I often come across things that I think all people that are cool should know. Most of these things I find on The Consumerist. I just added a widget to the left where I will post all my favorite stories. I am a bit obsessed, I have to admit. I love stickin' it to the man!
Also, I hereby welcome Sheila to the wonderful world of facebook!
Monday, February 23, 2009
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Our House is a Very, Very, Very Fine House (but I am allergic to cats)
This weekend, I went home to hang with my fam. It was nice to spend time with them, as usual. This week is flying by. Monday we had off (Yay, Washington and Lincoln!), Tuesday was busy catching up, and today I took a few hours off in the afternoon to... wait for it... look at real estate! Ok, so it was more real than estate - one of the houses was stinky... not in the "the last person that lived here smoked" kind of way, but more in the " what animal from the Pre-Cambrian explosion crawled up in the wall and died" kind of way. Not good. But actually, I liked the houses, overall. There was a really cute little one up in Hanover, and one that needs a lot of work, but has a lot of character and potential in old Bowie that I liked a lot. There are window seats in the dormers! A porch! The only major downside is the parking - front yard redneck style (or Whiskey Tango, as my brother says). But it is generally exciting! Any good tips? Or areas I should look at?
This weekend, my brother is coming to spend the day with me on Saturday. I am hoping to catch the free screening of the Oscar nom'd Animated Shorts at the National Archives. Even though we will have to wait in who knows how bad of a line, I think it might be cute to do with him. He will soon be moving down to North Carolina. Sniff. He's not a major one for driving long distances, so we will most likely not see him all that much. We have enjoyed having him around more often, but I think it will be good for him to get out into the world a bit more.
I have shirked my exercising duty the last week, until today - I did pretty good distance, but was pretty sluggish - my punishment slogging off for a week. No more slogging off! (wink)
Happy Birthday to Jenny, Kathleen, and Lauren! Also, belated Happy Birthday to Sheila and Chanda! Happy 30's, girls!
This weekend, my brother is coming to spend the day with me on Saturday. I am hoping to catch the free screening of the Oscar nom'd Animated Shorts at the National Archives. Even though we will have to wait in who knows how bad of a line, I think it might be cute to do with him. He will soon be moving down to North Carolina. Sniff. He's not a major one for driving long distances, so we will most likely not see him all that much. We have enjoyed having him around more often, but I think it will be good for him to get out into the world a bit more.
I have shirked my exercising duty the last week, until today - I did pretty good distance, but was pretty sluggish - my punishment slogging off for a week. No more slogging off! (wink)
Happy Birthday to Jenny, Kathleen, and Lauren! Also, belated Happy Birthday to Sheila and Chanda! Happy 30's, girls!
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Monday, February 9, 2009
A note to my parents
I am glad you read my blog. But beware that comments like this are potentially damaging to my street cred.
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Won, then lost, then won again.
WARNING! The following post is prone to being maudlin and is completely devoid of humor. Feel free to skip it, and let not your heart be troubled - next time, you will be returned to your regularly scheduled comedic programming.
The day started out well. I was feeling good even though anxiety had caused me to sleep badly. I woke up in time to be picked up by Clare at 7:45, dressed, got directions, and remembered my new inhaler. Clare was prompt, we already had our bib and chips, and we were both cold and excited about our run. We got to the metro parking lot early and dinked around in the warm car before venturing out to find our shuttle bus to the park. We were joined by lots of athletic looking people.
When we got to the site, we worked our way over to the start. We were in a big field, you could see some hilliness, but not too bad. The course was two loops around a field, followed by a short jaunt to the finish. People were scattered around, so much so that Clare and I weren't sure of the exact starting line. Finally, they called for us to line up. The instructions were that they would tell us to take our "marks," then shoot a pistol and we could begin. We lined up, took our marks, 'CRACK'! Off we went. Then 'CRACK' again - false start! Ugh! Back we went, on our marks, 'CRACK'!
It only took a couple of minutes before I was totally out of sight of the bulk of the pack. Early on, there was a short steep bit. I got up that ok, but was worried about the next time around. When I came up to the 1KM clock, I was very pleased to see that I was coming in 30 seconds under my goal time! Woo hoo! The footing was rough, I wasn't used to that at the gym. The air was cold, too, making it hard to regulate my breathing. Some of the course was on the side of a hill, making each step crooked. Not too long after that, I heard someone coming up fast behind me - were the two or three people walking behind me all of a sudden becoming sprinters? As the young guy whooshed past me, I realized - I was being lapped. I wasn't too far away from the beginning of the second lap, but by the time I got there, I had been passed by quite a few people. One nice guy said "Good Job" as he passed - really, really nice. I felt good.
I was relieved to not have super fast runners pushing past me, and to still be feeling good as I neared the point where we had started. I knew there weren't many slow people in this race, but I just wanted to keep going, no matter if I was dead last. A nervous looking guy was futzing around the starting line, and said he was going to have to ask me to leave the course. He would escort me and a couple of other slow folks and walkers to the inside of the track where we could keep going on the inside if we wanted. I felt like the rug had been pulled from under me. All the work I had done to finish this race, and the battles with myself, pushing myself on that hateful treadmill, I did not expect defeat to come from without. I was mad, too. Wasn't my 20$ just as good as everyone else's? There was no pace requirement in the sign up. I had been measured and found wanting. I started walking on the inside of the track, not because I wanted to keep walking, but because I was gonna lose it if I stopped. I couldn't bear the thought of walking the hundred yards over to the finish line, to be there possibly before Clare, with that horrid feeling, while everyone else was happy and flush.
So I kept walking on the inside of the track. There were a couple of women walking ahead of me, and a father with two young girls behind me that had also been asked to leave the track. On we walked. I had managed to keep my chin up when we were near the spectators and other people near the starting line, but now that we were farther along, it was quite solitary, and I couldn't help it, I couldn't hold it down. I hate that feeling and I hate being that person. My lungs started protesting, so much so that they made an ugly sound with every breath in. I felt panicky. Thank God I had brought my new inhaler - two puffs and I could kinda breathe again.
At this point, the ladies ahead of me had returned to the inside of the track, as there were a couple of impassable places on the outside, so I followed suit. We were down a hill and totally out of sight and earshot of the crowd. The sun was shining, my breathing had returned somewhat to normal, and I felt like I could start jogging again - Why not? So off I went. I remembered something I had read by another runner - Breathe and go slow. As I passed a couple of race officials posted along the side, one of them told me "Good job. You are running the same course as Olympic athletes - never forget that." I kept on for a few dozen yards, but the unexpected kindness caught me off guard and I started to feel emotional again. I slowed to a walk, took a few more puffs, regained my composure once more as I neared the people gathered at the end. Just before the turn into the home stretch, I managed to pick up the pace once more. As I jogged in, I should probably have gone outside the track, but I felt a surge of anger and thought if they wanted me off the track, they would have to yell at me again. So, right into the "chute" I went. The earlier clocks had been shut off, but the one at the finish line was only a minute and a half over my goal time. If I ran to the finish line, I could be only two minutes over my goal, even though I had been walking for half the time! Faster, faster... Yes! Made it! I was done!
I saw Clare a second or two later, and I couldn't help it, I started bawling. I hated doing it in front of all those people, but no one was really paying attention. Some nice person handed me a cup of water, and Clare gave me a good big hug. Really hate to do that. Sigh. Bless Clare's heart.
Then I started feeling better. After all, I had finished anyway. I was really glad that I had kept going, even though I wasn't on the track, even though I had walked so much, even though I wasn't caring about the race, only to have a moment to myself. As Clare and I chatted and walked back to the warmth of the shuttle and her car, I felt downright good. I had started off the day winning just because I was there and participating, then lost, but finally, won again because I had kept going. I know it is corny and trite, but hard work and perseverance really does pay off - not from without, but from within.
The day started out well. I was feeling good even though anxiety had caused me to sleep badly. I woke up in time to be picked up by Clare at 7:45, dressed, got directions, and remembered my new inhaler. Clare was prompt, we already had our bib and chips, and we were both cold and excited about our run. We got to the metro parking lot early and dinked around in the warm car before venturing out to find our shuttle bus to the park. We were joined by lots of athletic looking people.
When we got to the site, we worked our way over to the start. We were in a big field, you could see some hilliness, but not too bad. The course was two loops around a field, followed by a short jaunt to the finish. People were scattered around, so much so that Clare and I weren't sure of the exact starting line. Finally, they called for us to line up. The instructions were that they would tell us to take our "marks," then shoot a pistol and we could begin. We lined up, took our marks, 'CRACK'! Off we went. Then 'CRACK' again - false start! Ugh! Back we went, on our marks, 'CRACK'!
It only took a couple of minutes before I was totally out of sight of the bulk of the pack. Early on, there was a short steep bit. I got up that ok, but was worried about the next time around. When I came up to the 1KM clock, I was very pleased to see that I was coming in 30 seconds under my goal time! Woo hoo! The footing was rough, I wasn't used to that at the gym. The air was cold, too, making it hard to regulate my breathing. Some of the course was on the side of a hill, making each step crooked. Not too long after that, I heard someone coming up fast behind me - were the two or three people walking behind me all of a sudden becoming sprinters? As the young guy whooshed past me, I realized - I was being lapped. I wasn't too far away from the beginning of the second lap, but by the time I got there, I had been passed by quite a few people. One nice guy said "Good Job" as he passed - really, really nice. I felt good.
I was relieved to not have super fast runners pushing past me, and to still be feeling good as I neared the point where we had started. I knew there weren't many slow people in this race, but I just wanted to keep going, no matter if I was dead last. A nervous looking guy was futzing around the starting line, and said he was going to have to ask me to leave the course. He would escort me and a couple of other slow folks and walkers to the inside of the track where we could keep going on the inside if we wanted. I felt like the rug had been pulled from under me. All the work I had done to finish this race, and the battles with myself, pushing myself on that hateful treadmill, I did not expect defeat to come from without. I was mad, too. Wasn't my 20$ just as good as everyone else's? There was no pace requirement in the sign up. I had been measured and found wanting. I started walking on the inside of the track, not because I wanted to keep walking, but because I was gonna lose it if I stopped. I couldn't bear the thought of walking the hundred yards over to the finish line, to be there possibly before Clare, with that horrid feeling, while everyone else was happy and flush.
So I kept walking on the inside of the track. There were a couple of women walking ahead of me, and a father with two young girls behind me that had also been asked to leave the track. On we walked. I had managed to keep my chin up when we were near the spectators and other people near the starting line, but now that we were farther along, it was quite solitary, and I couldn't help it, I couldn't hold it down. I hate that feeling and I hate being that person. My lungs started protesting, so much so that they made an ugly sound with every breath in. I felt panicky. Thank God I had brought my new inhaler - two puffs and I could kinda breathe again.
At this point, the ladies ahead of me had returned to the inside of the track, as there were a couple of impassable places on the outside, so I followed suit. We were down a hill and totally out of sight and earshot of the crowd. The sun was shining, my breathing had returned somewhat to normal, and I felt like I could start jogging again - Why not? So off I went. I remembered something I had read by another runner - Breathe and go slow. As I passed a couple of race officials posted along the side, one of them told me "Good job. You are running the same course as Olympic athletes - never forget that." I kept on for a few dozen yards, but the unexpected kindness caught me off guard and I started to feel emotional again. I slowed to a walk, took a few more puffs, regained my composure once more as I neared the people gathered at the end. Just before the turn into the home stretch, I managed to pick up the pace once more. As I jogged in, I should probably have gone outside the track, but I felt a surge of anger and thought if they wanted me off the track, they would have to yell at me again. So, right into the "chute" I went. The earlier clocks had been shut off, but the one at the finish line was only a minute and a half over my goal time. If I ran to the finish line, I could be only two minutes over my goal, even though I had been walking for half the time! Faster, faster... Yes! Made it! I was done!
I saw Clare a second or two later, and I couldn't help it, I started bawling. I hated doing it in front of all those people, but no one was really paying attention. Some nice person handed me a cup of water, and Clare gave me a good big hug. Really hate to do that. Sigh. Bless Clare's heart.
Then I started feeling better. After all, I had finished anyway. I was really glad that I had kept going, even though I wasn't on the track, even though I had walked so much, even though I wasn't caring about the race, only to have a moment to myself. As Clare and I chatted and walked back to the warmth of the shuttle and her car, I felt downright good. I had started off the day winning just because I was there and participating, then lost, but finally, won again because I had kept going. I know it is corny and trite, but hard work and perseverance really does pay off - not from without, but from within.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
From the Gala to the 4K
We had our Winter Gala last weekend. It was lots of fun. The ballroom dancing did last a bit long for my preference, but we had a good time. I am kinda disappointed that I didn't get better pictures of my friends, but I did get a couple of good pics of Robin! Perhaps I should wield my extensive power as a blogger to lure her onto reading my blog.... Hmmm... better not. After all, she does work in HR!
Clare and I are in the 4K this Saturday. Think good thoughts! The weather is supposed to be pretty good, so I am hopeful. I overdid it a bit at the gym yesterday, so I didn't go today like I had planned. My hip doth protest too much. Wow, complaining about my joints makes me feel old. Ok, so my big goal is to do the 4K (2.48 miles) in 40 mins. That is just about a 16 minute mile. I know that is not too big a deal for most, but if I can do it, I will be very excited!
I went to the Sugarloaf Craft Fair in Va this weekend - I didn't think it would be very good, but it was GREAT! I was not supposed to spend any money, but I couldn't help it - at least it was partially on something practical - a beautiful Hmong embroidered wallet that I will need soon, as my current dollar store wallet from 5 or 6 years ago has seen better days. 6 years isn't too bad for a dollar! Now THAT is value. And it is still good for now, but I want to have one in case it goes kaput.
I am going to dinner tomorrow with a couple of friends of my friend Sam Baron. We are going to the Rio Grande Cafe, a.k.a. Uncle Julio's. I am in the mood for good Mexican and it will be good to see them. I am also due to go to dinner next Tue with an old H.S. friend. I have to say, it is nice to have a full social calendar!
Hope you are all well and staying warm. I miss the proper snow of MN.
Clare and I are in the 4K this Saturday. Think good thoughts! The weather is supposed to be pretty good, so I am hopeful. I overdid it a bit at the gym yesterday, so I didn't go today like I had planned. My hip doth protest too much. Wow, complaining about my joints makes me feel old. Ok, so my big goal is to do the 4K (2.48 miles) in 40 mins. That is just about a 16 minute mile. I know that is not too big a deal for most, but if I can do it, I will be very excited!
I went to the Sugarloaf Craft Fair in Va this weekend - I didn't think it would be very good, but it was GREAT! I was not supposed to spend any money, but I couldn't help it - at least it was partially on something practical - a beautiful Hmong embroidered wallet that I will need soon, as my current dollar store wallet from 5 or 6 years ago has seen better days. 6 years isn't too bad for a dollar! Now THAT is value. And it is still good for now, but I want to have one in case it goes kaput.
I am going to dinner tomorrow with a couple of friends of my friend Sam Baron. We are going to the Rio Grande Cafe, a.k.a. Uncle Julio's. I am in the mood for good Mexican and it will be good to see them. I am also due to go to dinner next Tue with an old H.S. friend. I have to say, it is nice to have a full social calendar!
Hope you are all well and staying warm. I miss the proper snow of MN.
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