3 years and 42 days later

Wow that was a long time ago, it seems like only yesterday. Things are much different now. Melissa is back in N.Y. at culinary school. Rachel moved to FL, and moved back, is in college and a waitress. Hannah graduated from high school in Jan and not only is she really good with kids, she is the best babysitter ever. Hannah is a great help around the house and a fun girl to hangout with. Emily is in middle school and an amazing dancer. Grace is definitely not a baby anymore. Rachel gave her an old cell phone with a texting app so she can text as long as she is connected to wifi. She is hilarious. The other night she text me from bed and asked me to bring her some water lol. Normally I would be against such a thing as a seven year old with a cell phone, but reading is challenging for her and I feel like this might be just the inspiration she needs to get her interested in reading. The restaurant closed and I am working as a server in a Chinese restaurant. I am also taking online classes and hope someday to have a degree in sociology. I am still running, no marathons yet, but I ran a 10k yesterday to raise money for the women of the Congo. If you are not familiar with the conflict going on in the Congo I would strongly urge you to do some research and find out the horrible truth about rape as a weapon of war that is terrorizing thousands of women. Maybe I will be back before another 3 years has passed.

I did it!

I ran a marathon. I still have a hard time believing it. 26.2 miles in 6 hours 6 min. It was really hard and it hurt a lot and I wanted to quit. But I didn't quit I kept going and I finished. I set a goal trained for it and achieved it. Yes I want to do it again. I want to get faster and have a better time. I want to go to California and Hawaii and maybe even all 50 states. If you knew me at all you would know that this does not sound like me. I am not a runner. I have never been a runner but some how I found a strength in me that I didn't know existed.

Is it worth it?

I am back. I am off again. I leave for Florida on Wednesday. I am going to run in a marathon on Jan 11th. No I am not ready. Is anyone ever ready to run 26.2 miles? I am scared to death. I am in tears today thinking about it. I can't run that far that is ridiculous. Everyone says you are not trying to win just finish. Yes, that is true, slow and steady, focus on the next corner, yes keep the concentration. 26.2 miles is a freaking long way! What was I thinking? Well I guess I will give it a shot. I get my trip to Florida, I get to see the other Pakulaks , I get to bring my daughter back with me, I get to see Heather twice in one year! It will hurt and I might die but I will have achieved a great goal.

Let it snow!

Ok its time to get serious. Well business is slow hopefully due to the snow. I love snow. I hate snow. It is so beautiful and it messes everything up. I can't get out and run. No one wants to go out to eat. The kids have missed a whole week of school. Yet I can't help but being mesmerized and excited when I see it falling and it creates a quiet shimmer over the landscape and even the rock quarry across the river looks magical.

It's snowing in Salem

This morning I woke up to about an inch of snow outside. It does not snow much here in Salem Oregon so its kind of a big deal. I left for work and had to go the long way to avoid the hills. This makes for a very slow day the restaurant because no one likes to drive in the snow, but closing is not an option because there may be 1 or 2 or 5 people who would like some ham and eggs for breakfast and for those we will pay two cooks a server and all the electricity and gas etc... so they can sit back watch the lovely view of the river and the snow falling, listening to Christmas music and sipping coffee while smelling the bacon cooking. Hey, I want to go out for breakfast!!!

This is harder then I thought

I knew this was going to challeng me a bit but I did not know that it was going to be so hard. I really have plenty to say but I have a very hard time putting it to words. Plus everytime I sit down to type someone needs me. Well I am determined to stick it out. I had so much fun in MO. It was really good to see Heather and her wonderful family.

Heather made me do it.

Well I am officially a blogger. Maybe I'll become a bloggaholic like the rest of you.