Sometimes Life isn't Fair...

Sometimes on this blog I mention some things that are personal in nature and this is one of those posts. If you don't want to read about losing a companion then don't read any further.

Yesterday was a sad day for me and  my little family. I had to make a very tough to decision to say goodbye to my beloved "Old Lady.". It all started when I took her to the doctor by in July. She was how do say it "Oh Large and in Charge" type of cat (she was 18lbs of love). She was old, lazy and chunky just the way I like my animals. I don't want a young, hyper cat that has to be played with-I want a lazy cat to watch movies and take naps with. She was a pro at both.  She loved being the only feline in the house and I loved that I didn't have to share any of my attention with another animal-selfish yes but I knew my limits. And she loved to eat-never missing or skipping a meal unless I was gone for extended period of time.

Back to my story, I took her to the vet in July because she has stopped eating her normal amount of food. I knew something was wrong but didn't know what. I should preface this by saying we had one roommate move out and a new roommate move in. The doctor did an exam, blood work and gave her an appetite stimulant and said that she was okay. The blood work was normal, exam was fine and appetite stimulant worked. All is well right. Well then I moved to Maryland and she would eat when I would hand feed her or just sit beside her. She was definitely a social eater and liked to be around people when she ate. After the vet gave her the "A-Okay" I took her home. She seemed to be doing better and then over the course of a week or so she started going down hill. 

When I took her to the vet yesterday, she said that "Old Lady" had congested heart failure and at the ripe ole age of 16 there were no guarantees or even a high percentage of recovery. It was evident that Old Lady was suffering and her quality of life was no where near where it use to be. It was truly the hardest decision I have ever had to make; and that is telling your best friend and companion that I will put aside my selfishness and let the suffering end. Gosh it sucked-there is no other way to say it but Dad was right I was glad I was there with her to wish her well to the next side.

I called told my Dad, the Mister's voicemail box and my boss (I couldn't go to work after a morning like that). I then had the incredible task of burying the Old Lady myself. I first had to go to Lowe's and buy a shovel (sad isn't it-I never needed one until then), pick a spot and start digging because it was going to pour according to the weather that day. I searched and found the perfect spot for her. How do you know where to go for something like this? No one prepares for this kind of thing. An aside-My Dad called me later that night and offered to have Old Lady FedEx'ed overnight to bury her at the family place. That was very kind and sweet of him to do but I had already done the goodbying earlier (Weird I know but caring). I read online that burying your companion offers somewhat of a sense of closure for some folks.

The Mister was at work and didn't find out until he got off work (I know I now have a way of reaching him at work-silly but only an emergency will tell you what you really need). He felt bad and spent the entire evening with me. I took him to the spot where I laid down one last time so he could "check" on her when I wasn't there. It hit me last night as the temperature dropped 20 degrees in one day that my Lovie as I sometimes called her, had never been outside before and that she might get cold-ridicious but she is still my Lovie and I still think of her in the present tense.

As I woke up this morning, I realized that Lovie wasn't there to give me my  "Good Morning" meow or look over my head or share my pillow with. She won't be there for her Christmas tuna or the next time I watch movie. She won't meow at me when I get home or leave me gifts in the litter box. I was incredibly lucky to have her for 6 years. She was my companion, best friend, late night chick-flick movie watcher and most importantly my family when I moved to the DC area. It is true that a part of my heart fell apart yesterday and is still broken today. I know that in time it will heal but right now it sucks-there is no two ways around it. I will miss her beautiful blue eyes and her way of bossing me around. Mostly I will miss her comforting me.

Ran 12 miles on Saturday

I am going to be honest with you if you were to call me past 9pm now I would think you are nuts. I have been getting up early now since May to run at o'dock thirty on Saturday mornings to avoid the heat and humidity. Needless to say, when my family calls I politely hang up and say call at a descent hour-I realize I am getting old now. I know right-an old fogee. Sign me up for AARP, botox and senior citizen discounts please.

This past Saturday I got and ran 12 miles with the Team. I am not going to lie to you it was not easy but it was nice having some company (Sara and Megan) to make the miles go by quicker. Megan actually left us at the 8 mile point from not feeling so well. I went on and ran with Sara who was doing an 18 miler OMG. She was such a trooper. My hips actually didn't bother me but my feet were sore (I think because they were swollen). I did have some IT band issues but I am hoping that Dr. Frey, new and improved chiropractor can work on.

After all the rain that we have received it is so nice to go out for a run these days. I am also in the mood to find a new pair of kicks to try out. The Mister is suggesting that I try the Vibrams with hopes they will correct my hip issues. I am going to search for a pair of these on craiglist with hopes that I can give them a try without paying bookoo bucks for them. I will keep you posted.

Sad News on Team in Training News Front

So yesterday LLS had the Nation's Triathlon which turned into a biathlon because the Potomac was too high to swim in. One of our own teammates, John Park, passed away during the bike portion of the race. John was a TNT coach and a current participant in the Sea Gull Century Ride. The Washington Post has a short blurb on it here. I didn't know John personally but to lose a TEAMmate means we lost a great soul who supported a mission greater than himself. My condolences go out to his family.

To John and his family, GO TEAM!

VA Beach Part UNO-

This past weekend, I went down to visit VA Beach partly because I knew a bunch of people running the VA Beach Half Marathon but also to celebrate my ohh-so-awesome-BIRTHDAY at the JEWISH MOTHER. If you are ever in the area I would highly suggest you go because it is going to rock your world like no other. I had the best ever TOWERING CARROT CAKE even the Mister said it was delicious and moist. I wish I could mail you some.


I went down to cheer on some of my participants Sean, Annette and the Mister and others. Check out the pictures below.

Participants Annette and Sean at the Pasta  Party

Preacher Joy

 Preacher Joy had the best ever mission story I have ever heard. She was truly inspirational. Her grandmother died of cancer 40 years ago and ever since then her mother has been donating to LLS on Mother's Day in honor of her grandmother. Two years ago, Joy was diagnosed with leukemia and the drug that put her in remission was discovered by LLS, whom her mother had been supporting all those years. Isn't it amazing how truly connected we are to each other? It might was taken 40 years to bring the circle back around to Joy but it happened. Joy raised $4,000 by herself and plans on doing the Nike Women's race next year.

Running like the Rockstars they are

Almost to the finish line

More about last weekend to come...think Justin Bieber, 3 hotdogs and sidewalk chalk...

Because this makes me smile. What about you?

Updating on Life's Happenings

I know I am a slacker but here's to hoping to catch you up:

Big News: I moved to Maryland-no I am not crazy but wanted something new and different. Here's to changes.

Visited home back in July and saw the crazy cutie pootie neice Jayden Lynn. She is getting so big and so talkative. I do love her little lady bug helmet-Aunt B's are the awesomiest!

While at home, I got to visit with my family and of course my dear ole buddy Amber. We volunteered for the Peachtree Road Race (60,000 runners run this thing every Fourth of July) and we passed out t-shirts. It was glorious fun. I think we are type to become old lady friends even if we only see each other once or twice a year. We still enjoy each other's company. PS we are trying to plan another road trip in the near future-here's to more camping.

I went to a wedding the Mister in July for a friend of his and had a lot of fun. We even had some Rita's Ice afterward which was awesome and visited downtown Baltimore the next day.

Had a Doughnut Sale at a Metro with these fine people. I call them Team Graves. They are training to do the Marine Corp Full Marathon in October. These people are machines and I am so proud of them.


I survived an EARTHQUAKE and HURRICANE in one week. I know amazing right but no joke. The earthquake scared me more than the Hurricane because I didn't know it was coming. Needless to say, men don't get in the way of a lady wearing 3 inch heels in a dress screaming "Get out of the way!" Don't ask questions just turn around and RUN.

I went to my first fair up in Maryland. I saw the ultimate Hogway Speedway action. I saw some pot belly piggies race, duckies race and billy goats race. The grand prize was cheese puffs. You would have thought you put down a filet mignon. They were after those cheese puffs like white on rice-I mean it.

Ohh I also went to my first SHABBOT service-no Nana I am not converting rather learning more about Judaism. It was quite different but also similar to my church service. The people were really friendly. We will have to see about going back. Ohh and I am celebrating Rosh Hashanah on September 28th so give me some Happy New Years around that date will ya?

I think right now I am caught up...more on my recent adventure to VA Beach later.