Out of Context

Do you ever have those times when you're on your merry way and you see something out of context?

It takes a minute, or a little research, to figure it out.

Yesterday, after having coffee with Amanda (hadn't seen her since we moved back from St. Louis), James and I were leaving the mall, walking towards the entrance nearest to where our car was parked because it was upwards of 95 degrees out.

I walked past the kiosks: piercing place, engravings r us, tattoo time, etc when I saw a friend from college, who is currently youth pastor in California, selling entertainment discount cards.

Or so I thought.

Well, he was selling discount cards, but I wasn't sure if it was TJ, classmate of mine.

In my mind, TJ was a youth pastor out in California. And since I'm in South Dakota, something wasn't adding up.

So I did what any 20 something in 2012 would do.

I kept walking, found the nearest seat (which happened to be a dollar per minute massage chair, yum!) and got out my smart phone. I pulled up my Facebook app and looked him up. 9 mutual friends. Lives in Sioux Falls.

I'm serious. I did this.

But now I knew it was him. This is how we do research. Facebook. Wikipedia. Google.

I walked back to the kiosk, but now he was talking to someone. So I casually walked into GAP, looked at some of their overpriced t-shirts and then peeked out the window a minute later to see if she had left. She hadn't. So I looked at some overpriced flip flops. Peeked again. Still talking.

I had places to go after this. My son needed diapers and I had supper plans with my in-laws. So I just walked up and joined their little tet-a-tet.

We ended up talking for about 15 minutes.

Did I tell him that after seeing him and not knowing if it was him, I looked him up on Facebook to see where he was currently living?

Oh yes. I did.

My first garden. Ever.

This is the view out my patio door. And this is my patio garden. From the left we have green beans, peppers (bell?), peppers (bell) and two tomato plants. They were not all planted on the same day.

For the last several years I haven't lived anywhere long enough and during the right season to have vegetables. Now I do and so now I have plants.

Thanks to my neighbor MK for all her help. She gave me several of these and helped me repot several.

I live in town, but yes, this is my view. Pretty stinkin' awesome.

My Genre of Choice

I'm reading My Life in Paris by Julia Child.

picture from Tigers and Strawberries

Mostly I read during breakfast and when I'm nursing.

I like biographies... of people I've heard of before. When I can't find anymore about people I know about, I'll probably start reading about people I don't know.

They'll probably still be famous people.

I just haven't heard of them.

Probably because I grew up without a tv.

I love running; I hate running

I'm really excited to get the go ahead to start running.


TOMORROW.


I haven't figured out/decided if I should take James with me to the work out room (in our apartment complex) and let him watch me (or the lights) as I run, or if I should wait until Eric is home for the evening to go run. Probably the first one.


Anyone want to join me in the C25K? It's a 9 week deal that has you running 30 minutes by the end. The amazing part? The "C" in C25K stands for couch.


COUCH.


As in, you're not a runner. You're a couch sitter.


I can attest to this. I was not a runner. 


I became a runner with this program.


Do I love running? Feeling the burn? Sweating? Being red faced? 


Nope.


Do I love being a runner?


Absolutely.

Post Partum; Post Six Weeks

In four days I will have my six week post partum appointment.


Yeah, they do that. They have follow up appointments for the mom.


I'm really excited about this appointment. Actually, not so much the appointment, itself. Who knows what kind of checking and prodding they'll do. 


What I'm excited about is after.


At this appointment I should get the go ahead for two things.


-to start exercising again
-to get my eyes tested


Last year on January 11th I started the Couch to 5K running program and completed it sometime in March/April. Shortly thereafter, for a couple of reasons, I stopped running. I plan to start it up again as soon as I get my doctor's permission. 


Doctors seem to have different opinions on this: eye changes (at least my OB and my eye doctor had differing opinions). My OB said that while I'm pregnant, my eyes may change temporarily so it's not a good time to get them checked. My eye doctor didn't seem as concerned. 


Unfortunately, while pregnant, I ran out of contacts and couldn't order more because my prescription was too old. And I went with my OB's opinion of not get tested until later.


For the last two months or so I've been wearing glasses and as the end draws near, I am very, very ready to be back in contacts.


And then I'll post pictures of what I look like. :)

Ice Cream Life Saver

Is it bad that I ate a one quart tub of ice cream in 3 days? It was only $1.99 and from Trader Joe's: Candy Cane Joe-Joe's 'n Cream. It's the best ice cream I've had in a while. It had a LOT of cookies in there. 


PS - Since eating time is at a premium, I'm looking for high caloric foods that are a) relatively healthy and b) non-dairy. Any ideas or suggestions?

Our Firsts

I had a few firsts yesterday.


I carried James in his car seat.
I drove my car post-delivery.
I used our stroller.


James had a first yesterday, too.

He had his first visit to the library.