Well, I'm back from Sunny Florida, picking up where I left off last week. There really isn't enough time in a day, is there? I'm at that point where I have a lot of big things going on, but nothing so imminent that I know clearly which thing needs attention first, so I'm doing a little bit of everything, but every time I get into bed, I start thinking of all the other things I was supposed to take care of. Such is life.
I'm currently working on getting my passport & visa ordered (I've always wanted to say that), plus I have to start getting immunizations and make sure I have the appropriate insurance coverage, etc. These things shouldn't be too bad, but they involve a lot of waiting in line, filling out forms, being on hold, talking with bureaucrats, and getting shots. I got info from the CDC on travelling to Thailand and they recommended vaccines - none are required, but they recommend Hep A & B, Typhoid, and Rabies "if it's possible that I will be bitten by a dog or a bat." Gee, I hope not, but I suppose that's always a possibility. Oh, and I have to write my autobiography. That shouldn't take long.
I also have a couple of catering gigs I've volunteered for, one of which I'm cooking for but can't decide what to cook - something inexpensive, abundant, delicious and lovely. The other I can have catered - I just have to decorate and arrange the catering.
I keep forgetting which day it is this week. I need a nap. Instead, I'm off to the dentist. Yay!
This week did not get off to a good start, running-wise. Last week was decent, but Monday morning, it was pouring down rain, so we went to the gym and treadmilled it. Well, the thing is: I HATE running on a treadmill. We only had a short run scheduled (3 miles) but it was horrible/miserable/grueling/awful, and I left thinking there was no way I could ever run a marathon. Yesterday morning we had lovely almost-chilly weather (low 50's!) and the run was good. We did the long run tonight (which we usually save for the weekend, but had to do early for scheduling reasons) and I have to say, it was the best run I've ever had. I'm not fast, but I'm persistent, dang it! Best moment: when I said to A: "remember when we used to run for 7 minutes and think we were going to die? Well, we've been running non-stop for an hour now and I feel great!" We've already done 18 miles for the week! I'm definitely encouraged and eager to keep training.
BTW - I added a link on my blogroll to Dean Karnazes' blog Endurance Is. This guy is running 50 marathons in 50 days in 50 states. 4 down, 46 to go. Super Human.
Everything in Thailand was going along swimmingly until I decided to go.
I seem to have strange effects on places. Usually, it's just the weather - this is my first attempt at political upheaval.
It’s rated ARRRRR!
Happy International Talk Like a Pirate Day, ye sorry landlubbers.
Go hornswaggle some (Yo) Ho Ho’s and a bottle o’ rum to celebrate!
Answer is:
This old friend of yours has been selected to spend the month of March in Thailand.
If you answered: Your Old Friend Christin, you would be right.
But you forgot to phrase your answer in the form of a question. Too bad.
First: you're in the right place. It was time for a change. I know the design has some glitches: the archives don't work and I don't like the looks of the comment box. I'll get to it soon, I hope. I may need to call for reinforcements. If all else fails, I can change it back to how it was before and start over later.
Second: It's 1:30 am, but it may as well be noon. I forgot how to sleep. I'm going to try again soon.
Third: That's all. I'm awake, but not entirely coherent.
I raced for the cure on Saturday. (I didn't get to it first, in case you were wondering.) Doing a 5K is one of those things that seemed unattainable a year ago, but now it feels pretty average. I'm really glad I did it though. I've never raced before, so I'm happy to have the experience. It's motivational to be running with so many other people, and even though my time wasn't stellar, it was faster than my usual pace and within the goal I had set for this race. I'm planning on doing another 5K in October and hope to shave a few minutes off my time by then.
Due to a few set-backs, as well as a bit of common sense, we've decided to do a half-marathon December 9 (which was my original full-marathon goal) and then do the Clinton marathon January 6 instead. I'm happy with this change of plan - it feels more attainable. Plus, both races are in Mississippi, so I won't have as much driving to do and should be able to get someone to come chauffeur me home after the big race, as I have a feeling I might not be up to it myself.
Other than the race, my weekend was pretty average, but in a good way - a nice mix of getting a few things done around the house and yard, chilling out and watching DVDs (Why have I not watched Project Runway before now?!?), and hanging out with friends.
This coming weekend, I have an interview for this trip to Thailand. So far, I'm not worked-up about it - hopefully I can keep the laid-back attitude and not get nervous about it. They were talking about pushing the interviews back until the 30th, but thankfully decided to keep them on the 16th, which is good because I'd rather just get it over with and (hopefully) know whether or not I'm selected ASAP so I can either start planning or stop thinking about it.
*I self-consciously tried to alter a part of my personality I never liked.
*I wanted to learn how to Salsa.
*I cried all the way home.
*I did better than I thought I would.
*I appreciated people who I don't necessarily like.
*I fell into old habits.
*I felt old when I saw that Jonathan Taylor Thomas was turning 25.
*I didn't make new friends (nor did I really try to).
*I got tired of people saying how mature I was.
*I tried new things.
*I thought I was getting a bargain when I paid $2.57 for gas.
*I had unrealistic expectations.
*I almost signed up for e-Harmony.
*I sang out loud while walking down the street.
*I got hit on by a guy named Rodney, who, once I made it clear that I would never go out with him, tried to sell me some life insurance.
*I had a bad case of "The-Grass-is-Always-Greener Syndrome".
*I embraced my southern accent.
*I wanted to escape from my life for a few days.
*I wondered why she found it so hard to believe I was lonely.
*I was jolly, just because.
*I thought about the fact that there are other places to live that don't have weeks of 100+ degree weather.
*I actually had a dream come true.
*I tried harder to attain my aspirations.
*I became too dependent on caffeine.
*I didn't want to become complacent.
*I thought if I said it out loud I would be more motivated to do it and I was right.
*I bought the same wristwatch for the fourth time.
*I wanted to move to Seattle.
*I was afraid of being boring.
*I laughed until my side hurt and I couldn't breathe.
*I got Plan B when I wanted Plan A and that was okay because Being Okay was part of Plan B.
*I followed a sign to the Jack Daniels distillery but I could never find it.
*I got a kick out of our awkwardness.
*I meant it when I used the phrase, "Jimmy crack corn, and I don't care".
*I wanted what she had yet was glad I didn't have it.
*I never told him because he never asked.
*I realized that I live in one of the last Starbucks-holdouts left in America.
*I heard incredible vulnerability in the voice of a friend who rarely shows weakness and it made me sad.
*I was conspicuously absent during the bouquet toss.
*I thought about how uninteresting life would be if life itself was simple.
*I stayed up way too late talking but it was well worth the lack of sleep.
*I got my birthday wish.
*I improved exponentially at a few things.
*I craved wasabi peas because I like food that makes me cry.
*I noticed that I'm always attracted to songs about alcoholics and I don't know why that is.
*I thought she was being fake, but then I realized that she's actually that nice.
*I wished they would quit playing "Buttons" on the radio.
*I was overly sarcastic when I should have just kept my mouth shut.
*I was happy to be a part of "a people".
*I came up with a good first line for my novel.
Okay, here's the deal with my possible trip to Thailand: I am applying to go on this trip through the Rotary Club. For those of you who have no clue what the Rotary Club is - it's not some secret brotherhood like the Masons, it's a worldwide civic organization that does humanitarian work both in each club's community as well as internationally.
So anyway, the Rotary Club has a program called Group Study Exchange, which is like being an exchange student, only it's for people with jobs. Basically, they pick a team of 5 or 6 young professionals who travel to a foreign country (Thailand in this case), where they stay with local families and learn about the local industries, economy, etc.
This particular trip is scheduled for the whole month of March (about 5 weeks). I've cleared the first major hurdle (which I thought would never happen) - I've gotten approval to be off work that long. So now, I have to turn in my application to the Rotary Club and hope I get picked to be on the team.
I need to get my application in by this Friday, but first, I have to write an essay about why I want to go and what I hope to get out of the experience. I haven't written an actual essay in about 4 years, so I find this a bit intimidating. I'm really excited about the possibility, though. I really hope it works out.
*Another month come and gone. Hard to believe that it's almost time to start thinking about Christmas presents. Not hard to believe it's time for fall weather - one more month to go!
*Still working on the Thailand thing. It's looking more and more like it might actually work out. Today, I have to do the worst part: talk to my local boss about it. Six weeks is a LONG time to ask someone to work in this office by themselves.
*The marathon thing is still in the works, too, although some plans have been tweaked. In a good way. More on that later.
*I was CRAVING the northwest this week. I even got on the www and tried to find one of those last-minute long weekend deals so I could fly to Seattle or Spokane. But, alas, I do not have a thousand bucks to jet off for the weekend. I'm going to Texas instead.
*Upcoming in September:
Labor Day
Lacey's birthday
Race for the Cure (5K)
International Talk Like a Pirate Day (Arrr!)
Trip to Florida