I've been in Vermont for the past week...it was amazing. Weather totally perfect, relatives awesome...I wish I could stay there forever. I know it's not reality, but it's a dream at least...
A plethera of pictures will be posted soon...I just have to sift through them so I'm not posting hundreds of pictures (I went a little snap-happy).
Sunday, July 31, 2005
Sunday, July 17, 2005
Running in a Sauna with a Flat Tire
Just wanted to share one last funny story...
Yesterday I did my long run (10 or so miles...getting longer all the time!) out in Peninsula. When I got there I was informed that I had been driving on the flattest tire in the world. Really. I'm not sure how I didn't notice. There is a screw stuck in the tire, so hopefully I'll be able to get it repaired instead of having to buy a new tire. In any case, we fixed it after the run.
Here are pictures of the process...I know I said I was disgustingly sweatly last Tuesday, but this may be a new record...It was SO humid and we ran more than 10 miles...we were totally drenched. If I hadn't been able to smell myself, I might have thought I had just taken a shower--that's how wet I was!!
Yesterday I did my long run (10 or so miles...getting longer all the time!) out in Peninsula. When I got there I was informed that I had been driving on the flattest tire in the world. Really. I'm not sure how I didn't notice. There is a screw stuck in the tire, so hopefully I'll be able to get it repaired instead of having to buy a new tire. In any case, we fixed it after the run.
Here are pictures of the process...I know I said I was disgustingly sweatly last Tuesday, but this may be a new record...It was SO humid and we ran more than 10 miles...we were totally drenched. If I hadn't been able to smell myself, I might have thought I had just taken a shower--that's how wet I was!!
'Spring' Cleaning
Today I spent the day helping Phil unpack. The place looks amazing now. I hope he feels like it's his place too... it certainly makes me feel SO much better about everything when our living space is actually...livable. It was getting to the point where I didn't want to come home because everything was so unmanagable.
I also spent a lot of time creating my website. It's not perfect yet, but it's definitely getting there. I still want to add some sound bytes that will play when you open the site, but I have to spend some time figuring that out. It was fun working on it, albiet a bit frustrating at times. :) Tomorrow, back to work.
Yes, I have a JOB. I'm working at the TNT office calling people who have expressed interest but never actually participated. It gets a little hard to be on the phone for so long (my throat gets sore and I swear I'm developing skin problems where the phone hits my chin), but it's good for me. It gives my day some structure, and will provide a solid income for a while (the job ends at the end of August, which is actually perfect since that's when my students start getting back). Plus, I'm doing something I believe in, which is fun. I don't think I could handle it otherwise.
After this week, we're going to VERMONT!!! I can't wait. I look forward to this time all year. I can't wait for Baruch to be able to play off the leash and explore the mountains. It's going to be a blast. Plus, I'm looking forward to seeing my parents (my dad has lost more than 30 lbs since I saw him last!) and sister, not to mention aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandmother. I know a lot of people don't like to spend time with their families, but I love it. I think family is so important. They've got your blood, you know? Who else is going to be able to understand you?
I have GOT to practice now. Enough computer messing around!
I also spent a lot of time creating my website. It's not perfect yet, but it's definitely getting there. I still want to add some sound bytes that will play when you open the site, but I have to spend some time figuring that out. It was fun working on it, albiet a bit frustrating at times. :) Tomorrow, back to work.
Yes, I have a JOB. I'm working at the TNT office calling people who have expressed interest but never actually participated. It gets a little hard to be on the phone for so long (my throat gets sore and I swear I'm developing skin problems where the phone hits my chin), but it's good for me. It gives my day some structure, and will provide a solid income for a while (the job ends at the end of August, which is actually perfect since that's when my students start getting back). Plus, I'm doing something I believe in, which is fun. I don't think I could handle it otherwise.
After this week, we're going to VERMONT!!! I can't wait. I look forward to this time all year. I can't wait for Baruch to be able to play off the leash and explore the mountains. It's going to be a blast. Plus, I'm looking forward to seeing my parents (my dad has lost more than 30 lbs since I saw him last!) and sister, not to mention aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandmother. I know a lot of people don't like to spend time with their families, but I love it. I think family is so important. They've got your blood, you know? Who else is going to be able to understand you?
I have GOT to practice now. Enough computer messing around!
Thursday, July 14, 2005
Coventry Street Fair
So tonight was the second Coventry Street Fair of the summer (one more on August 11!). Amie and Chris came to meet me and Phil, and then Elizabeth joined a bit later. At first it looked like it was going to be rained out, but the weather cleared up and it turned out to be a lot of fun. I ate too much, as usual...a whole Dave's sub and then a piece of Guy's pizza, and then a desert from one of the farmer's stands. Last time there was more music and the whole fair was a bit more kickin', but it was still a lot of fun...we were the die-hard, true Coventry Street Fair lovers! :) I love that I live in such a liberal neighborhood---everyone is so cool and laid back, and of course agrees with what I believe...and since I'm right, that's a good thing! :)
Wednesday, July 13, 2005
Quote of the day...
"Wouldn't you be a better endurance runner if you ran slower, rather than faster?" P. Powell
Track workout
Last night was the typical Tuesday night track workout, but it was SO freaking hot. I really don't know that I've ever been that hot in my life... I did 3 sets of 3*400 and really thought I was going to bail after each 400. I almost puked after the 8th one... We were all just dripping sweat everywhere. Great that people took pictures to document the torture, right? :)
We went to Hoggy's afterwards though (as per usual), and so that made it worth it. Their macaroni and cheese is the best ever...they make it with sour cream and it just melts in your mouth. Thinking about that is the only way I get through those track workouts. It's amazing how painful 1:38 seconds around the stupid track can be. And, it's just a bit more than 2 miles of intervals...crazy. I wish I could run faster for one reason: then, I wouldn't be in pain as long. :) (Plus, you get more rest as you're waiting for the slow pokes like me...doesn't seem fair that the faster people get more rest, now does it?)
We went to Hoggy's afterwards though (as per usual), and so that made it worth it. Their macaroni and cheese is the best ever...they make it with sour cream and it just melts in your mouth. Thinking about that is the only way I get through those track workouts. It's amazing how painful 1:38 seconds around the stupid track can be. And, it's just a bit more than 2 miles of intervals...crazy. I wish I could run faster for one reason: then, I wouldn't be in pain as long. :) (Plus, you get more rest as you're waiting for the slow pokes like me...doesn't seem fair that the faster people get more rest, now does it?)
Lorain Sprint Tri
So on Sunday Elizabeth and I woke up at 4:30 to go to this Sprint Triathlon in Lorain. Since we both did long runs on Saturday, we decided to take it easy and do the race as a relay. We even had a name: "One Third" Cute, eh? Anyway, so we get to a race, and it turns out our biker can't make it. Since neither one of us had brought a bike, we were kind of stuck. Karen from TNT was there, so we decided to stick around and cheer her on. Plus, Kurt was already on his way to cheer us on...he was biking there (40m!), so we couldn't exactly just take off...
It ended up being fun, but it's exhausting to just stand around for hours. It may even be more tiring than actually doing the race, because you have to use all of this mental energy to keep yourself pumped up...
I came back home to awesome pancakes from Phil and crashed on the porch while Elizabeth and Phil played MonkeyBall...a wonderful new GameCube game Elizabeth lent us.
So all in all, it wasn't a bust of a day, but it'll take me a while before I decide to do a relay again, for sure! (Eventually I will though, because how could I let that awesome team name go to waste???)
It ended up being fun, but it's exhausting to just stand around for hours. It may even be more tiring than actually doing the race, because you have to use all of this mental energy to keep yourself pumped up...
I came back home to awesome pancakes from Phil and crashed on the porch while Elizabeth and Phil played MonkeyBall...a wonderful new GameCube game Elizabeth lent us.
So all in all, it wasn't a bust of a day, but it'll take me a while before I decide to do a relay again, for sure! (Eventually I will though, because how could I let that awesome team name go to waste???)
Tuesday, July 05, 2005
more camping pictures
Here are some additional pictures that Elizabeth and Kurt sent via Hello...the best program EVER...for all of you that haven't downloaded it yet....DO SO (bryce!!!!)... :)
Monday, July 04, 2005
The past week and a half...
So, to all of my loyal blog followers :), I'm very sorry to have lapsed in my updating...I've been out of town and forgot the cord to upload pictures from my camera.
I went to New Jersey, New York, and Connecticut for a week, and then camping.
I went to the northeast to visit relatives, but I managed to fit in a flute lesson and playing for 2 conductors. Everything was really great...it was awesome to see my grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins again, and I think all the flute stuff went pretty well.
In New Jersey, I swam in the lake at least once a day. It's SO beautiful and the temperature was completely perfect. I always thought it was so incredibly far across the lake, but I did it in less than 17 minutes this year, so my guess is that it's only about half a mile. Pretty funny how perception changes, you know? That lake used to look unattainably large...
In New York, I met my mom's first flute teacher and we played trios and went to a great dinner and then saw 'Doubt' on Broadway...it was fun to feel like I was part of city life for a while.
In Connecticut, we were supposed to see fireworks on the beach, but they were cancelled due to rain in the forecast...it didn't end up raining, so it was a bit of a bummer. But...we ended up getting Thai food and watching "Beyond the Sea", which was alright...a little slow, but a decent movie. My Aunt Sandy is trying to convince me to run the Chicago marathon with her. I think I want to, but I'm just not sure if I'm ready yet. I'm giving it some serious thought though...I followed the schedule this past week, but just by chance...next weekend I would have to run 10 miles, which would be a feat...so I have to decide by then, I suppose.
Driving in the northeast is HELL. I somehow ended up in NYC in the heart of all the traffic in the country on July 4th weekend...don't ask me how...my mom ended up having to take the subway to the airport, and everything was just a disaster. 2 hours later, I crossed the George Washington Bridge and was on my way. Traffic through the rest of the trip home was pretty light, so that was good. I definitely got my dose of holiday traffic...for a while, I swear we were moving 10 feet every 5 minutes...I just turned on the radio and tried to ignore the cramp in my left foot from holding down the stupid clutch...
Camping was a lot of fun. Some tense moments (too big a group, perhaps), but I think people generally had a good time. It was nice to be officially reunited with Phil...it's been more than a month since we were steadily in the same place! We spent an afternoon hanging out in the river, and ate amazing food for every meal---Bryce and Kurt made better stuff while camping than I eat on a regular basis! I went for a run last night that ripped my quads up...it was a nice dirt road though, with beautiful scenery, so it was a pleasant run. This morning, we went for a hike in a nearby campground...it was a nice ending to the weekend.
I managed to take some time out from the group activity and listen to my taping session from last week. I think I have a good take of almost everything I need, so that's good. The sound of the piccolo was a little disappointing, but that should be a given, I suppose. :) Now I just have to finalize everything by Friday.
In other news, I've decided to be a vegetarian again. I saw a really horrible chicken truck on the way to New Jersey, and I just can't quite shake the image. I feel a lot better after just a week of it, actually, and as long as I make sure I'm eating enough protien and iron, I think it's a good decision. My Team in Training friends sure gave me a hard time about it though! They said they made a bet about when I was going to give in and eat meat, but I think they were just kidding...in any case, they have no idea how resolved I can be. When I put my mind to something, it happens. And now that there is all this build up, I'm sure as hell not going to give in! I'm still eating fish and dairy, so I guess I'm not a full vegetarian, but here's my logic:
I have no problem going fishing and even killing fish. On the the other hand, I do have a problem with catching a chicken and cutting it's head off...so...I'll eat what I personally could kill...sound reasonable?
Now I have to get back into the swing of things here after being gone. It shouldn't be TOO hard...it was; afterall, only a bit more than a week...but somehow I feel like everything has been turned upside down since then...
ps---more camping pictures to come soon once elizabeth sends hers to me!
I went to New Jersey, New York, and Connecticut for a week, and then camping.
I went to the northeast to visit relatives, but I managed to fit in a flute lesson and playing for 2 conductors. Everything was really great...it was awesome to see my grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins again, and I think all the flute stuff went pretty well.
In New Jersey, I swam in the lake at least once a day. It's SO beautiful and the temperature was completely perfect. I always thought it was so incredibly far across the lake, but I did it in less than 17 minutes this year, so my guess is that it's only about half a mile. Pretty funny how perception changes, you know? That lake used to look unattainably large...
In New York, I met my mom's first flute teacher and we played trios and went to a great dinner and then saw 'Doubt' on Broadway...it was fun to feel like I was part of city life for a while.
In Connecticut, we were supposed to see fireworks on the beach, but they were cancelled due to rain in the forecast...it didn't end up raining, so it was a bit of a bummer. But...we ended up getting Thai food and watching "Beyond the Sea", which was alright...a little slow, but a decent movie. My Aunt Sandy is trying to convince me to run the Chicago marathon with her. I think I want to, but I'm just not sure if I'm ready yet. I'm giving it some serious thought though...I followed the schedule this past week, but just by chance...next weekend I would have to run 10 miles, which would be a feat...so I have to decide by then, I suppose.
Driving in the northeast is HELL. I somehow ended up in NYC in the heart of all the traffic in the country on July 4th weekend...don't ask me how...my mom ended up having to take the subway to the airport, and everything was just a disaster. 2 hours later, I crossed the George Washington Bridge and was on my way. Traffic through the rest of the trip home was pretty light, so that was good. I definitely got my dose of holiday traffic...for a while, I swear we were moving 10 feet every 5 minutes...I just turned on the radio and tried to ignore the cramp in my left foot from holding down the stupid clutch...
Camping was a lot of fun. Some tense moments (too big a group, perhaps), but I think people generally had a good time. It was nice to be officially reunited with Phil...it's been more than a month since we were steadily in the same place! We spent an afternoon hanging out in the river, and ate amazing food for every meal---Bryce and Kurt made better stuff while camping than I eat on a regular basis! I went for a run last night that ripped my quads up...it was a nice dirt road though, with beautiful scenery, so it was a pleasant run. This morning, we went for a hike in a nearby campground...it was a nice ending to the weekend.
I managed to take some time out from the group activity and listen to my taping session from last week. I think I have a good take of almost everything I need, so that's good. The sound of the piccolo was a little disappointing, but that should be a given, I suppose. :) Now I just have to finalize everything by Friday.
In other news, I've decided to be a vegetarian again. I saw a really horrible chicken truck on the way to New Jersey, and I just can't quite shake the image. I feel a lot better after just a week of it, actually, and as long as I make sure I'm eating enough protien and iron, I think it's a good decision. My Team in Training friends sure gave me a hard time about it though! They said they made a bet about when I was going to give in and eat meat, but I think they were just kidding...in any case, they have no idea how resolved I can be. When I put my mind to something, it happens. And now that there is all this build up, I'm sure as hell not going to give in! I'm still eating fish and dairy, so I guess I'm not a full vegetarian, but here's my logic:
I have no problem going fishing and even killing fish. On the the other hand, I do have a problem with catching a chicken and cutting it's head off...so...I'll eat what I personally could kill...sound reasonable?
Now I have to get back into the swing of things here after being gone. It shouldn't be TOO hard...it was; afterall, only a bit more than a week...but somehow I feel like everything has been turned upside down since then...
ps---more camping pictures to come soon once elizabeth sends hers to me!
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