Here, There, Everywhere

Running is everything they say it is, empowering, energizing, meditative. And I like it. Me! Like running?! Yes. That only proves it's addicting. It feels GOOD! It makes me happy. It challenges me, and then I overcome that challenge. I win! Every time I go for a run...I WIN!

I run here...

I run there...and just about everywhere. In fact, when we booked our cruise I started looking up running routes in the ports. I've started watching race documentaries. I get the running jokes posted on Pinterest. My running shoes are the most expensive shoes I own. Do I have a problem?

I enjoy finding new routes, it makes a long run seem shorter. Plus who doesn't like new scenery?

I signed up to run a Hot Chocolate 5k in Dallas in February to support a friend, then she couldn't make it, so Adam came in her place and kept me company.

It was cold and early and when we arrived, still dark outside. I didn't bring a jacket because I'd just take it off 5 minutes into the race so we took shelter inside a building for a while and then later stood in our race corals taking selfies and freezing until it was our turn.

(PS. I love photobombers. They crack me up.)

I hate the idea of PAYING to run—but the race was exciting! Loud music, wrestlers and pumped up people...can you imagine all the adrenaline everyone is experiencing? We're all chatty, taking photos, jumping up and down, dancing to the music, and then as soon as we cross the line and start our timers—it becomes silent. And all we hear is "pit pat pit pat" of A LOT of shoes hitting the pavement. I was unprepared to hear that sound effect and laughed out loud.

Adam was a great running partner, he kept my pace (he's usually faster) and since it was only 3.1 miles it was over quick! And though it was in a crummy part of Dallas, it was still nice to run somewhere new.

Our reward for running? HOT CHOCOLATE baby! Along with dipping chocolate and various treats for it. We also received a jacket which you saw all the lemmings wearing a few photos up.

The bibs have a chip in them that record your stats which you can look up by scanning your QR barcode with your phone after the race. In doing the math, we came in at the top 15% overall, the top 11% of all females, and top 10% of females in my age group. That was interesting to see, I'd had no idea where I rank generally. I just...run. Though, as you can see—I'm not fast. 

By the time I ran the 5k I was already running longer distances at home. But the 5k was so fun I decided to bump up my mileage and try for a 15k.

But as I mentioned, it's hard to swallow the cost of a race. So when I was ready, I ran a personal 15k instead. For me, that's 1. 5 hours of running. I was pretty emotional during the last mile. A car passed me while I was finishing up and as it drove ahead, the passenger and driver stuck their arm out the windows and gave me a thumbs up. To which I responded by putting both my arms in the air and yelling. And then I started crying. Note: don't cry while running. Your throat will close up and you will literally have difficulty breathing. Eeeek!

But that kind of encouragement is totally awesome! Anyway, of course I Snapped the victory to EVERYONE.

So I continue to run. I never regret doing it. It's helped immensely with depression and gives me a reason to go outside everyday and "connect" with something else other than a screen.

And look where it's getting me! I'm up to 11 miles. (I use MapMyRun to record runs. And for music to help keep pace, I use Spotify. You can set it to play music all of the same tempo.) Next mileage goal—a half marathon!

So, NO I will not slow down in your neighborhood. I got me some mileage to log and some goals to reach! I'm gunna run here and there and EVERYWHERE!

Okay, FINE!

...she huffs as she gives in. She'll tell you the big news. Even though she has A LOT of blogging to catch up on...Anna knows the current news is probably the fun stuff.
"WE BOUGHT A HOUSE!" She squealed. "We wanted to wait until we could put 20% down and are really excited. Even though its kind of a fixer upper, it's totally livable until we can pay cash for the renovations!"

The Zoons (that's what their friends have labeled them) wanted to stay within their ward (church) boundaries, an open floor plan, trees, and NOT a track house. 5 days before they left for their cruise—more on that later—they made an offer on this older house and have now have had the keys since Saturday. They have until the end of June to make a few updates—goodbye popcorn ceilings—and move in.

Anna's first FREE project: Yard demolition. With all its suckers and the weird triangle planter in the front, she had her work cut out for her. Here's a before:

And the after:
(Too bad you can't experience how sore she is. Don't ask her to sit down or stand up. She can't do anything while looking normal right now.)

Before of the triangle thingy:

By the way, Anna says if you ever want to meet your neighbors...start digging up your landscaping. They'll  gawk at you from afar, secretly wondering what the hell you're thinking—and finally come over to say "Hi, I'm your neighbor, I want those plants you're digging up". Anna and Adam met three of their neighbors this way. Go them!
Here's the after: (Anna found out there were three huge trees here at one point. Her back found out too. All those suckers to hack out! Ack.)

But now that it's cleaned up...it's BORING as expected and neither of the Zoons like the green trim. Anna's been playing in Photoshop trying to figure out what to do.

Light trim?

Dark? (Not quite black. Black is too heavy.)

Combination?

She knows she wants a front door with windows to let light into the house (which is rather dark). And the colors she knows she wants for the landscaping are purple, lime green, and white.
These three renditions are her favorites so far but Anna's feeling...unsure of herself. She's not THIS kind of designer. She needs a stamp of approval from someone who knows "stuff!" Remember how she painted her kitchen THREE times before getting it right? She can't make THAT mistake again. Do you have any suggestions? Any ideas you'd like to suggest she try? Do these look like they work to you? Which one is YOUR favorite?

Black Paintings

The Dallas Museum of art presented the largest exhibition of Jackson Pollocks Black paintings, ever. (According to them anyway.) We didn't know about it until some friends invited us. I'm glad not to have missed it.

According to a description on the wall:
Pollock's black paintings were not well received. Of them he wrote to his friend, "I've had a period of drawing on canvas in black...think the non-objectivists will find them disturbing." Pollock's "new technique replaced the many encrusted layers of dripped paint with a more direct relationship between raw canvas support and black enamel, often using a basting syringe to draw directly with the thinned paint."

Gallerist Charles Egan, having seen the show quipped, "Good show Jackson, but could you do it in color?"

I didn't mind the black and white. In fact, many of them I preferred to the paintings in color—as I did not particularly like Pollock's color choices.
The presentation also included a few of his more popular colorful paintings. Below is Adams' favorite.

And this one was mine. I think it's the canvas size. Pollock's large paintings are amazing to stand in front of.

Below was my favorite Black painting.

We'll done Dallas Museum of Art. (And Pollock.)

That Looks....

There's hunting here. Lot's of it. Subcontractors treat Adam's office to weekends out. You've seen the photos of the hog hunts. We've started parcelling out the hog that won't fit in our new freezer.
Adam brings it home in a giant cooler and lets it "bleed" for a few days. When the water drains out clear, it's time to quarter up the pork. (He and his friend are still learning how to make it look pretty. And I have to wash it three times over to be sure no bristles are left behind.)

When this batch was finished the guys shoved EIGHT hog legs into my giant pot. I sent this photo to friend and asked her if she'd like some to make broth. Her response, "No thank you. That looks scary!" So when I offered it to the next friend, I did NOT send a photo to go with my offer.

I took four legs and combined them with water and veggies and a bit of seasoning and boiled it all day.

Then strained it and I let it sit in the fridge for two days so the fat would separate to the top...

...spooned it out...

...and then strained it again and bagged up the broth to freeze.

Pork broth can be very mild so it can take on the flavor of veggie broth, or anything else you pair it with. So far I've made Mexican rice with it and this Sweet Potato Chili recipe as well as a white bean and sausage stew. We have enjoyed all three dishes.
Now it doesn't look scary at all—just delicious. Nothing beats homemade broth.