Work work work work work work work.  More work.  Then I'll take a break and read up on the tornado aftermath and then see a story of a mother protecting her children and ending up losing parts of both her legs in the process.  I take a moment to soak that all in and appreciate her amazing feat of heroism as both children were safe and sound, running to get her help after the second tornado hit.  Then more work. 

Yesterday, the most senior person in my office made an executive decision and shut down business early.  In all my years here, I don't remember schools and businesses shutting down early due to tornado warnings but this is also the first time I've heard weather people say there was almost a 100% chance of a tornado hitting the viewing area.  Since a tornado hit my workplace's area last year about this time keeping us from the office for a couple of days, I took it seriously and went home to prepare my cellar and dog for when the news or sirens said to seek shelter.  I went home and turned on the news. 

Pocky was happy I was home to sit and watch TV and I guiltily looked at my work laptop.  Ugh.  I turned it on and checked e-mails.  Why?!!!  I had about a half freakin' dozen requests from auditors and a bunch of other things I had to do now now now.  Screw it.  I logged off.  I saw on tv the storm hit Pekin, IN then headed to Henryville.  I knew it was on its way to Floyd County (where I worked) and then Louisville would be next.  But it didn't really come to us.  It seemed to have sat on top of northern Clark County forever and ever.  And that was damned scary.  My house saw wind and rain and that was it.  Henryville saw its high school destroyed.  There were houses MISSING.  I've seen trees land on houses, roofs blown off and garages collapse.  I've not seen a house disappear.  Marysville.  Flat. 

I checked on my dad who works in a hospital in the area and he texted all hands on deck with 2 communities hit.  He's been at work since yesterday morning and is still working. 

I was looking for news on my daughter's father's family who is from that area and this morning I found an interview with her uncle who was counted as one of the lucky ones with only a brick wall that fell and a collapsed roof.  I may not have contact with them but I don't wish natural disaster on anyone.  I still have fond recollections of the area.  It was the first place I had a taste of country living, heard rain on a tin roof, fed a pony that was owned by a friend and learned, yes, how to make apple butter (ate so much of it, I got sick and I never ate it again).  I learned how dumplings were made and fed livestock to my friends were going to take to be judged at the 4-H fair.  I also learned about 'Redneck Pride', something old men would tell me on their porches, slapping their necks and winking.  I witnessed somebody stopping by to drop off a rhubarb pie.  I'd never had rhubarb pie and the old woman looked at me like I was crazy.  It's alright.  I still like blueberry the best.  I've been hoping not to recognize any names of the victims.  That's a greedy thought but it's what I'm feeling. 

Nationally, people can help those affected by disasters like the tornadoes and storms by making a donation to support American Red Cross Disaster Relief. For more information on donating to the Red Cross, visit redcross.org. 

Locally, ValuMarket and Kroger are collecting donations at this time.

There are many churches organizing donated items, especially pallets of water and non-perishable goods.

The Courier-Journal is organizing a collection drive for items.  These can be dropped off at their 1st floor reception area.  The newspaper is collecting non-perishable food items and other essentials, including:

• Bottled water

• Manual can opener

• Powdered milk

• Dried fruit

• Crackers

• Peanut butter

• Jelly

• Bread

• Ready-to-eat cereal

• Nuts

• Canned soups

• Any nutritious food that does not need to be heated

• Batteries

• Hand sanitizer

• Moist towelettes

• Toilet paper

• Matches

• Blankets

• Formula

• Diapers

• Bottles

• Pet food

• NO CLOTHING — They are not prepared to handle the distribution of clothing at this time.

I actually stayed home and enjoyed being sick today.  Saturday I was awake for two things - my sad 1 mile coughing run, a massage and a couple of online checks.  Otherwise, I was asleep for about 20 hours of the day.  I felt good enough to attempt to run with a couple of also getting over being sick friends and about mile 8, my throat got very raw and I started coughing during the walk breaks.  Also before all the coughing started, there was much spitting of the loogeys in every direction.  Felt quite dainty, yessireebab.  Made it through 12 miles before my throat said no effin' way, you're done. 

And the coughing did not stop.  All night long, all morning long.  I needed sleep so badly, not safe to drive.  Didn't care who won the Oscars except for Bret McKenzie.  That's right, muppet or a man!!

Back to bed.

Been working late again all week.  This never lets up!  I was hoping to take a sick day today but . . . more fires to put out.

My malaise of a day resulted in this:

• I lost my socks in my office somewhere
• My keys made it to the freezer
• Yesterday, I overheated a microwave heating pad (I've been cold lately) and it smelled like burnt popcorn in the office all day
• Today, I bought a new microwave heating pad and 90 seconds in the microwave resulted in the pad fabric melting releasing thousands of beads into the wild, er, office kitchen
• I lost my voice
• 3 days ago
• Haven't gotten it back
• I heard my new boss had a bit of a breakdown.  YAY!!!  I'm not alone!!!!

It makes sense the first weekend where I don't work all day and night I manage to catch a bad cold or the makings of a sinus infection.  Friday I attempted to swim and eeked through 1.2 miles but in a relatively fast time for me.  My shoulder didn't feel great but the music I was listening to was nice and it helped me get through a tough workout.  Yesterday I had every intention of waking up early and getting my long run in but I stayed in bed.  I had a Living Social coupon for a local salon and I was pampered with a head massage, conditioning treatment, an eyebrow wax (it was a full crop o' eyebrows going on there) and a haircut.  I felt schmancy!  But I celebrated that nice 'do with a nap.  Forced myself up and out of bed to get 11 miles in but at a super slow pace.  It was tough to breathe and I went to bed early.  My Sunday intention was to get up early and get 5 miles in before a swim.  The 5 miles didn't happen.  I met a friend for breakfast and ate half a pancake - I knew something was up because MY GOD ONLY HALF A PANCAKE???  I love pancakes.  I managed one mile and threw in the towel.  Time for bed. 

In non-news, I find myself completely captivated by Malachy, the Pekinese Westminster Dog Show winner.  I remember him from last year.  Yeah, I can understand the arguments about all the inbreeding with smooshfaced dogs but . . . oh, this smooshfaced dog! 

I'm about 10 days behind on news (Whitney Houston died?  Merkel's choice for who resigned?  Who won the superbowl?  Chinese basketball player?) so . . . yeah, work still sucks.

OMG MY FINANCIALS ARE THROUGH THE FIRST DRAFT YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

GAH!  What a broken record I am lately, just work and schlog jogging.  Work gives me stress, I run more to de-stress.  This week will probably be less jogging in the work week, it's that busy and I need the 90 minutes (15 minutes to change, 60 to run, 15 to rush around trying to not stink at work).  I'm pretty happy with my improvement with running.  It's incremental but I'll take it.  Did a 10 mi run this weekend with the group kind of (met them but ran off in a different direction) and I finished just a minute behind them so that was good. 

I was so preoccupied with work this morning I left without feeding Pocky.  Mah baby!  Luckily, Kiddo was there when I texted her to check the pooper's food and water bowls before she left for classes. 

Back to work. 

Today I went back for a follow up exam and no sign of fibroids coming back and also the cyst on my left ovary has shrunk significantly! Yay! To find all this stuff out, I had to go through an ultrasound. For those of you who've never had an ultrasound, it's not just jelly on your belly. Nope.

Guess which one of these 3 devices got used on me today?

I had a more straight faced tech this time. She didn't laugh when I said I was going to pretend I knew what I was looking at on the screen and that everything looked like the surface area of Mars. No chuckle at wondering if I was growing Beelzebub in there, either. Fine. I know y'all. Y'all is funny. Got any jokes for an ultrasound tech I can use?

So good news there.

Work is just getting ridiculous and now I can't sign into the network. It's insane. So I ran tonight. 9 miles. Just to de-stress. And now I'm going to do a short meditation which last week felt indulgent and today I know I need. My blood pressure was good at 105/60. I know it's from taking just a little bit of time for myself to do this.

3 miles. Rethinking setting the building on fire. I finally transitioned the close of one of my companies. Yay! Then they told me today I'd take over the close of another company. WTF!!! FFFFFFFF!!!!

Yep, lots of work and running both this week though the 'lots of running' differs in context compared to how much all two readers of you run. 

Monday 3 mi, worked to 7:30am-8pm

Tuesday 8 mi + attempt at half mile of power walking which was not comfortable - I have no idea how you fast walkers do it!  Worked until 7am-8pm

Wednesday 2 mi, worked 6am-8pm, 9pm-10:30pm

Thursday 2.4 mi, worked 7am-10pm

Friday MY BRAIN IS FRIED, hopefully 1 mi sometime today

Lots of work planned for this weekend.