I have never been an athlete. I was always the last chosen for elementary school PE games. And even when a team captain finally gave me a nod and a wave over, I usually wanted to respond, “No, really, you don’t want me.”
I couldn’t do a pull up or a push up, and I could only do one half sit up. I got winded easily – actually had a cardiovascular birth defect that was surgically repaired when I was 19. But the physical limitation wasn’t what held me back. I just wasn’t sports-minded. I would flinch every time a round object headed my way. My arms didn’t know to rise and catch. They still don’t. I duck and cover. To this day.
Until a year ago, doing a marathon was outside of the realm of any of my desires or thoughts. When my walking partner proposed we go for doing a marathon in 2007, my answer was simple, “No.” Only I didn’t want to appear closed off, so I probably said, “Wow! Interesting.” But inside, I was definite: No. We started to train anyway, just to explore the option. I had no idea walkers did marathons. I thought it was strictly for real athletes. Runners. People who look like this:
Not this:
Yep. That was me, June 3, 2007. Doing it. Still brings a happy half sob to my sternum to type those words, Doing it.
Here’s the thing. I went 18. Not 26.2. I didn’t stop at 18, I took this special option written about in the fine print of the marathon’s website: Read the rest of this entry »
After my haircut yesterday, after my visit to Mecca for liberation, before my stop at the toy store and Urban Outfitters, I went to my new favorite Mexican restaurant. It had always been number 2 until November 4th, when it got an unexpected promotion.
I sat at the bar thinking, This salsa cannot beat TJ’s but it’ll do in the absence of TJ’s, when I overheard a man sitting a few seats over.
He yells, apparently to a voice mail recorder: Hey. I heard you all were under whelmed with the Christmas gifts. I told you I wasn’t done yet. So, don’t trip Chocolate Chip–
Timeout: That was a first for me. Don’t trip Chocolate Chip? Uh. Yeah. Verbatim. But there’s more.
LCPM (Loud Cell Phone Man): — I have a friend at the Adidas store who is hooking you up with some gifts . . .
Alright. It’s been 3 years and a change of employers, perhaps I can push up against the guardrail of the NDA (Non-Disclosure Agreement) I signed way back when. Just to be clear, I am not going to disclose anything I agreed to not to disclose. But I am going to tell you that standing in a gorgeous digital screening room reviewing a spot-in-progress for what is now an Ancient Toy with several advertising execs, some of whom had God’s number on speed dial (that’s the God most commonly pronounced with an “S-t-” and rhymes with heave), somehow put a yearning into my cells.
It was Fall 2004: I saw the green (it was a special green …. long deliberated over by many highly paid people sipping expensive water Read the rest of this entry »
Interesting turn of events today at work. After the first 7 hours of what I anticipated was going to be an 11 hour day — just as soon as we were settling down to dig in for a long night, the power went out. We had enough sunlight left to find the matches & candles. Enough candles to find the flashlights. Enough flashlights to pack up and get out. Now I’m at home where the iPod shuffle is currently playing Desolation Row; I’ve got red wine, cheeses left over from Christmas, and the few spreadsheets I’d managed to print before we lost electricity. A few spreadsheets = too many spreadsheets. Nonetheless - no matter what happens - tomorrow is Friday.
. . . is paved with good intentions,” and lined with unbuilt gingerbread houses.
Pre-New Year Confessions:
Yes, I printed the envelope addressed to President Putin, but what I didn’t admit is that it has yet to be stuffed with a letter bearing my signature. I’ll make good on my Amnesty promise, even if it means choosing four new prisoners to write for.
Yes, I saved the boxes for our Soldier care packages, but on Christmas day, I was too caught up watching Andy peel potatoes to remember to visit the AnySoldier website to gather the list of goods to buy. I’ll send twizzlers and fresh rock-n-roll to Iraq before Valentine’s day. It’s not just another brick in the road, it’s not.
Yes, I bought the Gingerbread House Kit, but completely forgot to open it up while Mom was here. We sat around today looking at photos, and eating pumpkin mousse and reading the notes Grandma had written about her life for us. It was pretty low key, but I think Mom had an okay time.
She & Dad left less than an hour ago to head back East.
But to be 100% honest, the thrilling part was when Andy gave me pottery from my favorite Santa Fe studio . . . a complete surprise.
Aren’t they beautiful?
Mom & Dad were amazingly generous as usual, too. I know it’s not supposed to be about materialism - but as far as “stuff” & “things” go, I’m a very lucky woman.
Grateful for the “stuff” & “things”; And especially grateful for all the love & companionship. Merry Christmas.
(I posted about this several days ago but my over-zealousness while watching True Romance got the better of me and I inadvertently buried the main topic. It deserves some front page treatment, so here’s a rerun.)
I never would have heard about this exhibit if it weren’t for Skirball’s blurb on NPR. I’m so grateful my ears were tuned in at the right moment.
” . . . . more than fifteen tons of rice-900 million grains total, equaling the population of the Americas-organized to bring local, national, and global statistics to life. Artists from the innovative British theater company Stan’s Cafe will carefully weigh and pile the staple food to quantify a variety of facts, from the serious and sobering to the lighthearted. Read the rest of this entry »
Mom gave me this gift early. I love it. Dad calls it The $1200 Scarf because apparently it was spawned at or after The Big Knitting Convention Mom attended last summer. One of the classes was called “Beyond Scarves.” With scarves like this, who needs to go beyond?
Kerplunking around the net peeking in for brief moments at my favorite blogs while I finish my egg nog (full fat - organic - spiced rum - yum).
(It’s official: after the seared tuna w/ soy sauce, cream of tomato soup, sour dough bread with butter, red wine and lobster pot pie I devoured at dinner — I’m passing on WW tomorrow a.m.. We’re within the 12 days of Christmas, right? There will be no stepping on the scale for me until NEXT Friday.)
Where was I? Favorite blogs. You know what brings a smile to my face? What has inpsired me to click “NEW POST”?
It’s going to Wineymomma’s blog and seeing Fabooj comment. It’s going to Jenn’s blog and seeing Nadine comment. Going to Fabooj’s blog and seeing Wineymomma comment. Going to Nadine’s blog and seeing Not Goth’s comment. Going to Not Goth’s blog & seeing Jenn’s comment. Going to Transplantingme’s blog and seeing Hiro from Heroes and knowing that his joy in the image represents her joy.
You veterans to this world are probably rolling eyes at my green wonder. . . but I’ve gotta pause to say, I like the web we weave.
Gary Oldman in True Romance.
One of my favorite performances of all time.
All time.
Oh, there are the scenes between Hopper and Walken, between Arquette & Gandolfini, Gandolfini & Pitt . . . “Conden-send to me Mother Fucker,” . . . scenes to live for. Literally. And then there’s Val in the bathroom. But Gary’s performance is my favorite. Of all time. All movies.
True Romance is the first movie I saw during the first 24 hours after I touched down in Los Angeles for the first time ever. We saw Prince & his entourage exiting the theater from the previous show. He sauntered his platforms right into a long black limo & rode away. We were in line for seats licking ice cream cones trying to act like we weren’t watching him. Then we saw this gem, gem, gem of a movie. It’s no wonder I moved here 8 months later and haven’t left.
Anyway . . . Enough quotes from What’s On TV Right now, here’s a glance at how Vacation: Day One started out before I got mesmerized with Drexl for the 46th time.
No, that’s not me. That’s my body double.
If I ever do look like that, I’ll be sure to post pictures. Lots.
Sure, I’ll wear the rubber gloves, too.
First morning off. Siiigggghhhh. About ready to scurry around in a caffeine/rock & roll induced cleaning frenzy. Pausing to post like the good Holidailies Elf that I am.
M&D are chilling at their hotel (recovering from the madness that is LAX). Incidentally, when is LAX going to join all other civilized airports and get a central rental car center? Okay, when I say “all other” I don’t really know what I’m talking about. But ABQ & BWI have got the rental car thing down to a sweet & easy system. LAX? Not so much.
Anyway . . . the ‘rents were settled in by 11:30pm last night, happily snacking on the “pantry basket” I made for their hotel room. Should’ve taken a picture of it. I do good baskets. Harry & David Who? They got nothin’ on me. No humility about it.
Yes! Funny you should ask. I am having withdrawal symptoms. Looking forward to eventually finding the time to catch up on reading all that’s new from my favorite blog sisters - you know who you are. Until then, miss you gals & hope all is well.
Now it’s time to play Alice and put some shine into this place!
Mary & Bob’s daughter, with her loving husband (my dad)
circa 1977 . . . or is it ‘75?
Out of bed before 6am today. Was it the rain? No that usually calms me. Was it the anticipation of Mom & Dad’s arrival tonight? Probably not. Was it the empty stomach left by following WW to a sloppily drawn T last night? I’m gonna go with “Yes” on that one. Nothing like waking up to a growling stomach. One last day of work before a week off. I’m currently dreading trying to accomplish all that needs to be done today, but regardless of what happens, come 9:30 tonight, I’ll be standing at baggage claim with open arms . . . claiming my baggage.
Just kidding, Mom & Dad. You’re not my baggage. Can’t WAIT to see you.
Ten minutes to sit here and jot something down before heading out for the day. In the last week, I’ve repeatedly resisted being a copy cat & writing An Agenda Post - but can’t figure out why. So without a good enough reason to avoid doing so, I’ll share my list of things to do:
