Your Mileage May Vary

Take the deal!

Background Noise: somewhere over the rainbow & what a wonderful world
Last Visited: bacon cups
Random Thought: if we taught english the way we teach math...; also, this Psychologist Might Outsmart the Math Brains Competing for the Netflix Prize
Mood: whiped, but good

There are moments where one has to take a step back and reflect for a moment.

At the start of this month i ran a 5K for the first time; saturday, one month later, i'm going to run a 10K*.

When I cross the finish line late saturday morning, i will have doubled my distance in a month; and considering in January the most i could run is 2 miles, that's not bad.

Not bad at all.

Good job me.

*So, JR is making me a deal: based on the fact that running up that hill this morning induced a coughing fit and dizzy spell like one i haven't had since college, he's proposing a change to the race we were going to run Saturday (which included a non-trivial 1000ft+ climb): we won't run it; instead, we'll run a 10K (longer) in los gatos on flat ground. It's a longer distance, but no incline, and hopefully will save my lungs the trouble of stopping taking in oxygen.

Needless to say, i took the deal; and i'm grateful - not only that he was the one that offered, but that i wasn't put in the position of being the one to ask; because i wouldn't have; i would have run that race up the hill and possibly hurt myself because there was no way i wasn't going to do it.

... It's a rare moment that i actually am grateful for my lungs wimping out on me; this, however, is one of them.

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"Yes, it's chock-full very fresh, clean Noxzema girl wholesome awesomeness. :-)"

Background Noise: The Prince's Tale
Last Visited: Dave's Distractions, which needs to be updated again
Random Thought: any excuse will do if it gets me home
Mood: still sleepy, but better

I'm going home in two weeks (3/13-3/17)! And to NYC in April(4-18-4/21)! Well, i guess my happy travel feet are back with a vengeance; geez, you send a girl to London and Tahoe and it's like she doesn't want to go back to work or something.... Actually, i blame my being sick for causing my general homesickness; that or it's just been three months since i've been home and at least 6 since i've had zingermans - either way. And it's just been way too long since i've been to NYC. So yeay, i'm excited.

And now, let's continue with that interview....

What is your current ring tone? ... nothing interesting enough to mention; obviously i need to find a new one Waffles are... a yummy indulgence How many times have you broken your cell phone? way too often

What's the best thing you've ever eaten? it's hard to say, i've had a lot of amazing food, but my guess is "white truffle oil" was an ingredient What's the fastest you've ever driven? 109? ish? Where do you go when you want to be alone? my apartment; or did you mean some place more special? Because if i tell you, then i wouldn't be alone, would i? Blonde, Brunette, or Redhead? currently i'm a Blonde; or were you asking my preference? The moon landing was... worth the effort I'd like to super size... my apartment Do you play any instruments? ish, yes; my piano skills aren't what they were What snack food can you scarf down a whole bag in one sitting? combos, cheddar cheese, plain or pretzel; always and forever Have you ever fallen asleep at work? oh yes; that's why i have a comfy chair and ottoman in my office Women are... ungeneralizable Is there anything you'd like to add before we continue? no, i'm good, thanks What was the best movie this year? My personal choice? Once Look around! What's the closest red object? my awesome red shoes Please buy me a... "pony, embossed on a yellow badge attached to the front of something called a Spider" - Nicolai; he said it best, i just quote him - constantly What was your worst fashion mistake? white cotton short shorts in middle school; horrifyingly enough there are people on facebook who might actually remember what that looked like. I believe in... love, education, hard work, my family, my friends, and the golden rule Which is worse? Nails on a chalkboard or lemon juice on a cut? ow. A recent poll shows a fifth of Americans cannot locate the US on a world map. Why do you think this is? why learn anything when you can look up the answer any time you like? Which side is your good side? the angelic side? I wouldn't mind being stuck in a closet with... christian bale What was your most cherished memory from the past year? there are too many choices to pick just one; it's a high class problem to have Do you fold your sheets or just scrunch them up? fold, then scrunch, then smooth, then repeat

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Falling Slowly

Background Noise: lying is the most fun a girl can have without taking her clothes off
Last Visited: Kayak.com
Random Thought: i could go home for $311 round trip, right? that's not a crazy use of money, is it?
Mood: very weak

"Falling Slowly" from Once won the Oscar for Best Song last night; couldn't be happier.

Oh, i've also been putting a ton of pictures (still love my camera!!) up on my .mac gallery because, well, apparently i don't have enough pictures scattered around enough sites. Or something. Anyways, it's a fairly complete set - enjoy!

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Breathe with me

Background Noise: loose my breath, destiny's child (i know, i know)
Last Visited: the FAIL blog
Random Thought: go home.
Mood: sniffly

Hi.

So i'm sick.

I've been meaning to write... but well... i'm kinda slow at the moment. And i'm actually leaving to go home. But i figured i'd say hi.

Bobby leaned on PBS last night; thank goodness for PBS.

Expression:

Money, Spending, and Technology Adoption Rates

Background Noise: seems like a GG afternoon
Last Visited: Horseback riding near Bodega Bay
Random Thought: we can't be lost, we don't know where we're going
Mood: good

OMG, i got flowers for Darwin Day! awesome!!!

Darwin Day is an international celebration of science and humanity held on or around February 12, the day that Charles Darwin was born on in 1809. Specifically, it celebrates the discoveries and life of Charles Darwin -- the man who first described biological evolution via natural selection with scientific rigor. More generally, Darwin Day expresses gratitude for the enormous benefits that scientific knowledge, acquired through human curiosity and ingenuity, has contributed to the advancement of humanity.

Now that is a holiday i can get behind.

Sort of switching topics, i find this chart by the New York Times displaying how American's spend their money quite fascinating; want to know the breakdown of the lowest, middle, and highest income brackets? want to watch adoption rates of technologies over the last 100+ years broken out by income? what to see how the general population breaks up their budgets as a comparison factor for how you live? It covers a lot of ground, and i keep seeing new things each time i look at it. Anyways, happy Darwin Day!

ps: sigh, Senate Approves Telco Amnesty, Legalizes Bush's Secret Spy Program

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That's what she said

Background Noise: Hammers and Veils
Last Visited: the Frontal Cortex
Random Thought:
Mood: full; mmm, falafel

Fame or Fortune? instead of one or the other, can i have a bit of both? When you get stressed, what are you most likely to throw out the window? Tact, politeness, humor, perspective, and sanity Pepsi or Coke? water.

Why does paper beat rock? Man values reason over force If i had a time machine, I'd... go to Philadelphia, July 1st, 1776 I'm afraid of... heights Righty or lefty? Righty Have you ever fallen asleep while driving? thankfully no There's something fishy about... the extreme drop in the number of salmon swimming around the bay area I'd be mortified if someone caught me... belting it out Have you ever been on TV? yes. What flavor are you glad is not included in Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans? I don't want to give them any ideas Wal-Mart is... a leading cause of our trade deficit with China People make fun of my... yawn What cartoon character do you have a crush on? A cartoon character as a crush object? really? is that common? The best ride at Disneyland is... the tea cups; though that's really a guess as i've never been there. What's your favorite ice cream topping? nothing; unless it's chocolate chunk coffee ice cream, then the answer is: maple syrup with lemon zest on top IM or email? all forms of communication are accepted* Skim milk, lowfat milk, whole milk, or chocolate milk? Skim orr Lowfat, please SUV, compact, or sports car? currently an SUV, though i lust over the little sports cars I've never... played "i never" How old were you the last time you trick-or-treated? 16? Are you a glass half full or glass half empty person? half full If i had to spend twenty bucks in the next twenty minutes, i would... head over to iphoto and order some prints I'm allergic to... dust and some metals How many songs do you have on your iPod? which one? Average estimate: 2500

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Where the sunsets are all breathtaking

Background Noise: Last Five Years
Last Visited: John Adams the mini-series based on John Adams by David McCullough
Random Thought: note to self: get massages more often
Mood: not quite out of vacation mode

I went on vacation! To one of the most beautiful locations in the world! And stayed in an awesome house! with a hot tub! and a fireplace! and a pool table! and i wrecked my ankles and shoulder learning to snowboard! er, um... yeah, actually that was really bad. I take back the exclamation point. Anything that provokes pain, jealousy, and more pain isn't really worth hyping up. Hmm, back on course: and i went to the spa! and the weather was wonderful! (see, isn't that better?)

Of course i have pictures, a ton of them, in two galleries:

	Tahoe & Squaw Valley Gallery; aka, even after i narrowed down the number of pictures i liked, i still had over 100.
	48Straight, Girl in a Box; aka, pictures of the art installation at 48Straight of, well, a girl in a box.

I'm so glad i went; i honestly didn't want to come back, but, such is life (darn my stubborn sense of responsibility). And, a few days of pain aside, i had time to read my book (John Adams, amazing), cook for the house, take a ton of pictures, and generally not think (too much) about work. All in all, i can't really complain. Ok, so, sure, we didn't get to stay in the house we originally reserved - but our replacement wasn't too shabby itself, so, all's well, etc. Sometimes it's just better to go with the flow.

I will absolutely have to return to Tahoe in the summer, for hiking, horseback riding, boating, and visiting Valhalla; but that's a different vacation.

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Me, A Badass?

Background Noise: Almost
Last Visited: funky properties of frozen water may have made life possible.
Random Thought: no wonder i have senioritis, i just passed my 4 year anniversary at apple!
Mood: tired, again; still

So i've had this post open as a draft... for a week. I meant to use it to tell you about last weekend, about the Superbowl Shuffle that didn't happen because of rain, but of the 4.5 miles i ran at the gym anyways, and about missing the Superbowl because i was shooting a gun for the first time (well, technically, two guns: a glock and a beretta).

But really, i've just come back from Tahoe, i have tons of new pictures uploading now and stories to tell, and well, last weekend feels like... um... last weekend. Old news; cool though it was.

So, i'm going to publish this post anyways and move on; besides, i'm so not actually listening to "Almost" anymore.

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Finally, something takes me away

Background Noise: Goodbye Until Tomorrow
Last Visited: facebook
Random Thought: 5k? Bring it on.
Mood: drained.

Oh, Friday... hello, darling, i've been looking forward to you all week. Every morning when i've woken up i've thought that you were here and was crushed each time i realized you weren't. But all that is behind us now, love, and we can look forward to this weekend, the 5K, and next week in Tahoe.

Brought to you from my iPhone and the letter Z.

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