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.