"Just" a housewife

Panic!

Continuing on my frequent visits to the emergency room as a child, about two years ago I found myself in one once more. I'd eaten shrimp bisque soup for lunch and to cut a long story short, I developed hives within 10 minutes and within 20 minutes my breathing became constricted.

When I phoned the doctor she told me to go to the hospital straight away. Anyway, after being told that I could never eat shelfish again due to the newly developed allergy, I was also informed that my new best friend would be my 'EPI' pen. A very large looking needle thing that I have to carry around with me in case I accidently eat shellfish.

Often it's annoying because it's heavy and bulky, but quite rightly David tells me off if I don't carry it with me.

On Wednesday night, Ella, my Text 100 friend from NYC (she's a Brit and lived in Japan - cool chick that she is...) and her boyfriend Will were staying. We went out to a Mexican restaurant and with a few others, we ordered appetizers. Since several people ordered I sat back and waited for the feast to arrive. I tucked in to what I thought were chicken tacos, but in the dark light (and after 2 margaritas) I couldn't tell. Immediately I know it was shrimp. After not tasting this once favorite food in two years I knew. I blurted out, "Is this shrimp?" Panic set in. I quickly spat the food into my napkin just as a small amount of something slid down my throat. I've never felt food go down so much as that small piece did. I prayed it was just taco...

I looked at David realizing the potential danger, wondering if a hospital visit would ruin the night.

He looked at me and I fought back a few tears. You see, my shrimp allergy and my hospital visit is a great story to tell during dinner, but I try to forget the reality. On Wednesday, the immense panic made me aware of the reality.

Thankfully, under the watchful eye of David, I didn't develop hives, so after 15 minutes I knew I was safe. Even so, I was glad I carried my EPI pen that night!

I can live in hope...

My niece will be 4 years old next month. For a variety of reasons she hasn't been to San Francisco yet to visit her Auntie Emma. I've tried to go home at least twice a year, last year I saw her once a week for 3 months while I was in England working, and one year I even went home 5 times; shortly after her birth, Christmas, other holidays and her first birthday.

I miss her birthday most years and I'm sorry for that...I miss her every weekend when she's got stories to tell of her escapades. I worry that even though she knows 'Auntie Emma' she doesn't actually KNOW me. But I chose to live far away from my family.

Despite that I often think of what I would show her if she came to San Francisco. This weekend my friend Amy told me about a wonderful place near Santa Rosa that's like a safari. I'd take her there.

I'd take her to the Exploratorium and let her play and touch all the cool science-ey things there. David and I went there a few years ago when David's friend Simon was visiting and David took twice as long going round the exhibits because he's such a big kid!

And I'd let her eat as much ice cream as she wanted. I'd bake cakes with her...so long as she wears her 'Princess' apron!

I'd take her to the Metreon and let her choose which movie we'd see, before going to the Sony Center and playing some Disney games on the Playstations...and then we'd go to the Disney story on Union Square and I'd spend far too much money and let her choose a princess dress and glass slippers.

Then we'd go across the Bay Bridge and visit the Habitot Children's Museum and check out the Rocket Ship and the waterworks exhibit.

Then we'd go on a Cable Car!

And maybe if she really twisted my arm I'd take her to Disneyland!

In the mean time, I'm off to make her a video Birthday message and burn it to CD. With my new HP photo software I can even print off a CD label with a picture of me and her!

Nike - You've won me over!

I refused a margarita on Friday night and it was hard. After a long week, refusing such a wonderful drink and instead asking for water was challenging to say the least. However, a 16 mile run on Saturday morning beckoned and I just couldn't bring any doubt into my mind.

David and I went to the Baseball and after popcorn and a victory I couldn't wait to get home to sleep. I even told David I was excited for my run.

Saturday morning I woke up 5 minutes before my alarm, obviously eager to get going. I met my Nike group down at Chrissy Fields and prepared to stretch all my muscles before embarking on this mileage personal record (another definition for the acronym - PR!)

This is an organized group that Nike facilitates. They have water stations located every two miles throughout the city, loyalty cards, raffles, shoe trials, free sponsorships (Jamba Juice, Spa, Massages, etc.) and motivational speakers - all at 8 a.m. on a Saturday!

But the one thing that they do have every week which enables me to complete 16 miles is Elizabeth, Sara, Brynne, Erin and Brittany.

You see Nike splits you into pace groups depending on how fast you go (I'm a slow 10:30 to 11 minute mile!) and then splits you even further depending on how far you're going to run. Out of 300-400 people that meet every Saturday, there's 4-6 of us that all run together, same distance and same pace.

Each week we share stories of our anticipation of the run, how we've prepared the night before, how we've trained this week, etc. We all start out together and throughout the miles we support one another. There's always someone slightly ahead or slight behind, but we're there for each other. I could not do it without these ladies by my side. For me, I am creating a great bond with these new found friends. We're all going through it together!

And in a similar vein, I guess that's why Nike goes to so much effort. They know that not only will this encrouage people to sign up for their marathon, but people will create emotional attachments to their brand. Well, it's working with me...I know have all Nike running outfits and I just purchased a Nike Triax Elite running watch. It tells me the pace and distance I'm running and my heart rate! Very nifty device!

And yes I completed the 16 miles yesterday - my very own mileage P.R.

Some days should you even bother?

I have no idea what to blog about today. So many things to say and not really wanting to say anything. Dushka makes me feel bad with her amazingly thoughtful blogs, David makes me laugh and yet almost cry when he goes all political, Heather is inspirational, some blogs are boring and long, and others short and interesting.

I guess my usual topic of conversation - my marathon training - is getting boring too.

But I feel as though I should blog...but I'm giving up...some days you shouldn't even bother.

P.S. Happy Birthday Lucy!

Can I do this?

I completed the half marathon a week ago, I ran 6 miles last Wednesday, 10 on Saturday and 3 this morning. I'm tired. I have to run another 5-6 this Wednesday and another 10 this Saturday.

Oh and swimming and weights in between.

I have to do this for the next 2.5 months and it only gets more intense. My Saturday runs will increase in 2 mile increments each weekend. So it's not just the marathon it's the actual training that's hard.

When I wake up 3-4 times a week at 5:10 a.m. I tell myself I have no option. I don't let doubt creep into my mind. I'm not allowing myself to think that there's an option in this marathon. It's something I have to do...

I also seek inspiration from others. Yes it's hard, but thousands of people do it (I think I heard only 1% of the population has done a marathon) and besides it can't be harder than child birth, right?

Children

My friend Dushka and I had a conversation one day as we strolled on the beach near her house in Monterra, Calif. We discussed the fact that we're both in our 30's and we don't have children. Many of our friends do. We discussed the expectation that we will have kids with our partners in the coming years. But do we really want children?

I've thought about that a lot this weekend. On Friday night we spent a lovely evening with Steph and Anu at Eileen and Dan's house. They both have children who are almost 2 yrs old and lovely. Later that evening, David and I said that we had to leave early to return home as I would be up at 7:15 a.m. the next day for my run. Both couples laughed at us because we said it as though 7:15 was super early and for them, with small children, that time was a lie in!

Today, David and I did what we wanted... We slept in until 10:30 a.m., strolled around Union Sq. and did some shopping, I had a manicure/pedicure and we chilled out around the house. I doubt we would have done that with kids.

I also spent a mindless hour or two this afternoon catching up on TiVo and watched 'The View.' The daytime TV program discussed people choosing not to have kids. One presenter said that often when someone says this, they're asked 'why don't you want kids?' Another presenter offered the view that people shouldn't be asked 'why don't you want kids?' but 'why do you want to have kids?'

I know that one day I want children, althought I cannot for the life of me imagine myself with a child (what would they look like, how would they act, how would I cope) but I don't think I can truly answer those questions above. I also can't imagine it being 24/7. Wouldn't it be great just 3-4 days a week? What about if I want a manicure? What about if I'm tired? What about when I want to go on a run? It's all or nothing...

Maybe that's why I'm not ready yet...do you just wake up one day ready? In the mean time, I'll just keep loving my favorite child in the world...Lauren - latest photo attached!