March Running: Week 1

Because my running has been so pitiful throughout the winter (due to winter weather and a sore knee), I have a goal of running at least 10 miles a week for the month of March.

Monday I ran 3 miles after work but before I picked up the kids (this is my plan to get running in before I get home and distracted with my other motherly duties). Wednesday I had a staff Meeting and so I had to settle for running in circles at the track during Madison's practice but managed to get in 3.5 miles. Then today I ran 4 miles and it felt pretty good, putting this weeks running total at just over 10 miles!

My mom is in Hawaii and I said I would check on grandma while she was gone, so I thought I would combine the two today and run to her house. It was such a beautiful morning and on the way there I realized that I once again had over dressed for my run. When I got to grandmas I noticed the black clouds rolling into the valley so decided to head home. The run home was much cooler, and I was thankful for my warmer clothes. Just as I turned onto our street the first drops of the rain. I was so thankful that I got out this morning while it was still nice and didn't put off running till later in the day... because it stayed pretty nasty and I would have never made it out!

Learned? Don't put of until later, what can be done now.

Catching Fire

Suzanne Collins once again weaves a amazing tale with action and suspense, the conflict of following heart over duty, and courage to take a stand against evil. How one girls act of defiance brings courage to a nation to take action against their government.

After defying the Capitol by ensuring that both her and Peeta survived the Hunger Games, Katniss returns home to find that she she has fooled no one outside the Capital with her faux show of love for Peeta. On her victory tour she discovers that there is unrest in many of the districts, and that she is to credit as the spark of defiance that is catching fire in the country of Panem.

In a final attempt to subdue any uprisings the president increases the presence of peacekeepers in the districts and announces the 75th anniversary of the Hunger Games: The Quarter Quill. The new games seem to withdraw all the rules and make no exceptions. With rumors of uprisings through out the country, will Katniss continue to be a catalyst for the rebellion, will she run into the wild with her family, or will she find herself once again fighting for her life in the arena.

This was another great read! I found myself up, once again, turning pages while burning the midnight oil. Really you should go read it...

Learned? What is best is rarely what is easiest.

The Hunger Games

Wow! This book was amazing! It hooked me from the beginning, and kept me turning pages till the wee hours of the morning. Even with work looming just hours away I could not put it down.

It is a great story of action, suspense, love, and hardship. Telling an amazing story of a future society where the government has suppressed all uprising with in its districts and as a reminder of how futile it is to rebel each of the 12 districts must send a boy and a girl to compete in the annual Hunger Games. The Hunger Games are a televised event celebrated by the Capitol (the only district that does not send contestants to the games), where the players must fight: fight for food, fight the elements to survive, and fight each other... to the death. Only one may be victorious, and with the victory comes great wealth, fame, and gifts for your district. District 12 has only had one victor in the past 74 years, but with two candidates that show spunk and wit, will they have the chance at a new victor?

The author does an amazing job of addressing the issues of a capitalistic, voyeuristic society with out sounding preachy or condescending. Told through the eyes of a teenage girl, who has been fighting for the survival of her family for years, you see just how corrupt, ridiculous, and glutenous the Capitol (government) is.

I TOTALLY recommend this book, VERY entertaining!

Learned? I'll think twice before I slow to watch the accident at the intersection, or the reality TV shows that exploit the willing and unwilling for our own entertainment.

The Name Tags Name

Today when I picked up Maddox from his grandmas, he got in the truck while I was still talking to Machelle. When I finally went to buckle him in he had an ornery grin on his face. When I asked him what he did he just said "nothin'" and kept giggling. Then I noticed that my keys were not where I had left them in the truck and said so, and he just giggling.

Finally he told me where they were and he laughed saying "I also took your people knower" and gave my back my district ID.

So from hence forth in the Caster household we shall call name tags "people knowers"!

Learned? It is amusing (and amazing) to me how well kids can communicate things when they don't know the real word for it.

Mr. Socks

Lately when Maddox has been taking a nap, he will take his socks off his feet and then put them on his hands. I finally got a picture of it because it cracks me up. Hope it gives you a giggle too.

Learned? I just hope his hands don't end up smelling like his feet after this quirky action.

Definitely Dead

Finished Definitely Dead, and I enjoyed it just as much as the others. This time Sookie discovers that she has been left the estate of her cousin, who is also a vampire, and also a favorite of the vampire queen of Louisiana. While she is in New Orleans taking care of all her cousin's stuff, she finds herself in a bit of trouble (shocker I know...). Trying to solve the mysterious murder that took place in her cousins home, the missing wedding present, the truth about her ex's (Bill) motives, avoiding and recovering from multiple Were attacks, and the in the midst of a coup leave Sookie heartbroken, and tired of the vampire world and seeking the comfort of a real tiger of a man (wink wink).

Learned? Even though I enjoyed the book, I just need to take a break from Sookie, at least for a book or two.

March, have I told you I love you...

Dear March,

Today you captured my heart with the sun shining bright in the sky, and the temperatures reaching the mid 50's. You also didn't even spoil it with a cold wind.

I took advantage of your gift after work today by going to the park and running. I have been so used to your evil cousin, February, toying with me with cloudless skys but bone chilling breazes. So of course I was a bit over dressed since I had packed my fleece pants, long sleeve thick running shrit a fleece and a jacket. Fortunately I also brought a t-shrit. So I made due with the clothes I had by folding up my pants into capris, and wearing only the t-shirt. I am just so thankful to have been able to be warm while running. Maybe with your continued show of affection (clear skys and warmer temperatures) I will actually get some real running in. My goal this month is to run 10 miles a week, so it would be really great if you could keep up this promise of fair weather and not end up being a tease.

I also was thrilled to see that my spring bulbs are peeking out of the ground, another reason I love you.... I can't wait to see the luscious green take back over my yard.

Well I am sure that you are pretty tired after your first day at work, with all the effort it took to make this positive change in the weather, but I wanted to take a minute and make sure you know how much I truly appreciate it.

Your crush,
Brooke

Learned: amazing what some warm weather and sunshine can do for your spirits!