There has been quite a bit of this on RunWiki these days
Hello, yes, I know, it’s been quite some time since my last post. A few times in life you must step away from the computer. There are certain things that just take priority over blogging and running, so I have been absent from both and, completely fine with that choice.
We have been unpacking and this process is going much slower than planned. This new house is much smaller than our previous so we are purging the old to make space. I personally love it! I can’t stand “stuff”, the more simple we can live the better. Life is already so complicated, why clutter it with more junk?
The kids started school, so I have been really focused on making sure their transition into this new environment goes smooth. It has been great so far. California is so casual and laid back. The Mom’s and kids just walk right up to and say “welcome”. I feel like I’ve been here forever (I did grow up here so that makes it feel much more familiar) My kids are doing great and love school. We have great teachers. I already have an amazing posse! here they are…
They just welcomed and pulled me in as if I have known them for years. I already love them and know I will hang with these ladies for good. They had me laughing so hard this night, my abs were sore the next day. Now, if I can just get one of them to be a crazy runner girl, I’m set.
I went on my first run in two weeks today. I dropped the kids off at school and hit the trails behind our house. In the process of moving, I have misplaced my GPS charger, so I have no clue how far I went. At the start of the trail head the path went straight up, so I wasn’t exactly running but my heart rate was and, so were my lungs.
It is so beautiful here. Arid, dry and very exposed. So vastly different from the forests and Civil War Trails of Northern Virginia. I love the distinct and strong smell of Sagebrush, Sycamore and Eucalyptus, it reminds me of my childhood hiking through some of these same areas.
I made my way to the top of the hill/mountain… the overlook was worth the effort. In the distance is the Ronald Reagan Library and a sea of tiny houses, I instantly thought of the theme song from the Showtime TV Show “Weeds”.
After this lookout, it turned into more manageable fire trails, so I picked up the pace and started heading down. I hit the back side of an adjacent town, so I thought I’d better turn around and head back (I did not want to get lost, my kids need me! 
). I ran into two ladies walking their tiny dogs, they looked something like this…
They stopped and asked if I was OK… that I “looked like I just fell down a cliff”. I looked down at my body and said “I do?” Apparently, I need to wear a hell of lot more make up and nicer cloth’s when I run. I continued back toward what I thought was the trail head but must have made a wrong turn because I ended up being locked in. Here is the trail I ran down and then I ended up this locked gate.
I found a way around the gate and into a housing development and then faced the final challenge…being locked IN at yet another gate…
I said F*** it and I jumped this bad boy… my crotch is still angry at me for that one, but I made it.
So that was my Friday morning…I’m sure your sleeping or quickly skimming through this boring post. Have a wonderful weekend my beautiful readers. xoxo
Lisa
What was your morning like?
Any plans for the weekend?
About Lisa
I was thinking about you today and how much I missed hearing from you! I’m so happy to hear how well you and your family are doing! Your post made me chuckle a few times, thank you for that!
Morning was a good one! Woke up with a puppy staring at me, hungry…nothing beats that look in his face telling me IT’S TIME! FEEEED MEEEE.
Have a great weekend!
xo
Miss you too Kier! We would have fun if we were neighbors, eh? I love your baby Teddy so much… that face is the perfect way to wake up. Have a great weekend! xoxo
Looks like you are getting settled in amazingly well. You had your own little obstacle course on that run.
Yes, all is well!Yes, your right, it might as well have been an obstacle run add in some rain and mud and it would have been! Thank you for your comment Carrie
SO funny about the ladies who lunch asking if you were ok! I love it. As much as I love trail running here, I love the trails in the west more. They are so beautiful. I envy you that! Glad you are getting settled in and finding some friends to bond with. You definitely need to make one of them a runner!
Have a great weekend!
Please come and visit ANYTIME! we have spare bedroom and a lap pool with your name on it.
I am sooo jealous you have a lap pool! Is Rob in it every day?
ahh the beauty of running in a new place, motivation, adventure and complete confusion
welcome back!
Thank you Amanda!!! It’s good to be back
Sometimes it is indeed more important to step away from the computer and just enjoy your life. Sounds like you’ve had so much going on. That’s wonderful that everyone seems so laid back and welcoming too!
Thank you Heather… it was a much needed break… running and blogging just wasn’t fun anymore.. amazing what a few weeks will do to refresh you! Thank you for comment.
So great to hear from you- I’ve missed your posts! I saw that gate on instagram and was curious what the story was… what an adventure! Have a great weekend, Lisa.
Hi Laura! I thought about Instagram… what people must be thinking! Half the time my kids are taking pictures… haha! Happy Happy Birthday beautiful girl!!!
I’ve missed you but so so glad that settling in has been going well. Stepping away from the computer is necessary – we need to live our lives, right? You had quite an adventure this morning. Wish mine was that adventurous
Our plan for the weekend is a big visit to the Container Store since the boys are so much crap that it’s no longer fitting in their rooms. Must organize. Happy Friday!!
OH I love the Container Store! Just the idea of being organized makes me happy… probably because I’m not. HA! Hope you have a great weekend! xoxo
Ohhhh, the good and the bad of the Golden State! Glad you’re getting settled in and have already found a posse — that definitely makes a difference:)
Sounds like quite an adventure! I know how hard it is getting settled after a big move. I am dealing with the same thing myself. I am glad that things are working out.
LOL, ouch to the crotch for sure. But i am sure you looked tough and strong, not falling down a cliff. Glad you are getting settled
I have missed your posts so much but knew you were busy with the move and settling in. I can’t wait to visit and run those arid trails (arid sounds like paradise right now, I’m sooo sick of humidity) and bump into ladies who look like Joan Rivers! I’ll bet you were their topic of conversation for the next week! Darn gated communities – bane of a runner’s existence. You will just have to start doing parkour so you can vault anything in your way.
SO glad to hear that you are settled in. It’s my dream to live in California, though I also love VA! I just wanna get out of New England! And to have a group of girlfriends is totally crucial. It’s great the kids are settled in school but sometimes you’ll need a break
and that’s where the girlfriends come in right?! 
Hello beautiful Cait! Thank you so much! Come and visit ANYtime! We have an extra room and you’re always welcome. Come and see SoCal! Hope you have a great week.
Welcome back! Glad your family is settling in and you have a posse. Definitely a must wherever you are.
It’s so funny you thought of Little Boxes – it totally looks like that! And now that song is stuck in my head. Thanks!
Hey Angela,
Thank you so much! Doesn’t it look like little boxes?! So funny and that song, it sounds like a hippy grandma singing and it always makes me giggle. xoxo
I am so glad that back to school is going well for your children.
Your California runs look great. My favorite run ever is actually in CA. My grandma lives near the Pacific Coast hywy and I will run about 4 miles into Monterrey and down to the wharf to watch/listen to the sea lions.
Abby, Thank you so much!
Oh my goodness that Monterey run sounds epic!
It looks like everything turn out to be just perfect! You sound so happy in this post and this makes me very happy, you deserve it!!
Very happy! Come for visit anytime!
LOL. Can we call you the “gate keeper?”
Trails are always full of surprises.
Yes, Gate keeper is appropriate.. you know I love nicknames Pavie!
SO SO GLAD YOU CHECKED IN.
xoxox
Thank you MizFit!!! xoxoxo
Your run looks beautiful! Do you use any sort of mile tracker? I am just starting to run again and have a half marathon in sight for december, I know many runners use them but didn’t know if they were extremely helpful?
Hi Lauren,
Yes, generally I use a Garmin GPS however, on this run I went free of device. Occasionally, I just need to not be so concerned with distance and focus on how my body feels. If your training for a half, I would highly recommend one though. They’re really essential in getting yourself familiar with what different paces/heart rates feel like. Plus, many people enjoy tracking their progress. Good luck with your half in December and thank you very much for your comment! -Lisa
Hey Lisa! Glad the move has gone well. Maybe I should move so I would be forced to sort through all my “stuff.” Love, love, love Weeds! Do you watch it regularly? I am not ready to say goodbye to the Botwins!