Thursday, June 29, 2017

June Runfessions

Welcome to Runfessions! It's that monthly clearing of the conscience, hosted by Marcia. This month, Marcia's out of town--in Dubai, no less--and she's left me in charge of the Runfessional! It's a big responsibility but I'm up for the task. Come on in, pull up a seat--there's one right inside here-- and share your runfessions. I'm a good listener, I can keep secrets (I like to call myself "the vault"), and I promise you'll feel much better when you're done.

Come on into the jumbo Runfessional!
Maybe we could even have a group session. 

It wouldn't be runfessions, at least here on Taking the Long Way Home, without a portapotty story. Every month, I have to share some kind of adventure related to these magical little plastic huts. If potty stories are not your thing, you can just move onto my next runfession. Although I have to admit, this one is pretty tame.

Last weekend, when we were in Wisconsin, we had lunch with my parents and their friends. We were attending the festival in the small town where they spend their summers. My mom's friend was complaining about the conditions of the portapotty she visited earlier in the day. My mom jokingly/not jokingly asked if we could change the subject. I runfess that I not so jokingly asked why. I wanted details. I mean, really how bad could it be? It couldn't be worse than anything I've seen at a race, right? Instead of a portapotty story, I got "the look" from my mom. Yep, 54 years old and I still get (as my sisters and I refer to it) "the Joyce look".

"The look"
Let's talk fate. On Tuesday of this week, I wrote a very introspective post about destiny. I'm still not sure how I feel about fate, but I runfess that I find it all so very interesting and coincidental that no less than a week after I boasted about how I "never get strep throat", yep, I got strep throat. I haven't had strep throat since I was about 8 years old. Just put it out there in the universe and watch it happen. Or work in pediatrics.


But along those lines, I runfess that the illness couldn't have come at a better time. While I was quarantined at home for 24 hours, I secretly welcomed the unscheduled break so I could tackle my ever growing to-do list. My car was way overdue for an oil change. I had a stack of bills to pay and college visits to schedule. I didn't feel very ill and was even able to sneak in a run. That run wasn't probably the smartest thing I've ever done, but it was a gorgeous morning and what can I say?


Our recent trip to Wisconsin was fun. My husband, who was staying home to work, thought it would be a great idea for me to bring Cocoa along. He claimed it would be good for her to get used to the water. Personally, I believe that he wanted her out of the house. I runfess that she drove me crazy. First of all, she was scared of the water. Every time a wave splashed on the shore, her tail would go down and she'd head up the hill back to the house. Seriously, what kind of spaniel is she? She's no water dog, that's for sure. I'll tell you what she is. She's annoying. She barks at nothing. She's started this new "game" where she pushes her ball into a spot where she can't get to it and then cries until one of us "helps" her. It's a good thing she's so cute.

Who me, annoying?
Today on my run at the retention pond, I was crossing the parking lot--using the crosswalk--and an elderly man in a large sedan didn't stop to let me cross. He didn't look my way--he just kept going. He knew I was there. Asshole. You know the type--an older white guy who thinks he owns the road. Often with the little woman in the passenger seat. I runfess that I slapped the back fender of his car as he brushed past me. I didn't stop and I didn't look at him either. Just kept on running.

I'm turning into a crabby old lady
What would you runfess to me? Do you run when you are sick? Do you stereotype certain drivers? Ever punched a car? Does your dog embarrass you? Do you embarrass your mom?

The linkup for Runfessions as at the bottom of this post! Thanks for linking this month. Marcia will be back at the helm in July. I'm also linking up with Fairytales and Fitness and Running on Happy for the Friday 5. Have a fabulous weekend!



An InLinkz Link-up

59 comments :

  1. OMG at your portapotty story! I think my mom would have given me "the look" as well, lol. Awwe poor Cocoa! But you're right, she's cute so she can get away with anything, lol.

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  2. I have a look too. I use in my classroom ALL OF THE TIME. And your dog is cute!

    So annoying that drivers are not more careful and pay attention. I've been on runs and almost been hit. Nowadays at a stop sign I run behind the car because the driver is not paying attention and I do not want to be hit.

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    1. Oh, I think he was paying attention. He just didn't want to stop.

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  3. Apparently June is crabby old lady month. Who knew? I have slapped cars that almost hit me. They deserve so much more. Cocoa can totally get away with all that annoying crap. Cute goes a long way!

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  4. Oh, sweet Cocoa? Annoying? Max is the dude whining at me & scratching my leg when there are three other able-bodied people nearby. Why am I the only one he wants to play with???

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    1. Isn't that interesting? Maybe you're the only one who takes the bait?

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  5. My kids often feel fine when they get strep - so they are bouncing off the walls and bored, but can't go to school. Sounds like you were much the same way. (Which I'm jealous of, because the last time I had strep I could barely swallow for two days...)

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    1. The funny thing is, once I got the diagnosis, I felt 100% worse! LOL!

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  6. Not sure if my comment went through? Well I was saying that last month I saw a car drive on the Cleveland marathon course, and cut off one of the runners, who then turned and gave him the finger. Who could blame him?

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    1. Finger? I think the runners should have ganged up and overturned his car. But that's just me.

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  7. Oh God, those aholes pedestrian crossings in parking lots, carefully not making eye contact, definitely get my goat.

    I don't get eye rolls from my mom, but she definitely treats me differently from my siblings (I'm the baby of the family).

    Bandit is sweet. He's very cute. And he infinitely complicates my life.

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    1. My mom doesn't eye roll. She just gives "the look". You know.

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  8. I love that you got the look from your mom. That's amazing. I also would have slapped the car. What a jerk.

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    1. I'm feeling all so vindicated right now. I didn't know there were so many runners who felt as I do.

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  9. HELL YEAH i would have slapped that car! And no, I don't think I can embarrass my mom. My husband, yes.

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  10. Strep throat is going around - bummer! I really hate when drivers don't see you in the crosswalks! I've had way too many close encounters!

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    1. Oh, he saw me. He just acted like he didn't. Those are the worse ones.

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  11. hhhhaaaaa!!!! Poor Cocoa. Makena is downright nuts... so I totally get it.:-)
    Sorry you got strep but glad you made the most of it.
    Hope you guys have a wonderful 4th of July.

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  12. I hope you smacked that car HARD. Does my dog embarrass me? Bahahaha. We had some people over for a backyard cookout. We are chillin' and grillin' and Mojo spots a squirrel. He forgets the pool is there and Super Dog sailed over it -- only to fall in midway. We had to go in after him.

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    1. Haha! Love it! So you didn't wait to see if he could make it to the side?

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  13. Cocoa IS cute. She just needs to be introduced to the water in a fun way and she will become a spaniel! haha

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    1. I think she's already learned how easy life can be for her. Sigh...

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  14. Aw that's too bad that Cocoa wasn't fun to bring along on your trip! Pets can be so annoying sometimes but then they do something cute and you forgive them right away!

    I hope you're feeling better from the strep!

    Oh those potty stories...so funny that your mom gave you a look. My mom does the same thing!

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    1. Do you think we'll give the look to our kids? Actually, my boys give me the look. That's probably not a good thing.

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  15. ja jaa!! the car gif ! I love that !

    the look! too funny! my mom doesn't give me the look anymore, but my sister does and I give the look to my son.



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  16. Wow,you were really productive on your sick day! I'm glad the strep didn't hit you too hard but that is weird about the timing right after your post. My cats do that thing with the toys and crying when they push them somewhere they can't be reached. They're lucky they're cute too :)

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  17. Instead of smacking the car, I totally do the arms up in the air, WTF face at them. Jerks.

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    1. Arms in the air is my normal reaction. I guess I was feeling extra feisty that morning!

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  18. We hold a golden retriever when I was kid, and she hated water. My parents had the dogs before I was born, and the beagle (alpha) taught the golden to hate water.

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    1. Oh, who knew? Glad to hear my cocker isn't the only water loather...

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  19. I have been tempted to smack a car more than once, but I'm afraid they'll put it in reverse! I'm pretty sure my passive-aggressive side comes out when a car is part way in the cross walk because my pace often slows so they have to wait.

    Strange runfession for this week - I have done three 6 mile runs with paces of 10:32, 10:35 and 10:33. I couldn't do that if I tried. Today's run came with a downpour for 2.5 miles.

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    1. Consistency is a good thing! Glad to hear you are running well.

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  20. Baylee is never annoying. However she can be embarrassing at times. When she is put in a new situation away from home (and around new people), she will often do the walking squat like she is trying to make herself poo (tmi?). She doesn't always do the deed but when she does its never in one place, she leaves a trail. Now that's embarrassing!

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    1. I told my husband that story and we laughed. Because we have a dog that embarrasses and annoys us...

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  21. I smacked a car just the other day - guy decided he could go right on red despite the walk light and me stepping into the crosswalk! Too funny about your mom giving you the look - my mom still gives my brother and I the look sometimes too :)

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    1. Right turn on red is a joke around here! It pretty much means get out of my way, I'm turning!

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  22. I don't know if I embarrass my mom but I'm pretty sure I embarrass my kind face all the time! I admit sometimes on purpose I wa traveling today so my runfessions post will be coming in tomorrow w the coffee date. Have a good one!

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    1. I don't have a coffee post for tomorrow...and that's my last runfession!

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  23. The cuteness factor always trumps any annoying factor. :)

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  24. I'm with you, whenever I find some extra time I always work on my way too long to do list. I know that I should be resting when I'm sick, but who has time for that?!?

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    1. It's pretty rare for me to lay around all day--that is when you know I am really sick!

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  25. Ha! I've smacked a car or two in my life. Can't stand those ig'nant drivers. Cocoa is so darn cute, you've got to forgive her for some of her quirky personality traits!

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    1. I try to be forgiving but sometimes she gets on my last nerve! LOL

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  26. I've never had strep throat... and I rarely get sick... I wouldn't mind a sick day once in a while to catch up on life, but I should be careful what I wish for

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    1. I was pretty surprised myself! I was so proud of my immune system. As long as I don't get HFMD...

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  27. I'm glad the strep didn't get you too sick! I'd say that working in pediatrics and not getting strep until now is a little miracle from the universe in itself!

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    1. We do take a lot of precautions to avoid contracting illness but it still does happen! This was a surprise to me.

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  28. Ha! I have slapped many a car when they pull that crap, so annoying!!

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  29. Oh man, sorry to hear that you got strep throat. At least you are keeping a sense of humor about it.

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  30. I think it is funny that you can still embarrass your mom! I mean, what was so wrong with the potty, we ALL need to know! I shared my secret Ms. Vault! Hope the throat is better and you have some cold drinks on the 4th!

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  31. I, too, get so annoyed by drivers who pretend they don't see you.... one of the main reasons I'm afraid to ride my bike on the streets with cars!!

    I definitely get "the look" from my Mom all the time ...but it wouldn't be about porta potty's ....she tells way too many details regarding her 'bathroom issues' even for me!!! :)

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  32. I am convinced I can tell if people are runners, walkers, or bikers based on whether or not they slow down and look at the places where my trail crosses the road or if they just bust right on through.

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