They are invading! They have taken the house by storm! So far, I've seen 3...or maybe it was one three times, or...AH! You never know. We thought it was one, and we chased it away Sunday night, but then...Katie saw one last night. We are DOOMED. Ok, enough with the C-3PO quotes, but still, it is a problem. I called the landlord for traps, but he's not being so quick about getting them to us, and I don't want the mice to have babies in our cozy place. So I'm going to go harass him again for more. I've never encountered a mouse in this house before, though there was some evidence in the basement. GRRRR. I want my mouse free house back.
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Remember me talking abou the ceiling falling down? There it is, chunk one of the fallen ceiling exposing the wall below. The next chunk (everything below this missing one here all the way to the left and more) fell later that night, and I dont' have a picture of that. I should have taken a picture of the mess it made too, but I didn't. Oh well, the kitchen and my room are fixed now, but they have yet to mud and paint Katie's room...since August. Ugh.
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Look at me go!

Ok, to explain the picture below, this picture is taken at mile 26 of the 26.2 mile race, and just after you have come up the interstate off ramp (the second biggest hill on the course, but it sucks worse cause it's at mile 26). I think I look pretty good for being at this point. BTW, I went on to sprint past Mr. Number 5022 to the finish line. From this point in the race, it's down the hill and around the corner (tricky w/ the tar and tired legs) and then a 300 m sprint to the finish line. People cheering you on, bells ringing, it's great fun! I can't wait for next year!

Here is me in the Northshore inline marathon. This picture was taken by ActionSports International. It's copywrited, but I'm not distributing it, so I think it's ok for me to use here :P I'm still deciding if I'll purchase a small pic of me in the marathon or not...
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The Bus of Eternal Stench

Oh, it stank. It's the stink of ages. Once it gets on you, it never goes away, and even when you are in your house, away from the bus for 3 hrs, you still smell it. Noone else does, or they pretend not to. But that SMELL! The bus I rode home tonight smelled like mothballs, or something equally discusting. That putrid, astringenty, metallic-biting smell. Maybe it smells of Urinal Cakes. I don't know. But whatever it was, whoever it was -STANK. I smelled it all the way home, and combined with the diesel fumes and the fact I had to sit in the back of the bus, facing sideways and trying to hold a convo w/ someone...

My poor belly is still doing flip flops. I took a shower to releave myself of the stench, but I think it's permenantly impressed upon my nose hairs and my brain. I can't really even smell, my allergies are so bad. Ugh, so that tells you just how BAD this was. I think I'm going to put vaporub under my nose and go to bed and pout there. I'm sure Eeyore and Kirara will keep me company, and they won't tell me that I smell now too. :(

...And Stretch.

Oh, I'm a bit sore. Not so bad though, because I did train, but eep...I'll train harder for next year. But I so happy I did it, not just to prove to myself I could, but because I set a goal and attained it. I finished in 1:46:58, and my goal was to finish in under 2 hrs. My other goals, not falling, and getting to the start on time, also were attained.

So at the award ceremony, my brother is looking at the times that won the Rec division. Suddenly he announces, "I could beat these times." I looked at him, and I thought to myself, "yup, he could...hmmm" and a plan formed. So, for next year, he's gonna do it, and we're gonna train to do a speed line together. we hope to get at least one more who can go that fast (finish around 1:20) so that he wins overall rec. and I win women's rec. Sound impossible? Well, I thought me doing a marathon in anything was gonna be hard, but I actually had quite a bit of energy left at the end...so who knows how fast I can go. Oh, and of course I'll be souping up my skates for next year (not new ones...yet...but definately better/bigger wheels and better bearings).

Good times. Now to lose 15 lbs, get a bike, find some goggles and do the swimming and the biking for cross training. Oh, and don't forget the skate skies and classic style XC skies...oh, and the downhill skies! Gotta have something for cross training!

I'll get a pic of me up as soon as I have one.

Back to basics

So far in my classes, I haven't really learned anything new. I thought that was what grad school was all about. But I spose we have to review everything that everyone might have forgotten over 1 to 15 to 30 summers between their last semester and now. Still, I'm getting a new perspective on old material. It's odd though when you cover an ENTIRE class you had in undergrad in 50 min. (and you understand it all, and it starts coming back to you! woot!) The homework sucks, and I'm not quite sure how I'll keep up with it, and working, and having any sort of life what so ever. I know what Katie means, she's at school all friggen day, and I'm at work and class all day too. I should put a blanket in my pod at work, and another in my locker at school. Yes, I said locker. I have a cute little locker that is about 4 inches wide by about 4 feet tall, perfect for jackets and mittens, and on top, there is a little 1ft x 1.2ftx 2 1.5ft deep cubby for things like extra shoes, food, gym clothes, books, etc (though not necessarily all at the same time!)

When I look at it all, it's like EEP, when am I doign to get X, Y and Z done and still read P, D and Q while studying for F, U and K exams. But, it's not so bad when I break it down week by week, and make lists, and just breathe. After all--everyone is getting overwhelmed by something at some point, it's how we deal with it that makes us stronger people. I am convinced (at least at this point) that grad school isn't so much about learning the material, as about learning how to find the material you need, and how to cope when you can't or it's just too much at once.

In other news, my B-day went quite well. I went to work and to class, (poo) and then after my class I went to Old Chicago w/ Kris from downstairs, Peri from class, Lee and Chris and my bestest roomie Katie! We had food, and then, I had the Fudge Brownie (w/ ice cream)-for free cause it was my b-day and they're all nice like that. Don't worry, I shared. It was a hodge-podge celebration put together about 3 hrs before we went, right before my class, and I didn't get a chance to call everyone, specially the people I knew it would be more than a little hastle to drive all the way over to St. Paul just for a late dinner...but I hope to do something more next week/end sometime. Nothing special, just maybe dinner or a small movie night, or going out (hehe)

So, the rest of this week stays busy. I have class tonight, volunteering tomorrow and then a Dr. Appt. and then I leave to go get my race packet in Duluth. Then Saturday is The Big Race. (well, big for me anyway, as it's my first ever) Karin is riding up to Duluth w/ me, so we'll get to chat away any pre-race jitters. But all in all, I'm getting really excited for this race. I was really kinda disappointed when we didn't do it last year, so here's to the second try!

Whew!

Ok, I knew that grad school would be work, but this is ridiculous! I will most definately be reorganizing my study habits. I am used to skim the book, do the problems. Now it's read the book, write the paper. That's easily twice the work as before. Not HARDER work, per say. Just more work. And I'll be working more hours during grad school because I need to pay rent and eat food. Luckily for me, I have 5 hrs between classes tomorrow in order to study study study!

Bleah. I've been up since 6, I'm going to bed. I worked twice as long today as I had planned on working. I'll probably check my webct stuff again before going to bed, just to make sure I have everything I need for tomorrow.

Gotta love school, right? WHEEEE!

Yippee! Remember all that talk about cutting the hair and changing the window dressings? Here it is. I've added the little picture bot thing from Hello (link at bottom) to my blog. I am not sure what pics I'll add, but this is one of my favorites from the Europe trip last summer. Oh, and Rachel, do you have the pic CD? I don't know where it is, grant it haven't looked, and I accidentally deleted them all off my computer when I reformated :(
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What a difference a day makes!

Wow, I have already typed this blog entry. It's almost like deja-vu, only this time I know I'm repeating something. Damned blogger has been misbehaving for me lately. Ok, here I go again.

On Tuesday, I was fretting because I didn't know what I was going to be doing one week from then. Then Wonderful Wednesday. I met my advisor, registered for classes, visited the bookstore (in an attempt to purchase my books so I could be super ready for class, but no luck), and poof!, I know what I'm doing from now until December. Not only that, but I have a strikingly good idea of what is going on Spring semester too! Woot!

Also on Wednesday I had my car's oil changed and tires rotated, and all the other bits checked out--good news, I have no need to replace my breaks like I though, they are just being squeaky (so says the nice mechanic who should know what he is talkign about). When I got home from doing that I cleaned the kitchen, and cleaned my room. But I still wasn't done. I then attacked all the stuff in my attic that I've been meaning to do all summer, and was one of the major 'you will do this' things on my "summer to do list". Missions: accomplished. So I celebrated last night by playing video games with Katie and reading some Star Wars. A good day indeed.

I also learned that once you are registered for grad school, you become suddenly smarter. At work for instance, I suddenly have been talking with people about 'developing' things and 'researching', instead of simply filing. Oh, and the biggest improvement on the work situation...tomorrow I'm going to go shoot water balloons off - as scientific research. I like 'developing' and 'researching'. Yup, it has been a good day and a half!

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.