I'm a Hacker !

Honestly, I know I could spend my time cleaning the house, wrapping Christmas gifts, or a number of other 'more important' things; but I can't seem to pull myself away from my new blog. I get so engrossed in projects and they consume all of my time... until that is, I become engrossed in another. :)

Right now, blogging has taken center stage. I am having a blast learning the html/css coding for the new 'beta' template. I have found a number of great tutorials and have thereby been spending my spare time hacking the standard templates to make my blog more unique to me. :)

Changes made within the past few days:

* Added a 3rd column to the minima template
* Created label tabs for easier navigation
* Created a favicon (which should show up as a butterfly graphic in the URL line - works best in Firefox browser)

Changes to come:

* A Graphic Banner
* A Graphic Footer
* Modify the text on the comments link
* Larger margins between the 3 columns
* More links within 'hacking', 'inspiration', and 'motivation'

I know I spend more time on all of this than most of my visitorrs even recognize. I do it for me... I enjoy the challenge. But - if there is something you'd like to see here - something you've seen elsewhere that you think would improve my site - please let me know. :)

Rave Run - What Do You Think?

With all good intentions, I expected to run 3x last week... Tue Thr and either Sat or Sun. Not surprisingly, my mood (I've been in a bit of a funk since the marathon and haven't exactly found my mojo), the weather, and the holiday worked together to put a damper on my plans. I did manage to get one run in however, on Thanksgiving morning, no less. :)

Originally, I had intended to join A! at the lake for a little turkey trot with the local running club. At 8:30, I went upstairs to tell DH that I would be going and that I should be back within an hour. He asked that I wait. He'd drive me because he didn't want to be without a car (for whatever reason). So, I waited. But then he got into the shower! Apparently, he didn't realize the race started at 9:00.

"Hey. The race starts at 9:00, we don't have time for you to take a shower." He said, call A! and see if she is still going, perhaps she can pick you up. So, I gave her a call to see if she was still interested. Unfortunately, she had forgotten and had taken upon herself a few baking tasks (she is a fabulous 'chef' - hmmm, thinking of clever nicknames...) that prevented her from running in the early morning.

When DH got out of the shower, it was just 5 minutes to 9:00. Too late.

I called A! back to arrainge another run. She suggested 11:30 and I eagerly accepted. I enjoy running with friends as often as possible as I so often run with the kids in the stroller or less frequently, alone.

DH gave us a hard time... you see, at 9:00 a.m. the skies were calm, my friends. There was a slight chill in the air but it seemed there was a little window of opportunity and that we should certainly take advantage of our moment. As it was, we had to wait.... and by 10, it was pouring.

I wasn't about to let mother nature destroy this opportunity so I headed out the door at 11:20, knowing full well that I would be soaking wet upon my return. I ran over to the Bar/Bef's parents and met up with A! ... we were on our way.

We ran out to E.Lakes, circled the north lake once and proceeded home. A! hadn't had the opportunity to run much lately so we took it slow. The ~6.9 miles I covered took approximately 1:28 minutes. We were the only brave souls in the elements... I'm sure we probably got a lot of strange looks from passersby with their heated seats, cushy upholstery, and windshield wipers... but I couldn't tell ya for certain as I needed wipers for my lenses! I finally elected to remove my glasses about halfway, forcing myself to run with a blur in the distance from that point on. Should've packed my contacts.

I had intended to run again on the weekend but I got busy with preparations to go home before snowfall/nightfall... then it was errands (no milk, orange juice, butter, or other staples prompted a need to go to Costco), the construction of a gingerbread house (I had been promising the princess for weeks that we would do it after Thanksgiving), the erection of our Christmas tree (I'll post pictures soon), and general blahs of a great weekend that has come to an end.

So, a new week is upon us and I still haven't done anything physical since Thr (unless putting the tree up counts as cross-training). I have to take the Honda in today for service... perhaps the kids and I will be able to walk over to the fitness center (I'll have to bring the umbrella stroller - that means it can't be icky outside) and we can frolick in the pool and excercise (I want to try out a treadmill) while we wait. We'll see.

Making Progress

Just returned from Thanksgiving Holiday and had a little time to play with the html coding for my new blog. With the help of Hans, I was able to convert to a 3 column template (imperative for my dual purpose blog)... but it still needs some minor tweaking (I'd like the column widths to be a little wider). I would also like to create a banner and coordinated footer... so there is lots to come.

You May Ask, "Why Starfish n Coffee ??"

Those who really know me, know that I LOVE PRINCE. Starfish & Coffee is one of my favorite songs. There is a little controversy in regards to its meaning. Is it about drugs or about a girl with autism? Allow me clarify.

That was from the Signs of the Times double album. Cynthia Rose is actually based off someone Susannah Melvoin (sister of Wendy - former member of Prince's band 'The Revolution') knew in school who was autistic and was teased because she was “different”. The song is celebrating those differences and apparently Prince was planning on releasing this on a childrens’ album that never came to be (however, it has been released on a children's compilation album by another artist).

From the official website [http://www.love4oneanother.com/ask.htm (link no longer effective)] :

4/30/98

U: There's been a discussion going on around the 'net about what "Starfish and Coffee" means. Can u explain that song? Is it about a mentally challenged girl?

P: Let's say mentally alternative, or "gifted," shall we?


I think the lyrics are fun and it cheers me up to think of idiosyncratic kids like Cynthia Rose, loving life. This song represents, to me, a celebration of differences.

Here are the lyrics:

It was 7:45 we were all in line
2 greet the teacher Miss Cathleen
First was Kevin, then came Lucy, third in line was me
All of us were ordinary compared to Cynthia Rose
She always stood at the back of the line
A smile beneath her nose
Her favorite number was 20 and every single day
If U asked her what she had 4 breakfast
This is what she’d say
Starfish and coffee
Maple syrup and jam
Butterscotch clouds, a tangerine
And a side order of ham
If U set your mind free, baby
Maybe you’d understand
Starfish and coffee
Maple syrup and jam

Cynthia wore the prettiest dress
With different color socks
Sometimes I wondered if the mates were in her lunchbox
Me and Lucy opened it when Cynthia wasn’t around
Lucy cried, I almost died, U know what we found?

Starfish and coffee
Maple syrup and jam
Butterscotch clouds, a tangerine
And a side order of ham
If U set your mind free, honey
Maybe you’d understand
Starfish and coffee
Maple syrup and jam

Starfish and coffee

Cynthia had a happy face, just like the one she’d draw
On every wall in every school
But it’s all right, it’s 4 a worthy cause
Go on, Cynthia, keep singin’

Starfish and coffee
Maple syrup and jam
Butterscotch clouds, a tangerine
And a side order of ham
If U set your mind free, baby
Maybe you’d understand
Starfish and coffee
Maple syrup and jam

My New Home

Over the past few weeks, I have been strongly considering merging my 2 blogs AND trying the new blogger beta. I finally jumped in with both feet and will officially begin my new blog here in December 2006. :)

December will actually mark a number of new changes for me as I continue my quest to improve myself. As most of you know, I have recently run my first marathon. With one behind me and one on the horizon, I want to get better. Get faster.

Since I started training and working out regularly, I have lost a lot of weight. This has thus prompted the NEED to go shopping and update my wardrobe!! :) Unfortunately, the pants that I love and fit the best on my deriere are not so well fitted in the belly region. I love to eat. Running increases my desire to eat.

Thus... one of the things I will be changing in December is the quantity & quality of food that I consume. I will begin a food journal... to accompany my running log. I vow to consume fewer calories... fewer fatty foods.

Additionally, I will be adding weight training to my regime and abdominal work! I want a flat belly! This will take some time, I am aware. After 2 babies, my belly is a little stretched. :)

So... check back for more updates & please leave a comment! :)