Tri For 30: Sneakers or Humiliation Tool?

I went to a running store (plug) Run-n-Tri Company in Gulfport, MS.  It was a really great experience. I have really just been winging my training with no real plan in mind except for just running because I can do that with my boys, oh, and ignoring the fact that I have to swim because I'm not that great at it... and ignoring the bike because I have a "Mom Bike" with a kid seat on the back which everyone will mock be about but I refuse to take off because it was a serious pain in the butt to put on and I'm not doing that again.  Now that I have (gasp) less than 8 weeks until my debut as a triathlete I realized that I need to take it more seriously- or fail miserably.  This was the first step.. literally.... get it?? Bad pun.
I stood on a platform and had my feet scanned to see where I put pressure when I stand- super cool.  Turns out, not a huge surprise, I have ridiculously high arches.  So that means I need support... A lifetime ago when I did gymnastics my arches always hurt and felt like they were falling... weird right?  Anyway, I would tape them up since we tumbled barefoot and couldn't wear shoes with support.  Even then I knew my arches were "special".
 I stand with even pressure on each foot and evenly distributed for the most part.  I put a little bit more pressure on my right big toe.  I like to think that is my "mom toe" which allows me to spring into action and any second.  Either way, no big deal.  I got on the treadmill and ran for a bit.  The outcome: I have a neutral gait and just need a supportive shoe.  Awesome... especially for my bank account.  I tried on several different pairs, ran on the treadmill and picked the pair that felt the best.  There was a tie between 2 pairs and the $$ was the tie breaker.  The only problem with them is that they are florescent purple. Shield your eyes folks.... yeah, they are bright.

I normally pick the most comfortable pair from the ones that are on sale at Kohl's (when I have a 30% off coupon) and that are the most neutral looking.  Rarely do I spend more than $40 on a pair.  Not this day... $100 later and neon signs attached to my feet- I am all set to run my heart out.  My feet appreciate the upgrade... my vanity, not so much... oh well, at least I don't have to wear a goofy bike helmet... oh wait.

Not again...

How does this crap keep happening to me?  Literally- Crap.  I feel like I'm a pretty tough cookie, but some days make me wonder how I haven't lost my mind yet.

Today's outings... Target, Walmart, Hobby Lobby (equivalent to AC Moore).

The first two places were great... although I did get a few too many prizes, but we were having fun so I went with it.  Then we hit Hobby Lobby and the little people who hold my sanity in the palm of their little hands decided they had been good for too long and now I was going to pay.
Usually when they cry or throw fits they take turns- a tag team effort, as I like to call it.  Not today.  Today they both cried, fussed, whined, touched everything, and made me repeat myself 100 times the entire time at the store all at the same time.
I needed 3 items from the store. Should have been easy, but alas, nothing ever is.  We finally make it back to the cake decorating supplies, last on the list, (I needed to get fondant to attempt to make little decorations for Cooper's birthday cupcakes next week)  I didn't know what kind of coloring to use so I call my sister, at which point I tell her over Cooper screaming at the top of his lungs, "Cooper is freaking out and I'm going to punch him in the face".  Frazzled- um, yeah.  (Disclaimer: I would never actually punch my kids in the face... it might leave a mark. J/K) I get the information I needed from her and all the while I was on the phone Mason was pushing the cart around in the isle... he was happy so I was going with it.  In my frazzled state I missed the point when he stopped pushing the cart and climbed underneath the cart.  Anyone who has a child who is of the potty training age can recognize what is happening.  OMG he just pooped his pants. Son of a....
Ok, recap time... Cooper is still freaking out and I just saw Mason poop his pants... while we are on isle  number "this can't possibly get any worse"in the store.  Oh wait, it can.... and it does.
I drag the boys and cart to the bathroom.  The doorway is positioned conveniently so that a cart doesn't really fit... me in a panic nearly took out a wall trying to make it fit.  Then I have to back out and leave the cart.  Looking back, I'm not really sure why I was rushing, the damage was already done.  I go into the handicap stall so I don't have to make Cooper sit on the back of the toilet in order for all of us to fit.  Seriously, who designs these stalls!!  The bathroom is disgusting.  Let me repeat- disgusting.  I debate for a minute of just rolling with the poop and dealing with it in the parking lot, but to be honest- he stinks so I have to deal with it asap.  I take off his pants and underoo's to deal with it all.  He magically develops octopus arms and wants to touch everything... unraveling the toilet paper, including the dreaded "sanitary disposal bucket"(shudder).  I am in this crazy crouch with Cooper (still crying) balanced on my knee all twisted  so that neither of us are touching the floor and that I am guaranteed to have a sore everything later.  Mason is spread eagle getting cleaned up and he asks "what about my underwear?" I say "Sorry buddy- those are headed to the trash"  At this point, once he realized that I was going to throw out his beloved "Hulk" underwear, he LOST. HIS. SHIT.  Pardon my french, but there is no other way to describe the level of melt down that was thrown down.  I was holding him up by his arm because he was trying to throw himself on the floor.  I would rather face a dislocated shoulder than the idea of his bare skin on that floor.
Now it was my turn to make a decision.  Deal with underwear and make him happy enough to make it to the check out counter or chuck them and deal with this epic performance ditch the stuff I had picked out to buy and run out of the store in shame.  I am a trooper.  I am fearless.  I am a Mom who will do almost anything (and this tests the limit of anything) to make my kids happy.  This would explain why my hand was in a public toilet today.  I did it.  I washed out the underwear.  I then washed them in the sink and put them in my purse.  Thats right- I washed poopie underwear in one of the worlds most disgusting bathrooms toilet, rinsed them again in the sink and then put them in my purse.  I think I still might be in shock.  There is not enough hand sanitizer in the world to erase the coodies that I now have.  On top of all of that, Cooper cried through the entire event.
I grabbed my stuff and headed for the check out counter.  On my way there, Mason was required to sit in the cart because he still had octopus arms and it was either put him in the cart or give him away.  This is when he cried again, giving my boys the award for most annoying kids in the store.  There were a few people giving the judgy "whats wrong with those kids" looks which I promptly returned the "If you even think about saying something to me about these kids I will rip off your face" look.  I was in that kind of mood at this point.
I finally got checked out and as soon as I get outside I realize I lost my sunglasses somewhere, I assumed in the bathroom since it was such a fiasco.  We had a moment where both boys stopped crying and were happy so I figured if I ran I could be in and out in 3 minutes.  I run back to the bathroom and look for the glasses- not there. Dang.  I tell another woman what I was looking for and she smiled, gave me a knowing, kind, "I've been there" look and said "they are hooked in your back pocket.
So in the end I got a laugh, but I'm still looking for the humor in the rest of it.... it's taking me a while, but I will find it.  Oh wait, I had my hand in a public toilet and wet, pooped in underwear in my purse... there it is! Ha Ha.

A resume?? Whats that??

I think I might be in over my head.  I have decided to try and find a part time job.  I actually have applied for a few jobs here and there which is a funny story in itself, well, to me at least!  I'm starting to think I'm a bit of a train wreck... (insert shocked face)...
The first job I applied for is accepting applications now, but the closing date on it (at which that point they will begin the hiring process) is DECEMBER 5th.  Good think I'm not in a rush!!
The second one I applied for is kind of a joke.  It is similar to what I was doing at a previous unit, but on a MUCH larger scale (GS-11 for those that understand government jobs), both managerial and the actual job... a little over my head.  I figure whats the worst that could happen... they say no?  I'm still waiting for that no and not getting my hopes up, but a girl can dream... and in this dream, it's accented with dollar bills that float down out of the sky... Hello shopping spree!!
And that leads us to the waitressing/server position I applied for at the country club where I live.  Major step down from the big time job I also applied for, but who are we kidding, this is more my speed for right now.  I took an application over to the club yesterday.  What do you wear if you are just planning on dropping off the application?  Is it interview clothes, casual clothes?  I wasn't wearing a beach cover up so that was good, but seriously, I've never tried so hard to look cool and casual.  I should note at this point that I joined the Coast Guard when I was 18 and have been wearing a uniform ever since so I never have needed any professional clothes, and my "mom gear" just didn't seem appropriate.
So after I stressed about that for a while, I finally made it over to drop off the application, looking semi casual in a "I just threw this on" kind of way (that took me more time than "I just threw this on" should have.)  I end up having a chat with the manager whom says that I don't have enough (or any, besides boozing at my own house, but I left that out- didn't want to seem like a lush) experience to be a bartender which is what they have an opening for, and that they weren't really hiring anywhere else.  I was bummed and left.... and double plus- while inside- it started raining. Doubly bummed.
Today though, I got "the call" from that same manager I talked to yesterday.  Surprise, Surprise, now they are hiring and want me to come in for an interview.  He says "oh, by the way, do you have a resume?" Me: "Yes, I certainly do."  Me in my head: "Oh no! Someone is actually going to look at my resume"  I have submitted my resume with the other job applications but there is a big difference between uploading it and attaching it to my application than sitting down with someone who is going to read it in front of you.  I'm a little nervous.
And that brings me to my current spot.  I have a resume, but I'm pretty sure it's not that great.  I don't know if I should have an objective statement, if it should be totally serious (or can I toss in a joke?), what people are looking for, what parts of my life are worthy of including, and the dang format!!
I think I'm going to hold off on stressing about it too much... until 10 minutes before I have to leave tomorrow... that way it might distract me from my ill fitting clothes that might not be totally "interview" appropriate and are hopefully missing smeary kid handprints of some sort of goop, and that I only have 3 minutes to get there to be on time.
I'm not counting myself out just yet, but I wonder if these people know what they are getting themselves into if they hire me!! ha ha

The Disaster Trifecta...

I had a ton of errands to run today.  I thought- no problem- I've got this.  Looking back, I didn't have it.  On the to do list: Drop a few things off to a friend, haircut for Mason, drop/pick up stuff at consignment shop, hit Walmart for a few essentials, take Scout the wonder dog to the vet for shots and check up... you know, just a few things... with both kids. Easy peasy nice and breezy.
First item was an easy one and I mistakenly thought I was on a roll... I know, it's not a roll after only one item is checked off, but thats what I'm calling it anyway.  Pop into the barber shop and have to leave the car running for Scout because I live on the surface of the sun. I hop out of the car, grab Mason out of his seat and as I am jogging around to the other side of the car to grab Cooper I hear a strange noise come from my car.  What was that noise??? Scout the not so wonder dog had stepped on the door lock button and locked himself and Cooper in the car- with Mason and I on the outside.  I stood there stunned.  This seriously did not just happen.  I am pretty sure that in my whole life I think I have locked myself out of my car maybe once.  Only once.. until now.  The car was running with the AC temperature set to popsicle so I wasn't worried about the car heating up... but then I thought- how the heck am I going to get into the car!!??  Enter trusty friend, Annette Encrapera.  I called her up and explained what had happened.  She was super kind and said she would go to my house to grab the spare key.  I chatted for a few minutes explaining where the key was and not to judge me to bad for leaving my house in a total state of disaster.  I joked with her that I was waiting for Mason to pee his pants to make the situation really interesting.  She got to my house and we hung up. During that call, Scout the really not wonder dog saw another dog and was barking to save his life... like he was trying to get the other dog to come over and bust him out.  This crazy barking then upset Cooper who up until now was just hanging out.  So lets take a second to recap so far.... Car is locked with Mason and I on the opposite side of Scout and Cooper.  Scout is barking like crazy, Cooper is crying and.... Wait for it.... Wait for it.... 3, 2, 1... MOMMY!!! POOPIES ARE COMMING!!!!  Sweet Baby Jesus... Mason told me he had to poop!  And there is the trifecta. We have been potty training for what feels like 2 years now but he is getting it now so this is a major accomplishment for him/us.  Something he has only recently started doing so I may get a little frazzled when he actually says it making sure he gets to the potty in time... oh crap, we are outside, locked out of the car, with my baby inside.  I can't leave the car and take him inside to use the bathroom.  There we were- Mason with his pants around his ankles, me holding him up, all in the barber shop parking lot next to a tree.  Here is where it gets pretty funny.  I don't know what to wipe his hinny with.  I look around for a big leaf- nothing.  All that is around are these little puny things that will not do.  I look around and lock eyes with this woman in a car waiting for someone in the barber shop.  I do the walk of shame over to her car and ask if she has a napkin, I take it and say thanks, and run back to my kid who is standing with his pants still around his ankles at the edge of the parking lot (for everyone to see and hear) and yells to me- "Mommy!! Look at my poops!!!" He was so proud-  I was mortified.
In the end, everything turned out fine, thanks to a great friend helping me out while I was stranded, and most importantly-a twisted sense of humor about the whole situation to keep me from being upset that I let my kid get locked in the car... and that I let my other kid poop in a parking lot.  See- totally funny... right??

Seriously?? Who has time!!

I may not be the best at time management, ahem, blogging at 1:37am after finally finishing homework but when else am I going to find the time!

I have been catching up on my drills with the Coast Guard Reserve for the last several days and my unit is a little over an hour away.  I got up at 5am... ok, so I hit the snooze... twice. Babysitter got here at 6 and I rushed out the door to beat the traffic.  Left the office promptly at 3- to beat the traffic home.  Got home at 4 and then jumped right back into Mom mode- fixing dinner, cleaning up, prepping for the next day, trying to spend some quality time with kids... oh yeah, and the hubs too.  Oh wait, then there is homework and some sort of exercise squeezed in there somewhere too.  

Exhaustion... check.  Empty fridge... check.  Messy house... check. 

I have a new found appreciation for mothers who work at a job outside of the house.  Who has the time to get it all done!! I wouldn't even know where to squeeze in grocery shopping!! ha ha Really looking forward to comfy clothes all day tomorrow.  I think I'll call it... Wear your Jammies Wednesday.  It does have a nice ring to it.