Marshall Ramsey

Tuesday Morning Free-For-All

Posted on September 18, 2012 by Marshall Ramsey

Listen to the rhythm of the falling rain. Another damp one out there. Just remember that the sun is shining above the clouds. Too bad we’re not above the clouds.

Posted in MRBA | 34 Comments

Fit-to-Fat-to-Fit Blog: Hills

Posted on September 17, 2012 by Marshall Ramsey

I run early in the morning for one reason: There are very few (if any) cars. I like to allow my mind to wander. And when your mind wanders, sometimes you don’t see the guy who’s texting behind the wheel. Four in the morning is safer than eight at night.

My mind REALLY wandered this morning. It was focused on some problems for most of my run. In fact, I was so not “there” that I ran up a couple of steep hills and didn’t even remember running up them.

Which brings me to my point: Hills are mental.

Let me repeat that: Hills are mental.

Sure, my heart rate and breathing went up. But my body could handle the physical demands of going up the numerous hills in my neighborhood. Once I took my brain out of the equation, I hardly even noticed the hills were even there. .

Like my neighborhood, life has lots of hills. You are physically able to handle them. But are you mentally? Will you dread going up them or will you attack them with vigor? Will you look up and see and unattainable climb? Or will you break the climb into little pieces and shine all the way to the top? Will you complain about having them in your path or will you realize they will make you stronger? Hills make or break us. They define us.

Train your mind as your run up the hills on your running course and in your life. And soon you’ll be making molehills out of mountains.

I ran 5.6 miles this morning. It was a humid morning but I made it OK. Thankful for another blessed morning to run.

Posted in Fat-Fit-Fat | 1 Comment

Monday Free-For-All

Posted on September 17, 2012 by Marshall Ramsey

Good morning! We’re starting another week!

Posted in MRBA | 26 Comments

Back cover art for Fried Chicken & Wine

Posted on September 16, 2012 by Marshall Ramsey

Posted in Cartoon | 6 Comments

Meet Pip

Posted on September 16, 2012 by Marshall Ramsey

Pip is recharging

Late that horrible Saturday night, my family walked into our now-empty house and were crippled by the pain of Banjo the dog’s death. At that moment, we vowed to take some time between dogs. We were emotionally (and financially) drained.

I picked up the phone the next day and called Vicki, the breeder who gave us Banjo (as a rescue). When he died, he was the last Calirose Border Terrier living. Her dogs were and had produced a distinguished string of champions. Banjo wasn’t one of them. But he was champion when it came to having heart. I told her the bad news about his death and thanked her profusely for allowing Banjo and Molly (our other Border Terrier who died in November 2010) into our lives.

A few days later, Vicki let us know that a friend of hers, Jim, had a Border Terrier who had a litter of pups. We told her we’d think about it and would let her know. But then she said, “They were born right about the time Banjo died.” The coincidence was too much.

Our plans to wait a year between dogs shrank to weeks. But it wasn’t a bad thing. My wife and I hadn’t gone a day without saying, “We miss Banjo.”

Sometimes you don’t find a dog. Sometimes the dog finds you.

Pip came home yesterday. She’s the smallest of the litter — not a runt, but small. Jim started calling her Pip for Pipsqueak and it stuck. She also was the most alert and first to greet Jim when he came to the box to check on them. She walked into our home like she has been in it for years and loves to play with all three of my boys. She’s pretty much house trained and loves to cuddle with my wife. She’s mostly black right now, but will lighten up like her mother Twinkee as time goes on. (her father, Rocky, has black fur). Her mother was incredibly smart and by all indications, she is a chip off the old block. It is going to be a fun ride.

We still miss Banjo. Like I’ve said so many times before, he was a special dog. But I know Pip will be special, too. Talking to Jim yesterday, I found out that Pip was born nearly at the same exact moment Banjo died. I don’t know if any of Banjo’s spirit got into this feisty little girl. But I’d like to believe it did.

Posted in Writing | 23 Comments

Sunday Free-For-All

Posted on September 16, 2012 by Marshall Ramsey

Good morning! We drove to pick up Pip yesterday. She’s a seven-week-old Border Terrier puppy (same breed as Banjo). In fact, she was born at almost the precise moment Banjo died. She’s full of moxie and energy.

Posted in MRBA | 11 Comments

Fit-to-Fat-to-Fit Blog: The bad choice

Posted on September 14, 2012 by Marshall Ramsey

Have you ever done something and knew — I mean just knew that you’d pay for it the next day? You know what I’m talking about: That choice. Yes, that choice that sounded like a good idea at the time to your stomach while your mind was screaming, “NO!!!!!”

I had one of those choices last night and unfortunately listened to my stomach. And now I’m listening to my stomach once again.

For the record: Taco Bell is not a performance enhancer.

Before you go and get all judgemental on me, I’ll admit, I was weak. And I’ll also admit that the Taco Bell in the Pilot Truck stop was calling to me like a siren’s song. And I’ll plead with you that there just aren’t many places to pick up a quick dinner between Carrollton, Mississippi and my house. And yes, I was hungry from being on the air for three hours.

But I should have resisted. I should have made a better choice.

I did run this morning. I ran 5.35 miles and I ran it quickly. Mainly because I had to.

After you eat healthy for a few months, your body rejects fast food. You feel bloated and sluggish from all the fat, carbs, additives and salt. Next time my stomach craves a 1/2 combo burrito, I’ll remind it of the price it paid the last time I ran for the border.

Now if you excuse me, I’m going to get a salad. I think my stomach is still mad at me.

Posted in Fat-Fit-Fat | 5 Comments