I'm all, like, cultured and junk

Last night Loc took me to see the Phoenix Symphony. Loved it! The music was amazing. I'd forgotten how much of a difference a live performance can make.

This is another in our series of seeing live shows: We saw a taping of Wait, Wait, went to a discussion with actress Cloris Leachman, and, well, saw The Shins a while back, but that was more of a rock concert.

I would still like to see Ballet Arizona, another opera, a play and a jazz orchestra.

Wait Wait......WAIT!

Thursday we got to attend a taping of Wait Wait, Don't Tell Me! The NPR News Quiz. It was awesome! I got to meet the host, Peter Sagal, who incidentally looks exactly like his voice sounds, if that's possible. We also got to learn some of the secrets of the show:
- The callers leave a message at NPR. They are chosen by wit and conversation skills. Then they are told to wait by the phone Thursday nights, when the show tapes.
- To get Karl Kassell's voice on your home answering machine, winners write out the message they want, he records it and a CD is sent to your home.
- After the taping, they retape certain parts that didn't go well or got flubbed.

Overall it was freakin awesome! Listen on Saturday to see how much AZ Governor Janet Napolitano knows about college basketball coach Bobby Knight.

The future of the Suns?

I hope he has some kind of magic power to stay off the injured list.

one thing I HATE SO MUCH

Tonight I ran into someone I see from time to time. Someone I met in high school. We worked at the zoo together. We went to a Blink 182 concert together. He criticized me for driving my mom's van too fast. I have seen him at other events. So in other words, he's an acquaintance, right?

Well apparently that's wrong. He had no idea who I was. Didn't know my name, barely showed recognition that we'd met before.

And it kills me. Because, you see, this is something that happens ALL THE TIME. People I have met before completely forgetting me. Tell me the truth - is it my face? Do I just have a forgettable face?

Ruined my night. I could barely enjoy my overpriced tiramisu.

can i get a witness?

This morning I was cleaning out the litter box when I heard a knock on my door. I never get knocks on my door! I checked the peep hole and opened the door - but left the chain on. I was still in my pajamas after all!

And who was at the door? Some Jehovah's Witnesses. Two ladies who wanted to give me literature. They didn't want to come in from what I could tell, and I didn't invite them (pajama factor).

But I felt like it was a big step as a homeowner.

an oldie but a goodie

on my mind

Totally stolen from Beckbot's blog
--
On My Bedside Table:
cup of undrank water
Outrageous! The Charles Barkley story
Naked by David Sedaris
Born Standing Up by Steve Martin
New Kings of Nonfiction
lotion
sore throat lozenge wrappers that I inevitably use as bookmarks

Latest Interests:
old James Bond movies
sewing on my new sewing machine!

On My Mind:
running marathons
working on my business

Learning:
sewing (Ok I haven't sewn anything yet but I want to!)

[Thinking about] Making:
floor pillows for Tony
little purse
tilapia with white sauce made of neufchatel

Looking Forward To:
Shanna's 1992 prom night
April trip to Boston

Enjoying:
Daily Show now that we have cable
tamales

Amused By:
Tony, who always makes me smile

It's done!

Today I crossed the finish line for my second half-marathon, this time in Phoenix. I cut about 20 minutes off my original time (still one of the slowest of the people I know - ask me if I care) and had a pretty good time the whole way.

It was sunny, but not too hot. Came off with a little sunburn. Also feeling a LOT of soreness in my hips (who knew that you have to use your hips for so much?) which means I'm hobbling around like an old woman. And some overall tiredness. I've been fighting off a cold for two days, and now I'm scared that since the race is over it will wash over me with a vengeance. Stay tuned for an "I'm sick!" blog in the next couple days.

Overall, another great experience. One of the things I was talking to my sister Amy (time 1:43 because she is a rockstar) about was the urge to cry when you cross the finish line. We decided that it's not so much that you conquered the impossible - since thousands of people finished the race. It's more that you have been aching and blistering and burning for two hours or so, suppressing the urge to slow down or give up. And when you see the finish line and you know that you conquered the urge to quit, it's just too much and you kind of choke up. Even watching the finish line at a marathon can be very emotional when you see people near the end.

Though I may take it easy for a couple weeks here, I think I'm still aiming for a full marathon on June 1 in San Diego. You all are invited!

calibrate good times

So I just realized that my iPod Nike+ hadn't been calibrated this entire time. That means when it told me I ran 4 miles, I actually ran about 3.75.

It also means I'm an ol slow poke, just as I suspected.

Countdown to half marathon: 5 days

Looks like mom's gettin a box of Omaha steaks!

Diamond Auto Glass has a commercial out right now where some kids are playing baseball and it hits a windshield. The gimmick is that with a new windshield you get a box of Omaha steaks. Aside: Is it weird to be getting meat from your windshield guy? I guess the only meat I associate with windshields is road kill.

Anyhoo, it reminded me of a time when Dallace and I were playing softball in our backyard and we sent one right through a kitchen window. No adults heard it, so we just took the softball from where it had lodged itself and went to the front yard.

Later my mom found out somehow - did we tell her? can't remember - and got so mad at us for just taking the ball out and continuing to play. I felt pretty sheepish, but on the other hand I didn't really see any reason to stop playing. Minor setback, right?

The Magnificat

My soul doth magnify the Lord / and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
For he hath regarded / the lowliness of his handmaiden.
For behold, from henceforth / all generations shall call me blessed.
For he that is mighty hath magnified me / and holy is his Name.
And his mercy is on them that fear him / throughout all generations.
He hath shewed strength with his arm / he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
He hath put down the mighty from their seat / and hath exalted the humble and meek.
He hath filled the hungry with good things / and the rich he hath sent empty away.
He remembering his mercy hath holpen his servant Israel / as he promised to our forefathers, Abraham and his seed for ever.

Christmas I hardly knew ye

I find it so sad that Christmas has already come and gone. I'm not even sick of it yet. In fact, I was just really getting into the Christmas spirit. I was wildly blessed by some generous elves this year, which of course made me really happy. I also like the gifts I gave, including a scrapbook for a certain F Minus artist, a recording I made for my nephew of a curious George book and a gift wrapping bin that I was eyeing jealously the whole time I put it together.

whatever Target cashier

Every time I go to a store, I try to use the least amount of bags possible. If I'm buying a book, I don't need a bag. Orange? no bag. You get the picture.

The other night I bought some stuff at Target and I tried to tell the cashier I only wanted two bags. But she INSISTED I take three.

She said - why does it matter?
I said - I'm trying to save the planet. It matters.
She said - just reuse them. use it as a trash liner
I said - that would be fine, if I had 600 trash cans, but I don't. I have too many bags already at home.

...and she hands me my third bag. screw you target cashier.

Personal Best!

So tonight was supposed to be an 8 mile run, but I didn't plan for it and got started too late.

Instead, I decided to go for 3 miles, and ended up running a personal best! It was so exciting. I've never run that fast before, and it felt so good, despite it being really cold and close to 11:30 pm.

And I have to say that I love having the nike ipod+, which gives me little messages of encouragement through my headphones, like congratulating me on my run.

Pet peeve

Cold bread.

Attention restaurants: no one likes cold bread. stop serving it. it's hard to put butter on it and it never tastes as good. So throw it in a warmer or something, huh? One repeat offender is California Pizza Kitchen. Another was a place I visited in DC tonight called Pesce, which had cold bread and small portions.

Anyone else got some pet peeves out there?

Sixer

So I finished the sixer tonight. Now I'm icing my feet with some frozen spinach. It's not as gross as it sounds.

PS, if you haven't caught on yet, this forum is going to be part of my motivation for the Half Marathon Jan 13. 13.1 or bust! That's a pit stop on the way to the full marathon in June, when I turn 25.

And I would be absolutely remiss if I didn't acknowledge my coaches/bike posse: Camilla, my sister, and Tony, my boyfriend. They come with me on my long runs and keep me going strong. How will this play out on race day? Well, let's hope it works out.

Finally, I'm always looking for new iTunes to rock my workout. Please suggest your faves!

Worst pickup line ever

A few years ago I worked at a restaurant that had a fairly young staff. Naturally, the inter-kitchen dating was rampant, but the absolute worst line I heard was this:

Another server asked me out. I told him I have a boyfriend. His question?

"Are you interested in any sidework?"

If you are unfamiliar with the term, sidework refers to the little chores everyone is assigned to do before they leave, like refilling salt shakers or ketchup bottles.

So he was asking me if I wanted to cheat on my boyfriend in the same manner that I might mop the floor. Hot.

What are the worst lines you have ACTUALLY heard?

That would be a fiver

So I ran five miles tonight. yay! Another step closer to the PF Chang's half in January.

One question, though: Why is it when I step just a little bit faster do I suddenly turn into a grandma?

My nose runs, my stomach gets bubbly and my hip feels like it is a rusty hinge.

Oh, and my hair turns white. EVERY TIME

Any other runners out there? Share your war stories!

I knew it!

My dream has come true.

I have an action figure set on my desk featuring Superman, Lois Lane and the American flag.

Ordinarily, they are posed in a normal stance.

Yesterday, Superman had his arm around Lois.

I now have plans to set up a hidden camera overnight to catch them in the act.

I KNEW dolls came alive after dark!

The Fave Five

I haven't blogged in a while because every time I sign on, blogger takes about 6 years to load. Somehow today I got lucky.


These are my top 5 restaurants lately. Tell me what else I should try!

1. radioMilano: On 40th Street and Campbell. I fell in love with their hand-made pasta with vegetables and goat cheese. I am a huge sucker for goat cheese, yet I don't particularly enjoy goats. Catch-22? No, more like Double Jeopardy. I also adored the olive oil cake, served with jam and cream. I know what you're thinking - jam? gross! But actually jam is quite delicious. The staff also was incredible. We were running late for a Shins concert, and they got us out of there in 30 minutes.

2. Swaddee Authentic Thai Cuisine in Tempe: Just named Best of Phoenix by the New Times. I had "Coconut Princess" and enjoyed it v much.

3. La Grande Orange in Phoenix: Always. Especially the egg pizza. love it!

4. Four Peaks Brewery in Tempe: Mainly the french fries, which are some of the best I've ever had. Add to that the sweet jalapeno dipping sauce and you got yourself a party.

5. Giovanni Pizza Bistro: In Tempe, Baseline and Mill. This best-kept secret is so unknown, the last time we went there we were the only patrons for about 2 hours. Then we left, so we may have been the only patrons that night. Despite the sketchy service, the food is really good and the tables always have real flowers on them. I especially like the rolls - order pepperoni or spinach.

P.S. This is my second attempt to post this blog today. Blogger froze the computer.