A week ago today I was...

totally passed out on my parent's easy chair in the family room. I didn't mean to fall asleep there for the night, but I guess I should have expected to fall asleep earlier than my usual twilight hours considering I had been up for 16 hours and ran 14.1 miles earlier that day.

Oh how wonderful it was to go home to my parents and just be their daughter for the weekend. It was a little surreal at first, showing up at Mom and Dad's house without a carseat, diaper bag or 4 pieces of luggage. It didn't take long, however, for me to ease (regress?) into my role of the lazy daughter (teenager?). I even found an old report card in the room I was staying in from the 5th grade. It really did feel like I had gone back in time. I laughed so hard reading my teacher's comments. Some of them are unoriginal repeats each period. Can't blame her. Teaching is hard. Report Cards must be a pain.

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First Period: {Michelle is an excellent SCA representative for our
class. She is also doing a good job as our class secretary. I am pleased she is
on the Honor Roll as well as the Good Citizen's list. 11/18/92}

Odd, I don't even remember being the class secretary. I'm living proof that some events, which may seem like the world of importance at the time, are not even remembered into young adulthood. Tell that to your kid the next time she doesn't make the soccer team.

Second Period: {Michelle continues to be an excellent SCA representative for our
class. I'm pleased she made the Honor Roll as well as Good Citizen's list.
Please help her to remember to return signed papers and behavior sheets as well
as notices on time 2/5/93}

Behavior sheets and notices? What kind of student was I and still managed to be a "Good Citizen"?? Funny, I still have a hard time turning things in on time. Old habits die hard.

Third Period: {I am very pleased that Michelle made the Honor Roll
and Good Citizen's List. She needs to remember that she is allowed 2 days for
each day absent to make up her work. I was very proud of the excellent job she
did in the Battle of the Books. 4/8/93}

Hmmm. Either I turned in work before it was due or after following a bout of absences. My guess is after, that's way more my style. You know, I still have the Thesaurus my librarian gifted each of us on the Battle of the Books team when we beat out all the other elementary schools. We were so awesome.

Fourth Period: {I have enjoyed teaching you this year, Michelle,
and reading your creative writing. You should continue with your writing. Good
luck in Middle School. 6/16/93}

Sorry, Mrs. Moran. I haven't done much in the world of writing beyond this blog. Hope it makes you proud. In the mean time, I'll keep working on that novel . . .

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After having a good laugh over my report card and reading a little, I crashed on to my pillow and enjoyed the thought that I had absolutely nothing on my agenda the next day, and no one to be in charge of. I think I was smiling as I fell asleep.

The next morning was glorious. I was not awakened by anyone or anything. Just my internal alarm clock. I got ready and opened my door to smell a delicious French toast breakfast waiting for me by padre. It was so enjoyable to sit and eat breakfast, just Dad and me.

Later, I illegally visited my mother at her school (sorry junior high school to remain unnamed. I didn't check in and I was a visitor). It was fun to see her in her element and practice patience with kids that act my kids' ages. She is my inspiration. Afterwards, I drove down to see my sister Melody and we shopped, saw a movie and had dinner. It was so fun I nearly forgot I was a mother of two. The next morning I didn't let myself out of bed before 9am. It was beautiful. My Dad met me at the kitchen table and had a brilliant idea:

Early birthday present.

For those of you familiar with the Sheppard family, you must know that this is an attempt that has been vetoed by my mother for years. No matter the gift, no matter the reason, under no circumstance are any of us allowed to receive, much less open, a birthday gift before our birthday. Those of you who know my father are also likely aware that he is quite the renegade. He is not a yes-man. He decided I needed an i-Pod shuffle before my race. My birthday is not until July.

I squealed with excitement. What perfect timing! I had been so close to caving and just buying a shuffle but something stopped me...something about trying to be fiscally responsible or to stop buying whatever I wanted when I wanted it. So we were off to Sam's Club, Daddy and I, to get a cute little i-Pod shuffle for my birthday that wasn't for another 3 months. I'm not quite sure when the permission was granted (or the forgiveness asked for) by my mom. I stayed out of that and just happily went along with Daddy's great idea.

I talked myself into going for a short little jog after the shuffle was purchased, just to make sure I knew my legs were working. They were. When I returned, my little sister Rebecca showed up bearing many gifts, including Gossners chocolate milk boxes and birthday presents for Cade and Savvy. So thoughtful!

Melody soon arrived and we all headed to the Expo for the Ogden Marathon to pick up our race packets, and rub shoulders with likeminded crazy folks who traveled distances near and far to convene for a run requiring insane amounts of mileage.

We spotted celebrities, entered drawings, won prizes, and saw a few funny things. Thanks to Rebecca, we had her camera to document the outrageous fun:

Celebrity Sighting:
I don't know these gentlemen, but I was particularly inspired by them and in my book they are celebrities. I initially thought this was Team Hoyt, but after a little further research, it isn't. And I thought the gentleman pushing was the father and the son was in the chair. On race day, I saw them at the starting line and the man pictured here pushing the wheelchair was actually walking alongside a different man who was pushing Bart. (the flags on the wheelchair read, "Go Bart!" and "The Bartmobile!" so I assume that is his name) So, be they father/son, uncle/nephew, friend/friend, it is touching to see how running includes everyone. Bart was getting everyone excited at the Expo and the starting line with his "Yeeeahhh!"s and "Wahooo!!"s. It was great.

Oddities:
We spotted this dog at the Expo and got a good laugh. I've never seen a dog like it before in my life. Pretty ugly. Pretty cute.





My kind of table centerpiece! These running shoe planters were on all the tables at the expo and all along the course on race day with balloons tied to them. This one in particular made me smile. Kyle owns a pair of running shoes just like this one:

Prizes!

We each entered in a drawing sponsored by Kimberly Clark. Rebecca won. Melody won. I did not win, so I got to snap the photo of them with their awesome spoils!

I had to take this shot...it makes me laugh. This is Melody being all serious about her race and talking my Dad through her pace strategies. If you notice on the counter are her computer generated target race times. She cut one out and wore it on her wrist like a bracelet for her race.

It sure is nice to be mediocre. Love you, Mel!

Friday night Mom made us a delicious spaghetti dinner. I got permission from Melody to okay a dessert after the meal, so my mom made our family favorite, apple crisp. It was delish! As we were sitting around the table we laughed and commented that this was the first time we were all together (minus brother Austin) without the kids or spouses. We really enjoyed our time together as a little family unit.

That night Melody and I drove up to our hotel room in Ogden and were unpleasantly surprised that we did not get the room we had originally booked (2 queens). Instead, we found ourselves sharing a king. Fortunately neither of us are movers in bed and what little sleep we were able to get that night from all the jitters and the train horn, was uninterrupted by the other.

Race day forthcoming!