I went to Michael’s yesterday for a couple of things and came across close out ribbon- 3 yard spools for a $1! I had my inspiration for my next wreath- a sparkly blue ribbon and blue, light blue, and white bells. The bells were actually in a $1 bin but I decided if they weren’t a dollar I would still buy them. I received a package a couple weeks ago and it had a foam circle cut in half used for packing material. I taped it back together and hung onto it for my next wreath.

So first I covered the circle with 3 of the 4 spools of ribbon.

I used ornament hooks to attach the bells. My boyfriend actually gave me this idea. I unfolded the hooks and then folded them in half. I threaded the bell on the hook and stuck it in the foam. You could probably use paperclips as well.

This is where my OCD came into play. I bundled the three colors together and place them like the hands of a clock: one at 12, another at 3, 6 and 9. Then I filled in the gaps.

I used the fourth spool of ribbon to add a bow and to hang the wreath. The finished wreath:

My total cost for my second DIY project:

Closeout ribbon at $1 x 4: $4
Jingle bells: $2.99
Ornament hooks: $1
Foam circle: free
Total: $7.99

I went to Michael’s and bought a bundle of branches (brown and black), my spray paint base coat and glitter spray paint.

First I spray painted the bundle white. I decided to leave them bundled because the white was only meant to be a primer for the glitter, I just wanted to lightly coat them.

Then I separated them and did a few touch ups on the black branches.

Next I spray painted the branches with the glitter paint. The glitter paint was very different from solid color spray paint. I had to shake it a lot more and if I did apply the right amount of pressure it didn’t look good. Also, it didn’t cover as much as the white. I bought a small bottle of white and a mid size bottle of glitter and used all the glitter before I sprayed half the branches! I ended up buying another bottle and went through that bottle too!

This is the finished project:

The total cost was:

Krylon white satin spray paint: $2.99
Krylon blue glitter spray paint: $7.99 x 2
Bundle of branches: $7.79 (originally $12.99 but I had a 40% off coupon)
Vase: free
Total: $26.76

A little expensive for my first DIY but they look great in my apartment against my eggplant wall!

When I came home yesterday she was all happy and energetic. She jumped around and brought me her toys to play fetch with as if to say ‘Look I’m full of energy and I’m fun to play with, don’t leave me.’ Then when I went to leave for the evening she was like ‘Where are you going? Are you coming back?’ I promised her I would return but she still looked sad.

I keep giving her hugs and kisses and telling her I love her but I think leaving her will be the saddest part of my move. It’s like her parents just got divorced and I’m the one who has to leave only I don’t get visitation rights. Dogs are just aware of their environment and mimic people’s emotions and sense when things are wrong. It’s amazing. If I’m sad CJ will sit beside me and nudge me to pet her because it will make me feel better. If people are happy she thrives from it and when someone’s leaving she’s sad. Some take animal intelligence for granted but I continue to be amazed by it.

Here’s the thing about puppies:

-You can’t leave them unsupervised for more than two minutes or else they’ll chew something, poop somewhere or throw up.
-Since they can’t be left alone for more than two minutes they require constant attention
-You have to make sure they are fed everyday
-You have to pick up their poop
-Let them out often to make sure they don’t go to the bathroom in the house
-They whine and bark when left alone for longer than two minutes
-They have way more energy than you
-They are expensive (vet visits, dog food, toys, treats)

After trying to put her on the leash to let her outside the first day, I realized what I was in and it wasn’t good. The first morning she yanked on the leash to chase after a bunny while I was picking up after her causing blisters on my hand.

From what I understand, babies are no different from puppies. They:
-Can’t be left unsupervised for more than two minutes or else they’ll chew something, poop somewhere or throw up.
-Can’t be left alone for more than two minutes and require constant attention
-Have to be fed everyday
-Poop a lot
-Cry and wail when left alone for longer than two minutes or when they want something
-They have way more energy than you
-Are expensive (diapers, clothes, food)

Now I’m only 24 and still have awhile before I plan on having kids (yes, I plan on having kids just not now) but I definitely don’t want a puppy anytime soon. I thought getting a puppy after I moved but didn’t and now I’m glad.

I’ll have babies sometime, just not anytime soon…

The ride went really well. I rode with a very beginner group. The other two girls were brand new to bicycling and the one girl’s father lead us on the ride. I learned more about switching my gears during the ride. At one point the father, Dave, tells me I should really get clip in pedals. I wanted to say “ya think?” But I said I just ordered shoes and would get the pedals soon. Our group stayed together at a nice pace and finished the 20 or so miles in 2 hours.

I bought my pedals and shoes over the weekend and the bike shop put the pedals on for me. I knew I would fall when I started riding with the pedals but I don’t think I fully prepared myself. It’s like riding a bike all over again. Once your shoes are clipped in you ask yourself “how do I balance?” I fell once on the pavement and then switched to grass and fell another three times. Then I started to get the hang of it.

The next day I went out and practiced and rode for a bit to get more comfortable. The ride went very well and I didn’t fall at all. Today I rode with the bike club again. I only recognized one person from last week and he rides in the B pace and I ride in the C pace. I started out ok but then I fell behind the C pace. I stopped at a stop sign and didn’t clip out thinking I wouldn’t have to fully stop. Then I fell. I got back up and continued on and two people stopped and started after I passed them. They then passed me and I lost my map when I pulled it out. I turned around and headed back for my car. When I went up a hill on the way back I wasn’t in the right gear so I clipped out before I could fall and walked up the hill. Then when I got back to my car I forgot to clip out and and fell.

I’ll try again next week with a way to attach my map to my handlebars but if I fall behind I plan to keep going on my own.

I ran the Cincinnati Flying Pig half marathon the first of the month and ran it in 2:24. It was a lot of fun especially because I had no idea what my time would be. I just ran it to run it. My pace was a lot slower while training for the marathon so I was very pleased with my 11:04 pace. At the expo I bought the shirt “I’ll run a marathon when pigs fly”.

The Pittsburgh half marathon was a lot of fun. It was a nice reunion- my best friend, brother, brother’s fiance, and brother’s fiance’s friend all ran it. I ran through various parts of the city- North Shore, the Strip, Station Square and downtown. One of my favorite parts was the hills. Pittsburgh is known for its hills and when you ran up a hill you ran downhill right after. I also ran over three bridges. My time was 2:14, ten minutes better than Cincinnati! I was pumped about that. I’m also impressed that I ran two half marathons in two weeks. After the race my best friend and I went to lunch at Primanti Bros and she had her first Primanti sandwich.

So I’ve come to the conclusion that 13 is my lucky number and I’ll continue racing half marathons. But triathlons are my favorite!!!

After we finished!

I am in week 12 of 18 training for the Pittsburgh Marathon. It’s hard to believe I’m already 12 weeks in and only have 6 weeks left! There have been some bumps along the road: falling on the ice in February and hurting my back and getting sick in February and not running for a week. At this point I look forward to my ‘short’ 4 mile runs compared to my mid week 8 mile run.

Here are some of the things people have said during my training:

While on the treadmill at the gym, I told the woman beside me I had to run 13 miles that day and she asked ‘Why do you have to run 13 miles?’ I forgot how that might seem crazy and unusual to some. My roommate said I should have replied: ‘because someone is chasing me, can’t you see them?’

After a 4 mile run on the treadmill the woman beside me said, ‘You just ran for that long and you aren’t even winded!’

Some key things to know when training for a marathon:

1. Remember to increase your carbohydrate intake during the week for your long runs.

2. Tell people you’re running a marathon, the support will help you.

3. Eat! Remember to eat more calories because of the calories you will burn, increase your caloric intake during the week. I’ve run into the problem of not having enough time in the day after my long run to eat all of the calories I should.

4. Drink water!

5. Gels, energy bars, etc… experiment with them during your long runs to determine which you like best before the race.

6. Get plenty of rest, each night and on your off days.

7. Have a mantra. Some of my favorites: Go Rachel Go, Just Keep Swimming, I Think I Can, I Think I Can.

8. Walk during your long runs, you will last longer, totally my opinion though. I like to run 1 minute for every 14 minutes running.

9. Don’t set a time goal. This is my first marathon and it’s hard not to have a time goal in mind but I’ve heard that is a very common mistake for a rookie. My goal is to finish strong, be able to walk after, and not get carted off the course.

10. Be flexible. Rearrange your training if need be, take an extra rest day if your body doesn’t feel up to it.

When you told Mom you would kill yourself if you stayed with her, that really hurt me. How could you say that? If your marriage was that bad, why didn’t you talk about it with Mom? Why did you have to cheat on her? Did you only care about yourself and what you wanted?

After talking with Mom, she is ok with the divorce. She actually thought about leaving you when you got really sick and she noticed a significant change in the man she married. She didn’t leave you because in the Catholic faith it’s ‘death til us part’ and you work through the challenges. She also couldn’t support David and me on her own. I don’t think she was completely blindsided by the divorce since she thought about leaving you. A lot of people in Midland said the man she married is not the man she divorced. Mom is a lot happier now, I can see it and it makes me happy, she deserves it.

I know you blame Grandpa for your divorce but you’re wrong. Grandpa wasn’t in your relationship. Just because he divorced doesn’t mean you were destined for a divorce. David and I are both concerned we might end up getting divorced but in this day and age it’s very likely and not because we come from divorced parents. When I started high school I was surprised how many students had divorced parents; but that will happen when you go to a Catholic school for 8 years where no one’s parents are divorced.

I resent that you didn’t spend time with me; Mom and Grandpa told you more than once you need to spend time with your kids. You ignored them and now we don’t have a relationship. I know you came to my dance recitals but one event you didn’t make it to that I still remember is my high school band senior night. The game was moved to a different night because the football field flooded and you had to work that night. You always worked early and late, I was in bed before you got home and you left before I woke up in the morning. When I hear about relationships between a guy and his daughter I get jealous. One dad gives his daughter french fries when they spend a day together at the park even though her mom doesn’t allow her to have them. I don’t remember anything like this with you.

I don’t want to have a relationship with you now. I’m better off without it, Mom has always been there for me along with other male figures. I don’t think you are capable of having a good relationship and I would end up getting hurt. Both people have to contribute to the relationship and that’s where I think you are incapable.

I wish you and Mom’s relationship hadn’t ended this way but all in all it’s better this way.

Love,
Your Daughter

Guy #1- Paramedic from California. This guy was not into sports, AT ALL. Sorry but I can’t date a guy who isn’t into sports, it’s just not possible. While we were on the date he complimented me on my grammar, I used ‘Marti and I’ while telling a story. Who has he gone out with from the site?? Also, I wasn’t attracted to him when I met him. He ended up asking me on a second date but I knew I didn’t want to go out again so I solicited some advice on a rejection message from a friend. She suggested saying something like ‘I had a good time but I don’t see this progressing as more than friends.’ He took it so well! He replied saying he was happy he had the pleasure to meet, he thought I was a wonderful woman and good luck in my search.

Guy #2- Database guy from Dayton. He is a big OSU fan and went to school at OSU. The good thing is he’s into sports- hockey, football and baseball. I thought about canceling the first date because we didn’t talk much in our emails. I ended up going, partly because I would get to have pierogies, and I had a great time; better than expected. I agreed to go on a second date and that went well too. I think he wanted to kiss me at the end of the date but I didn’t realize this until after I turned my head when we hugged. We continued to talk over the holidays and then I agreed to a third date; at BJ’s Brewery. You know what third date is: First Kiss. I had a maker’s mark and coke while we were at BJ’s and it was a strong one. I started to get a little tipsy and then I remembered he would want to kiss me at the end of the date. Then I realized I didn’t want to kiss him. After we left the restaurant he gave me a hug and asked if he could kiss me. I said yes but it was a sloppy kiss and there were no butterflies-heart racing-weak in the knees-forget my name kiss; I’ve had one of those kisses recently. I know I don’t want to continue to date him but I haven’t ended things yet.

Guy #3- Marathon runner, master’s degree and works in finance. This guy emailed me because he saw I was a runner and into sports. He liked hockey, football, and baseball as well. Although, he was a Browns fan. We talked on the phone and emailed back and forth for awhile. We had multiple conversations going on at once and talked about a lot of things. The thing I noticed when we talked on the phone was he dominated the conversation or as my friend put it- he was talking at me and not with me. This was true when we went on a date. I could hardly get a word in or tell a story that related to what he was saying. He was also kind of snotty towards the waitress. I went out with him the day before my third date with Guy #2 and after this date I looked forward to my date with Guy #2. He emailed me saying he had a good time and would like to see me again. I didn’t respond for a couple days and then asked my friend for advice on a rejection message again. I told him I went out with someone from the site the other day and wanted to see where it went with him. I also told him I hope he finds a passionate runner like himself. He said thanks for the heads up and good luck to us.

As of right now I’m still talking to Guy #2 and haven’t ended things. I feel really bad about ending it with him for some reason. Back to the drawing board…

I had a dream that I met my brother’s fiance’s friend from college. Apparently I really wanted to have sex with him and my brother’s fiance wouldn’t let me. I offered her $10 to have sex with him and she agreed. When I was home at Christmas and New Year’s I was supposed to go to a party with my brother and his fiance and the friend in my dream was going to be there too. My brother’s fiance expected her friend to hit on me because he is ‘one with the ladies.’ We ended up not going to the party because it was really fancy and didn’t feel like it so I never slept with the guy but I did meet him at the hockey game we went to in Pittsburgh while we were in town.

The other dream was about one of my coworkers leaving. I stayed home sick one day and received an email saying he just up and quit. I was really upset that he didn’t tell me in person before he left since we are good friends. I tried to call him to find out what happened and he said he couldn’t talk and ended up not calling me back. If this actually did happen I would be really sad and upset. I’m really close with this person and most likely he would tell me something like this before it happened. Also, I’m afraid that because I am so close with him I will get hurt. I don’t want this to happen but I’m really worried it will happen. Ever since I broke up with my high school boyfriend I’ve been pretty scared of getting hurt when I am close with friends. This is weird because I wasn’t the one who was hurt- I broke up with my high school boyfriend and every other guy I’ve dated after him.

These dreams are so vivid they are actually exhausting me. Ever since I came back to Columbus after the holidays I’ve been having vivid dreams and then end up really tired during the day even though I’m dreaming…Well I hope this helps me sleep tonight, sweet dreams!