Kay's Blog

I'm a Runner!

I went running this morning! Running is one of my New Year's Resolutions, and I'm keeping it. I started slow, but each day I'm getting better - today I even passed some cars! Hopefully soon I'll pass cars that are moving.

It's a process - achieving any goal is a journey. Mine started on the morning of January 2nd. First, I decided what to wear (can't forget that), then planned my destination and finally, chose the best route. After I was 100% ready, I drove to the mall to buy running shoes (buying stuff is always the best part)! 

State-of-the-art running shoes at Lady Foot Locker: $120. That smug feeling while walking through the mall with a Lady Foot Locker bag: priceless. 

The next morning, I set out on my first run.  I was completely decked out, at least from the ankles down. As I ran, I waved cheerfully to the neighbors taking down their Christmas Lights (technically I only made it to my next-door neighbor's. I didn't want to over-do it on the first day).

Still, the fun part isn't running; it's telling people I'm a runner!  I tell everyone, and a lot of them are surprised. Up 'til now I haven't run very often. Ever, really. When I told my friend Teri how excited I was about my runs, she thought I had diarrhea.

Who cares, I'm a runner now and proud of it. Like Forrest Gump, who knows where I'll end up? So look for me!

I'll be the one with a Lady Foot Locker bag.

Kids Say the Darndest Things

Little kids say funny things. When I hear young kids make amusing comments and observations,  I miss the times when Kelly did that. I remember one day, long ago...

Kelly was about four, and we were going to the Seattle Center. It was a yucky, cold, rainy day, and I figured the indoor Children's Museum would be a great way to have fun while staying warm and dry.

As we drove toward the city, I couldn't believe it when Kelly said she wanted to ride the roller coaster.  The roller coaster was outside. The weather was miserable. Riding it was out of the question.

"The roller-coaster?" I repeated, my eyes glued to the road. I could barely see, even though my windshield wipers were flapping at their highest speed. "Kelly, the Roller Coaster is the last thing I'd want to do today."

"Oh Goody!!"  she exclaimed in excitement. "We get to ride the roller coaster LAST!"

 

The Key to Happiness (Formerly a Secret)

I just read an article called "The Secret to Happiness" (the author's an expert in psychology, but she apparently doesn't know how to keep a secret).

Anyway, here it is: to be happy you need a purpose. It should be unselfish, and benefit others rather than yourself. Your purpose must be the primary focus of every day.

"If you live each day knowing your purpose" the article said, "it brings true happiness."

I read the story while eating a hamburger. Somehow I don't think the secret applies to cows.

New Years Resolutions

I'm going green for my New Years Resolutions, and here's how:  I'm recycling the same resolutions I made last year! Then, whether I succeed or not, I've helped save the planet.

Not to brag, but I've been recycling resolutions for years (since before recycling was cool).  My biggest New Years Resolution is always the same: to get healthy and eat better. Every year, I vow to stay away from junk food, fast food, deep fried food...pretty much any food that tastes good.

I'm usually successful about half the time.

The problem is the other half the time...when I'm awake.

Holiday Treats. Yum.

The other night I went to a holiday party. My friend Darla brought delicious, home-made Reese's Peanut Butter cups. They were awesome, and I ate quite a few.  So many, in fact, that several of my friends started teasing me about how many I'd eaten. Laughing, they took turns guessing the number I'd consumed, each person giving a more and more exaggerated estimate.

I would've given a witty retort, but I didn't want to talk with my mouth full.

My Fellow Man

During the holidays, I'm reminded that the true spirit of Christmas is love. Stories of amazing generosity inspire me to give, even to people I've never met. Last night as I sat alone, sipping eggnog in front of the Christmas tree, I was overwhelmed by a feeling of love for my fellow man.

Then I went to the mall, where my fellow man bugged the heck out of me.

When I say "fellow man," I'm including fellow women and children, of course.  There were thousands of them today at Tacoma Mall. One fellow man cut me off and stole my parking place. Another jumped to the front of the long line that snaked through several departments at Macy's. Still another elbowed me out of way to get the last pink scarf at American Eagle.

It's a lot easier to love my fellow man when I'm alone.

 

A Message From Shaka

I posted a picture of one of our dogs, Shaka, last week. He was in the kitchen...a mess had been made of the trash...and he looked very guilty.

My caption said, "I think I know who did it."

Shaka asked me to post his rebuttal.

Look in the Mirror

Today the Federal Way Mirror ran my Christmas story, You've Just Gotta Believe.  If you haven't read it (or maybe even if you have), hope you check it out!

Macy's One Day Sale!

Have you heard? Today is the big Macy's One Day Sale! It's a special sale because it's only going on today! Unless, of course, you count yesterday's Special Preview Day. Or last week's One Day Sale along with its own Special Preview Day.

Anyway, there's an ad in today's newspaper, and Macy's prices are lower than ever! They're even better than last week's sale prices. For example, I want a food processor. Cuisinart Food Processors, regularly $189.99, were on sale last week for just $139.99. That was a good price...and I meant to buy one, but didn't make to the mall. And now they're only $119.99!

I saved $20, just by procrastinating!

Now I know should definitely buy a Cuisinart Food Processor.

Next week.

Be My Friend

Because I work at home, most of my days are spent alone in my office. I admit, sometimes I used to be unproductive, doing things like talking on the phone, surfing the Internet or shopping online. Not anymore. Now, thanks to Facebook, I'm unproductive all of the time.

It doesn't matter what else I'm doing - I can be in the middle of writing a huge proposal - and I'll feel the urge to check Facebook. Trying to resist is like attempting to fight the gravity that keeps me from floating away from my desk and into space. So I go to my Facebook home page, and I waste time. I read about people I don't recognize. I become friends with people I've never met. I sign up to be fans of businesses I haven't even heard of.

Why? It's the social media craze, silly, and I want in! So I spend hours in my office, silent and alone, being social.

I love to read what other people are up to, but I don't necessarily post anything myself. At least, not very often. I'm too afraid of what other people (aka my "friends") might think. If I post something like, "I just had Raisin Bran for breakfast, they might think, how boring. But if I post, "I just finished loading the photos of my Mediterranean Cruise onto Flickr,"  people might think, geez, way to brag."

It's true - some people are that judgmental (even though we know it's wrong).

Of course, I don't just want to be on Facebook, I want to be popular! When I compare my list of friends to other people's, I want mine to be the biggest! When theirs are bigger than mine I feel bad (proving that in this case, size does matter).

So please be my friend. I won't ask you to loan me money or to help me move. But if you'll be my Facebook Friend, you can help me.

If nothing else, you can help me waste time.