Buff My Bologna ...

Its been awhile, kids. But, since the last time we spoke I participated in a conference call where someone said "he's asked for so much that the next thing you know he is going to be asking us to buff his bologna."

Um, ok. I've hard a lot of euphemisms for that, but buff the bologna??

Shortly thereafter, I had another encounter with WSB. It was fun. But, I haven't heard from him since. Nice. And typical. So I think I'm done with him. I'm not mad. Seriously, I haven't been angry at him at all. Maybe a bit disappointed in myself, but not really. All in good fun, ya know? Chalk it up to experience and stuff. But, I'm moving on. Or away. At least while I'm sober:)

Its also gotten F'ing cold. As a result, last weekend I did my 8 mile run on the 'mill. Which sucked. And made my hamstrings tighter than they've ever been in my life. So this weekend I decided I'd wait till after noon (when its warmest) and try for 10 outside miles. Unfortunately, I waited too long after eating and by mile 3 I was starving. So I ran 4.5 miles outside, at a bagel and finished 4.5 miles on the 'mill. Does that count as a 9 mile run? I say yes ...

And that has been about all the excitement in my life. I stayed in last night and tonight (Friday and Saturday) and am almost excited about it. The thought of going out in the cold just wasn't doing it for me. So I worked, finished a book, blogged, payed the piano ... its been nice. Although, I KNOW that it stresses my mother out, but what can you do??

So that's it kids. I think its a the winter doldrums. Just working out a ton and laying low on the heels of my last WSB encounter. I'm sure excitement will return soon but until then ... hope you're all doing well:)

What a pain in the butt ...

I have.

Ran 6 miles with the running club on Saturday morning at about 10 min/mile pace followed by my first workout with the new trainer and today I am in PAIN. Wow. Probably didn't help that I just biked for 6 miles. 6 slow miles. I am a slow biker and a slow runner. But it was fun to run with people again and hopefully soon I'll be in shape.

Taking married friends for a drive around new jersey and then 24. Can not wait. And tomorrow, I should not have to work. Thank you MLK.

Later kids.

I don't run fast and I don't keep my money in my crotch, I swear ...

I need to get better at updating - I'm starting to forget what happened since we last chatted.

Hmmm, last week I was more PMS-ey than I've been since I was 16. Last Friday, after a rough week at work, I was in a foul, foul mood. But, I wound up deciding to go to my parent's house for dinner and then coming back to where I live with my sister so that we could go to the bar with the HOT, and when I say hot, I mean HOT, bartender. It is seriously amazing how a good meal and a few drinks and a HOT guy can cure even the worse case of PMS.

Saturday, I had my first piano lesson. We got off to a bit of a rough start because ... she thought I was there for voice lesson. VOICE lessons. Anyone who has ever heard me sings knows that I'm way, way beyond voice lessons. I am so awful, there is seriously no hope. But, once we got past that, the piano part was good. I'm actually impressed at how much I remember and it was fun and relaxing. I bought my piano ... er, keyboard, on Sunday which was a debacle. I stood in best buy for one hour and then, after some hoodlums stole a DVD, they decided they didn't have the keyboard I wanted. I was irrationally angry, near hysterical (PMS again) but my mom took pity on me (or was afraid that I'd kill someone if I didn't get the freakin keyboard) so she sped me to the best buy near their house and it was a success. I've practiced a bunch and I like it ... hopefully I'll stick with it long enough to be a decent player.

Sunday, before the key board debacle, I got up to go running with the new tri group in town. Only one other person showed up and he looked fast so we chatted a bit and then I sent him on his way - but, he told me that they were probably going to combine some of their runs with the local running group. So ...

... on Tuesday, I got home from work in time to go running with said local running group. Their website says that "people of all speeds and abilities" are welcome. And the Tuesday night run is only 1.5 miles and they recommend that people go to the Tuesday night run as their first run with the club ... so, yeah. Just because they welcome "people of all speeds and abilities" doesn't mean that said people actually show up. Everyone was very, very friends but um, they ran 6 minute miles AND they consider Tuesday nights to be a "speed workout." So, one poor guy took pity on me and ran with me so that I wouldn't get lost. But wow. He was talking to me the whole time and I was solely focused on not dying. Seriously. So after the run everyone goes to the bar with the HOT bartender and he was of course working. I order a beer and then realize that my money is in the little pocket in the front of my running tights and the only way to get it out is to reach my hand down there and fish around. So yeah, it looks basically like I'm sort of sticking my hand down my pants and then pulling out a sweaty 20. Nice. But, at least the runners were also nice, and cute and well, really fast. Even if I ruined things with the HOT bartender by handing him my sweaty crotch money I've got the runners:)

I have been so, so tired all week that I decided to stay in and recharge tonight ... I want to run with the group tomorrow and I'm meeting the trainer for the first time at 11 and then I have a bit of work to do and hopefully drinks with the girls tomorrow night. 24 starts Sunday and I, at least in theory, have off on Monday. So, hopefully next week I'll truly be able to start morning workouts mixed in with Tuesday night runs and hot guys:)

I'll try to update my fans on this weekend before we get to next weekend ... but, I hope you all had or are having fun Friday nights.

Update

I couldn't get out of bed yesterday, but I did set up my first appointment with the trainer and arrange for my first piano lesson so I'm counting that as a success.

This morning I only managed to get up in time to elliptical (for some reason, the thought of getting on the TM this morning was not appealing - I think I need to find some sort of high energy snack to get me going in the am - as it was I had a sliver of entemans cake, um, probably not the best although it did taste good) for 20 minutes - so I'm at least making progress, right?

In funny - as in Dear Lord bight your tongue funny- news, when I called the trainer yesterday she asked if I had just had a baby. Um, no. Most certainly, definitely, without a doubt, no. Apparently, Jen (my NYC trainer) recommended two people to the new trainer, one of whom had just had a baby. But, yeah, not me. Then this morning I had a drs. appointment with a new dr. I take some meds for a non-contagious, non-serious condition I have and you're not supposed to get pregnant while you're on them. Fine. But, b/c she's a new dr. she wants me to have a pregnancy test. WHAT IS GOING ON? I know, KNOW beyond a shadow of a doubt that I'm not PG (unless its immaculate) but given my high level of stress and ability to freak out about things that are even a little bit ... er, naked I don't like these questions and tests.

So, a midweek update for you. Happy Wednesday!

So, its been awhile ...

First, Christmas. It was good. Its strange how holidays change when we get older. It was nice to be home and I enjoy giving (and receiving!) but its not really the same as when we were younger and I sort of feel like there is this insane amount of pressure to be happy and have fun. But, it was fine. We were all sort of sick feeling but we made good fish sauce on Christmas Eve and got the grandparents to my house and back safely on Christmas day. The day after Christmas I went for a run, did some work and ran some errands ... then it was back to work on Wednesday. Seriously, I think everyone should have the days between Christmas and New Year's off because they kind of just suck. But I got a lot of work done so that was good.

Next, ANNIE!! I really thought I was going to get tickets to Annie for Christmas - growing up it was my favorite. Friend from growing up and I used to run around our house singing it for hours ... when I didn't get tickets I took matters into my own hands and got tickets for my mom and sister to go with me on Friday. It was fun ... although our seats were less than good and two ladies got into a fight ... a fight! ... about talking during the show or something and some 80 yr old usher had to break it up:) Moving my mom around the city was sort of a nightmare - she took the bus in and i made her take the subway and the PATH - she said that the things I have to do to get from point A to point B make it not worth going anywhere. Um, okay.

Finally, the New Year. I was not excited about NYE - local friends and I were going out to dinner in the neighboring town which I didn't really understand (if you're gonna stay local, well, then stay local ... ) but I bought a new outfit and made the best of it - it was fun. Not earth shattering but fun. My sister and three of her friends slept over that night - and they were DRUNK - I'm really glad that I don't get THAT drunk (anymore at least:)). I wasn't really hung over today but I was exhausted - I stayed up late waiting for them to get home and then it took them awhile to settle down. Lazed around most of the day today and am hoping to get the New Year off to a good start tomorrow. No real resolutions but a few goals:

• I work so much that it would really make life much more enjoyable if I could just get up earlier and get stuff done before work. I used to do it so I just have to get back into the groove - up and exercising before work.
• Not get as bothered by other people - whether its a jackass at work, a dumb boy or my mother in one of her moods.
• Start taking piano lessons again.
• Start working out with a trainer again.
• Consider taking golf lessons.
• Have fun!

Oh, one other funny thing. One night when I was drinking I told boy from work about this blog - and then immediately denied it. He remembers basically nothing I tell him when we're drinking but he remembered this. Ugg. I think it'd be hard for him to find this - I'm rather paranoid about being discrete and I haven't divulged details of anything he wouldn't want on here (random comments about his gf that he probably wound't want repeated for all to read) and I'm suppose that there is nothing on here I wouldn't want him to read ... but still. Oh well, we'll see.

I'll try to keep you all posted about the progress of my New Year's goals (particularly the piano lessons - I'm excited about that).

Wishing you all happy 2007s!

BTW

I was re-reading old posts and the petite crush on the ineligible bachelor? Crashed and burned. Thank God. He told me some things that made it very, VERY clear that I would never, NEVER want to go there. And for that I am thankful. We cna be friends but honestly, any thought that I might be interested in THAT way is long, long gone.

Good night for real.

I think I'm back in College ...

... and I kind of like it.

First things first. Work sucks. Big time. Like, I postponed my Christmas party until things calm down at work big time. So while its sad, its for the best. I mean today, I was so tired that my bones hurt. There is no way that I could have put up the tree and put on a party in the style that my guests have grown accustomed to much less enjoyed said party for myself. So its sad.

Its sad that I'm postponing the party. Particularly for work. Particularly because I'm working for a jackass. But, as always, there is a silver lining: WSB's birthday party is the same night. But before we get to that ...

Last Friday I worked until a bit after nine and met friend from work, his gf and WSB out for a few drinks. Friend from work and his gf left and I went home with WSB. It was fun ... but I woke up at 10:30 in NYC and had a haircut in NYC at 11:30 so going home was NOT an option. Which would have been fine except I had to go to work right after my hair cut. So yeah. I'm 31 and I got my hair cut and then bought some random clothes at the Gap so that I wouldn't show up to work in the same clothes two days in a row ....

So, I fended off the guilt on Sunday. I mean I am 31. I'm mature and responsible and if I want to fool around a little, well ... I can. But on Monday the guilt was creeping up when ... WSB emailed. Nothign earth shattering but ... we email every day (mostly) and when we see eachother he generally asks me to go home with him. And, well, it reminds me of college. You'd chat and maybe be a bit flirty when you saw eachother during the week (and, er, maybe did a bit of harmless stalking. i don't want to get off on a tangent here but do you have any, ANY, idea how efficient I could have been at running into people if we had the technology that the kids have these days ... i mean, back in the day we knew people's schedules and when they might be walking where and when they might be sitting where in the dining hall but now, with text messages and IM it'd be seamless ... but, i digress).

So, Saturday, WSB is having a b'day party. And with my own party off, the logical thing ... but does that look obvious? He knows how busy I've been and why I've canceled my party and he knows I might come to his party but ... there are gonna be 50 people there. What if he has someone else that he goes home with ...? What if he choses her and I get sad? But then again, what if he would have chosen me if I had come ...

Ugg. Being a girl sucks sometimes.

But, yeah. It reminds me of college because we're talking during the week and then plotting to see eachother on the weekends (well, I'm plotting, don't know if he is) and getting drunk and hooking up ... SO, we'll see.

I'm trying, trying hard, to not get ahead of myself with this BUT with 1x and 2x they both basically professed their love and intention to marry me very, very early on in the relationship. And, well, I am currently unloved (at least by unrelated members of the opposite sex) and unmarried so maybe this approach ... the sort of slow (but physical) get to know you approach will work? It works on tv. And I can think of at least one real life couple that I know of where they were physical long, long before they were a 'couple.' So maybe it'll work, and hopefully even if it doesn't work it'll be fun ...??

So thats that. I'll try to keep you posted but life, well, its crazy!

Wanna talk about the cold?

Because that is how cold it is ... you see someone and say, "it sure is cold out, huh?" Um, yeah. Makes no sense but you do it anyway. So far we've gone from 60s right after T-Day to low 30s earlier this week to 50 this morning to the teens tomorrow. My blood must have thinned because I KNOW parts of college were colder than this but I don't remember being this miserable ...

Anyway, I started taking vitamins, drinking this weird teaish drink and working out again and despite the insane buziness going on at work and with Christmas shopping, party planning etc. I feel pretty good. Strangely focused and not stressed out. Not sure whats up with that. So things are good, if not particularly eventful - the highlight of my weekend is getting my hair cut. And I think I'd like to see WSB but I'm not sure why ... we know what he wants, and we know what my position on that has historically been ... but, maybe we can work out a compromise. Hmmm.

Stay warm boys and girls!

So much to do, so little time.

Thanksgiving and the days that followed: they were sad, stressful, exhausting ... and my team lost. I could go on, but, what good would it do? But I'm determined to infuse some happiness into the looming Christmas season so the Christmas party is ON ... started buying decorations today. I hope it will be fun.

Of course, that leads me to the fact that this coming weekend is full of family stuff and the weekend before Christmas is the party so that leaves one weekend for all my party preparations AND Christmas shopping ... and I'm the fun infuser so ... yeah, it'll be busy.

I also think I need new sneakers. I ran 5 miles by my parents house and it seems that up hill and down hill are the only options (no flats) and now I have shin splints. Shin splints suck. It was probably the downhills but new kicks can't hurt, right?

I've been both emailing WSB and a guy on *that* website. At the end of the day, I don't think I'm ready for a Relationship but I might be able to swing a relationship (little r) or at least a bit of fun ... I'll keep you posted. Website guy told me to call him and I wrote him back with my phone number because, well, he's the boy.

I'm spent kids so this is all you get. Happy last days of November.

My girlfriend is hiding in the bathroom, so you can leave.

Yeah, someone said that to me last night. There was nothing untoward happening that should have led me to leave - just drama. Plain vanilla drama. That and I was petting a cat. And I don't really like cats. So there you have it. She hid in the bathroom and I left - knocking over a table in the process. Classic really.

Happy T-Day.

You sounded tired, so I thought I'd call the dating service.

Saturday morning my mom calls at 11. For some of you, 11 is probably really late. Some of you probably did more before 11 than I did all day. Well, good for you:) But I was still in bed at 11, so good for me too ... Mom told me about the wedding she had been at the night before, asked what I did the night before (pretty much nothing) and then asked why on earth I sounded so tired ... um, because I just woke up? She was annoying me so we got off the phone.

Fast forward a few hours, I've had coffee and breakfast and read the paper. I have to ask mom some cooking question so I call her back. After we discuss the broccoli (don't ask) I ask her if I sound more awake - she tells me that I do and that it puts her in a bad mood when I sound tired. She then went on to say that when I sound tired she thinks of me sitting in my apartment in some deep dark depression AND she almost called a dating service for me. Um, in what universe does this make sense? Not mine. I clarified that if she ever did in fact call a dating service for me I would not talk to her for a long, long time.

In other news, I finally, finally ate at the restaurant I've been trying to eat at since I moved to NYC - thanks Mom & Dad. I also ran 8 miles on Sunday and biked 8 miles this evening. So, go me:)

Sadly, my grandmother on my Dad's side is not doing well, so let's say a prayer for her and for Dad and for us and give thanks for what we do have.

Happy short week ...

My boobs have gotten bigger but Hartford is not near New Jersey.

A few weeks ago I went home and my mom's boobs looked different ... I commented and she said that her new and improved boobage was the result of some new bras that she got fitted for and bought at the mall - turns out she has been in wearing the wrong size for years and the right size made quite the difference.

So, this past weekend I decided I need to replace some of my bras ... because you know, someday hell might freeze over and someone might see them. I headed to the mall and I got fitted as well (and just in case you were wondering, you keep your clothes on and there is no touching of your actual boobs). Turns out that all these years I've been wearing a size 34B and I should be wearing a size 34C ... who knew? And let me tell you, have you ever worn tight socks and boots all day and then had to stand in a bar at night ... you're feet swell, the socks are tight and by the time you get home your feet/ankles are beginning to loose circulation? Well, the difference between the right size bra and one that is too small is similar to the difference between tight socks and boots and flip flops ... TMI?

And then I went to Hartford. Dad was in Japan and flew back through Detroit where he got stuck. Not wanting to say over night in Detroit he decide to fly to Hartford ... and in case you were wondering, Hartford is not near where I live. Got some quality time in the new car as Mom and I drove 3 hours there and 3 hours bag to retrieve Dad ... but, he would have done it for me so I can't complain. Well, actually I can complain and I have and sort of I am but I did it willingly so I get an A for effort.

This week was a bit crazy - slow at work and too many happy hours that went too late but it was fun. I think that my theory is that there are so many times when I am busy at work or I don't have anything to do that when there are options to go out I should take advantage of them. So I did. And it was fun. And sometimes things aren't what they seem. And its my perogative to change my mind ... and I might be about WSB. But I'm not sure. And that is okay too. We'll see.

Happy weekend.

I have a car and my tapeworm is making me tired.

So, finally got the car and I'm glad because George the car guy and I were getting to know WAY too much about eachother. I still maintain that I don't deserve the car, but I really, really like it. It drives like a dream (yeah, I really just wrote that, I like the way it drives but lets fact it: I'm car illiterate so whether or not it does in fact drive like a dream? No clue.), and does lots of cool things (like know if its raining or if it should turn the radio up because you're driving faster) and it has heated LEATHER seats and its blue tooth enabled - if someone calls you their voice comes out of the ceiling:) So driving out of the city yesterday was fun (well, despite the horrific traffic) and I went back and forth to my parent's once already and I'll do it again tomorrow.

That said, I've really got to curb my spending habits - I spent a crazy amount of money at Saks - yeah it was all on sale and I do need new clothes but ... still. Tomorrow I need to get makeup, underwear and a present for dad's bday but then I'm done for awhile. Really. I am.

This week I've been exhausted to the point of delirium and insatiable hungry. I don't know whats wrong with me - well, actually I do, but for the sake of my boy reader I'll spare you (although, he's married so he probably know how these things work) ... lets just say that I haven't been this tired or hungry in my, err, tired week, in years. I got home from my parent's at noon, laid down on the couch and PASSED out for two hours. Then woke up starving, so I'm blaming it on a tapeworm ... unless you have a better idea:)

In a few minutes I'm going to run 6 miles on the treadmill - yeah, it'll suck, but I don't have an outside run in my right now (even though it is a beautiful day) and then I'm going to make myself look pretty and I'm going out to dinner with a friend who deserves a fun night out ... so I'm gonna do my best to provide it to her!

WSB (walk of shame boy) invited me out for a drink Thursday night and I fabricated plans - just wasn't in the mood to be flirty or not be flirty or to decide which I wanted to be. Either I don't like him or it was the tapeworm again. Not sure.

Also, I think I have a petite crush on a VERY ineligible bachelor. Not good. But fun:) And will make me wear the new clothes. I think it'll either bloom or fizzle soon so I'll keep you posted.

Happy weekends to all!

Let it go ...

Sometimes you just have to let it go. It took awhile for me to realize but I did realize and I have let it go ... and wow, what a difference an attitude adjustment makes.

You see, the thing is that I have:

• a wonderful family;
• some great friends from my school years but they don't, for the most part, live near by - and even if they did they're married, some with kids, and while that's great for them (seriously, no sarcasm there, it is wonderful for them) it doesn't do me much good;
• some very nice local girl friends but at the end of the day, hanging out with a bunch of girls doesn't and never has held much allure for me ; and
• a fun group of guys that are nice to me, make me laugh, look out for me and as long as they're wives or live in girlfriends are okay with it, they'll join me for a drink or two or three or four.

I'm also very self sufficient, have a better than decent job and am fairly financially secure ... so what's the problem you ask?

The looming birthday. The big 31. Had me in a state. I mean what happens to people like me as they get older ...? At some point the wives and girlfriends make the guys stay home and the man haters get artificially inseminated and I ... well, I don't like cats, and, and, and ...

Yeah, it was crazy but it was all I could think about - I wrote an email to someone wondering if my sister will take care of me when I'm 90 and she's 81 ... but, eventually, thank God, I realized that enough is enough and I had to let it go. It'll all work out one way or another and if it comes to it I'm sure my sister will take care of me, right?

So, I'm back.

Had a great b'day weekend. Mellow, which I needed. Really, really needed. But fine. Fun. Nice. I ran 6 miles. Got massaged and facialed. Watched the marathon and saw Barenaked Ladies in concert.

Great concert (despite my music snob friends looking down on me for it) ... they didn't sing happy birthday to me and they didn't sing the i've seen you naked song but either of those things might have been too much to ask for so ... all in all a good day.

G'night.

Never fear. Crisis averted for now.

Very, very interesting.

Friday night was rather drunken and ended at the same bar as Walk of Shame Boy (WSB). The night was coming to a close and, after nothing more than casual conversation throughout the night, WSB blurts out, "So, do you want to come home with me." Um, no. Even if Guy from Work hadn't been there or if I hadn't had bad underwear on, unshaven legs and things to do Saturday morning, the answer would have been no. There was some begging and pleading (on his part) and I pointed out, for the record, that even if I were to go home with him I still wouldn't sleep with him and then he tried to convince me that he "just wanted someone to lay next to." Um, give me a break. I told him that I didn't believe him, he'd change his mind when we got home, and then say more mean things to me.

So I left.

And when I woke up Saturday morning he had emailed me. And we've emailed on and off the past two days. So its very, very interesting that when I did go home with him I didn't hear from him and when I didn't go home with him he shows some interest. I guess a little hard to get (not that I'm sure thats what I'm doing, I might just not be interested) is sometimes a good thing.

Kind of crazy weekend was rounded out with a few uneventful bike rides and runs ... not worth going into detail here.

In other news, Guy from Work lent me some CDs. One, The Hold Steady, has a line "I've had kisses that make judas seem sincere." Not suprisingly, I like that line ...

I'm sick of being the friend.

Seriously. Sick of it.

But I had 4 beers tonight. Then I had pretzels and oreo cookies for dinner. THEN I rode my bike for 30 minutes and 5.68 miles (which isn't very fast) and more or less kept my HR in check (145 avg. but it spiked a bit) so at least I've got that going for me.

But seriously, I'm sick of it.

'Night.

are you KIDDING me?

So, after a few too many drinks this Saturday I wound up on the phone with 2x having the same (getting) old conversation - I should move to Chicago, kissing him was like coming home, now that we have some maturity to our credit we could get back together, get married and be the fun couple with beautiful children.

Of course, it all sounds good at 3 am, but come Monday morning, when you're him, its easier to maintain the status quo. Whatever. Its a bit of an emotional roller coaster for me but its one of those instances where only time will tell ... I get no where by forcing the issue one way or another and as long as I keep my options open and don't sit here pinning I think its okay to place this one in the "we'll see category."

Anyway ... tonight I bought a Marie Claire, its the November issue and this is my horoscope:

"You know how they say 'never sleep with an ex'? Well, guess what? 'They' are finally wrong - at least for the first three weeks of the month, when Mercury goes retrograde. In fact, consider ex-sex a birthday gift to yourself - unless, of course you've dated losers. In that case, maybe you should use this time to find a new future ex."

Um ... are you KIDDING me?? And, its 2x's horoscope too. Interesting ...

In other news, went swimming tonight. 10x100 again this time between 1:39-1:49 so faster but with higher heart rates ... I think that might be the difference between am workouts and pm workouts ...

Facts, Plans and Musings

Three Facts

1. The individuals that carry golf umbrellas when it rains ... they deserve to have a porcupine sit on their face:)

2. Thirty-one year olds who write emails that say "So ... did I tell you I have a girlfriend?" are odd. Who says that?

3. I am a horrendous bike rider - it took me 30 minutes to go 6 miles ... but I did it during Grey's and kept my heartrate low so, thus far, I've followed the guidelines.

Weekend Plans

My sister is coming home this weekend so I'm going home tomorrow night and then we'll go shopping on Saturday. She's going to a party Saturday night so I'll probably find something to do that involves drinking and not being at my parents' house. Speaking of my parents' house: they moved in February and I don't have a bedroom anymore so I have to sleep on the foldout couch. Sucks.

Musings

When I was deciding what kind of car to get, I was insistent that I did not want a coupe (two door, which is what I wound up getting). 1x has a two door car and I felt like it was impossible to get into ... like after you sat down as low as you comfortable could there was a period of free fall before your ass hit the seat. And we won't talk about getting out of the car or doing either after running 18 miles ... I was explaining this to Dad and he commented that the shocks on that car had alot to deal with so it was probably riding really low (1x, among other things, was not svelte). The next day I was at a bar having dinner with my brother - the couple next to us, the guy was heavyset and wearing white leather sneakers with a rugby styled shirt and his wife was this pretty blond thing. When they left my brother commented that the guy had way over achieved . I had been thinking the same thing - that and there but for the grace of God go I ...

I am the only single person in my department at work.

In a moment of boredom the other day I made a list of people that I am going to invite to my Christmas party (my three readers are of course invited if they want to come ... its going to be December 16 so get your plane tickets now, wives, husbands, boyfriends and daughters are invited as well of course!). There was only one single guy. There were six single girls (including myself).

I know that this is all about having fun, but sometimes, enough is enough.

Sad News; Funny Story; New Plan

SAD NEWS:(

My training program was cancelled. Actually, its not that sad. These runs at 180 bpm were probably not doing anything good for me and there was only one guy with questionable sexuality ... so, as long as I don't become a sloth (As an aside, did you know that there is an actual animal called a sloth? Its creepy looking.) this winter, it'll be okay. And I get my Sunday mornings back which means I get my Saturday nights back ... which is fun. As for avoiding becoming a sloth - I've got a plan ... but first I've got a:

FUNNY STORY!

[Due to paranoia, the funny story has been deleted]

Now, for the:

NEW PLAN:)

Its not that elaborate, so hopefully you didn't get too excited. I downloaded a training schedule for a half-marathon in mid-March. It calls for 3 days a week of running which will be good for my pesky overuse injuries and 2 or 3 days a week of cross training which will allow me to still swim (which makes me have sexy arms ... and I like sexy arms) and bike (on the trainer, while I watch tv in accordance with the rules below).

As alluded to above, the new plan has rules:

1. Try to do this low heart rate crap for as long as I can stand it and determine once and for all if it works. Maybe a month? Low for me is below 150 which may not even allow me to run ... but I'll try.

2. Try to get workouts done in the am but, if I miss a workout, I miss a workout. No stressing or fitting a weeks worth of workouts into a weekend. Definitely no stress if work doesn't let me go to bed by midnight.

3. I really only watch 3 tv shows right now (Lost, The Nine and Grey's). If I'm watching them before midnight, try to ride the bike (at least for half of each show).

Hmmm, I guess these are rules, more then guidelines. Whatever.

I think that for now, this should be enough to allow me to keep my mind off of the baby/wedding bonaza/left fest going on around without getting too OCD. We'll see.

Amazing & Exciting

First, the amazing. Two things actually:

1. The fact that I got up and swam before work today is amazing.

2. The rate at which one looses swimming fitness is also amazing. I last swam 2 weeks ago and did a 3000 yd workout including a fairly long ladder set. I had a short ladder set planned for this morning preceded by 5 100s. After a warmup and the first 100 I abandoned the ladder for 10 x 100 (a 1500 yd workout in all). Good news though is that all 10 were fairly consistent (not fast, but consistently 1:49-1:51). So ... I have something to work on ... going further, getting those 100s faster, etc.

And now, for the exciting ... I got a car! Well, I don't actually have it yet ... its on a boat from Germany (or at least that is what I like to think), and should be here early next week, but this is what it will look like:

http://www.bmwusa.com/vehicles/3/328xicoupe/default

Mine will be Monaco Blue Metallic with Saddle Brown on the inside ... Definitely, a much, much nicer car than I need but I'm going with not so nice that I don't deserve it ...??

The car is the most commitment I have ever made to anything, I don't even have a plant and I signed a 3 year lease so ... I guess I'm growing up. And I tell ya, its exhausting. In addition to signing the lease, my dad was meeting me there to make sure they didn't pull the wool over my eyes with anything and he was one hour late and he wasn't answering his cell phone - turns out that he forgot his cell phone and then got stuck in Columbus day traffic but I was sure that something horrendous had happened and it was going to be all my fault (for making him come with me). Of course while he was missing, my mother got all freaked out and then dad got annoyed with us for over reacting ... but what were we supposed to think??? Men, I tell ya.

Anyway, I'm beat. Goodnight boys & girls!