The joys of traveling and everything is bigger in Texas

This week I went to Texas to visit my best friend, Lorean. The trip started out a little frustrating, due to the fact that I missed my flight out by 3 minutes. Yes, 3 whole minutes! (I almost went redneck on the lady at check in, but decide that wouldn't help me to convince her to book me on the next flight out.) So after politely complaining (if that is possible) that I was only 3 minutes past check in, the lady booked me on the next flight out which I had to wait on for 2 hours. (Might I note, I watched the people board the flight I was booked for and missed. This only frustrated me even more.) However, once I actually started my trip by boarding the plane, I began to forget about the miss-hap of the morning.

Once I got to my connecting location, I found that I was completely over dressed for the visit to the Atlanta airport. (I really wish I could have taken pictures of the attire people were wearing) First encounter was a lady wearing the "As Seen on TV" PJ jeans. I kid you not! I didn't think people really bought those hideous things, but I was wrong. (Sorry to those of you who own a pair.) Let me just say those pants are already bad enough on the model in the commercial, but they are even worse in person. 

The next outfit, I encountered was a hot pink (actually more of a blinding pink), one-piece, leopard print pajama set accented with sparkle UGGs. (Yes this was an adult wearing it, not a child) Don't get me wrong.... I get that some people are traveling all day and they want to be comfortable, but I don't understand how anyone could think the PJ Jeans or the hot pink one piece are ok in public. It had to be embarrassing for those traveling with the individuals I saw at the airport. WOW! That's all I can say. (Please do not take offence to my comments. They are MY comments and meant to be taken lightly. And one last note.... please do not purchase EITHER of those items for me for Christmas.)

Once in the great state of Texas, I'm proud to say, I saw my very first TRUE cowboy! He too was at the airport. I was very impressed with the length of his beard and his cowboy boots that he had his pants tucked into. I was also happy to see a large belt buckle and a large cowboy hat that rested on his gray hair. I was tempted to take a picture with him, but after deciding a true cowboy would be too....ummm.... manly,  for a photo opt, I declined to ask him. However, seeing this cowboy made me feel very happy to finally be in Texas.

Needless to say, once I saw Lorean at bag claim, I nearly tackled her out of joy. After 6 months of telephone calls and Skype dates, I was finally face to face with my best friend!

Lorean's birthday was on Wednesday so we started celebrating the moment we arrived at her house. We went shopping, went out for dinner, caught up, played with her oh so cute dog and got our nails done. It was a wonderful visit and I think Lorean had a great birthday.

I will say this, while there I gained a whole new respect for military wives. I've understood that it would be really hard to live in a city where you don't know a lot of people, all by yourself while your hubby is gone. However, I didn't realize just how difficult it truly can be until I was there and saw it with my own eyes. There's no way, I could be a military wife. Poor Lorean is desperately lonely. (Like most military wives) She literally doesn't have a support team to lean on or to spend time with on a regular basis. Not to mention, she is too far away to drive back home. I literally hurt for her, because I now understand just how horrible it is to be alone in a place you know nothing about. So with that in mind, I plan on visiting as often as possible to keep her company until her husband returns home. (And send her tons of cards to keep her smiling)

Oh! One more thing about my trip.... I did see a lot of cactuses, but not one single LIVING armadillo. I thought that was like the state animal?! Shouldn't they be everywhere? Lorean's new mission while waiting for her hubby to get back home, is to find a living armadillo. (I hope she does, cause I can't wait to see a picture of it!)

2 mile mark, Muscles and 10 pounds thinner!

I did it! I made it to the 2 mile mark yesterday!! I'm so proud of myself. I FINALLY ran 2 miles AND it was FREEZING, raining out and it was dark. I had almost talked myself out of running yesterday, because it was dark out by the time I was free to run. There's just something about being out at night, by myself, running that creeps me out. (You never know who might get me! Though my dad always says they wouldn't keep me long.) So I credit my faster time to being creeped out that someone would kidnap me. (No joke I really did run faster.) Though I won't hide the fact that I found myself wanting to quit at 1.7 miles, I some how talked myself into going a little bit further and making it the 2 miles. The lesson I learned from that run... its mind over matter.

I do believe that if you can push yourself and really convince yourself to do something, you can and will do it. I'd never really experienced "mind over matter" (or not to that level) until last night. Its dedication that got my butt off the couch and out into the freezing and rainy weather, but it was my mind that pushed me make it the 2 miles. I'm really pumped that I was able to push myself, because now I know that I can do whatever I put my mind to...which will some day be a marathon!

So a couple of things to note.... I've noticed changes in my body since I've started running. The first is toe cramps. Oh my goodness! My right foot got a toe cramp yesterday, you wouldn't believe. My last 3 toes were curled up and wouldn't straighten out for at least 30 minutes. Now I've had leg cramps (Charlie-Horses) and other muscle craps before, but never a toe cramp. It was the craziest thing I've ever seen! So after ten minutes of the toe cramp not going away, I called my running friend to ask for advice. She informed me that cramps like I had in my toes were normal and to walk it out and drink lots of water. I took her advice and my cramp went away after some time had passed.

The second thing I noticed is my leg muscles are becoming more defined, especially around my knees. I am of course very excited about this change, because HELLO, who doesn't want sexy legs?! Hopefully the more I run, the more my legs will start to shape up and not have so much cellulite on the back of them.

The last and most exciting thing I've noticed about my body is..... I've dropped 10 pounds! After only running for almost a month, I've lost a good amount of weight and I'm so shocked! I never thought I would lose that 10 pounds that fast just from running. (Cause trust me I'm not watching what I eat.) Its very encouraging when you notice you clothes are loose and then you get on the scale and the number is lower than the last time you weighted yourself. That alone gives me for motivation to keep running. (Watch out! I might waste away to nothing! Yeah right!)

Not me... I wish it was though.

So for all of you out there trying to get motivated to start running and think that winter isn't the best time to start, you're wrong! It maybe cold out, but at least its not so hot and humid that you can't breath. Just remind yourself that you will lose weight, get healthier, be in shape and the pride you will have in yourself after you finish your first 5K, half marathon or full marathon! You can do it! Good luck!

-Kara