was a success! Thanks so much to everyone who helped. You made it what it was: a good, good day.
Check out photos here.
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Thursday, June 18, 2009
2:18
The half marathon is finished. I'm so glad I did it. Some thoughts:
Before the Run
The Lake Placid marathon was very well organized. Granted, this is the first marathon/half marathon I have participated in, but I still feel sufficiently capable of judging that it was well put together. It allowed the runners the freedom to worry only about the running. Which I did. A lot. I stressed a bit about eating just the right food and about not injuring myself in a stupid manner before the race. I worried about not knowing the course and about getting lost, and I worried a lot about the weather (which went from sunny and 70s to imminent rain and high 50s to sunny and mid-60s on race morning - yay mountains!). I worried about not being able to finish the race. I was really, really nervous the morning of the race. It was hard to eat. But I managed half a bagel with peanut butter, a quarter of a banana, and a quarter of a Cliff's bar. This turned out to be, like the weather, just about perfect. I also drank some OJ and a lot of water, and 15 minutes before the race shot some infamous goo into my mouth. It was Clif Shot energy gel, 90% organic and all natural, with 50 mg of caffeine. Tim, knowing me so well, bought this for me in mocha flavor. Expecting the worst, this stuff tasted good, like thick, earthy chocolate syrup. I recommend it. Make sure to drink water after you use it (mostly to get it off of your teeth).
The Run
I must have looked at the course map one thousand times, but I could have ran the course blindfolded and fellow runners and marathon volunteers would have got me where I needed to be. The course itself was beautiful - through Olympic Village/downtown Lake Placid, around Mirror Lake, down to the ski jumps, out River Road (with farms, fields, a creek, and the Adirondacks in the background), and back. I heard more than one runner say "this is the prettiest marathon you'll ever run." I also heard, after running downhill, "We have to run back up that?" Yes, yes we did. Lake Placid is in the Adirondacks, after all, so it was a rolling course. It really wasn't that bad - honestly - I do not particularly enjoy running hills. You start on Main Street and head up the hill toward Mirror Lake. I made sure to stand toward the back of the start line to allow those faster-than-10-minute-mile runners to start ahead of me. However, I must have overcompensated because I ended up running around a bunch of people walking up the first hill. Next year I'll start closer to the middle. At mile 1 we all did a little cheer. "Yay mile 1!" Runners were snapping photos with their cell phones all around the lake. As the miles added up I was surprised at how good I was still feeling. I stopped and walked at all aid stations except the first one (it was crowded) to have water and then Gatorade. This helped mentally and physically. At mile 7 I ate some more goo. Not many spectators made it out to the River Road leg, but that's okay. Running for me is a solitary sport, on purpose. Many, many "Team in Training" runners participated (raising $890,000 for the Lukemia and Lymphona Society), so "Team in Training" coaches cycled out on the course cheering runners on. Also, since River Road was an out-and-back, runners ran on both sides of the road in both directions, cheering one another on periodically.
It wasn't until about mile 10 that I started thinking, I'm ready to be done. When running I count the miles backward, so mile 10 was really "3 miles to go." I started walking a little bit before and after the aid stations then, and then for a section of the final, steep hill. At mile 12 I said a silent good-bye to the people I had been running with as some went ahead of me and some fell behind. As you approach the end, which is the Olympic speed-skating oval, you can hear the crowds cheering and the announcers announcing. It's a perfect way to end the race. You make it up the hill and onto the track, run a loop, and cross the finish line as the announcer announces your name and where you are from. They place a medal on your neck, then you keep walking until your heart stops racing and your legs feel like they may be able to do something other than run.
After the Run
After walking a bit with Tim, I found a patch of grass in the shade from a tent and laid down. The grass was still wet from the night before. I immediately thanked God, for just about everything. After a minute, Tim helped me up and I went and signed up for my free massage. I got some free pizza, free ice cream, went to the final hill and cheered runners on, got my massage, went to the Lake Placid Pub and Brewery, and rode home. I will be running this again on June 13, 2010. If you have ever thought about running a marathon or half marathon, do it in Lake Placid. Just train some hills, and in the rain every now and then, just in case.
Next Up
I'm giving myself until Monday to decide officially, but next up is the Disney Marathon on January 10 in Orlando. This is a fun, laid-back marathon, so I hear, and since I will never be winning a marathon this suits me well. You run through every park in Disney World in Orlando, only one of which I've ever actually been to, and even through Cinderella's castle. Since it is a marathon, it is taken seriously and Disney caters to runners and runners needs over the weekend, which is also good to hear. And it's a flat course! And Mickey and co. cheer you on. Bring on the Disney Princes!
If I decide to do this, training begins September 14. The idea of running 20 miles, ultimately, for fun sounds a little nuts to me, but as it turns out I like being a little nuts. I like a little better who I am while I'm training - focused, purposed, healthy in practice and diet (for the most part), and contemplative. My feet are a little ugly, but my legs make up for it :-) As I stood in the start-line crowd Sunday and looked around, listened to conversations, I realized that these are my people. Like fellow Allegheny students, Buffalo Bills fans, United Methodists, runners are now a sect of people among whom I can say, despite and because of their assets and faults, Yup, these are my people. I will never be their leader, but I am a runner.
Before the Run
The Lake Placid marathon was very well organized. Granted, this is the first marathon/half marathon I have participated in, but I still feel sufficiently capable of judging that it was well put together. It allowed the runners the freedom to worry only about the running. Which I did. A lot. I stressed a bit about eating just the right food and about not injuring myself in a stupid manner before the race. I worried about not knowing the course and about getting lost, and I worried a lot about the weather (which went from sunny and 70s to imminent rain and high 50s to sunny and mid-60s on race morning - yay mountains!). I worried about not being able to finish the race. I was really, really nervous the morning of the race. It was hard to eat. But I managed half a bagel with peanut butter, a quarter of a banana, and a quarter of a Cliff's bar. This turned out to be, like the weather, just about perfect. I also drank some OJ and a lot of water, and 15 minutes before the race shot some infamous goo into my mouth. It was Clif Shot energy gel, 90% organic and all natural, with 50 mg of caffeine. Tim, knowing me so well, bought this for me in mocha flavor. Expecting the worst, this stuff tasted good, like thick, earthy chocolate syrup. I recommend it. Make sure to drink water after you use it (mostly to get it off of your teeth).
The Run
I must have looked at the course map one thousand times, but I could have ran the course blindfolded and fellow runners and marathon volunteers would have got me where I needed to be. The course itself was beautiful - through Olympic Village/downtown Lake Placid, around Mirror Lake, down to the ski jumps, out River Road (with farms, fields, a creek, and the Adirondacks in the background), and back. I heard more than one runner say "this is the prettiest marathon you'll ever run." I also heard, after running downhill, "We have to run back up that?" Yes, yes we did. Lake Placid is in the Adirondacks, after all, so it was a rolling course. It really wasn't that bad - honestly - I do not particularly enjoy running hills. You start on Main Street and head up the hill toward Mirror Lake. I made sure to stand toward the back of the start line to allow those faster-than-10-minute-mile runners to start ahead of me. However, I must have overcompensated because I ended up running around a bunch of people walking up the first hill. Next year I'll start closer to the middle. At mile 1 we all did a little cheer. "Yay mile 1!" Runners were snapping photos with their cell phones all around the lake. As the miles added up I was surprised at how good I was still feeling. I stopped and walked at all aid stations except the first one (it was crowded) to have water and then Gatorade. This helped mentally and physically. At mile 7 I ate some more goo. Not many spectators made it out to the River Road leg, but that's okay. Running for me is a solitary sport, on purpose. Many, many "Team in Training" runners participated (raising $890,000 for the Lukemia and Lymphona Society), so "Team in Training" coaches cycled out on the course cheering runners on. Also, since River Road was an out-and-back, runners ran on both sides of the road in both directions, cheering one another on periodically.
It wasn't until about mile 10 that I started thinking, I'm ready to be done. When running I count the miles backward, so mile 10 was really "3 miles to go." I started walking a little bit before and after the aid stations then, and then for a section of the final, steep hill. At mile 12 I said a silent good-bye to the people I had been running with as some went ahead of me and some fell behind. As you approach the end, which is the Olympic speed-skating oval, you can hear the crowds cheering and the announcers announcing. It's a perfect way to end the race. You make it up the hill and onto the track, run a loop, and cross the finish line as the announcer announces your name and where you are from. They place a medal on your neck, then you keep walking until your heart stops racing and your legs feel like they may be able to do something other than run.
After the Run
After walking a bit with Tim, I found a patch of grass in the shade from a tent and laid down. The grass was still wet from the night before. I immediately thanked God, for just about everything. After a minute, Tim helped me up and I went and signed up for my free massage. I got some free pizza, free ice cream, went to the final hill and cheered runners on, got my massage, went to the Lake Placid Pub and Brewery, and rode home. I will be running this again on June 13, 2010. If you have ever thought about running a marathon or half marathon, do it in Lake Placid. Just train some hills, and in the rain every now and then, just in case.
Next Up
I'm giving myself until Monday to decide officially, but next up is the Disney Marathon on January 10 in Orlando. This is a fun, laid-back marathon, so I hear, and since I will never be winning a marathon this suits me well. You run through every park in Disney World in Orlando, only one of which I've ever actually been to, and even through Cinderella's castle. Since it is a marathon, it is taken seriously and Disney caters to runners and runners needs over the weekend, which is also good to hear. And it's a flat course! And Mickey and co. cheer you on. Bring on the Disney Princes!
If I decide to do this, training begins September 14. The idea of running 20 miles, ultimately, for fun sounds a little nuts to me, but as it turns out I like being a little nuts. I like a little better who I am while I'm training - focused, purposed, healthy in practice and diet (for the most part), and contemplative. My feet are a little ugly, but my legs make up for it :-) As I stood in the start-line crowd Sunday and looked around, listened to conversations, I realized that these are my people. Like fellow Allegheny students, Buffalo Bills fans, United Methodists, runners are now a sect of people among whom I can say, despite and because of their assets and faults, Yup, these are my people. I will never be their leader, but I am a runner.
Straight Girl Secret #17*
When given the choice between the needy, neurotic girl and the cool, fun-to-be-with girl, a boy will choose to date the needy, neurotic girl. On more than one occasion he will say to cool girl, "I wish my girlfriend were more like you," but he will never leave NN girl for cool girl. In fact, if this boy is spending time with cool girl, it is most likely to make NN girl angry and more NN. He will tell cool girl, and maybe even himself, that it is just because he needs a break from his girlfriend, but this is not the truth.
So, if you are a cool girl, you have a few options to avoid being used. You can choose one or more of the following:
1. Tell boy exactly how you feel about his girlfriend and then stop spending time with him.
2. Call him out on his behavior, especially if in the past he's said he does not like needy girls, which he has likely said on more than one occasion, and then stop spending time with him.
3. Start acting needy and neurotic yourself.
The outcome of this situation if you choose options 1 or 2 will be the following:
1. He will eventually leave his girlfriend and you two can be friends again (be prepared for the obligatory ex-girlfriend phone calls, notes, threats, etc.)
2. You will be invited to their wedding, to which you will bring a gift that was not on their registry and that you know only he will like, and then you will never see him again.
So as you can see, it's much better to be the needy, neurotic girl.
If you are already the needy, neurotic girl: Well played, my friend, well played.
*If you've found yourself a secure man and you want to be with him for longer than a week, unrealistic demands, using sex as punishment and reward, and daily tests of love in which the rules are always changing, are not the glue. Honesty and communication work much better in this situation. So boring.
So, if you are a cool girl, you have a few options to avoid being used. You can choose one or more of the following:
1. Tell boy exactly how you feel about his girlfriend and then stop spending time with him.
2. Call him out on his behavior, especially if in the past he's said he does not like needy girls, which he has likely said on more than one occasion, and then stop spending time with him.
3. Start acting needy and neurotic yourself.
The outcome of this situation if you choose options 1 or 2 will be the following:
1. He will eventually leave his girlfriend and you two can be friends again (be prepared for the obligatory ex-girlfriend phone calls, notes, threats, etc.)
2. You will be invited to their wedding, to which you will bring a gift that was not on their registry and that you know only he will like, and then you will never see him again.
So as you can see, it's much better to be the needy, neurotic girl.
If you are already the needy, neurotic girl: Well played, my friend, well played.
*If you've found yourself a secure man and you want to be with him for longer than a week, unrealistic demands, using sex as punishment and reward, and daily tests of love in which the rules are always changing, are not the glue. Honesty and communication work much better in this situation. So boring.
Tuesday, June 09, 2009
Straight Girl Trick #5824*
Suggest "seeing other people" only if you are currently dating someone you know will not see other people. That way, you have a fall-back for when you are alone on a holiday/birthday or are feeling lonely or need a crutch in social situations. Bonus: you never need to reciprocate. In this situation you also have a go-to for when you are feeling unloved and need a self-esteem boost.
Since this boy still wants to be with only you, in his head and heart he'll believe that if he sticks this through he'll "get" you back. You and I know this isn't true, that you'll date him again only if you get desperate since "seeing other people" is just a code phrase for "keeping you around until I find somebody better," but he never needs to know this.
Inevitably, he'll begin to drift away, pay attention to other girls, maybe even catch on to your game. Here are some tips to help delay this:
1. Send random yet often text messages about something you saw/heard that made you think of him.
2. Leave "thinking of you" posts on his Facebook wall or comment often on his posts.
3. Wear clothes you know he likes to see you in when using/seeing him.
4. Bring up as many "remember when we" comments in conversations with him as possible.
5. Invite him out on "dates" or over to your place to hang out. Of course these are not really dates. You want to maintain your, um, friendship. It's very important to you.
6. After these dates, if you are looking for some nooky or REALLY want to keep him hooked, have some nooky.
If he's a giver, which he likely is if he's still around, while completing steps 1-6 make him believe the door is still open a bit by talking about how you are confused by your feelings for him and need some time to figure it out.
Worst case scenario: He starts to actually see other people. When this happens, call him and tell him you want to get back together. Then, if you do get back together, just date for a bit and repeat this cycle. If he chooses the other girl, call a little later and lay it on really thick. Maybe even mention that you wanted to marry him (especially if he has brought up marriage in the past). Then, if you get back together, just date for a bit and repeat this cycle. Unless you've already found another boy to fill this role. If so, you know the drill.
So go get him girl, you deserve this one-way relationship. After all, it's not your fault he still loves you (or is it? wink, wink).
*If you are concerned with being a decent and unhorrible person, you may want to ignore this advice.
Since this boy still wants to be with only you, in his head and heart he'll believe that if he sticks this through he'll "get" you back. You and I know this isn't true, that you'll date him again only if you get desperate since "seeing other people" is just a code phrase for "keeping you around until I find somebody better," but he never needs to know this.
Inevitably, he'll begin to drift away, pay attention to other girls, maybe even catch on to your game. Here are some tips to help delay this:
1. Send random yet often text messages about something you saw/heard that made you think of him.
2. Leave "thinking of you" posts on his Facebook wall or comment often on his posts.
3. Wear clothes you know he likes to see you in when using/seeing him.
4. Bring up as many "remember when we" comments in conversations with him as possible.
5. Invite him out on "dates" or over to your place to hang out. Of course these are not really dates. You want to maintain your, um, friendship. It's very important to you.
6. After these dates, if you are looking for some nooky or REALLY want to keep him hooked, have some nooky.
If he's a giver, which he likely is if he's still around, while completing steps 1-6 make him believe the door is still open a bit by talking about how you are confused by your feelings for him and need some time to figure it out.
Worst case scenario: He starts to actually see other people. When this happens, call him and tell him you want to get back together. Then, if you do get back together, just date for a bit and repeat this cycle. If he chooses the other girl, call a little later and lay it on really thick. Maybe even mention that you wanted to marry him (especially if he has brought up marriage in the past). Then, if you get back together, just date for a bit and repeat this cycle. Unless you've already found another boy to fill this role. If so, you know the drill.
So go get him girl, you deserve this one-way relationship. After all, it's not your fault he still loves you (or is it? wink, wink).
*If you are concerned with being a decent and unhorrible person, you may want to ignore this advice.
A report.
I didn't screw up my reading parts, and in fact spoke once in front of the entire conference and was (1) nervous for about half of the usual time and (2) didn't read the script while at the podium and still got all of the information in without adding any extra crap. I realize this report would be more cute (or cute at all) if I were 14, but, oh well. Late bloomer.
Grace achieved = about 80% of my ideal. Much better than I expected. I did lose some of that grace once home on Saturday night. Baby steps I guess.
Grace achieved = about 80% of my ideal. Much better than I expected. I did lose some of that grace once home on Saturday night. Baby steps I guess.
Wednesday, June 03, 2009
A goal.
Grace.
What little grace I have is always tested at Annual Conference. Thankfully, it is also always heartened. May the latter outweigh the former. (Partly for your sake, but mostly for mine.)
What little grace I have is always tested at Annual Conference. Thankfully, it is also always heartened. May the latter outweigh the former. (Partly for your sake, but mostly for mine.)
A confession.
I do not like to speak in front of people. As much as I love to run my mouth I love it in the comfort of groups - at the dinner table, at a book study, yelling at a baseball game - or, even better, in writing. I could write a brilliant sermon and ruin it by trying to preach it. I could yell from a soapbox on the street corner but then hop down and run away when someone stops to actually listen. If I were a Shakespearean hero, my fear of speaking would be my tragic flaw. I would have insights to share, injustices to make known, prophecies to tell, but the world would never hear them because I was too afraid.
Rest assured, however, that you aren't missing any life-changing wisdom from my fear of speaking. And if you think you are, just read this blog. I know those of you who know me in real life probably find this fear incongruent with the amount of information I feel it necessary to share using my mouth, but it's true. I get up in front of a crowd and I get nervous, as most people do I suppose, but so debilitatingly nervous that I have trouble forming words. It's frustrating, totally not cute, and a little annoying. I'm too old for this crap.
Because I am so self-aware and smart, I've volunteered to read during two worship services at Annual Conference tomorrow. In front of a lot of people. But since it's reading, I may not screw it up. We'll see.
Rest assured, however, that you aren't missing any life-changing wisdom from my fear of speaking. And if you think you are, just read this blog. I know those of you who know me in real life probably find this fear incongruent with the amount of information I feel it necessary to share using my mouth, but it's true. I get up in front of a crowd and I get nervous, as most people do I suppose, but so debilitatingly nervous that I have trouble forming words. It's frustrating, totally not cute, and a little annoying. I'm too old for this crap.
Because I am so self-aware and smart, I've volunteered to read during two worship services at Annual Conference tomorrow. In front of a lot of people. But since it's reading, I may not screw it up. We'll see.
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Harvey's Playbook: Let's Use It
Last month I watch the movie Milk. Having worked at a publishing company that among its specialties included gay and lesbian issues, I edited many books and articles on the subject, so I was familiar with the man and meaning of Harvey Milk. One of Harvey's strategies for advancing gay and lesbian rights was a plea to every gay person to come out of the closet, for every gay person to live openly and unashamed (since "hiding" only confirmed its shamefulness in society's eyes).
What if the pastors of the United Methodist Church did this? What if every gay clergy member came out and forced the Church to "defrock" them?
I am a straight layperson, so I cannot and will not make this plea. If all copy editors could be copy editors only if they had blue eyes, would I take out my tinted contacts to reveal my brown eyes? Until I'm put in a similar situation, I will not be the one to tell gay pastors to come out. But I will ask you - everyone - to think, what if? Whatever the number, the United Methodist church would lose a lot of great pastors, because being openly gay based on our discipline means you cannot serve as pastor. Voters at General Conference would be moved by awareness, the awareness and truth that helps erase fear. My goal in any of my arguments is not a boycott of the United Methodist Church; I want the United Methodist Church to recognize the error of our embarrassing "don't ask don't tell" policy, to, based on our belief in Jesus and God, allow gays and lesbians the same chance as straight people to become ordained and local pastors and deacons.
The Bible is full of human wisdom and examples of God's love. It's also full of outdated advice and laws applicable only to the time and place in which they were written. We do a great disservice to the writers of the Bible and God when we pretend otherwise. This includes the issue of homosexuality.
Now I want you to imagine the day the first openly gay person becomes an ordained minister. If this scares you, I want you to think about why. You'll recognize it is a problem within yourself and only within yourself - which is okay; you'll get over it. Those of you who feel like I do, know that it will be kind of awesome.
I don't feel this way or argue for gay rights, gay marriage, gay clergy to piss Christians off. I do it because I am a Christian, and can't, based on my beliefs, imagine feeling any other way.
What if the pastors of the United Methodist Church did this? What if every gay clergy member came out and forced the Church to "defrock" them?
I am a straight layperson, so I cannot and will not make this plea. If all copy editors could be copy editors only if they had blue eyes, would I take out my tinted contacts to reveal my brown eyes? Until I'm put in a similar situation, I will not be the one to tell gay pastors to come out. But I will ask you - everyone - to think, what if? Whatever the number, the United Methodist church would lose a lot of great pastors, because being openly gay based on our discipline means you cannot serve as pastor. Voters at General Conference would be moved by awareness, the awareness and truth that helps erase fear. My goal in any of my arguments is not a boycott of the United Methodist Church; I want the United Methodist Church to recognize the error of our embarrassing "don't ask don't tell" policy, to, based on our belief in Jesus and God, allow gays and lesbians the same chance as straight people to become ordained and local pastors and deacons.
The Bible is full of human wisdom and examples of God's love. It's also full of outdated advice and laws applicable only to the time and place in which they were written. We do a great disservice to the writers of the Bible and God when we pretend otherwise. This includes the issue of homosexuality.
Now I want you to imagine the day the first openly gay person becomes an ordained minister. If this scares you, I want you to think about why. You'll recognize it is a problem within yourself and only within yourself - which is okay; you'll get over it. Those of you who feel like I do, know that it will be kind of awesome.
I don't feel this way or argue for gay rights, gay marriage, gay clergy to piss Christians off. I do it because I am a Christian, and can't, based on my beliefs, imagine feeling any other way.
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
And no religion too . . .
John Lennon in "Imagine" asked us to imagine that there is no heaven. Well, what if we imagined there were only heaven?
Free will allowed us to choose to leave the proverbial garden. Free will is the same thing that will bring us back. Us. Here. Now. I'm not going to tell you how to do this; you already know.
Ready. Set. Go.
Free will allowed us to choose to leave the proverbial garden. Free will is the same thing that will bring us back. Us. Here. Now. I'm not going to tell you how to do this; you already know.
Ready. Set. Go.
Wednesday, May 06, 2009
[Insert line from song about New York City here.]
You may have heard me say in the past, and I think I've even said in this blog, that if I had to live in a city - besides Binghamton - I would pick Boston. This I chose out of the full-on cities I had spent time in: Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, New York City, Philadelphia, and Pittsburgh (but my friends from Pittsburgh are so cool that they could live in a sewer and it would give the sewer an unfair advantage). I've spent time in Chattanooga, Louisville, Nashville, and Toronto, but not enough to officially judge (but I'd pick Louisville). Portland (OR) and Miami can now be added to this list of cities I've spent enough time in to validly judge my desire/ability to live there (Portland wins). What's my point?
I've changed. I've felt it coming on for about a year. I realized it when Tim started applying to grad schools. When deciding what schools to apply to we took into account the quality of the school and whether or not we'd want to live where the college was located. I surprised myself when Boston pretty quickly disappeared from our list and New York City quickly hit the top spot. Tim had picked colleges in noncities too, but for this discussion I'm sticking to cities.
Maybe it's because I haven't visited in a while, but I think I liked Boston so much because it didn't feel like a city to me. Now, I'm ready for a city (though Morningside Heights is decidedly out of the Times-Square-like NYC), and I'm happy it's New York City. Though I never pursued it, I always just assumed I'd live in New York City at some point.
To reassure you, I will not attempt to be a "cool" city dweller. If you've met me even once, you know how hard it would be for me to be a NYC hipster. If you ask me where the new coolest anything is, I will not be able to tell you. I'm looking forward to finding a favorite (1) low key bar with microbrews, (2) place to get bagels, (3) place to get black and white cookies - no these are NOT half-moon cookies, and (4) place to work outside of the apartment. Also, attending a new church will be an interesting and I hope fun experience. My friend Leslie plays handbells at two-blocks-away Riverside Church, so we will definitely be visiting there. Libraries, museums, book readings, people watching, theater, etc. I know will keep me busy and likely make it hard for me to get my work done. I'll try to pace myself.
I've changed. I've felt it coming on for about a year. I realized it when Tim started applying to grad schools. When deciding what schools to apply to we took into account the quality of the school and whether or not we'd want to live where the college was located. I surprised myself when Boston pretty quickly disappeared from our list and New York City quickly hit the top spot. Tim had picked colleges in noncities too, but for this discussion I'm sticking to cities.
Maybe it's because I haven't visited in a while, but I think I liked Boston so much because it didn't feel like a city to me. Now, I'm ready for a city (though Morningside Heights is decidedly out of the Times-Square-like NYC), and I'm happy it's New York City. Though I never pursued it, I always just assumed I'd live in New York City at some point.
To reassure you, I will not attempt to be a "cool" city dweller. If you've met me even once, you know how hard it would be for me to be a NYC hipster. If you ask me where the new coolest anything is, I will not be able to tell you. I'm looking forward to finding a favorite (1) low key bar with microbrews, (2) place to get bagels, (3) place to get black and white cookies - no these are NOT half-moon cookies, and (4) place to work outside of the apartment. Also, attending a new church will be an interesting and I hope fun experience. My friend Leslie plays handbells at two-blocks-away Riverside Church, so we will definitely be visiting there. Libraries, museums, book readings, people watching, theater, etc. I know will keep me busy and likely make it hard for me to get my work done. I'll try to pace myself.
Monday, May 04, 2009
Water, water everywhere
Teachers College is 75% women. How often should I make Tim wear his "My heart belongs to a copy editor" shirt?
I am sitting in the morning at the diner on the corner . . .
It's officially official: Tim will be going to Columbia Teacher's College this September, which means we will be living in New York City, in Morningside Heights to be exact. Saturday we found out we received student housing, which was awesome news. As you might expect, our NYC apartment will be significantly smaller than our current apartment, so we'll be looking for storage in the next couple of months. (If you know of any good places let me know.) I'm really excited for this. Mostly because I can contribute to overheardinny.com.
Don't worry - I will not be creating a Tim and Tara in the City blog.
Don't worry - I will not be creating a Tim and Tara in the City blog.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Really bad cakes
Since I'm a sharer, I will share with you a new funny blog I was reading (using to procrastinate) this morning: http://www.cakewrecks.com/. I bet you can guess what it's about, so I won't waste time describing it. I will, however, waste time telling you a cake story.
One August for my brother Jason's birthday we appropriately ordered him a cake and appropriately requested that "Happy Birthday Jason" be written on it. The order taker, after I told him what I wanted written on the cake, repeated my request in the form of a question, to which I verified by stating, "Yes, Happy Birthday Jason." Normally a trustworthy place to buy cakes, I did not open the opaque box until I returned home. When the box was opened, we saw the cake for the first time. It read "Happy Birthday Jafon."
Yes, the letter "s" when spoken through the telephone does sound like "f." But if you didn't ask for a specific spelling, were not 100% sure, and wanted to err on the side of caution, would you choose "Jafon" over "Jason"? Something to think about.
One August for my brother Jason's birthday we appropriately ordered him a cake and appropriately requested that "Happy Birthday Jason" be written on it. The order taker, after I told him what I wanted written on the cake, repeated my request in the form of a question, to which I verified by stating, "Yes, Happy Birthday Jason." Normally a trustworthy place to buy cakes, I did not open the opaque box until I returned home. When the box was opened, we saw the cake for the first time. It read "Happy Birthday Jafon."
Yes, the letter "s" when spoken through the telephone does sound like "f." But if you didn't ask for a specific spelling, were not 100% sure, and wanted to err on the side of caution, would you choose "Jafon" over "Jason"? Something to think about.
Monday, April 27, 2009
Race for the Cure
On Sunday, May 17, I will be running the Susan G. Komen 5K Race for the Cure in Elmira (then showering and taking the kiddies up to Sky Lake Open House, of course). Susan G. Komen for the Cure is a nonprofit, grassroots network of breast cancer survivors and activists working together to save lives, empower people, ensure quality care for all, and energize science to find the cure. If you'd like to support me and, more important, this cause, please donate here: http://www.active.com/donate/twintierskomen09/TBarnes29.
Thanks!
Thanks!
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Facebook quizzes
are pointless, self-indulgent, and wonderful. According to Facebook, I'm Ghandi, John Wesley, St. Jude, Weezer, Kermit the Frog, Elizabeth Bennett, Jean Grey, Tolstoy, Patrick Henry, the Gospel of Luke, Fidel Castro, and I should have married Johnny Depp. So worth the time taken to find this out.
Properly extending words:
Why, why, why, when someone wants to stretch out the sound of a word, do they just add extra final letters? Usually this is an "e" (or sometimes, even stupider, "t"). With the "e," all this does is turn a usually silent letter into an extra syllable, making the word a different word altogether and misspelled.
Some examples:
"I'm homeeeeee!"
Meaning: homey. If you say this, you are either (1) a homeboy, (2) homelike, or (3) homely. Maybe all three.
What you should say: "I'm hooooommme!"
"I loveeeee the Muppets."
Meaning: lovey. Also an adjective. If you say this in this way, you are misusing an adjective, which is really embarrassing, and also using a nonexistent word. "Lovey" appears in Webster's dictionary only as "lovey-dovey."
What you should say: "I looooovvve the Muppets!"
When is extending the last letter okay? With words that end in vowels and y, h, r, s, z, w, and sometimes f (but only when abbreviating one specific word).
Boooo! Hisssss! I love Taraaaaa! I love Crocodile Dundeeeee! Whyyyyyy? I'm wearing FuBuuuuu! Spaz Boy is such a spazzzzzz!
If "Free Falling" by Tom Petty is now in your head, you're welcome.
Some examples:
"I'm homeeeeee!"
Meaning: homey. If you say this, you are either (1) a homeboy, (2) homelike, or (3) homely. Maybe all three.
What you should say: "I'm hooooommme!"
"I loveeeee the Muppets."
Meaning: lovey. Also an adjective. If you say this in this way, you are misusing an adjective, which is really embarrassing, and also using a nonexistent word. "Lovey" appears in Webster's dictionary only as "lovey-dovey."
What you should say: "I looooovvve the Muppets!"
When is extending the last letter okay? With words that end in vowels and y, h, r, s, z, w, and sometimes f (but only when abbreviating one specific word).
Boooo! Hisssss! I love Taraaaaa! I love Crocodile Dundeeeee! Whyyyyyy? I'm wearing FuBuuuuu! Spaz Boy is such a spazzzzzz!
If "Free Falling" by Tom Petty is now in your head, you're welcome.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Monday, April 06, 2009
Go Lions!
In a few weeks Tim and I are heading down to NYC for the official tour of Teacher's College. We're doing the whole shebang: financial aid, lunch with students, campus tour, and campus housing tour. Tim is 99.9% sure this is where he wants to be, and we're taking the tour to hopefully solidify the last .1%.
Yes, Columbia is expensive. And as we've consistently proven, we haven't exactly established a brimming college fund (and also took a train trip and bought B-Mets tickets; I like to spend money on experiences . . . or I'm just hedonistic). However, we've found out that the government, via loans of course, will cover all tuition and housing costs. Tim applied for scholarships and grants through the school as well, which we find out about later this month. Positive thinking is back in effect. Let me know if you know of any available scholarships!
We decided before we got married that we were okay with living in college-loan debt. This "comfort," we'll call it, is helping make the Columbia decision as well. It's frickin Columbia! (With a 98% job placement rate for Teacher's College.) Someday we will pay the loans off, even if "someday" gets pushed back a bit further.
A branch of my gym is nearby, and I've been investigating United Methodist Churches to attend. So far, this one seems to be my best bet. I haven't really begun thinking about what it will mean to be moving away and how much I'm going to miss being where I am right now. I'll do that in August.
Yes, Columbia is expensive. And as we've consistently proven, we haven't exactly established a brimming college fund (and also took a train trip and bought B-Mets tickets; I like to spend money on experiences . . . or I'm just hedonistic). However, we've found out that the government, via loans of course, will cover all tuition and housing costs. Tim applied for scholarships and grants through the school as well, which we find out about later this month. Positive thinking is back in effect. Let me know if you know of any available scholarships!
We decided before we got married that we were okay with living in college-loan debt. This "comfort," we'll call it, is helping make the Columbia decision as well. It's frickin Columbia! (With a 98% job placement rate for Teacher's College.) Someday we will pay the loans off, even if "someday" gets pushed back a bit further.
A branch of my gym is nearby, and I've been investigating United Methodist Churches to attend. So far, this one seems to be my best bet. I haven't really begun thinking about what it will mean to be moving away and how much I'm going to miss being where I am right now. I'll do that in August.
Sunday, April 05, 2009
Week 2
Today finished week 2 of my half marathon training. This week I ran outside, and was lucky enough to have the weather cooperate. Today was the four mile run. What makes running outside different from the treadmill are the inclines and declines, needing to share the path with other people and animals, and no televisions (which serve as wonderful distractions for someone who doesn't have cable). However, the hardest part about running outdoors is pacing. Even when I set my pace to a song I know is the pace I want I always end up going too fast and feeling completely pooped by mile 2. Then I slow down, try not to be embarrassed by my heavy breathing, and plow through, chugga chugga chugga.
The Lake Placid half marathon officially doesn't allow headphones. I'm a little worried about this and will likely try to sneak through with some little earbuds. Don't tell. I have realized that running is a good time to pray, but pretty soon I get really bored with my own thoughts and worries and need to move on--probably how you feel when you read this blog too often.
I've also begun to approach food differently. It's become more than just something to eat when I'm hungry. I actually think about the nutrients, vitamins, protein, blah blah blahs now when I have meals and snack because I actually have to. Needless to say I'm eating a little better and including foods I wouldn't normally (but I am having macaroni and cheese and hot dogs for dinner tonight, so don't worry; I haven't changed completely). It's a little weird. I may start buying energy bars for a purpose other than being too lazy to make lunch.
I probably won't be writing about EVERY week of training, mostly because it's boring to everyone but me. Notice here that I said "probably." Just saying.
The Lake Placid half marathon officially doesn't allow headphones. I'm a little worried about this and will likely try to sneak through with some little earbuds. Don't tell. I have realized that running is a good time to pray, but pretty soon I get really bored with my own thoughts and worries and need to move on--probably how you feel when you read this blog too often.
I've also begun to approach food differently. It's become more than just something to eat when I'm hungry. I actually think about the nutrients, vitamins, protein, blah blah blahs now when I have meals and snack because I actually have to. Needless to say I'm eating a little better and including foods I wouldn't normally (but I am having macaroni and cheese and hot dogs for dinner tonight, so don't worry; I haven't changed completely). It's a little weird. I may start buying energy bars for a purpose other than being too lazy to make lunch.
I probably won't be writing about EVERY week of training, mostly because it's boring to everyone but me. Notice here that I said "probably." Just saying.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
