Thursday, September 30, 2010

Sorry I'm late - Thursday 13.

Dear Diary,

13.  One of the benefits of working with kids is picking up all the clever vernacular.  This week I learned:
maddogging (v).  The act of posturing another individual, or staring at them in a threatening manner, thereby provoking a fight. 

12.  Wednesday morning I was awakened by coyotes doing what many locals euphemistically refer to as "singing".  I call it "a crap-load of a huge racket".  It's pretty distinctive. Sadie put out a couple of feeble "woofs" and then shut up.  I've noticed that is the norm around here.  When coyotes sound off, all the neighborhood dogs suddenly get a big case of STFU.  It's like their parents said when they were pups, don't you be maddogging those coyotes.  They may be small but they'll kick your ass.  So be quiet. 

In any case, I'm pretty sure this is when Sadie quietly snuck into the back of the house out of nervousness. 

11.  So, Wednesday morning after my run I sat down and took Sadie's furry face in my hands.

Sadie, look at me.  No, at me.  Loo-LOOK AT ME.  There.  Now, you need to know there is a clear division of labor in this house.  The cats live in the back; you live in the front.  The cats are responsible for making warm lumps on the bed at night that we have to bend our legs around to sleep, and eating cat food.  You are responsible for acting insanely happy when we show up and giving us soulful looks. 


Do you understand what I am saying?  You are not to eat the cat food or sneak into the back of the house at night.  


Are we clear on this?

*wag* *wag*

Good.

10.  I was so stressed out and angry at my university that I taught them a lesson: I got my hair done.  That'll show them.

9.  This is my new blog tool.
In case you're wondering, yes, you have probably gotten Mary Kay holiday makeup collections that were bigger.  But it's purple, and that's all that matters.

I took this picture in Oklahoma, where everything is Sienna.

8. This fall Mom in law is coming in November.
Dad in law is coming in December.  You know what that means, don't you?

It means...


wait for it....


wait for it...


I have to clean house. 


Crap.


7.  Next week I start tapering.  40 miles.  The following week, 30 miles.  Then 20 miles.  And so on.  The hardest part, I think, will be adjusting my eating so that I don't gain a million pounds during this time. 

6.  I'm blonde again.  Not blond.  Blonde.  With an e.  It's classier.

5.  I started taking my clothes to a local tailor to have them taken in.  The lady was pinning me, and didn't speak very good English, but she said, "How you get so small?"

I run, I said.  And I was eating less.

"how many runs you do?"

She might be asking, literally, how many, but I bet it's how much.

So I told her.

"I run. 80 to 100 kilometers in a week," I said.

blink.  Blink.

Then she patted her stomach.  "Maybe I just hang onto this."

It's all about choices.  You go, girl.

4.  Next week the Bitches of Fashion are taking me shopping.  In case you don't know who that is, their blog is here.  I saved up my coffee money, and they are taking me out and picking things out for me.

I'm a bit nervous.  I'm not really a fashionista.  I trend more towards classic stuff that doesn't really stand out much. I work with people who are mentally ill, after all.  They don't need too many distractions.  It's easier to get dressed in the morning when your stuff is not at all trendy, because it never looks out of date.

3. On our trip to Oklahoma I was privileged to be able to see the Leaning tower of Brittany, Texas



and the largest cross in the united states.  Maybe the world.  
I wanted to get a picture of myself standing in front of it, looking pious, but 
that involved getting out of the car, and we were pretty desperate to get
back to Albuquerque and 18% humidity.
For scale, that is a warehouse to the right, and it's several hundred yards in front of the cross.  

2. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday I was supposed to put in 22 miles.  By Wednesday night, I'd gotten in 11.  Then I got my hair done.  That left another 11 to get in today.  Not sure how I'm going to pull that off, but I'll try.

1. Last night, the wind howled all night, and kept me up.  I slept in.  Graduate school is so stressful that when I got home from work tonight I wanted to curl up in a ball under the blankets.  But I can't do that.  I'm going to at least get dressed to go out to run, and take a headlamp with me.  I'm crossing my fingers for a nice, long, worry run.
I terminated with my therapist last week.  Maybe I should have waited.

...

10 comments:

  1. Hang in there. Grad school can be stressful but if you'll get through it.

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  2. Found your blog through RBR. You rock. And I love your #5. The eating less portion is escaping me, but at least it's all tighter than it was. And I'm not only in awe of your running, but also impressed by the fact that you have clothes worthy of being tailored. Not much to be done with Target's finest when I'm finished with it other than than pass it on to Goodwill. . :)

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  3. There are like 3 of those crosses between Kansas and Albuquerque. They are the most tasteless things I've ever seen.

    You know what's cool, though? The DINOSAURS! They're on the other side of Albuquerque, though. I think in AZ somewhere.

    For context, I used to drive back and forth from Kansas to L.A. a lot.

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  4. As always, a great post!

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  5. You should know that you are inspiring me to run more. I have a marathon coming up so that works out really well. It will be a cold day in hell before I run in the dark where the coyotes howl, though.

    And fear not - those bitches will take great care of you. You want classic? They know classic. But with a little flair. Not pieces of flare - but flair. Enjoy.

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  6. Sorry you're having a tough time right now....I hope you start to feel better soon. (and that the blonde adds to your enjoyment of the days) FYI, your lowest taper mileage is still something I'm trying to build up to! (in case that helps :) I love the StoryPeople sun and quote; I have some of their prints and find them of comfort. Courage....you've been through more and tougher and come out a rockin' inspiration to us all!

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  7. We took a trip to the Sierras recently and the first night on the trail, a coyote set up such a racket I was terrified. They actually attack dogs out for walks with their owners in one of our local open space preserves, so your dog is right to be scared. I like to stare at them and act aggressive to keep them on their toes. (Hey I know how to maddog! hope they don't call my bluff).

    Have fun with the shopping. I prefer the conservative look too but wish I had the nerve to wear the "cool" stuff.

    Good luck with all the cleaning- you'll be in taper mode and going crazy with energy, so that works out well :).

    Cynthia

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  8. Jesus must have been really, really, really, really large.


    Heretically Yours,
    E

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  9. EIGHTEEN PERCENT?? It has been freakishly cold here the past couple days and the humidity has dropped like a stone. I checked yesterday - it was 73%. Our lips are chapping and I assured the kids that deserts COULDN'T have humidity lower than, say, 65% because even 65% is just inhuman. EIGHTEEN PERCENT? How is it you don't dry up and wither away? (from the Sunny and COLD Caribbean)

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