strugglepants

MIA

2008-11-17T13:05:00.002-05:00

NO, I am not about to bust out Paper Planes.

I am merely stating the obvious... that I haven't visited the blogosphere is a while. Busy, busy, busy. But all good.

I'll be back soon... I promise.

the year of change

2008-11-05T07:00:00.001-05:00

New Years schmew years. Every year begins with me making some outlandish promise to myself, which is usually a modifed version of the same goal that I set the previous year. And, of course, it always involves health and fitness. Lose weight, exercise more, eat right, blah blah blah. We've heard it all before.

Well, like every other year, when 2007 rolled into 2008, I vowed that this would be my healthiest, most accomplished year. But, unlike years past, there was something different about this approach that assured me that I could actually achieve my resolution this year and I was 100% determined to honor this committment. Now, with less than two months left in the year, I can honestly say that I am really proud of how far I've come, in regards to both diet and exercise.

I started the year extremely inspired and decided that the first step to cleaning up my act was to avoid alcohol for 2 months to allow myself the mental clarity and peace of mind that I needed to plan out the rest of my year. Not drinking was definitely a challenge (and my friends were utterly confused) but I really enjoyed the change of scenery. And, honestly it just felt natural and healthy. (And rest easy, I've since resumed drinking.)

My next goal was to put focus on fitness. I knew that if I tried to make rash adjustments in both my fitness and eating habits, I'd burn out and fall flat on my face. So, I signed up for a half marathon and devised a rigorous yet realistic 4.5 month training program. It was definitely a bit of a challenge at times, being forced to stick to a schedule and "having" to run was painful at times. But, I stuck with it all and I completed the race in May - another mission accomplished.

My next challenge was to develop a workout schedule that I could stay with FOREVER. One that was forgiving and accomodating but challenging enough to keep my body engaged. Well, add another check mark on my ambitious list of To-Dos. Its taken me almost 10 months to fully adjust to a normal, regular routine but I think I've finally got a really good thing going with my fitness lifestyle. While I may not be as quick to blog about every training session or every long or short run, I am out there, almost everyday, doing SOMETHING active. I've been going to the gym, participating in weekly pilates and bi-weekly abs classes (as you all know). I've been hitting the elliptical before my pilates and abs classes and I've been running about 3 times per week. With no "goal race" in the near future, I am content with my slow and steady pace. Its realistic and, most importantly, its working for me.

Next up... How I tackled the diet dilemma in 2008 and what goals can I set for 2009?

Iron Man

2008-11-01T07:13:00.002-04:00

One of my oldest friends, Patrick, is participating in IronMan Florida today and I am SO excited for him.

Patrick is a superb athlete in all pursuits. He's participated in half Iron Mans and at least a couple of marathons... so really, it was just a matter of time before he voyaged into full Iron Man land.

Patience and dedication have paid off. This is the culmination of a lifelong dream and many years of preparation.

This is not a eulogy, Patrick is very much alive. So let me get to the point...

Patrick, my friend - GOOD LUCK. You are an inspiration to me and I am so proud to be your friend and I wish I could be there to cheer for you. We are rooting for you from the homeland.

Kick ass and take names... I'll be tracking you!!!

complainers prevail

2008-10-28T08:47:00.009-04:00

"My" gym thankfully decided to keep the 30 Minute Abs class on the roster. I know you're all excited. I was celebrating this morning while doing upside down bosu ball planks... WOW. Or should I say... OW.

Did I really wish this upon myself?

Well, its all good. It makes up for the pilates class I take on Mondays in which I am the youngest by 20 years... and I am not joking. Not even a little. And I am including the instructor. The first time I showed up, I thought maybe it was just an older week. Clearly, the younger people must've been out partying the night before. (Evidently, not everyone finds it perfectly acceptable to spend Sunday nights buried in a bowl of ~~fudge~~ grapes, watching a marathon of Little People Big World.) But, I've gone back a handful (handful = three? four?) of Mondays, the past three in a row... and I am always the baby of the group. Not that I am complaining. These peeps are pretty hardcore and I had a tough time keeping up with the positions at first. Its just, I am sort of waiting for the instructor to inform me that the class is intended for older folks and I should probably pick another session. At which time, I'll politely make up some god-forsaken story about how I have a chronic back injury and my doctor recommended I take a less intense pilates class... and then I will never return and I will shamefully bob and weave my way through the gym anytime I spot the instructor. Ok, not really.

Speaking of, why is it you feel GUILTY when you stop taking a class for no reason other than scheduling conflicts? You feel like you are insulting the instructor and the classmates whom you only know by way of grunts and shared floor space. Yet, anytime you run into that instructor, whose class you dropped, you get all verklempt and can't bear to admit that ~~you are a lazy POS~~ you simply weren't benefitting from the class enough to sacrifice that extra hour of sleep? Nothing personal sister friend.

are you a real man?

2008-10-24T13:34:00.008-04:00

I feel it is my civic duty to put the musings of my uninteresting affairs aside and to give up my lunch break today to help out a colleague who is running a promotion in which all proceeds will go to American Cancer Society, Making Strides Against Breast Cancer.

Bid on OmniMount's hot pink Prism 50 television mount. Men, if you say pink is not your thing, quite frankly, you look like a pudding. My very hetero, 6’4”, strapping, manly man, sports enthusiast (and totally hot) husband has even embraced pink. It took a while and a little coddling but now, in his closet… a scattering of pink splattered ties. A pink button down shirt. Pink tee shirts. Even a pair of pink boxers (sorry peeps, for my eyes only). So, in the spirit of Breast Cancer Awareness Month (AKA the “month of pink”), men, I challenge you to prove your manhood… support Team OmniMount and bid for the chance to pimp out your bach pad with this one-of-a-kind piece of furniture from OmniMount… I dare you.

If the Pink Prism is not for you, support my cohort and the OmniMount team as they participate in the 2008 Making Strides Against Breast Cancer fundraiser. Donate today!

(Obviously geared at those with a disposable income... unlike my pink-friendly husband and me.)

how the economy is making me fat

2008-10-21T09:28:00.015-04:00

In an effort to cut costs and save some cash, my gym (a Gold's Gym) is cancelling a handful of its group classes.

And I am really disappointed.

I really, really like my 30 Minute Abs class (yes, I like torture as well) and this is unfortunately one of the sessions getting the axe.

If you are not familiar with Gold's, first of all lose the mental picture of greasy meatheads. The business is quality (usually!) and very accomodating to people of all fitness levels, and I have had a great experience at any location that I've been to. The franchise that I belong to has two locations in RI which are both conveniently located and are handsdown the best gyms in my area. My BFF/gym buddy lives closer to one, I live closer to the other so we take turns driving the distance on days that we workout together.

But recently, I've been annoyed with "my" location and have been heading to the other location even when BFF and I are not working out together. Reasons: its bigger, the equipment is way newer, they offer more classes, and it's all around nicer... and worth the price of gas for me to go the extra ten miles. "My" gym, though owned and run by the same crew, is not nearly as nice. It gets the job done and is a clean environment but... the equipment is on its last leg. I've given up running on the treadmills because I feel like a heffalump - the machines seem fragile. Every other elliptical I get on is broken or makes some god-awful noise. And the TVs are so outdated that you can barely make out Al Roker's mug on-screen. (And I need to know "whats happening in my neck of the woods"!)

I wouldn't be complaining if I didn't pay good money to be a member. (Actually, I currently pay nothing as my Dad gifted me a year's membership last Christmas but I know HE paid a lot of money for me to go to a NICE gym.) If I were going to the Y or some local dive gym, I'd expect nothing more. But, Gold's runs $30-40/month.

I was considering submitting an anonymous recommendation to management... politely suggesting that maybe it's time for some new gear. But, when I went to 30 minute abs this morning to learn that they are cutting corners (and classes and instructors!), I knew that my suggestion would go unheard and be a waste of time.

Honestly, I totally appreciate that businesses are hurtin' right now. I pay attention - I know what is going on. But, when your business model promotes fitness, health, and overall well being, the last thing you should skimp on are the classes and equipment that enable a healthy lifestyle... especially with cold winter months looming. I don't own a gym so I obviously don't know what the overhead is but I am sure there are other ways around this. I'd go so far as to say that I think the members would all be willing to contribute a few more dollars per month... so long as we are guaranteed updated equipment and a decent selection of classes.

I am disappointed and disgruntled today...

Scatterbories

2008-10-17T08:54:00.002-04:00

-> My mind is dull from lack of sleep... why must you Red Sox put us through such a manic process? But I love you. I really do.

-> Here's a present: $5 off $25 at Whole Foods. (You're welcome.)

-> I hate when people talk with their mouth full and I get the heeby jeebies when people chew with their mouth open. Ew.

-> Which reminds me... "You shut your mouth when you're talking to me". What movie? Winner gets a $5 Whole Foods coupon.

-> Thursday has become a double session workout day for me; 45 minutes of cardio and a 30 minute abs class in the morning and then 50 minutes of indoor soccer at night. (Refueled by draft beer. Awesome!)

-> Have you ever done THIRTY minutes of ab work? Wow. Intense... and is it a problem that after each class, my neck hurts more than my abs? HAH. I know, I know - I should not be straining my neck... and I am conscious of my form at all times but YOU do thirty minutes of abs and then tell me how to avoid straining my neck. With any hope, soon enough I will end up with something more solid than my donut cake padded middle section.

-> Mmmm... donut cake! Speaking of - I am going to the second annual Pumpapalooza tomorrow... dressing up, playing games, eating donut cake, and celebrating Pumpkin's birthday. (Pumpkin is a person... one of my favorites actually... and yes, I said Pumpkin is a person.) I'm dressing up as a runner. I know, so original, right?

-> I used to think that I was really athletic and pretty fit... and then I discovered all of you crazy marathoners, triathletes, Iron (Wo)Men... and I'm beginning to feel like a sloth. Stop being so awesome, ok? You're killing my mojo.

-> ... just kidding... truthfully you all actually motivate me everyday. Today, I am just really tired, slightly hungover (post soccer brews get me everytime), and feeling like a POS and the fact that so many peeps are running marathons this weekend makes me want to vomit. But, truthfully, I wish you all the best!! You'll rock, I am sure. And I can't wait to read all about it.

-> Last but not least... a Friday funny:

Have a wonderful weekend. GO SOX!

so cheesy

2008-10-16T08:07:00.002-04:00

So in my quest to find out which is healthier, soy or dairy, I've been overcome with an enormous amount of anxiety on the subject matter. Its really no surprise that I am experiencing anxiety because frankly, I have anxiety about anxiety and it does not take much to set me into a worrying state.

Nonetheless, today it is dairy that has me befuddled.

Its not that I've gotten much further into my Soy vs. Dairy investigation (I know you are disappointed but people, I am busy WORKING... sheesh, someone has to pay le bills), its just I have become so accutely aware of the topic that I've come to the realize how much I rely on dairy... particularly the aged variety... AKA CHEESE.

Honestly, I could go without drinking milk or pouring milk on cereal but holy mother... I seriously don't think I could go without cheese. For real. And, I don't even consider myself a cheese obsessed person. But, from grated parmesan on pasta, to shredded cheddar on a burrito, to cream cheese on a bagel, to wine & cheese, to sliced fresh mozarella on a pizza, to crumbled gorg on a salad... I make my rounds with curdled dairy and can safely say I am a cheese whore.

Don't interpret my above menu selections as greasy fried fatness... I am not DOUSING food with cheese. Its more of an accoutrement, if you will. Usually (as in, this does not include random nacho escapades), my diet is low in fat, high in fiber, and chock full of fruits & veggies. And, cheese is consumed in moderation (except on nachos... then it is heaping... but that is neither here nor there). No problem then, right? The problem is not in one meal or serving, its the fact that I eat it multiple times per day and I still WONDER why my love handles will not fade. Hmmm...

I am not yet making the claim that cheese is either HEALTHY or UNHEALTHY (like wine and caffeine, two staples in my diet, the jury is still out). For now, I still live in the everything-in-moderation school of thought. But, if in my research I DO discover that cheese is in no way healthy for you, I don't know what I am going to do. There are simply no substitutions for quality cheese. No soy or vegan imitation can replace such a delicately crafted fare. I am an open-minded chick... but on this, there is no argument. (In other words, don't even try.)

six at six

2008-10-10T18:00:00.003-04:00

I've been tagged by 2 fabulous running chickadees: le Chic Runner (Danica) and le Happy Runner (Felice) to list 6 random things about myself. Thank you ladies! :)

This is a bit of a struggle since I am random by nature but here goes...

1. I have this bazaar and insane fear of frogs. Yes, I know - frogs are cute and harmless (well, at least the ones that live in New England) and they are much more afraid of me than I should be of them. However, I don't like their spontaneous style. Hippity hoppity is NOT for me. And, I swear the frogs (toads?) can SENSE my fear because they insist on scaring the bejebus out of me... when I am walking down the driveway en route to get the mail, collect the trash barrels, or hop in my car. Out of nowhere, froggy hops right across my feet and sends me into a squeeling tither. They NEVER go near the hub and he LIKES frogs. Ugh.

2. I like my job. A lot. I work for a very cool company with very cool people and we make a very cool product (well, I don't make a gottdamn thing except literature and marketing "stuff" that supports the very cool products). And, I get to work from home. Telecommuting in my sweats, with my pup at my feet.

3. I play indoor soccer once per week in a women's league. While I like to say that I am an athlete, I am actually not very "good" at soccer. Clearly I can run and have a decent amount of speed and endurance. But footskills? Notsomuch. I play to keep in shape and get in some quality time with my chicas (I'm really in it for the post-game beers).

4. I don't like to swear. I don't do it all that often and when I do, I sound terribly awkward. I annunciate too much. Swears need to roll off the tongue. With me, they don't. I actually write swears more than I speak them because you can't tell that it would SOUND awkward. However, I am always down for the sort of swears - like "shitake" and "gottdamn" and "pain in the arse" and "mother trucker".

5. I've rediscovered my love for Pandora. You should too.

6. My friends frequently ask me questions and expect me to have the answer. Not questions about ME, but questions about life and random things that may have no relevance to me or my interests or my profession but for some reason, they think I will know. So... since they have so much faith and dependency, even if I don't have the answer, I make stuff up... that makes enough sense to SOUND like I have the answer. Its been going on all of my life. I don't know why people think I would know how to solve all of their woes but if me being a bullshitter (swear!) helps them, I am all for it. It sort of makes me want to start my own Delilah-esque radio show... although I won't try to make you love Jesus. God is definitely not my avenue of expertise.

no excuses

2008-10-08T18:25:00.002-04:00

Frankly, I've been avoiding the running topic because well, its been too lackadaisical to really even talk about. A run here and there. No real effort exerted. I've been... dare I say "jogging"?

Hand to forehead. Ghasp. Faint.

Honestly, I am NOT making excuses but I did have some "stuff" going on that I needed to handle with care. Its all good now... but it demanded some caution and that meant I had to sacrifice my routine... which led to lethargy and putting everything off "until tomorrow".

But, now I am healed and with winter approaching, if I don't step up my fitness game, I might as well slap on the bear suit, take stock in honey (but nothing else because evidently the economy is going to hell) and hibernate my way through many, many episodes of How I Met Your Mother, Boston Legal, and Jon & Kate Plus 8... mixed with the occasional episode of Biggest Loser to remind myself JUST how much of a slacker I am.

That is getting way ahead of myself. I am still close enough to "in-shape" that within a couple of weeks, I'll be back up to my half marathoning self.

Here are my goals to protect myself from packing on the winter pounds!

- Kick it up a notch - For the past 2 months, I've observed NO schedule, NO program, and have made NO progress. Duh. The thing is... I am not really training for anything right now. I am simply running to run which is an absolute wonderful way to live but it is too complacent for me and it allows me to slip and push things off to TOMORROW. Well folks - today is tomorrow and all the slacking ended on Sunday(with homemade apple pie).

- Be healthy - Its really not about "looking good", its about feeling good... and this is NOT achieved with exercise alone (though I wish it was because oreos + me = BFFs). What I really want is to adopt an eating and exercising lifestyle that is healthy and balanced. I love me some junk food. I also love vegetables and healthy choices. I plan to dive more into those Skinny Bitch philosophies and figure out a plan that works for me.

- Switch it up - I am going to integrate A LOT of variety into my winter fitness life. Spin, elliptical, pilates, core stregth, etc. I've been doing the running and calisthenics thing for the past few months and honestly, I am somewhat uninspired and have a very difficult time going to the gym during the warmer months. But now that it is getting colder, I'll get more into the cross training which will help to keep me interested.

- Buddy system - I've enlisted my gym buddy and BFF, Melissa, to help me get my sh*t together. While she is quite possibly half my size, she is eager to be more active and build more muscle. And, everyone knows that working out is always more fun with a friend. If nothing else, we have a good time picking out her potential husbands at the gym.

- Challenge Myself! Viv over at Excuse #1 I'm Not Fit to Run has instituted yet anotehr fabulous weight loss challenge. And while I am not aiming to lose all that much, a challenge is JUST what I need to stay motivated. I've thrown my hat in the ring.

These goals are ambitious but realistic. The real challenge for me will be to maintain at least the fitness side of the equation through the holidays... the eating/diet side? Eh, we'll see how that goes.

Winner!

2008-10-06T13:53:00.005-04:00

I won! I won!

Thank you to Amy & Tom for selecting me as the winner of the Free Stuff Giveaway. I participated in the "What advice, tips and cheers do you have for your friends and family who join you as spectators?" forum and offered up the following (winning) advice:

Spectators are the best part of a race. Rules for my cheering section:

1. Cheer loudly - If I am wearing my iPod, I need you to yell over Vampire Weekend in order to hear you.

2. Tell me I look strong - Even at my weakest moments, if you tell me I at least LOOK the part, it is fuel for my dwindling motivation.

3. Call me by your favorite nickname - SJ Goody, Bim, Sah, Putz, Struggles, Momo... whatever it may be. I love terms of endearment.

4. Bring me a present - Whether it is a Propel, a chocolate treat, a kiss... bring me something.

5. Make me a sign - Nuff said.

6. Carry my lip balm - My lips are eternally chapping when I run and I hate to put chapstick in my shorts pocket because it gets all soft.

7. Trip all the runners in front of me - That is TOTALLY a joke. Don't do that. But DON'T you dare cheer for them. Ok, I am kidding again. I want you to cheer for everyone. I expect you to be voiceless when I cross the finish line.

And, the most important rule of spectatorship...

8. Have Fun - Support ALL of the runners. Get into it. I want MY supporters to be known as one of the funnest groups to encourage runners. And I don't want you there all grumpy and obligated. :)

Those words of wisdom won me a pair of shorts and a singlet from Race Ready. Yahoo! I am a huge fan of shorts with pockets so I can't wait to try them out.

Coincidentally, I had an epiphany this weekend. I realized that I've been running too lackadaisically lately and that I need to get my act together and develop a program... even though I don't have any significant goals or races on the horizon. So, winning this giveaway is great fuel for my refound motivation... NO MORE EXCUSES.

Thanks Runners Lounge! Thanks Race Ready!

on all things sexy

2008-10-03T07:48:00.002-04:00

Ok, pervs... there is NOTHING sexy about this post... but now that you're here... Happy Friday peeps!

Things of note this week:
- I went to Greenwich, Connecticut yesterday for the first time in my life. I was quite intrigued by this extremely affluent town which had dealerships for Bentley, Lamborghini, Ferrari, Maserati, Aston Martin... pretty much all exclusive luxury cars, all on the same strip. With a number of these cars floating around the town, I started to look at the little Audis, BMWs, and Volvos as the chump mobiles. As if? I was glad to get the heck out of there before I drank too much of their material punch. (And let it be known, I am much more comfortable in my Volkswagen-and-GAP-are-as-designer-as-I-get world.)

- By the way, did I spell all those luxmobiles correctly... especially the Lambo? I hate it when there are unnecessary Hs in words... except in the instance of SaraH. It is ENTIRELY necessary and dignifying in this instance thankyouverymuch.

- A couple of days ago, I read a great article on CNN touting some useful tips for women to avoid getting sick, especially with flu season lurking around the corner (or here now, for some). I generally don't read too much into these fluffery articles but the advice is at least interesting and quite appealing (think: massages!).

- What's your take on Twittering? I've had an account for a while but I never really used it. A couple of friends recently jumped on and it inspired me to get more into it (hi Twitter friends) but between the Facebook status update and blogging, I am sort of disinterested in this particular social network phenom. I don't really get it...

- Running? Yes, I have been, thanks for asking. I am not training for anything at the moment so I am reveling in running for fun and running with the hub. It is AWESOME. And I have also been trying to get back into a gym routine because with ~~hell~~ winter right around the corner, I need to get used to treadmill and elliptical life.

- Evidently, I miss summer already. But, I am sort of happy about the fall season... basically for all things apple-related (Coincidentally, we live in Apple Valley). Apple picking. Wearing sweaters... and hiking boots to go apple picking. Getting hot cider... while apple picking. AND, I am most excited about apple pie making. I have been known to concoct a pretty fantastic apple pie. Yum.

- An update on the "big ow wii" - Due to the injury and Wii incident, Kevin, the poor guy, had to go to Urgent Care for an emergency procedure on his finger. **If you're prone to quease, leave now.** The swelling on the finger was so bad that his nail had begun to lift away from the hand and his finger was turning black. It was disgusting. So, he went to Urgent Care where they laser drilled a hole in his fingernail... through the fingernail... so the blood could be released... and they had to drain it out, by squeezing it (eww). He still has a hole in the nail (gross) but is expected to make a full recovery. Wii has since been nailed to the basement entertainment center so there is NO temptation to bring it upstairs.

That is all from me. I am off to Boston to visit my 10K(atie)... and root on the Sox. Ciao.

hypocrital "bitch"

2008-09-30T23:27:00.004-04:00

Last week, in my 2nd post about milk v. soy, I mentioned that I started reading the book Skinny Bitch. The book is a quick read (even for a slow reader, like me) and while I haven't yet read cover-to-cover, I have jumped around enough to get a handle on their message and to realize that being a skinny bitch doesn't automatically mean that you're also dumb.

At the time of my post last week, after about 4 chapters of skeptically reading their vegan mantra, I thought I was "all done" with reading it. I appreciated what the authors had to offer, as die-hard vegans but, I was convinced that the book encouraged a ridiculously complicated and unrealistic (and expensive) lifestyle.

Not for me.

(Or so I thought.)

Throughout the past week, I've found myself referencing the very book which I wrote-off in everday conversation with my hub, family, friends, etc. Its become a primary topic of conversation with my Dad who is a very health-conscious guy (and a Weight Watchers leader) with a wealth of knowledge and quite a few macrobiotic cooking classes under his belt. He has a grasp on the caloric and nutritional values of most food and it is interesting to compare notes and hear his perspective. (Hello Pops!)

I also have been talking extensively about my prelim research on soy, dairy, and these skinny biznatches with Kevin (over dinner, as we take down meatballs, clearly not committed to any sort of veganhood). We're both extremely interested in health and wellness and are eager to find an eating lifestyle that is realistic and healthy... but allows for wonderful things like rice krispie treats (BTW, as easy as they are to make, Kevin can MESS up a rice krispie treat... I am now convinced he actually CAN make them just fine but he's intentionally spoiled 2 batches of RKT just so next time, when he wants them and I tell him to make them, he can say... but you make them so much better... so he can resume TV watching and I can slave over the hot stove... for all of the 10 minutes it takes to make them. loveyoukev but I am onto you!).

I digress.

Back to my bitches.

Since last week, each night, I've picked up le bitch book and have re-read sections that stuck out in my mind or have gotten sucked into a new chapter and have learned something disgustingly new and eye-opening.

So, while I started out sort of dismissing this book after the first glance, my perspective on food has actually shifted a bit. And I am interested in what they have to say and learning more about some of their claims and findings. Not that I have stopped eating my share of carnivorous delights or sweetastic indulgences... but I am thinking more about it when I eat.

And... I have since purchased Skinny Bitch in the Kitch.

Bitches, you're reeling me in with all your no-nonsense, cut-to-the-chase ness of your series. "You... you're good, you." (In my best DeNiro in Analyze This voice.) The good news is, while the book may be seeping into my psyche, in shape and heart, I am still Sarah Plain and Tall - and she ain't no Skinny Bitch.

Friday Fun - Wordle

2008-09-26T11:54:00.005-04:00

This about sums up strugglepants...

a big ow wiiii

2008-09-24T08:47:00.007-04:00

Saturday night we had a bunch of friends over to play games, drink (heavily), and eat disgusting amounts of donut cake. Game night started at the table, playing 7/11/doubles, a dice game. Eventually, this "rolled" into a card game called Kings which involves drawing a card from the face down pile and being subjected to antics such as four to the floor (place your hand on the table when someone draws a four - last person to do so loses), five to the sky (raise your hand when someone draws a five - last person to do so loses), nine nine bust a rhyme (start a rhyme when you draw a nine... first person that is unable to rhyme with the phrase loses). The point of Kings is to not draw the last king. You are penalized by having to drink a full beer - generally a microbrew or some non-light variety.

(And yes, we're very sophisticated. And no, we're not in college anymore.)

By now, its probably evident that the spirits were flowing on Saturday night.

From the card game, it was decided that video games were in order. Half the group wanted to play RockBand. The other half wanted to play Wii. There were about 15-20 of us so this actually made more sense than all of us trying to play ONE game. However, both of the game systems have been moved to our finished basement, in the dedicated gaming room, complete with a ginormo TV and plenty of room to rock or Wii-out.

Before I even got the chance to suggest that we move RockBand upstairs to the living room (in front of the beautiful flat panel, and bass booming speakers - great for rocking), Kevin was hooking up the Wii to the upstairs TV. Hastily, I ran over and made my suggestion - partly because I wanted to rock with the sound system but MOSTLY because I was afraid of what harm a bunch of drunk guys playing Wii in front of my beautiful 40" LCD could cause. Kevin assured me it would be fine and shooed me to the basement...

I left him uneasily... I was not really a happy camper. But, I didn't really let it get to me. We were both having fun.

So - I hit the basement to get RockBand going... with Goody on a Saturday Night, my band. We were jamming away, all switching instruments between songs, playing nicely together, letting everyone have a turn. I sang Weezer's Say it at So like fricking Rivers Cuomo himself. Amazing.

After a good set with my band, I needed a break and went upstairs in search of a snack. As I was noshing on some chips and spinach/artichoke dip, I peaked in the living room to see a quiet game of bowling in session. I thought, Aw, that is nice and quiet and harmless.

And then...

I looked at the light fixture on the ceiling.

Um... guys??? Where is the light fixture... you know the glass part, the bulb, ANY OF IT?

All eyes turned to Kevin who looked at me with the PLEASEDONTHURTME look.

Keevvvinnn? What happened?

He then gave me this long winded story on how he was playing tennis and he is too tall and so he went to swing and was following through because thats what good tennis players do, they follow through and he clipped the light with his hand and it shattered.

You might guess that I flipped out and said I told you so and all that jazz. But no, I did not. I simply said - Well, looks like football Sunday is going to be spent going to Lowes and fixing the light. Sucks for you.

Scolded, he nodded and earnestly agreed. (Though I knew nothing would come between him and Sunday football.)

And then, he showed me his hand. Kevin's hand v. light fixture - light fixture wins. Basically his middle fingernail got whacked between the Wii-mote and the light fixture so immediately, his nail turned to black and his finger started to swell. It looked like someone took the Acme Anvil to his fingertip. Part of me felt bad but part of me wanted to say "I told you so" so very badly.

I resisted the urge and just shrugged it off and resumed my RockBand playing.

Four days later and Kevin's finger looks pretty disgusting. The picture doesn't even do it justice but it is GROSS, trust me.

But, in the face of pain, he learned an important lesson this weekend...

I. Am. Always. Right.

(And my light fixture is still not fixed. I caved a little bit. He IS sorry and he IS pretty cute. Plus, who was I supposed to watch the Pats get there asses kicked with?)

moooooover over.

2008-09-23T08:18:00.003-04:00

Yesterday I introduced my preliminary findings on the soy controversy.To make sure I am exhausting all angles of these arguments, I also wanted to address the theories on the dairy side... since many people look at soy as a dairy supplement.

I am all about the sensationlist and radical approach to advocating one side or the other. Stand up for what you believe. In addition to a number of credible sources, I've tapped into a slew of less reliable sources because outside of the scientific evidence, there are a number of legitmate, opinion based claims for both sides.

In the soy corner...

Naturally, there are the vegans. For the most part, this demographic follows a vegan lifestyle because they are also animal activists and environmentalists promoting what they call a "cruelty free lifestyle". A small minority of vegans are vegans simply because they don't dig animal byproducts - in taste, texture, or concept. Regardless of their reasoning, none of them consume "flesh foods", dairy and eggs, fur, leather, wool, down, and cosmetics or chemical products tested on animals.

Then there are the milk nazis... (no milk for you) that I've discovered!

You know the Got Milk? ads, adorned with the latest favored pop culture icons? Well, the USA Today article (linked above) identifies some misconceptions that the dairy council has "steered" us to believe... regarding the link between milk consumption and weight loss... which was marketing genius. We all go weak in the knees for the latest weight loss fix.

Then the Googs led me to this gem...Milk Sucks. Along with a variety of clickable buttons (Got Pus?, Scary Dairy Tales, Don't be a milk sucker) the homepage of this advocacy cites the "Harvard School of Public Health, on the Consumption of Dairy Products (2005)"

“The recommendation to drink three glasses of low-fat milk or eat three servings of other dairy products per day to prevent osteoporosis is another step in the wrong direction. … Three glasses of low-fat milk add more than 300 calories a day. This is a real issue for the millions of Americans who are trying to control their weight. What's more, millions of Americans are lactose intolerant, and even small amounts of milk or dairy products give them stomachaches, gas, or other problems. This recommendation ignores the lack of evidence for a link between consumption of dairy products and prevention of osteoporosis. It also ignores the possible increases in risk of ovarian cancer and prostate cancer associated with dairy products."

How about two of societies most popular vegan advocates? Rory Freedman and Kim Barnouin... Skinny Bitches, if you will. I just recently began reading Skinny Bitch. (Hear me out.) Misinformed, I thought this book was going to be about tactical ways to avoid crappy foods and to keep up with exercise. But basically, it evangelizes Veganism... which is all fine and well but I quickly learned, I do not fit this mold nor am I going to be a "Skinny Bitch" by their standards because I LOVE MEAT... and a lot of the other crap they advise NOT to eat.

I also thought the book was going to be a little lighter spirited, from sorority-esque chicks. But - on the positive side, they are very well informed, educated, and apparently did a lot of research to formulate this "no nonsense, tough love guide". Its a little too intense for my liking. (However, in another one of their books, Skinny Bitch in the Kitch, they created an amazing and "healthy" recipe for chocolate chip cookies using a base of sugar in the raw, wheat flour, water, coconut oil, and molasses. My sister in law made them yesterday and they are AMAZING.)

As much as I sort of despise the book (for telling me to avoid things like sugar, caffeine, and meat, and basically all things fabulous... and processed) the most interesting segment I have found, is as their take on dairy. This excerpt is taken from an interview on The Diet Channel, not directly from the book.

"When we have babies, we breastfeed them, and then at a certain point, we stop. We don’t breastfeed our grown children, or our husbands or friends, for that matter. It is exactly the same for cows and every other mammal on the planet. They produce milk when they give birth, they feed their young, and then they stop. We are the only species on the planet that drinks the milk of another species. We are the only species on the planet that drinks milk as adults. Why? Because the multi-million dollar dairy industry has convinced us that we need milk for healthy bones. That without cows’ milk, we will shrivel up or shatter. However, Yale researchers found that countries with the highest dairy and meat intakes also suffer the highest osteoporosis rates. The truth is, we can get adequate calcium from leafy greens, vegetables, raw nuts and seeds, and beans. And again, these foods come without the hormones, steroids, and antibiotics found in dairy."

Interesting perspective, right?

In the book they go on to cite a number of other sources and what nots... such as (I am paraphrasing) saying that while our doctors may recommend dairy intake... in general, doctors only go through 3 total hours of nutritional training in medical school. (Seems proposterous for 8 years of training.) However, I am not going to jump off the dairy cart just yet. I love me some milk... and all things dairy. And I am of the moderation school of thought. Everything in moderation is a-ok (and don't go taking that literally... obviously there are exceptions).

Its early in my research (next on my list... what is a herbivore?) but so far, I am going to stick with my dairy intake...and I am also going to continue my soy intake.

Its rather inconclusive at this point.

So there.

My latest soy obsession is Silk Chocolate SoyMilk. It is like a glorified (and fortified) Yoo-Hoo! Its rich, chocolatey, and not too sweet. Its an amazing flavor. At 3.5 fat grams per serving, its a little heavier than I prefer but GOOD NEWS... today, at my grocery store, I discovered that there is a "Light" variety of the Chocolate flavor and it contains only 1.5 fat grams per 8 ounce serving. PERFECTO!! Its a great treat for a post-run recovery or when I am craving something sweet.

soy what?

2008-09-22T07:38:00.005-04:00

I am sort of obsessed with soy right now.

I am not lactose intolerant... in the least. In fact, I love dairy - milk, cheese, yogurt, cheese, etc. Nor am I a vegetarian. I love meat.

But, little by little, as soy products are becoming increasingly more mainstream and are hidden as an ingredient in almost every aisle of every grocery store, I've started adding more of this edible legume into my diet... whether it be through the entire bag of edamame beans that I can house in a single sitting (its the salt) or in the prepared teriyaki tofu bits at Whole Foods or from my adored Bolthouse Vanilla Chai Soy Protein drink... I am hooked on soy.

Soy soy soy. Its everywhere you turn. Coffee houses, grocery stores, restaurants... I think I even saw a soy drink at a rest stop recently. Great for the lactose intolerant and vegans of the world. It is so much more accomodating than back in the day when these folks had to go to specialty stores to get their bare necessities.

To become a better informed soy intaker, I decided I should probably do some research. And, like most twenty somethings (the smart ones, at least), when I am interested in learning more about a topic, I turn to my favorite search engine: The Google. (I could've said Wikipedia and made this that much more reliable.)

So I Google soy. It came as quite a surprise that the first page of returns is mostly regarding the potential harms of soy. As far as I knew, soy was all the rage in the organic, health nut circle. Well, outside of that (pea)pod exists an equally boistrous community who are protesting these benefits and issuing warnings to soy lovers.

Apparently, I've only been surface level with this soy craze and there are a myriad of theories out there.

I mean, I know there are virtually 2 sides to every coin and that in our lifetime, not much exists without controversy. But, I guess I never even considered soy a threat... and, like most, I put my life in the hands of the FDA.

What? They won't protect me?

In any case, some of the interesting first page Google returns include:
Why Soy Can Damage Your Health (which links soy to things like cancer and brain damage.)
Is soy healthy?
Soy Alert!
More soy less sperm

And my personal favorite...

Soy is making kids gay - this is quite an exhaustive series of articles claiming that soy is "feminizing and commonly leads to a decrease in the size of the penis, sexual confusion and homosexuality".

Good gravy.

In my initial research, I've learned that soy contains isoflavones which can simulate estrogen but to make the claim that the bean is in fact making kids gay? Wow.

I have only just begun my investigation... but I am extremely fascinated at the amount of radical information out there on the Internets. And, for now, I feel no threat in continuing my limited but daily soy consumption.

Stay tuned.

my favorite running blogs...

2008-09-18T07:06:00.005-04:00

This week, for the Runner's Lounge Take it and Run Thursday series, they’ve asked us to share our favorite running blogs. I've decided to accomplish this with my 1st ever, "Writer with a Running Problem" awards. Read on...

There are a number of things that inspire me to run: health, fitness, well-being, vanity, competition, etc. But, one less obvious source of inspiration I tap into is the blogging community. Generally (when life is in a normal, non-crazy, non-traveling state), I start my day with a cup of coffee and my favorite bloggers. It's nice sharing breakfast with people I don't even know... but what I really value is relating to all of these various writers in some capacity. Especially the runners. I totally dig the slew of lifestyle blogs I read and definitely appreciate that life exists outside of running (shocking, I know) but, in a more religious way, I sort of rely on running blogs... to get me through whatever struggle I am dealing with. Whether it be learning about a new training strategy or relating to some bazaar encounters on a running route, I find so much enjoyment and inspiration in these blogs.

With that humble and generic tribute to le running blogging community, I now present to you the...
2008 Writers with a Running Problem (awards!)

I signed up for this? Marcy's blog is generally the first read I catch in the morning... she is comically reliable. Not only will she almost ALWAYS have a daily post up by the time I settle in to read, she has a way of delivering the seemingly uninteresting elements of running in an unfiltered and amusing way. Marcy gets the award for "Most Straight Up".

Frayed Laces - I relate a lot to Frayed... and she is super inspiring. Rebounding from a serious injury to be a stronger competitor than ever... and she is sort of crazy (in a good way, of course) with her spur of the moment "long runs". She gets the "I live in Hawaii and run with a cool tribe and StrugglePants is envious" award. No - for real, she gets the "Learn By Doing Athlete" award... she'll throw herself into any situation and defeat or success, she has progressed.

Feet Meet Street - How could one make a list of favorite running blogs without including Nitmos? Though sometimes I need a dictionary to get through his posts, he always has me laughing. And, is it strange that I feel smarter after reading about his antics? The award for "Most Witty Runner" ~~should go to his wife~~ goes to Nitmos.

Absoult(ly) Fit - Oh Laura Laura Laura and her travels, crazy diets, and spontaneous racing. There is evidently never a dull moment in this chickadee's life. And, I am continuously amazed at how seemingly well she eats and exercises while traveling for work. I... am not so good at that. My "Most Maniacal Running Blogger" award goes to Laura!

Pieces of Me - To me, POM comes off as a no-nonsense kinda chick... who works hard and plays hard. Like me. Her devotion to fitness, health, and Bikram is not so like me but definitely inspire me to keep trucking. And, I think her iPod and my iPod could get along splendidly. The award for Hippest ~~and by Hippest I mean Sassiest~~ Running Blogger goes to POM.

Steve in a Speedo?! Gross - This dude is hilarious. With his bowl of sunshine shorts and his super fast skills, I never fail to find amusement in his posts. My particular favorite was the toilet dunking sock experiment... ugh. Steve gets the award for "Most Unafraid Running Blogger".

Just Running For Fun - D10, a Rhody native is super inspiring to me. She is a mom and a worker and she manages to make time for all of this quality running. I can't make time to take a shower on some days and I work from home and don't have any dependents. :( So, with that, D10 gets the "You're Just Running for Fun But You Still Manage to Run Wicked Fast" award (wicked = tribute to RI).

21 Days - Jess has turned an experiment into a lifestyle... and a humorous outlet for me! My favorite posts are definitely drunken bowling night posts. I especially like to translate the garbled typing. Its like a puzzle and a good read, all in one. The StrugglePants award for "Most Down to Earth Running Blogger" goes to this chick.

Boozehounds Running - In my humble opinion, Viper has mad writing skills (... yo). Sometimes I find more enjoyment in the style of writing than I do the content. And while I love reading the Friday back talks and about track sessions... and about alcohol related activities, I just really like the delivery. Boozehound gets the award for "Most Stylistic ~~Drunk~~ Running Writer".

Speaking of Style... one of the best bloggers who is also a runner... has to be ...

The Typing Makes me Sound Busy - This girl and her dog and her sister and her day job at the shoe store and her run-ins with all walks of life... it never gets old. And it is always hysterical. She gets the award for "Blog Posts are Worthy of a Novel". (That's tribute and testimony right there.)

My Honorable Mentions include blogs I read on a daily basis and whom I feel that I sort of kinda know... like in a way that I might reference one of their posts to my real life friends who don't blog nor do they run... but... anyway its nothing but love around here! :)
Runners Rambles - Aron is Most Motivated, for sure!
Ambitious Aspirations - Most Optimistic (with a super cute puppy!)
Excuse #1 I'm Not Fit to Run - Most Inspiring me to "Tri"
Training for a Half - For single handedly making me want to run up hilly trails...
Runners Lounge - Bringing crazy, introverted, extroverted, uninspired, overinspired, Writers with a Running Problem together since 2007.

Even if I don't get to read or comment everyday, the musings of these writers are frequently jogging through my brain as I search for inspiration to lace up my sneaks and get my ass out the door. And there are so many more blogs that I am getting into, as evident in my rolling log over there... on the right. Yep, right there. Its so great to share, relate, and learn with all of you.

And THAT concludes the 2008 Writer with a Running Problem presentation... brought to you by:

(me, of course.)

...about that running

2008-09-16T20:21:00.001-04:00

This weekend, life returned to what I like to call "normal".

I had Friday off (for the most part... I showed my work face in the wee hours of the day to "tie up loose ends") - WOO HOO! Kevin had a half day so after I scraped the cob webs out of my brain and touched base on the workfront, I dug into some serious housekeeping. Dishes, laundry, vacuuming, dusting. I had intended to get to the bookstore in the morning for a cup of coffee and to purchase a new book (naturally). But, Suzy Homemaker got the better of me and took me right until 12:30pm... when Kevin walked in the door... and the weekend began!

To kick off our weekend, we headed down to the southern part of RI for a non-home based run... and a change of scenery. We planned to run and then sponge bath ourselves clean (we are so classy) and check out a new restaurant in this hood (Trio, for RI natives).

We arrived at the start of our 5 mile run at 1:45pm, ready to go. The running route lead us along a sea wall, by the beach, and over the river. Having lived in this area for nearly 10 years, it was so nice to run in such a familiar and pristine area. It smelled of fresh cut grass and salt air. The course is relatively flat and wide enough for us to run side-by-side, talking all the while. 5 miles breezed by and before long, we were racing down the sea wall, sprinting to our finish. Despite the distance and strong finish... its amazing how much cooler the air is and how little we sweat... as we move into fall (gulp!).

We plopped into the car, intent to hit the local restroom for a quick change into something more suitable for dinner (Kevin wore his short shorts for this run). But when we looked at the clock in the car, it was barely 3pm. Now, we've gotten pretty tame with age but... as far as I am concerned dinner at 3pm is still reserved for a class that I won't be a part of for oh, lets say... 40 years! SO... we decided to head home and shower, get dressed, and do Friday date night RIGHT.

We hit one of our favorite local places, had dinner at the bar, ventured to the bookstore after dinner and were STILL home by 8pm. Man, we are SO WILD. It doesn't get much crazier than this. ("...I got a big day tomorrow... we're going to go to Home Depot. Yeah... Maybe Bed, Bath, and Beyond, I don't know, I don't know if we'll have enough time." What movie?) I am not complaining... a low key weekend was in order.

Saturday we had intended to hike Arcadia - a local park - and do the whole picnic thing... but as the morning progressed and the sky grew more gray, our motivation dwindled. So we settled on doing a few errands, going on a mad grocery store binge, and running together. Since Arcadia was my idea, Kevin let me map the running route. I mapped a route that was 6 miles long but in fear of telling Kevin we were going to run anything over 5, I lied and told him it was 5.5... but that we could walk the last half mile.

Well, unannounced to me... Kevin has gotten FAST since he started running again just a few months ago. DAMN SKIPPY. And then there is me who has been lagging with the running regularly due to work and life getting in the way (and some physical issues we won't talk about but that are all better now thankyouverymuch). So while I've been tending to my career and well-being, Kevin has been training harder than I've ever known him to. And, honey... its paying off.

I mapped the route but he was the leader of the run... he likes to run first because at 6'4", he thinks cars will see him before me... and he is protecting me. He really is that sweet. (Don't worry Kev, I won't mention the fact that you also think its fantastic to drop SBD farts in my wake paired with the occasional loogie spray.)

At about mile four, I imagined Kevin would start to fade - and honestly, I was looking forward to slowing down or walking. Generally 4 is HIS max, not mine. However, the tables have turned. As I struggled to keep step with my fearless leader, he was chatting up a storm, breezing up and down the hills while I contemplated telling him to go on without me... seriously, who am I?! Then... I made the mistake of fueling this fire by praising him and all his fastness. "Dude... you've gotten FASTER!" I said. He swiveled his head around, exorcist style, and looked at me with so much enthusiasm... you'd think I just told him we won the powerball. "I have?!" he asked... I then realized my mistake as I would not hear the end of it... for the rest of the weekend. And, it only inspired him to go faster. Oye vey. But - I truly am so proud of him. And, boys are supposed to be faster than their girls, right? I know, I know... pish posh. Kevin and I are entirely too competitive for each other sometimes so now that the playing field is almost level... it'll be interesting to see how we progress.

He stubbed his toe on Saturday night and hasn't been able to run since. A gloating omen? However, I am back in the groove and have run almost everyday... I will not be surpassed!!!

Sunday we were supposed to go for another non home based run but the toe injury and down pours prohibited us... and led to a lazy ass Sunday of football and Sox watching. I made a vat of turkey chili and Kevin made some incredible almond cookies... and we just vegged. I couldn't have asked for a better weekend.

Is it Friday yet? Seriously.

cruising altitude daydreams

2008-09-10T20:08:00.003-04:00

I sat on the plane, in the middle seat (lovely), smooshed betwixt two fellows. One had a copy of PC World and some uber fancy gadget attached to his ear buds. (He clearly was not in the talking mood. Thank heavens!) The other had nothing. Not a bag. Not a book. Not a beverage. He sat arms folded across his chest and glanced in my direction, indicating he was interested in conversation. He seemed like a nice man and figuring that we were going to share a very tight space for the next few hours, I entertained him for a minute, musing about my week spent in Denver, evidence of hard work written all over my face, embedded in my filthy nails and scraggly hair. You spent too much time partyin out here, he suggested in his southern Ohio drawl. Oh no, not nearly enough, I retorted. I was "helping" my colleagues tear down our trade show booth until 2am last night... this (pointing to my face and hair) is dedication. He laughed, indicating that the exhaustion was evident, convinced I was speaking the truth.

Determined to make up for tons of lost sleep, I nodded towards my ear buds, said goodnight (it was 10am) and concluded our conversing by pressing play on "mellow" the playlist. I then proceeded to fold my body forward, resting my head atop my pillow which was propped on top of my arms, folded on my legs. (There really is not much other option of sleeping comfortably when you have the middle seat.) As we rose into the air, gaining on our cruising altitude, I began to doze and tried to push visions of the week that was from my mind.

To no avail...
- Besides the fact that I look like a ragamuffin and no shower can clean the hard work off of me right now, I am pretty fricking awesome. The press conference was one of the most well attended press events I have ever executed. Not from a quantity perspective... but quality. I had editor in chiefs and prominent writers from some of my industry's largest publications. Despite some logistical errors (mic not working), all went off without a hitch. I've done good.

- As much as I feel sorry about not having as much fun as I usually do at industry events, I am very proud of our company, our team, and my self. We got so much accomplished and while there is always so much more to do, we all dug our heels in, sacrificed sleep and "networking" to focus on what was really important. (One benefit... I did not miss the hangover!)

- But man... OH MAN... did I miss my husband!? There was one point that I was headed on a bathroom break and nearly lost it. I almost actually cried. It was bazaar. But, I missed him incredibly this trip... moreso than ever. You'd think it would get easier the more I travel... but 6 years later, it seems tougher than the first trip. We've had some emotional things go on in our life this past month and being away from him during this time... it was not easy. I could not wait to get home.

- Thankfully, so many of my "industry friends" have become much more like personal friends and while I used to resist breaking down these walls, its becoming a welcomed relationship. I needed friends this week.

- I also needed food, sleep, and running. I can't wait to get back to running and eating like a normal person. Unintentionally, I am of the starvation school when it comes to traveling for work. So many people who travel for business on a regular basis actually "complain" of overindulging at five star restaurants (high-end steak houses, boutique french places, trendy sushi joints, etc). They miss the comfort foods of home and normalcy. However, I love the opportunity to eat fancy and I rarely get tired of it. Its probably because I go to all of these places and rarely "indulge". When you're committed to working such long days, heavier meals could have a negative impact on one's stomach so I tend to order the lightest fare on the menu and am generally too distracted with conversation (or keeping my head up) to eat much of it. Its not on purpose... it just is. And during the day, eating always plays second fiddle to managing the daily tasks and holding down the fort that is known as our booth. So, the fact that I only managed to run once while in Denver is negated by the fact that my diet would not have supported any further exercise... outside of the 37 miles I walked per day traversing tens of thousands of square feet in Denver. Back and forth. Up and down. Over and out.

- Bazaarly, I get sort of depressed when this particular show comes to an end. Its sort of like the day after Christmas depression. I walk the show floor as people are tearing down their booth spaces... and I relate it to my Mom taking down the Christmas tree, decorations, and stockings. Another year done and we have to wait a whole year more for the next go-round. Santa is on his way back to the North Pole, leaving us with all of the new toys to play with... and another year of due diligence, pledging our devotion to goodness.

- Ahh, my ears are popping... we must be making our initial descent into the Providence area. I think I'll scrape my head off my pillow, unfold my body, and thank jeebus I made it home safely.

Home at last, home at last.

the crazy has only just begun

2008-09-01T18:34:00.003-04:00

I am jetsetting my way to Denver at 6am tomorrow morning... off and running to my company's biggest event of the year. This is the 7th year I've attended this show and as much as I loathe being away from home (and Kev and Nala) for nearly a week, the show is always so exciting and super promising, from a business perspective.

And, I am ready to go...
Comfortable (and cute) shoes - check!
Breath mints - check!
Business cards - check!
Sanity - what is this "sanity" you speak of, check list?

Well, almost everything.

I'll be way off the blogging grid... STILL. But am looking forward to reading all of my favorites and actually having some time to get all this crap outta my head. But, that must way until I return and recover from this trip... in like 2009. HAH! Kidding. Kidding.

Peace out for now, home skillets.

just can't seem to get it right

2008-08-20T20:37:00.007-04:00

I am absent minded this week. Well, let me rephrase... I am preoccu...

No. Lets me just quit making excuses and cut right to the gotdamn chase.

Chase:
I cannot, for the life of me, think of anything even remotely interesting to write about. I have interesting things going on in my life but I can't muster up the creative energy to blog it. Not to mention, work has me insane right now and I have not been able to read all of my favorite fellow bloggers' fantasticness, which always fuels my inspiration. My mornings and lunch break are now devoted to copy writing and such. And I feel guilty about being MIA. And it hurts my heart a little to leave my blog in such a sad state. The last two posts were PAINFULLY rotten.

But. Fact of the matter, something is amiss in Struggle land. No doubt.

Life is c to the razy right now. And, I'm not complaining.

Ok, only a little.

Its crazy in a good way. We've got a shit ton (opposed to just your average ton) of social plans and family parties and what nots. We're looking to buy a house which takes a lot of time (and is a story in and of itself but GAH its boring). And, work. Well, lets just say I am being ripped from my bed at 3am on a regular basis because I suddenly dream of something that needs to get done on the work front.

So - life is crazy.

But - not crazy in the way that inspires me to tell the Internets.

You don't want to hear about the baby shower I hosted last weekend. I know you don't. It was cute and sweet and all things lovely... but blogworthy? I already shared the most important elements: chocolate trifle and donut cake. (I love you M*!)

Or how about the smooshed frog I saw in the middle of the road while running? Gross. In fact, too gross to write about.

How about when I was at the gym this morning with my partner in crime and we were using medicine balls, doing twist crunch things and one of the trainers said we should start an Olympic synchronized sport because we were so in sync. (I think it was his way of politely telling us "YOU'RE DOING IT ALL WRONG!".)

OHHH - I know you are dying to hear about my upcoming trip to Denver. Awesome, right?Mile High, good beer, great hiking, quality mountain air... well, that would be all freaking fabulous if I weren't going to be engulfed by a convention center, surrounded by strangers, and set to work 18 hour days... for 6 days. Purell, red bull, and Visine will save my life. And most likely, I'll slowly forget what running is.

BLASPHEMY!

Actually, I hope to run on most days while I am out there... only if I can steal an hour from the 18 hour work day... not from the 6 hours of sleep! I am interested to know what running in thin air feels like. I so wish I could run the Skirt Chaser 5k that some other folks are doing. But - straight from the convention center, I'm going to the Rockies game. Yahoo!!!!

Speaking of running, I dare not tell you that I've been secretly sneaking back onto that running route that ya'll asked me not to run anymore.

How about the life lesson I caught at the grocery store this morning when the cashier (a cute elderly woman who is just "keeping busy" with her Stop & Shop gig) asks the guy in front of me "Didja try wunna da grapes befaw you buy dem?" He, in his Jamaiican-esque accent replies "Ya mon." She said, "Good. Cuz honey, nobody wans a sowah grape."

I thought it to be pretty profound for 7:30am.

scatterbrain

2008-08-18T07:13:00.000-04:00

--> I ate so much crap this weekend. It was a party weekend and I could not resist. Yesterday was the killer... I hosted a baby shower at my house and we had so many amazing concoctions... the kickers were the chocolate trifle and the donut cake. Seriously... donut cake is quite possibly one of my favorite foods in the entire world (next to brussel sprouts, of course). Its not like every other donut... there is something magical about donut in the shape of a baby bottle or a beer bottle (both of which we've had, among many many others including a foot, a shark, a pumpkin, a baseball...).

--> Saturday the hub and I went to a local park for an early morning 5 miler. It was really nice being able to run together... but the park was VERY hilly so the run kicked both of our asses.

--> I am obsessed with Orbit White Bubblemint gum... which comes in a container of 60 pieces! Its great for fresh breath, it curbs the cravings (especially the craving I have for the piece of donut cake that is sitting in my cupboard downstairs) and it also has made my teeth seriously white. Its a much better solution to teeth whitening, if you ask me.

--> I just took my dog for a walk... if you could see or hear her now, you'd think we just walked the Sahara, end to end. Pant, pant, pant, pant... gotta love that August heat.

--> Its the "busy season" at work so my creative energy has been sucked dry, as of late. I am thinking about work while I'm working (shocker!), running, eating, sleeping... etc. And, I don't write about work so my inspiration for blogging has been nill.

--> Lastly, I wish it was Sunday... cuz thats my fun day.

(I'm a) Road Runner

2008-08-14T09:03:00.003-04:00

I'm a road runner, baby
Can't stay in one place too long
I'm a road runner, baby
Mess with me and I'll be gone

You can love me if you wanna
But I do declare
If I get restless
I've gotta move somewhere
I'm a road runner, baby

Can't find my home
And I love the life I live
And I'm gonna live the life I love
Road runner, baby

All my life I've been like this
If you love me, it's your own risk
When the dust hit my shoes
I got the urge to move

Said, I'm a road runner, baby
Just keep on, keepin' on
And I live the life I love
And I'm gonna love the life I live
Yes, I'm a road runner, baby.

Happy Thursday!!!

tan lines

2008-08-11T08:45:00.003-04:00

For all you dermatology advocates (you know who you are!), just close the browser now. Navigate away from my page. You will not be able to handle my audacity (which can be defined as courage or nerve... I am using it as NERVE in this instance).

You're still here? Fine. Suit yourself but don't say I didn't warn you. =)

Its summer, which means lots of running, grilling, wiffle ball, kayaking, beaching, playing, etc... spending quite a bit of time outside, in the glorious sun.

The sun is my favorite natural element of all. We have this incredibly intense relationship and really, I am convinced that I could not live without it.

I've talked about this before... but, there is something medicinal about the sun. And, I can't get enough. That's part of the reason I LOVE running outside. The feeling of the sun is irreplaceable.

And, fortunately, in case you didn't know, running is very good for you. Overall well being. Health. Fitness. Blah blah blah.

However, the sun is only good for you in small doses, through a filter, aka sunscreen... which I wear on a regular basis. Nothing less than SPF 30.

But, fact of the matter...

With all this running outside, in the sun, sunscreen and all, I have developed some my oh-so-sexy tan lines.

From the uber pastey white upper thigh region (generally protected by my not-too-short running shorts), to the visor line, to the watch band line (which strangely... I kind of like), to my various singlet / tank / sport bra combo lines (which leaves a whole mess of blotchy awkwardness on my chest) to my absolute favorite iPod Nano Nike Arm Band hunk of a line. That line can't even be called a line - its a tan block.

I could wear a stronger SPF, I suppose but I feel sort invisible when running. Super human almost.

And I justify my ignorance by claiming all the cliche things:
- I am darker skinned (by darker, I mean darker white... if that makes sense)
- I rarely burn
- I run before the sun is strong... before 9am on most occasions

Stupid excuses, I know.

To boot, I am mostly of Irish heritage (80%). And we all know those folks are prone to fair skin and sensitivity to the sun. My Dad (100% Irish) has had a slew of troublesome sun spots that he's had removed, checked, screened, etc. So I should be more careful. But, then there is my Mom, part Irish, English, and French. She has a darker complexion like me and has been in the clear her whole life. No worrisome spots. So, yet another justification for me.

Despite my boneheadedness about being careful while running in the sun, the running tan lines are quite comical.

And, know what? I flaunt those suckers with pride.