somehow, saddam's execution fills me with more chills than relief. have we done more harm than good?

apparently, this is what *they* want for christmas:

the national zoo animals have asked both santa and John Q. Public for some toys for enrichment. they ask for kongs, so do you think they'd want any hand-me-downs from Toby? he needs to learn how to share...

all i want for new year's is... a new butt.

the tradition of stealing posts from kim continues, so after some thought (not much), here is my set of fitness goals for 2007:


Joanna's Fitness Goals for 2007

1. Fitness accomplishment - i plan on doing the catfish sprint triathlon in harrisburg in august. it's different, it's challenging, and i need something that will put me to the test again. i need something to get me back into the game. this should do it!
   
2. Diet - nothing earth-shattering here. i just want to be a little more thoughtful about what/when i eat, and i'd like to spend more time in the kitchen. yeah, that's right. i'd like to make some more interesting meals and try a bunch of new things..
   
3. Weight Loss - not such a huge deal for me, but i would like to drop to ~130-135. that would *feel* really good. i'm not worrying that i have to fit into a size 4 though. that's dumb. and i don't have the money to buy new clothes at a smaller size. and i like my curves. and so does chris. :)
   
4. Running - enjoy it again. i must have a love/hate thing going with the sport. i think it's because i get so injured and/or burn out every single season. hopefully that'll change because, starting tomorrow, larry at brick bodies is going to help me figure out what the hell is going on with my body (super-tight hams, crunchy hips, etc, etc)
   
5. Workouts - i'm going to try to get the necessary training for the tri. the nice thing about that is that it's essentially cross-training, so it'll help prevent both boredom and injury. also, once the gym's permanent site opens, i'm going to try a boxing or dance class, once a week. should be interesting.
   
6. Weights and Muscle Tone - the issue here is finding a workout that works. my upper-body is fine, and the tone is great; it's the lower-body that's giving me trouble. my chronically tight hams generally cause other problems when i try to compensate, and i'm not sure how to create a lifting workout that will help rather than hurt. but, that's what larry is here for, so hopefully the leg problems will eventually be a thing of the past.
   

so we'll see how this goes. i'm anxious to get this started, and i think that this will be good for me in so many other areas as well.

but, i have to go. i have a dog who needs to pee.

all i want for christmas is

so here i am in PA on Christmas Eve, ready to celebrate and love and be happy with my family. very nice. for some reason though, don't ask me why, all the crappy things of this year have been on my mind. at the forefront, and calling this crappy is an understatement, is losing my grandpa beatty. the fact that he isn't physically here this Christmas has hit me pretty hard, more than just a few times in the past weeks. i'm generally able to get myself to relax after a short cry, so that's good, but i realized today in church that, at times, i'm still angry about it. as much as i know that this is the way things go, blah blah blah, i still hate it that he's not here. he should be here. he's supposed to be here. that's not a very compassionate view, considering how sick and worn out his body was. in fact, it's pretty damn selfish. but, it's how i feel.

that's not to say that this year hasn't been without blessings. i think that if i hadn't been blessed with this teaching job in such a loving Christian community, getting through the grieving process would be much more difficult. the job in and of itself is a huge gift as well. as much as i grouse and get frustrated and exhausted, i love the work, and i love the kids. i'm so happy, and i love being in the classroom, this time in front of the desks instead of behind one. my niece clara also celebrated her first birthday, and i can't tell you how wonderful it is to have a lovely little girl in the family. and, to double that fun, a few months ago i found out that geoff & mia are expecting another baby girl in february. that makes two nephews and two nieces for me, and i can't get over the pure joy that these kids bring. it's something that is totally unasked for, and yet they constantly bring smiles and laughter.

and so does chris. this past year... dare i believe it's been more than a year? ~15 months, give or take a few weeks?! we never really had a "start" date anyway... but i digress. it's hard to explain the impact he's had. this past Easter was the first time i realized what kind of trouble i was in. and by trouble, i mean how deeply i could possibly love him. i didn't feel that way quite yet, and i wasn't going to dare to breathe the "L" word at all, but it occurred to me that i was sliding, and sliding fast. what put me over the top was the way he engaged his niece and nephew. i can't explain it. you had to have been there. but it was a beautiful thing to see. we worked so hard together to get through some rough spots, and we put in some major sweat to help each other move. we went to the beach with my family, spent a weekend with his family, and then did thanksgiving with the newells in atlanta.

he's in raleigh for Christmas with the flakes, and i miss him a lot right now. i hope i wasn't too maudlin about it, but i told him that i wanted so much for us to have a Christmas together. it didn't need to be on the 25th, but it would be nice just to have a morning, any morning, where we would have a lazy breakfast and exchange little tiny things together. to me, it's more about being with him on Christmas than having stuff from him on Christmas. i don't know if we'll have that when we each return to our respective homes.

all the same, i hope it happens someday. that is all i want for Christmas.

a very nickish christmas VI

so this may have been version 6.0 of *a very nickish christmas,* but it was my first time. in that spirit of newbie-ness, i'd like to share the pictures that nick mason (not our host nick fry) took. unfortunately, i have yet to find a picture of the turducken...

nick and beth

mariano and jesserika and truffer

ready for the book exchangelet's paint the 90's!
the most popular book from the exchange
gettin my learn on...

apparently we all need a little schoolin in that department...brendan is down for the count...

abby and me
duff, our canine host

and we lost...

so we lost our game today. we played maryvale prep, and we lost 15-11. our girls worked SO hard but we watched it slip away in the 4th quarter. it was painful to lose by only 4, especially after taking some hits and falls. i think that we have a lot of potential; of the 8 who haven't played before, there are easily 4 who are really coming through big-time. the other 4 are progressing and learning quite a lot. so i'll still say what i said on wednesday:

GO COUGARS!!!

:)

go cougars!

my girls won! and by won, i mean tied! you have no idea. first of all, of our 11 girls, only 3 have ever played organized ball before. second, the 05-06 team didn't win a thing, not even tie. so, only two games into 06-07, we're already better than last year!!! those girls worked so hard and kicked some ass on defense. we held glenelg scoreless in the 4th quarter and ended the game 22-22! and the best part? as tay took a fast break up the court to tie the game in the last few seconds, our gym erupted! screaming from the parents, friends, teachers, clergy (!), and even a bunch of high school kids just exploded all over the place. it was amazing. i am so proud of them.

:)

other than that, this has been a crazy month. i just want to curl up and sleep for another month. just so you know.

survey from kim

1. EVER BEEN GIVEN AN ENGAGEMENT RING? no. no comment regarding current relationship.

2. LONGEST RELATIONSHIP? ~3 years

3. LAST GIFT YOU RECEIVED? BLACK IBANEZ ELECTRIC GTAR w/AMP!!! i love my boyfriend. :)

4. EVER DROPPED YOUR CELL PHONE? so much so that i put the leather sleeve (?) around it so that it doesn't crack again.

5. WHEN'S THE LAST TIME YOU WORKED OUT? this morning--kim got my lazy ass out of the apt, and we ran 4 miles together, WITH toby. :)

6. THING(S) YOU SPEND A LOT OF MONEY ON? underwear.

7. LAST FOOD YOU ATE? pasta

8. FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT THE OPPOSITE SEX? two things--eyes and overall build

9. ONE FAVORITE SONG? hmmmm... "40," U2

10. WHERE DO YOU LIVE? Owings Mills, although i'm in College Park ALL the time

11. HIGH SCHOOL YOU ATTENDED? Cedar Crest

12. CELL PHONE SERVICE PROVIDER? Verizon.

13. FAVORITE MALL STORE? Victoria's Secret

14. LONGEST JOB YOU HAD? C2. i'd like to say that i hated that job, although without, i would not have met courtney (an awesome friend) or chris.

15. DO YOU OWN A PAIR OF DICE? yes, but they're not fuzzy, nor do they hang from my rear-view mirror.

16. DO YOU PRANK CALL PEOPLE? no

17. LAST WEDDING YOU ATTENDED? greg and leann's in november 2005

18. FIRST FRIEND YOU'D CALL IF YOU WON THE LOTTERY? i have no idea. i bet i'd have a bunch of brand new best friends really fast though....

19. LAST TIME YOU SAW YOUR BEST FRIEND? i hate to be cheesy, but i can really say that chris is my best friend, so that would be yesterday morning

20. FAVORITE FAST FOOD RESTAURANT? noodles. that counts as fast food, right? well, if not, i go with sonic, even though there aren't any up here.

21. BIGGEST LIE YOU HAVE EVER HEARD? "i love you," circa 1999. draw your own conclusions.

Question 22? There is no Question 22. Question 22 is a figment of your imagination.

23. WHERE'S YOUR FAVORITE PLACE TO EAT WITH FRIENDS? hasn't happened in a while, but at my place. i love cooking for friends.

24. CAN YOU COOK? yes

25. WHAT CAR DO YOU DRIVE? 2000 silver grand am

26. BEST KISSER? what does this mean? does this mean just from boyfriends? from random hookups that never led anywhere? imagined kisses with famous men? i guess if i had to say from experience, i can't remember. that's right, steve 1, steve 2, and derek, i have to be honest and say that i can't remember. but with chris, oh god. he sure knows how to seduce me if he wants to...

;)

27. LAST TIME YOU CRIED? yesterday

28. MOST DISLIKED FOODS? octopus, eggplant

29. THING YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT YOURSELF? i can be tremendously loving to people and thoroughly passionate about things.

30. THING YOU DISLIKE MOST ABOUT YOURSELF? i'm a perfectionist and tend to burn myself out.

Question 31 currently under investigation by the Bush Administration

32. LONGEST SHIFT YOU HAVE WORKED AT A JOB? at reznick, the 13 hour shift during tax season

33. FAVORITE MOVIE? hmm... toss-up between 'amelie,' 'big fish,' and 'the spanish prisoner'

34. CAN YOU SING? yup

35. LAST CONCERT ATTENDED? one of ainsley's shows awhile ago

36. LAST KISS? chris, yesterday

37. LAST MOVIE RENTED? i have no idea

38. ONE THING YOU NEVER LEAVE THE HOUSE WITHOUT? a sweet pair of shoes

39. FAVORITE VACATION SPOT? costa del sol, spain

Questions 40, 41, and 42 have moved to to upstate Oregon to start a free trade womyn's collective.

43. LAPTOP OR DESKTOP COMPUTER? laptop

44. FAVORITE COMEDIAN? don't really have one.

45. DO YOU SMOKE? nope. i'd never even seen or been around or smelled marijuana until last thanksgiving (2005). i'm so sheltered.

46. SLEEP WITH OR WITHOUT CLOTHES? depends on the air temperature, the season, whatever sheets and blankets are on my bed, and if there's another occupant in the bed.

47. WHO SLEEPS WITH YOU EVERY NIGHT? technically, it'd have to be toby, but he only stays in the bed until he thinks i'm asleep, and then he jumps off.

48. DO LONG DISTANCE RELATIONSHIPS WORK? not in my experience.

49. HOW MANY TIMES HAVE YOU BEEN PULLED OVER BY THE POLICE? three times. the two speeding tickets sucked, but i was able to charm my way out of a ticket for expired stickers on my plates.

:)

50. PANCAKES OR FRENCH TOAST? pancakes b/c french toast is a lot easier to make poorly. for me to like the french toast, it must be made with uber-thick bread and exquisite confectioner's sugar. otherwise, no dice.

51. DO YOU LIKE COFFEE? yes.

52. HOW DO YOU LIKE YOUR EGGS? omelette

53. DO YOU BELIEVE IN ASTROLOGY? no

54. LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE? chris

55. LAST PERSON ON YOUR MISSED CALL LIST? chris

56. WHAT WAS THE LAST TEXT MESSAGE YOU RECIEVED? "where are you" from steve

The number 57 is a copyright of the Heinz Corporation and cannot be used without express written consent.

58. NUMBER OF PILLOWS? 4

59. WHAT ARE YOU WEARING RIGHT NOW? blue jeans and a blue top

60. PICK A LYRIC, ANY LYRIC? "And I miss you when you're not around,/I'm getting ready to leave the ground..." ('City of Blinding Lights,' U2)

61. WHAT KIND OF JELLY DO YOU LIKE ON YOUR PB & J? Strawberry Polaner's all-fruit. if you call it jelly again, i'll throttle you. i'm VERY picky about this.

62. CAN YOU PLAY POOL? yeah

63. CAN YOU SWIM? yeah

64. FAVORITE ICE CREAM? tin-roof sundae, although i haven't had that in quite a LONG time... mmmm....

65. DO YOU LIKE MAPS? is there a reason not to? although mapquest does suck.

66. TELL ME A RANDOM FACT ABOUT YOURSELF? i'm actually a blond. seriously. my stylist said that mine is the darkest blond that can still be considered blond. so there's your explanation for everything about me.

Question 67 was a redshirt who beamed down with Kirk, Bones, Spock, and Scotty. Never stood a chance.

68. EVER ATTEND A THEME PARTY? yes. my favorite was the hween party kate and i had--superheroes and super-villains! i was catwoman. apparently, that was hot.

69. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE SEASON? late spring

70. LAST TIME YOU LAUGHED AT SOMETHING STUPID? today, at toby. sometimes, he's that something stupid

71. WHAT TIME DID YOU WAKE UP THIS MORNING? 6AM. and it's the weekend. i'm dumb.

72. BEST THING ABOUT WINTER? the temperature b/c it strongly encourages the curling up in a blanket and drinking hot cocoa. it also encourages the curling up with someone. i love that.

73. LAST TIME A COP GAVE YOU A TICKET? this past august. thanks, chris.

The 74th question about Fight Club is "Do you talk about the 74th question about Fight Club?" And the answer is no. No you don't.

75. NAME OF YOUR FIRST PET? Lulu, a jet black cat who was a bad-ass.

76. DO YOU THINK PIRATES ARE COOL OR OVERRATED? am i allowed to be ambivalent?

77. WHAT ARE YOU DOING THIS WEEKEND? well, since the weekend is over, i'll speculate on next weekend. supposedly, i'm going to try to hit two christmas parties on saturday, and then hopefully i can grab some of the girls and have a gift-wrapping party here at the apartment.

78. BIRTHDATE 9 Nov 1979

79. WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE? asleep

Questions 80 through 84 concerned Scientology, and Xu'ulta (the Thetan who lives inside my body) said it was in my best interest not to respond.

85. ARE YOU ON A LAPTOP? yes

Question 86 has been eighty-sixed. Funny how that works out.

87. ARE YOU SMILING? no b/c i'm almost asleep, but i have to stay awake so i can pick chris up from the airport

89. DO YOU MISS SOMEONE RIGHT NOW? my grandfather. it's the first christmas without him.

90. IF YOU COULD GO ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD WHERE WOULD YOU GO? costa del sol, spain, with chris.

Question 91 got tired of waiting around to be answered. Stop thinking so hard and just put something down.

92. ARE YOU IN HIGH SCHOOL? hells no!

93. DO YOU HAVE A CRUSH? um, no. 7th grade was a long time ago.

94. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE NAME? shaka khan

95. WHAT COLOR IS YOUR BATHING SUIT? my hottest bikini is flourescent blue with hot green borders. i have another bikini top that's black & white floral with an all-black scoop bottom. again, kinda hot.

96. DOES YOUR SCHOOL START IN AUGUST? yes, although as a teacher, i have to be there at the START of august. :(

97. DID YOU GO ON VACATION LAST MONTH? i don't think that driving for 15+ hours to atlanta qualifies as a vacation.....

98. HAVE YOU EVER BEEN ON A CRUISE? no, but the one that i do want to do (i don't know if this qualifies as a cruise) is a weeklong sailing vacation that goes up and down the east coast. you learn all the stuff about sailing and have a gourmet chef and all that. usually, it has about five couples working together, with guidance from a small crew. i'd love that, and i know chris would too.

99. DO YOU HAVE A SISTER? no, but i have a sister-in-law

100. ARE YOU UPSTAIRS? technically yes, but really, no. figure that one out.

101. ARE YOU IN LOVE? no, but i do love someone, and he loves me. i think that "in love" is an indicator of infatuation than real love. but that's just me.

102. HAVE YOU EVER BEEN IN THE HOSPITAL? yes. way too many times for my taste.

103. DO YOU WISH YOU COULD SEE ANYONE PARTICULAR RIGHT NOW? duh.

104. WHAT JEWELRY ARE YOU WEARING? a celtic cross necklace

105. WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO AFTER THIS SURVEY? take a nap before picking chris up at the airport

the saturday let-down

in this case, i don't think it's a bad thing when i say let-down. the past three weeks have been incredibly hectic, and this is the first chance i've had to breath and relax in my recliner. it's such a nice break. i still have a lot to do this weekend, but that's okay with me. i'll get to it.

one of the best things for me has been my music. my piano is now here, so i can play all the time. i've also become a little bit more than obsessed with my guitar, and i think it's calling to me right now...it's longing for me to cradle it...

anyway, i'd been debating as to how (or even if) i wanted to decorate my apartment for christmas. as it turns out, my parents have given me a bunch of things to use, so i'm now excited and glad that i have the opportunity to set an atmosphere for the holidays. as soon as i pulled my nativity out of its box, i knew that i needed to decorate. anyhow, i have the tree (fake) set up. i just have to fluff the branches before i hang the lights and ornaments. i also need to figure out how i'm going to suspend the stockings (one for me and one for toby) from the tv cabinet, and i need to put together an advent wreath.

ultimately, when it comes to emotions around the holidays, it's always hard for me, but it ends up being worth it...since it's not really about me anyway.

so i think it is now appropriately established that i have an awesome boyfriend. just don't tell him how many brownie points he has in the bank. that might go to his head.

right now, my face hurts. don't start with the jokes, please. toby and i were wrestling at my parents' house earlier today, and i got a heel to the nose. luckily, nothing's broken, blah, blah, blah, but it still stings. plus, i can't get anything done if i need to ice it.

so is anybody puking from all the holiday junk out already? don't get me wrong... i love Christmas. i really do. it's fun, it's beautiful, etc., etc. but it's just done all the wrong way, too much, too early. and so, a big opportunity befalls me this year; i have my OWN place to decorate however i want. i would like suggestions as to what route to go. one ground rule--it has to be the inexpensive route. here are some questions:

1) tree--real or fake?
2) candles in the windows?
3) where do i get a decent advent wreath?
4) what do i keep out and what do i put in storage?
5) secular vs sacred themes?
6) where do i put the stockings? i have no chimney, obviously.
7) where do i put my tree?
8) how much is too much?
9) does it make sense to make such a big deal about it if i'm the only person living here?

okay, so that's kind of something i don't want to go into, but if you want to leave some philosophical comment, go ahead.

now i'm depressed. i hate the holidays.

reason #237 why chris blows me away

check out my birthday present!!!

for all not in the loop, i have wanted to learn how to play guitar FOREVER, and lately, both chris and i have been seduced by the beauties that are Guitar Hero and Guitar Hero II. but i never expected this! never!!!

he even gave me a little amp. :)

wow.

recent pictures

so i almost forgot that i have some other pictures. some were taken with chris's chocolate. i love that phone. i want that phone...





































are you experienced?












i'm dating a thugmaster.









my favorite picture yet.

i's all growed up

Okay, so I used to say that I'd avoid surveys like the plague. But apparently, I want the plague.

The Grown up survey!
Meant to be completed by ADULTS (defined as graduating high school at least a year ago!).

Tired of all of those surveys made up by high school kids?
'Have you ever kissed someone?'
'Told someone you loved them?'
'Drank alcohol?'

Here are some questions for the people who are a little more mature.

1. What bill do you hate paying the most?
they all suck

2. What's the best place to eat a romantic dinner?
on the beach, Nazarae, Portugal

3. Last time you puked from drinking?
July--bar-hopping for shawn's birthday. let's just say that, thanks to him and rob, i am no longer a jaeger virgin. asshole.

4. When is the last time you got drunk and danced on a bar?
never danced on a bar. guess i'll have to work up to that. new year's resolution?

5. Name of your 2nd grade teacher.
Mrs. Katz

6. What do you really want to be doing right now?
Eating. I'm hungry and ready for lunch.

7. What did you want to be when you were growing up?
A teacher. Go figure.

8. How many colleges did you attend?
Two--UMBC (undergrad), UMD (grad)

9. Why did you wear the shirt that you have on right now?
i wore the collared blouse under a pink sweater because i wanted to look obnoxiously preppy.

10. GAS PRICES First thought?
suck

11. If you could be anywhere and take someone with you...Who & where?
Glacier National Park, Montana, with Chris, in our own cabin, in July

12. First thought when the alarm went off this morning?
shit, i have to get out of bed

13. Last thought before going to sleep last night?
my back hurts

14. What chore do you despise?
dusting. it's so inefficient

15. If you didn't have to work, would you volunteer at an art gallery?
not so much. i'd try to do as much as i could with travel and stuff.

16. Get up early or sleep in?
Sleep in, but not too late--i still like to have daylight when i'm out and about

17. What is your favorite cartoon character?
if i have to have one, i'd say stewie

20. Favorite NON sexual thing to do at night with a girl/guy?
actually sleeping (zzzz-sleeping) together

21. A secret that you wouldn't mind everyone knowing?
i don't know; i'm really bad at keeping useless secrets anyway. what's the point in keeping them if you don't care if people know?

22. Are you planning on remaining in your current field?
right now, all stars point to yes, mostly b/c getting the PhD doesn't look promising right now

23. If you are not married, do you see yourself married in the next five years?
married? i hope so. next five years? i have no idea.

24. Your favorite lunch meat?
honey-glazed ham

25. What do you get every time you go into a WalMart?
nothing b/c i don't go into walmart. saying this nicely, i have philosophical differences with company policies.

26. Beach or lake?
Beach

27. Do you think marriage is an outdated ritual that was invented by people who died at 20?
no, i don't. i think it's an excuse to not have to own up to the maturity level, to realize that marriage is a tough, real, everyday commitment. i don't think some people take "for *better* or for *worse*" completely seriously. the thing is, if you're willing to go into it with both eyes open and a desire to work at it, it's a beautiful, rewarding thing. hell, i'm not even married, but i still think i'm right.

28. Who do you stalk on MySpace?
i don't *do* myspace.

29. Favorite guilty pleasure?
justin timberlake

30. Favorite movie you wouldn't want anyone to find out about?
Last of the Mohicans

31. What's your drink?
beer--Carlsberg; wine--dry white; mixed--mai tais

32. Cowboys or Indians?
indians, simply out of spite toward dallas football

33. Cops or Robbers?
Robbers. they're the ones that make mysteries/crime shows more interesting.

34. Do you cheer for the bad guy?
depends on if you can always tell who the bad guy is.

35. What Hollywood star do you think resembles you best?
i have no idea, but i've been told that i remind people of jodie foster and helen hunt. woohoo... i guess...

36. If you had to pick one, which cast member of Lost would you be?
i don't watch Lost.

37. What do you want when you are sick?
a quality quilt or blanket, a big mug of tea or chicken noodle soup, and a cuddle

38. Who from high school would you like to run into?
probably brian clark. hilarious, brilliant guy.

39. What radio station is your car radio tuned to right now?
107.3FM

42. Norm or Cliff?
NOOOOOORM!

43. The Cosby Show or the Simpsons?
The Simpsons. i HATED the cosby show when raven came on; she was such a precocious little brat.

44. Worst relationship mistake that you wish you could take back?
well, not seeing the road ahead of me and pushing blindly in another way

45. Do you like the person who sits directly across from you at work?
that would be my kids, and i'd have to say yes.

46. If you could get away with it, whom would you kill?
i don't have anybody that i hate that much, but there is a personwho needs to stew in how much damage that he/she did.

47. What famous person would you like to have dinner with?
bonnie blair

48. What famous person would you like to sleep with?
ummmm...? i honestly don't know.

49. Have you ever had to use a fire extinguisher for its intended purpose?
No.

50. Last book you read for real?
_Hero with a Thousand Faces_

51. Do you have a teddy bear?
Y.O. was given to me the day i was born, and it's in my apt right now.

52. Strangest place you have ever brushed your teeth?
in culebra, puerto rico, our water supply went out, so we'd have to go outside in flash thunderstorms and get as much water in bowls as we could and use that. sufficed to say, we didn't have as much to use for our teeth, so there was some pretty nasty breath on that trip.

53. Somewhere in California you've never been and would like to go?
Death Valley

54. Number of texts in a day?
none today

55. At this point in your life would you rather start a new career or relationship?
Career.

57. Pencil or pen?
depends. i'm feeling non-committal today.

58. bueller??? bueller??? bueller???


59. How many jobs have you had?
i'm not counting high school or college, but after, i've had six

60. Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
well, i have no idea. hopefully, i'm working on the phd, starting/having a family, somewhere new, maybe outside of maryland.

61. What do you think of the person that took this survey before you?
i'm so glad that i've been getting to know kim! i can tell that girl anything, and we've had so much fun running! you're awesome, kim.

:)

oo! oo! i love it!

apparently, i share a birthday with Nick Lachey. wooo!

oh, and have i mentioned how *awesome* "the scorpion king" is?

favorite line--"I came for the woman! And your head..."

this is what ugly americans do when they finally realize how stupid they are

they blame somebody else for their boorish behavior and try to sue. not just sue. they sue borat.

i hope that you've seen the movie, and it shows exactly why it's hard for me to respect your standard frat boy. from the ever-lovable wash post, and i quote, 'The young men "engaged in behavior that they otherwise would not have engaged in," the lawsuit says.' And to continue, 'The lawsuit claims that in October 2005, a production crew took the students to a bar to drink and "loosen up" before participating in what they were told would be a documentary to be shown outside of the United States.'

you'll excuse me for screaming a giant

BULL SHIT!

it's hard for us realize that we're shit-heads sometimes, and dammit, let's blame borat for making us look like the idiots that we are. how dare he commit the crime of satorization! can't we at least enjoy the fact that the movie itself is hysterical and delightfully uncomfortable, especially with the naked male wrestling? i think we should be parodied on a regular basis, making us drink the acidic attitude that we pour down the throats of other people around the globe. then we wouldn't be so damn uptight and ridiculously puritanical about things like sexuality. and, deep down, we all like sex. it's true. don't deny it. let's just relax, try to amend our faults and just enjoy life for what it is. agreed? agreed. good.

now go make sexy-time.

hail the process

so of course. the year that i can't vote thanks to red tape and moving, yada yada yada, things actually go the way i want them to go. excellent. o'malley's in annapolis, cardin's still in dc, rummy is OUT OUT OUT, and all is right with the world, or at least we would like to think so. is iraq policy going to change much? are we going to ever figure out what the hell we're going to about immigration, if anything at all? is there going to be a major rewind on no child left behind?

probably not.

but, at least there's a different crowd. so maybe nancy pelosi, et al, can do something. we'll see. and in the meantime, here is a beautiful representation of change coming to the legislative branch:

http://www.rightwasright.us/

enjoy. :)

i forgot, forgot the fifth of november

but that's only because it's chris's birthday today! from now until thursday 8:10AM, chris and i will be the same age. so he can't say that i'm old just yet.

so if you see him, talk to him, send smoke signals to him, please wish the old man a happy birthday!!!!

running, etc.

so i didn't do a marathon this year. or a half marathon. or a ten-miler. that's disappointing after having reached the major running goal the previous year, and it's little comfort to say, "well, life happened, so it's no wonder i didn't get around to it." obviously, i don't find that to be a satisfying answer, even though a reasonable person would accept it. but, i've thrown my energy behind others, most specifically kim and other MCMers. kim was AWESOME! there's also some excitement for the New York City Marathon, as that one had some banner finishers (lance!). annoying thing--i had predicted that our cycling hero would not finish under 3 hrs, mostly because it was his first marathon, his build is all this that and the other thing, etc., etc. WRONG. he finished 2hr,59 min, 36 sec. dammit. but really, good for him. and, here's proof that the man is human:

the man who has scaled the alps on his bike, the man who has completed and WON a 2200+ mile race every year for seven years, the man who has overcome cancer says that the marathon is the hardest thing he's ever done!

!!!!

for some reason, i feel validated. kim, you should too.

hershey's kisses

i did this a long time ago, and now the Post is just spreading the word. the Chocolate Treatment at the Hershey Spa is one of the best experiences. ever. in the universe. this side of creation.

i got a gift certificate to the Hershey Spa as a graduation present, and i can't thank my parents enough. i got the scrub-down (my body exfoliated with ground cocoa bean shells) and the wrap (the chocolate fondue wrap, to be specific). the wrap was my favorite part: after a delicious massage, my lovely masseuse/chocolatier literally painted my body with chocolate. then, i was wrapped in this metallic "blanket" (i'm not sure exactly how you'd categorize it) and then wrapped again in a feather-touch blanket. the lights were dimmed, and i was left in peace and quiet. the only reason why i didn't sleep like a log was that i was too busy enjoying the feeling of being a bon-bon. after awhile, that ended, and i was treated with a mountain shower, to cleanse me of that now-hardened outer layer.

my favorite part of the whole experience was the after-effect; i smelled like dark chocolate for almost two days afterward. i would do it again in a heartbeat.

if i had $150...


OH WAIT! MY BIRTHDAY IS NEXT WEEK!

*hint*

:)

he ain't heavy, he's my brother

so in many ways, my brother and i are very different, and, as we've grown older, our paths have diverged a bit, so we don't get to see each other much. but, that doesn't stop me from being very proud of him and his hard work. within the past few years, geoff has positioned himself in the faculty of Philadelphia University, and he has spent a lot of time and energy making things happen. now, he has made a more than significant contribution to Philly U's curriculum and who knows what else. he has managed to create and get approval for a new Bachelor's of Science degree in Digital Animation. he didn't just teach. he created an ENTIRE DEGREE PROGRAM. that blows my mind.

geoff and i don't always agree, and our temperments and preferences can be polar opposites, but i couldn't be prouder to have a brother like him.

geoff, you're amazing.

mcm

according to nick,


THEY DID IT!


YAY!!!!!!!!!!

great job, ladies! :)

marine corps marathon

GOOD LUCK, KIM & ERIKA!!!

a classic case of idiodicy, with multiple symptoms of stupidity

so the latest comments to add sparkle to maryland politics come from my grandmother's most beloved radio personality.

i love you, grandma, but come on.

anyway, if you haven't heard yet, micheal j fox appears in ads for democrats who are supporting stem cell research, one of whom is ben cardin (yay, ben cardin!). and, if you *really* haven't heard, rush limbaugh comes out of his little radio booth swinging, alleging that fox exaggerates (sp?), even possibily fakes his symptoms of parkinsons for political reasons.

okay, yeah, i would in fact like to pretend to have a debilitating disease day in and day out just so that bob ehrlich would give more funding to higher education.

not only is this one of the more crass things i've ever heard limbaugh saying, not that there isn't a wealth of quotes to choose from, but he also tries to take some swipes in his "retraction." oh, sorry, michael, you're not faking. you're just exploiting yourself. so is limbaugh saying that anybody with condition X who supports a politician for finding a cure is whoring him or herself out?

now, a slate columnist tries to open our eyes to this being a grand old scheme by conservatives--they WANT us to think that such commentators are dumb as a brick. somehow, the author's reasoning would show that they're not really so stupid at all, that the republicans often achieve power this way. well, i think by this point, enough of the public (and by enough, i mean people who actually care) realize that rush's comments are just a waste of airtime. he's not enough to drive votes one way or another, and his attempts to derail politics via bashing-of-the-infirm just... are... stupid.

rush intelligent for acting dumb?

he's not smart enough to do that.

yikes

hampden's kind of gone downhill, and it makes me feel better that i don't live there anymore...

politics....

hahahahahahahahahahaha! ahahahahahahahahaha!!


yeah, now steele will get elected to congress...

Oops, he did it in the first place...

ahhh, the liberation of K-Fed from the shackles of being Mr. Britney. his big break on CSI tonight will rocket him toward television stardom.

in his own mind.

in case you missed it, the story centered on these "fannysmackings" (already there's a problem with the episode...), with the perps dressed in halloween masks and black hoodies. already, the writers have given K-Fed's big part away--we all know he's the bad guy because he didn't even have to wear a costume. and. and. even better. his character's name: pigman. at one point, he mouths off to nick stokes (played handsomely by george eads) and gets his ass kicked. later, towards the end, he rolls up to "da place" in one of those cars that can't decide if it's a truck or a car. you know what i mean--those 70s era concoctions of the open bed in the back but the "cab" of a car. woooooo! he's a man of his own means and didn't have to borrow brit's SUV. and to crown the episode, it ends with him getting his mug shot.



yup, this'll do wonders for his career.

Honey! i'm wearing my halter top! Let's have babies!

are they serious? are they only getting this just now? are we only figuring out now that women dress not-so-subtly sometimes? GEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEZ.

what i really want to see is a study of men and how/why they dress during their monthly cycle. now THAT would be interesting. guys, what do you dress like when you're feeling like you don't even need a wingman?what are your hormones like at that time? how is your body doing? how about how you dress when you're not feeling awesome? do you still hit up the a & fitch cologne and urboutfitters shirts *even* when you're bloated, cranky and fatigued? help us all out and enlighten us ladies.

:)

monkey reunion `06

aug 26, `06: the umbc gang hits patapsco state park, west of ellicott city. the occasion? to celebrate the 10 years that had passed since the founders of the umbc gang met. met... at playfair. silly umbc.

anyway, there was more than just a playground, but hell--those are the best pictures. in the top row, we have truffer doing his best Cheetah impression, then dustin showing his upper body might. then there's kim evading the snake pit by swinging from handle to handle, and erika showing that donkey kong is nothing (she was actually the first to jump on the playground equipment). it looked like so much fun that i tried it next. then we just felt like we had to swing in tandem. yeah, we're not 8 years old... sure... then we have dave, the pseudo-monkey (note that his feet are actually touching the ground--THAT'S CHEATING, DAVE!), the gang's all here, and cheryl and me. i hadn't seen cheryl since mary and nick's wedding, and that was... 2001? wow.

anyway, like i said, there was more than just the playground, most important being the food and alcohol. and the foreplay cake.



...


don't ask. long story.

;)

it's been a long time, so

i haven't posted pictures in awhile, so here's group #1, Beatty Beach Trip `06. unfortunately, you don't see dad here b/c he was pretty sick, but he's feeling better now! :) anyway, the top three pictures are pre-beach at my parents house. benicio, manny and clara are prepping for the ocean spray via the fisher price hydrant fountain. middle three: tai chi manny, pensive clara, and geoff, mia with clara, and mom. bottom three: chilly benici, chris and manny annoyed at excessive picture taking, and a salty guy and a drowned-rat girl in OC, MD.

what a vacation!

whoa......... duuuuuuuuuuuuuuude....

who knew that star trek might actually happen?!

(shush, i know it'll take forever to happen, but it's still pretty remarkable.)

questions:

1) what would you teleport?
2) if you had to choose, would you rather be spock or data?

good lord, i'm a nerd...

my dog must have a death wish.

so tonight, toby was trying to play "dodge the bus and the escalade." now he's lying on the floor incredibly proud of himself. way to go, toby.

and all of you that hate him, shut up.

Paradise Cuts

yeah, but i bet they're not man enough for a bikini wax...

ups and downs. well, pretty much just downs...

this was a tough weekend. yesterday, my parents had a yard sale for my grandparents' old things. it was very weird. it made me realize how much the combination of household items came together to create the atmosphere of visits. as of saturday, all of that was officially disassembled. i hadn't been to my grandparents' house since before grandpa died, so seeing the stacks of dishes and walls bereft of the familiar family photographs hit me pretty hard. it was also a very frustrating morning for my parents; they'd spent hours and hours separating and organizing, sorting and moving tons of stuff, and after all of that, barely anybody came. i think that they might have made a grand total of $50, and that was just because we sold three fairly valuable photographs for $30. there's easily a few hundred dollars' worth of stuff in that house. i was given a jewelry box with some necklaces, a few linens, and a whole bunch of pictures to have for myself, to now inhabit my apartment. i felt complicit in the breakup of the environment that i'd loved so much. i don't see it as gaining lovely things, at least not yet, and i don't see it as holding onto some special family belongings right now. instead, it's more a matter of pieces and separation, and i don't want that. i'd much rather have my grandfather back.

it was only a matter of time before we saw this:

Pimp My Walker...

gotta love the South...

seen on a Bojangles carry-out bag: "Please put litter in its place."

You suck, Litter! Take that! YEAH! STAY DOWN!!!!!!!!!!!!!



anyway, my impromptu trip to raleigh this weekend was interesting. chris needed to run down there to get his car inspected, and we got off late enough that he only got to the garage half an hour before closing. we were optimistic; we'd made it the whole way down without any lights alerting us to WWIII going on under the hood, the ride being jerky, and the windows randomly sliding down into the door. these are major victories, considering the piece of shit that is the Jetta. anyway, he pulls into the garage, and THEN the check engine light goes on. thus, he fails the inspection. just to kick him while he's down, the mechanic tells him that the car is vomiting oil, such that it'll die within the day. oh, and no, he can't look at it today or tomorrow because, well, i don't really know. he just wouldn't.

sufficed to say, after putting $12K for repairs into a car that cost him $12K to begin with, chris has had it with this ridiculous German bucket of crap. thanks to several parties in raleigh, we were able to get the car in capable hands and lay hold of a rental so that we wouldn't be stranded. basically the whole ride home, there was cause to remark how comfortable a car could be, how functional, and how, well, adult. the amanti we got from avis felt decidedly more grown up than that VW money pit. once that thing is functional again, it's coming back to MD, just so that he can have the satisfaction of shooting it himself. well, not really. he's going to try to sell it, and since we're finally in touch with an honest repair person, it'll be in decent shape for a buyer.

so, this weekend was not quite so restful as we had hoped, and i had, in fact, come down with some bug and wanted to throw up the whole time. but, we leaned on each other, persevered in times of distress, and came out on top. we deserve to be taken to Bojangles for being a functional couple and given a bag full of the chicken fingers and biscuits.

but don't forget to put the litter in its place.

still stealing kwizzes from kim

1. Do you have any big plans for September? I'm not sure. Do I, Chris? October? Yes. November? I think. December? Not a clue.

2. What up-coming event are you most looking forward to? whatever it is that chris has cooked up

3. What was the last song you heard? "I Burn For You" (sting)

4. Quote something from last night: "zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz." (me, at 9PM)

5. What time did you wake up today? 4:30 AM

6. What does your last incoming text say? something from steve, i think

7. Is there a vase in the room you are in? No. Nobody has bought me flowers since chris did awhile ago...

8. Any plans for today/this evening? eating and planning for school tomorrow.

9. Have you recently been insulted? No.

10. What is the radio in your car tuned to at this exact moment? 106.5FM

11. Compared to someone else of your age and gender; do you feel thatyou are more or less sexual than the average? More.

12. How many days a week do you work? a BAZILLION. but in reality, seven. we teachers take our work home with us.

13. Are there people you feel more connected to than others? Well yeah.

14. Is there ONE person you feel more connected to than others? definitely.

15. Are you more like your mother or your father? hmmm... sense of humor and faith, my dad. sense of intellect and arts, my mom.

16. Where did your eye color come from? Dad

17. Describe the pants you are wearing: no pants, but an Old Navy skirt, brown with khaki stripes, size 8?

18. Have you ever been in a recording studio? no

19. The myspace picture you've had up the longest, what's going on inthat picture? don't have myspace, but the longest one i've had onlinen is the pic of me in front of the bellagio in vegas.

20. Are any of your myspace pictures alcohol related? the one of me in front of the bellagio

21. What is your worst relationship quality? taking things Way Too Seriously

22. What was your most recent serious injury? whatever it was that made me pass out at the twilight trot--bad enough for me to be taken to shady grove hosp.

23. What were you most recently pissed-off about? pint-sized individuals

24. What song best describes your summer? runaway--the Corrs

25. Are you a fan of cake? yes, especially bts/foreplay cake.

26. What shirt have you not worn in a while that you would like to? chris's black and white Broughton Wrestling shirt

27. Do you spill a lot?Yes.

28. When was the last time you were hit on? by the slimy konick in adams morgan way way way long time ago. i love the guy, but he's a man whore.

29. What is the next concert you are going to and where are you seeingit? i'm not sure. it'll probably be one of ainsley's concerts in DC

30. Name someone you know who is most likely to be found at a bar onTuesday night: russdog222

javelin greatness, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera...

one of the best throwers in the world is retiring. this guy is a beast!

i'm going back to bed...

exams and big enginesnnnnn

first news:

CHRIS PASSED HIS ORAL EXAM!!! now he's officially a PhD candidate at UMD. several of the people involved, either panel or audience, are internationally renowned mathematicians, and they told him things along the lines of "fantastic/excellent job," "very well prepared," "well executed," etc. he presented his material for ~50 minutes, and then the panel asked him one question. ONE. and after short discussion, they passed him.

:)

other news:

not news, per se, but rather good feelings. teaching has been going well. i'm enjoying it, and even though the kids and i butt heads sometimes, we get along. we all seem to be learning one thing or another! in addition to my English and Literature classes, i get to teach an aviation class. how awesome is that?! hopefully, we can get into rocketry. and build rockets.

why do i get the feeling that that might not be my most brilliant idea?

anyway, the kids got to pick their enrichment class, and apparently my aviation section filled up pretty quickly. not bad for a lady that most of the kids don't even know! i'm hoping that we can go to the air & space museum annex at dulles airport. that would be the crowning event for the year. freakin awesome.

my favorite aircraft:
rotor wing--the UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter


fixed wing--the SR-71 Blackbird

i don't know other girls who have a favorite aircraft. would i be considered that much hotter then?

that would be cool....

:)

i'm sitting here eating an egg. i remember exactly where i was five years ago, how i found out and what i felt. my kids that i teach? the oldest were barely eight years old and don't remember much. sometimes i wish i was one of them. but i'm not.

i don't know what else to say about today.

i want more cake...

it's been a long summer that's turned into a long start to the school year. but, i'm fine.

recent excitement: getting side-swiped by ghetto-mobile in PG county friday night. like i said, i'm fine. it's just that my car is limping right now. that's what makes me sad. i<3>

good stuff: a) FOOTBALL!!!! the ravens AND the eagles won today. the planets must be aligned. b) TENNIS!!!! i'm watching the third set of the u.s. open men's final, with 4 games all. andy roddick is the rock star personality while roger federer is the deceptively cagey artist. and i do mean artist. i love andy's athleticism and raw strength, but federer has pin-point accuracy and can place the ball on a dime anywhere in the court. i would like for roddick to win, but whatever the result, it's still a very satisfying, riveting match. awesome.

nerves: chris has his oral exam coming up on wednesday, and he expects it to be brutal. i can't get there in time for it to start, and i hate that. i wish i could be there. but anyway, it starts out with a big presentation, followed by open Q&A (apparently, it doubles as a seminar) wherein other professors and graduate students can ask him ANYTHING. then, there's the private Q&A conducted with only his committee members. lastly, they finally kick him out of the room and decide whether to grant chris candidate status. personally, despite its inhumane degree of pressure, i deeply believe that chris will pass. he works SO hard. if you know him, you know what i'm talking about. anyway, send some good vibes on wednesday. i'm already proud of him.

:)

better than sex cake

the ladies have decided that, considering the nature of the male beast, it will now be called "foreplay cake." although, in the case of some gentlemen, it's "better than second base cake."

sorry, guys.

question: LADIES! are there times when you would rather have the aforementioned cake as opposed to its male substitute? is it worth it to have one of our headaches just to have the cake instead?

film at eleven...

two decent runs in a row?

go figure. i was feeling like crap all day, really noting the chunk that's been hanging on to me. the guys i know are like, "oh, shut up, you look fine," blah, blah, blah. and guys, trust me, i appreciate it. i don't disbelieve you. but, every woman will know what i mean when i say that there are fat days. and i've been having a fat month. my guess is that my up-and-down summer is catching up with me.

ANYWAY.

i went for a little run tonight, just doing another short out-and-back. i added only five minutes, to make it 25 total. the way i see it, it's better to do straightforward, mentally easy runs for now. that'll probably make it easier to get back into things. awesome.

so tired, and yet still antsy...

i finally ran again tonight. i'd been so nervous to go out again, thanks to this past summer--getting sick for an entire weekend following a run, passing out, almost passing out, being taken to the ER. i took it slow, went for only 20 minutes. i felt pretty good about it, and afterward i did a few little exercises here in the apartment. it's encouraging, so maybe i'll go again tomorrow. i'm not counting on the philly distance festival next month, but i'm hoping that i'll be okay for the october races, especially the army ten miler. i'll take little steps, but maybe eventually i'll get over my nervousness and be able to train regularly.

other than running, things have been really good. i start teaching at a little school in essex on monday, and i'm anxious to get going with 7th grade english. last night was parent night, and i think i rocked the house. even though it'll be a lot of Very Hard Work, it should also be awesome. wish me luck!

but now i have to go to bed on time. crap...

too bad we only get on at #20...

COME ON, GUYS! WE NEED TO UP OUR RANKING!!!!

kim, this one's for you.

this is getting ridiculous

so this past week was supposed to be the great relaxing beach vacation that i haven't had IN years. and, thank you, murphy's law, it wasn't.

set up: mom & dad got a fantastic little condo in OC for a week, and chris & i were going down for a few days. geoff & co. were going to be there for a few days too.

get down there. dad is already having major stomach issues and thus travels between his bedroom and bathroom. geoff & co. aren't coming down until the next day. but chris & i enjoy a beautiful walk on the beach. aww. next day. on the beach with chris. awesome. geoff & co. arrive, and the family dynamics kick in. put fairly behaviorally-conservative big brother and outspoken, offbeat boyfriend in close quarters for a few hours and blend. oil and water. huuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuge tension. discomfort. tears on my part. WHY can't things gel as well i want? geoff all quietly, but obviously, perturbed, and chris uncomfortable. fantastic. me. IN TEARS. oh, and fyi-dad in the ER because of his gastro-intestinal problems.

FUCKING AWESOME.

however, that night: two-on-two with chris & me and geoff & mia. it's pretty obvious that the men are making an effort to not rock the boat and get to know each other and the women are helping with conversation segues and bump-smoothers. thankfully, it goes okay, and by the time chris & i leave for a night out, there's a subtle sigh of relief on both camps that things are pretty okay. apparently, i was the one that was the most uncomfortable and was perceiving more of a problem then there was.

next day: dad still in the ER but in okay condition, but he has some kind of rupture/etc. that has to be surgically repaired. poor dad. mom, the trooper, at the hospital with him. me in emotional crisis. brother and boyfriend adjusting. yick. but, all of us, sans mom & dad, get some beautiful beach time. we all vacate the condo after awhile. it seems that everything has been so up and down and may settle any way.

that night: i'm driving home, and chris & i get lost TWICE. stupid delaware. delaware sucks. oh. and i get a ticket. $110. stupid delaware. it takes FOUR AND A HALF HOURS TO GET HOME. we don't get back until 2AM.

this caps off the most emotionally roller-coaster-istic summer in my life. *parting* ways with a roommate, no job, finding a new place, doing a lot of the moving mostly myself, getting a job and finding out less than 10 minutes later that my grandpa had passed away, the most amazing relationship moment in my life, this vacation.

whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger.

right?

my grandpa, the badass.







donald richard beatty
21 november 1918 - 19 july 2006

LOTS of things

is it too early to hate the redskins?

i am so exhausted. the past five weeks have been brutal, and the proverbial emotional rollercoaster almost ran off the tracks. fyi-i hate cliches. anyway, i'm completely moved, although i still have boxes of crap in my living room. i have a full-time job now: say hello to Mt. Carmel Elem's newest English teacher. look out, 7th graders! that was a very strange morning.

OLMC Elem's principal called me at 8:30 to tell me i'd gotten the job. i was ecstatic, and i called my parents. my dad answers, and i know immediately that something's wrong. then he told me that my grandpa had died earlier that morning. it had to have been not too long before my call because otherwise he would have called me. so within the space of ten minutes, i had gone from jumping up and down to crumpled on the floor. it's so strange.

one thing that i'm grateful for is my upcoming trip to the beach. God knows that i need a serious vacation. He already knows what i need before i do and comes through in spades.

in that vein, i feel a need to break open a bottle of champagne. or, on my budget of $0, a bottle of arbor mist. i don't think i've felt this way in years, and i'm so excited. revelations and vulnerabilities are so hard to come by, and the moment another person lets you in, you realize that your world has been changing. we picture pivotal moments and fairy tale words, but nothing ever happens the way we rehearse it in our heads. that makes it so much better.

at the moment, any pollock painting is pretty representative of my life right now, and it probably won't make much more sense anytime soon. but that's okay.

he colors it beautiful.

i'm back! but not for long....

Survey Survey Survey

I am fortunate to have a survey to steal from Kim so that I have something to post after so long...

1.Where did you take your default pic? In front of the Belaggio (sp?) on my fabulous `04 trip to Vegas.
2.What exactly are you wearing right now? My khaki shorts and Chris's Florida shirt.
3.What is your current problem? I'm so tired.
4.What makes you most happy? Running and working out, sleep and hugs. And other stuff.
5.What's the name of the song that you're listening to? No music--I'm in the library. SHHHH!!!!
6.Any celeb you would marry? It'd be a tough act to follow Cheryl Crow, but hey--I think I could stand marrying Lance Armstrong.
7.Name someone with the same birthday as you? exactly--childhood friend Ben Smith. not exactly--chris. oh and steve handy. weird.
8.Ever sang in front of a large audience? Several times. I wasn't even booed off the stage!
9. Has anyone ever said you looked like a celebrity? I've been compared to Jodie Foster, but I can't see it.
10.Do you still watch kiddy movies or kiddie TV shows? I think today's "kiddy" movies are more sophisticated than "kiddy" movies. So of course I do.
11.Do you speak any other languages? I know snippets of Spanish, French and Russian.
12.Has anyone you've been really close with passed away? Grandma Hixson and, sadly quite recently, Grandpa Beatty
13.Do you ever watch MTV? Um... no.
14.What's something that really annoys you? Hearing other people's TV/stereo/etc. through my walls loud enough for me to repeat the words verbatim.

Chapter 1:
1.Middle name: Cates
2.Nickname(s): JoJo, Jo, Joey, Toots, Gimp
3. Location: Library
4.Eye color: *Oceany* Blue

Chapter 2:
1.Do you live with your parents: No! That's what the Kyle Boller Replacement Party is all about!!!
2.Do/Did you get along with your parent(s): Yes. We have our moments, but we're a tight knit bunch.
3.Are your parents married/separated/divorced: married for almost 37 years. They're old. :)
4.Do you have any Siblings?: Older brother (almost 30)

Chapter 3:
1. Ice Cream: tin roof sundae
2.Season: spring/fall
3.Shampoo/conditioner: some overpriced salon brand that works so much absolute magic that i don't mind paying $11 per bottle

Chapter 4: Do You..
1. Dance in the shower? No, but I do dance naked around my apartment.
2.Write on your hand: If I absoLUTEly have to remember something, yes.
3.Call people back: Not my favorite thing to do if it's a business call.
4.Believe in love: I hadn't been in it in years, but yes, it's definitely real.
5.Sleep on a certain side of the bed: just me--next to the vanity (closest to the door); not just me--furthest from the door.
6. Any bad habits: Laziness.

Chapter 5: Have You...
1.Broken a bone: Yes--I had a hairline fracture in my ankle in Feb `05, thanks to the snow-covered pothole.
2.Sprained stuff: Really? If you knew me, you wouldn't have to asked. Of course I've sprained everything.
3.Had physical therapy?: Yes. If it hadn't been for Sports Medicine at UMBC, I'd resemble a bucket of bolts more than the goddess of sports and wisdom that I am today. HA!
4.Gotten stitches: Yes, when I had to have a tooth surgically removed.
5.Taken painkillers: YES. Don't remember what it was, but apparently, I made a lot of phone calls that I don't remember. Sorry, Chris. :)
6.Gone SCUBA diving or snorkeling: Snorkeling in Puerto Rico--one of the most amazing things I've ever done in my life. I'll have to wait until I actually have $$$ to go scuba diving!
7.Been stung by a bee: Yes. If it weren't for honey, I'd destroy them all. Bastards.
8. Thrown up at the Dentist? No.
9.Sworn in front of your parents: Yeah. Remarkably, sometimes they still think of me as their sweet little girl. I really have them fooled. Jk.
10.Had detention: No.
11.Been sent to the principal's office: Yes, but only to be told that I was being torn asunder from my dearly held circle of friends and transferred to the classroom across the commons area--the "honors" class. Stupid first grade cursed me for life.
12.Been called an idiot: yeah, but these days, people don't even need to say anything. All they have to do is look and laugh. And then I punch them.

stoop, lift, move, drop, run, puke

essentially, that was my past 24 hours. i'm 80% moved into my new apartment, with various and sundry miscellany to pack and cart over and my new big girl bed (long story) still waiting to come from pennsylvania. on thursday, i did a LOT of packing and moving by myself. and then i ran with kim. not too bad. running with kim is always good, and even though i was dog tired, it felt really good. day 1 down. yesterday, my parents came down, and we dismantled the little girl bed that my brother is taking for clara in their new house. we also packed a buttload more of stuff into their minivan, on top of the bed and mattresses, and into my car. luckily, by virtue of the bed going up to PA, we (meaning I) didn't have to haul that thing out of the van.

but, there was still some hauling. then i drive down to cpark to pick up chris, come back to baltimore and pack some more. but this time, i pick up a van from Enterprise. we pick you up, my ass... anyway, the whole point of the van was to accomodate the smaller amount of shit and pay about half as much as i would for even the littlest truck. so chris and i haul my big pieces and some other crap into the van (although he'll tell you he did most of the work--don't believe him). by the time we're heading over to my new place, we're damn hungry, so we stop at a Friday's. Big Mistake.

at this point, we don't care what we put in our mouths, and we both order burgers. me, i've been able to handle burgers lately, although i don't eat them often at all. but, this was not to be. anyway, same night, we put some of my crap in the apartment and basically hit the wall, unable to follow through on our ambition to go back and get load #2. so at midnight, i'm contemplating if i *really* want to run the dreaded dru hills--that meant i'd have to get up at 5:50AM to get ready and head over to the park. but then, i think that it's a major pride issue to say, "i've conquered the dru hills," and the shirt that the women get is always a collectors item. so i say, "i'll set my phone's alarm, and see how i feel when i wake up."

of course i couldn't sleep at ALL. that's what happens when a little baby twin air mattress just can't cut it. not that i don't appreciate it, but it's just not a real bed, and after two draining days, its best efforts couldn't do it. but i get up, and i have this obscene burst of energy and perkiness and am bouncing at the door. meanwhile chris is practically snarling at me for dragging his ass along because of car/van-pooling logistics. anyway, i get to dru hill park, i'm pumped, i run this bastard 10K very intelligently, i feel really good and am not even winded after i sprint to the finish, and chris and i go get the van and my car and head back to the apt.

it wasn't on the smooth highways that i started to feel pukey--oh no. it was on the bumps and potholes of reisterstown road. i felt Every Single One. this beautifully delicious cheeseburger from last night started to show its mr. jekyl head, and upon reaching the apartment, i had to sprint inside so as not to puke everywhere in the parking lot. ewwwwwwwww. problem: there was still heavy stuff in the van to move in. i was able to help here and there, but i spent most of my time illin' while chris was bringing the rest of the furniture in. i still feel guilty for that. but shhh. don't tell him.

so, i've been feeling like junk all afternoon and evening, but it's getting better. my guy takes really good care of me, and there are too many high points to be upset about the pukey burger, the rest of which i'm going to eat once i get back to my place.



the dru hills must have done some weird stuff to my head...

tennis's grand waste of time

ok, so i know i'll catch hell from male readers, but i have to fully explain my distaste for miss kournikova. put on your feminist listening caps:

saying that anna made it pretty well as a teenager but had to use her looks to "make it" is actually my point. it's a disservice to all the other women on the tour--unless they're destroying the competition a la martina navritalova (sp?) in her day, the women don't get noticed unless they can be marketed as a sexpot. and i dislike kournikova because she purposely did exactly that--why should lindsey davenport or kim kjlisters (sp?) have to pose provocatively to earn the praise they deserve? oh wait, they don't--they're actually good at what they do. you don't see the gratuitous use of tennis for reasons other than competing with maria sharipova, martina hingis, or the men for that matter--andy roddick, while pretty yummy, puts it all out on the court and earns his keep *there*, not in photo shoots and pretending to be something he's not.

it's one thing to pursue a modeling career of sorts. it's another to pursue it while saying that you're a great athlete when you're truly not. she was using her initial fame in tennis as a springboard to more of a celebutante life, all the while claiming that she was a great player. so gratuitously dragging the sport along with you, just to boost your cred, pisses me off, especially when, as has been said, the other "non-lookers" have to work their butt off for any recognition. the way she conducted her path distorts what sport is about.

oh, and she's not terribly brilliant either. she's now a fitness columnist for elle (i think it's elle, anyway), and i'm sure that the editors vomit every time she submits a piece. her snippets on workouts and the healthy, sporting lifestyle are written at a middle school level and don't provide any insight into anything. her title at the magazine should be Captain Obvious.


thus ends my dissertation on my distaste for miss kournikova. next time i'll discuss something that's not so ridiculously... ridiculous.

favorites

today we'll talk about athletes.

soccer: whole portuguese men's team. i absolutely canNOT wait for the match vs. england. they're once again the underdog, but i hope they pull off an upset like the 2000 Euro Cup. that would be AWESOME. they definitely have it in them, especially after withstanding the ridiculous brutality of their previous game.

tennis: andy roddick. while he's had a rough patch lately and isn't quite the golden boy of tennis anymore, he still has a wicked serve and the tenacity to make it in spite of the increasing depth of the field of competition.

track & field: christina hattestadt and stacy dragila. hattestadt is a norwegian javelin thrower who once held some damn good world records. i like her a lot because she took time off to become a mom and then came roaring back in competition, despite the track world's skepticism about her ability to return to form. stacy dragila is just awesome. she was really a force in bringing women's pole vault to the fore of international competition, and the way she nursed a friendly rivalry with the few other women in the event really brought attention to the sport. plus, a record-holding pole-vaulter friend of mine met her and said that dragila is a really down-to-earth, fun person. the sports world needs more athletes like that.

miscellaneous: lance armstrong. duh. jackie joyner-kersee. the retired track star is the epitome of all-around star athlete.

ooops, gtg!

Book'em, Danno!

my finger had a run-in with the kitchen knife

my finger didn't win.

aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand toby's totally sacked out. YESSSS!!!!!!!!!!

poor little guy is completely out on his pillow, all curled up with his new squeaky toy.

so this day has been a very good one. got back with the pacemakers today for a run through dru hill park, and hanging w/ them has made me realize how much i miss those long grueling runs. my main reason for getting out there was my detemination to do the dreaded druid hills 10K, one of the most, well, dreaded races of the year. it's basically an out & back, with the middle 4 miles pounding you into the ground, and since the pacemakers were hoofing it this morning, i figured it'd be a good idea to familiarize myself with how terrible these six/seven hills actually are.

i'm really glad that i did. it's not that the hills are impossible or that i was dying halfway through, but now i know exactly how i'm going to run the 10K--i'm going to run smart. thank goodness for cutting my teeth on hills in middle school and high school xc & track. anyway, this is definitely a race that calls for conservative running and an iron will. i'm very pleased with the run this morning, as i definitely ran very prudently. i cut short because i had a lot of stuff to do, so i ended up doing ~5.3 miles in ~55 minutes. i'm satisfied.

i'll have to blab about the World Cup! of Beer! tomorrow. i'm pooped. but mad props to the U.S. for holding off italy, especially with a man down. that equalizing goal (own-goal by the italian defender) was AWESOME!


gooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooal!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

lazy

interesting: "• Australian scientists in January said that they had identified a gene that causes bipolar disorder in about 10 percent of those with the condition."

very interesting....

anyway, tonight has been very lazy, mostly because i've been absolutely exhausted all week. so what am i going to do? wake up early tomorrow morning and do a long, hilly run with the pacemakers. :) because of that and my unintentional 7 miler yesterday, i just went easy tonight with toby. we just did our easy 2 mile loop in the park, this time at 730PM, to keep toby from overheating. it was nice.

and now it's bedtime.

:)

this is how 5 miles turns into 7.5....

first, take the stress of major job and household fluctuations. add to that some fantastic, wicked fast mood swings. fold in the desperate needs to exercise and get out of the house. bake in the hot sun for over an hour, and you get a brain that gets so wrapped up in its own little calculations and problem-solving scenarios that it forgets that taking that one road takes you for an extra 2+ miles. oops.

honestly though, since i've been more thoughtful about how i train, my runs have improved quite a lot. i am very deliberate about my pace and heart rate. i still refuse to buy one of the polar monitors, but i do know what my specific target heart rates are, and i'm doing a pretty good job of staying in the appropriate range. it's amazing what a little capitulation to a little common sense can do for your health. hehehe.

so, happily, i did the charles-northern-roland loop, with some side streets thrown in. took it easy and was out there fore ~75 min. so, that was awesome. we'll see if i join up with the pacemakers on saturday for the dru hill run..... don't know if i want to tackle those hills yet. i haven't gotten my crazy cap on just yet. :)

i feel pretty good, considering.

Custom Fitness Concepts

Hi, everyone. I just thought that I'd let you know that I am now a trainer with Custom Fitness Concepts, and the company is working to expand in the Baltimore metro. We offer outdoor conditioning, small group fitness, and personal training, among other things, and we partner with several health professionals to round out our well-being programs. Most importantly, we come to the customer, instead of the customer having to travel to us.

For further information, please refer to our website (see the link above) or call 877-598-0530.

I'd love to help you meet your fitness goals!

oh. my. lord.

some mgt. company is trying just a little too hard to rent their apt. units:


"Washer & Dryer in Every Home...Swimming Pool & Sunning Area...Located In Prestigious Catonsville..."

running over a new leaf

so this past weekend, i got trained. to be a trainer. more on that later. but back to running. with everything i learned this weekend, i've been thinking a lot about my runs and workouts. i've decided to modify my methods because i need to address some medical issues, and i haven't been seeing the appearance and performance results that i've wanted to.

as far as the medical issues go, i've had some flare-ups with bipolar disorder, and it's affected my training. as in i didn't train. what usually happens is that i have a TERRIBLE day and then i crawl under the covers. OR, if i try to run, i get overly worked up and either go too fast or just quit. so. remedy: start out with the idea of only going 10 minutes and go slowly. by and large, by the time i've reached the 10 minute, i've relaxed and keep going.

for appearance and performance results, i had to make a major mental shift. i've never really paid attention to target heart rates and fat burning vs. cardio zones; i should have, especially with the way my breathing has been lately. fat burning zones help people lose more weight because, since you're running slower to stay within a specific range, you can run longer than you can in the cardio and anaerobic zones. this, in turn, helps build my endurance for the races i've planned this summer.

so all in all, i did ~50 minutes, with a stop at rite aid toward the end to pick up my Rx. i went up the trail and down roland, and i tried to keep my HR in the fat burning zone. i felt pretty good afterward, and hopefully i'll keep this habit up.

excellent.n