Missing Miles

This post is hard to write while I sit at work, but I don't want to wait, lest I end up not blogging at all. While the title could be interpreted as my 10 day absence from running, that's not the 'miles' i'm writing about.

This is:


Miles McCool Harris.

Todd adopted Miles from a rescue shelter about 4 years ago. They were constant companions, and when Todd decided to make the big leap and move to Seattle, Miles went along too. I first met Miles via ichat when Todd and I started dating long distance. We would wave at each other, and then he'd dart off into his favorite paper bag like a bolt of lightning. We finally met feet-to-whiskers 2 years ago and I like to think that he immediately took a liking to me. (perhaps he just was glad to have a female around)

I knew how much Miles meant to Todd, so when I eventually moved to Seattle and spent a couple of unemployed months staying with them, I learned to put aside my dislike of cat hair everywhere and the occasional vomit cleanup. They welcomed me with open arms (and paws) and we became a family. Miles and I spent every day together. He'd welcome me home from a run and lick the salty sweat off my forehead. He gladly helped me job search, perching on my shoulder like a parrot.

And he even did pilates with me...he liked it so much that he felt the need to use my mat as his own mat/bed/scratch pad. I knew we'd be buddies for life when I woke up in the middle of the night and found him sitting on my chest, watching me sleep. It became a comforting nightly ritual.


This past December, Miles started showing signs of sickness and the vet diagnosed him with kidney failure and feline AIDS. And to our surprise, apparently he was much older than we'd thought. For the past six months, Miles was on a strict kidney food diet, several medications, and we (eventually just Todd) gave him a subcutaneous electrolyte drip several times a week.

Despite these setbacks, his health seemed to improve and he was living out his ninth life to the fullest. This cat had more toys and blankets than I have shoes and purses. He had full run of the apartment.

But it’s so quiet there now.

Yesterday, we took Miles to the vet, knowing that we wouldn't be bringing him back home. I've never had to watch a family pet put to sleep. Growing up, our pets got ran over by tractors, trucks, disappeared into the night or ran off to another farm. Yesterday was just plain awful. You try telling yourself its for the best, don't be selfish and keep him around if he's in pain. We did the right thing. But it's hard.

No more Miles sitting on the window sill staring out at the Space Needle. No Miles to come greet us when we walk in the door, with his meowing that seemed to say "i've missed you, i'm so glad you're here, pet me." No Miles to sit on my face while I sleep at night, or sprawl out on my legs as if they're his own territory. No Miles to whisper secrets into my ears or hold a semi-intelligent conversation with (believe me, he could talk). No Miles to tear around the apartment at the speed of light. No more games of hide-n-seek. No Miles to get his head stuck in a water glass and make a sloppy mess.

It's cleaner in the apartment now. But I don't like it one bit.

I miss Miles.

Fight it

plantar fasciitis. ugh.

It started hurting last Friday, but already by Saturday I was itching to go for a long run. I figured I’d just step out for a mile or two and see how it felt. The first four miles were me running on my right forefoot, avoiding pressure on the heel. Yes, I ‘tested it out’ for FOUR miles...but it didn’t hurt while I was running so I kept going. And then, factor in the lovely day and pain free running, I decided to go another four miles and bump up my total to eight.

Part of this decision had to do with me having my bridal gown fitting that evening. But part of me wanted to keep increasing my long run mileage.

That I did.

And come Sunday morning, I was majorly regretting it. (one would think that with all the lower extremity running injuries I’ve had, I would learn sooner rather than later that it takes rest to heal....unless you know how stubborn I am. Then it makes perfect sense why I ran.)

Although, I don’t think that running two miles or eight miles would’ve made much of a difference in the pain level. It flat out hurt. I stood on one foot or leaned on Todd during church and scooted around on a shopping cart at Target, but most of the day was spent trying to avoid putting any pressure on it.

And no, I haven’t gone to the doctor. I told myself that I would not run on it the rest of the week, then I’d see how it is on Saturday.

While I feel like my 8 mile long run is now a waste, I do want my foot to heal so I decided to experience some new alternative workouts to running. I went to yoga and kickbox/bootcamp classes this week that made my muscles the sorest they’ve been in a long time. Love that feeling!

Now, it's up to me to decide whether or not to restrain myself from running this weekend.....but it's supposed to be really nice out....must. fight. the. urge.

Weather wonders

It's June here, and when the rest of the country seems to be sweating their way through summer temps, us Seattleites have been pulling out our already-boxed-up-until-next-winter sweaters and finding ways to convince ourselves the sun will come out tomorrow. or the next day. or the next. or maybe in July.

I was on my lunch break, sitting on a bench reading a book when a strange light shone down on me, creating an odd warming sensation on my head. It seems so long since I've felt this presence, it took me several seconds to realize....the SUN!

The sun is out and it's a good day in Seattle.


On a less sunny note....my alma mater was hit by a tornado last night. The city (ok, more like 'large town') of Manhattan, Kansas, and the Kansas State University campus suffered an extensive blow. Storm damage on campus alone is believed to excede $20 million.


from wibw.com

I'm thankful that it is summer semester and not as many students are in town, but looking at the pictures I have seen posted online, I can only be saddened that the place I called home for 4 (and 1/2) years is now in shambles. While they're resilient and they'll rebuild, I'm sure thoughts and prayers would be appreciated. And if you'd like to help with a donation: K-State Tornado Relief

Numbers

100.

100 days. Yesterday marked 100 days until our wedding. While I’m not yet freaking out, I am much more aware of all the overwhelming things I need to do in 100 days. Well, 99 days now. and counting. Oh goodness.

26.

Shout out to J-Gib, my Gemini twin. Today is her 26th birthday. Saturday is my 26th birthday. Two years ago we celebrated our ‘Sweet Sixteen and a half’ birthdays together. I think everyone, except for the two of us, was confused as to why we called it that. Uh…16+(1/2 of 16)=24. We thought it was clever.


I was on crutches and painkillers as a result of my marathon shin fracture debacle, but I’ll always cherish that birthday. Hopping around like a disabled princess, yet surrounded by friends.


10

10 hours of driving in Todd's car is not comfortable. I felt like a crumpled up piece of paper by the time I got out of the car. We made a 'quick' 5-hour drive to Idaho for his Uncle Ken's memorial service and had to turn around and get back to Seattle without much time to rest. But I'm glad we went, I only met Ken two years ago, but there was never a dull moment when in his presence. We'll miss Uncle Ken and his great sense of humor (and homemade wine). It helped me reflect on my own friends and family who've left us all too early, but as someone perfectly stated it yesterday, we experience these hardships so that we can come to know God and appreciate the life he's blessed us with. Amen to that.

Todd bought me 2 pounds of cherries, 3 pounds of apricots, 1 cantaloupe, 5 apples and 1 bundle of asparagus at one of the roadside fruitstands that dot the landscape in Middle-Washington. I should do something great and make a pie or cobbler, but likely will just end up snacking on them and giving myself a tummyache. Totally worth it!

busybusy bee

Busy busy bee....that's me.
June is here! Without a doubt, my favorite month of the year.

It's the transition from spring to summer— when the days are long and the cool breeze blows in through the open windows while I'm sleeping. It's prime-time strawberry season. My #1 favorite berry. Yes, that's correct, I have an entire list of my favorite berry rankings. Perhaps I'll share that with you someday. And of course, it's my birthday month! No additional explanation for excitement needed there.

As I mentioned in my last post, it's been a busy couple of weeks, with my friend Cat and my parents all visiting back-to-back.

Some favorite highlights of mine include our multi-restaurant 'sushi crawl', going kayaking in Portage Bay, Espresso martinis at Chandler's, my first Mariners' game (and my annual eating of a hot dog), sailing in a 19th century wooden boat on Lake Union and having both Todd and my parents in town to meet for the first time. And that's only the short list— I'll try to round up some pictures to post later.

I love having visitors— showing them my beloved adopted city and even experiencing new things myself— but I'm in serious need of some 'katie time'. I need to enjoy it while I can before wedding prep chaos takes over.

Then I'll be crazy bee. I'm sure all around me are looking forward to that. MuahahaHAHAHAAA!!