#5 and #6 on in the books (well the checkbook)

It is official!
Today, I finally got registered for Half marathon #5: Wichita Ingural Prairie Fire Half Marathon!!
and Half Marathon #6: Williams Route 66 Half Marathon!!

Does my checkbook feel a little lighter? Yes.
But does this runner's heart go a little stronger? HELL YES!

Here we go! Finishing the year strong!

Weight lost to date: 10 lbs  (it is SO FREAKIN' HARD to bust past these 10lbs!)

Run time goal for Wichita: 2:39:59

Run time goal for Tulsa: 2:30:59

Sanity intact:  NAHHHHHHH

HEY!! DON'T FORGET THE GIVEAWAY (here)!! IT IS RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER!!!!

Runner & Dog, to the starting line!

Yes, today was the day that I finally trusted Suka enough (and had finally purchased a twice-smaller- harness) to go for a trial/practice run. We got out and down a few blocks and he was "heeling" good. So I started a jog. He kept right up.
(only had to walk a little faster, not a trot or a skip but WALK. dogs suck)

We got a half mile from home and had our first "freak out" episode. C.A.R.S. He is a little frightened of MOVING cars. (that he is not in himself)
this makes me sad to think that he had a bad experience that I am glad I don't have details of
Anyhow- he did his usually (name sake) spin out and laying down.

THANK GOD FOR THE NEW HARNESS.

I stopped, said "Suka, enough, lets go" and started jogging again. He jumped right back in. So imagine this seen a few more times in 2.8 miles. And an episode of not paying attention to the task at hand and walking right into me. (another freak out session) He started to learn to pattern, fell when I was turning a corner or crossing the road. Have a longer road to deal with on the "car" problem. But atleast I realized that I CAN and WILL jog faster next time. I was breathing good and felt I should have been going harder.
HOWEVER it could have been the 55 degrees and a breeze outside in September in Kansas!! IT FELT GREAT!!!

Wish us luck tomorrow morning!

Drum Roll...... TADA!

TADA!!!!!!!!!!!

This is what happens when you are SO EXCITED to get your new running buddy picked up (that you have been waiting & getting ready for the last 5 days) from a town 30 minutes from home. You rush out of work on a friday evening, you jump in your Tahoe to rush to the Shelter in Hutchinson, you yell at the traffic on the 2 lane highway you have to take, you pass dump ass drivers going 55mph in a 65mph for no good reason, you make it with 15 minutes to spare BEFORE the shelter closes for the night.

You are SO HAPPY!! You meet your hubby and his new buddy outside the shelter. You load the dogs up in eachothers vehicles and drive into the town to hit the local Petco before heading home. At the Petco, hubby notices his buddy is popped a stitch and is slowing bleeding from her morning spaying. So hubby loads his dog up in his car and heads to the farm to have her checked out.

I finish the shopping with my new buddy, and we get 10% off our whole purchase for saving a shelter dog. YEA! We load up and head back towards home. We decide to stop at the farm and check on hubby and his buddy. We few minutes later we are ALL heading home in our own cars. I make it first down the dirt road, 1 mile away from mom-in-laws farm.... well you can see what happened.

It is 7:30pm. It is almost sundown. Spare tire is NOT coming down from under the Tahoe, safety latch is corroded. (are you freakin' kidding me)

long story short.... 2 GREAT local Friends, 1 mom in law, 2 dogs and 4 & 1/2 hours later...

Old tire off, new tire on, tahoe dead, tahoe jumped, on road home.

Pick up kids (OH YEA! THANKS to plans of having the kids stay at sis n laws and my folks so we can "run fast" to get new buddies, the kids were NOT with us for this "event"), get home, dogs to kennels, kids in bed, us in bed..... 1:30am.

Now- enough complaining for now....

MEET MY SIBERIAN HUSKY, SUKA!

(Eskimo name meaning "Fast")

and SHIT! IS he EVER!!

This is Cody's House Buddy, another Australian Shepherd, Ruby.

Suka is IN LOVE with Ruby.

In truth, Suka is Ruby's Bitch. It is sad really, and making it hard on me to get Suka to understand that I am the "Alpha" and not Ruby.

Oh, and Ruby, well, she is still deciding on her love for Suka. Right now, he is kinda her "security guard". Which she doesn't need in this house! LOL!

And Yes, that is a football toybox in my living room... it is how LittleMan has toys in livingroom and the dogs don't eat them.

BigGirl is IN LOVE with both dogs. However, she comments on how Suka is the prettiest. So, he means to love you back too. And he is spoiled, he gets to love on the couches. Ruby doesn't even try.

Ruby knows that playing with LittleMan can sometimes get her doggy treats. Since he askes me for them often now. Overall, both dogs are GREAT with the kids. I have been having trouble with Ruby mostly. Suka just followers her suit, so even if I spend mucho time with Suka, if Ruby walks into the room, he gets right up and follows her out. SUCKS for me right now, but work is worth the reward.

On a side note: I got myself a her haircut. Yeah- I hate taking pics of myself. CHEESE!

And in the mail this week, I recieved my FIRST Rock and Roll Encore medal. For completing 2 Rock and Roll half marathons in this calendar year. It is PRETTY! ALL silver in color and a white ribbon.

BTW!!!~ GIVEAWAY DEADLINE IS RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER!!!!

Tomorrow, Tomorrow, I love ya, Tomorrow, your only a day away!

Yeah! That's right! I got one! A running buddy! A 4-legged beautiful male running buddy!

What is he you say?

Well that you will have to wait to learn. Sorry, but it is only fitting that you see us together at the same time that you get to meet him.

Yes, HIM. I know, I wanted a female. But this handsome guy NEEDED me. He was dumped. Can you believe it?! DUMPED. Oh, and that's not all. He was obviously had a hard life. And by most likely a male human. (since he was a little shy for us all- you know me, 2 kids and hubby) But he would go hide when hubby walked in. No matter how loving hubby was trying to be. Poor thing!
*don't worry handsome, I was heal you on the inside, and you will love from our house! Heck, we even got you a female partner. No, she is not the same as you, but she will love you too! -did I throw you all for a loop there!! Yes 2 new dogs!! Hey more love to go around!

Ok- watch for my post this weekend!!!!!

The BIG debate part 3

ok- we have made a decision!! We are both happy with the choice AND we might even need to get 2 eventually. I am pumped!  We even went to look at 2 that are at an Animal Shelter in the near by town of Hutchinson. (Where our state fair is...which started this weekend-yes we went)

So- WHAT ARE WE GETTING FOR MY RUNNING BUDDY/FAMILY LOVING DOG???!!

I am NOT telling yet. Nahnah Nahnah Nah Nah!
Mad yet??

Let me explain.
What we have learned from this experience is that things change. We don't/can't spend much on another dog right now. So if we can't find the specific breed in a shelter or rescue that is near by, then we may have go through this debate again.
Totally praying that this does NOT happen, after all this was a hard decision with LOADS of research to find the right match for our household.

So-how did today's venture out to meet & greet these dogs today go?
Like my life- sucked! There were 3 dogs there.
#1- approved adoption TODAY
#2- a pending application already so we are 2nd in line
#3- 2 pending applications already so we are 3rd in line

ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!
nope not kidding.... God will prevail!

Yes, God WILL prevail... he decides when and whom.
 Dear God, please keep in mind that 1 have already been jumped by a dog while running alone. Just saying. Amen.

SO--- more to come (they say by tuesday) STAY TUNED FOR MORE!!!!

**DON'T FORGET MY GIVEAWAY TIME IS RUNNING OUT!!!!

KState vs UCLA

So- yes, for those of you that do not know, my blood runs purple (through and through). And No, I did not get to attend college this wonderful school in Manhappiness (Manhattan) Kansas. BUT I did get to go on hubbys recruiting trip!! I was treated as purple royalty that day (well, hubbs and I were a package deal). I did have lunch with the entire Coach Bill Synder Family and we did get to WALK OUT ACROSS THE FOOTBALL FIELD AT WARM UP!!! OHHH YEAH BABY!!!!!!!!

Ok, deep breaths......

So,  we attended attended the opening game this past weekend in manhattan. We wildcats played UCLA. Let me just jumped to the end real fast.... WE KICKED SOME BUTT!!! (31-22)

We tailgated with my BFF and her friends.

*pre-game, post-rum, LOL!!

*Isn't this couple HOT STUFF!! (me and the hubby)

We met up with Sis n Law, Mom n law and bro n law & girlfriend at our seats!!

Shana and Penny (sis and mom) *Don't know what mom was doing there??

Shana and I pic number 1....

Fighting with the shadow from the sun... and thought you might like to see the game behind us.

*nice sunburn later that day on my nose and forehead!

Willie from last year (2009) was sitting infront of us.

(Shhh, he wasn't suppose to tell us, that is why he has no face here)

We did a little shopping before the game, I got some purple football beads, a $5 tee shirt, an adorable light knitted socking style cap (will not be keeping my head warm, but will look cute in the fall!) and the KSU Nike Tempo shorts!!!

The Hubby got a tshirt and a hat.

Anyway, we had a great time all together. Ate some great food and we were even sobber by the time we headed the 2 hours drive home. NICE.

Ohhh-- and if anyone asks, Mom in Law BOUGHT her purple bead necklace, atleast that is what we will tell people if they ask.

(the true story, she forgot she had it on her neck while we were shopping, and then we walked right out and forgot about it. opps! I figure we are even with God, since they took away my candy I wanted to carry back into the game. Right?!

The BIG debate Part 2

Ok- I have heard all your comments.
But Sis- what is the terd-eater?

I have read the Runners Magazine article.

This is where I am now...

I miss my Aussie. He was a great dog.
I DONT miss the long hair shedding on my retro dark brown shag carpet.

I would like a short-hair dog. But, I have a hard time falling in love with them.
I had a Chocolate Lab when I was 10yr (a christmas dog in the box, jump out and lick your face puppy- he was finally put to rest this past year- he was 17 years old x7 = 119 dog years)

I found an adorable Great Pyrenese 1 yr 7 month lady at the local Humane Society. SHE IS GORGEOUS!

I also have been told that my mom-n-laws Aussie may be prego again.

This is where we got Dakota (our lost to heaven aussie)

SO NOW WHAT???

I want a buddy sooner than later, but am undecided on my venture.

I NEED INFO! Comments! Suggestions! Experiences! Whatever!