Sometimes you just need to cut your hair

You know that feeling. It's the "I need to change something or do something different or I'm going to explode" feeling? I'm having that feeling right this second. Part of it could be that it's now 2:20 and I've eaten lunch, and been working on this project for 6 hours and I have to be here til 4 and I am really sick of sitting behind a computer. I think it has more to do with the fact that I've been wrestling with ideas now in my head for a while.

I'm starting grad school. That's something different. I've always tried to reinvent myself when I went to a new school. I tried to be less shy when I switched middle schools. I tried to get more involved in sports and academic team stuff when I went to high school. When I went to college I went somewhere that was out of state, that not a lot of people I knew went to. New major, new me, right? But through it all, I'm still same me on the inside. Oh, I've grown and changed. It's kinda impossible not to in almost 24 years. Still, I have grown into a set of morals and values that are mine no matter what, and not much is going to change that. So all this other changing is just window dressing. It's like the seasons almost. My back yard looks major-different four times a year, and every day there's just a bit of change to be found. Still, no matter how much snow there is, or how many leaves are on or off the tree, the tree is still there, and it's still my yard.

Still, You can trim the tree, or add hedges, or build a deck or gazebo in your yard. It's still the yard, but you've ended the monotony of looking at the same scenery every day. You can change the window dressing. I think I see a gazebo on the horizon.

Pete and Repeat went out in a boat. Pete fell in, who was left???

Yeah, we all know. Repeat. As in repeat my idiocy of last summer. Though this time the reasons were a bit different. But, the results were the same. So, are you all wondering what I have repeated?

I managed to fall down on my rollerblades again. Yup. I managed to skin open the same places as last year. My whole lower left leg, my upper (way upper) thigh of my left leg, and I managed to catch my right elbow as well. Would you like to hear the best part?!? I was TEN MILES from my car when it happened. 10 miles. And on a straight trail that it wasn't an option to have my companion go get the car. So, I got up, washed out as much of the dirt and rocks as I could w/ the water we brought along, and took off towards my car. (I had already skated the 11 miles out, we were returning) The stinging wasn't as bad while skating as it was while stopped though, and by mile 18 I was feeling my knees and back more than my new cuts and bruises...but still.

It happened because I didn't see a pile of wet leaves til it was too late. I was learning how to draft in a pace line, so I was about 1 foot behind the guy in front of me. When he yelled watch out, I didn't react fast enough. Oh well....live and learn I guess. At least this time the wounds are nearly as bad as last time. Oh they still hurt, and I won't be wearing jeans or tight pants or tight shirts for a while...but at least it isn't oozing as bad. And if I can do 10 miles on it when it's fresh, I can certainly do another hour and a half ride tomorrow...which is the plan.

At least it was a good workout, since the guy from work I was skating with is a whole foot taller than me!! And tomorrow I'm going out w/ a biker, so I get to play catch-up again. Sheesh!

As promised, more details of this weekend

Wow, what a fast weekend! I had so much to do, I can hardly believe I finished it all.

Let's see. Friday I did my volunteering in the morning. Then, about 1 Katie and I left St. Paul. We found some traffic, so we didn't get out of town as fast as we'd like. We made lunch stop (cause I was starving) and then drove all the way to GB. Once in GB I found another car, and drove to meet my parents on the property. Spent the evening making big fires, eating 'sacrificed' hot dogs, and making smores. And the STARS!!!! wow

Saturday I was able to sleep in, then I joined my parents on the property for some cutting wood fun. We hauled two pickup loads of firewood over to the campsite, and then went to destroy some bad gypsy moths who had taken up residence in one of the apple trees. We went for some lunch then, and came back to the campsite to make a nice fire and enjoy the afternoon. I left there about 3 or so and headed back to GB. When I got back, I found out Katie hadn't gone running yet that day, so she and I did a nice run to the park and back before I went home to get ready for the class reunion.
The reunion
It was something I wasn't really worried about going or anything, I just was undecided about actually going. I didn't know if I wanted to see those people again. Still, there were those who I had lost contact with for one reason or another, and hoping to make contact with them again, I went. I was pleasantly suprised. I chatted with a lot of people, even the ones I barely said 'boo' to when I was in high school. I did reconnect with the majority of the people I wanted too, and for some of the others, it was nice to hear what they are doing. It was also a nice gage for me to see if I'd been 'successful' in the last 5 years. Overall, we're all doing a variety of things, from work to school to lazing about to raising families, but most people seemed happy with where they were. I know I am. The reunion was held at a bar, so after it was over, I just met Katie and Shelly out at said bar to have a drink and chat. We met some guys and we chilled w/ them at various bars for the rest of the night.

Sunday I was able to sleep in a bit and then did some laundry (which I forgot in the dryer at home, damn it!) and then I went to dinner with the family before heading to Katie's graduation party. It was a great time. Got to see lots of more peoples, and Katie seemed to have a good time too--which is the important thing. Went swimming, and didn't freeze to death, catch pneumonia, or become hypothermic. Wow, the way this summer is going, that's almost a miracle. Then after the party, Katie and I loaded her car, and headed back to the Cities.

You see. Very busy weekend. Now hopefully I can recoup in time for this coming Saturday's festivities.

What an Interesting Night..

So, I started typing this, and got a phone call, so now it's later than I'd like it to be. Still I had my 5 year class reunion for high school tonight, and I have more fun than I thought I would. I'd like to write more, including the interesting stuff that happened after the reunion was officially 'over' but, I'm way to tired now. I'll write more either tomorrow night, or on monday.

Goodnight everyone!

BRRRR

Ok, where did the summer go? I mean, really! It's 62 outside. That would be fine if it were 3Am not almost 3PM! It's summer, and while I do not particularily appreciate extreme heat, I do rather enjoy not having to wear sweaters to be warm. I like cold weather. It's great. Fall is one of my favorite seasons (also when I was born, but that is besides the point) and I enjoy spring as well. I just prefer that seasons happen when they are supposed to. This is not Monty Python! There will be no 'giving summer a miss' here. We've had, what, 1-2 weeks of real summer weather so far this season?

By writing this, I am not inviting the realm of heat to invade our little city. I just want weather that will make me happy to be outside. I will save wearing the sweaters and wool socks for two months from now, thanks. So I ask you, if you are the one who stole our hot weather, please bring it back. If you place it in the box at the front of the day, where the sun can pick it up, noone will fault you.

Happy 200th Post!

This is the 200th post to this blog. So, instead of being a meaningful one, talking about all the interesting or meaningful shit I've written, I'm gonna ignore that, just wish my blog a happy 200th post, and leave it at that.

The Parents are Coming!!!

And I'm excited. It's going to be a fun weekend, and I think (think) the sky will stop falling long enough for a visit from them. I noticed the crack by the TV in the living room to be a bit larger last night than the night before, but let's hope it makes it though the weekend. (Oh, this is so joyful). Anway, Lance's family and my family are going out to eat tonight. Tomorrow my parents and I will go to the farmer's market, and to the zoo and the botanical gardens and all sorts of other fun and exciting places. Yippee.

Happy August on Sunday Everyone. And happy beginning of your Month of Birth Nae.

Wouldn't It Be Nice?

Remember that oldies song?  It went something like "wouldn't it be nice if we were older, then we wouldn't have to wait so long..." or something.  Yeah.  To that effect.  Wouldn't it be nice if people at work invented databases that worked, then we wouldn't be spending our day mincing around in a half working one.  For instance, I'm trying to add county data to address where it's missing.  Instead of "memorize address, delete address, search for address, see if it has the county in it...no?...delete address again, search again, then add new, add address again (the same one) w/ county in it, change something slightly so it doesn't yell at you, add this new address, save; we could instead just EDIT THE DAMNED THING!!!!   *takes deep breath*  Oh, there is a modify current address function.  But apparently I need my supervisor's supervisor's password to have access to changing that (I've tried it w/ the sup's).  It has sharing violations or something.  Aparently this database never went to kindergarten.  So, instead of just click, type address, save, continue, I get to do the process above...ALL bloody day.  *takes another deep breath*  This is definately a good test of my patience and ability to hold my temper.  Oh, I do so HATE stupid people, or at least people who don't think things through. 

Oh, and the best part is...they designed the database this way so they wouldn't have duplicate addresses...when the only way to fix the address is to duplicate the address w/ the county in it.  Oh, I can't wait for one of the database-police to come yell at me.  I will give them what's for.  *looks around*  Now, I'm going to go find something to kick.  Good thing I get to climb the walls later today, or I'd be trying it now.

Painted Fingers!!!

Well, not really, but I am going with a theme here.  My apartment is painted, and I'm sure the painters did paint their own fingers by mistake while doing the apartment.  I know that they sure didn't match the color scheme going when they did it.  But, I didn't want to wait and have them fix it so I put all my stuff back.  Then I call my landlord this morning to find out when they are going to work on the other bedroom and the living room (the whole house is falling down, I swear) and he tells me he will have them fix the paintjob.  I said, I already put everything back, so no thanks.  Hehe.  He'll just have to make it look normal when we move out.  Harumph. 

The bedroom Katie is moving into is going to be gone over and fixed on one wall.  It's not in danger of pulling what the kitchen pulled.  Kabooom!  But, it could in the next year or so.  Then, yesterday, in a mad dash to rearrange the living room...again...I noticed a goodly section on the wall in there that needed redoing.  So, that was the reason for this morning's call.  My landlord is probably not looking forward to calls from me.  Hehe. 

An update on the apartment on 1st, I peeked in the window (rather blatently, oops) and becuase of sun glare, the only thing I could catch was that the refrig is newer than ours.  All this fixing up brings to mind a song that Katie and I sung in grade school music class...the one about a hole in the bucket and two people named "lyza" and "henry".  I wonder how the "there's a crack in my wall..." song would go?

Finger Painting?

I haven't posted in a while, but it's not really my fault.  My apartment is still torn up, but hopefully today or tomorrow the nice painters will show up and make it so I can put it all back together. (pretty please?!?)  It shouldn't be too hard for them.  We hope something like painting a wall/ceiling bit doesn't tax them too much.

Anyway, the weekend rocked.  I went to see the Bourne Supremacy w/ Katie Saturday afternoon, and then Katie, Chris and I drove to SC to see Jenni.  We chilled w/ Jenni and Chad and Erik, played video games etc., and then it was on to the dna show.  I must say, the show rocked.  We were in and out b/c of food and drink necessities.  Saw Seconds Before and Down and Above play.  Must say, both bands were on.  Great toons, got my dance on.  Yay. 

Sunday I slept in late, did some cleaning, watched the tele, and then went for a run.  After the run I talked with the parents about their impending visit, and then went to Kris's for dinner and a movie.    Went to bed at my normal time, and could NOT sleep!  So, I'm sleepy today.  It will be an early night for me...after I finish my errands.

The sky is falling, Chicken Little!

Well, the ceiling is anyway. I went to work, and was having a good day, got lots done, and came home about 4. Walked in the door to my apartment and just stared. It looked like a mini ground zero in there. Plaster and sheet rock everywhere, like a mini bomb had just gone off. Then I looked at the wall/ceiling. The slanted part was missing a 7.5 by 4 foot section of plaster, that was now on the floor. And, another 8foot by 3 foot section was about to come down. I got out the broom, swept up the stuff on the floor, and left the stuff on the counter (I was NOT about to go under said about to fall section to clean up the other stuff).

Later last night, the second section fell. My toaster is full of plater, so is the foreman grill and the oven, and the counter and floor are scratched. I'm glad I don't own this building, and I'm just renting...but still?!!? Since when do ceilings fall down? Eep.

Oh, but the best news about this is, there is a section in my bedroom just about to fall. So I spent late last night moving my computer and my bookcase and hoping that the fallout wouldn't include where I'd be sleeping.

They're at my house today (the maintainence men) to redo the kitchen, and they'll redo my bedroom while they are at it. But sheetrocking is messy, and I'm NOT looking forward to cleaning up their mess when they are done! AND I just cleaned! Ugh.

(PS, my roommate's car battery was dead when she tried to start her car last night as well.)

Rain, Rain, go away. Come back another day.

On second thought, the rain wasn't so bad. I ran my first 5K today, the "Hairpin Run" in Door County. So named because about 1.5 miles into said run, you run down the 'hairpin curve' on some road. So, you start by running up this REALLY BIG HILL, and then you run up and down some more hills, and then you run down a hill and around this curve, and then you finish on this really long straight flat part. We woke up this morning, and it was pouring. So I sighed and thought to myself, "If only I hadn't actually pre-registered for this madness." But I had, and my mom and dad paid for said madness, so I was going, even though bed was a good place to be w/ the rain pouring down and the window open. Still, it wasn't a bad thing, because I talked a whole bunch of my cousins into sharing the madness with me. We started the weekend w/ just my brother and my uncle running it, and them having conned me into running it. By race time, it was my brother and his girlfriend, my cousin and her two children, my other cousin M who had the homecoming party on Friday night (more below), and my uncle. Going from 3 to 8 people. Whee!

So, the horn (airhorns are prefered instead of guns aparently) went off, and up the hill we went. My uncle was convinced that sprinting up the hill was better than taking it easy, since you didn't burn out so fast that way. Hell, what do I know, I followed his advice and tore up the hill. As my dad said (sorry if this offends any animal lovers) I ran up that hill like a raped ape. Then it was the long, wet trudge to the finish line. At least I gave it my all when I got to the end, and ran accross the line feeling good. I took 461st. (at least that was out of 800 people. I don't feel quite like a slow slow idiot.)

The rest of the weekend was fun as well. Wednesday night I went to Spiderman 2. May I repeat Katie's setiment...if you haven't seen it, get your lazy bum to the theatre pronto. Thursday I got up early and went riding/training horses w/ my good friend here. I didn't ride too much, in anticipation of the afore mentioned race. Friday I did my laundry and washed the Super Saturn, and then I went up to DC w/ the fam and went to M.'s homecoming from the armed services party. Good times! Saturday was play at the beach day w/ my bro and his girlfriend, and then out to the cottage to eat yummy food and shoot off big big fireworks. Damned mosquitos there ate you the second you went outside though. Nasty critters them. Sunday was the race, as mentioned, and now i'm sitting on my bro's laptop, getting pissed at the little mouse thing, and gonna order chinese and watch Kill Bill. Good weekend all around I think!

FINALLY!

Some decent weather! It's 80 outside and sunny. The best part is, I get to go enjoy said weather in a little while. Yup, you heard right. I'm going to leave work and go boating. Suntans galore! I don't know if we're waterskiing, or just pleasure riding, but it will be grand fun indeed.

Tomorrow I leave for GB for a long fourth holiday weekend. I'm going to go see SpiderMan 2 Wed. evening (after a yummy supper of Frank and Pat's Pizza). Thursday I'm gonna play w/ horses, and probably Monday too. My friend Shona and I are gonna go train some, and I'll finally get to see her Arab. Friday I'm gonna go to the dr. and then up to DC for a BBQ at my aunt and uncle's place. My cousin is coming home, so-in family tradition-it's time to party. Saturday is playing on the lake and supper at the cottage, like traditional fourth weekends, and Sunday is "the hairpin run". If you scroll down to previous posts, you will see that I'm going to run in a 5K on the 4th, which is suddenly this coming Sunday. I'm not sure I'm ready to run that far. Anyone who is a distance runner knows that that is not at all far, but for me, it's practically a Marathon. Let me have my rollerblades anyday. Still, I'm gonna prove to me that I can do it.

So, it will be a full weekend, and I have a feeling I will be sore when i get back to the cities! I just hope they don't pack up that finish line at the race before I manage to cross it. I'll position my mother at the end to make sure they don't. She'll give them what's for if they try to ruin my accomplishment!

Road Blocks of a Different Sort

I went to GB for the Father's Day this past weekend. Man, I've heard the old joke about there being four seasons in WI, Spring, Fall, Winter, and Road Construction, but that was rediculous. And, MN has the bigger problems. I'm happy to report that the bridge work by Menominee is better, or at least, temporarily over (if they decide to demolish the other side, it will be a few more months of ick). But, from the St. Croix to the twin cities is a pain in my bum. I swear! It is a good thing I left GB later than normal, or I'd have been really stuck in traffic.

The weekend was good. Had a good time with dad, did some shopping w/ mom, drove around in the little cabriolet (won't have it much longer, since the parents are going to sell it. The property is going to get a road soon, as in next week sometime. Well, at least we'll have the culvert in, and then we'll just have to order the gravel to make the road. No more going way past the entrance so you can get down the ditch safely! Yay.

So, now here's the week again. Where does the time go?

Road Blocks

Every time I've tried to write here for the last week or so, something has come up, or I've had writer's block. It's not like nothing's happening, lots is happening, it's just that whenever I try to make the words leave my head and transfer themselves down my fingers, though the keyboard, and onto my screen, a roadblock goes up. I suppose makes sense. I mean, this IS construction season after all. Every time I drive on I94, it seems like they have put up more barrels or rumble strips, or other traffic impeding apparati. Why not so in my brain as well. It's summer, and the warm days and gorgeous nights make sitting in front of a computer another type of block. I can't type when I want to run and play in the out-of-doors.

Katie made it up to the cities at last! Yay. I'm so excited that one of my best friends is finally here and we can enjoy the city together. Jenny made it to England ok, and I'm watchin the airfares so I can go visit. Jenni has had her baby, and he's the cutest little button I've seen in a long time, even when he makes his big stinks :P I still have two whole months of playtime left before beginning my masters. All these are good and happy things that have happened. Still, the roadblock exists and it's hard to write much about them.

I spose, it's probably because the main people who read this blog, read Katie and Jenny's blogs, or know Jenni, so they already know these things, and so I don't really have to blog it. Still, I want to. So there :P Ok, three year old mentality aside, it's just been difficult to turn my computer on at home at night when I've had one on infront of me all day at work. I'll get better at posting, I'll just have to do it during the day!

AMBITION!!!

I suddenly have the urge to go home and clean my room. If I could leave now from work, that's exaclty what I'd do. Here's to hoping the urge lasts. Maybe I can leave a bit of that urge here in this post. *** There. Now, when I read it again at home, I'll be like...Must...Clean....Room, and the compulsion to do it will be strong. I'll look at this and remember how eager I was to live in a clean room again, and have all my paperwork taken care of, and how exciting it will be to be done. Hmmmm, yup, 4 hrs from now I'll be working on getting this ambition back.

update

I did get the room clean and the paperwork taken care of. Now, of course it's a bit messy again, but the paperwork is still all good, and I'm excited. Yippee.

Whee!

I went running last night, and I ran a lot faster than my pace! I went w/ Kris, and her pace is so very much faster than my pace. 2 mph in fact (which is a lot when running) and so I ran 2.5 miles at her pace, then I walked around for abit while she ran another 1.5 mile lap, and then we ran home. I went another mile and just faster than my 'old' pace, but it wasn't quite as fast as her pace either. Yippee!

So, to answer my old post, I went to the movie and figured out the shrunken head. It was a good movie; they left a lot out from the book though. Still, I enjoyed it, and look forward to the fourth movie.

Tonight I get the joyful tasks of doing paperwork, and going grocery shopping. I told Kris we should go rollerblading today (last night), but I have since changed my mind. I went climbing, for a walk, and for a run on Sunday; climbing and for a walk on Monday; for a walk tuesday; climbing and for a run on Wednesday. I think it's time to settle down and take a day off. Or, maybe I could do situps and such today? Nah. I'm really getting myself into the groove though. I feel icky if I don't work out. Like, not quite w/ the world unless I've done something active for the day. Now I need to alter my diet, and we'll actually be on our way to getting in the shape I've wanted to be in for the last few years, and been to lazy or complacent to do. Go me!

Now, if I keep it up, I might actually NOT look likea fool in the Fourth of July run that I'm doing. It's 5K, and I'm doing it to get my uncle and brother off my back about it, since I've been telling htem for a few years that I would do it with them. I just hope they don't pack up the finish line stuff before I get there...talk about nightmares :P I'm trying to go faster, I might even not be last if I keep this up!

Shrunken Head?!?

I looked at the website for Harry Potter more this week as I bought tickets and became addicted to the hippogriff game. What the? Is it just me? I don't remember there being a shrunken head in that book. Or any book. I think I'll reread that book tonight/tomorrow a bit before the movie opens. Or, I can just wait til tomorrow evening to figure out wny my memory sucks. Or, maybe they are introducing peeves as a shrunken head? Time will tell!

I'm entitled to a little down time...

So I did this:

T	Tough
R	Realistic
I	Inspirational
C	Crazy
I	Innocent
A	Accurate

Name / Username:

Name Acronym Generator
From Go-Quiz.com

Super Size Me

Yesterday I was busy at work with files all day, so when I got off work, I decided I needed a treat. I went to B&N for a book, but didn't find one. Then I went to get groceries, and found a book at the grocery store. Weird, I forgot to look for that authoress when I was at B&N though. Then I ate a quesadilla and drove to Uptown for the movie Super Size Me. Great film. Really funny, and disturbing at the same time. I laughed a lot, and cringed a lot, and recommend everyone go to see it. Especially if you tend to eat a lot of fast food. I haven't eaten at a McDonald's for about 5 years, unless you count the 1 snack size yogurt parfait and the 2 apple pies I know about in the last five years. No meals, anyway. I tend to avoid fast food on principle, but mostly because I get physically sick every time I eat it. I can eat some Arby's, the potato or chili at Wendys and subs. That's about the extent of my 'fast food' intake.

Not that I'm getting all up in the faces of people that do eat it. It's just I can't, and since I can't, I don't. And now that I haven't for a really long time, I feel sickened by the thought of putting that much grease into my belly. The average burger/fry/soda combo scares me. This movie validates much of the problems I have with this food. The nice nutritionists in the movie say you should eat at a McDonald's type establishment only once or twice a month, because of the high fat content and the fact that it doesn't meet most of your nutritional needs. I think that would be good enough for a 'treat' for people who need/want/like it. I won't give anything else away, but if you have a chance, to watch it.

I have my vices too, of course. Like last night, for instance. When I was at the grocer purchasing my book, and milk, I bought a half gallon of ice cream. Ice Cream is just as bad for you as fast food. If you eat it all the time, you'll have the same problems. I don't intend to eat it all the time though...it's just it made me giggle so hard when I saw it, I had to have it.

I bought Bunny Tracks Ice Cream. It made me laugh because I was thinking about the bunnies on the property from this weekend. The baby bunny that came shooting out of the bonfire (apparently he decided to take up residence) and then the Mommy Bunny that gave us "evil death looks" for tampering with her baby bunnies. So, the ice cream was only fitting. Talk about impulse buying though :P I had a bowl last night, and maybe I'll have one tonight, but I doubt it. I had chili and a crossant for lunch, and I'm having a piece of cake from a coworker's daughter's wedding leftovers for dessert, so I don't think I'll need the bunny tracks tonight. Besides, when will I have time? I am climbing right after work, then eating a small amount and going rollerblading after that, and then trying to finish my book. No time at all. Gotta get in shape-the movie has inspired me to exercise more and eat better, and do my situps. Ugh--now it's in writing and I'll have to do it!