Guys waved at us from distant hotel windows. "If only they were up close, they'd see we're ugly girls with cheap beer (Milwaukee's Beast)," we laughed. Because you can laugh at those things when you're 20 with taunt skin. Even at our worst, we were still pretty darned cute.

"Time changes things," I reminded Trisha. "Now we'll be ugly women with a sad taste in choice of alcoholic beverages and that's just nowhere near as fun."

We talked about taking the high road and spending time on a working vacation, maybe repairing hiking trails in the Florida woodlands or going west and working at a dude ranch. But then I opened my mouth and the conversation took a sharp nosedive.

"Oh hey," I exclaimed, "we ought to go to one of those spas where they teach you to cook gourmet meals or--" and now I really got excited, "--you go there and work out and come home 7 pounds thinner."

"That's called a fat farm, dearest," said Trisha. "And I'm in."

Here's the kicker. Fat farms (or "luxury spa experiences" as the brochures prefer to tout them) are damned expensive. If I had that much money to spend on losing the weight I'd just hire a personal chef to cook healthy meals for me to begin with. And it's not that either of us are fat. But the idea of leaving the house and returning a size smaller holds a universal appeal. Which made it that much more of a bummer that we couldn't partake.

"I can't believe we can't afford the fat farm," moaned Trisha over the phone.

"What's happened to us?" I asked. "Since when did we grow old enough to a) want to spend our vacation losing weight and b) be bummed out that we can't make that happen?"

"I wonder if I have any Milwaukee's Beast in the fridge?" said Trish.

So we're still looking. Mexico is a forerunner at the moment, although I'm holding out hopes for a last minute spa/hiking/biking/yoga/pilates/swimming/skiing resort deal.  I'm not too worried about it. As Trisha said, we could hole up in a Motel 6 in the middle of Kentucky and have a good time.

That's what best friends are for.    

Go Gu!

I have a new best friend and it is GU Energy Gel. Gu is the goop that eats like a meal and is the secret force behind many a runner's unflagging energy. I did my last long run (8 miles) yesterday before the half-marathon this Saturday. At the halfway point of my run, I tore open a packet of Vanilla Bean Gu and sucked it down.

Ka-ping! I was off. My energy remained high for the rest of the run and I finished the last quarter mile at a sprint.  Gu is touted as a "Carbohydrate Energy Gel" and it's also packed with caffeine. I was still wired hours after my run. But I'll most certainly be noshing on some Gu during the half-marathon on Saturday.

I know you're probably all sick of reading about it, but this is the last week so bear with me. I can't help but be worried about the race. The early forecast is for rain, 20-mph-winds and temperatures in the low 40's.  That's going to make an already challenging run that much harder.  I'm concerned about finishing in perfect running weather--can you imagine what headwinds will do to me? 

My running partner has said the throngs of runners and the excitement of the race will help pull an extra couple miles out of everyone they didn't think they had. Although I'll take any finishing time, I'd really like to run under a 9 1/2 minute pace, regardless of weather conditions.

At this point, training is all but over. I'll do a quick 4-5 mile run tomorrow and maybe an easy 3-mile run on Wednesday and then chill until Saturday.  On the bright side, after running my 8-miles yesterday I woke up today with absolutely no side effects. No stiff joints, no aching back, nothing.  I couldn't even tell I had run the miles. That's a big change from earlier this year when I believe I slept for 5 hours straight after running my first eight and popped Advil for a solid 24 hours.

My mind is fuzzy this week. My attention is already on the race on Saturday and everything else is a distraction.  But I do have a few work and home related items to take care of before I go and I best get to them. One of my tasks is to clean out an area sporting store of all available GU. Go GU!

New Tagline--Your Thoughts?

Life is a mish-mash of activity this week as I try to clear my plate for next week and the half-marathon. I believe I'm going down to the island on Wednesday with my neighbors and Blair will join me later in the week. Aside from fitting in daily 5-mile runs, I'm trying to tie up loose ends so I can hop in the car on Wednesday with a clean conscience.

This morning I'm off to the Women's Resource Center of Greensboro to teach a class on networking to 15 women in the displaced-homemaker program. Then straight home and back to the computer to work on a huge article due at the end of the month. Than a "Girls Night Out" tonight at The FAT CAT, a local art gallery where I will schmooze and sell books.

Yesterday I spent most of the day at GTCC, selling my books at an indoor crafts fair. I sold 15 before I left and there were still a few hours left in the festival, so I'm pleased with that number.  I haven't done much this year in terms of promotion for my book, but I'm trying to hit little festivals here and there as I can.

I think I've come up my new tagline for my website as well. I was lying in bed Wednesday night, unable to fall to sleep, when the line just popped into my mind. I don't even recall thinking about my DSI or any of that stuff but that's how the mind works--it chews over cud in your subconscious and then spits it out when it's ready. So, what do you all think of....

 Dena Harris... Write For You

I also decided to stick with my strength, which is feature article writing for national publications. I'll play that as a benefit to those who might consider hiring me for local work.  But I decided I didn't want to "name" myself anything like "Creative Communications" because really, I am my own brand and I want to keep www.denaharris.com as my website and not have to buy or direct people to a new domain. Now I just have to find the time to actually write the new copy for the website so Melody, my website designer, can get it up and running.

But for now, I must go grab keys, purse and coffee and head out the door. A good start to what's shaping up to be a productive weekend. 

No More Little Scaredy Cat

When we first brought Olivia (our forever kitten) home, she hid under the couch in the front room for 6 weeks. To pet her we had to lie on the floor, shove ourselves halfway under the sofa and then pull her out. She would put out a big purr as we petted her, but whether from fear or pleasure we weren't sure. Six weeks... for awhile we thought we'd made a mistake. 

Now flashback to last night. Blair went to bed before me and Olivia was lying horizontal across the bed. I have a rule about not disturbing resting cats (unless it's to smother them in kisses) and so I squeezed into the remaining space. That left Olivia's head near my knee and her back feet touching Blair.  When I went to bed, Olivia had been awake, sitting up Syphnx-like. Now I felt a soft thump and leaned my head up to look at her. She was curled in a half-moon pose, her head resting on my knee, her little body rising and falling with the steady inhale/exhale of her breathing.

I lay back down and was just overcome with feelings of love. My baby! This was the little kitty who we thought would never come around. And really, I'd say it's only been in the past year that her affectionate side has really come out--and this is her 5th year with us. (Hey--guess who just showed up and is winding around my feet as I type this?)

I just loved that she could chose to be anywhere in the house and she wanted to be curled up between Blair and myself. It's like having a great honor bestowed upon you. Everyone should have pets for the feelings of love and gratitude they induce.   

The cat that once once the great hider is now our little snuggler. She would have us pet her 24/7 if given her way. Seven out of ten times when she sees us coming, she flops on her back and stares hopefully at us, begging for a belly rub.

Right now, if you have pets, stop whatever you're doing and go give them a smooch. They're the best.