After writing about the twinge of jealousy I was feeling about my friend running her first half and full marathon rather spontaneously, I sat with my emotions for a while. I was a bit embarrassed I even shared them here. I am actually in awe of my friend’s abilities. I accept that she is a different runner with her own unique skills and strengths.  I’ve asked her in the past to consider running with me in order to help me improve my speed. She is more than willing to, but we haven’t been able to coordinate our schedules. She has also asked me if she could join me on long runs to help build her endurance. Maybe I was a little bent out of shape that she didn’t need me after all.

Jealousy is ugly and I have a history of carrying around a great deal of it. I’ve done a lot of work in recent years to overcome reacting with jealousy, but occasionally it begins to bubble up.  I am aware that it is my own issue stemming from insecurity and lack of confidence.

I thought about what I was feeling and realized it wasn’t envy. I’m not jealous of my friend’s running ability or her race time.  So what was it then?

When my friend texted me that day about running a marathon that was a month away I instantly thought, but you haven’t trained. You need to train for a marathon. It’s not something you just get up one morning and decide to do. I was annoyed that she wasn’t respecting the marathon training process.

Ahh marathon training! I believe I actually love the process of training for a marathon more than the marathon itself. It is the training that I crave. I love the schedule, the alternating workouts, the challenge of the long run each week, preparing my CamelBak, trying new fueling techniques, and waking up at the butt crack of dawn to run in the dark (just kidding I don’t really enjoy this part). The race is just the icing on the cake.

My running journey has grown from a run/walk around a local track to marathons. I needed to take baby steps along the way to eventually get to the starting line of my first marathon. In order to ensure success which to me simply meant finishing the marathon uninjured I needed go through months of training for that first marathon. During that time I increased my mileage gradually, learned how to fuel properly, and overcame many challenges including broken ribs. I thrived on having a schedule, a specific run or workout of the day, and the marathon served as the end goal.

Each training has been designed differently, but one thing remains the same, I need the training process in order to reach MY goals. Training gives me a sense of purpose during the months leading up to the marathon and provides me with specific focus. On the day of the marathon it is important for me to feel like I’ve done everything possible to properly prepare for the race.

Before venturing into distance running I read about the training preparations of many runners, professional, semi-professional, and casual runners like me. I have listened to numerous podcasts and interviews to learn more about how people train for distance races. I’m even more fascinated with the process of training for an ultra marathon. I continue to learn and seek information about long distance running. I love the running, but I am also a bit of a geek when it comes to the process of developing endurance, stamina, and creating a solid foundation to maintain health, nutrition, flexibility, and the mental fortitude to continue running long distances. This is something that energizes me, inspires me, and provides fuel for my running dreams.

All of what I just wrote is about ME, not my friend. I realized that I was kind of pissed off that she had no intention of dedicating herself to months of training for her first marathon. She obviously doesn’t respect the process, I thought. Now I see that is just ridiculous.  My friend will do what is right for her. Running that half marathon clearly made her feel confident that she could complete a full marathon weeks away. She probably doesn’t need months of training. She most likely doesn’t want that either. She has told me before that she wished she could run long distances. Perhaps my own accomplishments inspired my friend to finally take the leap into distance running. Maybe I should try looking at the situation from that angle.

This is not a competition. I should not compare myself to a friend with vastly different abilities. I am ashamed for feeling anything but joy for my friend. I want to support her and show her I’m proud of her success.

First thank you for sending positive thoughts my husband’s way. He is feeling great considering what happened. He was incredibly lucky to not have sustained any injuries. We were all humbled by what happened this week.

The day after I ran the Holyoke St. Patrick’s 10K Road Race, I wrote a lengthy post about it. I walked away for a bit and when I returned it was completely gone. My computer is driving me nuts lately. I just had to reboot because iTunes kept starting spontaneously for no apparent reason. My little MacBook is either getting old or it’s possessed!

On March 19, 2016 I ran my 5th Holyoke Road Race. I lined up in the back of the pack with a few friends. We all had different goals so we parted ways once we got to the start about 15 minutes after the gun went off. This year the race drew over 7,000 runner to the small city of Holyoke, MA.

Photo from MassLive.com

The city is alight with energy during the week celebrating St. Patrick’s Day, but the excitement on race day is frenzied. I don’t know who has more enthusiasm, the runners or the spectators. It’s a challenging course. It’s congested for at least 2 miles and then there are the hills. Just when you think your legs can’t take it anymore you begin flying down Cherry Street. If you’re smart or even remotely worried about your knees you have to reign in the speed and run the downhill safely.

The downhill is deserved, but it’s over quickly and then back up you go…not a huge hill around mile 5, but a hill nonetheless. It flattens out for the rest of the last mile and then the last turn is in sight. You turn that corner and can’t help but smile as you pass the raucous crowd wildly cheering outside of Griffin’s Pub. The finish line is less than a quarter mile away, but between you and the end is the infamous “Bitch Hill.” Doing that finish line sprint is tough when you have to run uphill even the slightest bit, but there are throngs of supporters waving beer, jello shots, and a variety of other beverages. You have to give it your all, but your legs are screaming at this point. Despite my best efforts and a solid push at the end I did not accomplish my sub-one hour A goal. I finished this year in 1:01:16.

Not my best year, but many enjoyed a great race. The men’s winner, Mourad Marofit, from Morocco set the course record with a time of 28:37. The female winner, Ethiopian runner Etalemahu Habtewold, also set a course record finishing in 32:50.

My friends did great. We all met after the race. They were full of excitement. I was really proud of them. And then there was my husband. He hasn’t run more than a few times since his last race, the Bridge of Flowers 10K in August. He finished in 51:59! Amazing!! He kills me. I would give anything to just jmp into a race and run that kind of a time.

This brings me to a recent conflict in my feelings. I have a friend who runs casually and has never run a race longer than a 10K. She is speedy. I see her 7 minute miles on Map My Run and she usually finishes Holyoke in about 50 minutes. So two days before a local half she texted me to announce she was running it, her longest run was a 10 mile run just the day before. I wished her well, but of course the green monster began stirring deep down. On the afternoon of the race I texted to find out how the race went. She killed it of course and ran her first half, untrained in under 1:56 during incredibly challenging weather conditions. It was cold and very windy that day. I sent her a sincere congratulations.

She texted back to say that she was seriously considering running an upcoming local marathon on May 1st. She figures if she can get in a few long runs before the event she will be fine. I had to pause before replying as the green monster of envy began rearing it’s extremely ugly head. At first I wanted to offer some words of wisdom about marathon training from a 5 time marathoner, but while that may be true I may never be able to run a half in under 1:56. I require extensive training for half and full marathons, but there are obviously people who are natural runners like my friend and my husband. In the end I replied by saying I was certain she would run an amazing race and I wished her luck. Shame on me for feeling jealous of her success. It makes me a little crazy to work so damn hard training for races only to watch some people jump right in there as though it’s nothing more than a walk in the park.

Any thoughts?

Today I will be leading a discussion at the Valley Veg Fest. The program description of the session looks like this:

Vegan Blogs– Sharing Information to Support Others – with Aimee Racicot

If you’d like to find some good vegan blogs and websites that provide accurate information and aren’t trying to sell you something, Aimee will help steer you in the direction of reliable, helpful resources for plant based eating, nutrition and living.

Aimee Racicot is a nurse case manager and behavioral health nurse in Western Massachusetts. Motivated by health reasons and the birth of her son in 2006 she changed her diet and discovered a love of running. In October she completed her 5th marathon. Aimee is currently working on a certificate in Plant Based Nutrition from The T. Colin Campbell Center for Nutrition Studies and eCornell.  Aimee’s own blog about running and her experiences is called Amazing in Motion.

I am feeling a bit nervous even though I could talk about this topic all day. I don’t typically have anyone who is willing to discuss though! I hope people will come by to check out the event. It features many local businesses, food vendors, and a great deal of interesting information.

If you’re in the Western Massachusetts, Northampton area come by.

I’m writing this from a computer center in a neighboring town. Carlos is taking a coding class. I am always on the lookout for local educational or cultural activities. This is a free class teaching kids the basics of coding on Scratch.  They are making virtual pets. They learned to write code to make the pet eat donuts amongst other things. When I was a kid I spent days writing a program in MS DOS to change the screen color on my Tandy Radio Shack computer. Things have certainly changed!

So the radio experience went very well yesterday. I was a bit nervous, but very grateful I had written out the answers to the questions. It helped things flow more smoothly and I was assured that I had done a decent job. They will edit my responses to create a short promotion for my son’s school.

My thoughts have been on traveling lately. I’m itching to go somewhere, anywhere. Carlos has spring vacation soon and I’m hoping to take a few days off because the two of us are long overdue for an adventure. I have a few thoughts, but nothing set in stone yet –

• take the train to D.C. – so much to do and see, but I think Carlos is at a great age to start
• Gettysburg – Carlos is very interested in military history
• Florida – visit my Dad

I am starting to plan for a destination fall marathon. I was notified last week that I did not get into the New York City Marathon though the lottery so that’s out. Yesterday I submitted my application to the Chicago Marathon lottery and I’m planning to enter the lottery for Marine Corps as well. If I don’t get into those then Twin Cities Marathon it is! I’m not holding my breath so I’ve been looking at hotels, flights, and sites to see in Minneapolis and St. Paul.

I’m also planning a getaway for Orlando and me to Ottawa to celebrate our 15 year wedding anniversary also this fall. My plan is to spend an entire day here.

Tomorrow morning I’m going down to a local radio station for a brief interview about our experience with the Montessori school our son attends.  I haven’t written much about our son’s education and the choice we made to transfer him to a completely different school system in 2nd grade. The decision was made much easier because Carlos was 100% on board with it, but it was a bold move in my opinion. The interview will likely get chopped down to a 30 second parent testimonial for a radio advertisement for the school, but feeling a little nervous I asked the Director of Communications for the school to share some of the questions that might be asked.

Why did you choose Montessori School? 

We chose the Montessori School because we wanted our son to be in an environment that identifies each child as an individual and is dedicated to helping the child reach his potential. I had heard about Montessori education, but had no experience with it. When my son was in first grade it became clear early on that we needed to explore other options for schooling. After a visit to Montessori, I knew instinctively that it was the right place for Carlos. I arranged for him to spend a day with the Lower Elementary class towards the end of first grade. When I picked him up that day it was as though new life had been breathed into him. I saw that excitement, enthusiasm, and energy I used to see when he was in kindergarten; all of those things missing throughout first grade. He asked if he would be returning the next day and was visibly disappointed when I said no he had to finish out first grade at the other school.

We chose Montessori School as a family, but it also chose us. It was very clear that Carlos would benefit from this style of education. In 1st grade he was accelerating in some areas, particularly reading, but was told to wait for the other students. Carlos was respectful, but was also understandably bored. He grew more and more frustrated by other issues in the classroom. His teacher had a habit of hollering at the small classroom of 13 students when they were talking too much, and the punishment was typically no recess. Carlos cherished any time outdoors because sitting still all day in the classroom was challenging for any child that age. He would get in the car after school with such sadness. He was no longer excited about school and learning. He also had little to no physical release throughout the day. By the Christmas break I was exploring other options including home schooling.

Montessori is unique because it allows students to work at their own pace in a very organic environment with readily available materials that facilitate the child’s understanding of the subject matter by using a progressive concrete to abstract approach to learning. Montessori seeks to educate the whole child while nurturing a love of learning at all stages throughout their education.

Can you describe what Carlos might say about his Montessori School?

Carlos would say he loves his Montessori School. He would tell you his school has the best playground and that recess is awesome because it’s long. Carlos would let you know that he enjoys the freedom to sit or stand in the classroom because he is a fidgety 9 year old, and sometimes he simply does not want to sit. He would tell you about walks to the wetlands, soccer games at recess, and really cool science experiments. He would say that he is happy to go to school every day.

How would you describe his teachers?

I would describe Carlos’ teachers at Montessori School as gifts. Each guide (this is what the teacher is called) seems so uniquely suited to the age group they work with and I have yet to encounter a teacher that seems unhappy in their work. They are giving, kind, and attentive to the individual needs of each student as well as how the students function as a community in the classroom. The teachers all display a sense of calm that has a profound impact on the learning environment.

Carlos also has guides for art, music, Spanish and gym. His art teacher is his favorite, but we won’t tell the others. She is amazing, and to see his enthusiasm not just for the art work they prepare in class, but for the knowledge she imparts to the children about art is truly magnificent.

Please describe the Montessori School community?

The Montessori School community is made up of the families and extended families of the children who attend, the children, and every single person on staff. The community promotes involvement, team work, and giving back to both the school and the larger community around the school. I think the children are given a rare opportunity to learn about community on different levels. They stop being the center of the universe and learn to become a part of something that is bigger and ultimately stronger when everyone works together. The Montessori School community is built on a foundation of peace, problem solving, and empathy for others. The children are given the unique opportunity to see community development on so many different levels.

How is the Montessori elementary program different from a traditional elementary program?

The Montessori School elementary program is vastly different from a traditional elementary program, and I can sum it up with a concrete example from earlier in the school year. Despite not having a Montessori foundation from early childhood, Carlos was, as I expected, a natural fit for the Montessori program. He adapted fairly quickly in his first year, and really enjoyed the experience. He entered 3rd grade this past fall. The elementary program is divided into lower elementary which is 1st through 3rd grade in one classroom and upper elementary which is 4th through 6th grade.

In December, I was approached by one of Carlos’ teachers who explained that he had been observed for a number of weeks by various staff because they believed he was ready to progress into the upper elementary classroom. The plan to transition Carlos was explained and I returned home to discuss it with Orlando. We had no reservations because this was exactly our expectation when we moved Carlos to the Montessori School. We wanted him to be helped if and when he fell behind, and at the same time we wanted it to be acted on when he was ready to move forward in anyway the staff saw fit. Montessori eliminates boundaries on learning. There are no limits in the curriculum. In Montessori a child is never finished learning.

Carlos made a very smooth transition to Upper Elementary after our trip to Mozambique. He has had a tremendous amount of support from his classmates, old and new, and his guides. Of course we couldn’t be more proud of Carlos, but we are also grateful to know that if he begins to struggle at any time it won’t go undetected and he will receive the support and guidance he needs both at school and at home.

If I could do my own education over again I would choose to attend a Montessori school. If I had another child knowing what I know now, I would absolutely start them in Montessori’s early childhood program. I will shorten these answers for the interview tomorrow, but it is clearly a topic I am very passionate about.

On January 2nd we made our way up the coast to Maxixe (pronounced ma-sheesh). Maxixe is actually the largest city in Inhambane Province with a population of over 105,000 people and serves as the economic capital of the province. Visible from the shore of Maxixe, across the bay, is the provincial capital Inhambane City. Maxixe is a busy town with much of the movement directed down to the water where people cross the bay to Inhambane by dhow or ferry boat often multiple times a day.

Dhow dreams

Hustle and bustle down to the docks

Orlando was born in Maxixe and both of his parents are from Inhambane Province. He still has a lot of family there and it is a place dear to his heart. Almost as soon as you leave Gaza province where we spend most of our time in Mozambique, the change in scenery is striking. Inhambane is lined with tall coconut trees and the glimpses of coastline give way  to magnificent stretches of turquoise most prominently seen from a vantage point in the town of Quissico.

View off the EN1 Highway in Quissico

No photo will ever do this view justice. When I was in training in the Peace Corps we were shown a photo of this view and then told that one of the volunteers would live nearby. Needless to say it was a coveted placement that most of us dreamed of, but many of the sites were very close to the coast. Mine was actually one of the furthest inland, about an hour away from the closest beach.

The trip to Maxixe is roughly 5 hours from Chokwe. We had a special visit to make before we reached our destination for the day. A couple of years ago we became Facebook friends with a Mozambican who had won a scholarship to study at a small private college just outside of Boston. In the year he was here we were never able to connect in person. He returned to Mozambique, but stayed in touch with Orlando via phone and FB messenger. This fall he returned to complete his Master’s degree at the invitation of the college’s president. We were determined to meet this time. I invited James to spend Thanksgiving with us and he accepted. Mozambicans in general are very nice people, truly. James was no exception, and the bond was instant. He is young, intelligent, friendly, and interesting. We spent hours the first night he visited just talking and laughing.

When we said goodbye to James we promised to stop by to meet his family while we were in Mozambique. His mom lives about 15 minutes south of Maxixe in a home James proudly built for her. We were greeted with open arms and treated to a feast fit for a king. It was barely noon and we were served samosas, biscuits, two kinds of rice, matapa with crab, cabbage salad and cucumber salad (specially made for me), chicken, and more. Everything was delicious. We spent as much time as we could with James’ family before it was time to meet another friend in Maxixe. Of course we had to take a few photos of our new friends before getting back on the road. It was a wonderful experience we won’t soon forget.

The ladies

Carlos making friends wherever he goes

I had plans to meet a dear friend and Peace Corps colleague in Maxixe around 1. She was visiting her in-laws for the holidays from Kenya where she now lives and works. We haven’t seen each other since she moved from Massachusetts to Kenya over a year ago so we had lots to catch up on. We met at a restaurant in the center of Maxixe overlooking the bay. She arrived with her step-son and 3 nieces who were all around Carlos’ age. The kids took a little time warming up to each other, but soon were fast friends. Lili and I chatted away while the kids colored and ate. The kids wanted ice cream after lunch and sadly the closest place was KFC. Yes KFC! It makes me frustrated to see fast food restaurants moving into Mozambique. No McDonald’s yet, but it’s just a matter of time I’m sure.

Dhow dreams

We spent two nights at a newer hotel in Maxixe called Farma’s Hotel. It was very nice, comfortable and we had a decent view of the bay. Carlos enjoyed the swimming pool.

His best friend Tyler and his mom made a package of envelopes for Carlos to open throughout the trip. It was such a creative and fun gift. Here he is by the Farma Hotel pool opening day 13 envelope.

We visited with Orlando’s cousin in Maxixe. Orlando and his cousin, Eliado, had a lot of catching up to do. The kids had a great time playing soccer. I took photos and tried to get Eliado’s wife to tell me how she makes her amazing matapa. Matapa is a signature Mozambican dish made with the leaves of the cassava plant.

On our second afternoon in Maxixe we took a drive to Inhambane city. We stopped at a friend’s home to visit for a bit. Then we drove out to the beach where we were hoping to stay for a couple of days. The drive to Barra beach was spectacular.

We spent the afternoon on the opposite end of the beach from where the resort was located. It was a spectacular day for relaxing and playing on the beach.

What you can’t see from my photos is the trash all over the beach. These photos were taken on January 3rd just days after the New Year. I was blown away when we stepped on the beach to find hundreds if not thousands of bottles, cans and other containers. Orlando and I started chatting with a South African couple who were doing their part to pile up the trash in a central location. They told us that everything was fine on New Year’s Eve. People celebrated and fireworks were lit. They said the next morning the beach seemed barely affected. The following day, January 1st, brought throngs of Mozambicans to the beach. They ate, drank and partied all day, and then just got up and left without cleaning up. We had seen similar stories of destruction and disrespect up and down the coast of Mozambique.

I joined the South Africans in trying to clean up the section of beach we were at, but truthfully it would have taken a full day to make any headway. The trash issue in Mozambique is disturbing. It’s not only the beaches. Trash is everywhere sometimes in piles and other times just dropped here and there. When I first met Orlando he thought nothing of throwing a wrapper or empty bottle out the bus window if we were traveling. I would gasp in horror!

Interestingly an article from October 20, 2015 recently came up in one of the Mozambique groups I belong to on Facebook. The title is Zero Tolerance for Littering the Beach. I’m glad to know that the Mozambican government is aware of the problem, but clearly the plan to patrol the beach and issue fines for littering hasn’t actually taken effect yet.

We left the beach and returned to our hotel in Maxixe for one more night. I went for a run through the town the next morning before packing up for a two night stay at Barra Beach. I got lots of interesting looks on my run. Then I decided to run along the coast. It was beautiful and peaceful until the end when I got chased by two dogs, had a guy try to join me, and then was almost unable to get up to the road where the hotel was located. I had to practically rock climb up a cliff and then I ran through someone’s yard. By then it was about 90 degrees in the shade. I was very grateful for air conditioning, a  clean shower, and coffee in the hotel.

Good morning! It’s about 6am. I’ve been up for a little over an hour. My mornings have been very productive lately. I just finished Day 7 of Yoga Camp with Adriene. She is one of my favorite online yoga instructors. In December I did 30 Days of Yoga with Adriene. I really enjoy her teaching style. The classes are all different and manageable for different levels of yoga.

This morning I read an article about Aspen Dental, a large chain of dental offices that target low income and elderly patients with cleverly marketed advertisements offering free dental exams and discounts on other services. Having worked for the Better Business Bureau, I am well schooled on the mantras “nothing in life is free,” and “if it seems to good to be true, well then it probably is.” However, I have the luxury of amazing dental insurance and the ability to understand clearly what my dentist is telling me so I am able to make an informed decision. This company prays on people who have little money, often don’t speak English, or are so desperate to have their dental problems resolved they are lured in by Aspen’s savvy marketing. The insurance company I work for no longer covers this provider thankfully. I can’t stress to my patients enough don’t agree to anything you don’t understand and always seek a second opinion especially when you’re unclear about the terms of service.

Today is a rather exciting day. I am beginning eCornell’s Plant Based Nutrition Certificate course. There was a generous discount offered around the holidays and I have been eyeing this course for some time. I meet with so many patients that are struggling with illnesses that could be improved if not resolved by changing their diets. I am becoming more confident about sharing information related to the benefits of a plant based diet. I don’t think everyone should become vegan, but shifting the focus from the Standard American Diet to one that offers more fruits and vegetables can only stand to benefit people. I am hoping that the certificate will be the beginning of educational opportunities that will lend credibility to my advice and suggestions for patients who just want to feel better, and are tired of taking so much medication.

Other things:

• Serial is back! This time it’s about the U.S. soldier, Bowe Bergdahl, who walked off his base in Afghanistan only to be held captive by the Taliban for almost 5 years.
• If you listened to the first season of Serial then you know the subject of that season, Adnan Syed will be allowed a post-conviction hearing that may lead to a re-trial.
• And if you loved the first season of Serial have you listened to Undisclosed?
• I cannot get into the presidential campaign. I just cannot!
• The Alternative Daily was offering a free package of Lucy’s Bru coffee recently so I grabbed it. Remember nothing is free though. I had to pay shipping of course, but I love to try good organic coffee and the shipping was less than what I would pay for any bag of coffee. It’s delicious, but unless there is a sale I probably won’t be buying any more at $18.95 a bag.
• Little by little I am switching my toiletries to products with healthy ingredients. I discovered Annmarie Gianni’s line of products about a year ago and I love everything I’ve tried. My new favorite is the Earth Minerals foundation. It’s light, goes on smooth, and lasts all day. I don’t feel like I’m wearing makeup at all.

I hear Carlos getting up upstairs. Let the morning begin!! Have a great day.

A “friend” on Facebook recently posted the following:

Further grist for my own internal wrestling on my food choices, especially my (for now) decision to eat animal products. 

I can’t abide the insensitivity that is required to raise animals for human consumption, and yet, I am still eating meat. So I am participating in it. 

And yet, my body feels the best it ever has right now, after 13 days of eating only vegetables, fruits, nuts, avocado/coconut fats, eggs, and meats. I don’t feel well when I eat grains and legumes, staples of the plant-based diet.

At the base of this is her own conflict between how she feels about animals and how she feels when she eats animals. I get it. I’m sure many people, particularly animal lovers, struggle with this dilemma. The post in and of itself was about this woman’s personal feelings and struggle to do what feels good for her body versus what aligns with her values.  If she had left it there I wouldn’t have given it a second thought other than good for her.

It didn’t end there. At the end of the post she included this video:

Why this video? It’s ridiculous. I would never act like that nor would I use up that much energy to defend my diet. I’ve never seen a vegan person react this way.

For people wrestling with the ethical nature of killing an animal to eat it well as my mom would say, “if you don’t think it’s the right thing to do then you probably shouldn’t do it.” Stop blaming the vegans for making you feel badly. I’m certainly not going around pointing fingers at anyone.

I just wish people would stop all of this nonsensical arguing over which diet is the best diet. It’s not one size fits all. How about eating a diet that makes you feel amazing, gives you energy, keeps you healthy, and provides you with a variety of nutrients? We’ve complicated food over the years. Can we all agree that eating more fruits and vegetables isn’t going to hurt anyone? And can’t we agree that eating a diet devoid of fruits and vegetables is not healthy? It’s common sense really.

Round trip airfare for three to Mozambique is not inexpensive especially at Christmas time. My sister and I spent hours on the phone one fall day piecing together various one way tickets until we finally came up with the perfect combination that was in our price range. However, instead of flying the time efficient nonstop flight from JFK to Johannesburg we were going to fly from JFK to Istanbul and then Istanbul to Johannesburg after a 13.5 hour layover. Returning we would go from Johannesburg to Dubai and finally back to JFK after a 14 hour layover. I loved the idea of taking a whirlwind tour of two new to me places. Orlando was game too. 

Preparing for a three week trip to Mozambique for three people while cramming in an entire month’s work into roughly 2.5 weeks while working per diem at the hospital and maintaining Carlos’ active schedule was a To Do list maker’s dream. I had at least two lists going at all times. Despite feeling fairly organized, even though I was wrapping up work related tasks about 20 minutes before we left the house, I am human and I do forget things every now and then. More on that later.

I’ve been asked how the heck do you pack for such a trip. Lists are imperative in my opinion. I have a packing list which is divided between items I really can’t live without and things I need to buy. That list gets written and rewritten numerous times throughout the packing process. 

For a long trip we have to check in bags. For shorter trips we try to do a carry on only. My husband insisted we could only check two bags because his brother’s car might not be able to accommodate all of the luggage. My brother-in-law would be picking us up in Johannesburg and driving us to Mozambique. Turkish airlines allows two check in bags per person no more than 50 pounds each. Well after Orlando jammed his clothing, 4 deflated soccer balls, work boots and clothing for his brother, 3 towels, a big bottle of permethrin repellent, a jar of coconut oil, a package for a friend, and Carlos’ clothes it was well over the 50 pounds. 

I reorganized and re-packed everything into the large suitcase and a smaller carry on size suitcase. Problem solved. My check in bag was under the weight limit. In the end we checked in a large suitcase, medium size suitcase, and a carry on size suitcase. 

Everyone takes their own carry on and is responsible for it. I also make “survival kits for everyone.” Carlos and Orlando get large ziplock bags with a toothbrush, toothpaste, gum, a pen, ibuprofen for Orlando, lip balm, and hand wipes. This eliminates them asking me for things throughout the flight. Mine is a pretty threefold toiletry kit with travel size luxury items like jojoba oil, rose water spray, facial wipes, moisturizer, hand lotion, band aids, tea bags, and an assortment of probiotic/greens/vitamin packets to mix with water. Pampering in the sky!!

Packing in progress

Carlos got a great new carry on for his birthday from my sister. His carry on is packed with a variety of electronics, pens, markers, a notebook, a change of clothes, a book, and bunny. This is bunny’s third trip to Mozambique. Bunny is a very well traveled stuffed animal. 

Orlando took a small back pack for his iPad, headphones, phone, and charger. He would also take the carry on of food. Yes I do pack an entire carry on of healthy snacks. It’s chock full of treats from Trader Joe’s and more. I learned this trick after our first trip to Mozambique when Carlos was 2 and subsisted on basically lollipops and cookies from Amsterdam to Johannesburg. 10 hours jacked up on sugar! KLM had no food on board other than lollipops, cookies, juice and peanuts. It was horrible. The snack bag comes in handy both in flight and during layovers. There is trail mix, granola bars, applesauce, oatmeal packets, nuts, health bread (for me), and more. 

My carry on is a large black vinyl bag from Banana Republic. It washes easily and is very durable. It has a small front zip pocket which is ideal for my phone. The inside is one large compartment with a zip pocket for tissues, hand wipes, etc. and two smaller open pockets perfect for easy to grab pens and a pair of sunglasses. For long trips like this my carry contains a multi sleeve envelope for passports and documents, a notebook, pens, a scarf, hair ties, my iPad, phone, and my airplane toiletries bag. The large part of the bag zips which halts pickpockets and also helps the contents from spilling out onto the X-ray belt. 

Other helpful tips:

• Keep your chargers all together in a small bag or pouch
• Keep a list of important login IDs and passwords just in case you don’t have access to the Internet or your phone. I keep the logins in one suitcase and the passwords in my carry on so the information can’t be easily stolen.
• Don’t buy black luggage. I have it and I am working on getting rid of it once it wears out a little more. My next luggage will be bold and bright and very easy to spot on the luggage belt. 
• Be sure to order any special meals ahead of time preferably when you book your ticket, and if you know you ordered them don’t be passive on the plane. Every flight lately I am told they have to check on it. Then they return with my vegan meal with a sticker that has my name on it so it was prepared ahead of time. 
• Bring an empty water bottle that you can refill for free at the airport. Buying water is so expensive.
• Pack a smoothie cup for easy mixing of smoothies, greens packets, vitamin mixes, etc.
• If you like tea bring your own tea bags. You can heat water in most hotel rooms and getting a cup of hot water is usually free or very cheap at restaurants.
• For long flights I try not to wear makeup. It makes it easier to apply moisturizer and toner multiple times on the flight which keeps my skin feeling healthy.

Despite my great organizational skills I’m prone to forgetting things too. I made a rookie error when we left the house and didn’t review my list of “absolutely don’t leave home without it” items. OK I didn’t really have such a list, but I will now. Details to come in h e next post. 

Share your packing tips. I’m always open to new ideas and love to hear how others stay organized. 

I was so excited for my solo turkey trot this morning. It’s my favorite tradition. It’s not about being able to eat more later. It actually has the opposite effect because getting out for a long run particularly when I’m not training for an event is more about mental clarity. When it comes time to eat I’m feeling so great about all the miles I ran earlier and I don’t want to sabotage that feeling. It is my Thanksgiving gift to myself.

Even though I went to bed late I was up at 5 and out the door at 5:45. I drove to the reservoir in the dark. The full moon was still shining bright. Fortunately it wasn’t too cold. Off I went and I just kept going for 14 miles. I never have a plan only to run 10 or more miles. I have so much to be thankful for and being out in the fresh air as the sun comes up over the water is such a beautiful way to reflect and begin the day.

Last night we met our new Mozambican friend, James, who is studying in Boston. We went out to dinner and all chatted as though we have known each other for ages. My husband was all smiles speaking Portuguese and reminiscing about Mozambique. It was fun listening to the two of them continue their conversation at home while I baked some vegan desserts for today.

I made pumpkin cranberry bread and the most incredible blackberry brownies. Carlos, Orlando and I tasted them this morning and we were all quite impressed. They are decadent without being really sweet and the blackberries add the perfect balance to the chocolate. I followed this recipe from the Fat Free Vegan.

The guys just left for the local high school football game. I’m roasting up butternut squash and Brussel sprouts which will then get tossed with fresh cranberries.

This afternoon will be our first ever post dinner soccer match…Mozambique vs. Brazil! I’m team Mozambique!

I’m grateful for the good health of myself and my family. I am very thankful for all of the good fortune in my life, the wonderful experiences I’ve had, and the people who have touched my life along the way.

Happy Thanksgiving!