I know, I know...

I'm been slacking with these posts.

But, it's been the last day in Lafayette...lots of running around.

Tomorrow, to Indiana...will catch up in the New Year.
Happy Holiday, everyone! (be safe!)

I'm too full to move...

I had all this stuff I was pumped to write about, but really I'm too full to even type. 'Louisana's revenge' has taken full effect.

Gotta go lie down.

hey!

Anyone know how to create/GET RID OF those lines at the bottom of my sidebar? I can't figure it out. HTML is about to die...

Lake Fausse Point

pronounced...Foss-y.
I was wrong (I'll admit it!), all these years. It's French, you know? Shouldn't it be a silent 'e'? I stand by 'Foss'.

It's obviously an awesomely beautiful spot...we had a great time. We got there mid-morning, only to find out our cabin wasn't yet ready. They told us to check back in an hour...then another hour...and then a half hour...and then 15 minutes...and then ANOTHER 15 minutes. All this waiting wouldn't have been so bad if they had just said we had to wait until 3, but continually getting your hopes up and then having them shot to the ground everytime...well, it's just sad. But, it was a beautitful day, and we enjoyed sitting around outside and trying not to complain. Plus, once we finally got into the cabin the food tasted SO much better, since we were all half-starved by then...

I went for a run on the trails. Me, who says she hates trail-running...I loved it. It didn't hurt my calves or knees and I had a great time pretending I was some magic-warrior running through the woods (thanks for that imagery, Jill!)...

For dinner, my dad cooked an awesome meal on the grill. (My 'vegetarian' sister ate a hamburger! That's how good it was; she just couldn't resist!) Then, we had Hanukkah (presents from Aunt Lydia--thanks!), and ate s'mores on the relit grill/campfire.

After dinner, we all just sat around and talked. We had brought games, but we were all too full to put enough energy towards picking one out. It was nice to just talk...it doesn't happen often enough. I mean, we all talk a lot, but we're distracted by all the modern conveniences...cell phones, internet, even TV and movies. Last night, there was NONE of that. We had to entertain ourselves. I had a wonderful time.

Now, just a couple more days left in the heavenly south. I know they say 'You can't come home again', but it's pretty damn tempting to try. I know I have my own life in Cleveland and I would come to miss it, but for now it's just so nice to be here...and I can't help but wish some things were different and I had the capability of moving where ever I desired. I think I would move to Austin. Or maybe New Orleans.

But alas...I'm a musician and I have to be where the music is. I'm not going to make any cracks about it not being anywhere...it's there...I just have to find it, and [for now] I don't think the south is the answer, however much I wish it were. Choices. We all make 'em. It's nice to have the ability to do so.

Dad relaxing...and waiting...

mom and natasha

my sister making s'mores

Hanukkah candles, Day 3

sis sulking after hour 2 of waiting

my sister sleeping in the grass while we [patiently] wait for our cabin to be cleaned

I don't have allergies.

But, my freaking eyes are running all over the place.

And so I am not.
Running anywhere.
I'm sitting at home, trying to stop from rubbing.
I feel like I'm 10, with the chicken pocks. pox? I don't know. My eyes are too itchy to try to spell correctly.

I think I'm allergic to something at Lake Fausse Point.
Damn.

Blatant Plagarism

As I'm sure most already realize, I took these tables from Wil...
kind of edited them for my own use, obviously, but I wanted to give credit where credit is due.

One note about the training schedule...I'm a bit ahead of what the schedule calls for right now, so (in order to avoid gaining ridiculous quantities of weight) I'm going to keep doing the amounts I had been doing instead of backing off (as advised by Coach Kurt)...but, the schedule catches up with me pretty quickly, so this momentary feeling of superiority will unfortunately be fast to fade...

Okay, enough at the computer. You know it's bad when you're sore from sitting in one position for too long, not from exercising. ugh.

I know it's been a long time...

Probably the longest I've gone without updating since I started this whole blog thing...

But alas...I'm back.

Here are just a few pictures of the week...the annual Christmas Eve party at Piper's house, and a bunch of my dad building Benji's Hanukkah present...a new dog house. It's hilarious...has the same exact construction as his studio (check out the window placement on top, even). I think I laughed for a solid hour over this...no one else seems to think it's so funny, somehow. Now he just has to add "Dad Loewy" to the top of his studio. :)

Being home has continued to be really nice. I'm in love with the south, all over again. It's going to be hard to get my butt back up to the frigid north. But, I will, and I'm sure I'll love having my own life back again. Being home is great in that it feels so freeing from normal stresses, but you can't stay in that liminal state forever (unfortunately?). I'll be back soon enough anyhow...I'm returning in February for the half-marathon, and then I'm hoping to be able to come home for the Festival International in April. blah blah blah. Not interesting at all.

Tomorrow we're going to a State Park for a Family Day...lots of pictures will appear, I'm sure.

Okay, so I was re-tagged by Jojo. Argh! Actually, I don't mind at all, but I'm not going to tag people in return. Twice in 2 weeks is too much, I think.

So here goes...5 more ever intriguing details about yours truly.

1. When I was in high school, I had a group of friends...8, to be exact...we called ourselves The Posse, each claiming a color of the rainbow (adding pink...PROYGBIV). I was yellow. We did everything together, for better or for worse. Some people thought we were gay; Some people thought we were funny; Some people thought we were obnoxious. We thought we were the coolest, most intelligent people on the face of the earth. The realization that we perhaps weren't was one of the toughest things I've ever gone through. I love that I had that closeness growing up, but I acknowledge that it was perhaps a bit (okay, a lot) weird. For those of you that wondered, that was the reason my room from the previous posts was painted in rainbow stripes...
2. I hate folding clothes and doing laundry.
3. I hate washing dishes more.
4. I'm ridiculously afraid I'm going to be a shitty wife for those reasons.
5. Bread pudding with rum sauce is my favorite desert, even though I'm a chocolate addict.

Okay, enough of that, eh?
MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY HANUKKAH, everyone!

I'm heading out to the pool to swim. Did I mention the pool is outdoors? Yep. December 26 and I'm swimming outdoors. Getting a tan, even (okay it's a VERY light tan)...

I don't want to inspire ill-will towards myself, but I don't know if I can help myself...
hehehehehehe. I win!

(Besides, it's okay to gloat since it's a very temporary advantage...come Friday evening, I'll be back in the Arctic Circle.)

Natalie and Jason

my mom at the Christmas Eve party

Piper and Justin

My dad (perpetually closing his eys when I try to take a picture)

Dad putting the finishing touches on the dog house

Dog Loewy's house

dad and dog's studios...

my dad's studio

a side view

Crawfish Tales

Picture this:

3 pounds of crawfish!

It's senior year, and I just got back from boarding school for the summer. School for me ended way earlier than that for my friends here, so I got to attend a lot of the "School is DONE!" parties. I'm sitting at a picnic table, catching up with people I hadn't seen since Christmas break. The party is a crawfish boil. (You buy huge bags of live crawfish and dump them in drums of boiling water...a la lobster, but lots more of 'em.)

Anyway, I'm sitting there...innocently eating my crawfish, and some jerkwad boy comes over and puts a live crawfish in the midst of all the dead, boiled ones. Now, I know crawfish are really just bugs and they don't have 'thoughts' and it really didn't matter to the little thing. But. The sight of that crawfish crawling all over it's dead brothers and sisters....well...it turned me off of crawfish for quite a while. Sigh. I'll even admit that I screamed like a girl and ran away from the table.

3 pounds of crawfish, eaten!

The good news: I'm over it. I enjoyed quite the crawfish feast last night. (3 lbs of the little buggers! plus...potatoes, plus corn....plus gumbo beforehand...and bread pudding afterwards...and oh yeah...2 beers. yikes. Somehow though, I wasn't overly full. yikes again.) We didn't end up going to the previously mentioned Hawk's because it wasn't open (it's not quite hard core crawfish season yet), but we went to Gator Cove, an awesome place on the outskirts of the city. Yes, they serve alligator. Yes, I've tried it before (rubbery). No, I didn't eat any last night.

the restaurant's prize 'Gator

Anyway, dinner was obviously awesome. It was great to go out with just my parents (My devil of a sister* is getting back tonight and I will no longer be the coveted 'only child'.), and the food was SO worth waiting a year for.

Today I ran 5 miles in the morning with my dad. Can you believe he was running 14 minute miles before, and we did an average of 8:50 or so today?! All that improvement since Saturday! He was loafing though...just wants to get the miles in and doesn't want to feel pain...I'm working on him though...He doesn't know what pain is, right? :)

Then, I swam 1600 in the afternoon...felt good to finally get that double workout in. My plan for vacation is to keep up the 5 miles in morning with daddy dearest, and then either spin or swim in the afternoon. Tomorrow there is a double spin class, kind of (there is a 40 minute break inbetween, but I figure I can lift some weights then.)...I'm pretty pumped to try that. Everyone else keeps talking about these double classes, and my gym in Cleveland doesn't allot for that, so I'm excited. It can't be that bad, and I at least have a valid excuse to not be able to do them on a regular basis, eh?

I've officially negated the Mardi Gras marathon. I'm going to do the half with my mom and dad instead. I'm bummed, because I really wanted to do it, but the bottom line is that I didn't do the training. I kept waiting for someone else to tell me what to do, and that's never really a good plan...I should have been more proactive. Lesson learned. I need to figure out a good early marathon to do though, because I still have a need to finish the damn thing. Maybe I'll just do Cleveland, although it is a bit too soon after Wildflower for my liking. I need to figure it all out soon though, so that I can train properly this season. No making the same mistake twice, right? By New Year, I'll have it figured out and posted. Hold me to this, okay?

Flute-wise, I'm really getting going again. I've been holding off hard core getting the Yale repertoire in shape because I don't want it to get stale...the audition isn't until the end of February. But, I think it's about time. Those piece aren't easy, and I want to be way beyond prepared. Goal for this break is to feel solid with all of the repertoire, after working on it each day...being able to play it without having to work on it each day will come in time...I also need to send my stupid lack-of-resume to a couple orchestras that have job openings. I don't know why I put that kind of thing off. It really pisses me off, actually. What do I have to gain by waiting? And how hard is it to print something out and address an envelope? Not hard. Get your act together, Curly. Argh!

Oh! I can't believe I almost forgot! My new pedals and helmet came in today! But, like Wil...they were taken away from me until Hanukkah. I don't even have a bike here...they are of no use to me...but still...I wanted them. No tantrums this time around. I've grown up since 5th grade. [I mentioned this on Wil's comments, but in 5th grade I received a sewing machine for my birthday, and was convinced I was going to be able to make an outfit for my birthday party if my mom would just let me use it before my birthday. Little did I know sewing machines were possessed by the devil, and I would not only not be making any sort of outfit, but I also would not be making much at all.] Aging in general scares the crap out of me, but in this case, I think I'm glad I've matured.

Ahhh...I'm obviously a little too verbose tonight, so it's a good thing I'm getting called to dinner (nothing so extravagent tonight!)...then, off to the airport to pick up my little sis.

*My sister isn't actually a devil. We're good friends these days, and I love her. She just had the bad luck of being born 3 1/2 years after me, and I'll always yearn for those lost years. If only someone would have told me my time of complete attention was limited...oh, how I would have taken better advantage!

Cleveland Humor (or maybe Municipal Court humor)...

I was talking to the lady at the Municipal Court today to get my court date changed so that I can challenge that stupid ticket (does anyone else think of the Cosby Show everytime they think/hear the word 'challenge'?), and so was therefore telling her that I was in Louisiana; hence, couldn't come to the assigned court date blah blah blah.

She fixes it, asks me about the weather (it's in the 60s and sunny here), and then responds with: "It's 11 degrees here. Go have a beignet and a hurricane."

What??!! Thanks for the Happy Holiday greeting, ma'am.

My response: nervous laughter and a quick thank-you/good-bye.

How to spell

Thanks, Derek...I always felt a little funny about how 'stuerdess' looked...(but was too lazy to look it up until challenged)...

stewardess

One entry found for stewardess.
Main Entry: stew·ard·ess
Pronunciation: 'stü-&r-d&s, 'styü-; 'st(y)u(-&)r-d&s
Function: noun
: a woman who performs the duties of a steward; especially : one who attends passengers (as on an airplane)

This coming from a former 4th grade spelling champion (okay, 2nd place)...I feel chagrined...

Pictures of mudbugs and more keyboard extrapolations soon to come...

just about killed my dad today.

Don't worry...he gave me permission to write that...it was his wording, actually.

It's been a lot of fun running with my dad. He likes to run slowly, so I've been trying to push him a bit faster. I'm trying not to give him a heart attack though....that might just defeat the purpose of all this exercise, eh? My dad's hilarious...still tried to beat me with the ending sprint (he didn't!), and I think is actually excited about getting faster, even though he's complaining his butt off...it's funny to be on the receiving end of the complaining this time around.

I have a dentist appointment soon. Blech. That's the one bad thing about coming home...I get carted from doctor to doctor...it's my fault though, for not just getting my act together and getting my own appointments in Cleveland. Maybe this year is the year...I'll become an adult, at last! Hmmm...maybe that isn't that desirable afterall. I'll take it one step at a time. I've never been one to jump right into the cold water. I slide in slowly. But, once I'm in, there isn't any hanging around...I take off!

Tonight, we're going to get crawfish. Before I get asked...No, I don't suck the heads off of them on a regular basis. But...I do think it's necessary at least once...bad luck otherwise, I firmly believe. We're going to go to a little place in the country that I've never been to, but has been highly recommended...Hawks, I believe the name is...full report later, I promise, along with lots of pictures of me trying to remember how to crack open those little bottom dwellers...yummmm!

Now, time for a quick shower so that I'm no longer stinking up the greater Lafayette area, and then off to the dentist I go. Perhaps I'll reward myself with some TCBY on the way back...I'm not really a dentist-hater, but it's still not all that pleasant. At least I'll get a free new toothbrush, right?

Laissez les bons temps roulez!

I'm home.

My rainbow walled room is still painted, my old campaign posters still intact. Fourteen year old me is still alive and well within the confines of these Cajun walls.

I haven't been home for a year, so it's nice to be able to just relax. I have NOTHING scheduled today...hard to believe.

Although...I definitely came down to Louisiana with the expectation of a bit of warmth...and I know 45 degrees and raining is definitely an upgrade from Cleveland, but it's just not particularly the ideal weather I had been looking forward to. BUT!!! Tomorrow and for the rest of the week...SUN and 65-70 degrees!!!! I can't even begin to decribe the excitement...

This morning, I went to our local health club and ran 5 miles and lifted some weights...and then enjoyed the amazing whirlpool for probably longer than I needed. As an aside, I swear everybody in Louisiana has a perfect body, beautifully combed hair (yes, even when working out), and an impeccable complexion. grrr. grrr. ugh. Self esteem plummets. blech.

My dad goes running twice a day, everyday...5 miles in the morning, and 5 at night. So, I'm going to go out again with him tonight...hopefully it won't be raining anymore by that time...otherwise, back to the gym we go. Back to the gym, where I'm determined not to let those little icons of perfection intimidate me. I'm a triathlete, dammit.

Okay, so there really needs to be a book written about the hilarity of plane flights into Lafayette, LA. Never have I been on one without some sort of ridiculousness insuing. This time around, it started with a standing ovation being given to the stuerdess after she did her seatbelt demonstration, intensified with the person across from me asking the same poor stuerdess if he could move up front to sit on her lap, and culminated with the guy next to be professing his love to me, as I was "The coolest chick he's met in a long time." He was a good guy, actually...said I was a better person for going after my so-called dreams. He said he earned lots of money, but it wasn't good for anything because he wasn't educated. I argued, saying at least he could functionally make his way in this world...and this thing they call 'education' might be just a bit overrated anyway. He didn't back down. I guess there are 2 sides of the coin...it's just hard to see the other side when you are so firmly entrenched in your current position.

Anyway, all in all...it's great to be home. I've got a whole lot of nothing planned, and it feels wonderful. I'm pretty lucky, I guess...to still be able to take 2 weeks off for Winter vacation, just because I feel like it. There's that other side of the coin for you...

Let the good times roll!

Why does being tagged make me feel popular??

Buckeye Runner tagged me, so here we go....5 things about me...

1. I have never been an athlete. When I was little, I was so weak that I couldn't pull my shirt on over my head...so my parents signed me up for gymnastics. I took classes for lots of years, but was always pretty freaking pathetic. Invision this: 5th grade me with broken toe trying to do a one-handed cartwheel...falling on my butt and sitting in the middle of the mat, staring listlessly until the coach came over and dragged me to the sidelines...

2. I hate being cold. Enough said.

3. I'm a musician. I hate listening to music. I know, I know. It doesn't make sense. But, here's the thing. Listening to music makes me feel like I'm working. I'm no longer capable of just playing music in the background...I really have to wholely pay attention or I get a little sick to my stomach...like I'm cheating on the music or something. And then, when I do give music it's proper attention, I also feel a little sick...because I feel like I'm lusting after something that will never happen...kind of like staring at a boy you really like but know you'll never have. It's sad. I used to love to listen to music.

4. I love to read more than anything in the world (playing in an orchestra is at about the same level, mind you...both totally awe-inspiring and transcendental...maybe it's the liminal feeling, the being able to escape...both have that, you know?). I wish I could somehow get paid to read all day, every day. Steinbeck is my favorite author (East of Eden is my favorite book). I have a standard-sized pet poodle because of Steinbeck's "Travels with Charlie". Awesome book...check it out.

5. I'm a Scorpio. People say that makes me conniving and competitive, which I guess can be true at times. I'm not ashamed to admit that. But, I am also the most loyal person you'll ever meet...I'll do anything for my friends.

Okay, so...
now I tag 5 people.
Hmmm. I'm trying to remember people that haven't had to do this recently...not that it's bad...I think it's kind of fun, actually...but having to do it over and over might get a little over-the-top.

Okay, so I'll catch some blog newbies (along with some not-so-newbies)!
Little Blue, Runner Susan, TriSaraTops, Ta, and The Artist Formally Known as Jojo

Nazi Cops.

Cleveland Heights cops SUCK! I usually try to refrain from using that word, because I know it's in poor taste...but in this case, there is really no other word description available (lots of hand motioning comes to mind, but I'm keeping that to myself).

Last night, after teaching all day, I was leaving to go to our weekly group run, and got around the corner from my stupid house, and got pulled over by a cop. Apparently there's a stop sign...but it's freaking twisted the wrong way, and I had no idea it was for my side of the road. So, I had just taught all day for NOTHING. I didn't even make as much as the stupid ticket yesterday. And, I insist that I'm innocent. I would go to court, but it's kind of a futile situation since you have to pay court fees anyhow, and besides that...I'm out of town the date they assigned me. So, I guess I have to pay the damn thing.

Now, I'm pissed. But last night, I was in hysterics. It's not the ticket. It's not the $100. It's that the $100 affects me so much. I don't want to be in the place where $100 makes or breaks me anymore. I'm freaking sick of it. I don't care about money; I don't care about things. But. I want to be able to live comfortably, and sign up for local races without twinges of guilt for the $5, $15, or whatever the stupid entry fee is. I want to be able to function without this constant feeling that I'm teetering at the edge of a very high bridge.

So, after the Cop-Nazi gave me the ticket, I sat there and cried. For a good half hour. Then, I peeled myself off the steering wheel and made my way to the gym...where I proceeded to run 6.4 very easy miles on the treadmill. No, it's not hill repeats with a bunch of hard-core athletes, but it was just what I needed. Then, I managed to get myself to dinner with my freezing friends, and had a good time.

So all in all, crisis solved. I think maybe it could have been just what I needed somehow. I'd been doing better since Saturday, but I could still feel some sort of blackness bubbling underneath the surface. Now, I feel totally cleansed. I needed a good cry, so...I guess...I thank the Nazi-Cop for giving me a reason to...well, boil over. Sometimes it's necessary.

I know there is an excess of pictures now.

But, just a few more I wanted to share...

reaching!!

damn, that might have been rolling just a bit too much--i look like i'm doing the freaking side stroke!

girls, done!

me looking pissed on the bike...

me, liz, and amie post-swim (check out those goggle-eyes!)

me running

Indoor Tri and the Akron Symphony

Today is such a non-stop day and it's not even over yet. I'm almost letting my breath out, but not quite.

This morning was the indoor triathlon, which I almost didn't go to...but I'm really glad I did. We did 20 minutes each of swimming, spinning, and running on a treadmill. I ended up getting 3rd in my age group, with Amie coming in 2nd and Liz 1st...surprise surprise there, right? (Awesome job, Liz!)

Growing up, I never competed in anything that landed me ribbons or medals, so I definitely prize these things a bit too much. But more importantly, it's really cool us Team in Training kids did so well...just one more step towards squelching the vicious rumors that TNT members are slow cheaters.

[I did slack on the bike, but as I'm about to explain...it was just intelligent strategy...not cheating... :)]

I managed 44 laps swimming, the bike was just a spinning class so distance wasn't tallied, and ran 2.44 miles on the treadmill. And even better, I had fun and managed to get out of the awful funk I was in yesterday.

[For some reason, yesterday was just horrible. I really had a tough time getting out of bed at all...but I'm done with that now, so it's not worth even mentioning, really.]

Then, this afternoon I played a the Holiday Concert with the Akron Symphony. I had great time, actually...it was really cute when all the kids sang along, and the main piece of 'real' music that we played was the soundtrack to "The Snowman", an Academy Award winning animation movie, apparantly. They showed the movie while we were playing, and had a local radio broadcaster narrate. It was a very nice show, and it felt good to be a part of it.

It was amazing to play in an orchestra again, even if just for some Christmas Carols. I had forgotten how much I liked it; I had forgotten that I missed it; I had forgotten that I'm good at it.

Now, off to teach. I hope I'm able to be an effective teacher. It really feels quite rotten to be a teacher who isn't teaching. Usually I'm pretty good at teaching, I think...but I'm very tired now...and I question my ability. None of that though...I'm going to snap-to...and teach those little girls how to play the flute!

PS: Lots of laundry done, house clean, groceries bought! Now I just have to finish insulating the windows...VERY ANNOYING TASK! I am not cut out for dealing with plastic and tape for hours on end. Who is though, right?

me about to spin

me running

the whole group--check out how i'm pouring water on Coach Kurt...this IS what you're supposed to do after the race, right??

the young ladies of the team...jamie, amie, liz, and me

me and liz, about to start (10 seconds and counting...)

Why do I have a hard time getting started?

It seems to be the case with a lot of things these days.

Practicing. Doing the dishes. Studying for the GRE. Making doctors appointments. Doing Laundry. Going grocery shopping. (Can you tell I've been neglecting housework lately?)

And, even blogging.

Some of these things are a pain the butt (GRE and laundry, mainly), but nothing really even bad enough to be worthy of a single complaint...and if I would just do it, it wouldn't take that long and I'd be done. I just need to get my arse in gear!


Anyway. The past day or so of basking in new-header-success has been great. I love figuring stuff like that out...makes me feel way smarter than I probably should. (lol here...)

I'm trying to refrain from going header-crazy and making more for the tri-blog, et al. If I decide it's necessary, I really need to wait until I'm at home (6 days!) and have 2 weeks to just relax...then I won't have to feel guilty about sitting in front of my computer for way too long.

Argh. I just got called away. More later.

I'm not sure I'm satisfied yet.

But, I figured it out...all by myself!
(I won't mention how many hours it took.)

What's the vote on the new header?

Sometimes I forget...

That I really have nothing to complain about. Ever.

Reason to keep doing what you're doing.

I know we all tri for different reasons, but this has got to touch you no matter what.

I remember now:

It doesn't matter how fast I am. It doesn't matter what anyone else can do. It doesn't matter what equipment I'm using. It doesn't matter what races I do or don't do.

I'm doing this because I can...and I'm trying to help some people along the way.

That's what matters.

Thanks, Teresa! (and Liz, for letting me know about this!)

at least i'm not tired.

I overslept for spinning.

I really wanted to go. I even had a weights workout planned beforehand. The class is at 9:30, for goodness sake. I should be able to get up by then. But no...I roll over and glance at my clock/cell phone and it's 9:45. Class has already started (the 6am class is obviously done, at work, functioning as normal human beings), and I'm in bed. Lazy. Ass.

So, today I will put my bike on the trainer and bike that way. I will do it. I'm just scared I'm not putting it on correctly and am going to ruin my beautiful, perfect, new bike. But, I'm a capable person, right? A bit slow-to-the-upstart today, but capable nonetheless. I will persevere. I WILL GET MY WORKOUT IN!

Last night the Bike Workshop was great...there was a huge 50% off sale at the bike store and I had to use massive constraint. But, I managed.

Okay, I got a few things (bike shorts, bathing suit, tri top, and running top). But they were great deals, and I needed them. No, of course I didn't really need them. But, I'll definitely make great use of them...and 50% off really is a lot. So it's okay, right?

After the workshop we all went out of BW3s...where they are serving Christmas Ale. For those of you who miss out on Great Lakes Beer...jeez, just somehow get your hands on some Christmas Ale during its limited season this year. It's amazing...and I don't even like beer that much. This stuff is just plain awesome. To prove my point, every single person on the team who ordered beer ordered this famed Christmas Ale...

Okay. It's later than usual, and I'm still (obviously) blogging. Time to practice, and then attempt the bike/trainer thing. I'll let you know how it goes.

As a side-note/explanation why I'm being a wimp about this: Did you know it is actually possible to fall off your bike while it's on the trainer? It is. I've done it. yikes.

more snow. more snow.

It's snowing out again. 8-15 inches, they say.

But, I won't complain. I got my workouts in, and I feel good.

Last night, running with the usual crew, and then this morning I swam already. It feels great to be done with your workout by 7:30am, I must say. Plus, I made it to 3000 today! It's the first time I made it to 3K, and it was pretty exciting. Why are arbitrary numbers so important? Obviously, 3K isn't that different from the 2850 I did on Saturday, but it just felt so much more satisfying.

The running outside bit didn't end up quite as extreme as I thought it would be. Although, I did make a few remarks about not being able to feel my butt, and therefore not being sure if my pants had fallen down or not. I was reassured that I would be told if my pants were in fact missing. It's nice to have good friends that are watching your back...

I managed a bit more than 6m last night, and then rewarded myself with way too much food at Hoggy's. But, what's new, right? I almost went for the ice cream as well, but then remembered the awesome chocolate Liz had given me, so I refrained, knowing that I would be able to fulfill my sweet-tooth anyhow.

Liz and I rebelled against Coach Kurt and refused to do the hill repeats (except 1, I crawled up that damn hill once). I felt a little guilty about being insolent, but I just didn't feel capable last night. Coach said he wasn't mad and gave me some line saying "I just want to help. It's your choice if you listen or not.", which of course made me feel worse (that was the idea, I take it...ugh!) BUT! Sometimes you just have to listen to what your body is saying, and my poor legs were already screaming. If I had done the repeats, I wouldn't have made it around the 2m loop again, and I really wanted to get in 6m. So, we all make choices, eh?

I obviously feel really guilty still since I'm talking about it so excessively.

Moving on. Moving on...

Indoor Tri on Sunday! I'm pumped. I wish I had flip turns more under control now, but I'll have to stick to my little hand touches for this time. Next indoor tri though, I'm going to whip out those fancy-shmancy turns, I promise!

Okay, I think I need to go take a nap. I can't wake up at 4:45 and function for the whole day. I've learned that I might as well succomb to the sleep now, rather than suffer for a few hours, and then give in. This way I get in wake up again in an hour or so (okay, maybe 2 hours), and then have a normal day.

Bike workshop tonight! Someone is going to have to make sure I don't buy all the accessories in the place. I put lotslotslots on my Hanukkah list (does anyone else still make lists? A little silly, I know...), so I'm hoping to get at least some soon. But, everything will be just be sitting there...and Sherman will give me 10% off...and I'll be SO TEMPTED. But really...I know I don't need them now. I'm obviously not going riding in 8-15 inches of snow (on top of the 2 feet already there, mind you)...

So, control. I need control. Maybe I should just leave the credit card at home, eh?

That's so boring though. Sigh.

COOOOOLLD (as a witch's ... )

I can't motivate myself today. It's too freaking cold. I've even considered backing out of the weekly group run just because I can't imagine going outside for a second, much less having to run in that fridgid-ness. blech.

And, it's still fall. ARGHHHHHH!

The black page stares me in the face like time

The blank page stares me in the face like time

Time that speeds up with every passing second

As the fractions dissipate I save a sentence of my life
to create the punctuation
the manipulation
of my imagination.

What could be ... will never be what is.

Use correct grammar!
Why does it matter? It’s only me…

Conversations form inside my head
It’s not a psychosis; it’s what could be ... that will never be what is.

Books are transcending to an alternate home
It is over
it takes over.

I relive the moments of my alien past and although the memories are wonderful I can’t help but wish I could experience them again ... for the first time.

The mothership looms into view
Again I wonder...
When exactly will my trip be over?
And when will I be back?

The time lapses never seem to matter
All will be the same.

Progress does not bother me in this case
and it does in [some] other circumstances
because as we all know
progress is not always progress
in the positive sense of the word.

Premeditation makes things harder
Expectations are too prominent.

The psychosis [that is not a psychosis] is overwhelming and no other options relevant.

Would you want the peak performance point known?
Could you handle the knowledge of your impending decline
just to be able to relish the flavor
the aftertaste
of your prime?

Exactly as fall summer spring
The worst is yet to come and is felt in the air

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF ME, the sky demands.

And you do
to the extent you can,
but no matter what you do with your time,
The wasted sunlight [no metaphors now] is always regretted.
The dead world [no matter how serene] is inequitable.

The seasons are life.
The most beautiful points will never be known until they have vanished.

I made it!

So, at long last, I made it to a spinning class. I got to the room 5 minutes early, and I still got the 2nd to last bike! I know it's Sunday morning, but come on--2 sold-out days in a row?! That place has like 45 bikes.

But, I guess since it's almost impossible to work out outside these days, going to the gym is forced upon people...I definitely wouldn't have been there a month ago...maybe there should just be extra classes in the winter-time.

My normal spinning teacher was absent, so another girl led the class. I used to really hate her, because she looked so scary (I'm about to go on a soapbox, I apologize in advance), but she's normalized a bit, and she actually led a great class...lots of hill climbing and sprinting, so I felt like I got an awesome workout in. My clothes were completely soaked; I don't think I've sweated that much in a really long time. The bikes were in a circle, so we were all really close together and the mirrors were all completely fogged up--pretty intense.

Anyway...here's my spiel on scary looking women. WHY DO YOU WANT TO LOOK LIKE A MAN? This girl who led the class has a great body; she's obviously really strong...but she used to have these nasty veins popping out of every limb of her body, and her neck was too big and she really looked like she was using steroids, whether or not she really was. When I would see her, all I wanted to do was leave the gym, go home, and eat chocolate. Not that I am in any danger whatsoever of looking like that, but I still felt some need to counteract her insanity.

Note: I think it's great that women want to compete in huge endurance events, and someday (sooner or later, I don't know) I will do an Ironman too (ack can't believe I just said that)...but...BUT! Don't try to be a man; you're aren't one; you shouldn't look like one. Women have amazing curves; I don't ever want to lose that. The softness; the sensitivity of being female is so important--why ruin that? You can still do anything you put your mind to; you don't have to lose perspective of who you are. WE ARE DIFFERENT. Embrace that.

Tuesday night Group Run

The Group, Coach Kurt included!

Another Futile Attempt

This morning I got up around 8 and decided I was going to go to spinning at 9:30. I got to the gym at 9:24, and then had to wait in line to have my card swiped...and wait to go to the bathroom...and wait to fill my waterbottle. I finally got to the spinning room at 9:32 and lo and behold...no more bikes. ARGHHH. So, after a few breaths of 'poor-me' fuming, I trekked back downstairs to run on the tredmill. I was wearing my bike shorts though, so running with a huge pad on my butt felt like...well...running with a diaper? blech.

I started at 5.2mph and increased the speed by .4mph every 2 1/2 minutes. By 15 minutes, I was running at 7.2mph and stayed between 7.2-8.2 until I had done 30mins. I ended up with about 3.5miles in 3o minutes. Not bad considering my warm up was so slow. I felt good with being able to do 2 miles at a sub-8 minute mile. On a tredmill, of course...so I'm not sure if it really counts...but it was at least good practice for the indoor tri next Sunday!

I'm going to go swimming later this afternoon. Now, time to practice!

Poodles don't like to run around in the snow...

This week, I agreed to walk a dog (Molly) who lives about 5 miles away. Today, we decided to take Baruch along and bring them both to the nearby dogpark.

It's blizzarding out. I'm a genius. ::sarcasm:: Molly actually really loved it, but Baruch wasn't so much into it (she needs some booties, I think). In any case, here are some pictures from the excursion...

me playing in the snowy dog park with Baruch and Molly.

Phil helping Baruch get the snow off of her paws.

our poodle

yours truly, bundled up

Molly making a run for it.

Baruch swaying in the wind

Ring...Ring...

"Hello"

"Hi, Grandma."

"Hi! Sweetie...is everything okay?"

"Yes, of course. I just think that I left my camera at your house."

"Really...Oh, no. I haven't seen it."

"Hello?"

"Hi, Grandpa."

"Bob, it's Susanna. She left her camera here."

"I haven't seen it."

"I think I left it on the hall table. But, actually....I haven't completely unpacked. Maybe it's in this bag..."

"Ann, I see a camera on the table. Should I send it to her today?"

"Bob, no! That's my camera! Susanna has a cool, digital camera." (My grandma is dropping hints to get a digital camera for Christmas. SO cute...)

"Um...Grandma...Grandpa...I found my camera."

"What do you mean you found it? It's on the table here."

"No, no. Grandpa, that's Grandma's. I found mine in the bag I hadn't unpacked. I just thought I left it. Sorry for bothering you."

"Okay, bye dear..."

"Bye, Grandpa."

...


"Grandma?"

"Yes?"

"Good luck with your camera..."

levi, levi the leviathan...

my poodle is smarter than your honor student...

mom

aunt jennifer

mom and aunt jennifer

uncle bernie--the best cake and pie maker EVER
(sorry, dad...he's a Baker...)