Category Archives: Health

Meat On Sticks

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I bet you thought of “Something About Mary” didn’t you? Well, that’s not where I’m going with this.

You see them in all urban areas, people with their signs who need help. Harmless, but it makes you wonder how people up this way.

So today as I walked by a young guy with his head down, reading his sign. I appreciated the fact that he would work for food. I walked a couple blocks and stopped at a food cart. Not just the hot dog cart, but the kebab cart. I actually took into consideration this guy’s need for appropriate food. What if he was allergic to the nitrites in the hot dog? Yes, I seriously think of these things.  So I went the kebab cart next to the hot dog cart, asked the cross-eyed gentleman for a chicken kebab and a water.

After the chicken was ready, I walked back the couple of blocks and said hello to the boy who is down on his luck.  He looked like he hadn’t eaten for a couple of days, or was coming off something, not sure. But regardless, he needed to eat.

When he looked up, his dreary eyes lit up as much as they could. He was happy in that moment. I saw gratitude. Definitely not like the time I bought a coffee for a lady and then she had the nerve to ask if I stirred it. He accepted the meat on the stick (and in a bun) with the water very graciously and carefully unwrapped it to eat. That meat on a stick made someone’s day today.

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I crossed the street and watched him enjoy his chicken. That made me smile.

 

No Running For Four Days?!

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Don’t worry, this definitely doesn’t mean I was doing nothing. This trip to California was actually a great opportunity to do some cross training as part of my marathon training (or at least I tell myself).

So here’s the breakdown of activity since I’ve been here – 10 days so far.

Day 1 (Thursday 7/10): Paddle board yoga at Mission Beach and biking around Coronado Island

Day 2 (Friday 7/11): Morning 3.66 mile run, evening kayaking at La Jolla (complete with seeing baby seals in caves and dolphins swimming in pods!)

Day 3: (Saturday 7/12): Afternoon walk, probably 2-3 miles

Day 4 (Sunday 7/13): Morning 5 mile run

Day 5 (Monday 7/14): Morning 2 mile run, afternoon 4.5 mile walk

Day 6 (Tuesday 7/15): Morning CrossFit class

Day 7 (Wednesday 7/16): Afternoon 6.5 mile hike (I thought this was 8-9 miles, and it definitely felt like it) at Mount Woodson, evening kayak at Coronado

Day 8 (Thursday 7/17): Morning CrossFit class

Day 9 (Friday 7/18): Rest

Day 10 (Saturday 7/19): Morning 4.62 run so far… and just came back from a nice long walk (guessing 2-3 miles).

Upcoming:

Day 11: Chargers 5K Bolt to the Q. Had to sign up for a race here, it wouldn’t be right if I didn’t!

Day 12: probably another early run, hike, bike ride

Day 13: potential early morning run

I’ve rested this vacation but I’ve also kept my body very active – and it feels great! And when you have views like this, it’s easy to keep active outdoors. 🙂

Potato Chip Rock @ Mount Woodson

Potato Chip Rock @ Mount Woodson

Oops! I Forgot My Anniversary!

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As I was sitting here writing, reading, thinking – I realized that it was one year ago this month that I introduced Jibber Jabber & Happenstance to the blogosphere!

What? A year! Yes! I actually missed my bloggy anniversary on July 7th. How dare I? After all the writing, thinking, observing, thinking, writing, running, writing, finding pics… and I forgot?

Happy Bloggy Anniversary to me!

Thank you for all your follows, likes, comments, award nominations and time you take to read my daily life occurrences. I have learned a lot about myself as a writer, about people in my life, and what’s necessary for happiness. When we invest in ourselves, we can accomplish so much.

Thank you!

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tolmanchronicles.blogspot.com

tolmanchronicles.blogspot.com

I Realize This

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I realize that my latest posts from let’s say – June until now, haven’t the most thought-provoking or super entertaining.

Some weeks I rely on posting a semi-pleasing visual to capture your attention for my JJ&H version of Wordless Wednesday or Throwback Thursday.

Well, I realize that there has been some lack-luster tidbits. And trust me, it’s bothersome.

However, I will let you know that there is a reason for this. There are just a bazillion thoughts in my head and my mind just doesn’t want to sort out the good stories this last little while. I guess you could say, my mind is a little tired, and maybe the stories I want to write are just not ready to be written yet. But don’t worry, they will come.

I always have a lot to say, sometimes too much. Organizing all the thoughts, ideas, word mirages in my mind takes longer than I want it to sometimes. And other times, the meaning of what I want to write has been lost somewhere in a muddle of thought or the abyss of time passing. But it’s there. Soon I will write about Sunscreen Lady and Gilligan again or other supporting characters in my life’s play book. I will write about characters who make me think about the seven billion lives that take space on this planet.

Sometimes that change of scenery, deep conversation and fresh perspective generate a spark for writing inspiration.

 

It’s 4am, I Must Be Lonely

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It’s 4:20am in New York according to my computer, however I’m on California time! But seriously how am I even still awake at 1:20am or 4:20am?!

Maybe it’s because Monica and I flew in to San Diego for some California good times before her event next week! And soon Alaa will be home to join in the festivities!

I am so looking forward to…

…kayaking in caves

…paddle boarding

…visiting breweries

…bike riding to Point Loma

…running in Balboa Park

…snorkling with sharks

…laughing and talking

…gazing at palm trees

…yoga

…thinking or not thinking.

Ahhh!

 

WW #26

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selffulfilled.com

selffulfilled.com

Becoming Bob Wiley

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We watched What About Bob? last weekend – first time in quite a while, however far from the very first time watching. Definitely a show we’ve always thought was funny because of Bob Wiley‘s crazy neurosis and ease for finagling his way into Dr. Marvin’s family.

However… while watching it again still made me laugh, I recognized some of myself in Bob Wiley… funny? Maybe, maybe not! The fact that I have identified my own neuroticisms and obsessions might give me more of an advantage over those who do not, but I’m not sure if Bob Wiley is a character with whom I wish to identify!

In light of recent events this week (which were a mishmash of related and unrelated nerve-racking incidents), I pledge to not overindulge in thoughts and situations that give me anxiety!

So here’s to days of relaxing, reading, sunning, some productive thinking, and enjoying planned and unplanned activities with friends and family. MY friends and family ahahahaha!

Cheers to summer! 🙂

 

 

 

Misting Station Ahead

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You know when you are running, and it’s one of those days when you just feel slow, you feel hot, and you’re using your sacred bits of water to splash yourself? Well, that was me today for parts of the Queens 10k.

So I was about halfway and really in need of a boost… and then… there it was.

The misting station. Ah! Yes!

It was just past the 5k point, a point where both me and the guy beside me needed some encouragement. As we approached and ran through the sprinkles, we both giggled and sighed, then kept on moving with a little more oomph.

Thank you NYRR for adding these little refreshing spray stations along the routes of the last couples of races. (This photo was the misting station at last weekend’s Oakley Mini 10k – love the joy on her face!).

It’s Official – I’m in! Times Two!

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Today is the day I knew I would qualify for the 2015 TCS NYC Marathon. Nine races and a volunteer opportunity through the NYRR since January, and I’m in. Ah!

But then life threw us a little curve ball … but a good one.

Yes I am now officially qualified for the 2015 marathon, but I’m not sure if I will be here. Brett’s new job is taking us to Singapore next year, making me unsure if will be able to make it back to NY in November, soooooo – what do with all these races I’ve been doing? Use them as training runs! That’s right – an email I got the other day made me realize I should marathon THIS year. I received an email that there were still charity spots available for 2014 so I have decided to fundraise with Fred’s Team for Cancer Research at Memorial Sloan-Kettering. Yes I’m fundraising – which I’m horrible at, but I’m going to raise the $3,400 I said I would, even if I have to chase people down the street! – and run the 2014 marathon!

Screenshot 2014-06-14 11.05.11

I must be freaking crazy? Ya, I guess I am. But this is something I said I would NEVER do, just a year ago. You see how hard work and a strong mindset changes you to want to do awesome things?! If you think you will never do something because of whatever excuse you have – you are short-changing yourself. Do it! Stop making excuses and do something big, drastic, crazy and insane. You can do it!

So obviously, my campaigning starts now, with you. Please click my Fred’s Team link above or the picture below to donate to my charity on the Fred’s Team page.

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Whether we know each other or not, we all know people who have been affected by cancer. Those of us who run do it for these reasons. We want our miles to go to something big and worthwhile. So I choose cancer research.

I look forward to seeing your donations on my page. Thank you!

mskcc.convio.net Can't wait to be one of these people!

mskcc.convio.net
Can’t wait to be one of these people!

 

Levels of Productivity or Productiveness or Whatever You Want to Call It

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I’m not speaking of productivity on the business or work realm, that’s a whole other bag of words. Here I am speaking of personal time productivity, productiveness or whatever.

How do you measure your personal productivity time? By how many things you get done at home? How many errands you can run in one trip? How many meals you can prep for the week on a weekend? If you can get the kids/spouse to all the planned events on time? Hmmmmm, is this an effective way to measure your time and well-being?

Well, recently I’ve equated having a productive weekend with running in some sort of race event. So this weekend was the first in a while that I didn’t register for any running events since I have a double-header next weekend. I kind of felt like I would have a pretty unproductive couple of days. My mind is trained to think that unplanned time will be unproductive and that only days with schedules will be the productive ones (damn job!). And also lately, I’ve even had the nerve to feel that my own running time is not as productive unless it’s tied to a race or challenge! Egad! No bueno.

So I started searching for words related to productivity and came upon this wordle that captures what productivity looks like to me, generally. It’s a great little snapshot of important words – however most of these I tie to work.

Yes, all of these words are meaningful to me, but I am stepping back from the constant physical movement of being productive into a quest for a productive mindset.

That may mean that if I need to sleep, read, or watch TV, that’s what I need to do to get my mind into a place of contentment – my new productivity! Maybe I merely sit on a bench and watch people walk by, or simply get an iced coffee from a coffee shop I’ve never been to in order to reach the place of a mental regeneration/cleanse/contentment/renewal. I think this may one of those keys to happiness.

I don’t want to equate productivity only with physical accomplishments (as I must for 10 months of the year), but a mindset instead. This is often the mental work I need to do over summers – a repair from the grueling school year.

Oh, and I found another cute piggie picture on Animal Planet. I think that’s productive too.

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Courtesy Animal Planet