Monday, January 29, 2007

Gratitude: The Letter R

Running: I have a lot of fond memories that involve running. Track in middle school when I could still hang with the best runners in fairly short distances; cross country in high school and various road/beach races; my nice, flat running route in Atlanta; my loop in my hometown; and now it's mainly the endorphins/good feeling that I look forward to. Oh, and I'm grateful for my running playlist, which is how I sometimes time my intervals. It's so much easier to run with fun music. I can't believe I used to run up to 6 miles a day without any.

Roller-skating (and roller blading): LOVE it! Why doesn't anyone ever want to go with me? And why are most skating rinks so gross? I call the one in my hometown the "skanking rank" as a result of all the old men who hit on my when I was in middle and high school. Funny, a lot of them knew my dad who was a local probation officer.

Redeeming qualities: Most everyone and everything has at least one, and Red Lobster is no exception. Its redeeming quality is its garlic cheese rolls, and fortunately they can be purchased to-go (last time I checked it was 6/$1.50).

Rainbows, RJJ, Red Rover, Ryan Adams (if you don't know his music, check it out), raw fish, rockstars (I mainly just like that word), Rolos, "Rhythm of the Night," Radiohead, "Rain King," "Rearviewmirror," "Roundhere," rubber ducks, "Runaway Train," Revenge of the Nerds, romance, roses, roller coasters, rest, relaxation, roast with potatoes, resorts, rainforests, raisins, romaine lettuce, Ryane, recipes, R.E.M., reason, Running with Scissors

Relationships: We're relational creatures, and I am enormously grateful for my relationships with my friends, family, and God.

Reading: My first real memories of reading are from third grade. I remember reading Nancy Drew booksand making a dio-rama (in a shoebox) on The Moonstone Castle Mystery. I also remember Mrs. Grisham reading The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe to my class. In fourth grade, I read over 300 books during the school year. Insane, I know, but I loved to read. I would hide in my closet after bedtime and read. Now I don't read books so much since I read all day at work, but every now and again, a good book still captures my attention.

19 comments:

ReadItDaddy said...

What a lovely set of R's...

I'm definitely with you on Rollerblading...I am so utterly hooked on my skates and love arsing about on them - they're a pair of hypnos, which means I can snap the wheels off and run if I have to. So that covers two R's right there. Pity you're not in my neck of the woods, I'd ask you to go skating.

Peej
x

Aaron said...

I can't believe you used to run six miles a day, either. Don't lie, I know that's back when we were in high school! :P

I wouldn't have ever guessed you would step foot in a Red Lobster, but if it's just for the garlic cheese rolls, it makes sense.

Ally said...

Peej: I'm glad you explained what hypnos are. I guess I'm old school.

Aaron: Some days I ran more than six miles! But it was all when I was a nanny and had a lot of free time for running, swimming, cardiofunk and the like. Are you implying that I'm a food snob:)?

anne said...

I love that Red Rover made it on there. Have not thought about that in decades!

The same is probably true for Red Lobster - but something about those garlic cheese rolls sounds delic.

Aaron said...

But YOU ARE a food snob! Say it!

megabrooke said...

I love your R's! I think it's funny that you paired "reeding qualities" and "red lobster!" Haha!
Also a HUGE fan of Ryan Adams, Rolos, Radiohead, and Red Rover! :)

ella said...

Red Lobster rocks! I'm a big fan of the shrimp scampi. Glad you included Ryan Adams - I love his song "New York" for obvious reasons...

Ryane said...

aww..thanks! I am somewhat partial to 'r's' myself..including:

Rolling Stones, Red toe-nail polish, recipes, ReallyReally loud music, riddles, rock shrimp, red birds, radios, red shoes...

R's Rule!

Ally said...

Ryane: Rock shrimp is a good call!

Ella: He's got a handful of songs I really really like. I'm glad a friend mentioned him in passing b/c I never would have heard of him otherwise.

Brookem: I thought Red Lobster was a key example of something that only has one or two redeeming qualities:)

Aaron: I may have to write a blog about said snobbery.

e.b.: Why do we quit playing all of those fun games? I especially love Capture the Flag.

megabrooke said...

Ha, good point! I'll have to go to one, just for that reason.
I love Capture the Flag. And SEVEN UP!

Allen Madding said...

'R' is for racing :)
radio (even though video killed the radio star)
RockNRoll (without which I would have never survived growing up in a town of 5,000.I'd like to thank Lynyrd Skynrd, Molly Hatchet, Blackfoot, and Van Halen)
Rant, the mental clensing technique that is close to my soul
Resurection I celebrate Christ's resurection everyday (who needs to wait for easter?
Redeemed perhaps the biggest mystery of our faith. Why God chose to redeem folks as messed up as me will always leave me amazed.
Rock Lobster Not much music by the B-52s that I'm crazy about, but you have to love that song!
Raise Could you not smile if you heard that word from your boss? (it's good to dream anyhow)

Ally said...

Allen, you came up with some great ones--especially our redemption and Christ's resurrection. And how could I forget raises? They make me like work more (for at least a few days). I realized last night I also forgot red hots and rice crispy treats too.

Anonymous said...

Richard reached rapidly rising retail retardation

DCVita said...

Mmmmm Rolos! I have not had those in YEARS! I also love to read. I will read three books at the same time. I would so much rather make a hot cup of tea, get a great book, and lounge on the couch with my blanket. Can you tell that I don't want to be in the office today?! haha

Kimberly said...

A few of my "R"s:
Jasmine rice. Red skittles. Reruns of SNL favorites. Recess (anything that means a break). My cousin Robin. "The Ragamuffin Gospel" by Brennan Manning. Retail therapy. Reduced prices (preferably those two at the same time).
I loved "redeeming qualities" on your list. :) great way to see the positive!

Ally said...

Anonymous: Rhat rus rot r roem.

DCVita: That sounds perfect. I had forgotten about Rolos until the other day--I rented a movie, and it seemed more complete with the childhood treat of Rolos.

Kimberly: Thanks for adding yours! Red (and purple) skits are the best, and I've heard good things about The Ragamuffin Gospel. I'll have to check it out.

Anonymous said...

You ever come to Nashville we will find a skating rink--

Love the song Roundhere

Resorts!! Don't remind me...6 more months til vacation!

Kimberly said...

I only eat the red and purple Skittles! I thought I was the only wierdo that did that..and I only like purple and pink Sweet-tarts! Glad to find a kindred spirit. I should've guessed though since you share my love for all things sugary ;)

Ally said...

Kimberly: Definitely kindred spirits.

FC&F: I'm jealous that you already have you next vacation planned. After NYC, I need to get planning because a resort sounds lovely!