10-10-10

Obviously, I have been a blogging failure of late, of which my mom specifically called yesterday to remind me (hi Mom!).

I've been distracted by any number of wonderful things, about which I'll hopefully post--probably when I'm sufficiently interested in avoiding non-wonderful things, such as the piles of midterm exams my students are taking on Tuesday.

In the meantime: Marathon! I ran my fourth Twin Cities Marathon last Sunday. I did the first 17 miles with my very speedy running buddy, who was doing her first ever marathon, before I couldn't keep up. I ended up finishing in 4:37, which I just realized (thanks to the wonder of the Internet) is actually my second fastest marathon time. Speedy finished about half an hour before me, which is sort of heartbreaking, but she's so amazing I can't be bitter.

I think this is the link to the album of pictures I posted on FaceBook.

More Vegas!

Thankfully, Vegas--or at least my experience of it!--has improved vastly in the past 24 hours. Last night a friend from high school who lives in town picked me up and we went to dinner at a nice little Indian place. The food was pretty decent, and the atmosphere was lovely, but I can't decide whether the highlight was our great conversation (he let me pick his brain about this very strange city, and it was fascinating)--or SEEING ANDRE AGASSI!

So I'm sitting there, and I keep staring over M's shoulder at the next table. "I'm sorry," I apologize for my distractedness, "but that guy just looks just like Andre Agassi!" He's there with an attractive blonde woman, another big dude, and like five kids. Another half hour or so passes (filled with enough engaging conversation, thankfully, to keep me from doing too much staring) and I notice that they're getting up to leave--and that Andre is posing for pictures with the hugely smiling Indian waiters. M finally turns around, and confirms that it's him, all right, and that the blonde woman is Steffi Graf. Andre is the last to leave, after the picture taking, and walks quietly out, exuding cool. Completely awesome.

This morning I met up with Seester and Chris at the Luxor, where we checked into our room and grabbed some food before heading to the expo madness next door at Mandalay Bay. We fought crowds there for a while, picked up our stuff, and strolled a bit on the strip before calling it an early night. Now I'm going to sleep as much as I can; the race starts at 6:15!

Travelin'

Happy December, all!

It's extra happy here today, because David was offered a position at what amounts to sort of his dream job. It's a controller position, so he won't have the pesky tax season he's dealt with for the past several years in public accounting. His office is also in the Warehouse District of downtown, which, in addition to being generally awesome, is only a few miles north of my house and forms a neat little triangle with my East Bank office. (Yes, I've already become a total pansy this winter as far as biking is concerned--but it's so hard to turn down free rides, and when I don't have to bike I get to wear nice clothes!) Needless to say, after three months of rather daunting unemployment (curse this economy--as I told him this evening, he's a frikkin' accountant, after all, not a beat poet!), this is a huge relief. To terminate his unemployment with such an exciting prospect and great people feels extra fantastic.

We just got back from the west coast last night, after driving back through the gorge and flying out of PDX. David and I didn't get to sit together on the plane, but we did both have window seats, and it was one of my most memorable flights in recent memory. It was a gloriously clear day, and the view of Hood was spectacular. I was wishing I could identify all the peaks (Adams? Jefferson? Three Sisters?) when it occurred to me that as I could see clear across Oregon to the south, I might be able to see Rainier to the north. I actually gasped when I turned and saw it, larger than life and perfectly framed in the windows across the aisle. Amazing! It was especially interesting to follow our path east along the gorge, having just come the opposite way that morning. I recognized the dams and phalanxes of wind turbines (visible in the full-sized version of the photo), and even thought I could see Multnomah Falls, where we'd stopped briefly on our way in.

Tomorrow I board another plane, this one bound for Las Vegas. I get in late and then have Friday by myself before meeting up with April and Chris Saturday morning. We run early (6:15 a.m.! the pain!) Sunday, and if you feel like tracking us, you can find details about that here. I had thought at one point about running the full marathon, and I am very glad that I talked myself out of that rash plan and registered, along with the other two, for the half. I'm already feeling so much less stressed! My usual race voodoo--what I can and can't eat, what I wear, how I sleep, etc.--is significantly calmed when I know I'm running 13.1 miles, instead of 26.2. I'm not too inspired at the moment, having been on the ground in my home timezone for only slightly more than 24 hours and not particularly anxious to leave again, but I'm sure I'll be excited soon enough.

One inspiration: AirTran (for all their other, significant flaws [i.e. I fly through Atlanta on my way from MSP to LAS]) now has wifi on all their flights! It's not free (yet), but still--we're living in the future.

Sleep

This morning I had that super-heavy, glued-to-the-mattress feeling, even though I'd been sleeping for nine hours (I know! the luxury! It's, like, double what I averaged my first year in Mpls). It took a ridiculous amount of time to get out of bed.

And then tonight, I couldn't even make it through the movie David and I started with dinner (Bubba Ho-Tep, which I first [and last] saw at the awesome Ross theater in Lincoln), and passed out on the couch at maybe 7:30. I had vivid dreams, and now, predictably, am not very sleepy. Sigh.

I didn't run today, and I only ran two miles yesterday. I've also been averaging a lot of sleep recently.

I don't know whether to hope that I'm just lazy or that there's something actually wrong with me.

Granted, I have run a half marathon and a whole marathon in the past six weeks. It is November, and the short days always get me down. I'm stressed about my dissertation and the (complete lack of a) job market. And I am trying to avoid all the flu going around.

So hopefully it's nothing that a bit more sleep can't fix.

Pictures

I took these pictures of my office (and out the window that consistently fascinates me) yesterday with my camera phone. They appear to be a little smeary, but do sort of capture the permeating feel of the light. As always, click for larger images.

My desk:

Window, with Pillsbury Hall:

More Pillsbury:

Bookshelf and radiator:

Sink(!):

Closet:

My open office door, from the hallway:

And here are a few more random shots from the phone...

Unnecessary quotation marks in a Lincoln City Doughnut Shop:

Unnecessary quotation marks in the downtown post office:

My favorite nuns on the TCM course:

Band on the TCM course (picture for Teri):

Rockstars:

Happenin's

Or, Things I've Been Doing to Avoid Writing My Dissertation

Internets, I've been remiss, about many things, but I apologize to you, in any case, for my lack of blogging. Exciting (or at least vaguely interesting) things have been happening here--I just haven't been posting about them! So, to hit a few highlights...

I ran that marathon. The next morning, I had my first chiropractic appointment--that expo deal--and totally got the royal treatment (electrical muscle stimulation with heat, massage, ultrasound, cool lasers, and a [cracking!] adjustment). I left feeling fantastic, and although I was feeling pretty sore and awful by the end of the day, I think it really improved my recovery time. By Thursday of that week, I wasn't sore at all. He also lasered and re-taped my blisters, and even though they had been huge, they didn't bother me at all and had completely healed within about 10 days. More of David's pictures are here, if you're interested.

I took my turn presenting at the weekly Fellows' Luncheon. Approximately one third of the group was out with the flu or traveling or whatever, so it was a small crowd but went pretty well. I'm glad it's over.

Abraham came to town! The rockstars arrived Saturday night, in time to join us for a smashing dinner party, and then got my patented Nerd Tour of Mpls (including the theater, library, and post office) Sunday before playing a small show that evening in my apartment. Thanks to various factors conspiring against us, the turnout was very small, but we had a fantastic time and made merry until way too late for a school night. The rockstars left the next morning (which was snowy: thanks, Mpls) to continue their tour eastward; check out their upcoming appearances at their website. Here are some of David's pictures; be sure to view the full album for a few videos:


I sort of started running again, and registered for another half marathon. David took this picture because he thought it was funny that I looked like I was flipping him off. The subsequent run, my first since the marathon, was blessed with Wintry Mix and an awesome attack of cold-induced hives. Oh, yes. But yesterday, I ran a sunny six around the lakes with the friend I'm running the half with, and it was balmy--nearly 50°! The race is on Halloween, so I'm thinking about running in costume. The current front-runner is 80s cheerleader.

I made a lampshade. I don't actually remember why I was first inspired to do this, although this beautiful lamp in the window of the Uptown DWR didn't help. I think I'll write a little tutorial at some point, because we took a bunch of pictures, but for the moment here it is on David's head.

We got out. Last night, David and I saw Rodrigo y Gabriela at the Pantages Theater. It was the most amazing guitar playing I've ever seen live, and I have seen some impressive playing. Really an amazing show; if you ever have the opportunity to see them, DO! Tonight we saw The Importance of Being Earnest: Bros Before Hos Remix at the Bryant Lake Bowl Theater. Friday I took David to the French Meadow for the first time, and Saturday morning we discovered Isles Bun & Coffee together (despite passing the out-the-door line multiple times on my weekend lakes runs, I had never actually been in!). It's nice to live in the city.

After

Internets, I am so tired that I am the slimmest of margins away from pulling on my ears (and squealing) à la Baby V. I thought I was tired last week, after the Urban Assault Ride, but of course that was child's play compared to 26.2 miles on my (even ninja-taped) feet.

I did finish the race in 4:49:39, which is no speed record, even for me, but which I did think was totally respectable for the meager amount of training I'd put in. (The longest run I did this summer was the Lacamas half, which, as you may recall, kicked my butt--and that was two months ago.)

The weather was chilly, but we only had a few raindrops, although the sky was looking pretty ominous by the end. A few sunbreaks even illuminated the autumnal colors as we ran, and the course lived up to its tagline of being the Most Beautiful Urban Marathon. (It really is a pretty beautiful course; it's hard to beat four lakes and a river, as well as two downtown skylines!)

Unfortunately, the ninja taping rubbed its own blister on one toe and didn't protect another spot I would ordinarily have bandaged prophylactically. The joints, however, feel pretty good, and aside from some wicked tight calves and general fatigue, I'm feeling pretty swell!

Various members of my awesome Minneapolis crew were present at the start line and four other spots along the course. The whole group was there for the finish line, and then two more friends joined us for celebratory greasy food afterward. I am one fortunate girl.

More pictures coming!

Before

Today at the Expo I had my feet taped up like a ninja!

I didn't go in with that intention, but that's what happened. I was lured by the sign that promised a free chiropractic consult and $29 first treatment when I signed up at the expo. I asked the guy if they could fix my feet, which have been bothering me--the first joint of the big toes, alternating from one foot to the other. He examined them and explained that it was probably tightness in my shin muscles actually lifting my toes up, and taped them so that they weren't pulling up quite so much.

It felt, and continues to feel, really good, so I'm hoping that my feet do well for tomorrow's race. I also have an appointment for Monday morning, which excites me because they do that awesome ART thing and I'm sure I'll be in need of some magic.

And now, because I told everyone at the party we left early that I was going home to sleep, I'm going to get into bed. I don't know if I'll be able to sleep or not, but--8 a.m. gun time! Woo!

Sixthly and Lastly

Tonight a friend and I saw Much Ado About Nothing at the eponymous Theater in the Round. It had only been a couple of months since I'd last seen Shakespeare, but quite a lot longer since I'd seen theater performed in the round (I'm thinking the Virginia "we do it with the lights on" Shakespeare Company performances I saw in Lincoln were the closest in recent memory). This was the first time I'd seen Much Ado live, although I do have the fondest of memories of the film. I've seen a fair amount of Shakespeare performed--though I've read shockingly little--and think that Much Ado is definitely one of my favorite of his plays. Although Claudio and Hero always seemed a bit on the labile and weepy side to me, I much prefer the witty Beatrice to the "shrewish" Kate, and the requisite mistaken-identity bits don't seem too overdone.

Before we went, we had dinner at my house: cilantro pesto summer squash feta pizza; margherita pizza; spring greens salads with apples, pecans, dried cranberries, and feta; and a fantastic warm apple cobbler that she brought. The menu for next weekend's dinner party is a bit more seasonally-appropriate--including hearty soup and homemade bread--but despite the autumnal weather we've been experiencing (veritably Northwestern in its seep-into-your-bones chill wetness) I seem to still be getting the last of the summer menus out of my system.

I'm also still hoping for a last gasp or two of that weather--especially, if at all possible, for Sunday's run.