Monday mix tape - Edinburgh edition!

 

Hey y'all I'm back in America after a fantastic trip! I took a ton of pictures so I'm just going to share those instead of blah blah blah-ing about it!

The Edinburgh festival and the Fringe were in full swing. The worlds largest arts festival lived up to its name for sure! We got to see a few shows and lots of interesting street performances!

In the middle of it all

show flyers everywhere

I drank A LOT of beer. 

Husband whole pint and my half pint

And I ate A LOT of food

Curry!!!!!

Fish and Chips!!!

Prawns in North Berwick that were swimming just hours before eating

Sticky Toffee Pudding. I have never had this before and I have no idea why. Absolutely divine!

I ran almost every day along the beautiful sea front. These were the best runs I've ever had. Nothing like the North Sea air in your lungs!

My daily route with complete with lots of dogs!

Time for a new shirt. I look like I'm wearing my dads!

More daily running views

I made a new best friend who is the biggest cat I've ever met!

 Saw some Football

Big rivalry game and it was not a good result!

We thoroughly enjoyed the unusually GORGEOUS weather

Gorgeous views always

The bridge in Musselburgh

Princes Street Gardens

Happy Tait's on the bus!

So that's about it! I'm tired and happy to be home but sad to leave at the same time. I've never enjoyed that city as much as I did this trip. People joke about it being designed by M.C. Escher - up hill no matter which way you go - and it's true. Some of the stairs are so tall that they don't even look real. Last time we were there I almost had a heart attack (seriously). This time, I ran every stair in that city, flew up the hills without ever being out of breath and most of all, felt freedom to do ANYTHING.

As I was curled up in my plane seat on the way home I couldn't believe there was ever a time I was on the verge of not fitting in it. There was no panic when the food came and I had to put my tray table down or when it was time to go get up and go to the bathroom. People who have never been fat have NO IDEA how hard it is on a plane. I will never ever have to worry about it again and that makes me so happy I could cry.
 
I did lose a pound while I was away but brought back some sugar cravings. A few days away from drinking and replacing fish and chips with healthy food will help!  I will weigh in again on Friday - we're coming up on the 100 pounds lost mark which I hope to hit in the next couple of weeks. I ran an hour this morning which turned out to be 4.56 miles - I think that's a great start considering I can barely keep my eyes open! :)

Have a happy, healthy week everyone!

A love story for Valentines Day

Almost 6 years ago (and many pounds ago) I was newly dumped by my live in boyfriend and starting over. I was feeling pretty good about myself physically and even did my first 3-Day 2 weeks later. I had a new puppy, a new place and a new job. But I was so empty. I had loved several people up to this point but no-one ever returned the love that was given.

My boss was crazy. Literally. I had to take a Xanax in my car at lunch a few times a week. She was just never satisfied. She even made me put a box to check off next to each thing on my to-do list. I'm a crosser-offer, not a checker. But I did what I was told. Finally we hired a copywriter who not only made the office bearable, but changed my entire life.

Copywriter was from Scotland and one day we got to talking about music etc. and he said "you know, I have a friend who's recently divorced and he's coming to visit in a few months. I should introduce you. You two are so much alike." Later on that day an email came through titled 'Intro-duc-shun'

This guy was amazing. We sent emails back and forth for a few days. Then started on the instant message which then progressed to phone calls. I was starting to realize I was crazy about this guy I had never even met in person. Sure we exchanged pictures. I had even sent one of what I look like on a Saturday just so he wouldn't get the idea I was always gorgeous :) I think we were both feeling like there was something between us but neither one of us could fathom that. One day he just said it and after a moments silence I finally said "I feel the same".

There were still a couple months to go before he was going to come to visit until one day crazy biatch boss scheduled a meeting with me stating that there was no need to prepare anything. I knew I was getting fired. And I was THRILLED.

There I was 34 years old, single and unemployed. I knew this was a huge turning point in my life and if I didn't find out if this long distance romance? was real then there was no way I could start a new job. So, a few hours later, I had a pint of ice cream and a buddy pass on Delta for a flight to Manchester.

I called sweet Scottish guy right when I got home and told him I was unemployed. He said he was sorry and I said "I'm not because I'm coming to Scotland".

Sure I was slightly nervous and of course I had a backup plan. I probably would have never been brave enough to do that if my friend at work hadn't known his whole family etc. At least it wasn't some random guy from a chat room I was meeting 5,000 miles from home. I had never even been out of the country.

I ended up not getting on the flight to Manchester but I got one to London. I figured as long as I was on his continent, we could get to each other. I called him from the airport in London and told him to meet me in the train station in Edinburgh 5 hours later. I still wasn't really nervous. I just felt like it was meant to be.

As my train finally made the painstakingly slow stop in Edinburgh, I saw him. He was right there at the door where my car stopped. Like he knew where I was in the train. In the most romantic train station, in the most romantic city, in a country I've never been to.

The doors opened and that was it for both of us. We knew after our first kiss that we would be together forever. We were engaged 3 days later, "commuted" for a year and a half, and were married 4 years ago in North Carolina. The logistics of importing a husband are a little crazy but totally worth it :)

I have never loved anyone so much or been so loved. I'm still sad on Monday's when we have to leave each other to go to work. Thinking about the hard times when we were apart still makes my stomach hurt. I'm the luckiest girl in the world and I'm so glad I waited for the one.

Happy Valenties day everyone!