I think I’ll remember my own LIFE

I’m so thankful today is Friday…and heavy drinking is the plan for tonight.  (Oh yeah…Happy Halloween or some shit like that.)  I am going to a party so I don’t even have to pay for my own drinks.  (Relax…I’m a good guest…I’m bringing some drinks anyway). 

My legs have been dragging all day today and I’m not really sure why.  I ran 4 miles yesterday…and that is the longest I’ve run in about 2 weeks…but I wouldn’t think it should have made me this sore today.  If it did…that’s a bad sign for the 8k in about 2 weeks.  Sigh.  I feel like my running is just getting worse…not better.  

However, I’ve finally stopped running in the park (it gets dark too quickly now and it’s scary to run in the park in the dark!) and started running in my friend’s neighborhood.  I feel safer there…and there’s always lots of cops driving on that road (the police station is right there) and a sidewalk (yes…I realize the sidewalk is bad for my knees and such…but getting hit by a car is bad for my life).  It’s even got the added bonus of random hills that totally suck.  Yay!

I’m super excited for next week and going home to see family again.  I’m beginning to feel like they’re going to forget what I look like!  Sadly, I will no longer be attending the New Kids on the Block concert I had intended on seeing (thanks a lot J! :-P).  Although, I do feel slightly less loserish now that I’m not going.  Instead I will be cutting off all my hair while I’m there.  (I will not be cutting off my hair in a sign of my grief for missing NKOTB…don’t worry.)  I managed to make an appt with my old hairdresser up there who I miss SO MUCH and can’t wait to go visit.  

It’s even better than a NKOTB concert.  So…I’m thinking about 8-10 inches are coming off!  Woohoo!

Anyways, it’s time for happy hour to begin.  Have a frightful halloween and a fantastic weekend!   

Sweet!

I guess the curse is gone? 

Yay Philadelphia! 

So…since I didn’t go running today (boo!)…I don’t have any running stories to tell.  I also didn’t knit today…so no knitting stories either.

Therefore…you get…the five random things you never wanted to know about me.  Yay! 

• I love information.  Any kind of information.  All kinds of information.  I spend hours on Wikipedia clicking from linked stories to other linked stories b/c I want to know more about them.  I read EVERYTHING I can.  This includes reading labels on boxes and bottles (even the fine print).  I’m obsessed with information.  I constantly start researching a particular technology at work and get distracted by references to other things and end up researching things completely non-related.  I love random fact books.  I love pretty much all books.  Seriously.  I’m obsessed with learning new things. 
• I’m scared of my bedroom being completely dark.  I really really hate it.  I sleep with either my closet light or my bathroom light on.  Sometimes, when I visit my parents, they turn off the lights and forget to leave a light on for me.  It freaks me out when I wake up and it’s completely dark.  It’s even worse when I share a hotel room with people.  I feel really bad asking if I can leave a light on all night when I know they definitely want to turn the lights out.  
• I harbor a secret, unexplained crush on Jeff Goldblum (umm…I guess it’s not really a secret anymore?).  I’ve had a crush on him since I was like 13.  I have NO idea why I have this crush.  I know logically he’s not attractive in the slightest but I seriously would throw myself at him if I met him on the street.  It’s bizarre. 
• I want to move to Alaska for a couple of years.  I also want to live in Canada.  I actually tried to move to either place out of college but couldn’t find a job.  I don’t necessarily want to live there for the rest of my life, but I think they would both be amazing places to live for a few years. 
• I want to run a race in every state.  Most runners aim to run a marathon in every state…but I’m not that amibitious.  I just want to run a race (it can be a freaking 1 mile race, or a full fledged marathon…I don’t really care what the distance is).  So far I’ve only done NJ, DE, PA, MD and VA (but I’m registered to run one in TN).  I have a lot more states to go. 

So…now that you know much more than you really cared to know about me…I’m off to bed.  I’m freaking tired. 

A few weeks ago, I talked all about how I secretly hate running…and just don’t know it.  I was trying to figure out why I keep doing it when I just end up feeling miserable while doing it. 

It’s cold and rainy and crazy windy today (um…by cold I mean about 47 degrees…not really that cold) and just all around a miserable day to be outside.  It’s that awkward temperature where if you dress warm enough for the first half mile you’re sweating for the rest of the run, but if you dress cool enough for the rest of the run, you’re freezing for the first half mile (um…at least I have those issues.  Maybe normal people don’t.). 

Anyways, it’s just an all around gray day that should be spent curled up on the couch under a blanket in a nice heated room. 

But, I’m a little weird.  Growing up my mom used to tell me I was a “mudder” (or something like that).  I always played my best soccer/lax/whatever games in the rain.  I loved to take rain walks and jump in puddles.  I just loved being outside in the rain.  That totally hasn’t changed.

I got home from work and I just wanted to run SO badly.  I pulled on my new danskin capris (love these pants even if they are the most UNFLATTERING pants for my 5 mile wide hips) and threw on a short sleeve running shirt and long sleeve t-shirt (I really need to buy some long sleeve running shirts) and went for a run.  It was too dark to run in the park (the woods kind of creep me out when it’s like this outside) so I just went to my friend’s neighborhood to run. 

I didn’t really have a set distance, I just needed to do at least 2 miles (since my out and back point in that neighborhood is a mile in each direction). 

It was so nice being outside and moving after this past weekend of sitting on the couch.  My legs were so happy to move, my lungs felt great, I was cold…but not too cold.  My eyes were watering from the cold, but it just mixed in with the cold rain and I could barely tell the difference.  I got to wear my  new ugly hat (its seriously ugly! But totally did the job I wanted it to).  People were passing me in their cars looking at me like I was crazy for being outside, and I was happy. 

I did the out and back and felt great and thought about adding another 2 miles on, but I decided I wanted to end feeling great…so I just did a cool down jog and headed back to my car. 

Its runs like these that keep me coming back.  It wasn’t necessarily an easy run, I didn’t feel effortless while doing it (in fact it was ridiculously hard running uphill with the wind blowing in my face), I just felt good.  In fact…I felt great. 

Even though I only ran a measly two miles…it was an awesome run and totally has my psyched to run again in an effort to feel like this again. 

I wish everyday could be a running in the rain day.

So…my stomach has finally agreed to stay IN my body and is no longer trying to emancipate itself from the rest of me.  I decided to reward it with some solid food again.  Yay!  Sadly, the solid food consisted of chicken noodle soup and gold fish.  But…today…I may be up for something with bread.  Maybe. 

Anyways, for the most part I really do feel better.  I just have that annoying weak feeling and have no energy.  I’m hoping some food will help fix that.  I’m just trying to figure out what bland food I feel like eating that will help give me energy.  I have NO food left in my apartment.  I usually go grocery shopping on Saturday…that obviously didn’t happen, so all I have left is half a box of cereal (but no milk), some bagel bites and other frozen foods, goldfish…and beer. 

And as much as I would like to have some bagel bites and beer…I think I would like something a little more healthy.  I just don’t know what it is I want haha. 

My legs also feel so restless.  It’s almost like restless leg syndrome or something.  When I go for long periods of time without running, my knees ache (seems weird they would ache from NOT running eh?), and my legs feel twitchy.  Last night before bed was the worst.  I kept kicking off the covers b/c I wanted to move my legs, but then I’d have to bundle back up because I was cold.  This went on for a good half hour last night.  I’m so ready to go for a run…I just don’t have the actual energy to go.

But, I’ve decided to treat myself to an excursion outside my apartment.  YAY!  I’m so ready to leave.  I just can’t decide where to go.  I’m torn between the bookstore for an hour or so, or the grocery store (which I really need to go to…but don’t want to go to), or Target to buy household items I need. 

I want to go to the bookstore…but I need to go to Target or Krogers.  Blah!  Stupid decisions.

Anyways, I’m going to go attempt a shower and see how I feel afterwards.  That may help make my decision. 

Hope everyone had a lovely weekend! 

For the most part I’m a relatively solitary person.  I enjoy going out with my friends or just hanging out with them…but…at the end of the day I’m also glad I have a place that’s my own.  I don’t have any roommates here and I can kick people out of my apartment if they overstay their welcome.  I love it. 

The only time I wish I had someone living with me is when I’m sick.  Then I could use them to bring me saltine’s and ginger ale.  They could also take my dog for walks so I don’t have to.  It’s so hard to work up the energy to take him out.  Also…he LOVES saltines and keeps trying to steal them from me.  Luckily, Oscar is cute and makes up for me having to walk him by cuddling with me when I’m sick.  He totally knows when I feel bad and just curls up in  a ball next to me.  What a cutie.  If only I could train him to bring me the crackers and soda (without stopping to eat the crackers along the way).

However, I admit I am feeling a little better today.  My stomach is still cramping up…but I think it’s a mix of being sick and hungry.  However, I’m a little wary of putting anything inside me right now.  I’d rather not repeat last night again.

On a positive note…while sick…I managed to make a pair of mittens.  I love how fast mittens are to make.  It feels like a huge accomplishment to make a pair in a couple of hours.  I feel like the speediest knitter ever (I’m so not!).  Irritatingly, I still can’t find my camera…so I can’t post the pictures…but as soon as I find it I’ll post the hat and mittens posing together (I will not be posing with either since I’m currently looking like death and I don’t want to frighten any little children that may stumble upon this site).  I’m thinking of making a scarf today while I’m home…so maybe that will get posted as well.   

Anyways, enjoy the weekend more than I will!  Someone should go running for me…and someone should drink lots of beer for me.  I’ll let you all decide who gets to do what.  :-) 

I hate being sick.  I really really really really really hate being sick. 

I ended up going home from work today because my stomach decided to go on strike against the rest of my body.   Stupid stomach.

However, while on strike, it is making some awesome noises.  Luckily…these noises seem to be benign in nature…but it’s still kind of weird hearing it.  I keep thinking of the death cab line - if I could open my mouth…wide enough for a marching band to march out. 

That’s kind of what feels like is in my stomach. 

Sigh.

Anyways.  I’m sure you don’t want to hear about my stomach.

I made a green hat (from the unwanted green yarn).  It looks like crap when you see it.  But, when you put it on your head…it looks SO PRETTY!  (At least when I put it on MY head it does…I assume it would like nice on “your” head too).  Still not sure what I’m going to do with it, but I think maybe I’ll make a pair of matching mittens today while I’m curled up on my couch. 

If you feel sorry for me you should come talk to me on gmail chat.  I’m lonely

Have a great day!

I slept walked again last night.  That’s the first time I’ve done that in YEARS!  I used to occasionally do it in high school and very rarely in college…but I hadn’t done it since then. 

However, I randomly woke up at 3 this morning standing in the middle of my living room and Oscar was looking up at me like I was INSANE.  It was kind of disorienting.  It took me a while to figure out what had happened.  Always fun. 

Luckily I didn’t try to go outside.  I would have frozen into an icicle if I did.  Stupid below freezing weather.

Actually, I’ve noticed the cold weather is messing with my foot.  It aches really bad when it’s cold.  I’m also noticing my foot keeps randomly trying to roll under me (the same way it did when I broke my foot).  I don’t know why it’s doing that all the sudden.  I did it on my run yesterday (however, I will blame the rock I stepped on like a moron for that incident), but ever since then it’s been doing it constantly. 

I swear if I break my foot again from something stupid like that I will be SO pissed! 

Anyways, I don’t really have anything exciting to talk about.  I’ve misplaced my camera so I can’t take or post any fun new pics.  Work is pretty much work.  Running is not going so well (as written about MANY times previously).  And…honestly, that’s about all I do anymore.

I am apparently just very boring. 

Anyways, enjoy the last days of fall!  Hope you have your winter gear ready!

Today’s run was better than the past couple have been.  Still not great…but better.  However, I have a random dilemma. 

I did a total of 4 miles.  Unfortunately, I probably only actually ran about 3.25 of those miles (I had to take three 1.5 min walking breaks).  So…do I count that as my 3 mile run, my 3.5 mile or my 4 mile run.  I’m kind of torn.  I’m pretty sure it doesn’t count as my 4.  But, I’m torn between the 3 and the 3.5.  Any suggestions?

I’m still feeling kind of blah (not really any specific problem, just kind of all around tired) so running has been difficult.  But at least I was able to push myself to finish the full 4 miles.  Better than Sunday. 

I’m not feeling very confident about my performance in the 8k in a few weeks, but hopefully I’ll get better :-). 

Knitting has been going well too.  I finished the first glove that I was designing…but I have MAJOR issues with the fingers.  I’m not good with the whole picking up stitches and not leaving behind holes.   But I fixed them, and the glove looks nice…but I’m worried it’s not going to fit J…so I don’t really want to start the second one until she tries it on.  We’ll see if I change my mind later. 

I also have this lovely green yarn that I REALLY want make into a scarf/hat/mittens etc but NOBODY wants the green yarn!  I’m so upset.  (And we all know I can’t keep anything I made for myself…it all gets given away).  So…anyone want a pretty green scarf/hat/mittens??? 

I keep reading all these awesome race reports that people had over the weekend…and I’m so jealous!  I want a great race report to write.  Hell, I’d even settle for a great run to write about.  But I got nothing.

I slept ALL day Saturday (um…seriously…I figured out I was awake for a grand total of SIX hours of the day on Saturday).  Of course, then I couldn’t sleep Sunday night…but whatever. 

Of the six hours I was awke on Saturday…there was no running involved.  I’m not sure there was much of ANYTHING involved.  Although I did finish knitting the ugly hat (and it’s really ugly).  I’ll try and post pictures later.  I’m too lazy to go out to the car and get it or my camera.  I also watched most of the first two Bourne movies again (oh how I love those movies). 

Sunday was a little better.  I went for a run, but didn’t do very well.  And my excuse is HORRIBLE!  Seriously.  I’m laughing at how pathetic I am.  I don’t own any running pants or capris that actually fit.  They’re all either way too big and I spend the majority of my run pulling them up to avoid mooning people (although…thinking about that further…maybe the jerks in the park DESERVE to be mooned).  It’s also really hard to run like that.  Unfortunately, the other two pairs of my capris are still a little too tight.  I went with the slightly tighter pair hoping they would stretch out as I wore them.

Sadly, they didn’t.  And…seriously…running in them was a BAD idea.     They just pressed at the wrong spot on my stomach and I had all sorts of interesting GI issues.  So…I cut that run short to go out and buy two new pairs of capris that actually fit!!!!  I’m hoping to hold off on longer running pants for at least another month. 

I planned to go running today, but I ended up having to stay until 5, and by the time I got home and ready to run…it was too dark to go to the park, and there’s not really any place to run around here unless I want to run on the highway (and I don’t). 

Unfortunately, I have another late-ish night tomorrow night, so I think I’m going to just bring my running clothes with me to work and either dodge traffic again on the road outside work, or go running over by my friend’s house in her neighborhood. 

I finally am knitting again too.  I am currently making a pattern for a pair of gloves.  We’ll see how they turn out before I decide if that’s a good thing or not. 

And…if anyone wants any new winter accessories (gloves, hats, scarves, etc) let me know.  I’m feeling the urge to knit things like that right now (giving the socks a little break). 

Oh yeah, and open invitation to anyone who wants to run a 5k in Wilmington, DE on Thanksgiving Day (I’m looking at you family members).  I thought it would be a fun thing for everyone to do that morning.  L - if you’re not up north you could bring little J and H (it’s a stroller friendly race) and I’m still trying to convince J and the parents.  Come on…I know you all want to do it

So randomness over.  Have a lovely week!