I got into CO on Sunday night. I drove to the office on Monday morning. The first thing they did was tell me about altitude and to drink plenty of water if I run, and walk when I needed to. Whatever, I thought.
Tuesday morning, I got up at 5AM to go for a run. First, I was confused...it was 5AM and it was light out! Wow! OK, so I did my 5 minute walking warm-up. Then I started running. I may have gotten 50 yards, or .5 miles. Not sure which. That's because I'm pretty sure I left my lungs in the hotel room, and was more contemplating what bike path I could lay down and die on. Obviously, I started walking. I walked 2+ miles. Towards the end I was getting out of breath. I got back to the hotel, hopped in the car, and went to 7-11 and bought a HUGE water. Then I went to work.
Things weird about CO. Everyone bikes to work. Helmets aren't required. Bike paths are everywhere but you can bike on the highways (I'm not near an interstate). I have nearly taken out 5 bikers. Most bikers follow the laws, and use hand signals. It is pretty cool.
Today was CO Ride your Bike to Work Day. I had to go to a new site. I couldn't find the big plant with a HUGE sign. My manager was wondering about me. I'm pretty sure all the bikers were making me distracted, as I have to make sure I don't hit any of them (I'm driving a Durango, which is much bigger than a Cherokee. I think Durangos changed and became bigger. I'm driving a tank).
And work you ask. Lots of regulations. I MUST take a shower every day. I know you all were worried about that. I have to report if I have sunburn. I have to stay home if I'm taking care of a sick aunt or a sick child. I have to remember my lint brush because I have dog hair on my shirt and that is a BIG no-no. It's really interesting. The people I'm training with are pretty cool. On the young side, but really nice, and we all have our different strengths. Our manager is nice...I think we are his first "students." He kind of assumes we know things, until we slow him down. But it is fun. He is totally hands on, so after reading 4 hours of SOPs, we get to go into the lab. Tomorrow we have to be there by 545 AM so that we can see some part of a test being performed. Except for the time, it is exciting.
Today we took contractor training, and Internet on premise is a big no as are cell phones, and a zillion other things. So I only go on the internet to look at wiki and mapquest and delta.com (I don't have a seat to return home yet). Mapquest, because I have no sense of direction, and wiki, because I have no clue about things like John Perry bolts (or something like that).
Tomorrow afternoon, I'm going to work out. My goal was twice this week.
Oh and I went to the Boulder Brewery. Good beer. I didn't like the Hazed and Infused, but they replaced it for free with a Mojo. My favorite was the Porter on nitro. I liked the buffalo burger, I liked the green chili. The chicken sammy, eh.
OK, watching SVU, so I'm going to go.
Weight I have lost
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Drugs are bad, mmmkay!
Do you remember Nancy's "Just Say No" Campaign?
So V was in town this weekend. We were supposed to go to Happy Hour with B and M, but like always, something came up… V’s flight was late and she got someone kicked off the plane. Like I said, always something…
So V was in town this weekend. We were supposed to go to Happy Hour with B and M, but like always, something came up… V’s flight was late and she got someone kicked off the plane. Like I said, always something…
So we were all ready to go to Happy Hour, and called B to tell her we were on our way (only 2 hours late), and she said, just to stay where we were, and not fight traffic to get up there. Fine by us, so we piled into the car, and went to see my favorite bartender Clay. A lot of beers later Clay called us a cab.
Saturday, we talked to B and M. (V flew down to see REM with them…I don’t like REM so I wasn’t going). B said she would come down at 4 (I live a mile away from the amphitheater) and meet up with us. M is having “life happen” right now, so she didn’t know what she was doing. I asked her if her head was spinning ala my Exorcist picture. She said just about. So she was going to try to make it to see us at 5 but she was bailing on the concert. No worries.
So V, D and I went to lunch at smoked meat. Then we went and picked up the car from the night before. Then we went home, dropped off the car, and went to Estoria. And had some beers. B called us and found the place (B is complete opposite of me, she loves the suburbs, and the city is eh too her.) So I was excited she was coming out to see “My city.”
So we are sitting on the patio of Estoria. A guy walks up to the patio and not very loudly says, “Someone call 911. My girlfriend is having a seizure.” Everyone on the patio stares at him, kind of in disbelief. Again he says it. But very non-chalantly, but points to where he is talking. OK, 3 people call 911. Within 2 minutes a fire truck pulls up, and the bartender goes out to the car with water and orange juice.
Coomer (the bartender) comes back, and we ask if everything is ok and is there something we can or need to do. He rolls his eyes and says that this seizure isn’t a natural phenomenon and goes back inside.
Atlanta’s Finest pulls up. The guy who wanted us to call 911 takes off.
The firemen go after him and he comes back. Bartender goes back out to the scene (all the patrons are watching from the porch). Unbeknownst to us, there is an ambulance on the other side of the building. As the fireman leave, we thank them for their fast response time. They said too bad it was for this twit.
A few minutes later the ambulance pulls around with the driver of the car in the back, and the cop leaves…No the cops drives around and sits in front of the car. Then a tow truck comes, and tows the car away. And the cop leaves.
Coomer tells us that there was a bag the size of his fist full of blow in the car, and then they also found heroin.
Meanwhile B jokingly goes, “See this just doesn’t happen where I live.” We all laugh, because frankly we’ve never seen it either. About 5 minutes later, the 911 guy shuffles in and goes inside. According to Coomer, he tells Coomer he is having a really bad day, and can he get a drink. Coomer throws him out. Some words ensue, with Coomer telling him to go snort a few more rails, and just leave (I’m saying this way more politely). So we are still on the porch, and the guy comes back and searched the dumpsters, like he lost something. We tell Coomer the guy is back. He has to call 911. They come out again, and he files a report. By now he is shaking.
Meanwhile B jokingly goes, “See this just doesn’t happen where I live.” We all laugh, because frankly we’ve never seen it either. About 5 minutes later, the 911 guy shuffles in and goes inside. According to Coomer, he tells Coomer he is having a really bad day, and can he get a drink. Coomer throws him out. Some words ensue, with Coomer telling him to go snort a few more rails, and just leave (I’m saying this way more politely). So we are still on the porch, and the guy comes back and searched the dumpsters, like he lost something. We tell Coomer the guy is back. He has to call 911. They come out again, and he files a report. By now he is shaking.
All the drama dies down, but for the rest of the night , “a fist of cocaine…” is in the conversation. By now D, V and I have had quite a few beers, and B and V decide to skip the concert. They give their tickets to Coomer, but he can’t get off (he has to work a double shift), so some girl at the bar got free tickets. Coomer buys us a round of shots, and D, V and I do them, and I do B’s. I don’t know what time we decided to go, but B gives us a ride home (she has long since stopped drinking the 2 beers she had).
Today I’m off to Colorado.
And if you are wondering about my running, I did it once this week, and a huge walk (900 calories for the walk). My Achilles is very tender so I’m trying to assess what damage I can do to it. I’m taking my shoes with me to Colorado, but I don’t know what I’m going to be doing.
Friday, June 20, 2008
And a neighborhood mourns...
A little girl was killed today. She was going to summer school. She got off the MARTA bus waving good-bye to her mother, and saying, "I love you, Mama." As she crossed the street , a tow-truck who was in too much of a hurry (and aren't we all, these days), crossed the double line and passed the bus, hitting the little girl. She died at the scene in front of the elementary school.
Thankfully the tow-truck driver realized he hit something and came back. He is now being charged.
Our neighborhood is stunned. I have never met this little girl, and my heart is breaking. Right now the principal of an elementary school is having to deal with not only the children of the school, but a neighborhood in mourning who are so lost. Right now, there is a mother who will never see her little girl graduate, get married or anything else.
And all because someone was in a hurry.
My heart breaks and my tears flow.
Thankfully the tow-truck driver realized he hit something and came back. He is now being charged.
Our neighborhood is stunned. I have never met this little girl, and my heart is breaking. Right now the principal of an elementary school is having to deal with not only the children of the school, but a neighborhood in mourning who are so lost. Right now, there is a mother who will never see her little girl graduate, get married or anything else.
And all because someone was in a hurry.
My heart breaks and my tears flow.
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Tag! You're It!
Tagging is one way that bloggers connect with each other and each other's blogs. JMO tagged me.
So, here are the rules of tagging:
Just copy the following onto your post. The rules of the game are posted at the start of your blog post. In this case, I'm asking you to post AT LEAST 10 random facts about yourself. Each player lists the AT LEAST 10 random facts on their own blog. At the end of your post you tag 5 other people and post their names. Go to their blogs and leave a comment on their blogs telling them they've been tagged and to look at your blog for details. When they've answered the questions on their own blog, they come back to yours to tell you. Got that?
So, about those AT LEAST 10 random facts.
TAG if you haven't been yet...
1. When I have to pee, I usually wait until the last possible second to go. It seems too much of a chore to get up and walk down the hall and do it. When I get older, I definitely will have some issues with this, I'm betting.
2. I got kicked out of my high school's Amnesty International Chapter, because when I was supposed to write a letter to some leader of some country to release people for handing out propaganda against the leader, I asked the adviser if what they had done was against the law. Then I asked why if they knew they broke the law, then why did I have to write to free them. They knew the repercussions of their actions. The adviser said I was missing the point. I think the adviser didn't like someone questioning him.
3. As I have lost weight, my chest has gone from a C to a DD. My husband thinks it is great. I think it is a PITA, since I think breasts just get in the way. (Can you tell I'm childless?)
4. I don't like things on my feet (blankets, shoes, socks, etc.)
5. The Baltimore Aquarium's Shark Tank scares the crap out of me. I have to run through it because I'm afraid of the tank bursting open and having them eat me. This sounds far-fetched but the tank did do that in Australia or New Zealand.
6. I have an irrational fear of walking down the street and having someone come up in a car and hit me on the back of the neck with a lacrosse stick, rendering me para- or quadriplegic.
7. I'm totally passive-aggressive. I won't get mad at you for owing me $200, telling the world my life secrets, or breaking my lawn-mower and not replacing it. But be 5 minutes late for lunch and not call, and I'll never speak to you again.
8. I hate call waiting. I don't have it. On my cell, I do, but don't know how to use it. I think it is rude. I hang up when someone opts to take the other call over talking to me.
9. I don't understand the "I forgive but I don't forget" phrase. In my mind, if you don't forget, then you never really forgave.
10. I don't laugh during movies. It annoys me when someone tells me I should find something funny and be laughing. I find the humor in movies and I think things are funny. But I don't laugh. Occasionally I will guffaw though.
TAG if you haven't been yet...
1. When I have to pee, I usually wait until the last possible second to go. It seems too much of a chore to get up and walk down the hall and do it. When I get older, I definitely will have some issues with this, I'm betting.
2. I got kicked out of my high school's Amnesty International Chapter, because when I was supposed to write a letter to some leader of some country to release people for handing out propaganda against the leader, I asked the adviser if what they had done was against the law. Then I asked why if they knew they broke the law, then why did I have to write to free them. They knew the repercussions of their actions. The adviser said I was missing the point. I think the adviser didn't like someone questioning him.
3. As I have lost weight, my chest has gone from a C to a DD. My husband thinks it is great. I think it is a PITA, since I think breasts just get in the way. (Can you tell I'm childless?)
4. I don't like things on my feet (blankets, shoes, socks, etc.)
5. The Baltimore Aquarium's Shark Tank scares the crap out of me. I have to run through it because I'm afraid of the tank bursting open and having them eat me. This sounds far-fetched but the tank did do that in Australia or New Zealand.
6. I have an irrational fear of walking down the street and having someone come up in a car and hit me on the back of the neck with a lacrosse stick, rendering me para- or quadriplegic.
7. I'm totally passive-aggressive. I won't get mad at you for owing me $200, telling the world my life secrets, or breaking my lawn-mower and not replacing it. But be 5 minutes late for lunch and not call, and I'll never speak to you again.
8. I hate call waiting. I don't have it. On my cell, I do, but don't know how to use it. I think it is rude. I hang up when someone opts to take the other call over talking to me.
9. I don't understand the "I forgive but I don't forget" phrase. In my mind, if you don't forget, then you never really forgave.
10. I don't laugh during movies. It annoys me when someone tells me I should find something funny and be laughing. I find the humor in movies and I think things are funny. But I don't laugh. Occasionally I will guffaw though.
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
You're not in the big city anymore...
So I had to go to Chattanooga today for work. Basically 5 hours in the car for 5 minutes of talking to the TSA to get clearance for something.
On the way up, in a more rural part of Georgia, I saw a billboard. I don't think either of my co-workers saw it(because it would have sparked a discussion). I had to do a double take.
"Wake up America, if racial profiling was legal, 9/11 would have never happened."
It got me thinking of the stupidity of that billboard.
Timothy McVeigh
Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold
Eric Rudolph
Ted Kaczynski
With racial profiling, the above 5 people would have still achieved their atrocious acts. So with or without it, you still have terrorists. And they might even be the same color as you. There is something to think about...
But you know what really ticks me off...I can find out who paid for that billboard and write a letter and tell them they are ignorant, stupid, wrong or what have you, and it won't make a difference. They won't change their mind. They'll just think I'm a "stupid LIBERAL gurl from da big city trying to tell people how to think." And I won't change my mind.
OK, and I have to run tonight. Which is good, because now I want a drink!
On the way up, in a more rural part of Georgia, I saw a billboard. I don't think either of my co-workers saw it(because it would have sparked a discussion). I had to do a double take.
"Wake up America, if racial profiling was legal, 9/11 would have never happened."
It got me thinking of the stupidity of that billboard.
Timothy McVeigh
Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold
Eric Rudolph
Ted Kaczynski
With racial profiling, the above 5 people would have still achieved their atrocious acts. So with or without it, you still have terrorists. And they might even be the same color as you. There is something to think about...
But you know what really ticks me off...I can find out who paid for that billboard and write a letter and tell them they are ignorant, stupid, wrong or what have you, and it won't make a difference. They won't change their mind. They'll just think I'm a "stupid LIBERAL gurl from da big city trying to tell people how to think." And I won't change my mind.
OK, and I have to run tonight. Which is good, because now I want a drink!
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Who Are You, and What Did You Do With Al?
OK, so what is up with me.
Yesterday, I was too hungover to do anything.
So D and I watched Talk to Me...a good movie. I enjoyed it. Then went to bed.
So this morning, I got up and decided to run with Guinness. We took Porter on our warmup which was .25 miles. They were doing fine, sniffing and smelling everything. THen a dog ran out between 2 houses. Now, mind you I'm totally a dog person, and this thing scared the bejeesus out of me. Imagine this thing running full force at you.
So Guinness decided to act nuts, and managed to get out of her leash. Border Collie on the run. Luckily, the Great Dane hit her in the nose, and Guinness ran behind a parked car, so I managed to get her back on the leash. Porter does not like any dog when she is on a leash, so growl. I got the pups all settled and we continued our walk with GD walking all around us. We came around the loop and there was one of my neighbors out. He was all huffy. And I asked him if it was his dog. You could totally tell he was upset, because he thought it was my dog, and had had a speech all ready for me, and now he couldn't use it. Apparently GD had dug up his entire back yard. GD saw the man and ran over and jumped on him. It made me laugh, and Guinness and Po and I went back home.
I really didn't want to run with that dog out, so I decided to go to the gym.
Time: 16:28 (walk)
Mileage .25 (65:52 min/mile)
Calories: 100
Max HR 146
Avg HR 112
So I got to the gym and was all by myself. I started running. About 4 minutes in, I thought I was going to die. My legs were made of lead. So I got to 8 minutes, and decided to walk 2. Started again, and ran to 18 and walked 2. Ran to 28 and walked 3. Then I ran the rest.
I'm not sure what was up with it, but eh. I walked a mile on my cooldown.
I went and got the car washed and then came home and mowed the lawn. All this before 10AM.
Time: 43:56 (run)
Mileage 3.1 (14:10 min/mile)
Time:20.38(walk)
Mileage 1 (20.38 min/mile)
Calories: 902
Max HR 184/167
Avg HR 168/150
In Zone 13:20/15:06
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Carly told me to post 5 things about me, so I posted 6...
So Carly said to post 5 things about myself that you don't know about me.
This is hard, because I tell everyone everything.
1. I love to bake, and can do it awesomely (yes, I'm bragging). However, I cannot frost a cake. I don't know why, but I just can't.
2. After my wedding reception, D and I went to the afterparty, because well, sex would always be there, but a party wouldn't. After the afterparty, someone decided to take us to breakfast at the Disco Diner. I was in my flannel pajamas (I'm such a romantic...flannel on my wedding night, in JULY!), my crown (aka a tiarra) and my Guinness Slippers that I wore the whole day and night. We walked out of a hotel and a BMW 7-series was out front. I got in and told the man where I wanted to go. He asked who the hell I was, and why was I in his car. I was thanking him for being so prompt that I didn't have to wait outside. Doug and Sip got me out of his car and apologized.
3. I got laid off from a job and got a year's advanced notice that my job was being outsourced to someone for $1.33 a day. I refused to train him, and when asked if I would give him a winter coat (because my company was too cheap to go to Walmart and buy the man a coat), I asked my boss if they wanted my house keys to give to the man, as well as my sister to pleasure him. After that, I had no contact with the man. Upon leaving said job, I not only reformatted one of my hard drives (that had only word documents on it,) the more important hard drive, I reformatted, took out of the computer and drilled a hole through it. I wasn't bitter or anything. Ironically, I still talk to everyone at this place.
4. Don't come up behind me and put your hands over my eyes without me knowing you are coming up behind me (just ruining the point of this gesture). I will drop to the ground, spin and kick you in the balls. Most likely will embarrass the hell out of you. Yes, I have done it before.
5. People think I'm a beer snob because I will not drink Bud, Miller or Coors Products. Miller products give me vicious headaches, that cause me to go to the hospital. I have determined I'm allergic (and this is after 1 beer, not 11). I don't like lagers, which Bud and Coors are, so therefore I choose not to waste my calories on them. I don't like Corona either.
As for the beer snob...yes, I will not drink a beer that comes in a clear or green bottle. The light can go through the bottle, and cause the beer to "skunk." I had to take a technical writing class in college and my final project was on beer. Even then I found a way to geek out.
6. People who meet me (in person) think I'm very ditzy and stupid, because I sound like Minnie Mouse on helium (my voice didn't go through puberty). They are surprised that I have 2 Engineering Degrees and graduated with Highest Honors, as well as have my Fundamentals of Engineering License (aka EIT). I don't have a Professional Engineering License because I've never had the need for it. I took the EIT exam (an 8-hour exam all about engineering) because I had nothing to do that day. The same reason I got my second engineering degree. I had nothing better to do for that time, and Georgia Tech is the best school in the country for Industrial and Systems Engineering 18 years, running. Since I was here, and they were here, it was something to do.
OK, I'm going to go home.
This is hard, because I tell everyone everything.
1. I love to bake, and can do it awesomely (yes, I'm bragging). However, I cannot frost a cake. I don't know why, but I just can't.
2. After my wedding reception, D and I went to the afterparty, because well, sex would always be there, but a party wouldn't. After the afterparty, someone decided to take us to breakfast at the Disco Diner. I was in my flannel pajamas (I'm such a romantic...flannel on my wedding night, in JULY!), my crown (aka a tiarra) and my Guinness Slippers that I wore the whole day and night. We walked out of a hotel and a BMW 7-series was out front. I got in and told the man where I wanted to go. He asked who the hell I was, and why was I in his car. I was thanking him for being so prompt that I didn't have to wait outside. Doug and Sip got me out of his car and apologized.
3. I got laid off from a job and got a year's advanced notice that my job was being outsourced to someone for $1.33 a day. I refused to train him, and when asked if I would give him a winter coat (because my company was too cheap to go to Walmart and buy the man a coat), I asked my boss if they wanted my house keys to give to the man, as well as my sister to pleasure him. After that, I had no contact with the man. Upon leaving said job, I not only reformatted one of my hard drives (that had only word documents on it,) the more important hard drive, I reformatted, took out of the computer and drilled a hole through it. I wasn't bitter or anything. Ironically, I still talk to everyone at this place.
4. Don't come up behind me and put your hands over my eyes without me knowing you are coming up behind me (just ruining the point of this gesture). I will drop to the ground, spin and kick you in the balls. Most likely will embarrass the hell out of you. Yes, I have done it before.
5. People think I'm a beer snob because I will not drink Bud, Miller or Coors Products. Miller products give me vicious headaches, that cause me to go to the hospital. I have determined I'm allergic (and this is after 1 beer, not 11). I don't like lagers, which Bud and Coors are, so therefore I choose not to waste my calories on them. I don't like Corona either.
As for the beer snob...yes, I will not drink a beer that comes in a clear or green bottle. The light can go through the bottle, and cause the beer to "skunk." I had to take a technical writing class in college and my final project was on beer. Even then I found a way to geek out.
6. People who meet me (in person) think I'm very ditzy and stupid, because I sound like Minnie Mouse on helium (my voice didn't go through puberty). They are surprised that I have 2 Engineering Degrees and graduated with Highest Honors, as well as have my Fundamentals of Engineering License (aka EIT). I don't have a Professional Engineering License because I've never had the need for it. I took the EIT exam (an 8-hour exam all about engineering) because I had nothing to do that day. The same reason I got my second engineering degree. I had nothing better to do for that time, and Georgia Tech is the best school in the country for Industrial and Systems Engineering 18 years, running. Since I was here, and they were here, it was something to do.
OK, I'm going to go home.
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
I've been tagged and I can breathe
So, a little more about the National Race for the Cure...I didn't realized that 50000 people would be there. Thus it is the largest or one of the largest 5Ks in the country.
And as my friend put it, Maryland's muggy weather makes it an instant cesspool. I liked that phrase.
OK, so we got back and I started working again on my alphabet soup papers. I was done all of the papers, but needed to write up my bid, quote, proposal or whatever you want to call it. I got my number and told bossman. He thought it sounded high. He gave me his numbers (it is to write 198 papers...the bid that is) and his was $500K more than mine. So he called the guy we are bidding to, and got an extension until June 30th instead of yesterday at 5. I WILL be done with this project on Friday though as I am going to Colorado to work on different Alphabet Soup (I work with DOT, and now will got to the FDA). Although working in CO will be bad in terms of missing D, G and P, the work sounds fantastic. Manufacturing Engineering. I only have 1 degree with focused discipline in that field, and another degree totally devoted to it, yet have never done anything with either degree. So I am super excited.
OK, so I didn't run this morning, nor did I go to work. The alarm went off and 5 hours later, I realized this and got out of bed. Oops.
But I will see if D wants to go tonight. He said he enjoyed the run on Saturday and his knee was fine. We didn't get to see the new niece yesterday. We are thinking this weekend. D works too late for us to get up there (60-70 miles) at a reasonable time.
I Got Tagged!
Tagging is one way that bloggers connect with each other and each other's blogs. And now I have stalkers... (no, this an inside joke, as my friends think I'm weird as I seem to know more info about people by googling and myspace). I got tagged by AKA Alice (I must be a drinker because I now am thinking of the drinking song, Alice WTF is Alice?) .
So, here are the rules of tagging:
1. How would you describe your running 10 years ago?
1998, I did not run. However I was on my way to losing 37 pounds (that I gained back when I was married), and walked 3 miles 6 days a week. But running was not in the vocab.
2. What is your best/worst running experience?
My best running experience would be doing the Atlanta's Finest 5K. Of course this was my best time, but it wasn't that. Somewhere in the first and second mile, my feet felt like they were flying. They were really light, and it was just an awesome feeling. I haven't gotten that back yet.
The worst running experience? The Atlanta Run for Hunger (or whatever) 10K. It was March 2 and 80+ degrees. The whole course was hills. I was probably in the best shape I had been in years, and this was my 3rd 10K. I got my worst time. And it ended on a hill. But the end, I was nearly in tears. I now have a phobia of 10K, and if it hadn't been for the blogs out here for me to read, my shoes would have stayed in my closet permanently.
3. Why do you run?
In the beginning it was to lose weight. But then D started doing it with me, and it was a thing we did together and I enjoyed the company (even though we don't run together). Then I was able to go off one of my "crazy" meds for depression and only have to be on one. The overall feeling I get when I run is great. I can sort out my thoughts. Hence why you usually get "What goes through Al's head while she runs blogs."
4. What is the best or worst piece of running advice that you've been given about running?
Drink coffee before you go run. I don't know why I would follow this advice as coffee causes me to have a BM to begin with, that I would drink it before a run. But never again.
5. Tell us something surprising about yourself that not many people would know.
When I dream about me, I have long hair. I haven't had long hair since 1999, I think. I've tried to grow it out twice since I've had it short, but it looks awful...very stringy.
Now, here is who I am tagging...
And as my friend put it, Maryland's muggy weather makes it an instant cesspool. I liked that phrase.
OK, so we got back and I started working again on my alphabet soup papers. I was done all of the papers, but needed to write up my bid, quote, proposal or whatever you want to call it. I got my number and told bossman. He thought it sounded high. He gave me his numbers (it is to write 198 papers...the bid that is) and his was $500K more than mine. So he called the guy we are bidding to, and got an extension until June 30th instead of yesterday at 5. I WILL be done with this project on Friday though as I am going to Colorado to work on different Alphabet Soup (I work with DOT, and now will got to the FDA). Although working in CO will be bad in terms of missing D, G and P, the work sounds fantastic. Manufacturing Engineering. I only have 1 degree with focused discipline in that field, and another degree totally devoted to it, yet have never done anything with either degree. So I am super excited.
OK, so I didn't run this morning, nor did I go to work. The alarm went off and 5 hours later, I realized this and got out of bed. Oops.
But I will see if D wants to go tonight. He said he enjoyed the run on Saturday and his knee was fine. We didn't get to see the new niece yesterday. We are thinking this weekend. D works too late for us to get up there (60-70 miles) at a reasonable time.
I Got Tagged!
Tagging is one way that bloggers connect with each other and each other's blogs. And now I have stalkers... (no, this an inside joke, as my friends think I'm weird as I seem to know more info about people by googling and myspace). I got tagged by AKA Alice (I must be a drinker because I now am thinking of the drinking song, Alice WTF is Alice?) .
So, here are the rules of tagging:
Tagging is easy. Just copy the following onto your post. The rules of the game are posted at the start of your blog post. In this case, I'm asking you 5 questions about running. Each player answers the 5 questions on their own blog. At the end of your post you tag 5 other people and post their names. Go to their blogs and leave a comment on their blogs telling them they've been tagged and to look at your blog for details. When they've answered the questions on their own blog, they come back to yours to tell you. Got that?
1. How would you describe your running 10 years ago?
1998, I did not run. However I was on my way to losing 37 pounds (that I gained back when I was married), and walked 3 miles 6 days a week. But running was not in the vocab.
2. What is your best/worst running experience?
My best running experience would be doing the Atlanta's Finest 5K. Of course this was my best time, but it wasn't that. Somewhere in the first and second mile, my feet felt like they were flying. They were really light, and it was just an awesome feeling. I haven't gotten that back yet.
The worst running experience? The Atlanta Run for Hunger (or whatever) 10K. It was March 2 and 80+ degrees. The whole course was hills. I was probably in the best shape I had been in years, and this was my 3rd 10K. I got my worst time. And it ended on a hill. But the end, I was nearly in tears. I now have a phobia of 10K, and if it hadn't been for the blogs out here for me to read, my shoes would have stayed in my closet permanently.
3. Why do you run?
In the beginning it was to lose weight. But then D started doing it with me, and it was a thing we did together and I enjoyed the company (even though we don't run together). Then I was able to go off one of my "crazy" meds for depression and only have to be on one. The overall feeling I get when I run is great. I can sort out my thoughts. Hence why you usually get "What goes through Al's head while she runs blogs."
4. What is the best or worst piece of running advice that you've been given about running?
Drink coffee before you go run. I don't know why I would follow this advice as coffee causes me to have a BM to begin with, that I would drink it before a run. But never again.
5. Tell us something surprising about yourself that not many people would know.
When I dream about me, I have long hair. I haven't had long hair since 1999, I think. I've tried to grow it out twice since I've had it short, but it looks awful...very stringy.
Now, here is who I am tagging...
- I'm tagging Duck at Euphoric Agony because she lives in a major city and blogs about running through it. I am jealous, as I can't run on sidewalks without horrible shin splints and avoid them at all costs, thus not be able to run around the city the way I want.
- I'm tagging Yas at Seeyasrun - who is training for her first tri. She was very concerned about my weight loss (or lack thereof) awhile ago, and actually took the time to email me about it. I appreciate that, and don't think I ever thanked her.
- I'm tagging Karen at Clear My Head, because I like to read about her runs through my fair city. I also enjoy her house blog.
- Mrs. Young (I don't know her first name) at Everchanging Lives because I enjoy stalking (or reading) about her, and tend not to comment often.
- And I'm tagging Steeler Kelly, because she was one of the people keeping me motivated when I first started running, before I realized motivation comes from within.
Sunday, June 8, 2008
Race for the Cure
D and I went to DC this weekend. Both sides of our families live there. However, I was so busy this week, I totally forgot to tell my side I was coming. Part of it too was we had planned for so long in coming for 2 particular events for his side, that again I just forgot. Oh well next time.
So we arrived and D's sis Stacey was at the airport. So was D's dad in a separate car. It was ok, because our niece was having an emergency thing (scary, but she is ok) and had to go to the ER, so Stacey left and his dad took us home.
Around 7 we went to D's sis Dawn's daughter's graduation party. She just graduated high school, and is the first grandchild (of D's parents) to graduate (she is the oldest). The party was fun. We got to see Dawn who has breast cancer. She looks great. I don't know what I thought she would look like, but except for the no hair, she looks healthy. Stacey and her fam also arrived. Her daughter was doing better and out of the ER, but Stacey said she (the daughter) couldn't do the 5K the next day.
Dawn's husband Tim and younger daughter were doing the race. So we all coordinated, and then went home.
Saturday morning we got up and took the metro to the National Mall. It was super hot. The race seemed a bit disorganized but I think it was more because the area was so big. I heard Hillary Clinton and Cynthia Nixon speak, but never saw them and once by the registration you could hear nothing. We met up with Tim and younger daughter. She was trying to decide if she wanted to run or walk (the walk started later than the run). Stacey showed up too. She and T's younger daughter (she is 14) decided to run. So D, S, daughter, D's dad and I all went to the start line. It took about 4 minutes to cross the start line. A lot of walkers which was annoying since the walk was starting in 15 minutes.
Finally started running. It was hot. I passed the National Monument and a color guard was out doing their thing. It was cool. We ran up and at mile 1 my time was 13. Their time said 16 minutes. We ran up the only hill, and came back down. Ran back past the monument and got to 2 miles. It said 29 minutes. Mine said 26 minutes. We ran on the road between the monument and the Mall. It was so hot. Sweat was running through my eyes. Turned onto another road. Had a lot of cheerleaders... "it's hot, it's hot, give it all you got." I saw D's Dad ahead of me. He was walking. More cheerleaders. "You are the Cure." A calypso band. The lady in front of me stopped running and started dancing. It made me laugh. We passed the Smithsonian. I'm not sure which ones. I could see the finish line.
I got to Mile 3, and you could no longer run. We had to walk across the finish line because there was such a cluster. D's dad and I crossed at the same time, according to my watch at 42:15. We walked to the end with a zillion other people. It took us about 4-5 minutes to get out of this bottle neck. We didn't see D or water. We opted to find water and then D, as I was a bit unsteady.
D ended up being at the water table. Stacey called. She and daughter finished too. Dawn's daughter was so proud, as she should be.
About 10 minutes passed, and Tim called to tell us where he and D's mom were. We couldn't believe how fast they walked it. They crossed and we found them. D's mom looked a bit disoriented. So we got her water and we stood around. D's mom said they only walked 2 miles...they took a shortcut. That was ok, since we were all worried about how hot it was (D's mom doesn't do well with the heat). Then we all went home.
Overall, I was so proud of us as a family. But dang it was hot.
I remembered why I didn't want to move back to Maryland. So muggy. Atlanta cannot compete with that. It ended up about 100 or 103 yesterday.
So later, after watching the Belmont, we went to dinner with the family. I had a really good time.
And this morning, D's brother called. We are an aunt and an uncle (again) to a new little girl. After work tomorrow we are going to see them.
So we arrived and D's sis Stacey was at the airport. So was D's dad in a separate car. It was ok, because our niece was having an emergency thing (scary, but she is ok) and had to go to the ER, so Stacey left and his dad took us home.
Around 7 we went to D's sis Dawn's daughter's graduation party. She just graduated high school, and is the first grandchild (of D's parents) to graduate (she is the oldest). The party was fun. We got to see Dawn who has breast cancer. She looks great. I don't know what I thought she would look like, but except for the no hair, she looks healthy. Stacey and her fam also arrived. Her daughter was doing better and out of the ER, but Stacey said she (the daughter) couldn't do the 5K the next day.
Dawn's husband Tim and younger daughter were doing the race. So we all coordinated, and then went home.
Saturday morning we got up and took the metro to the National Mall. It was super hot. The race seemed a bit disorganized but I think it was more because the area was so big. I heard Hillary Clinton and Cynthia Nixon speak, but never saw them and once by the registration you could hear nothing. We met up with Tim and younger daughter. She was trying to decide if she wanted to run or walk (the walk started later than the run). Stacey showed up too. She and T's younger daughter (she is 14) decided to run. So D, S, daughter, D's dad and I all went to the start line. It took about 4 minutes to cross the start line. A lot of walkers which was annoying since the walk was starting in 15 minutes.
Finally started running. It was hot. I passed the National Monument and a color guard was out doing their thing. It was cool. We ran up and at mile 1 my time was 13. Their time said 16 minutes. We ran up the only hill, and came back down. Ran back past the monument and got to 2 miles. It said 29 minutes. Mine said 26 minutes. We ran on the road between the monument and the Mall. It was so hot. Sweat was running through my eyes. Turned onto another road. Had a lot of cheerleaders... "it's hot, it's hot, give it all you got." I saw D's Dad ahead of me. He was walking. More cheerleaders. "You are the Cure." A calypso band. The lady in front of me stopped running and started dancing. It made me laugh. We passed the Smithsonian. I'm not sure which ones. I could see the finish line.
I got to Mile 3, and you could no longer run. We had to walk across the finish line because there was such a cluster. D's dad and I crossed at the same time, according to my watch at 42:15. We walked to the end with a zillion other people. It took us about 4-5 minutes to get out of this bottle neck. We didn't see D or water. We opted to find water and then D, as I was a bit unsteady.
D ended up being at the water table. Stacey called. She and daughter finished too. Dawn's daughter was so proud, as she should be.
About 10 minutes passed, and Tim called to tell us where he and D's mom were. We couldn't believe how fast they walked it. They crossed and we found them. D's mom looked a bit disoriented. So we got her water and we stood around. D's mom said they only walked 2 miles...they took a shortcut. That was ok, since we were all worried about how hot it was (D's mom doesn't do well with the heat). Then we all went home.
Overall, I was so proud of us as a family. But dang it was hot.
I remembered why I didn't want to move back to Maryland. So muggy. Atlanta cannot compete with that. It ended up about 100 or 103 yesterday.
So later, after watching the Belmont, we went to dinner with the family. I had a really good time.
And this morning, D's brother called. We are an aunt and an uncle (again) to a new little girl. After work tomorrow we are going to see them.
Thursday, June 5, 2008
Woohoo!
The ticker went down. I lost over a pound.
I am super busy. I know I owe some of you some emails, but frankly I just don't have time at the moment.
We re-fi'd the house today. I'm working on a proposal and 4 white papers due Monday. And I'm going to see the family tomorrow for my niece's graduation, and running the National Komen 5K on Saturday.
So I have 3 papers mostly done, the 4th is about .25 of the way done, I'll do the proposal sometime Sunday.
AND I'm being transferred for 2 months to another office in a far away state. 2 months away from D, Guinness and Porter.
And I think I became an aunt yesterday, but I accidentally deleted my SIL/BIL's phone number from my phone, and D did too (in our defense, there was a mixup about what numbers they had).
OK, so before my head spins, I'm off.
I am super busy. I know I owe some of you some emails, but frankly I just don't have time at the moment.
We re-fi'd the house today. I'm working on a proposal and 4 white papers due Monday. And I'm going to see the family tomorrow for my niece's graduation, and running the National Komen 5K on Saturday.
So I have 3 papers mostly done, the 4th is about .25 of the way done, I'll do the proposal sometime Sunday.
AND I'm being transferred for 2 months to another office in a far away state. 2 months away from D, Guinness and Porter.
And I think I became an aunt yesterday, but I accidentally deleted my SIL/BIL's phone number from my phone, and D did too (in our defense, there was a mixup about what numbers they had).
OK, so before my head spins, I'm off.
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Another day of not sucking!
Yes, I put the picture of Johnny Depp up again, because looking at him just makes me happy.
So yesterday, we didn't have the pollo mojo thing. Both of us got home after 8 and were tired so we went to the local taqueria. I'm not sure if they are going out of business but I hope not. They have gotten rid of their liquor license, purposely, their AC wasn't working (it was over 90 degrees yesterday), and the guacamole was store bought, not fresh. Barring all that, it was good. I got 2 al pastor tacos (I usually get 3) and some beans, chips and guac.
We got home and I was tired.
After a bit we went to bed.
This morning, the alarm went off at 5. I only hit snooze twice. I got up and went to the gym. Started my run. I set the treadmill for 90 minutes. I walked 5 minutes and started running at 85. By 80, I was ready to go home. By 75, I was sweating like 4 whores in church. At 70, I had gone over a mile. This continued until mile 2.5. Mile 2.5 to mile 3.3 went by quickly. Then back to playing with the clock. Finally it read 29 something and I was done. I walked .8 miles (to finish the 1 mile walk that I started at the beginning).
And I was hot. So I spent $1.25 to be like LeBron James and drink some Grape Powerade. It was pretty good, but it is more calories than Orange Gatorade. But in a Coke Machine in Atlanta, you won't find a Gatorade. Imagine that. So I'll have to see about other flavors.
I got home and D was still there. That was a lovely surprise. I thought he would have already been at work.
Today is more acronym hell.
Time: 55:41 (run)
Mileage 4.0 (13:55 min/mile).
Time:20.00(walk)
Mileage 1 (20 min/mile)
Calories: 962
Max HR 186
Avg HR 164
In Zone 27:40
Mileage 4.0 (13:55 min/mile).
Time:20.00(walk)
Mileage 1 (20 min/mile)
Calories: 962
Max HR 186
Avg HR 164
In Zone 27:40
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Regulatory Acronyms
They are my life. NEC, NFPA, ANSI, etc.
So that's why I have been quiet. I am writing some papers and doing lots of research.
So I'm still working on the food thing.
I had a bacon and a biscuit along with 3 bottles of water.
Lunch is Beef-Broccoli Lo Mein, yogurt and applesauce.
Dinner is Pollo con Mojo de Ajo with spinach (I think).
Water will be consumed all day, with some diet ginger ale, coffee and diet coke.
And a run is not scheduled.
So that's why I have been quiet. I am writing some papers and doing lots of research.
So I'm still working on the food thing.
I had a bacon and a biscuit along with 3 bottles of water.
Lunch is Beef-Broccoli Lo Mein, yogurt and applesauce.
Dinner is Pollo con Mojo de Ajo with spinach (I think).
Water will be consumed all day, with some diet ginger ale, coffee and diet coke.
And a run is not scheduled.
Monday, June 2, 2008
Where did the time go?
So Friday, after beating myself up for not running on Thursday, I got out there. 87 degrees, and a SLOW run on the track. The walk part was slow but that was because some lady was out there with her puppy, and of course I had to play with her (the puppy). So 47 minutes later, I was done.
Time: 46:28 (run)
Mileage 3.0 (15:29 min/mile).
Time:23.06(walk)
Mileage 1 (25)
Calories: 884
Max HR 182
Avg HR 162
In Zone 28:48
Saturday I had every intention of doing something but the East Atlanta Beer Festival came by so fast that waking up at 11 am and being ready to go eat at 12 pm and then to go drink at 1 pm I just didn't have time. But I had a good time drinking. It was fun. To add to Viv's challenge, I decided to load up on pizza, beer and Chinese food all before Sunday's Weigh In.
BTW, I still love Coppertone Sport Continuous Spray SPF 15. We were out all day in 90 degree heat and sun, and I got zero burn or tan. Woohoo!
Sunday came and bwah on that weigh in. Anyway, I kept telling myself to go run, but I didn't. I determined in order not to suck, I would run first thing Monday morning. Well 5AM came and the alarm went off. And I got out of bed. And got dressed and drove to the gym. I got on a treadmill and ran 4 miles. I am so proud of myself, for not sucking. I also tried the Gatorade G2. I'm not sure how I feel about it. It tastes like really watered down Gatorade. I like the sugar of Gatorade, so I will just have to get used to G2. But it was on sale at Kroger, so that's why it was tried.
Time: 57:05 (run)
Mileage 4.0 (14:16 min/mile).
Time:21:42(walk)
Mileage 1 (21:42)
Calories: 879
Max HR 176
Avg HR 152
In Zone 36:36
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