been there, done that, got the t-shirt

Great success! (said in the Borat voice obviously) The 5K has been run. I am alive and had a great time. Emily Moore had a great time running?! I know weird, right? I'm sure you are thinking, "But you wasted so much time complaining." My response to that would be...erm well, true. Call me crazy. Think of it more like freaking out rather than complaining. Mmkay?

Let's start the story from the beginning: Once upon a time an imprudent girl named Emily signed up for a race.

Fast forward to February 26. Full from a supper of carbs, (everyday should be a race day so we can nom on carbs for dindin) I shot up awake at 4am. I tried to be in bed by 8pm the night before, but the roomies were not having it. Two hours of AFV (punch me in the face) and Kindle reading later, they were still not wanting to sleep. Have no fear, we all managed to doze off and get a few hours of sleep.

Now the story gets really great. Ann, sweet little Ann, has never gotten up before 10 am. While I am slightly teasing, she had a hard time accepting the fact that she had to be up by 5 am. (which technically means we should have started waking her up at 4 because that is how long it takes Ann's brain to process that she needs. to. wake. up.) At 5:09 I caught a glimpse of Ann sitting up in bed, squinty eyed and bushy haired, staring at the wall pondering what the meaning of life could possibly be at that hour. From that moment on, Ann forgot that time does in fact go on. She was stuck in 5 am land. Ann's response to everything that happened for the rest of the day, "because it's 5 am!"
Examples:

Person 1: "Why is the parking so weird?" A: "Because it's 5 AM!"
Person 2: "Why does everyone look so crazy?" A: "Because it's 5 AM!"
Person 3: "Why did my sunglasses just break?" A: "Because it's 5 AM!" ---p.s.-it was 6:30 at this point

Let me preface this part of the story by saying that Disney is superior to all other earthly places. I think I would go into shock if I ever ran a race anywhere else. Would there be a 6 am warm up dance party with a DJ? Would Belle and the Beast be hosting the race? Would the countdown to the race be Be Our Guest instead of 3-2-1? Would all the Disney princesses be lined up cheering me on? Would I get an endless supply of goody bags and food and Powerade? A true Disney win. No other place can compare. Many will try, many will fail. Brittany and I spent the hour before the race dancing the Macarena, doing the Hand Jive, Gettin Low, and Making it Rain. All pre-race necessities, of course.

The magic words, "Be Our Guest" were said and off we went! The first half mile was reminiscent to what running a race in a can of sardines must be like. Brittany and I acted out the game of Frogger by weaving in and out of traffic (a.k.a the walkers, dun dun dun). The course for the 5K was described as taking the runners "through the 11 countries of World Showcase, the Fountain of Nations, Spaceship Earth, and the Leave a Legacy monument." That was code for "through the wonders and mysteries of backstage at Epcot with a quick jog around a little bit of Epcot." It was actually really cool to go backstage and the whole course was lined up with cast members cheering you on and clapping. (Also with security guards to keep you from wandering off backstage...)

Once we ran the 1.5 miles getting to the countries, Brittany decided she felt great and would do a little leap every time we entered a new country. Really cute considering I was going for more of a fall to the floor and curl up in a ball every time. Photographers were sitting throughout the course snapping shots of the weezing runners. That's really cute, not. No one wants to see a picture of me sweating with a painful look of death on my face. To prevent this from happening, Brittany and I smiled and pretended to be easily prancing along without a care in the world. Now, I haven't seen the pictures yet, but I'm willing to bet they are fabulous. (And by fabulous I mean, they would have looked better if Brittany and I had not tried acting blissful and carefree. Cannot wait to see those beauties). 

By the 2.5 mile marker I started to slide behind, meaning I had a really great view of Brittany's back. Far off in the distance... The cheering cast members were starting to get annoying and I couldn't believe it was only 2.5 miles. Whyyyyyyyy? And that is when the Biebs saved me. My go-to pump up slash favorite song ever is shamefully "Baby." Who in their right mind wouldn't like Justin Bieber and Ludacris singing? So, during my impending hour of death, Justin told me to quit playin because we were an item and man oh man, that did it. I was going to finish. this. race. I quickly quit playin and caught up with Brittany before we hit the last 500 yards. We came around a curve and there it was standing in all its glory (with a heavenly light shining down on it): the finish line. I then got the world's third largest adrenaline rush. The clock read 00:34:35(36,37,38). I was not going to let that clock read 35 minutes without being on the other side of the finish line. I feel like I took one big 30 yard leap in 2 seconds and was done.

Whoa. Did I really just do that? Did Brittany and I just finish? YES. yes yes yes. We should have done the Yes dance. Instead we got our medal, got some blue Powerade, got our picture taken, got our food goody bag and met up with our chEARleaders. (Get it? Disney is so cutesies). Joseph even brought us some doughnut holes for our finish. He knows what's up.

All in all, this was an amazing experience. I am so glad I got through my complaining freaking out phase and did it. As good ole Walt said, "If you can dream it, you can do it." Word, Walt.

Here are some pictures!

Shout out to my chEARleaders Mom, Ann, and Joseph! Also to my running buddy, Brittany. I literally could not have done it without you. Seriously, I needed you leaping into every country to get me through this!

Shout out to anyone who actually read all of this! You're the best. 

seven days

You're thinking about it, aren't you? That girl from The Ring. With long black hair hanging over her pale face. Eerily standing in front of you warning you, "Seven days...."

Oh, you weren't thinking about that. Well now you are.

Forget the scary girl, the static on the TV, and the ring itself. My seven days countdown is a little less dreary (what am I saying? it is just as dreary, right?)

A week from now I will be SO happy. Don't get me wrong, I'm very happy today as well. But this time next week my quads will be burning, my calves will be screaming, and my lungs will be collapsing, BUT I will be smiling because this race will be ova'.

Bring it on concrete roads, hot Orlando weather, and weak ballet legs.

Side note: if your TV randomly goes to static in the next seven days (or you see the ring), it is not my fault. 

lovey dovey shtuff

And let them eat heart shaped quesadillas...

Happy Valentine's Day!

p.s.- picking out Valentines and requesting chocolate actually worked (thanks R&MC!) Happy Chocolate Eating Day!

10.

When I was chatting with my pal David Lettermen, err I mean watching him on TV, I decided this week's blog needed a top 10 list somewhere. I began brainstorming trying to do a top 10 for this past week (or, since it is only Thursday, the week that is still. going. on.), then I tried doing one for this coming week. In the end, I couldn't choose so this is the top 10 list of RIGHT NOW. Enjoy.

Emily's Top 10 List of Right Now:

please note: I was going to wait and post this tomorrow, but once I remembered today was February 10 I just couldn't pass up the cute coincidence. 

1.

Joseph. My dear, sweet, slightly old brother is visiting  the 'Nan this weekend. We have scheduled his visit down to the minute with things to do and people to see (and places to eat--obviously the most important  part of the trip). Get your party pants on. 

2.

In 16 days, I will be running at Disney. These little ladies look pretty happy running (and yes, I can tell that from the back of their heads). My reactions to running include:  Ow. My legs hurt. Seriously. I can't sit. How long have I been running? Only 5 minutes? How about now? Can. Not. Breathe. I tease (kind of). I am excitednervousanxious to run this 5k and run it good. Git-r-done.

I think my legs are just confused as to why I am not pirouetting and jetteing.

3.

This is just one of the 234565794 reasons I love my 'job.' Everybody together now, "Awwww..."

4.

This year for Valentine's Day, I have picked out certain family members to be my Valentines and requested lots of chocolate to be my gift. (Whaaat, you mean you don't get to pick your Valentine and request gifts?!)

5.

There have been two great Groupons recently: Partners II Pizza and Octane Coffee and Cocktails (a super cute new cafe in Newnan I've been eyeing, but somehow managing not to go to). As much as I prefer Scoutmob to Groupon, I must say good job Groupon, good job. 

6.

This Sunday is my college roommate's (roommatesies 4eversies) senior recital. Has it really been four years? 

7.

Punxsutawney Phil did not see his shadow this year. So, as I sit here in this freezing weather with layers and layers on my body and a space heater nearby, I am ever so hopeful that Mr. Phil was right and the madness (coldness, whatever same thing) will end very soon. 

8.

Picture a party hat on this cutie patootie Mr. Diddy because he's got a birthday coming up. And we party all night long when it's a Mr. Diddy party.

9.

We (Uncle John) have almost finished painting our house. We (Uncle John) are so excited. Whatever you do, don't call it purple. We (Uncle John) will come and get you.

10.

I've been trying to cook dinner more. This is really code for "yessss, my family and I are finally eating at the wonderfully decent time of 5:30 and I am so so so excited." Who said eating by 6 wasn't fun?

Guess what? It's dinner time, y'all. Night.

wise words

One of the very nicest things about life is the way we must regularly stop whatever it is we are doing and devote our attention to eating. --Luciano Pavarotti

Ever wanted to know the summation of my life? Now you know. I like to stop to eat and I like it a lot. 

just because

insert inspirational (and entertaining) blog post here

I could write about what I've been doing(spending 24/7 with kids), or what I've been eating(Kashi bars and Fuzziwigs), or what I will be doing(sleeping, cooking, running/keeling over from running, and eating what will be cooked). Instead, I am going to let you use your imagination on this blog post. What is/was/will Emily (be) doing?

P.S.- Yippee is about 1/8 of the way done with its makeover. Makeovers are not fun. Makeovers are hard, frustrating, and time consuming. My 12 year old/make-up consumed/clothing obsessed self is very disappointed. Now, if I could just get it together enough to figure out how to make a killer header...

Good morning, February

February 1. Today marks the official countdown: in  25 days this will be me...

Looks just like me. Cheering, not out of breath, could keep running for hours. Oh wait, that's not like me, never mind.

25 days until I run (hobble, walk, scoot, wheelchair it...) a 5k. 3.106 miles to be exact. Run, baby, run.

This should be interesting...

I'm considering bringing back the 12 days of Christmas crafting: Valentine edition. My avid follower(s?) (Yes, I might have two followers) might enjoy that. Get yer scissors and lace heart doilies ready. 

HAPPY FEBRUARY