Iron Mom

     On saturday I ran/walked the iron mon half marathon in Paducah.  It was scheduled for mother's day but I had to work that day so I knew I couldn't do it.  Well the floods came and the date got changed to father's day weekend. So then I could actually participate.  I signed up a little reluctantly.   It was the first annual race and benefitted Lourdes hospital family services.  I had to work for 12 hrs the afternoon of the race.  I've been exercising and trying to stay in shape but I'm really not much of a runner.  I'm more of a slow jogger or a fast walker. A 4 mile race stretches me.   My plan was just to finish as quickly as possible.  First I planned on getting at least 15 minute miles and then I thought I might be able to finish it in 3 hrs.  Well it was an overcast looking like rain day- perfect weather.  I ran the first couple of miles and then ran/walked the rest of it.  I got in under 3 hrs and lived through it. I also finished before the heavy rains came.  I can't say I didn't suffer though.  Lots of soreness and blisters.  I lived through my shift at work afterwards too.  Thank goodness for advil and bandaides.  I'm proud of myself.  Think I may do it again in Dec for St Judes's in Memphis.

     Yesterday I went back to see everyone at my old job.  It really is bittersweet because I miss them all.  I really tried to get all the details and technical information before I changed jobs but I'm still finding out important information.  I hate that.  It's such that no one gives you information unless you ask a very pointed question.  It shouldn't be like that, but often times it is.  My gripe is not with the people I'm working with or the job itself, my gripe is with the contracting company that pays us. Not giving information can be just as deceitful as lying in my book. I'm just trusting that it will be okay, but if I had known then what I know now..........

Chicken killing

    Well last week, at my daughter's encouraging we slaughtered 5 chickens.  It wasn't as terrible as I had imagined.  I guess me and my husband make a good pair because he took care of the killing (which I couldn't) and I took care of the gutting (which he couldn't).  We also had excellent help from Sophie's boyfriend and his brother and Sophie.  It took us several hours though to get 5 chickens ready to cook- and that's with 5 of us working.  I bet they have a more efficient production process across the highway at Tyson Foods.  I was glad to get the whole thing behind us and to figure out we could do it.  I think our whole process will improve the next time.
   Right now I have old chickens, teenagers and babies.  We have 18 straight run, rhode island reds.  That means half of them could be roosters so I see a need for another slaughter in our future.  My mother could kill chickens and grew up when you went out and did this before the chicken dinner.  Hunters do this all the time too.  I feel like some part of me though has to toughen up.  I don't like the killing and would really have to be tough to do that.  I don't want that part to make me less compassionate for suffering.