Hmm What to Write About

Let's see...What is new in my life? Well I got a tad over-zealous with my 1/2 marathon training, and I strained or tore or pulled a bunch on things in my left hip...Fun fun. So I have been laying around on the couch lately. At least I have been able to catch up on my movie watching :) hehehe. Saw the Bourne Supremacy, Elf, and The Terminal. All good movies.
Christmas is quickly approaching, however, apparently MD has forgotten, because the weather has been a balmy 65 degrees, or thereabouts lately...We even had a thunderstorm lastnight. I am definitely NOT complaining though, I mean I wish I could be out enjoying it, but just knowing that its nice out and seeing the sun has been great! Love being warm! :)
Fortunately I have all of my xmas shopping done, except Drew...Can't really do that at the moment. I'm going to take him skiing, he already knows otherwise I wouldn't write it online for all to see. I really hope he enjoys it, hes never been downhill skiing before. We went xcountry skiing last winter, and the part of it he liked the most were the small downhill parts (although they were much smaller than any bunny hill I've ever seen) So we shall see how he feels about downhill.
Think theres a Christmas party one of Drew's bosses is having this friday, should be a good time.
Anyway, that's about all that's new here. I go home the 17th, can't wait!!

Yeah Home for the Holidays soon!

Yeah, I will be home for Thanksgiving in just 2 short days! Always so nice to go and see family, I hate feeling so secluded down here in Maryland. I am so excited to do the Thanksgiving thing at home, even if it means I have to suffer in the cold...hehehehe. With any luck it will stay mild up there for me :)
I always look forward to this time of year, starts with Thanksgiving and goes until New Years. Its the happy feeling of giving, and decorating, cooking, and visiting family. I know for a lot of people its the most tiring time of year, but for me, its just the best. Although it can be pretty busy, shopping, and cooking, I see it more as a time to get together and shop or cook together. Some people just get too "Martha Stuart" around this time of year. They try to make things too perfect, or impress people with their gifts. Its sad that people have forgotten that the most important thing about this time of year is that its meant to be a time to slow down and enjoy what you have in life, not speed up trying to beat each other up at the mall over the last tickle-me-elmo...Or whatever the latest gift is. I'm just glad that's not the focus of my family, I've always thought that self-made, or well thought out gifts mean more. Maybe its because I have gotten to the age where if I need it, usually I can just buy it for myself...So expensive gifts don't hold as much meaning as personal gifts do....
Anyway, on that note, I am going to go ponder my xmas list for my family. See you all on Tuesday!! Can't wait!!!

Afternoon Ramblin's

Today was a good and easy day. I like those days, where you know its going to be a short day, and if you hurry you can get home before it gets too cold to walk around outside and enjoy the afternoon :) Its in the mid 60s today...woohoo! Don't let it get cold, wouldn't that be nice, if it stayed in the 50s and 60s all winter...sigh, but alas, it doesn't though I don't mind that it is staying so warm all the way up to Thanksgiving!! I remember it being like this last year too though. Leave MD in the 60s and come back from MA to MD in the 30s...It always happens, just like that. I keep telling myself that this winter is going to fly by!! I hope, I hope, I hope! I think my parents need to move somewhere pretty and warm so when I'm not working I can go visit them and take a break from cold short winter days, that's what I've decided (are you reading this mom hehehe)
Anyway, I'm going to go sit by the window and soak up the warm sunlight in my bright living room. Ta ta for now!

"Rachel the Poo, and the Blustery Day"

No, I am not referring to myself as a piece of excrement, doesnt anyone remember the story of Winnie the Poo and the Blustery day? Anyway, thats what I am talking about. Its so windy today, its a beautiful fall day thought, the leaves are all golden and flying all over the place. I was pushed off the road several times, however, today on my run. But the sun felt great and the day has been good.
So I guess I am starting to be ok with feeling so isolated here in MD. I mean who am I kidding, I'm tough broad anyway, I don't need girlfriends ;) hehehe. It doesnt bother me as much as it used to, I still dont like shopping by myself or anything like that, but I have gotten back into my painting much more than I was a few months ago. Don't know why, but something has turned me back onto painting almost daily, provided my painting is dry enough to add to. Which is great. Right now I am in the process of painting a fall scene for my aunt and uncle, however, i am falling in love with it and may have a hard time parting with it.....eeekkk!!
Anyway, time to get to the painting, speaking of painting....

Good weekend

Well I had a pretty good weekend. Saw a movie with drew on Friday night, tried out a new running loop. Was very nice, carved pumpkins!! That was a lot of fun, did something different this year. Drew carved an "A" for the university of Arizona, and I carved Mr. Crabs from "spongebob" hahaha!
Sunday we went up to PA to visit Drew's family. His grandmother and her friend were visiting from Chicago. I went running there around 9, and then came back and hung out with "Gamma Jane" and her friend. They were so funny, dressed in the same outfit of black pants, black button down sweater, and a white turtleneck. It was so cute. It was kinda strange though, his grandma almost has the same eyes as my nana, and they sort of look similar. It was cool though to get to know his grandma better, I have really only met her briefly once before, though I have eaten a lot of her cookies :)
Anyway, it was really nice, and I am beginning to feel more comfortable visiting. I actually got an apology from his mom about something that happened a long time ago....I thought she didn't remember what had happened so many summers ago, but if she really meant it, it made me really happy that she said sorry.
I hope they like me as much as I like them, my family is so important to me, and I miss them, so its nice to be around drews family sometimes...Not that they can take the place of mine, but its nice to hang out and go on walks and have nice dinners with other peoples families.

Beautiful Saturday

Ahh, what a beautiful day here! Its not often that I say that about MD, usually I'm hating on the weather here. Its a perfect sunny, 60s, fall day. Fall here is so different that in MA, it usually seems like fall leaves change and fall off in one weekend, whereas here, we have several weeks of leaves changing and slowly falling off...its really nice actually. I went on a really nice senic run yesterday, it was really pretty with all the leaves changing and drifting off the trees around me while I ran.
It makes me miss soccer a bit though, the smells and the crunch of the leaves always make me think about highschool...playing sports, going to football games, applepicking and baking pumpkin bread with my sisters and mom! Makes me a tad homesick...or rather "family-sick."
Anyway, I think its off to carve my pumpkin!!

Life changing....eh?

Well, I know that things can't stay the same forever...everything changes. But thinking you can go home to your childhood town and family members is something you usually don't think will change. After my dad getting laid off from the computer industry I always just thought eventually he'd find something else. I kinda hoped they would find something in NC or around there...never thought about Fargo...hmmm, would I visit, sure..in the summer! Its cold up there!!
How sad would that be, no more $100 flights that only take 1 hr and bring me to see my sisters and most of my extended family. Grace would FREAK out, erin would not be happy, and I know that the rest of my relatives would really miss my parents being there. Who would take care of my grandparents? Grandpa would have to actually cough up $ to get things fixed around their house....hehehe.
I mean its great that dad got offered a job, but it makes me sad to think that I would no longer get to visit MA when going to see my parent...I will keep my fingers crossed and pray that he finds something close to where they live already. They need a smaller more managable home, just not in Fargo!!

Fall is falling upon me!

Well, as the summer is ending, that can mean only one thing...Fall must come in its place! No more early outside running, no more warming myself on my little balcony. However, it does mean apple and pumpkin picking time! I'm so excited this weekend, I am going to my favorite place, Larriland farms, to pick some apples and pumpkin, and probably some spinach or broccoli if they are in season yet! I am so excited, I think I'm going to make some applesauce with the apples i pick! I know its not quite the same without mom and sisters, but Drew will have to subsitute ;) hehe He seems to be more excited about it than he was last year....i have been working on him for a few years. Soph yr in college I got him to carve a pumpkin and bake the seeds with me, last year i finally got him out to pick pumpkins (after convincing him that it was ok for 23 yr olds to still do that) And this year he actually seems semiexcited to both apple and pumpkin pick! However, I dont think ill ever get him to be really excited about making applesauce....its ok tho :)

So as the seasons are changing, I too am thinking of a change. I love the painting, but man, its KILLING me and my car! I had to get $400 worth of new brake pads etc..and my car is only 2 yrs old! They asked if i did alot of highway driving at rush hour, slamming on the brakes etc.. and of course I do, its how people in MD drive! And unfortunately my body, back and neck, need readjustment too. Tho, they cant really be replaced as easily as the car parts can..hehehe So I'm trying to figure out what to do, I think id really like to be a college track coach, and maybe someday an art teacher...tho none of the schools around here are looking for a track coach, and really I'm too serious about running to be a highschool coach either....Anyway, I would also like to be the muralist at a Trader Joes, but they are all too faraway for me to go work at.... So if anyone can think of something I could do that fits me, please let me know!! I need help trying to figure out where my life is going!

Presidential "Thrashing"

Ok, so I watched my first presidential debate on TV last night....Not that I haven't been alive for others, it was just the first time I actually watched the whole 90 min. (drew is really into watching) Anyway, so did anyone else see this? Kerry totally verbally took Bush for a ride! Every good point Kerry made about something the Bush admin did that was somewhat embarrassing, Bush could only retort "well what kind of message would a president that says wrong war, wrong time, be sending the troops, or America." He even said this when Kerry wasn't even talking about the war! On and on ad nausea!
He is such a moron. Its like he just wanted to say "yea well I'm rubber you're glue....Etc" Bush is a TOOL! He had nothing intelligent to say. He made no good points! I was so embarrassed just watching him, however, I do have to say, at least he didn't talk about "nuclr" weapons or fumble any other "difficult" words. So good for him, hes learning to speak at a level above a 5 yr old.
It was so bad, Drew, a usually Bush supporter, seemed to be bending towards Kerry.
Yeah Kerry!!! Vote Kerry 2004!!!

Blog Slacking

I have been slacking lately when it has come to blogging. Lets see, right now we are in the middle of a flood watch, also a tornado warning, tho I'm not seeing too much rain. Thank goodness for getting out of work early, just before the rain hit Baltimore too badly, I was just watching the news....all the lower areas right near me are flooded. Up to 6 ft of water on some roads! Fortunately for Drew and I, we live on top of a hill. I got home at 5 and he works 1 mile away.

This past weekend was busy. Drove 3 hrs to VA to attend a friend's wedding. It was really nice, very small. He and his (now wife) were married in a church his grandfather had built, also where his parents and older brother all got married in as well. Unfortunately we did not get to stay too late because we did have such a long drive back. But the reception was alot of fun, had a really cool live jazz band. The weather was beautiful as well, and his parents house sits on the ocean, so it was a "sea" theme. They are off on their honeymoon right now, away from all this cold rain! BLAH!! Cammy et al, I am so jealous of your 85 and sunny weather! hehe

Well I should end this, looks like Drew is passing out on the bed, I gotta let him sleep :)

Just Writing to Write

So its a beautiful MD day, dry, sunny and warm...my kind of weather! During my lunch break I sunned myself like a lizard out on a warm rock. It was a rather relaxed day at work today, just what I like! Traffic wasnt too bad either because I got out early. Ahh stress free days, why cant there be more days like this, i guess that would just be too easy huh :)
Well I want to wish my sister Grace a happy 22 Bday, i know its not as exciting as your 21st, but its still a birthday. I hope she gets everything she wanted!
Enjoy the evening everyone, I'm off to make dinner!

Hurricanes blow in Parents sometimes

Well it was a good weekend. My parents drove down to Chapel Hill this week to visit some very close friends who recently moved down there (by the way the pics of the house look so nice!) They seemed to really have a great visit, liked the campus and the area alot. It all sounded very nice, maybe someday I'll have to go check it out.
As my parents got closer and closer, however, the sky got darker and darker....they finally arrived, along with the wind and the rain, but does that ever stop us! Heck no! We got out our umbrellas, determined to go strech their legs after being in a car for over 5 hrs, and went on a little hike in the woods near my apartment. It sprinkled on us off and on, while we made plans to go to DC in the morning, or maby the book festival.
Went to a nice resturaunt that night, and then to Ikea...nothing like Ikea :)
That night as we slep the wind howled, and the rain pounded from Ivan....and in the morning it continued, as we continued to ignore it and get ready for a outdoor day....finally mom gave in, and said "ok lets face it, its going to be nasty, lets get a movie" so we all piled into the car, got bagles, soada, popcorn, pretzles and a movie. The movie ended up really bad, but the company was great! :)
As they said their goodbye's, the clouds lifted and out came the sun, and the dry cool air.
Its funny what hurricanes will blow in, and out....maybe the next one will blow sisters in with it :) hahahaha

Yucky days...

Wow, there are a lot of hurricanes right now! It seems like there's been one after another, its making the last week and the next few days pretty crappy out. I miss the sun!!
On a happier note, my parents are coming to visit on their way back from visiting friends in NC...Yea! They should be here sometime tomorrow afternoon :) and are staying until sat depending on what type of weather we get here from the hurricanes.
Not sure what we will do, but I'm sure they will be tired from driving and traveling around all week, which is fine...I'm sure we'll find something to do.
Also, I am looking for a new career path. As much as I love painting, and the flexibility of my job...I know I'm pretty good at it, and learned it real fast...Its time for me to get a job where there is upward mobility. I am thinking of 2 paths. One is to stick with art, either get a certificate to be an interior designer, or maybe work at Trader Joe's as their store "sign artist" or go with my other love.....Running! I was thinking either being a college or hs track coach, or maybe trying to get a job promoting marathons or work at some sort of athletic apparel company. Or even work at a gym as a personal trainer, or nutritionist. I applied to a assistant designer position at a company called Athleta, they make women's sports clothes, but we shall see if I hear anything back from them (they are also located in CA) so prob not be interested in me because I would have to move etc....We'll see though.
If anyone has any thoughts as to what I would be good at, or places I could apply to...Let me know :)

Lovely (sarcastic) pics of my race :)

Yea, ok, so you try and look beautiful while finishing 13.1 miles....

http://www.asiorders.com/view_user_event.asp?EVENTID=4244&BIB=3503

Yeah...I am the fastest woman alive...er well maybe not :)

Yeah me! Check out my stats! Out of 12,500 runners I came in 105th. Out of 7,000 women I came in 23rd, and out of my peer group I placed 4th in the Virginia Beach Rock and Roll half marathon!! With a time of 1 hr and 28 min, I ran an average of 6 min 45 sec for a distance of 13.1 miles!!! I feel great, so excited...All pumped up...Bring on the next 1/2 marathon this winter in Phoenix!!
What else is exciting......I am going home for family reunion time tomorrow night!!! I'm so excited!! Get to see everyone, go apple picking, and relax with the fam! :)
Such a great week for me!

Lots of Travel

Wow, it is a traveling time. Erin is visiting Jeff this weekend, I'm sure I won't be seeing either of them, even though they will only be 20 min away (but I know how that goes, and I wasn't expecting to see her anyway) Then next week I am flying up to MA for a family visit, and my mummy's Bday. I'm rather excited to see everyone. Its very strange, I wasn't homesick all 4 years of college. It was my first time ever really being away, I had never been to summer camp away, or even really visited friends faraway with out my family. One would reason that if I were to get homesick it would be in a place like Arizona where I'd never been, and didn't have any friends. Now as a 24 yr old living with my boyfriend, homesickness has finally struck me. I dunno what it is. Wish I didn't hate the cold so much.....

So more traveling, I am going to Virginia Beach this weekend to run in a 1/2 marathon. I am both really nervous and very excited! I always get nervous when it comes to races. I can remember in highschool it was so bad it would make my physically sick. Drew is so opposite of me, he's more quiet as a person, however, when it comes to athletic competition, the more people watching, and the more public the event is, the more he enjoys it. Funny how people can be so different sometimes. Guess that's why we work, its a good balance :)

This blogging thing doesn't like me...

Ok, so I have written around 4 blogs in the last few days, and none of them will publish...? What's the deal? I keep typing with no published results. Its getting frustrating!
So I guess I will try to publish again. My little sister is all grown up now...frosh at Mass Art in Boston. God it makes me feel old...wasn't she just 6??! Shouldn't it be me going to college, not her. Its so weird, I know she's old enough, I hang out with her when I'm at home, and shies very mature, but I still see her as the baby. Although, I think we all do really. But I'm so happy and excited for her to be out on her own. Sounds like shies got a really cool dorm. I'm so jealous, mine was sososososoo tiny! No kitchen, and I had to share my room with some pretty scary roommates (Steph isn't included in that comment)
Anyway, goodluck Erin, maybe I'll see you this weekend. :)

Where do the weekends go?!

Wow that was a quick weekend! I swear, the nicer it is outside, the faster my weekends fly by! This weekend was spent making small talk with people from Drew's work. Sat. we went to his bosses house and hung out with a few sligtly older couples. I learned that for invitro your husbands sperm is tested out on a hamster egg first....? hmm strange.
His coworkers seem really nice, tho now that I met his one boss, I know why hes getting worked so hard....she was a pretty demanding person, nice, but tough!
Then yesterday there was another company picnic, where I met his other bosses...We played a little soccer, and they all ate crab after crab after crab! Its pretty amazing how much people like those things. I tried a claw, it was ok, really I just liked the Old Bay seasoning more than the crab. Drew just kinda poked at a crab while trying to dare me to eat it :)
Anyway, then the weekend was over...oh so quick! It just never seems to last long enough! Oh well, just have to look forward to the next one.

Lazy weekend..

Well this weekend has been nicely lazy. Slept in until 10 (wow really late for me) on sat. Then Drew and I went on a nice run together, he did calisthenics while I did a track workout. Then, not wanting to stay indoors even though it was pretty miserable outside, we decided to go to innerharbor and check out the science museum. I must say, I have no idea how Baltimore keeps that science museum open! It was $14 per-person, for a whole lot of nothing! I think that whole museum could fit into the Boston museum's front entrance. Plus, we are so close to D.C. and their museums are free. We encountered a few surprised tourists who had clearly come up from DC for the day, they didn't realize you had to pay for this museum. We tried to take our time in the museum, and ended up spending about an hour there. When we left the sun had come out, and the humidity had lowered considerably. All in all it ended up being a really nice evening and we walked around for several hours. I usually am not a fan of Baltimore city (surprise surprise) but I figured living so close, I should go in at least once this summer....so my quota has been filled for the summer :)
Today has been pretty relaxed as well, ran errands, sat by the pool for a tad, and watched the women's Olympic marathon. I am always so amazed at those women, wow! Talk about mental and physical tenacity! In the time I run 17 miles, they were almost done with the whole marathon! Pretty nuts if you ask me. I keep saying I will run a marathon someday...guess I'm going to try to get through my first 1/2 marathon before then. Sept 5th! I'll be in Virginia Beach, running my first!! :)

Its all Greek to me...

So I've been watching the Olympic coverage on Good Morning America lately and this morning I had it on mute reading the subtitles that they type, when I realized that almost every other word was mispelled. Now having the mom I have this discovery greatly annoyed me. How can you have a job where you can't even spell what you already know is going to be said because they all read from scripts up on a teleprompter. Talk about not doing your job well. This is seen by millions of viewers everyday, no one complains?? I swear, I only faux finish walls and if there is one tiny little error people will refuse to pay us. Sometimes I feel like these housewives really need to get a life. My boss has had so many checks bounce due to these women deciding not to honor the payment contracts because there was "a tiny little spot I saw when i was way up on a 15 foot ladder cleaning the window.....I know no one can see it unless they got up on the ladder, but I'm not going to pay you on completion of the project until its taken care of." And of course, they don't always tell us, so we write a check assuming they paid up, and theres not enough money in the bank account....oh wow, oops random tangent.
This has def. made me not want to become a housewife...ever! I see so many women that just don't do anything all day long! How can one function like that? No wonder all those women are on prozac and wellbutrin, if I sat on my ass day in and day out without leaving or anything I'd have to be heavily medicated too, talk about boredom and lack of feeling needed or useful.....
I mean, not to say that I'm not thankful for my mom staying home and raising us, but she was busy, she didn't plant herself infront of the tv for hours. Last week I worked at a house, it was a very large job, and it took 2 wks to do. I learned her routine really well, this house had 4 people in it...husband, wife, 2 kids under the age of 8. They owned 10 TV's.....?! Thats more than 2 per person?! What do you need a tv in every room of your house for? The woman would get up when we got there at 9, watch those morning shows, then the View, then The Nanny, then some fashion tv, and on and on until 11:30 when she'd finally get dressed. She'd meet someone for lunch and shopping and be back at 2, to return to the tv again. At least it was sort of entertainment for me while I was working alone, better than quite. But can we say get a job, maybe a hobby?!
Anyway, I am completely off topic now....Speaking of getting a hobby, I need to go paint now :)

Today is a good day :)

Well I had a sucessful day on the treadmill today. I woke up today, and as usual, went to ice my shin, and the bump on the anterior shin muscle is almost gone. No pain either. I iced anyway, and took some advil just incase then went down to the treadmill to test it out. Its way too hilly around here for me to run outside, so that was a bit of a downer, but i could keep a moderate pace on the treadmill for about an hr with no pain, so it seems as though I will be able to run in the 1/2 marathon afterall!!! Yippee!!
I guess I was getting a bit too over-zealous about training, I wanted to finish with a really good time, but now I just want to be able to run the whole thing without doing any real damage to my leg.
Anyway, just wanted to share my news :) hehehehe Keep my fingers crossed!!

Thoughts...

So I have been reading From Beruit to Jerusalem, by Thomas Friedman, while biking lately...and it has been making me think alot lately.....I tend not to be a very political person, I'm not registered to vote (technically I'm still a resident of MA even tho i have been living in MD for over a yr now) Its long and complicated....and very expensive to become a citizen of MD, so I havent bothered...yet. I think I'm in denial that I live here, Drew and I keep talking about moving somewhere nicer (CA, TX, AZ....see a westwardly trend?) Anyway, I'm getting off the subject here.....
So living with Drew and how he feels about staying current with politics etc has gotten me more interested in politics. Plus when you add in the upcoming election, and all the things happening in the world right now its hard not to be. Usually I try to not think about politics becuase it is pretty frustrating, I mean really, what can we do as individuals....lets be honest, no "great" politican is going to run for president any time soon. It seems like this election is going to whomever is the lesser of the 2 evils. I mean Bush is, well hes Bush...can't speak well, and as a representation of the US hes kinda embarrassing to me.....I don't want the rest of the world thinking that we are all bad orators, and cowboys. But also with that said, I'm not sure how much better Kerry would be, he is afterall a politican.
Here is my problem, if there was no war going on, I would totally be for Kerry, however, we hav def stuck our noses into an ugly one at the moment. And Bush is more of a "war" president....However, I'm not sure that we will ever quite get out of what we have gotten into. People my age living in the middle east do not know what life without fighting is like. Its a way of life for them, losing friends, relatives, and neighbors is a way of life and they seem to have become somewhat complacent with it. They don't strive for education, or the future, they go on suicide missions instead. With that said, our troops are not prepared to win a war like that. Many of them are trying to start families, or become educated. Their purpose in life is not to fight, its to live. They have many other things on their minds, and honestly, that is their weakness as far as this war is concerned. It seems more like the only way to win this war is to nuke them all....or just for us to admit that we dont belong and get the heck out...which isnt going to happen....so maybe Bush and his cowboy was might be the best......But then again I think i like Kerry better, maybe we just need someone new, let someone else give the presidency a try.
I would rather it be peaceful, and have Kerry as a president, however, as long as we are at war maybe we need puppet-Bush. But then again there is all his ties to oil companies here and there....ahh its dizzying thinking about all this....
Anyway, I think its time for me to end my rambling...time for me to go put away some laundry, maybe watch some olympics. Actually I think this is the first time I have really watched the olympics (again Drew's influence)

No running makes Rachel a sad girl

Ok, this it probably going to be a short blog. I tried doing this lastnight, but it was 12 (which is very unusually late for me) and it didnt work, so I didn't bother trying to retype it again.
As you all know, running is life, life is running (according to me) and for the last week I haven't been able to because I injured my ankle/shin. This really upsets me for 2 reasons, the main one is because in 3 wks I'm supposed to run my first 1/2 marathon, and paid $60 to enter it and more to stay at the hotel etc...and 2, well just because (according to me) running is life :)
Fortunately we have stationary bikes in our little workout gym downstairs, so at least I feel like I have sort of been able to stay inshape, just incase I can actually run in the 1/2 marathon.
So soon, I will be headinging downstairs to hop on the bike that takes me nowhere...sigh...I miss being outside, its a beautiful day!! I think Drew and I will kayak today tho, so that will be nice anyway....