Dust & Ashes

I'm Catholic but I prefer not to advertise that for various reasons.  I'm more of a doer than a talker when it comes to things like that.  BUT today marks the start of lent with Ash Wednesday.  My facebook news feed has been covered with people saying what they're giving up for lent- generally, fast food, sweets, and facebook.  Which is fine- good for them in trying to break bad habits.  But I wonder how many people will keep with it after lent? To me, lent is a time to try and better oneself.  A couple years ago, I was drinking a lot of soda so I used lent as a time to get rid of that habit.  It's worked- I only drink soda as a mixer/chaser.  Three years ago I went vegan as an attempt to make smarter food decisions.  I think it's worked though I still have a giant sweet tooth that should probably be reined it.  I do occasionally toy with the idea of going back to being a vegan but then I think about all of the cheese I have and how it would be a waste of money to let it go bad.  Sometimes I think that people use lent as a second chance for their failed new years resolutions instead of a chance to better themselves. I might be taking this all too seriously but that's what happens when the insomnia kicks in . . .

Baggage

I saw Eternal Sunshine for the Spotless Mind yesterday for the first time completely.  I had resisted for years because I wasn't sure how I would feel because of the idea behind it- erasing someone completely from your memory, and thus your being.  I guess part of my issue stems from the idea that yes, while there are things and people in my past that I wouldn't wish there, it ultimately makes me who I am now.  That may change but at this moment, the good and the bad of all of my past makes me me.  So once I talked myself into watching it, I really enjoyed the movie.  Yesterday was one of those days when I was ready to watch something and have the time to think about what it meant and how it relates to my life. I really can't believe it took me such a long time to finally watch it.. . . next on the list is big lebowski. 

Recap- Dec & Jan

Just realized that I haven't written in a solid two months.  Unfortunately, there hasn't been that much to write about since I ran the marathon.  I did graduate from Drexel, so I'm officially a master of library & information science.  My parents informed me that the diploma has been mailed and received so Drexel can't go back on its word about that.  I also got another part-time job which is great though I feel like I'm always working.  I'm beginning to miss the days when I had that 9-6 M-F regular schedule.  Oh, yeah, and I moved.  Still in Philly but across the river.  First move I did without my dad.  I'm pretty proud of myself.  So I guess stuff did happen but nothing that made me go- omg I have to share this. 
And as far as running goes, I pretty much took Dec & Jan off just to relax and let my body get its act together.  That kind of backfired as I still eat like I'm running on a regular basis.  My first race of 2012 is in two weeks so I should probably get my act together. . .

Philadelphia Marathon

On 20 November 2011, I ran the Philadelphia Marathon.  I died just a little and questioned my sanity a lot. This wasn't my first one but it might as well have been because of the time that had passed since my first marathon (March 2010).  I had been plagued with injuries (another first) that included a bad ankle sprain, a collapsed arch, and pain on the top of my feet.  However, my stubbornness prevailed and I finished the marathon without walking.  My time, while not as good as I knew it could have been, was a PR (personal record).  Beggars can't be choosers so I'll take it.  If anything, it's made me more determined to run another and to keep PR'ing.  I'm already planning the races I'll run in 2012 in the hopes that I'll continue 2011's tradition of nothing but PR's.

Thanks to Cait for a respectable running photo!  

Jim Henson exhibit

This past Friday I drove up to Queens to visit the Museum of the Moving Image.  The museum currently has a few exhibits that I had wanted to see, mainly the Jim Henson exhibit and the Behind the Screen collection.  I've been a huge fan of Jim Henson and the muppets for as long as I can remember- Sesame Street, Fraggle Rock, the Muppets, etc.  I also some other really neat stuff but didn't try to take pictures until I got to the Henson exhibit.  I was too enthralled to even remember to take pictures on my cell phone that does not have a flash.  Here's a few that I did take: 

Rowlf

Miss Piggy gets married

Such a great quote by Henson

Fraggle Rock

Yoda

The body double of the chick from the Exorcist (scene when the chick turns her head around)

Single girl living in a lonely world

Granted, I've got a few years to go before I'm this age but she hits everything on the mark:

Sometimes, Its Not You

Philly rocknroll half marathon

Just a few observations from this race.

1. There were a ton of buttchecks, tattoos on said buttchecks, and people talking on cellphones.

2. I really enjoyed the race up until mile 9. Then I died.  Up til then I was able to keep my 9 min/mile pace exactly.  Then I got slower, things got harder (thats what she said).  Part of the issue I think is the fact that I had sprained my ankle the previous Monday.  I RICE'd the crap outta it and didn't run at all.  Which made me extremely testy with everyone- sorry! At the expo Saturday I was able to have an expert tape my ankle for me using KT Tape which is the stuff the Olympic athletes used so I felt legit.  The stuff definitely helped.  But forgetting to eat breakfast did not.  I still managed to PR but not as good as I wanted with my final time being 2:03:05.

3. Even with all of that, I think that I'm still on track with my projected times of 1:30 for the Army 10 Miler and 4:00 for the Philadelphia marathon.  Granted, as long as I PR I should be happy but I know that there's always room for improvement.