Cool Map of Catalina Course: Thanks to Fellow Marathoner "Jake"

Manic on Monday

Well, I survived Spring Break number one (my son, Sam's spring break from Montessori school) and I have one week with my three older children in school before Spring break number two (public school vacation for my two daughters)!!!! What's a mother of four to do with that time? Good question. I know the obvious answers... Drive. Cook. Clean. What I really need to do is Read. Run. Write. Reading being priority, because one of my book clubs is meeting tomorrow, April Fool's Day, and I will look like an April Fool if I can not participate in the discussion..... Of course I had ample time over the weekend to read the book, but instead I chose to slip into my OCD behavior and play Sudoku for hours in the evening, while my husband had a meltdown over a cable glitch that made it impossible for him to see the end of the latest episode of John Adams on HBO. Of course, I probably didn't help matters any by reminding him that "it was not the end of the world, and that the epsiode would be available on HBO On Demand by Monday...." But he wanted it then!!!! And I question my kids demanding behavior????

Okay, so today, I will not play Sudoku, I will read a "A Thousand Days in Venice" and will run and attempt to write. Wait, I am writing now, does that count? I better get going, because I have three kids to pick up from three different schools, a communion class, a confirmation class and dinner and homework and whatever else needs to be accomplished this evening and I have less than 30 hours to not look like an April Fool. Oh, shoot, "The Riches" is on tonight too and I still haven't watched the first two episodes of the season which are on my computer waiting to be viewed and our cable problem better be fixed or I will be the one crying about not having an episode NOW! READ. RUN. WRITE. No, I better RUN. READ. WRITE. Oh, I will do the best I can!

My Book Club Dilemma

I am now looking at the stack of unread books on my nightstand asking myself, why did I sign myself up for two book clubs if I can't seem to read the books? Last month I got lucky and one of the book clubs I belong to chose a book I read a few years ago, but aside from that, I have yet to read any of the assigned books, hence the growing stack of books next to my bed and on my dresser. Now I am questioning whether I am against assigned reading, which probably dates back to my school days and wondering, do I quit the book clubs or find a way to overcome my inability to read assigned material? How do I get over my book club dilemma? I mean, I really wanted to read "Eat, Pray, Love" when I saw it at Costco last year, but when it was assigned for both of my book clubs I never got past page 29. I enjoyed the 29 pages I read, but somehow, couldn't finish reading it..... Wait! Maybe this has nothing to do with assigned reading, but another problem. Maybe the issue is time? Maybe I don't have the time to read because I am too busy training for marathons, writing a novel and being a mother, which is the reason I joined the book clubs in the first place: to have a night off once in awhile. Now I just need to find a way to read the books.

On the Path to Victory!

I have considered all of the possibilities... I don't like 5k's. The race is too short and too fast for me. I am in it for the long haul. I have found my race. The marathon. Just as I have concluded with my writing, I am not meant to be a essayist, but a novelist. I have also concluded, I like creative freedom, to write what I want, when I want. Give me a topic and I shut down. I become ambivalent. I want to protest. I love creative control. Heck, I'll get write, I mean right down to it... I am a control freak. But lately it seems that I have settled as a finisher.... not a loser, not a winner, but a finisher. I have finished the tasks I have set out to do, but not won the race or contest. Now its my time. I have decided as of today, I will not be a settler. I will not just settle as a "finisher," but will strive to be the winner that I know I can be. I know what I must do. I need to push myself beyond my own self imposed limitations in order to finish my big race. I now know this, I can make 26.2 miles just as I can write 400 pages....that my fictional life is much more exciting than my Mother Lode on motherhood..... so now I am off on my own course, my path to victory!

It's Time to Rock 'N' Roll- In Preparation for My Next Marathon

It has been ten days since the Catalina marathon. I have had ten days of rest (with the exception of the ten hours I spent last week at Disney's California Adventure.) I am fighting the end of a four week cold, but my body is telling me I need to RUN. I am feeling this nervous energy that can only be attributed to my lack of movement. Now that I have completed 26.2 miles on one of the countries toughest courses, I want more! I want to be in better shape and be ready to "Rock 'N' Roll" down in San Diego on June 1st....... Time to start training. Time to run!

The Catalina Course

The Ides of March Contest: Click on my link to Uberchik to enter the Contest

The March Littlesaint Loot jewelry contest is underway. Click on COMMENTS below and scroll down. If you do not have an account, click anonymous and leave your first name or alias in the white box. A winner will be chosen at random on The Ides of March. You will need to check on March 15th. The Italians start a little earlier than the Irish in March.Et Tu Brutus?

Designed and handmade by Liz Santucci.

Headline: Mama Lode is leaving for marathon, but not before leaving husband with a List!

The Short List (because I believe in you!)

1. 9:00 am 3/14- Drop Wife (Liza) off in the harbor.

2. 10:00-2:05pm- Free time with Jack= buy groceries for the house, which should include- Horizon Organic Milk, Eggs, Paper Towels (Bounty Select-a-Size) and Bottled Water (Don’t buy arrowhead.) Meditate and say silent prayers that the rest of our children will be in a good mood when you pick them up from school- Tessa 2:05, Sam 2:30, Em 3:25. Free time with Jack also means make sure the house is organized for the weekend. My idea of organizing is cleaning, yours may be planning activities to occupy your forty-eight hours with your four children. The good news- they will be sleeping at least 20 hours of that time.

3. Emily needs to be a St. Clements at 6:30 pm 3/14 (Friday) for the Youth Group Outing. Father Dan said someone should be able to bring her home, which means talk to someone about this when you drop her off. I recommend leaving our house by 6:00 p.m. to insure your arrival at the church @6:30 pm.

4. 3/14/08- Anchors Potluck Dinner at Diane’s House. If by this time you need divine intervention with the younger children, going to the St. Clements Potluck at Diane’s may provide you with some sanity and Diane has a way with children. She just needs to give them the “mother look from God.”

5. 4:00 AM 3/15 (Saturday) Get up and say a few prayers for your wife. Okay, I will be up, but you better just sleep. You’ll need all the rest you can get for Saturday.

6. 7-8:00 3/15/08 Our children should be waking up with the exception of our 12 year old, who will sleep as late as you let her. Which may depend upon how much you need her help. Remember I will never know if the beds were made…..

7a. Make sure Tessa is wearing her blue soccer uniform which is hanging up in our room. Tessa knows where it is hanging.

7. 11:10 AM Leave the house for Tessa’s Game at Moulton. Leave Discovery Drive. Make a Right on Selva. Make a right on Blue Lantern. Make a left on Stonehill. Right on Niguel. Left on Camino Del Avion. Crossover Crown Valley Parkway and the road becomes Pacific Island. Take Pacific Island until you get to Highlands. Make a left on Highlands and about half a mile up on the right, you will see the school zone, which is Moulton.

8. Pray you hear from the Wilson family, as they may have you over for a BBQ Saturday afternoon.

9. As for the rest, make it happen! I love you! Good Luck…..
I am staying at the Hotel Cat….. Wait, I am not giving you that information…… You have my cell phone number. Verizon works everywhere. I am sure the “Can you hear me now guy” checked it out! I love you. I know, I already said that.

P.S. I will find my way home, like all good mothers and wives!!!