Today I decided I was too tired to run. I get to be lazy from time to time. (I am feeling bad since I didn't run yesterday either.)
Instead I ran hills. Oh yeah, that uses less energy than regular running. There's a hill close to my house that's .25 miles long and I ran up it 8 times. I figure that counts as running two miles. I actually walked back down the hills because I read that running down hills is much harder on legs than running up them. Then I took a walk from my house to Lake Nokomis, around the Lake, across a tiny part of Minnehaha parkway and back home. I took a similar but longer route yesterday instead of running. I'll let you know what happens tomorrow...
6.8.06
I can't believe
I can't believe Kelly hasn't blogged about the new Ikea catalog yet. I actually haven't finished looking through it either. It's like a million pages long.
I just had a thought though. I've been in the market for an ottoman (in Cincinnati where Kelly should live, they're called "foot stools"). I have this funky couch where the pattern was discontinued or was a test pattern and never got going or something but it doesn't exist anymore. Now I just need an ottoman of the same height, preferrable in all black since that would still match the decor. I was going to go back to slumberland, but it occurs to me that Ikea would be cheaper. I wonder if I'll get to the ottoman section of the catalog before next June.
I just had a thought though. I've been in the market for an ottoman (in Cincinnati where Kelly should live, they're called "foot stools"). I have this funky couch where the pattern was discontinued or was a test pattern and never got going or something but it doesn't exist anymore. Now I just need an ottoman of the same height, preferrable in all black since that would still match the decor. I was going to go back to slumberland, but it occurs to me that Ikea would be cheaper. I wonder if I'll get to the ottoman section of the catalog before next June.
I love it when web sites get translated into English
I'm back on the open mic band wagon. A friend of mine gave me a list of songs she likes to sing including one of my new favorite songs, Water Runs Dry by Boyz II Men. One of the other songs she listed was another one I like, Killing Me Softly. There is one part of this song that puzzles me. After the first chorus there is a nine or ten bar break and there are chords played in the background but I have no idea what chords they are. They don't seem to go with either the verse or the chorus. There is the same break in the Roberta Flack version and while the chords are easier to hear in this version, they're no easier to identify. Which brings me to my point. I've been searching the internet for a more complete guitar tab/guitar pro than I have currently. All of the tabs I have leave out the mystery bars. This search lead me to this page and one of the funnier error messages I've ever received:
In the waiting for a regularization with the copyright owner of this score, its download is no more possible.
Hee hee. I think this site is usually in French and while the translation into English is funny, I could do no better from English to French so I will try not to cast stones.
Hee hee. I think this site is usually in French and while the translation into English is funny, I could do no better from English to French so I will try not to cast stones.
5.8.06
fending off boredom
Yesterday after running in an attempt to fend off boredom I went on something of a wild goose chase to find shampoo. Apparently no stores in the Twin Cities sell the kind of shampoo I like. I'm currently in denial about it. Seriously, if anyone knows a place that sells the regular Herbal Essence shampoo and conditioner, none of this collections nonsense, but the kind of shampoo I have always used, email me.
Well that little shopping trip to Southdale Target, Walgreens by my house, and Snyder's led me to the Dollar store where I decided I needed a few things. Sadly, the dollar store did not have a new shower curtain liner that I need becuase mine is a year old and I have company coming next week.
The need for a shower curtain lead me to Linen's N Things. I got a new bath mat, and shower curtain liner. I also saw a Faux Suede Shower Curtain that might go with my bathroom but will require matching it to the blue paint and Kelly's approval before I buy it.
Hey, some girls need a friend to go to the bathroom. I think it's ok if I need a friend to approve decorating decisions.
Well that little shopping trip to Southdale Target, Walgreens by my house, and Snyder's led me to the Dollar store where I decided I needed a few things. Sadly, the dollar store did not have a new shower curtain liner that I need becuase mine is a year old and I have company coming next week.
The need for a shower curtain lead me to Linen's N Things. I got a new bath mat, and shower curtain liner. I also saw a Faux Suede Shower Curtain that might go with my bathroom but will require matching it to the blue paint and Kelly's approval before I buy it.
Hey, some girls need a friend to go to the bathroom. I think it's ok if I need a friend to approve decorating decisions.
4.8.06
the run
Today I ran 3.8 miles or 6k. I have found a way to add another hill into the run as well. (Yippie.) I was reading last night about running hills. One of the keys is "concentrate on lifting my knees" and "push off hard with every step". Oh, ok. Why didn't I think of that before?
Seriously, I tried it this morning and it's hard. It's almost 2p and my calves still haven't forgiven me. I haven't decided if lifting my knees with every step is harder on the gradual inclines that go on forever or the one hill that's steep as hell but not as long.
I'm thinking next week while I'm camping instead of actually running, I may just run hills for practice. All I know is this 5k course has a hill larger than anything I've dealt with yet and I'd like to be prepared.
Also to note, I'm back in my normal shoes and quite happy about it. And apparently, there is a magic window of times I can hit the snooze button. Too few and I'm still good and asleep. Although, if I hit the snooze too many times (like over an hour) my body decides I'm not serious about waking up and goes back to bed. The magic window seems to be 30 to 45 mintues of snooze time. Ask me how I found that out...
Seriously, I tried it this morning and it's hard. It's almost 2p and my calves still haven't forgiven me. I haven't decided if lifting my knees with every step is harder on the gradual inclines that go on forever or the one hill that's steep as hell but not as long.
I'm thinking next week while I'm camping instead of actually running, I may just run hills for practice. All I know is this 5k course has a hill larger than anything I've dealt with yet and I'd like to be prepared.
Also to note, I'm back in my normal shoes and quite happy about it. And apparently, there is a magic window of times I can hit the snooze button. Too few and I'm still good and asleep. Although, if I hit the snooze too many times (like over an hour) my body decides I'm not serious about waking up and goes back to bed. The magic window seems to be 30 to 45 mintues of snooze time. Ask me how I found that out...
3.8.06
need to find new shoes
I ran 3.3 miles this morning. Here's the thing: I need to find new shoes. Yesterday, after the dog incident I got some blisters. Actually I'd been getting blisters for a while from having arch support inserts in my sheos. The arch support insert stops around the ball of my foot and I'd been getting some big blisters there but yesterday was the straw that broke the camel's back. I actually took off my shoes and walked barefoot for a while. I like to think I was channeling Kelly.
I actually ran a second time yesterday and only got about 2 miles because I went in the mid-day heat. But that time and this morning I wore a different pair of shoes and I've decided I like my Nike's better. My legs hurt this morning in ways they don't typically hurt when I run. Especially my calves and ham strings and lower back and... Well I guess a lot of stuff hurt in ways it doesn't usually.
How fast does it take blisters to heal? I haven't popped them yet, but apparently that's what I'm supposed to do. I thought that was bad to do.
Anyways, I was supposed to work last night but that just got cancelled so now I feel like I have nothing to do.
I actually ran a second time yesterday and only got about 2 miles because I went in the mid-day heat. But that time and this morning I wore a different pair of shoes and I've decided I like my Nike's better. My legs hurt this morning in ways they don't typically hurt when I run. Especially my calves and ham strings and lower back and... Well I guess a lot of stuff hurt in ways it doesn't usually.
How fast does it take blisters to heal? I haven't popped them yet, but apparently that's what I'm supposed to do. I thought that was bad to do.
Anyways, I was supposed to work last night but that just got cancelled so now I feel like I have nothing to do.
2.8.06
where I should live
Well, I was reading Kelly's blog and saw her results for this quiz so I thought I would take it too.
My results:
My results:
- Portland, Oregon. I like Portland. It's a bit far from family and friends though.
- Little Rock, AK. Um, no.
- San Jose, CA. I actually do have family out there, a couple cousins but the cost of living is really high.
- Corvallis, OR. Where? If it's like Portland I'd probably love it but miss Amanda and Kelly and family.
- Hartford, CT. Doesn't that city have like more crime than NYC?
- Baltimore, MD. I don't know why this one doesn't sit well with me. I have a friend who went to school there and liked it.
- Las Vegas, NV. Huh? Seriously, how did that one get there?
- Milwaukee, WI. Oh hell no.
- Salem, OR. See 4.
- Honolulu, HI. Hee hee. Again, I think I'd like it but it's far away and pricey.
- Medford, OR. See 4
why I'm a bad person today
It's a beautiful running day. Even now at 10am it's still only 70*. So what happened when I tried to run this morning at 7am? I was attacked by a dog, not so much attacked as it wanted to play. I think my record on dogs is pretty clear. I could really do without them so when this thing started chasing me down the block and jumping on me I was not happy. When it followed me over a mile I was less amused but also thinking someone might be looking for it. At first I didn't care that it was following me but once we crossed Chicago Ave and Park Ave I could see I had a problem so I started running back to where this thing first started harrassing me. I couldn't ever get close enough to look at it's tag, and even though I stopped running and called it over, that wasn't what we would call 110% effort on my part. At one point three blocks away from where I met it, I thought it was home so instead of turning back, I then went on taking it farther from where we started our journey. Two blocks south of there (five blocks from the original point and over a mile of running later) it finally left me and went to some guy walking his dog.
I was pretty hacked off that this animal interuppted what would have been a great run in cool weather and was hacked off that someone let their dog run around the neighborhood without a leash so that it could follow me for a long long time and jump on me and bite at me.
However, I've spent most of the morning trying to convince myself I'm not a bad person for not working harder to get this stupid dog back to it's owners who are probably pretty upset the damn animal is missing.
I was pretty hacked off that this animal interuppted what would have been a great run in cool weather and was hacked off that someone let their dog run around the neighborhood without a leash so that it could follow me for a long long time and jump on me and bite at me.
However, I've spent most of the morning trying to convince myself I'm not a bad person for not working harder to get this stupid dog back to it's owners who are probably pretty upset the damn animal is missing.
1.8.06
In honor of it not being 100* anymore
In honor of the temperature being below 100* I ran this morning. It turns out I ran 3.6 miles this morning. That was quite a surprise. It just showed me how much a factor the heat still is to me running. Last week when it was hot I could barely run 1 mile. This morning I still didn't want to stop after 3.6. At some point I had to stop so I had a long enough cool-down walk before I got home.
I also tried to put in some hills but gmaps was being stupid and it wouldn't tell me about the elevations that I ran. It told me that "elevations are only available for streets in the US". Dude, it was a map of Minnesota. I ask you.
I also tried to put in some hills but gmaps was being stupid and it wouldn't tell me about the elevations that I ran. It told me that "elevations are only available for streets in the US". Dude, it was a map of Minnesota. I ask you.
31.7.06
they say it's over
Well, the "experts" are saying the heat wave is over. I say "experts" becuase they're saying that but it's 11:37 PM and the heat index is still 105*. Maybe it'll be over tomorrow. Maybe I'll run tomorrow. I skipped doing anything today reasoning that my body needed a break. Is it bad if my joints hurt? Aren't I too young for that?
30.7.06
sitting at the cool kids table
So obviously, from the volume of posts on the subject, last night was an interesting work night. I just want to say ahead of time that I know how big my ego sounds in this blog and it's my blog and I'm ok with it.
The other thing that hit me was that I've been at the aquarium long enough and I understand how things work there well enough that I can be seen as one of "the cool people" who are fun and know everything. I had that realization again last night/this morning. The sad thing about sort of "being the cool person" and setting the example is that sometimes that example gets reflected back, and sometimes (I hope) that reflection is distorted.
I know that sometimes I complain about things at work. I work an overnight shift sometimes with 60 girl scouts sometimes even more terrifying is 60 cub scouts. Even when kids aren't puking, there's some material there. But when I complain, I try to do it in a light hearted, joking, funny kind of manner. I try not to be negative. Usually people smile or laugh at my "complaints". Some of them are pretty funny. Like cutting the donuts in half. I ask you.
So, the co-worker who all of my blogs are about today, tried to "complain". I assume she was trying to get a similar response to what I usually get (people smiling and laughing) but it didn't work so well. Instead she came off sounding pretty negative and miserable. It was kind of upsetting, partly because I don't want to be literally stuck in the aquarium with someone that negative but also because it looks like she's repeating my behavior, but not getting it quite right.
Another one of my challenges is set the example of having a positive attitude and not complaining and having that be cool. If people are going to mirror some of my behaviors, I'd at least like to have it be the good ones.
(Yes, my ego really is this big. Although I'm pretty sleep deprived. Earlier when I was walking in the 100* heat I read a sign that said "Decaf child" and it took me a full minute of knowing that wasn't right to re-read the sign and see "Deaf child". So I'm pretty loopy and full of myself at the moment.)
The other thing that hit me was that I've been at the aquarium long enough and I understand how things work there well enough that I can be seen as one of "the cool people" who are fun and know everything. I had that realization again last night/this morning. The sad thing about sort of "being the cool person" and setting the example is that sometimes that example gets reflected back, and sometimes (I hope) that reflection is distorted.
I know that sometimes I complain about things at work. I work an overnight shift sometimes with 60 girl scouts sometimes even more terrifying is 60 cub scouts. Even when kids aren't puking, there's some material there. But when I complain, I try to do it in a light hearted, joking, funny kind of manner. I try not to be negative. Usually people smile or laugh at my "complaints". Some of them are pretty funny. Like cutting the donuts in half. I ask you.
So, the co-worker who all of my blogs are about today, tried to "complain". I assume she was trying to get a similar response to what I usually get (people smiling and laughing) but it didn't work so well. Instead she came off sounding pretty negative and miserable. It was kind of upsetting, partly because I don't want to be literally stuck in the aquarium with someone that negative but also because it looks like she's repeating my behavior, but not getting it quite right.
Another one of my challenges is set the example of having a positive attitude and not complaining and having that be cool. If people are going to mirror some of my behaviors, I'd at least like to have it be the good ones.
(Yes, my ego really is this big. Although I'm pretty sleep deprived. Earlier when I was walking in the 100* heat I read a sign that said "Decaf child" and it took me a full minute of knowing that wasn't right to re-read the sign and see "Deaf child". So I'm pretty loopy and full of myself at the moment.)
The things I've said in the past
This is the weekend where several things I've said in the past come back to bite me in the ass. I had this co-worker for a while. I don't know the full story and purposefully never tried to figure it all out but I know that it was hard for him to adjust to things or be flexible with changing situations. He also had a hard time reading social cues. It was challenging to work with someone under those circumstances. That said, he wanted to work and I always said "here is a person who is showing up and wants to work and if we can't find a way to include him, then it's our shortcoming, not his."
Those words have come back to bite me today, and they'll make a return appearance next Friday as well. There's a girl I work with at the aquarium in a very similar set of circumstances. Again, I try very hard not to know too much but she also has an easy time learning the routine and things that always need to be done and a hard time adjusting and being flexible when things don't go according to the routine. The problem is that in this job there's enough work for two people and it's just her and I. I feel like I don't have time to teach her the things I need her to do and do the things I need to do.
I remembered my words (even at 6:30am on no sleep) and tried to be patient (always a challenge) and teach her what I needed her to do. It wasn't that bad. She remembered to do much more stuff than I thought she knew how to do which was encouraging. She also has a hard time picking up on social cues which is only challenging because he was 4 adults and 8 kids in this overnight so any social awkwardness is glaringly obvious. But again, that's just me being a perfectionist. (I'm ok with that.)
Next Friday I could get totally frustrated at the situation and wish I was with another one of my co-workers who I really like working with and is fantastic at her job instead of who I was scheduled with. Instead I will see next friday as another chance to help this person learn the job and include her in a meaningful way. (It may be a long night.)
Those words have come back to bite me today, and they'll make a return appearance next Friday as well. There's a girl I work with at the aquarium in a very similar set of circumstances. Again, I try very hard not to know too much but she also has an easy time learning the routine and things that always need to be done and a hard time adjusting and being flexible when things don't go according to the routine. The problem is that in this job there's enough work for two people and it's just her and I. I feel like I don't have time to teach her the things I need her to do and do the things I need to do.
I remembered my words (even at 6:30am on no sleep) and tried to be patient (always a challenge) and teach her what I needed her to do. It wasn't that bad. She remembered to do much more stuff than I thought she knew how to do which was encouraging. She also has a hard time picking up on social cues which is only challenging because he was 4 adults and 8 kids in this overnight so any social awkwardness is glaringly obvious. But again, that's just me being a perfectionist. (I'm ok with that.)
Next Friday I could get totally frustrated at the situation and wish I was with another one of my co-workers who I really like working with and is fantastic at her job instead of who I was scheduled with. Instead I will see next friday as another chance to help this person learn the job and include her in a meaningful way. (It may be a long night.)
the hits just keep on coming
It's still hot. Very hot. It's after 8pm and it's still over 90* with a heat index of 112*. Again, it was way too hot to be running so I walked around the neighborhood. I walked over 4.5 miles. I would have walked longer but I ran out of my gatorade/water mix and it was too hot to keep going. When I got back I laid in the pool on a sweet little raft. I think I need to get a flotation device of some kind for the pool. I bet they're on sale at Target now, it's late enough in the summer.
I have decided that I'm running tomorrow no matter what. If it's too hot I'm going to find an early week from the Couch Potato Plan and do that around my running route just to keep running. Then I'm going to pray there is still money left on my parking card so I can drive to work tomorrow. (After work we're going to the Twins game so I need my car to drive home late at night.)
I have decided that I'm running tomorrow no matter what. If it's too hot I'm going to find an early week from the Couch Potato Plan and do that around my running route just to keep running. Then I'm going to pray there is still money left on my parking card so I can drive to work tomorrow. (After work we're going to the Twins game so I need my car to drive home late at night.)
29.7.06
the heat wave continues
Well, because it's so hot, I decided I can't run right now but that I should walk. It turns out I walked over 4 miles today, and I was dripping sweat just as if I had actually run all that way. The difference was I didn't pass out from the heat as I surely would have if I were running.
An update on the weather, as of 2:30pm, it's either 93* with a heat index of 102*, or my personal favorite, 97* with a heat index of 117*. Why does KSTP always have the temps and heat index so much higher than the other local news stations and yahoo weather? Maybe it's just this week. Maybe they're trying to set more record temperatures, thereby making it more exciting to watch the weather...
An update on the weather, as of 2:30pm, it's either 93* with a heat index of 102*, or my personal favorite, 97* with a heat index of 117*. Why does KSTP always have the temps and heat index so much higher than the other local news stations and yahoo weather? Maybe it's just this week. Maybe they're trying to set more record temperatures, thereby making it more exciting to watch the weather...
28.7.06
update
At 4:15pm it's either 96* with a heat index of 101*, 98* with a heat index of 105*, or according to one station 100* with a heat index of 118*. Either way, it's freaking hot and there's no relief in sight.
at some point this just has to stop
I went for a run this morning in my neighborhood thinking that would make it easier for me to run a long time. I left around 9:30 or 10:00 this morning. Here's the thing. It's freaking hot. Right now it's 12:40 and depending on the weather info I look at it's 93* with the heat index at 100* or 97* with the heat index at 113*. Don't ask me why there's that big of a difference. Either way, it's freaking hot. As I was running I started to feel funky. I decided to walk the rest of my regular route and avoid a heat stroke. I will set my alarm and run early tomorrow.
I spent some time at the pool but it's literally too hot to be outside if I'm not in the water. Plus then there were these little kids who were fine and the Dad was nice but they're little kids running around so it's not all that relaxing. I opted for air conditioning for now.
I spent some time at the pool but it's literally too hot to be outside if I'm not in the water. Plus then there were these little kids who were fine and the Dad was nice but they're little kids running around so it's not all that relaxing. I opted for air conditioning for now.
27.7.06
welcome to slackerdom
I feel like a slacker because I ran less today than I did yesterday. That's ok right? My body needs a break.
I think I am getting yet another sinus infection. There was the one in April, the one in May, the one two weeks after that on the trip to Canada, and now this one, and that's only this spring and summer. Anyone else get sinus infections every time the wind blows? A sinus infection is a good reason to not run so hard. It impacts my breathing.
So I ran 2.4 miles instead of 2.7. I have discovered I really don't like running around Lake Nokomis. I'm mean I love the lake and it has my very favorite view of the Minneapolis skyline ever but I'm not a fan of actually running around the lake. I just get too caught up in when I'm going to be done. I really like the running route I found in my neighborhood.
Also, a note on the hills: I looked at the route for the Milk Run and there is a lot of up hill action. In my current running route the elevation differences (the top of the hill to the bottom of the hill) isn't that large even though I always complain about the one hill. On the Milk Run route the differences are like 5 times what I deal with. This should be interesting. Maybe I should start running stairs...
I think I am getting yet another sinus infection. There was the one in April, the one in May, the one two weeks after that on the trip to Canada, and now this one, and that's only this spring and summer. Anyone else get sinus infections every time the wind blows? A sinus infection is a good reason to not run so hard. It impacts my breathing.
So I ran 2.4 miles instead of 2.7. I have discovered I really don't like running around Lake Nokomis. I'm mean I love the lake and it has my very favorite view of the Minneapolis skyline ever but I'm not a fan of actually running around the lake. I just get too caught up in when I'm going to be done. I really like the running route I found in my neighborhood.
Also, a note on the hills: I looked at the route for the Milk Run and there is a lot of up hill action. In my current running route the elevation differences (the top of the hill to the bottom of the hill) isn't that large even though I always complain about the one hill. On the Milk Run route the differences are like 5 times what I deal with. This should be interesting. Maybe I should start running stairs...
26.7.06
slow news day
Today I:
I have also spent some time working on a list of songs that are good to run to. Every day when I run I discover some of the songs I love are not good running songs and some songs that I'm not wild about are wonderful running songs. Funny how that works out.
- Woke up, went back to sleep (hee hee to those of you at work), woke up again and at breakfast
- Watched Nanny McPhee
- Ran 2.7 miles around Lake Nokomis in the hot hot noontime sun, and then walked around the lake a second time for good measure. Realy I just wanted to work on my tan. (Again, hee hee to those of you at work.)
- Showered. (Aren't you glad after the run and the walk?)
- Ate Chipotle.
- Sat on couch and typed on blog.
I have also spent some time working on a list of songs that are good to run to. Every day when I run I discover some of the songs I love are not good running songs and some songs that I'm not wild about are wonderful running songs. Funny how that works out.
25.7.06
today's update
I'm avoiding posting to Amanda's blog after she and Kelly told me I was posting there too much and I should give Amadna a chance. (Although then Kelly threatened to move the running blog from the "daily blog list" to the list of blogs she only checks once a week. This blog lives on that list.)
Today I ran 2.6 miles. According to my calendar I have five weeks to get up to 3.2 miles. Ideally I'd like to have run 3.2 miles before I try it in the Milk Run. I seem to be adding 1/10th of a mile almost every day. By that logic, in a week I should be up to 3.2 miles. I'm wondering about the route of the milk run. Anything that involves the St. Paul campus of the U of M will also involve a hill. With that revelation, I'm glad I put the hill back in my running route.
I had an interesting day otherwise. I went to see Kelly and Amanda after work and wound up taking the 21 home later than I would have preferred. Really the bus was fine, I had to walk about 10 blocks in my neighborhood later than I would have preferred. However all was fine. I had some time to contemplate songs that are good to run/jog to.
Again, anyone who knows good running music, let me know.
Today I ran 2.6 miles. According to my calendar I have five weeks to get up to 3.2 miles. Ideally I'd like to have run 3.2 miles before I try it in the Milk Run. I seem to be adding 1/10th of a mile almost every day. By that logic, in a week I should be up to 3.2 miles. I'm wondering about the route of the milk run. Anything that involves the St. Paul campus of the U of M will also involve a hill. With that revelation, I'm glad I put the hill back in my running route.
I had an interesting day otherwise. I went to see Kelly and Amanda after work and wound up taking the 21 home later than I would have preferred. Really the bus was fine, I had to walk about 10 blocks in my neighborhood later than I would have preferred. However all was fine. I had some time to contemplate songs that are good to run/jog to.
Again, anyone who knows good running music, let me know.
24.7.06
running
I ran 2.5 miles today. According to Google maps almost all of my running route is up hill. Should I be worried about that?
I also started running with music. I think I breath much better when I have music. It actually slows down how I breathe. Although today I though, "oh crap, what's going to happen at the end of August when I try to run a 5k without headphones? That should be interesting.
Right now I'm working on creating a better list of songs that I can jog and listen to. Anyone have any suggestions?
I also started running with music. I think I breath much better when I have music. It actually slows down how I breathe. Although today I though, "oh crap, what's going to happen at the end of August when I try to run a 5k without headphones? That should be interesting.
Right now I'm working on creating a better list of songs that I can jog and listen to. Anyone have any suggestions?
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