Pain sucks...

So, in case you don't know this about me, I'm a bit of an active person. Okay, I love to run/bike every day and do resistance work. Lately this has been with the TRX system, but you get the idea.

Today was a running day. Headed out and less than a mile in, I freaking rolled my ankle. Now usually I can walk this stuff off. Running in trails every day you get used to rolling your ankles. It happens quite often and as a result, my ankles can usually take it. Apparently not today. Not only did the actual event cause immense pain, it never eased up. I tried walking it off, or shall I say limping it off, but the farther I went, the more the pain increased. Knowing I was probably doing more damage, I finally had to do the limp of shame back home with the dog in tow. Neither of us were very happy, I can assure you.

Well, it's been well over two hours and yup, still hurts, despite large quantities of ibuprofen...no I didn't overdose but I did take enough it should have eased by now. Especially since I iced it for a long ass time. I hate to admit it, but I might have to actually go to the hospital and get some X-Rays...all I can say is there'll be hell to pay if there's anything really wrong with it.

And to top it off, it's been a weekend of stuff going wrong. Had to fight with a company to correct an order, but yeah, they finally did, so that's good. And I discovered an issue with a book of mine...hoping to rectify that soon, but it's still upsetting. It just seems that when things go wrong, they do it in fine style, lol.

Okay, other than that, I do have a book releasing in two weeks! Yippee...I'll post more soon, when the pain isn't clouding my good judgement...

And the guilt sets in…

So I did something today I don't do a lot of—I bought myself some new workout clothes. I know, how very dare I spend money on myself when both boys will be starting hockey again in a couple of months and Syd will be in need of something. But regardless, I did it. Yes, I feel guilty, which I usually do whenever I spend money on myself, but I'm going to hold my head high. And I didn't get just any workout clothes, I invested in the new Zaggora sports line.

Now if you haven't heard of Zaggora (and for some reason the right side of your FaceBook page isn't plastered with their ads, they are a line of 'weight reducing' products. Now, I know what you're thinking...nothing but hard work and a clean diet will result in weight loss or toning or whatever else you're looking for. I know that. In fact, I workout regularly, as my friends can attest to. Some might even say I'm a bit obsessive when it comes to running and working out. But hell, if you're going to have a vice, it might as well be a good one (and no, we're not counting my Diet Coke addiction. I can only cure one problem at a time and right now I'm working on not eating chocolate.)

So, why invest in them. Well, a few reasons. First, quite honestly, with the discount I got, they weren't really more expensive than the products I'd buy at MEC. Second, I figure if they are half as good as all the claims, I'll enjoy them. And even if they don't aid just a bit in burning more calories, then they will at least keep me warm. Living on the west coast of Canada, while we don't get freezing cold, it rains a lot and is quite damp. I figure these will be great pieces for my not so great weather running and riding. And lastly, I'm not looking for a miracle, or a quick fix. But if I'm going to be eating clean and working out, then what the hell, might as well try something new. It's not like pills or something the I won't be able to use. I'll have running shorts and a shirt regardless.

Now, I will admit, I'm skeptical. So I'll be letting you all know how it goes... but it won't be for some time. I don't expect to receive these for a month or so (they are coming from the UK) but that's fine. It'll give me time to get into the clean eating, so when I finally put them to the test, it won't be that I'm changing three different things at once or anything. I plan on eating the same (yes, that means no chocolate or cake or anything else that I might as well rub on my ass because that's where it goes) and I won't be doing excessively more working out. I already run or ride daily (about 7 miles) and do TRX four times a week. I plan on keeping this up and seeing if the, shall we call them bumps, on the back of my thighs get any better.

I did do something unusual for me, though. I didn't go with the hard and fast black bottoms. I know...it was a moment of weakness I assure you. But instead, I went for the yellow Viva Hot Pants...yes YELLOW! Rest assured, I'm just as afraid as you are in thinking about me wearing them, but...I'm so tired of always playing it safe. Of worrying if anyone is going to think my butt looks big, lol. Or if my unflattering bits look, well, unflattering. I know we're all our hardest critiques and I really just wanted to go for something different. Plus, I got the hoodie as well—I figure with the weather here, I can stay in the capris longer if I have a warm jacket and their hoodie looks like just the thing to get me through the fall and winter. And if I love the stuff, I can get the longer pants later.

I also figured...hell, I rarely see people, as in once in a blue moon. I run in the woods so if the bears and cougars don't like my yellow Viva Hot Pants, then great. They won't want to eat me...and my dog Bandit is pretty ambivalent on the subject of what I wear. I also thought...it's time to be bold and strong. The first step in any program is positive thinking and if the yellow colour makes me feel happy, then fuck it. I'm wearing them. My daughter Syd gave them a big thumbs up... she actually told me I was forbidden from getting black because that's boring. So we'll see.

Okay, that's it. I'll post back when they come and let's see how it all goes. So for the next month...I'll be working out and eating clean. Yup, clean. Yes, I'm repeating myself on purpose. I'm hoping that if I say it enough times I'll remember and honour it. Though that's the magic question...I can workout for hours, force myself to run in the rain and the sleet and the snow. Push out another rep of pushups and pullups, but eat clean—that's like climbing Mount Everest. But it all starts somewhere.

And hey, in other news, I have more books out...like my new ghost book, Dusk 'Til Dawn...I'll try and remember to post a blog about it tomorrow... hey look at this. Two blogs in the same week...maybe it really is the breaking of a seal...

Top 10 Random Truths…

I'm blogging…yes, this is the start of the apocalypse so, I suggest you stock up on water now.

Anyway, I went to the movies last night—saw THE LONE RANGER and I couldn't help but wonder why so many folks gave it harsh reviews. Honestly, it was a good time. Johnny Depp was funny and Arnie Hammer was a fabulous emerging hero. And the horse, Silver, should get best actor.

So, it got me thinking that there are random laws that seem to apply in life. Here is my top ten list:

10. Action movies will always get the worst reviews because they aren't dramas.

9. If you plan on having an event outside in the summer, it'll rain. If you don't, then it won't.

8. Your smoke detectors will never get a low battery alarm during the day. It only happens at 3 a.m.

7. Items on sale will never be in your size.

6. You're never more than three feet away from a spider. And if you hate spiders, people will always remind you of this, cause they're givers.

5. Fish will always taste like fish, and no amount of sauce will change that fact—though many of us put this to the test repeatedly.

4. Cats shred more than dogs.

3. Time zones are a constant, yet we all have that one relative who can't seem to understand it's always three hours behind where you live.

2. Your kids will grow up, so don't rush it. You'll want it back once it's gone, and...

1. If you realize that life is supposed to laughed out loud, then the other nine don't matter.

That's all for now...

So it's 2013…

So... as I look at my blog I realize it was still 2012 when last I posted. My how time flies. It's not that I don't want to blog, but it seems there's always something else to do. In truth, I write blog posts all the time—in the shower. Of course, by the time I get out, dry off, get dressed…yeah, the thought is completely gone.

Now... I'll admit. I'm also hesitant to write posts. Not because I don't have stuff to say. Hell, I'm a single mom with three kids...two of them teenage boys. If anything, my problem is that most of what they say/do isn't suitable for blogging. I'd offend someone and so I'm left to laugh by myself.

But if I'm being honest, one of my main concerns is writing shit that shouldn't be out there. That, in a fit of rage or excitement, I might put something on this page that I'll regret later. And if we've all learned anything from the internet, it's that it's forever. Stuff you never intended goes viral and before you know it, you're the CEO of some big company sprouting about about not making clothes to fit the 'not cool kids'... yes, I did mean for that to come out.

Anyway, since I've been here, I've had two, yes two book release. The one above, Andromeda Falling is the second in my Dark Horizon series. The first book, Orion Rising, came out a few months back, but as usual, I didn't say a word on here.

I'll try to be more present, but I tend to try and tweet more than anything—140  words I can handle... I'll post the blurb for Andromeda below...and I'm going to be visiting a friend's blog shortly so you can find me over there.

Until then, I'll be lurking... thinking up great things to write about then forgetting them, or wondering if they really are internet worthy, lol. So no, I'm not dead, I haven't fallen off the earth and yes, iTunes and it's pretty damn cool.

Andromeda Falling...

Lincoln Croft isn’t the most reputable man. Disillusioned by the ever-continuing war between the Coalition and the Alliance, he’s made a living running dangerous goods between the worlds, using his ship, the Andromeda, to outrun enemy striker crafts and avoid certain prosecution. And the fact he can hack into any computer system ever made certainly doesn’t hurt his chances at a successful mission.

After a recent crusade to help free the condemned planet of Venitia gains him a full pardon, Linc has decided to give honest work a try. Just his luck, his old nemesis, Captain Frank Bane, has other ideas. An unexpected meeting forces Lincoln to crash-land on the very planet he swore he wouldn’t set foot on again. And the surface of Venitia hasn’t changed. Hot, dry and dangerous, Linc knows he needs to get to the settlement before he becomes some creature’s dinner.

He never planned on running into Gwendolyn Bennet, the one woman he’d never quite gotten over. After a less than warm welcome, Gwen begrudgingly agrees to help Linc reach the colony. But Bane isn’t giving up. He’s determined to destroy Lincoln, and the Andromeda, even if it means annihilating Venitia.

Shit my Kids Say, Part 3

Soooooo, today my middle child and youngest son made me proud. So here's the background info...

We were at the doctor's office. Unfortunately, Jared has an ongoing ingrown toenail issue...with both of his big toes. Now, one is looking pretty good, but there was a brother incident last night (purely accidental they assure me) and needless to say, Kyle landed on Jared's 'bad' toe and I can attest that it bled like a stuck pig. And it made the toe look terrible.

So, off to the doctor again...third time. Anyway, here's the conversation...

Dr. — It hurts, doesn't it?

Jared — Yup. All the time.

Dr. — I realize this is upsetting, but ingrown toenails are an ongoing, painful saga...

Jared — (without missing a beat) Oh, so it's like the Twilight saga...

Never been prouder of my boy.

Running, Canadian Style - Part 1

Sooooo....

We've been having some strong wind storms lately and as usual, there are a number of trees down along the trails I run. Two have blown down across this one tricky part that's already hard to navigate. The new obstacles are making the narrow path even harder to get through, to the point I got cut today trying to get around some branches.

Now, it wasn't bad, but damn, did it bleed. I mean dripping down my leg, looked like I'd undergone a partial amputation kind of bleed. 

I kept going. When you're three and half miles out, there's only one way to get back. And again, it didn't hurt that bad. I saw a few people once I reached the streets again, and they all looked at me like I'd come back from battle. I smiled... yeah, you feel a bit supermanish when you're running along, dried blood streaked down your leg, every inch of you covered in mud and sweat. It's like you earned your place on the earth...fought the good fight so to speak.

I get home, jump in the shower and all's good. When I get out, I'm all prepared to bandage this more than worthy injury only to look down and wonder where in the hell my injury went...yup, nothing more than a couple of stupid scratches.

Oh, well, at least for a while I looked tough.

Shit my kids say...part 2

Okay, so I'm going to say it...my boys are not politically correct. They say things that would offend some people. I'm not proud of it, but sometimes, even I have to laugh...offensive or not. It's kind of like the movie Zombieland...not politically correct but if you tried to take it strictly for humour, it had some damn funny bits in it.

Anyway, we're watching Ironman last night and the music starts playing for that song... I am Ironman....  they sing this...

I am the ice cream man

Running over fat kids with my van,

When they here my song,

All the kids come running along...

Yup...my boys. Not correct but damn, I near pissed my pants.