And the cross is someone she has not met, not yet

Thanks to Allez, I have been tagged.

The rules:Link to the person who tagged you.

Post the rules on your blog.

Share seven random and/or weird facts about yourself on your blog.

Tag seven random people at the end of your post, and include links to their blogs (5 on side bar).

Leave a comment on their blogs so that they know they have been tagged.

7 weird medical things about me:

1. My due date was January 17th and I was born February 1st. My Mom ended up going back to work because she got bored.

2. When I was 2 I was bitten by a snapping turtle and got salmonella.

3. In 1st grade my Mom got me out of the tub to find that I had bruises all over me. The docs first thought it was leukemia and it turned out to be an idiopathic blood disease.

4. In fifth grade I did not take care of a blister (new soccer cleats). The blister got infected, ate through my skin and I had to wear a cast to make sure that the blister healed.

5. My eye teeth can in at the top of my gums (think Dracula) and I started wearing braces in sixth grade. I wore braces for three and a half years. My bottom teeth are still crooked (probably b/c I did not wear my retainers!)

6. In the tenth grade I pulled the ligaments on the top of my right foot. I really did not want to stop playing, so I practiced shooting with my left foot. For the next two years I was defended for my left foot shots.

7. Three years ago Scott took me to the hospital b/c of pain in my side and a lump in my groin area. The doc was examining me and saw that I had a bandage on my side. He asked what it was and I said that I had a rash that I thought was from laundry detergent. Turned out I had shingles and the lump was a swollen lymph node that was a result of the shingles!

I tag:
Matt (I mean Bullet)
Court
Momo
Coleen
Jess
Danielle
Lisa

On a more serious note...A girl that I looked up to when I was younger died recently from a brain tumor. Molly Firth Hooper was a great person and an amazing soccer player! Her younger brother also has a brain tumor and her parents have become very active in the brain tumor society. I mention this because her family asked that donations be made to Dog Dreams team for the Brain Tumor Society’s Ride for Research, Brain Tumor Society Ride for Research. As athletes I thought that this might be something that some of you might be interested in supporting. For more information visit The Dog Dreams Team at: http://www.braintumorsociety.org/site/TR?pg=team&fr_id=1210&team_id=13350

To link the two parts of this message together I remind you all that another "weird" thing about my medical history is that I have OCD. I am more obsessive and most of my obsessive thoughts include my fear of a brain aneurysm or tumor. This obsession comes from the frequent headaches I get from my TMJ. I fell like I have an angel to look to now. Molly Hooper spent years battling a REAL brain tumor. In the last three days as my obsessions have surfaced I have thought of Molly and the way that she fought this disease. I have encouraged myself to clear my mind by thanking God for my health and the day that I am living. I have also prayed that Molly's children find similar peace. Thanks for listening...

Take Care
Molly

Says she talks to angels,
They call her out by her name
She talks to angels,
Says they call her out by her name
-Black Crows

All I really know for certain, babe, Is that Love Is All There Is

Saturday

Lazy Day. Kind of had a tough weekend. A lot of anxiety and jitters. Leaves me once again with worries about what to do...

Saturday night we went to the Moc's game. It was senior night and I will really miss our seniors!

The best part was that my brother in law and niece joined us!

I had to tell her who all the players were and make sure that she grows up with the love of the Moc's that I did!

We went to dinner after the game..trying to find a place with a TV (to watch TN kick Memphis's butt!) AND had food for Kate. We ended up at Applebees...you all are my friends so I feel I must tell you, (at least, if you are in Chattanooga) don't go to Applebees!

Sunday

Went to Grace Sunday morning. Enjoy this church more and more as I go.

Not much exercise this weekend...in fact, a family walk was the extent of the exercise!

(yikes, look at the junk in that trunk!)

Today

Normal day at work. Anxiety levels down a little, but still there!

Tonight Scott and I went....for a RUN/walk! We walked 4 minutes and ran for a minute. The first minute I felt a little pinch in my knee, but the next five, minute runs, felt really good! Afterwards I felt REALLY good! We were blessed with a 60 degree day here, perfect afternoon for a run. We are expecting rain and much colder weather to come...so I am guessing that it will be testing on the treadmill for a while!

Randomness

I have decided that giving up chocolate for lent is bad for my diet. It takes a lot more vanilla ice cream than dark chocolate to hit my sweet tooth!

Scott and I are headed on a trip in May to the Adriatic Sea.We are going to take a cruise! I am SO excited! This will be the last trip before we "settle down". I purchased the plane tickets today...so it is real!

Cute Kozmo picture of the week:

(we are going to the vet tomorrow...I have a feeling he is going to be put on a diet!)

Take Care
Molly

Every now and then
There comes a time
Someone comes along
to change your mind
You believe it's unwise
To give in to careless dreams
You believe it's a prize
You'll never win
-Sheryl Crow

Two cups of coffee in the morning, Two days till I stop feelin' blue

Feeling 100%, yea!

Been doing my yoga in the morning but I am still being REALLY lazy about getting the cardio in. If it were not for my 30 minutes out with Koz I do not know if I would be getting any!

Two different times this week I have "explained" that the reason that I am having trouble is that I have nothing to work toward. When I had a race on the horizon I not only had a reason to get out, I felt like I had to.

My brother in law has taken the step of signing up for a 5K. I was REALLY excited and I hope that his path will follow that of Matt's friend, whose first 5K seemed to change his life!

My brother in law is signing up for The Chickamauga Chase. He asked if I wanted to do the 5K with him. My immediate response was, "I can't because of my knee." Ever since those words came out of my mouth I have wondered, is that true? I hurt my knee training for a 10K. I now know I have a partially torn meniscus and once I found that out I stopped running cold turkey.

So...I am thinking. Do I need to test this knee again? A 5K is no where near long distance and I have until April 19th to work toward it! I ran my first 5K in 30 minutes and I know that I can do one again...even if I end up having to walk it.

I am thinking that this would be a great test for me, another thing to keep me occupied (as teacherwoman's masthead says, Running is Cheaper than Therapy.) and will truly give me a good reason to get off my but and go!

Going to give this 24 hours to think about...I will let you know what I come up with!






Take Care
Molly

Hold on tight
Hold on tight because the ship is sailin'
-Josh Kelley

Can I have some remedy

How do you get a baby blanket finished, a scarf finished, your Blogland book finishd, and loose a couple of pounds in three days? Get violently ill!

Have had a HORRIBLE stomach bug that put me in bed Thursday night through Monday morning.

Whew...glad to be back in the land of the living. I would not even wish that bug on "W"!

Today's song is in refernce to my illness AND the fact that The Black Crows are coming to Riverbend! Whoooo Hoooo...it has been TOO long since a band I actually like came to our festival!

Take Care
Molly

Cause if I had some remedy
I'd take enough to please me
-Black Crows

Coming along real good, But I still can’t do most of the things I should

Doing OK ...not great!

Monday I got up and made my way, very slowly, through the 50 minute Yoga Now video. My knees were sore and I was really tierd! I slugged A LOT of coffee and made it through the day.

Yesterday I ran a lot of errands, went and saw the head shrinker and was a super democrat. Went to a lunch meeting and a Dem Women's meeting last night. I CRASHED when I got home.

I have not been happy with myself the last three evenings. I have eaten too much, had two glasses of wine (usually have one) and vegged in front of the TV. I STILL have not finished my Blogland book club book and did not get S's Mom's scarf done in time for her birthday and I NEED to be working on my nephew's blanket for his first birthday Satuurday. I have just been tierd!

So I am picking myself up by the bootstraps tonight and getting to it. I am going to do yoga this afternoon and tonight I will finish the blanket and read my book!

On a lighter note, my sports and political friends alike will appreciate this article. I tried to tell him that SEC football is not laughing matter...

Berke proposal stirs Dogs fans

Hope everyone has a Happy Valentine's Day and gets to spend it with people they love!

Take Care

I can’t stop this crawling out of my skin
I know that you see yourself flying
Out of the skyComing down
To carry me
But I won’t come out
-Counting Crows

You may be the heavyweight champion of the world, You may be a socialite with a long string of pearls

***MY SPELL CHECK STILL DOES NOT WORK***

Friday night was fun. My family celebrated my birthday with me. I had a really great time! We went to Niko's Southside Grill which was once THE Southside Grill, the best restaurant ever, and a birthday MUST. The restaurant was purchased by Nicko about a year and a half ago. This was the first visit since the switch. While, as I said, I had a great time with the family Southside is not the same!

Saturday was also a good day. I got a lot of little things done Saturday morning in a relaxed manner and I got a nap in. Then Scott and I went to the Battlefield to get some exercise and enjoy this 60 degree day!

Here are some pictures of our great adventure:

Where is Kozmo

WOW...What a DAY!

Scott's favorite Path

Crouching Molly Shaking Kozmo

My Boys!

Came home and had leftovers for dinner. I made these great Rachel Ray Sun Dried chicken roll ups. Here is the recipe! VERY GOOD and worth a try!

THE YEAR OF MOLLY UPDATE

I went to church this morning. I went alone and I went to Grace Episcopal Church which is about 2 minutes from our house. This is significant for two reasons:

1. In the past I felt it necessary to link my spiritual path with Scott's. In other words I avoided the Episcopal church (the church I grew up in) because I knew that hw felt it was "formal". For that reason we often go to a Methodist church. I ended up making a huge sacrafice here because I was not as happy in this church, which seemed too"casual" to me! No disrespect to others...it was just not right for me!

2. The Methidist church that we went to had a lot of connection with Scott's family. This was comforting at first but then became difficult. Family members would often "invite" us back to "their"church. This bothered me because I felt that, if I accepted this invitation, I would be going to church for them, not for me. As our visits became further and further apart we were often greated with comments like, "WOW, what are you doing here, it is not a holiday." or "Nice of you to join us". As a side not here I do have to stress that none of this was done wit malice, instead a misguided snece of humor.

Going to the Episcopal church felt VERY good. Very warm and very much like home. I left feeling a little more connected and with a resolve to return. And as an added bonus, Scott indicated that he would like to join me next week.

I mark today as a significant step in the right direction of furfilling The Year of Molly!

Take Care

But you're gonna have to serve somebody, yes indeed
You're gonna have to serve somebody
Well, it may be the devil or it may be the Lord
But you're gonna have to serve somebody
-Bob Dylan

You know it feels good to be alive

Workouts are going well.

I did yoga Monday, Tuesday and this morning. I did the 30 minute Yoga Now Tuesday morning and I did the 50 minute Yoga Now this morning (keeping in mind that I will not be doing cardio this evening b/c of the Moc's game). I am starting to "see" and "feel" the effects of doing this regularly which has been the little nudge I need to get my butt out of bed at 6:30 to do the yoga!

Monday and Tuesday I went to the BX and did cardio. I enjoyed Monday, I did 30 minutes on the eliptical and then walked the track for 30 minutes. The fun part of wakling the track was that it was over the basketball court and there were Middle School basketball games going on. It was so much fun to watch. Tuesday was not as good an experince. I got thirty minutes in on the eliptical and brought my Blogland Book Club book, Water for Elephants, with me (the discussion has already started and I STILL have not finished...I am a SLOW reader!) in hopes of riding the bike and reading. Well...the bike would not work and then the treadmill would not work. I left frusterated. I should have stayed and walked the track, but I did not.

With the BX I have to keep in mind we pay $20 a year and the "mission" of the place is NOT focused on the cardio room. It is just SO much easier to walk across the street to the BX than to drive 15 minutes to the busy gym!

I do plan on hitting the busy gym this weekend to get in some longer workouts!

Thinks are going well medicine free. I feel very strongly that the yoga, cardio and blogging are really helping with this process.

As I mentined in my lasy post I have given up chocolate for lent. I have also decided to give up soda, really Coke Zero...I was probably drinking two a day. In addition I am going to be very midful during this season. Mindful of myself and my health, spirt and finding a stronger inner peace.

Take Care

I was alive and I waited, waited
I was alive and I waited for this
Right here, right nowThere is no other place I want to be
Right here, right now
Watching the world wake up from history
-Jesus Jones

You can be sure, That it will only get better

Weekend in Review:

Friday: Happy Birthday to me!

Got up and did my Yoga Now video and then went and met Momma for the BEST blueberry pancakes in town at Artetha Frankenstein's! Worked for a little while and went to lunch with my Dad. Went home after a little more work and took a nice birthday nap. Then S and I went out to eat with his brother and sister in law at PF Chang's, a place I had not been. I really enjoyed it!

The best part of my birthday was going back into the bedroom after my shower and seeing two little boxes on the bed...my sweet husband got me a necklace and a watch! He ALWAYS surprises me when I least expect it...how can you not love that!

Saturday: GO recycle MOCS!

Got up and hit the BiLo to get food for Super Bowl festivities and also for a new recipe I am going to try tomorrow night.

Then Scott and I proceeded to spend about three hours sorting all of the recyclables in our basement, loading them into a truck, taking them to the center and unloading them all. THAT was a workout in and of itself.

Went and "pre-gamed-it" at Chili's before The Moc's game. This was a BIG one against Davidson, who killed us less than two weeks ago. In the first half of the game it looked as if we were going to meet the same fate, but they came back and actually won the second half by 17...but that is pointless when you loose the first half by 24! We were all proud of their effort and glad to see that they did not quit. It also gave everyone hope that, when we play well, we can beat this powerhouse in the tournament!

Sunday: GO GIANTS

Cooked most of the day...both my famous 8 layer Mexican dip and I also tried a new cookie recipe. I made black and white cookies with a red velvet batter from Rachel Ray's Every Day Magazine. This was my first attempt at icing (anything) and I don't think that I let the cokies set long enough before I iced and a mess insued...they tasted quite good...they did not LOOK good.

The game was a lot of fun. I like the Manning's, that was my only tie to either team, so I was happy the Giant's won! Had a great time with family and ate WAY too much!

Today: Got up and did Yoga for the Upper Body. Another good one. I realized tat I need to get a strap, so I am going to look for one online today. Scott did the yoga for back care on Saturday and liked that one too!

Going to the BX tonight to get some cardio in. Doing the regular plus a little extra for last night plus a little extra for all the chocolate I will eat before lent starts!

I changed my profile picture again...although the last one did inspire me to grow my hair I thought I looked snooty!

Take Care
Molly
(is anyone else's spell check not working?)

You and me together
Through the days and nights
I don't worry 'cause
Everything's going to be alright
-Alicia Keys