Color Me Rad!

Here are some images I captured at the Color Me Rad race over the weekend. I was covering the event and decided to run the course with some friends. The pictures are after I give a short little rant/synopsis of the race - you can skip over my huffy-puffy opinion if you wish to do so. 

I've run several races in my very short running career - because I've become this elite runner suddenly, Olympic gold, I have my eye on you! I have to say, the lack of organization and timing in this race, that I had at first found alluring ended up making me a little bit crabby. Just a little. Maybe it was the tequila from the previous evening's Cinco de Mayo celebration talking? 

The course was very narrow, no where wide enough to accommodate 6,000+ runners/walkers and throughout the course I felt I wasn't color bombed thoroughly. The first station I walked out of it unscathed but my friends helped me out and grabbed their packets of colored corn starch and doused me with the stuff. 

In case you have no idea what Color Me Rad is all about, I will sum it up for you in a few sentences. It was a 5-K race brought to Virginia Beach by a Utah based company that is holding similar events across the nation. This is the first year they hold this race, that is untimed - so basically you can take as long as you want - and throughout the course, racers get pelted with non-toxic colored corn starch.

In theory, it sounds fun but maybe I'm just a stick in the mud but I anticipated way more color bombing. And running. I wanted to run the course and get hit with color. I suppose I had an entirely different vision of this race but regardless it was fun. The after-race party made up for the lack of color throughout the race and lack of running room. 

The parking lot of the Virginia Beach Sportsplex - where the event was held - was bumping with music, dancing, color bombing and a lot of hugging.

It was a feel good, lovely event and I would have rather attended the after-party instead of getting soaked in the rain more than colorfied. 

The start line (obviously) where hundreds of racers in their Sunday's best were ready to set off on a glorious adventure!

First color station. I had time to snap pics because we came to a dead stop. 

I think this was the second color station, more people seem coated in the good ol' colored corn starch. 

Yay! Made it to the Finish line! Yay! I was blasted with tons of blue corn starch and could barely see a thing as I tried to get out of the cloud of blue. 

I felt bad for the person in the Tropical Smoothie suit and in the fog of dust. He or she must have been suffocating in there. 

Let the dusting commence! Periodically the participants and their friends and family

(noted those two broads on the left did not run the race but look at the fun times they are having) were further bombed with color. 

We were like the Mud People of Woodstock but with more color. 

And finally, the walk of shame back to the car. 

A God Matter

I’m not sure when I stopped going to church as religiously as I did growing up. Perhaps somewhere around the time I gained some independence at 18 and decided I would see what the “secular” world was like. I won’t lie, it was way more fun than church lock-ins.

When I was in college studying English literature I would read the Bible like I would read works of Chaucer and Whitman. No longer taking it to heart as a message from God but reading it as poetry; dissecting the verses and muttering under my breath for God to forgive me for I no longer believed His word was from Him. I began to read it as beautifully strung together words written by philosophers inspiring us to believe in something better and to be better people; well, at least the Gospels of the New Testament. I have yet to figure out what all the gory, incestual stuff going on in the Old Testament was about. There are exceptions of some books though, such as Ecclesiastes, Psalms, Proverbs, Ezekiel and a handful of others. 

By the time Remus and I were married I had serious questions about religion and the Bible and both Remus and I decided church was not for us. But yet I still remained faithful to God, praying for peace when my anxiety was at its worst during several deployments where I thought I would near lose my mind. I don’t think I did. Someone was always there for me whether it was my neighbor, my co-workers or my parents and brother a phone call away. Sometimes I couldn’t help but think it was God sending me comfort… Or was it just life moving along?

It all ended the day we married, that was quite possibly the last time I went to church, nearly seven years ago.  As recently as a few months ago we visited a church again with some friends. I sat there uncomfortably as the pastor preached of doomsday and hell fire. I couldn’t grasp this way of thinking anymore.

Sophia had gone to children’s church and told us she had not enjoyed it, we weren’t sure if we would go back and we never did. I’m not sure if it was something about being lazy on Sunday or the fact that I felt I was inconveniencing our family time but we never went and never discussed it.

This morning Sophia ran up to me and said God talked to her, out of nowhere she began telling me that God made me and her friends and everything in the world. I asked her where she heard this and she said God told her and he also told her he would fix the tv (I’m not sure which television because they both work fine) and that he also told her he is in the sky and invisible. 

I kept prodding her to tell me more but then the conversation just got silly. Still, I had no idea where this came from. I told Remus about it and his explanation of it was that as kids we try to make sense of things and God is the one way to narrow everything down.

That answer wasn’t enough and I can only attribute it to us watching a movie about Greek mythology last night and somehow “gods” and “God” were imbedded into her brain just before bed time along with the copious amounts of sugar she stealthily consumed.

My parents often tell me to go to church that it will be good for Sophia but looking back I’m not sure how it helped me aside from becoming hugely skeptical and always wanting to go against the grain and drink before I was of legal age. This rebellious youth could not be tamed not even by God or church.

We want Sophia to make her own choice about her beliefs just as I have eventually done, still choosing to believe in a God yet not practicing traditional Christianity.

I’m certain there will be naysayers, but these are just thoughts and in no way am I trying to shove religion in any reader’s face. Please keep the comments respectful. 

Mega Millions Mind

 “Don’t forget to buy a lotto ticket!”

“What for?”

“It’s up to $500 million!”

That was yesterday. Yesterday a friend told me to go forth and gamble. I shrugged it off since I never play and wouldn’t even know the first thing about filling out a lotto ticket or do I even fill anything out? Is it automated now? Do I punch in numbers on a touch screen kiosk and then feed my money into a little slot?

I had no idea. I didn’t care.

“You buy your lotto yet?”

A parent from Sophia’s school asked me today as we waited for our little kids to come running to us in the lobby.

“I have not… To be honest, I’ve never played.”

“I haven’t played since I was in my twenties! It’s up to $640 million now, just heard it on the radio.”

“Oh?”

My interest was piqued. Then on the way home there was an announcement on the radio: “You’re more likely to get struck by lightning multiple times than you are likely to win this lotto.”

And my heart sank again. Back again it went to the dark, doubtful, hopeless hole.

I stopped my mind from daydreaming and quickly returned to reality where I was no longer being driven around by a handsome chauffeur named Oscar (he has a thick Italian accent, I barely understand him but he always refers to me as Bella). Instead I was zipping around traffic on Indian River Road in my Kia Forte, no power locks and no power windows. Hustla!

*Sigh* I started pulling weeds when I got home, mowed half of the lawn and let Remus take over and again the thought of having enough money to hire someone else to do the lawn crept into my mind.

Fancy thoughts were forced out of my brain all afternoon. Then I spoke to my parents and they told me they purchased their lotto tickets and if they won they would give us money – so we better buy ours too so we can give them money if we win.

I laughed. Nay! I shall not give into this… but still, the thought seemed lucrative.

Remus quickly went over the statistics, “We have a better chance of being attacked by a polar bear AND a grizzly bear in the same day.”

Always the pessimist and I definitely disagree. I would have to be in the bear section of the zoo to have that occur to me.

Somehow over the course of 30-minutes, perhaps the idea was implanted the moment I suggested we buy a lotto ticket, and then that led to him having Mega Million Mind: eating caviar out of the flipper of a baby sea lion whilst his woman servant, Bridgette, rubbed liquid gold in between his thighs.

“Let’s buy some!” He said immediately after the above made up fantasy.

We strategically chose our numbers. I closed my eyes and let the numbers come to me as I scribbled them down onto a sheet of paper. I believe some master lotto god gave them to me. I’m almost sure. Her name is Maria Loteria.

Finally at 7-Eleven we waited in line for our chance to win along with about 15 other hopeful souls who obviously did not have Mother Maria Loteria on their side.

On our way home Remus kept Mega Million Minding it up, “I would pay off the house, rent it out and have it as profit then build our dream home and hire the best Realtor to take us all over the country to tour million dollar homes…”

“I would burn the house down. Burn it down to the ground and just watch it go up in flames. All of it. Just burn away.”

This final thought that fell out of my mouth made us both laugh because I would totally burn our house down if I didn’t want it anymore, because I would be rich. I could do that. Of course I would do it in a safe manner, probably hire professionals to come help me burn my house down. Get a permit and all that jazz, or I could just pay the City off "under the table."

I could totally always use that term too, "under the table," because somehow winning millions of dollars would transform me into a thug, better yet, a mobster. 

So what is your Mega Million Mind plan?

 

Scouting for Cookies

My love affair with Girl Scout cookies started a little late. I was in college, reckless, a real wildcard and up for anything. One day my best friend at the moment (my friends tend to be seasonal – it’s not them, it’s me) had a passion for Thin Mints. She described them to me between bites, accentuating each bite with a moan, almost as if making love to this cookie. Could it really be so good?

“Oh gawd! YES! Like an Andes chocolate, you know the ones from Olive Garden?”

Because I did a lot of fine dining, I knew exactly what she meant. The perfect combination of chocolate and mint filling your mouth, perfection in a tiny bite just enough to put you over the edge. In that moment of weakness instead of pushing the box of cookies away, as my friend coaxed me to take a bite, “Just one bite, it’s not gonna kill you – you may even enjoy it,” She said, her eyes watering with satisfying euphoria that only came from these addictive cookies.

“Okay, fine. I will take one. But… just one,” I took a bite of one cookie and instantly a warm feeling flooded my body. I felt weak at the knees and I must have blacked out because I woke up with crumbs all over me and three empty cartons of Thin Mints. What had I done?

Since then I have been a closet Girl Scout buyer. I never make New Year’s resolutions because of these cookies. What’s the point? Come February I know I will break my resolution of eating only 1200 calories a day and succumb to the delicious caloric goodness that is known as a Thin Mint. But why stop there? Tagalongs, Samoas… The possibilities, limited, but seemingly endless, if I buy enough to last me through next year.

And today, though I had not anticipated it, I was attacked by young girls in front of Walgreens. “Hey, lady! You wanna bite of some goods? Whaddaya say? Five boxes of Thin Mints and we’ll call it an impressive donation to our organization?” She said, flashy braces blinding me. I had to resist.

“No, thanks. I have no cash, young lady,” I said, honestly. I never carry cash, these kids had no idea what the invention of a debit card had done to me, it’s made me completely reliant on plastic.

“Well, there’s an ATM in there. C’mon, miss, whaddaya say?” She smacked her gum, smiling afterwards. Cute kids, these Girl Scouts.

I was a bit taken back by her suggestion of me taking out $20, since that is the minimum amount, in order to buy a damn box. I knew I wanted to, but her suggestion offended me. I scoffed and walked into Walgreens to print out pictures of parasitic worms. Don’t ask.

“I love your purse, lady! You got style!” The Girl Scout yelled out after me, as if she knew I had money in my lovely purse. She was on to me. I had to act fast, in and out and make no eye-contact. None, or else the plan would foil.

Somehow over the course of the day, I ended up with one box of Tagalongs. I think I blacked out again. Oh wait. They got me outside of the grocery store tonight, even after I claimed to have a closet full of their cookies.

I walked to my car, an employee out corralling carts, smiled at me, “They got you, didn’t they?”

“They did indeed.” I said, clutching my box close to me.

“Hard to resist, those cookies are,” He understood and was not judging my flaw.

In my car, I ripped the package open and took a bite, the first bite in a year. My eyes watered, I sat back in my seat and laughed, “Holy cow! These are sooo good…”

I sat up and looked around making sure no one had seen me. Someone had, of course. Because it’s me, these things happen.

A guy got out of his sleek black Camaro and stared me straight on with a puzzled look on his face as if asking, “What is the crazy woman doing?” I simply stared back and took another bite, waving my box of cookies at him. He smiled. He understood.

Virginia is for Lovers and DMX

Hi again. It's been more than a month. Life is a whirlwind of fun and has led me to become immensely busy. But as always, and to break out of my little capsule of stress, I have continued running. I’m sorta’ unstoppable, except for when I’m tired, then I stop.

This weekend was no exception. Girl, was tired! The night before the race on Saturday, I had been tossing and turning, feeling anxious and my mind continuously throwing biology terms around in my brain - because I’ve gone back to school as part of a sick social experiment, can a 30-year-old hang with the college kids? So far I’ve made one friend and I think she’s in her twenties!

Anyway!  All I wanted to do was sleep but noooo, my brain wanted to keep working. It sometimes likes to do overtime. I need to have a talk with her because she’s overworking herself.

I ended up going to bed at 1 a.m. or so and was awakened by Sophia lunging her knee into the middle of my back. It was 6 a.m. Ugh, 5 hours of sleep. I had 45 minutes to get ready for the Virginia is for Lovers 14k then roll into the parking lot and hopefully nap in my car for 30 minutes. What? You never heard of a pre-race nap?

I figured driving the back way would get me to the event way before everyone else, apparently hundreds of others had the same idea and I waited in a long line of cars and there went my pre-race nap.

I made my way into the Field House and located my group of running mothers, Mom’s Gotta  Run, all appropriately donning their hot pink tutus, matching shirts and happily jumping around like little jumping jelly beans. So full of life and vigor. I made myself comfortable on the floor, plopping down with a thud, passing on some heart shaped stickers a friend offered me. The world was not right. Selene was grumpy and sleepy.

The race began promptly at 9 a.m. My body felt like a giant wall refusing to budge. By the time I reached the one-mile marker I groaned, “One mile! You gotta be kidding me. That was at least three miles!” But I kept going.

For some reason - quite possibly sleep deprivation- the night before I had decided that I would fill my iPod with nothing but rap music.

And so for the duration of the race, I had DMX screaming in my ears, “Ya’ll gonna make me lose mah mind – up in heyah! Up in heyah!” with Eminem intermittently whispering his constant angry rants about how his palms are sweaty and his moms spaghetti is vomit on his sweatshirt. Gross, dude.

At one point during the race (mile 5, I remember because seeing the marker made me happy) I decided to sing out loud to some Jay Z and proudly belted out, “99 problems but a bitch ain’t one!” The race had theoretically become my bitch and Jay Z fueled the sentiment.

I continued much of the race this way, performing my rap renditions until the finish line. Yes, I finished. Victory!

This was quite possibly the worst run I had had in a long time. Everyone says that we all have to have a bad run every now and then but I don’t like for mine to be on race day. That’s just unfair! But I finished, and that is what also makes it great.

 

Welcome to 2012 and Other Ramblings

2012. I thought I would for sure be in heaven by now since the world was supposed to end just before the year 2000. And yes, I would go to heaven! But here we are, dancing our way into a new year.

How were your holidays? Great? Oh, glad to hear it! Mine were just as fantastic. Remus, Sophia and myself spent two weeks in Texas and it was just as unseasonably warm there as it was here, but all in all it was great seeing my family again.

Arriving at my parent's house was surreal, I felt as if I was "home" but not, if that makes sense. I squeezed and hugged my parents and brother and then through a sleepy fog, I ate good ol' Mexican food. The food was great.

Sometimes I'm not sure if I go to visit family or to stuff myself with tons of authentic Mexican food and Texas barebecue. I say both the family and food hold a special place in my heart and belly.

I ate so much while I was there that I'm sure all my hardwork was thrown out for the savory flavors that awakened my mouth, the spices, the tamales and fajitas.

On our drive back (yes, we drove for two days from Virginia to Texas and then back again because we LOVE road trips... and we couldn't afford to spend $1500 in plane tickets) we devoured far too much junk.I mean, so much that I felt sluggish and bloated the duration of the trip and even though on our way down we had managed to eat fine, salads from Chik-Fil-A, fruit from convenient stores and smaller portions of fast food, on the way back to Virginia those rules were thrown out the window - along with roguely throwing gum out the window when we couldn't find a piece of paper to wad it up in - as we were in a hurry to get back and the thought of stopping just meant we were that much further from our home.

So we went through a Burger King drive-thru about three times and a Wendy's drive-thru once. I think at one point I was sweating grease but I can't be too sure.

Yesterday, two days after our arrival to Virginia from our trip, I had had enough of the remaining sloth feeling that had come over me partly due to lack of exercise and gorging on the wrong foods so I made a healthy trip to Trader Joe's and instantly, my pores cleared up and my entire body felt healthier. Of course I did buy healthy snacks and food to start off the year on the right foot, regardless of having rang it in with a box of fries and ketchup - the shift was being made and that is what counted.

Also, aside from starting over on my health kick as I was deterred by tacos for two weeks, I have decided to return to school. I'm going to be a college student again! Quick, hide your kegs! Yes, I'm going back for a second bachelor's - as if one was not enough, and truthfully it's not.

After I was laid off in November, I realized that my Liberal Arts degree was not enough. Here I thought after years of struggling to find a job, then finally got one in a field I so desperately desired to get into, that I was set and secured for the long haul. Obviously I was not and over the last two months of unemployment I gave a lot of thought as to what my next move would be: continue on and try for my M.F.A..? A paper that would essentially say that I can write creatively and setting me back thousands of which I would not be able to pay back due to lack of employment. Or would I go back to finish what I had started years ago when I first began my college years career?

I chose the latter and am continuing to finish my Bachelor's of Science in biology and nursing. See, back in the day writing essays just came so much easier. Reading and writing for a grade? Yes! It was so easy that it gave me ample time to focus on my extra-curricular activities: partying, keg stands and re-inventing myself as the female version of John Belushi in Animal House. I nailed it.

Never once giving much thought about my future and how a Liberal Arts degree would work to my advantage, or rather disadvantage. I also couldn't fortell the future and see a giant collapse in the economy and murdered education cuts across the country and that my ideal job of becomming an English teacher as my back-up plan in case journalism didn't work out, would eventually disintegrate and now I had no back-up plan for the back-up plan.

Here I am. 30 years old and going back to school. I am much more prepared for this now than I was when I was 18 and now understand the full value of an education. Here's to great year and a list of accomplishments I have to knock out.

Happy New Year!

The Season of Being Broke and Creative!

Between family, friends, my own child, MYSELF and my husband, buying gifts is seeming more like a burden than a reward. So often I hear, “It’s better to give than to receive...” But anytime I step into a store to buy gifts all I feel is regret and emptiness mainly coming from my wallet. My charge card seems to groan with every swipe, or maybe it’s me groaning? No wonder the cashier looks at me with a puzzled look! 

Since losing my job in November, my extravagant lifestyle with the yachts, champagne, giant flat screen televisions and Chanel purses … Wait, that was just a J. Lo video. Darn. I was never rich but at least before I didn’t avoid friends hoping that by avoiding them meant that I didn't have to buy them a gift. Or have to casually throw out, "I'm soooo broke this year..." in a conversation having to do absolutely nothing about money in hopes that they get the hint and know immediately there will be no gift exchange between the two of us.

"So I was working out the other day and I think I pulled something in my back," Lovely friend mentions as we have a nice lunch.

"I'm so broke right now, dude. Like super broke! But the thing about your back... Sucks, bro!" I say as I stuff my mouth full of lettuce and water.

Suddenly I snap out of my daydream and put my thinking cap on (it's a real cap with the words "Thinking Cap" across the front) and scour the Interwebs for ideas! I look for things that say, “I worked hard on this present, almost like a real elf, so you better enjoy it!” But the truth is that any gift is usually always received with a smile and it is only when you are gone that the receiver re-wraps it and re-gifts it! We must avoid that and secure the gifts we give against re-gifting!

Below are my top three items that popped up on my "Christmas gifts on the cheap" Google search:

A bird juicer for the juicer in your family, steriod users not excluded. It could be a subtle hint that you know the truth behind their enormous forearms.

Or for the french toast lover in the family:Ooohlala! Because you couldn't afford a packet of actual postage stamps, this is the perfect gift!

But if you really wanted to say “Elf toy maker” then this would be the one gift to make for all your friends and family: Elf Super Project! I mean, how could anyone even think of tossing that cute homemade pig in the trash? Especially in the loving argyle pattern! I’m sure they wouldn’t re-gift this either, it would be far too embarrassing to re-gift this number. You're not only ensuring your gift remain in your friends possession but nobody would throw it away then have to go through the trouble of giving you some outlandish tale of what happened to your gift.

But if all else fails, or you're not entirely crafty and up for a sewing project, adamantly suggest everyone do a gift exchange and set the the limit at something YOU can afford. Besides we all know that you’re I’m really only trying to save money in order to have more for my own gifts.

The season of giving is such a delight! Merry Christmas and have a great New Year!

Caught in the clutches of my butt

Recently I participated and finished in the Surf-n-Santa 10-miler and was so emotional and ecstatic at the end that I wept. The fact that I ran for 10 miles without stopping was so huge for me because six months ago I could barely do three miles without gasping for air as I reached for my water bottle and took bites of air in between every slurp of the mighty fluid.

But there was a huge obstacle during the 10 mile run, it was one that I was mainly to blame for and that was that I decided to wear underwear underneath my snug running tights. Ugh. Newbie mistake.

Even before the race as I walked from my car to the convention center I began to fight the urge to reach behind and do a little sleight of hand, perhaps pretending to snatch something off my butt, then gently smoothing out the fabric or my usual go-to move: walking with “swagger,” carefully taking one leg out further, loosely wiggling it a little before I take my next step and hoping that it unbunches my underwear. This technique is not guaranteed as I mostly always have to resort to picking really quick then wiggling my lower half to guarantee success.

So for the duration of the run I struggled. My pace was fine but my butt was screaming, begging for me to free it of its misery. At one point I wanted to take them off in a portable restroom but I couldn’t just discard them like a piece of trash, they were one of my favorite underwears!

I think I focused more on how uncomfortable I felt with them riding up than I did on how tired I was, which I suppose was okay. By the time I reached mile 9 my eyes welled up with tears, I had just one more mile to go and then I could sneak away to a restroom and pull out my underwear, freeing them from the clutches of my butt.

That’s when I bolted. I ran so hard and fast that by the time I reached the finish line, I was gasping for air but I made it to the end. I finished. My husband and daughter were waiting at the finish line off to the side and when my name was called out as a finisher and the moment I spotted them in the crowd was enough to make me forget my underwear were still bunched.

Several runners I’ve spoken to tell me they ditch their unmentionables and go commando. Any suggestions? I have tried going without and from what I remember, is that I don’t remember being uncomfortable but more often than not, I run with undergarments and it doesn’t pose a problem.

Well, for the next long run I will make sure not to make the same mistake and hope for a better PR time!

 

 

Warming up to warm-ups

I have always joked that once anyone begins to think of sweat pants/warm-ups - especially purple ones -  as everyday attire then there is a problem and that person has indeed “given up on life.”

But sweatpants are comfortable. They feel right when the world is crashing down around you and you are suddenly “between jobs” and faced with having to figure out what your my next move will be. All this strategic planning needs to be done in some comfy warm-ups.

The other day I was dead set on purchasing some comfortable pants so I went to the one place that brings me to life, the place where I can mindlessly place items into my cart: a snowman shaped Advent calendar? Sure. How about a Santa Claus Advent calendar? Yes! A gingerbread house Advent calendar? How about all of them? Target has captured my heart and my depleting wallet, but ya know? It makes me feel better. So this would be the place to purchase my warm-ups while I shopped around with a tall skinny Starbucks Caramel Brulee Latte, NO WHIP! Always having to nearly scream the “no whip” part since that is the part I miss the most and I also have to pretend I would be disgusted if they did smother my latte with their sweet and fluffy whip cream.  

As I shopped around I spotted them: soft, tired and worn looking cotton and gray. Because no other color says ‘I don’t give a damn’ like the color gray. I made my way to them, nay! I ran to them!

I bumped my cart into another woman as she glared up at me from taking a sip of her own beverage, I apologized and quickly moved forward with my mission. I felt them, examined their soft texture as I imagined myself sitting at my home office typing away random letters that would go to absolutely no one, updating my contacts in my Rolodex (if i had one - Christmas idea!), typing up my 100th letter to Oprah demanding she put me on her network because I have weight problems too - the possibilities of all that I can do in my gray warm-ups are endless!

As I felt their delicate embrace, running my hands up and down and also carefully searching for the price tag, because homegirl needs to know how much. I was aghast after reading the price, mouthing the numbers silently: $19.99. But - but- but! These were so worn looking, they even had fake snagged edges and they were gray. Gray, the color of depression, gloomy skies and laziness. How could they be $19.99?

I walked out of Target after meandering around for about an hour buying $5 red and green Christmas socks, a fluffy jacket and $3 sweat pants for Sophia along with minty fresh gum and some crafts but no sweat pants for myself. I could not justify a $20 purchase for what looked like something that had been used to run through a field of roses. The tattered, snagged edges were that serious.

Once home I went through my “To Donate” labeled pile of clothes in the storage room and found my old gray sweat pants that I wore religiously after I had Sophia four years ago. I smiled thinking of all those times she spit-up on them and I won’t lie, I sniffed them in hopes of catching a faint smell of baby Sophia but they just smelled like the back of a closet.

All this time I have right now at home is being savored. I have the rest of my life to work full-time and right now I am doing my best to be a great mother to my daughter and embracing her little self while taking great pleasure in watching her grow and discover new things.

In life we have many transitions, many beginnings, and what we make of them and how we approach each one is what makes the outcome all the more meaningful and the following transition rewarding.

And now in my worn gray warm-ups, I shall make my way to the kitchen and fix us some hot cocoa.

List of freebies for our Veterans!

Veterans Day is quickly approaching, Friday, Nov. 11. It is a holiday and most military personnel will be off that day and scrambling to the nearest restaurant to enjoy some perks. Here is a list of national food chains that will offer free or discounted meals to all deserving vets!

"Applebee's - free meal, Friday, Nov. 11: Last year, Applebee's served 1,024,000 million free meals to military veterans and active service members. Applebee's is again offering a free meal to military veterans and active-duty service members on Veteran's Day, Friday, Nov. 11, 2011. There will be 7 entrées to choose from. Military ID or proof of service required. Find locations at http://applebees.com/.

Chili's - free meal, Friday, Nov. 11. Chili's is offering all military veterans past and present their choice of one of 6 meals. This offer is available during business hours on November 11, 2011 at participating Chili's in the U.S. only. Dine-in from limited menu only; beverages and gratuity not included. Veterans and active duty military simply show proof of military service. Visit their website to find locations.

Golden Corral - Free meal, Monday Nov. 14: The 10th annual Golden Corral Military Appreciation dinner will be held on Monday, November 14, 2011 from 5 pm to 9 pm in all Golden Corral Restaurants nationwide. The free "thank you" dinner is available to any person who has ever served in the United States Military. If you are a veteran, retired, currently serving, in the National Guard or Reserves, you are invited to participate in Golden Corral's Military Appreciation Monday dinner. For more information visit http://www.goldencorral.com/military/. Special thanks to Golden Corral: To date, Golden Corral restaurants have provided over 2.5 million free meals and contributed over $4.3 million to the Disabled American Veterans organization.

Hooters - Free Meal, Friday, Nov. 11. Hooter's is serving up a free meal to military veterans all day on Veterans Day. Offer good for all veterans and active duty military personnel. Choose one of the new specialty items on the Hooter's menu. Offer valid at participating Hooters only; open to all active duty and military veterans with valid military ID or proof of military service. Drink purchase required. For more information, visit, www.HootersVeteransDay.com.

Krispy Kreme - Free doughnut. Available only at participating Krispy Kreme stores. Offer available to all active-duty, retirees & veterans on Friday November 11th. Be sure to call ahead to verify your local Krispy Kreme is participating.

McCormick & Schmick's Seafood Restaurants - free lunch or dinner, Sunday Nov 13, 2011: McCormick & Schmick's is celebrating their 13th annual Veteran's Appreciation Event on Sunday, November 13th. Veterans will be able to choose a complimentary lunch or dinner entrée. Veterans must provide proof of military service. Be sure to contact your local McCormick & Schmick's as this is valid at participating restaurants only. Also, Space is limited and reservations are highly recommended. For more information visit: M&S Veterans Appreciation Event.

Outback Steakhouse - A week of Free Bloomin' Onions and Cokes Monday Nov. 7 - Friday Nov. 11. Outback Steakhouse is honoring America's military veterans by offering active duty military and veterans a free Bloomin' Onion and a Coca-Cola product during the week leading up to Veteran's Day. This offer is available to Military Personnel who have one of the following forms of identifications: U.S Uniform Services Identification Card, U.S Uniform Services Retired Identification Card, Current Leave and Earnings Statement (LES), DD form 214 Veterans Organization Card (i.e., American Legion and VFW), Photograph in Uniform, Wearing Uniform. For more information, visit, http://outback.com/companyinfo/veteransday.aspx. The Outback understands commitment. For the past two years, The Outback,with the help of their patrons, has donated $2 Million to Operation Homefront, a non-profit organization providing everyday and emergency support for active troops, wounded warriors and their families.

Subway - Free Six Inch Sub. Select Subway locations offer a FREE six inch sub to military veterans on Veteran's Day. However, Subway restaurants are franchises, so this offer may not be available everywhere. Please call ahead.

Texas Roadhouse - free meal, Friday, Nov. 11. Offer varies by location; our local Texas Roadhouse is offering a free meal from opening until 4pm. Other locations may vary in offer, hours, or availability. Call ahead to your local restaurant for more information.

T.G.I. Friday's - Buy one get one free Nov 11-14. At participating locations for anyone with an old or current military ID. November 11-14.

Uno Chicago Grill, Friday, Nov. 11. Uno's is offering a free entree or individual pizza with a purchase of an entree or pizza of equal or greater value. Offer good for all military for veterans and active duty military. ID or proof of service required: Show up in uniform (if your service permits), provide military ID, show a picture of yourself in uniform, or have other ID showing proof of service."

Be on the lookout for other deals and if you know of any that were not posted on here please feel free to add it in a comment. Have a great week!