Tag Archive for new beginning

The Triathlon Rx | September 27, 2008
7 comments

whe's ma chalie cahd?

Well if this isn’t a good time to update, I might as well give up, because it can’t get much more chill than this! Clearly I won’t go over everything from my flight out here to today, but believe me – it has been BUSY! Something along the lines of this..

 

But judging by that ^ that means I’m getting a hang of my mac. Sorta. What I can say for sure is I LOVE iCal. I DON’T love that freaking AutoCad (which was mandatory for our FIRST project in studio) is made for Windows, but yet we all had to go spend like $1700 on macbook pros. Hmmm. So then we had to go spend $$ more on Parallels and Windows for Mac. Everything. Costs. Money.

But getting used to it I guess. Lets see.. what else is major?

I got my work study job at the MARINO CENTER which is probably the greatest campus fitness center I’ve ever been to. Ever. So working there is really no biggie because I’m there all the time anyways.. :)

I love all 5 of my suitemates, and we all love the 6 guys next door. We’re like a [really big] family.

Some more things:

  • The Charles gets hella boring. I miss the lakes and parkways in Minneapolis
  • I STILL love JP Licks
  • EVERYONE has an accent. Myself included. And people take it offensively when you tell them “You have a xxx accent.” It’s not a bad thing…. calm down. 
  • Good guys already have girlfriends. Because they’re actually good guys. I’ll leave that outta this post.
  • I can fit a LOT into one day. No joke.
Soooo that’s all I’m gonna say for now. I freaking love Boston. And I WILL make sure I can stay here the rest of my college career! I promise I’ll be more regular with updating – I was just dreading this first post because I felt like it’d be really overwhelming. But, uh, I took care of that by not including like anything! Sorry guys! :D
I’ll be back. Promise. 
[EDIT EDIT EDIT]
Oh right.. why is it so chill on a Friday night? Um.. it’s actually been raining ALL day and it like JUST let up for the first time since I’ve been awake. And 3 of my roommate had training for this volunteer project they’re doing. And one was out.. on an adventure. And there wasn’t much going on aside from the Presidential Debates. Tomorrow night though..!
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The Triathlon Rx | September 4, 2008
12 comments

The early bird gets the hella early flight..

I have been awake since 2:45am.

Looking over at my clock.. it says 5:13. Oh yeah. That clock needs to make it in my bag.

This was all done by Monday:

And the rest of the week was family, run club, scrabble, goodbyes, and ice cream.

So.. Boston fam? I’m on it.

See ya when I get there! (and when I get to Target.. I forgot to buy an internet cable.)

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The Triathlon Rx | August 22, 2008
15 comments

loving life..

You may not have been waiting for this.. but I have!

“This is your last chance. After this, there is no turning back. You take the blue pill – the story ends, you wake up in your bed and believe whatever you want to believe. You take the red pill – you stay in Wonderland and I show you how deep the rabbit-hole goes.” (You know the movie..)

But really, all I wanted to do was make sure I wasn’t taking a blood thinner..

Steady’s on the East Bank of the U of MN campus. We first went to Uptown tattoo, but their waiting list is out until mid November. They’re really that good. But the owner at Uptown recommended Steady to us.. so to Steady we went!

When we went in for the consult, they took a photo for us so we could have it done to scale. They also let us do a little photo shop to make it look the way we wanted.. :D If only you could do that in life!

I’m really glad I went first.. watching first probably would have made me really nervous. I didn’t look at the equipment or anything before hand – same with when I got my belly button pierced. (On my 13th birthday! If I saw a 13 year old today with her belly button pierced, I’d say she’s too young, and doesn’t need that kind of thing yet. Hah.. mom – do you regret letting me make that decision?)

The “trial” to make sure it’s in the right place. It was strategically placed to have both hands on the opposite sides of my clavicle. Med students? Am I right? Or was that just made up..?

It really didn’t hurt as much as I thought it would. It did feel different than I had imagined though – more like he was cutting the design into me, whereas I had pictured more of a continuous-bee-sting type feeling. Wow. Either one of those options sounds terrible!

Getting close to finishing..

Well let me tell you.. that’s not red ink. It will obviously settle down though. And the vein in my dads hand will look less pronounced when the irritation dies down too. I honestly couldn’t be happier.

Your turn! You were wondering who “we” was referring to, huh? OK.. no more captions for every photo – I’ll let the pictures tell the story.

A complete set.

I really want everyone to know that this is something my dad and I have talked about doing for a LONG TIME. In no way was it just like “hey.. let’s get tattoos.” We both thought long and hard before we came up with the design, and where to go. Being the typical type-A person that I am, I don’t think there is any part of the process or aftermath that I didn’t run through my head before hand. I am very aware that a tattoo is permanent, and anyone considering having one done should realize that too. Just a few days ago this lady (who looked to be mid 60s, mind you) came into my work in this rhine-studded tank top, with “NICE RACK” tattooed across her chest. WOW.

I asked Rodger (the tattoo artist who did both mine and my dad’s) if he ever had to do a tattoo for someone that he just knew they’d regret down the line. He said he doesn’t have to do any tattoo – as an artist he has the right to refuse any proposal. But he also said that when people come to him to have work done, you have to realize that they are “adults” and have the right to make choices for themselves. Good choices? Not always.. but the right is theirs.

Oh.. and the design? I am not even going to attempt to try and explain it. It obviously looks like a pinky promise, but to be honest it means nothing like it. It’s just me. And dad. And it always has been, and always will be.

So. Thank you so much Rodger – you did a phenomenal job! I really would recommend him to anyone. I am off to the Cabin (my Uncle’s actually) on Lake George for Friday/Saturday/Sunday to put a great end on my summer! Unfortunately there will be no water tubing or swimming (lake water = not super sterile), but there will be plenty of watermelon eating and bonfire action and family time, which is already better than anything I could ask for. Then I come back and pack my butt off – I still have so much left to do! Have a lovely weekend everyone!

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The Triathlon Rx | July 18, 2008
3 comments

The Green Line, JP's, Newbury & Boylston, and a lil ABP..

Well since there is no FREE WIRELESS at Logan Airport, I figured I might as well begin writing my post.. since I have TWO hours until I board the plane to Chicago (hah – what a complainer!). My flight was delayed due to “bad weather” in Chi.. (light rain = bad? Really? Really really? OK.) so I will now have just 30 minutes to make my connecting flight from Chicago to Minneapolis. I’m just keeping my fingers crossed that there are no more delays.. I have to work tomorrow!!

Anywho.. let’s do a lil breakdown of my trip in Bean Town:

Day One: got to watch some Olympic coverage on the plane (!!), love the “SaniSeats” in the Chicago Airport (although not their lack of free wi-fi), and of course my lover – Purel. Arrive, navigate the T over to Northeastern, check in, meet Lauren (one of the girls I’ll be rooming with next year, and my actual ROOMmate!!), a run on the Charles, little walking tour including JP Licks (!!), sleeeeep in a way hot dorm (thank god not where I’M living next year) with no AC or fan.

Day Two: early run on the Charles (out the door before 6am!), a day PACKED with orientation hoo-ha (do people actually use that word? I never have.. until now.), night at the Marino Center, sleep. ((That sounds like a low key, non-eventful/stressful day. WAY WRONG. After I got back from my run, between breakfast and the Marino Center at night there was literally at most like 15 minutes of free time. Most of the information sessions were just telling us things we already knew, which was expected, but they did a good job.))

Day Three: early run on the Charles with BRIAN (aka BigB on the Road – see blogroll!) plus a little solo adventure around the Fens, yet another jam-packed-non-stop day of orientation goodness until 3:00. I bought a NU Jacket!! Even though it’s like 85 degrees now, I remember what it was like when I was here in January. And that jacket was freakin’ cute. Check out from orientation ~3:00, take the T down to the Colonnade, check in, and explore the Pru (Prudential Center for all you non-Bostonians. I feel so official already), explore Newbury, explore Boylston, dinner from Trader Joe’s, remembering how much I LOVE Boston!

Day Four: Finally a day all to myself. Slept in as much as I felt like it, run on the Charles, lunch from Shaw’s, try out the fitness center/pool at the Colonnade, more exploring around town. Walked through Downtown, the Financial District, a touch of China Town, eventually made it down to the Haymarket area for a lil Faneuil Hall/Quincy Market. Consumed two huge McDonalds ice cream cones along the way (what the hell happened to size small!?), took the T back because by that time it was already 10:00! Oops!

Day Five: Rest day from running, took lunch from Shaw’s down to NU for a last goodbye, dropped off course descriptions and class syllabi (plural of syllabus. Hmm..) so this credit transfer can be straightened out (at the moment they’re not taking 2 of my classes! And 2 are “pending evaluation”. No way Jose!), talked with my hermana about how excited I am and she needs to come visit ASAP, got a last and final JP Licks on my last day (3 times in 5 days. Better than 4 times in 5 days like last January!), a last goodbye to Newbury, smoothies from Boloco, saw the Marathon exhibit at the Bos. Public Library (not as cool as I was expecting.. bummer!), annnnnnd back to the Colonnade to get my stuff to go. The bellhop told me there was no way in heck that I’d get on the T during rush hour with my bag.. little did HE know that I’m pretty capable of squeezing in the smallest spaces ever (can’t say the same about my bag..) and I made it just fine. Transferring onto the Blue Line was a bit of a hassle since I was way in the back of a car, and had to make it to the middle so I could get off on the left side. East coast people are nice though (despite popular belief from the Mid West..) and helped me out.

So basically I’m in love all over again and I can’t wait till I get back out here. It has been hard for me to stay committed to being excited about moving to Boston – I only have one year secured at NU, and after that things are up in the air. Financially.. I’m scared outta my mind. But being here made me feel like it’s worth all the doubts and fears I have.. and what I get out of it will be WAY worth it.

I didn’t take as many pictures as I thought I would.. and I’m just realizing I’m not in ANY of them! But I don’t really do the whole hold-cam-in-front-of-face-CHEESE! thing.. so there you go. I love Boston. I Love Northeastern. I’m pumped about Architecture there. I’m pumped about my roommates and suite. I’m pumped about being a Husky (and not a Gopher!). I’m pumped about the Boston Marathon. I. CAN’T. WAIT.

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The Triathlon Rx | July 9, 2008
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getting back on track..

..and NO, I don’t mean in the way that it seams everyone else has been talking about. I don’t need a diet cleanse after the 4th of July weekend (although, there were some yummy delicious things involved!).. I’m just kind of at the point where I just need a life cleanse.

Hah – wow. Could I sound more dramatic? I’m not trying to be.. but hopefully putting this in writing will be a good step in moving forward. (And because I do everything in photo form.. it will of course be accompanied with pictures. Some of which may be irrelevant.)

Sperly’s Lovin Life Lowdown: Phase 1- Detox

Everyone has bad habits.. whether we admit to them or not. And if you don’t like the words “bad habit”, lets just say there are some things we could all do better at in life – I have my fair share of those things. Maybe this should be Phase 2.. because Phase 1 would have been like recognition and claiming responsibility or something along those lines.. but I didn’t think of that till now, so too bad. ;) Here are the things I’ll be workin on for the next… while.

1. Sleeping. I’ve accomplished all of my new years resolutions, except for getting back on track with a decent sleep schedule. I used to go to bed after the sports on the local news, and ever since 2nd semester last winter I’ve been staying up until like 12:30 or 1:00.. or later. And then waking up still at 7:00 because my body is incapable of sleeping past sunrise. I’ve had to reset/change my sleeping patterns before due to a new job or a different class schedule.. and for some reason this last effort has efficiently FAILED. Work on it.

2. Letting go of my mom’s relationship decision. I have no say in who she dates. Why she dates them. What they do. When they do it. I don’t get to pick if she choses to get married again. My parents aren’t getting back together and I know that. Missing our family 4 and wanting it back are two different things. I can miss it, but they’re not getting back together. I may not love my mom’s boyfriend, but I love my mom. Work on it.

3. Letting go of my own relationship non-relationship stress. After my last relationship ended I was really enjoying being single.. but to be honest I’m not exactly feelin’ that right now. I’m torn because I want a relationship, yet at the same time I only let myself get to a certain point before I close myself off and don’t allow one to develop. My outlook on relationships has been jaded, and I don’t know how to get around that. And especially considering my current situation – I’ll be leaving in two months. That’s not time to start anything serious. But I don’t know that I’m enjoying being on my own. Aah! God knows what’s up, and he’s got a plan, so I need to leave it to him and let life take it’s course. Work on it.

(This photo is from 4th of July 1 year ago when I was up at my bf’s grandparent’s house on Lake Michigan. It was so much fun! We’re still friends. :) )

4. Stay excited about going out to Boston. I do love the school. I do love the city. I love architecture and I know I’m passionate about it. Every now and then though, I remember that we can’t really afford it, and I’m leaving behind a full ride at the U of MN. And then I remember that I’m going to be hundreds and hundreds of miles away from my home and my family. And then I think about how much I’ll miss the lakes, and how bored I’ll be running the Charles (I clearly have my priorities figured out). I need to find a way to stay excited about this, because if I don’t go now, I never will. Work on it.

5. Being a better person all around, to everyone. I feel like I’ve been more irritable/fake with people than I used to be, and that’s NOT ME. I’ve still kept my promise (to myself) about not talking about people behind their backs, but that doesn’t mean I haven’t been thinking just as (if not more) bitchy thoughts them (whoever “them” happens to be at the moment). It didn’t use to (used to?) take a conscious effort to be a legitimately nice person to everyone. Despite how much I gritted my teeth, I could always find the good in someone, and remind myself that God made them too – we’re all human. Maybe I’m just irritable because of the major sleep debt I’ve been in? Maybe more sleep will help? I sure hope so. Work on it.

I’m only going with 5.. because I feel like more than that and I’m being over ambitious.. I like setting goals in smaller steps. Plus, everything is better in odd numbers (flowers, candles, cookies) (OK I lied.. being the 3rd wheel SUCKS).

I honestly have no clue where this post is headed, and what a future follow-up post will be, but there you go.

In Other News..

I’m flying out to Boston on Sunday (wayyyyy early in the AM), and I’ll be there through Thursday. (Or Friday – take your pick. My flight gets in at like 12:08 in the morning on Friday.) I’m SO EXCITED! Sunday/Monday I’ll be staying in the dorms on campus, and Tuesday/Wednesday I’ll be staying at the Colonnade Hotel. I’m not sure which one I’m more excited about – the Colonnade is pretty sweet!! It’s right by campus though, so I’ll be getting used to commuting from “home”.

I had my highest mileage week.. um, ever.. last week. 72! Unintentional, but felt fine. (And please [do I even need to say this?] – no anonymous “you shouldn’t run that much” comments. It won’t get posted, and you’ll be wasting your time.)

(There’s a ME in there.. running at Harriet. I love these photos.)

My mom’s BF is coming.. TOMORROW. For 2.5 weeks. Please see above for my feelings on that.

(bahhaaha.. kidding. Hope mom can take the joke.)

Well, I’m gonna have to sign off here folks. Time for a shower and my bathroom cleaning/laundry duties for the night. I apologize for posting so infrequently, but I’ve been working every day (look forward to a very photographic TF post coming soon!), + running, + friends and family, + prepping for Boston, and I just don’t have a ton of free time. Be back soon!

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The Triathlon Rx | May 26, 2008
22 comments

Gomer (go'-mer): Hebrew – to complete.

[EDIT EDIT EDIT - PICTURES ADDED!! - EDIT EDIT EDIT]

So I’m starting this post a little after 9:00 on Sunday night.. knowing it will take me a good minute before this is “publish ready”.. not to mention just to think of all the things I want to include in here! Don’t feel obligated to read the whole thing.. just look at pictures and highlights if you want.. but this is more for me than anyone else.. I really want to remember this one! I’m not even sure where I should begin on my

MED CITY MARATHON REPORT:

When I posted on Saturday morning.. I was just about to head out to work. Well I got to work.. and it was like a freaking circus! Literally.. there were SO many people up front in the window/running that it was ridiculous. Definitely more people than needed, and especially for a lunch shift. My boss was quick to let me leave knowing that I still had a lot left to do to be ready! I love job. And my boss. :D

So I hopped back on my bike and headed home.. got myself packed up.. and made a quick CostCo/Trader Joe’s trip before my dad came to pick me up! Dad came, packed everything in to the Jeep, and started the adventure down to Rochester. My dad had called earlier and left me a voicemail saying “I’m bringing my bike!” and I was thinking like Hmm.. papacito they’re not going to let you bike on the course. Well he knew that too.. but given the course, it would be easiest to catch me in the most places if he was on his bike.

So we get to the hotel in Rochester right.. and we’re at the front desk. I’m just gonna say right now I’m actually an idiot. Like.. honestly. I may secretly be Kenyan inside, but I also must be a blond. (Wow.. lets see who else I can offend? Time to stop.) Um.. without even unpacking the jeep.. I all of the sudden I smacked my hand to my forehead and was like “I forgot my effing shoes.” Minus the eff.. sounded more like something that rhymes with buck (because that’s about how much I’d pay for my BRAIN at that moment). Seriously Erika?? I can remember extra Gu for other people.. and I left my own damn shoes. I had my old old running shoes (that I just wear for walking) but those are WAY expired. Like run-in-and-cause-injury expired.

While I met the guys from my run club for our pre-race dinner.. my dad drove BACK an our and my mom drove OUT half an hour to meet and give him my shoes. I honestly have so much love for my parents. I pray that I would do the same for my kids (some day) – they’re seriously amazing. My mom was pissed at first.. but then she realized the situation. She’s a runner – she knows what’s up. Dinner was at Victoria’s and it was freaking fantastic. I got the best pasta EVER. And was absolutely stuffed. And would do it all over again (just maybe not every day) ;) Mmm apparently I wasn’t too stuffed for ice cream cause that’s what my dad and I hit up when he got back from the EmergencyShoeRun.

Two of the guys + one girl in the photo were doing the relay (minus one leg of the team who wasn’t at dinner), and the rest of us were in it for the whole shabang. On our walk back to the hotel from dinner I snapped a photo with The Man at Soldiers Field (where we would finish). Apparently I think I’m some pretty hot stuff..?

So post-ice cream I wanted to head back to the hotel because I wanted a good night’s sleep. The race had a 7:00 am start, and the last shuttle for the start left at 6:20. I actually went to bed at 10:00 fairly easily.. had the traditional everything-goes-wrong dream and had to get up once to pee.. but other than than that slept a solid 7 hours before the alarms went off at 5:00 am. After a good cup of coffee and breakfast, (btw – pre-long run breakfast for me is chik’n nuggets. It’s not traditional pre run food by any means.. but it’s what I do!) I met the rest of the marathoners down in the lobby at 5:45 to go catch the bus. We made it to Byron (the start) in plenty of time for [multiple] pit stops, sweat bag drop-off, all the usual. There were those nature valley crispy granola bars (+ lots of other stuff) at the elementary school where we started.. so I ate one of those on a whim. 26 miles is sorta a long way ;)

It was already 60 degrees and humid by the start, but it could have been much worse. It was forecasted to be thunderstorming – something I can certainly do without. But even still.. I was in just a sports bra (+ tube-sock sleeves.. that trick’s a keeper!) already right off the bat. This guy who was running did a great job with the national anthem, and at 7:00 on the dot we were off.

HIGHLIGHTS:

I’m not gonna go through mile by mile with my splits or any of that (unless someone cares..) but my slowest mile was mile 3 at 8:02.. when I tried to pull myself back to make sure I didn’t go out to hard.. didn’t last long. That was my only mile in the 8s. My fastest mile was mile 26 at 7:02. I most definitely ran negative splits.. and it felt good the entire way through. Gomer’s (my garmin) time was 3:15:19 for 26.33 and my chip time was 3:20:53. Everyone was all up in arms about the finish times being off.. so I’ll call it 3:20 for piece of mind and be happy. I was the 2nd female finisher overall and am pretty freaking ecstatic! My Boston Qualifying time was 3:40.. so I will most definitely be running Boston since I’m moving there this fall!

The woman with me in almost all of the pictures on the course is named Mary, and I picked her up somewhere after my pit stop mile 6.7. We ran from there all the way to the finish.. and she didn’t even have to go the whole way! She was only registered for the 20 mile training run (she’s doing Grandma’s too), but finished the entire 26.2. She is absolutely amazing.. and that’s all I need to say.

During race pictures:

I think if you click on them you can make them bigger..

Mile 8 – Water cup clenched in one hand, a wave in the other, and a smile on my face! This was the first place I saw my dad, and just a little ways after Mary and I started running together.

Mile 10 – Look how grey it was!! I guess I should be thankful – I’m sure it kept the temps down.

Mile 12 – Already? I honestly didn’t even know what mile I was in for the majority of the race!

Mile ~13.3 – this would be right after the spot where the half-marathoners turn off.. and also the same place we’d return to for the finish. Couldn’t believe we were already half way done!

Mile ~19.5 – Heading down the street for the last “turn around” before we headed for the finish. After the turn around (at the end of this street) I opened up my last pack of sports beans. My pops also handed off a teeny water bottle to me (gotta love the amphipod!)

Mile 23 – only a 5K left!? I thought about the little 3 mile loop I used to do in my neighborhood when I was just beginning running.

Mile 25 – glanced at Gomer and realized we were going to come in under 3:20! We picked it up a little bit.. my split for mile 26 was 7:02 :D

Post race pictures:

Andy – myself – Mary. Andy was waiting at the finish area. Where did I put my medal?

Myself, Adam, and Breanne. We all PRd!!

Us + Andy.. who ran the half and took 2nd (also!!) with a freaking amazing time of 1:17.

Let me stress how important it is to MOVE and STRETCH and MOVE SOME MORE after you finish. If I hadn’t kept walking around afterwards I’m 100% sure this picture would not have been able to happen! I don’t know what I did that was so right but I’m like super mobile and walk-down-stairsable. Bending over to touch my toes – no problem. Sitting down onto the toilet (don’t laugh – you know what I’m talking about!) – no problem! Yeah, I feel a little sore. But I’ve felt more sore after a tough 400s workout on the track than I do right now (day after)!

The whole gang at “Cheap Charlie’s”. The place had a plaster pig on top of the roof. I don’t think I would eat there. Ever..? Cheap is definitely a proper description.. ;) Anyways.. most important thing to say is everyone did fabulously!

Why is it that Applebee’s is always the go-to place for post race? Cause it’s fast. And cheap. And amazing. And my dad can get a good cold beer on tap :D

And here my friends.. I completes my first “official” marathon’s race report. Some day I’ll print this out and make it into a little booklet to look back on. Myself (and Gomer ;) ), along with many other runners completed a great marathon and had a fabulous time. Grandma’s is 26 days away, and I know that this is just one of many many more to come!

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The Triathlon Rx | May 9, 2008
9 comments

defeated to sky high.. and everything in between.

Holy smokes.. this last week has been flippin ridiculous. Good and bad. I’m in serious sleep debt, but that’s life. I got a lot to cover, and a little time, so lemme get down to business.

First things first: I decided. I’ll be transferring to NORTHEASTERN! I seriously didn’t make my decision until about half an hour before I had to make the phone call.. I was that on the fence about it. Just trying to process all the options was really draining on me (and on my mom too). There were nights when I couldn’t sleep, and my mom would come down at like 3 in the morning saying “Well what if we did this_____.” But really – I’m happy with my decision. (Except for the part where I’m drowning in debt until I’m 85.. that still blows.) To add some icing to the cake, I got a voicemail Wednesday morning “extending me an invitation” to the Honors program! SO EXCITED! Aside from smaller classes and amazing professors.. you also get to live in the Honors LLC which is suite style dorms :D We get our own little kitchen, bathroom, and lounge room!! I. Can’t. Wait.

Secondly.. prom was great. I had a really fun time with James and all my old high school friends. We all took pictures at the Sculpture Gardens, went to Buca for dinner (huh?? Yeah.. that clearly wasn’t my planning), and then Grand March.. dance.. after party.

There were TWENTY TWO people in our group!! That made dinner super fun ;) And some good dancing..

Hahha.. I definitely felt very high school.. but hey – that’s what prom is for! Dancing definitely passed the time. The last prom I went to.. my date was LAME and didn’t dance AT ALL. Oop.. no, I lied. He’d dance the slow songs.

So after the dance we went back to my house to change quick before the after party. When we came up to the door.. it was wide open. Which was weird because we never leave our door open. Much less unlocked. James joked “like it even matters.. you live in such a safe neighborhood!” but I know it doesn’t matter WHERE you live. Our house was broken into once before like 10 years ago.

We walked through the porch and into the house (porch door open too..) and right on the rug in front of us was my purse and my moms purse.. everything strewn on the floor. It took a second for me to realize what happened.. credit cards – gone. Cash – gone. Both my mom’s cameras – gone. The scariest part is that my mom had been home when it happened.. asleep on the futon upstairs. The TV was on and there’s no way the person could have not heard it. Aside from me just being super pissed.. I’m SO thankful she was OK.

We canceled all our cards and stuff.. but the lame ass still used mine to fill up with gas in St. Paul.. then make a stop at Cosetta’s (an Italian grocery store.. wtf?).. and go on a little shopping spree at Walmart in ST. FREAKING CLOUD! Gotta say.. the guy works fast.

I was supposed to run the Minnetonka Half Sunday morning, but by the time the police left and I got back from the after “party” (which I only went to for like an hour).. my car pool would have been coming in like 2 hours. PASS! My friend biked with me while I did 14 Sunday afternoon.

I made a teeny bouquet of flowers (yes.. that’s a shot glass) for my madre. We’ve both had a rough week. Speaking of rough – today was my last class for the semester. I have this big project for my Arch Studio due today at 4:00. I’ve literally been working on it all day, every day, for over a week. Around 1:00 today when I was in the studio, I had to accept to myself that the amount of work I had left to get done would take more than 3 hours.. no way around it. Our teacher said he’d rather we turn in a stellar, 100% best effort project on Monday, and be marked down half a grade, than turn in a shitty/unfinished project on Friday and probably get more than half a grade off anyways. I’m trying to be OK with the fact that I’ll be turning in on Monday, but it’s hard. I feel super defeated.. especially since I’ve been working SO HARD and SO LONG on this. It’s not like I procrastinated or something, and now I’m stuck dealing with the consequences. The fact is – there is just more detail than 3 hours worth of work. So I left the studio, and drove home.

I’m about to go for a quick run to clear my head. Today is my first day back at work for the summer (psh.. it’s only like 62 degrees here..) and I’m working 5 till close. I’m really excited to be back! Just kinda down about the project..

I’ll leave you guys with some good eats. Ignore the fact that this looks florescent.. it’s freaking amazing. It’s vegan stuffed cabbage rolls smothered in sweet & sour sauce and it’s freaking fantastic. I don’t get time to make this often.. but when I do I make a lot so I can freeze and have it for like a week straight :D

And last but not least, this GINORMOUS box of splenda. 1,000 effing packets!!!! This will last me until I’m about 25.. going with me off to Boston next year. I have no idea why we bought it at COSTCO.. but hey.. fake sugar doesn’t expire. We’re good to go for a lifetime.

I apologize for the novel.. but that’s what happens when you can’t post for forever! I can assure that my posts will be more frequent now that school’s over. (Well.. not quite. I guess I have to turn in my arch project on Monday, and then SATURDAY the 17th I have one last final. Who does that?!) Ahhh. Time to run. Thanks to everyone for all the support in making my decision and the rough last week!

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The Triathlon Rx | April 9, 2008
One comment

lemme upgrade ya

This is like the transition from MySpace to Facebook.. Sperly has been upgraded =]

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The Triathlon Rx | April 2, 2008
5 comments

Let me off the train..

.. CAUSE I’M GOING TO BOSTON!!


That would be me, and that would be NORTHEASTERN, and that’s gonna be home next year! For a brief history, I’m a freshman at the U of MN this year.. but it was never the plan to stay there long-term. And yesterday morning, I sent in my OFFICIAL CONFIRMATION OF ENROLLMENT! No idea why I didn’t post this yesterday.. but YAY!!

Running club was nice – 5 miles a 7:20. Tonight is HILL night.. which makes no sense to me because Grandma’s has one “hill” so to speak of, and I would much rather to speed work! Haha OK enough complaining. About to head out for my run after a little snack.. adios muchachos!

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The Triathlon Rx | March 31, 2008
One comment

Keepin it under wraps..

(This is a pic from a race last summer, but I haven’t taken any new ones super recently, and thinking of winter pictures would make me sad!)

So this is sposed to be a real nonchalant thing.. at one time I made a personal blog, but proceded to delete it 15 minutes later because I thought it was a hilarious/ridiculous idea. Who’s really needs to read about my running.. and arch classes.. and cooking.. and trips to farmers market? Much less leave me comments about it!! Mmm who knows. Maybe I’ll have to leave myself some to make me feel better :D

Anyway – for a brief reacap of “day one”:
- breaky followed by 17 miles. oh yea.. did I mention I run?
- Dunn Bros with the running club
- shower / food
- Dunn Bros again to meet with a local architect / show him my porfolio
- CoOp shopping & yummy cooking
- clean. the whole flipping house.
- pick up the madre at the airport
- food. more

I was just about to start the Yoga for Distance Runners episode of Namaste Yoga when my mom called for a ride home.. BUMMED because I’m too tired to do it now! So I shall eat ice cream instead.. indeed :D

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