Weekend Update

Friday night Nate and I got Chinese food then vegged out and went to bed early. There wasn't much going on and we had been out late the night before so it was nice to be quiet.

Saturday I went to the beach with Christy/Jennifer/Edward. I had never been to a 'beach' in Chicago before. I gotta say that I was a bit disappointed. I forgot that lake water is not ocean water. It was murky and gross and you stood on rocks instead of soft warm sand. And the 'beach' is small. You couldn't go on a big run along the beach like you could in SF. I guess the people who love the Lake Michigan beaches here haven't lived near the ocean before. (you can slap me now) Despite my disappointment at the landscape, I was pleasantly surprised to see that the beach-goers weren't all LA tanorexic types. Lots of pale bbw's running around in bikinis and not embarrassed at all! Like Emily said, it's cool to see that people were celebrating their bodies no matter what shape. On a totally shallow level, it made me feel pretty great in my bikini comparatively. Hooray for the running addiction.

I biked to the beach and back - my first time on my bike all summer. It was a lot easier than I expected. The route was 99 percent bike lanes and my running has kept me in really good shape so I didn't get winded. The physical therapist told me to take a bike ride or a swim this weekend to make up for the 16 mile run I couldn't do, so I'm glad I got some form of biking in. The only negative was that was only 10 miles total I believe, which isn't that much. (Sidenote: I ran Thursday and my leg was fine! Only trace amounts of pain. The worst part was how slow I was :( I ran maybe half the distance I normally do for a 30 minute run. Booo)

Saturday night was a near repeat of Friday. We ate leftover Chinese food, watched Cloverfield (meh not that great), and played We Love Katamari.

Sunday was lots of cleaning. Laundry, floors, bathroom, kitchen, even the fridge and microwave. I find cleaning to be a really cathartic activity, one I enjoy doing when I've got a lot on my mind and too much free time. I also got groceries, hung with Audrey, spaced out a bunch and took a midday nap.

As I was taking Audrey outside around 4:30 I realized this weekend was a perfect SF-style weekend. A low key dinner out, two early nights in, one big outdoorsy relaxing afternoon with friends, and one day to myself. That's what a typical weekend was for me in San Francisco and I really enjoyed it. Mostly I enjoyed the no alcohol, no hangovers, no exhaustion aspects. I liked getting out during the day and having quiet evenings in. Hopefully I can do more of these before it becomes crappy winter time.

Monday is back to busy work land. While being stressed sucks, it's good to have work to do that takes all day. Makes the day go faster. After work I'm going to check out this nearby gym. I've read good things about it. They are a family-owned non-chain gym that does not charge any bogus "initiation fees" and is also super cheap. You can get a one year membership for $399 which comes out to around 30 bucks a month. That's half what I'd pay at one of the bigger corporate gyms. I need to get on those weight machines to prepare for the marathon, and want to keep my exercising up during the winter.

Weather was great today eh?

Work's entering the busiest time of the year, but I'm enjoying it because I love what I do (for the most part). I'm also good at it (bragging again). It also makes the days go by faster leaving me saying cliched crap like "I can't believe it's Wednesday already!"

Last night Nate and I watched There Will be Blood finally. I dug it. I'm glad there really wasn't a lot of blood.

This morning I saw a physical therapist. You can read the full description of it on my marathon blog but in short, it's my fault for not stretching better and sooner, it can thankfully and hopefully be solved by skipping my 16 mile run Saturday and doing a regimen of stretches the therapist showed me. I'm giving it two weeks to improve before I go back.

I went to H&M after work. I'm so sick of my clothes. Almost all of them are from San Francisco days meaning they are over two years old. Some go back to Madison. No excuse. Ok, money excuse. My clothes are so tattered now and I'm so bored that I have to do something. My trip to H&M was not fruitful. I found one light weight sweater (read: can't wear for months still). I was too hungry to go to other stores. Boo.

I talked to my dad tonight. He likes to say "anything else going on?" about ten times per phone call. Normally I have nothing, so I say "nope that's about it" but today I felt like something else was going on or that I had done something worth telling a parent about but I can't remember what it is. Seems like maybe its something important? Who knows.

I'm meeting an old Madison friend for dinner tomorrow night. I haven't seen her in probably 4 years! Should be fun and also odd to catch up. Guess such events will occur more often as I get older.

Weekend Update

Friday I hung out with Nate for awhile before going to bed early so I could wake up and run. The run was a disaster! First, I slept in until 6, when I should be out the door to catch the bus by 5:55. This meant I had to get an I-Go car, wasting money, and speed to the run site. Second, it was pouring rain. Pouring. Every time you took a step you could feel water sloshing up through the bottom, between your toes and up through the top of the shoe. Third, and worst, at 3.5 miles my leg gave up. I couldn't move it. So I had to walk back to the run site. I was near tears out of frustration, the rain was coming down harder than ever, it was horrible. I drove home and used my IT Band foam roller, rolling out the kinks in the band. It offered relief but not perfection. I'm still totally messed up. I found a physical therapist that comes recommended in Wicker Park so I'll be calling them Monday morning.

Saturday night I went to Pitchfork. I bought a 3 day pass months ago, but as the weekend approached I really didn't feel like going. I need to remember that next year - that I don't like going to stuff like that. However, I got to see Extra Golden, who were totally amazing, and Animal Collective, who blew my brain out through the tips of my toes and into the mud pit that had demolished the park. I wanted to go today to see Les Savy Fav and Cut Copy as well as a few others, but my leg couldn't take it. Walking home last night from the park was so painful, but there were no taxis or buses so I had no other choice. By the time I had reached my door last night I was in tears. So yeah, didn't go today.

Instead I did the ole R.I.C.E. (rest, ice, compression, elevation) and more foam rolling and a ton of stretches. I napped a lot. Nate came over and we got dinner and watched Big Brother 10 (which by the way is shaping up to be a great season).

This weekend I felt incredibly antsy and frustrated. It's probably a mix of circumstances and major amounts of built-up energy that I'm not expending via running. I feel like so many things are out of my control and out of my idea of a time frame and its making me nuts. I hate just sitting around waiting for everything around me to straighten out (leg, etc). I have a lot to do at work, so I'm hoping I can expend some energy there to relax a bit. To prove this frustration - on Friday I stooped low enough to watch Bridget Jones' Diary and got choked up at the end. Sick.

boring thursday update

The brother left Wednesday mid-morning, so I got to work at 11. I actually worked hard, then left at 3:30 for therapy. I got dinner with Andy before the Sleep Out show, then we went to the Darkroom to see them play. I'd never been there before despite it being exactly two blocks from my house. I wasn't digging it, probably won't go back again unless someone I know is going to be playing there.

For awhile just my right knee/IT band were bugging me, but now its the left too. Maybe from overcompensating? Right now its mostly just stairs that make it excruciating, so I may try to run tomorrow morning or tonight to see how it goes before I do my Saturday run. This Saturday is a cut back week - 7 miles, before our 16 miler next week. I hope that means I won't be injuring myself further.

Tonight I'm going to hang out with Nate and watch tv I guess. A pretty normal evening.

Soon to read

I cannot wait for What I Talk About When I Talk About Running by Haruki Murakami to come out on July 29th! Think about it: Murakami, one of my faves, talking about his obsession with running and how he came to be a writer, two of my interests? Perfecto!





Also, my brother walked my dog when I was at work yesterday. He claimed he didn't know if he could throw her dog shit bag into a garbage can outside so he...BROUGHT IT BACK INSIDE TO MY HOUSE AND PUT IT IN THE KITCHEN GARBAGE WHERE IT REMAINED UNTIED AND OPEN FOR SIX HOURS. I was not a happy hostess last night.

another full weekend

Friday Nate and I saw Encounters at the End of the World at the Music Box. I wasn't sure how I felt as I was watching it, but by the time it was over and over the past few days I've determined it was fantastic. It was a bunch of 'encounters' with various parts of Antarctica and the people that are stationed there. In a way it made the film much more appropriate for television, but the visuals were stunning. I could watch the underwater footage for days and not get bored. And the insane penguin, which if it weren't for the doofus lady in front of me laughing hysterically, I would have been crying over. The music was wonderful too I should ad. Here's the HD Preview of it:



Saturday morning I ran 14 miles. Wowzas! I thought my IT band was going to snap off at the knee, so I am concerned about that. It still hurts today. I spent the afternoon recuperating on the couch. In the evening I went to Kara's house for a going away party for friends Dan and Virginia. It was a good time. Going away parties are strange. Actually, I'm not sure I've been to an official going away party before that wasn't my own? I remember my going away parties in Madison and the multiple ones I had in San Francisco, and I usually felt like "this is fun, but I'm ready to move, and I hate all this good-bye stuff so lets just get it over with." I wonder if everyone else who moves far away has the same feeling. Maybe I just suck at good-byes and would rather just jump ship without going through them. I guess the cliched 'bittersweet' is very fitting for a goodbye party when you are sad to leave a strong group of friends but happy to embark on a new adventure. The night made me want to move across state lines again, its a truly remarkable experience.

Sunday Nate and I lazied about until my older brother showed up. He's here visiting until Wednesday. So again, I'm booked. Wednesday night is the KEXP show, I have plans Thursday, Friday I go to bed early for running, then the weekend is Pitchfork Music Festival. This is too busy for my liking.

sealed the deal on my Obama vote (as if there was any question)

But let's be clear: these issues - equal pay, work/family balance, childcare - these are by no means just women's issues. When a job doesn't offer family leave, that also hurts men who want to help care for a new baby or an ailing parent. When there's no affordable childcare or afterschool programs, that hurts children who wind up in second rate care, or spending afternoons alone in front of the TV. When women still make just 77 cents for every dollar men make - black and Latina women even less - that doesn't just hurt women, it hurts families who find themselves with less income, and have to work even harder just to get by.

So you'd think solving these problems would be one of our highest national priorities. But while some politicians in Washington make a lot of noise about family values, when it comes to what people actually need to support their families, and care for their families, and spend time with their families - they get awfully quiet, don't they? And year after year, it just gets harder for working parents - especially working women - to make a living while raising their kids.

We take it for granted that women are the backbone of our families, but we too often ignore the fact that women are also the backbone of our middle class. And we won't truly have an economy that puts the needs of the middle class first until we ensure that when it comes to pay and benefits at work, women are treated like the equal partners they are.

busy bee with runners knee

Oy my right knee. Last night was the first time I ran since my 12 mile run that Saturday in Anaheim. I've been too sick to be able to go running since then. It was only a 30-35 min run and within the first mile I had knee pain, and lots of trouble transitioning between running and walking. Just the right knee. By the end of the night the outer portion of my knee hurt very badly. During the run its the actual knee. This is frustrating because one version, just the knee, is simply runners knee, the other version, outside bit, is an I-T band issue which is much more serious and can potentially force me out of marathon training.

To counteract this, I'm going to the runners store tonight to get fitted for running shoes or to see if my current ones are doing the trick. That will eliminate one potential cause for the pain. I've already tried a knee brace to no effect. The other thing to do is to be strict about a stretching and leg strengthening regiment. I've been super lax about starting one, but I have no choice now. So now even more of my time will be devoted to running.

I feel so busy lately. Having someone around again totally rules, but the addition of a 'partner' really forces you to schedule your chores/errands much better or else you end up not being able to feed your dog because you ran out of dog food (me. today.) Those four months I spent mostly alone made it so I could do whatever whenever, but now I need to be better about getting shit done on Monday nights like I used to have to do. It'd be easier with a car because I wouldn't have to reserve an i-go and think so far in advance about errands. I'm not complaining because I'd rather have this problem than have nothing like I used to, but its a bit stressful.

So tonight I was going to do a 6 mile run but now I'm not so sure I should. I have 14 miles on Saturday and I'm totally freaking out about if I'll be able to do it. Tonight will instead be time getting my feet inspected and re-fitted, dog food purchased, and some groceries.

Tomorrow night better involve me attending that 7:20 of the new Herzog doc that opens at the Music Box.

Saturday is the 14 miler then a going away party. Sunday my brother shows up for a visit that was scheduled on very short notice.

Week of Sick

I've been sick for 7 days now. I feel like it will never stop! I had the extremely sore throat for days, and now its the full blown blowing my nose off cold part. I hate being sick because it derails my life. I haven't been out for a run since my 12 mile run 9 days ago!!! This infuriates me, but between vomiting, nose-blowing, fever, chills, sneezing, coughing I haven't had the ability to run. This coming Saturday is my 14 mile run and I'm really worried about not getting in some quality runs before-hand. Hopefully tomorrow will be my final day where I'm too sick to do anything and I can run a few times before Saturday.

I've been mostly stuck at home all weekend so I'm going batty. I finished Sisterhood Interrupted and have gotten a good chunk of Wind-up Bird Chronicle re-read. I watched the Douglas Sirk version of Imitation of Life and loved it. Watched lots of baseball. Nate kept me company for a bunch of it so that was really nice to have someone to keep me less bored and help walk Audrey.

My house is messy/dirty now too but I don't have the energy to deal with it. I figure I'll let it slide while I'm sick.

Sunday PM

A nice lazy sunny Sunday. Audrey's nappin in her cat-bed, I'm sniffling on the couch, baseball's on tv...minus the cold that won't quit things are pretty, pretty good.

*cough cough*

I really am coughing. I think I'd rather have a cough and painful throat than be blowing my nose 24/7, so I'll take the gross cough. There's a house a few down that has been on a nonstop firework extravaganza for over four hours and its not even 9 pm yet. They did about two straight hours of black-cat-ish explosives. As in, constant lighting, no breaks. There are little kids running all over the place, which seems so dangerous and stupid of the parents. Is it totally wrong I secretly am hoping for an injury to occur? Audrey is hiding behind the couch and shaking she's so afraid. There's firework refuse everywhere out there, nobody can drive down the street, ughhhh. Stupid holiday.

That said, last night I went to Christy's roof with a few other folks to try and see the city fireworks. We could only see a tiny bit of them, but it was fun hanging out up there anyway. It got cold, so I left and had some drinks with Nate at club foot.

Today we got a late-ish lunch at Small Bar, I took a nap, I coughed some more...not too exciting. Tomorrow is an easy breezy 6 mile run in the morning. I hope the cough doesn't affect it too much. I also hope the fireworks aren't going so late that I can't get to sleep tonight but I bet that's asking for too much.

"She's evil...She's brilliant!"

My throat still doesn't feel so hot but its not really that awful. I slept most of the morning and goofed off online in the afternoon. I also took Audrey to get her nails cut and she was so amazingly awful and mean that I worry they won't let her back. I look like a heroin addict from all the scratch marks she put into my right arm. Then I picked up some salty chicken noodle soup for dinner.

My friend Edward came over tonight. We have been meaning to watch Basic Instinct for nearly a month now but haven't had the chance between out-of-townness and other things. So tonight was the night that I saw Basic Instinct, which was so awful that it was funny (the title line here is from it). Lots of laughable lines though, so I guess it was worth something. I'm almost compelled to see the sequel to see how bad it is but I'm not that tempted.

Tomorrow I have therapy for the first time in two weeks. I hope my throat holds out for an hour of straight talkin'. I'm also not sure when I can go after that because work is totally insane the next two weeks with candidates for our open job coming in, more of those mega-presentations, major database switch-overs I have to make sure go ok...ugh.

I don't have any real plans for the upcoming 3 day weekend. Makes me a bit paranoid actually, but whatever. If I'm sick I won't be able to do anything anyway.

status update

Got home late Monday, worked Tuesday, had dinner and watched the white sox with Nate Tuesday night, called in sick today - throat's got that lovely grossness it gets at the onset of a cold.