Raindrops, roses, kittens, blah, blah, blah...

I took advantage of the long holiday weekend to finally install a new showerhead in the bath. When I say, "I," what I really mean is that I gathered the supplies and tools and pretended to start the project until J took over. I can, however, properly supply an Allen wrench when requested.

The new showerhead is one of those 6.5 inch rain showerheads and is absolutely amazing. J likes it because he doesn't have to stoop over to actually get his head wet anymore. The showerhead, combined with the fact that a certain someone is getting older soon, is the result of the list of my favorite things, not necessarily in order.

rain showerhead - I will actually do yardwork after a long run just to take a shower twice that day!
Nike employee store - b/c at that price I will wear a completely coordinated running outfit
J grilling me dinner and having everything perfectly set - it's great; the burgers, too
hitting a new long distance running goal - ran 14 with a group on Sunday and felt great: 2:11 and kept thinking the pace was too slow, I mean, come on, I can't qualify for Boston running 9:00 minute miles!
sitting with the cats in the sunshine - crazy cat lady covered with pets' sheddings...priceless!
books - all kinds, just give me a trip to Powell's and a few hours of quiet
Chocolate Soymilk - sounds weird for a Midwest girl but love it!
traveling overseas - England, Japan, Greece, Africa, India, etc...I want to see it all
dinner parties with friends
chocolate croissants, especially after a long run
North Carolina blue skies
family and friends visiting
Oregon forests
Cincinnati Chili
5:00 ;)

It's Summer Already?

Last Saturday was the LO Lake Run - a challenging 12k course (obviously around the lake). Have to say the best part was rolling out of bed 15 min. before and doing a nice jog to the start. Actually, I ran better than I thought I would, i.e., just over 8:30 min/mile. Not too shabby this early in the training. In order to qualify for Boston I need to run 8:20 min/mile for 26 miles! Thankfully, it's only May. Jay, on the other hand, did really well, particularly given that he's done no hill or speedwork training yet. He finished just about the time I hit mile 5! Being anti-social, he did a cool-down to back home after the run, while I stayed and loaded up on goodies AND picked up his awards bag, including the super-cool Nike wrist sweatbands with pop-out watch (like Swatch-watches)...Dude!



Not too much else going on here. Will hit a 12-miler on Saturday, so not too bad. It's a beautiful, sunny, summer-esque day and I'm staring at the tree just outside my office. Thank goodness there's a tree there and not just a brick wall or a dumpster! I'm officially a registered patent attorney this week--excellent, now I just need to open my own office so I can go run when I want and not have to stare at a tree. ;) I'd probably pay myself more, too!

Oh yeah, domestic warrantless wiretapping. WTF, mate, that's one no one actually wants to be right on.

Washington Post: More Domestic Spying

Running with Demon Drivers

On Friday, Jay and I went for a run--well, Jay was running and I was riding my bike. It was getting dark so I had the good 'ole bike light on as we headed for a loop aroung the lake. After we had reached the top of the hill and were looking forward to an excellent downhill, a car made a slow, calculated swerve at Jay and into the bike lane! Jay jumped to the side and yelled at the car while I jumped off my bike and was heard to yell something like, "move the f*&:! over" at the top of my lungs. Jay actually chased the car once it passed us, but the car was going at least the speed limit--35 mph, so there was no chance. After the nauseating feeling in my stomach subsided, I realized that neither of us had been able to read the license plate of the car.

Jay noted that this type of thing had happened to him before and he attributed it to stupid teenagers, a Friday night, and the warm weather that day. I had NEVER had that happen to me before and was furious once I got over the shock of almost seeing my husband get hit by a car. More than anything I wanted to drag those jerks out of their car and force them to spend a week tending to people in the ICU. Haven't people seen what serious car accident victims look like? Man, I know I sound old but honestly messing around with someone else's safety goes WAY beyond the line for me.

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