Totally Distracted.

All day long I've not been able to focus. I don't know why, I'm feeling very ADD.  Too much caffiene? maybe. Too many kids talking to me at once?  maybe. Lack of Vitamin D? A very distinct possibility.

This morning, when I walked back into the house after the bus picked up Anna.  Yes that was me sporting my bathrobe at the bus stop. The sun fooled me, I thought that my bathrobe would be warm enough, however I was chilly.  Back to me walking back into the  house, the first thing I see is Anna's Illinois Packet.  The packet should be in Anna's backpack to turn in at Daisy Scouts. 

I put the packet on the kitchen counter so that I could bring it with when I pick Anna up from Scouts.  I washed dishes and saw the packet repeating to myself that I was going to bring it with to Daisy Scouts. I walked by the packet as I did laundry, made lunch, and went through the mail.

When it was time to get Anna, I grabbed my jacket and my purse and headed over to the school.  I thought, "Anna will be happy to see I brought her packet and she can get her badge." Parked the car, and opened my purse and looked for the packet.  Looked again and then dug through my purse, it wasn't there.  I forgot the darn thing. Jeez.

Note to self, should have put the packet in my purse, not left it on the counter.

***good stuff in the mail today***
Rec'd some coupons and a book from Paperback Swap.  "Fool Moon"  by Jim Butcher.  It is the second book in his series about the cases taken and solved by Harry Dresden, the only professional wizard listed in the phone book.  Making it extra juicy for me is that Harry lives in my fair city, Chicago.  Also the reader for the audio version is James Marsters aka Spike from "Buffy the Vampire Slayer." Perfect voice for the character.  I listened to the first book so while reading this book, I'll be hearing Spike's voice albeit w/o Spike's English accent.

Check and Done.

Here I am at the Chicago 1/2 Marathon w/the sun beating down on all of us!Yesss I did it! It was really hard! I don't know how people do a whole marathon.

Oh I am so sorrrrrreee. But I did it, I finished a 1/2 marathon and lived to tell the tale.

1/2 Marathon Anyone?

Last week I ran 12 miles on Wed. 12 miles in a row. Nod, I know I can't believe it either. Only had 1 small blister. So looks like I *could* do a 1/2 marathon....

---going to do a blingo.com search and see when any 1/2 marathons are in Chicago---

Found one.
The Chicago Half Marathon, Sept 9th 7:30AM. Okay I better sign up it's 75% full already and they are capping it at 12,500 entries--can you believe there are that many crazy runners out there?

Alright I did it, I am all signed up for the big event...and now that my mind is working I am thinking that I will see if I can use my 2 night 3 day Get Away Your Way trip I earned from TS to get a hotel for me and the family for that wknd...and we could stay down there and they could watch me run and I wouldn't have to travel downtown that morning!

The night before a big race many runners load up on the carbs for quick energy the next day and what better way to carbload than a nice plate of pasta...

A recipe adapted from the Costco Connection to be healthier and include Tastefully Simple products....

Penne with Cauliflower
1/4 cup EVOO (extra virgin olive oil)
1-2 tsp Garlic Garlic
2 lbs of tomatoes, peeled, seeded and chopped if you have fresh tomatoes from the garden or from a farmers market OR just make life easy with 4 cups canned diced tomatoes
1 head of cauliflower, broken into florets
2 tbsp salt or 2 tbsp Italian Seasoning Blend (product from TS Fall/Winter Catalog) OPTIONAL
1 pound of whole wheat penne pasta
1/2 cup finely chopped fresh Italian parsley
Fresh Ground Pepper
Optional Grated Parm Cheese for garnish (to keep fat content down very lightly garnish or skip.

In a large saute pan heat olive oil then add garlic garlic and topmatoes and cook until tomatoes begin to break down.

Add cauliflower and stir well. Add 1/2 cup to 3/4 cup very hot water, lower heat to med. and cook for 30 min or until cauliflower is tender.

While that is cooking bring 6 quarts of water to a boil in a large pot, add the 2 tbsp salt if desired. Add penne and cook until the penne is al dente.
4. Drain pasta and add to pan w/cauliflower, stir in parsley and black pepper to taste, toss for 1 minute, plate this delicious meal w/lots of flavor and fiber and cheese fans sprinkle on a bit of Parm.

Want it Vegan? Just skip the cheese.
Want it to have more protein? add diced chicken breast.
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Once I have accomplished this 1/2 marathon goal I will begin working toward participating in the Team in Training Leukemia program to run in the Nashville Marathon on April 18th in honor of Tonya Ross, Tastefully Simple Consultant and mom of 3 little ones who passed away father's day weekend because of Luekemia. Tonya Ross was only 32.

I will be posting frequently about the training and my fundraising efforts once 2008 begins.
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