My 2010 in review

2010 sucked.

Because I'm superstitious, my reasoning is b/c I didn't get kissed on New Years'. Hopefully I can avoid that fate this year and have a great 2011. However, I'd like to thank Matt in Oregon for the best story of 2010.

Anyways, in this past year I:

-moved to a city where I knew maybe 5 people

-ran my first marathon

-got another tattoo which resulted in my mother not talking to me for several weeks

-realized how much I hate cooking for one

-was able to drink beer and not get sick

-was asked if I was French/European- glad to know that I don't look American

-got my first 4.0 post-high school academic career

- stopped working for the first time year and it's awesome

-realized how comfortable I am being by myself

-turned 24 and decided that I'm done celebrating my birthday

-puked on a stranger

-forgot how much driving in jersey sucks

-continued the quarter-life crisis despite the fact that I have an idea of what I to be when I grow up

-saw some amazing bands this year with some great people

-realized that there's no point in decorating in a place that isn't permament (more than a year)

-was told that I have great eyebrows (hey- I'll take it)

I'm sure that's more but that's all that comes to mind

yes, I live in the city

The other day it finally hit me that I live in a city. It took two random occurances for this to happen. The first: a complete stranger asked me for directions and I managed to give her correct directions. The second: I missed my exit coming into the city so I had to take the next exit in which I managed to correctly get back to my place. For anyone that doesn't know, I am extremely directionally challenged so this was a big feat. Those two occurances made me realize that I'm slowly becoming comfortable living in a new location that just happens to be in a city.

It's about time.

It's been exactly three months. But I never said I was a fast learner.

I love the fact that I can walk to pretty much where ever I want to go within the city during the day (night is a different story). I like being one of those people that you'll see carrying groceries because I live so close. I love the lack of chains in the area. Yes, they are there but there are so many local, individual places that have much more to offer. My favorite thing is the fact that I know exactly where all the places that the intro to It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia shows are located.

jersey

So the other day I decided I needed to do some shopping. This was brought on by two emails I had received: Nordstroms and Bath & Body Works. Figuring I could get some of my Christmas shopping out of the way, I searched for the nearest Nordstrom. My options came down to the King of Prussia mall outside of Philadelphia and the Cherry Hill mall also right outside of Philadelphia. I decided on Cherry Hill though in retrospect, this might not have been a very wise decision.

Why?

Because I hate driving in Jersey.

I think it could be comparable to driving in a different country. In order to turn left or to make a u-turn you have to turn right. Thank goodness I had to make one u-turn (I blame that on over-analyzing Google Map directions). Also, the drivers from Jersey just suck. In the parking lot of the mall, I have never been so scared for my life, inside and out of the car. People don't look, they just go. I was quite surprised not to see an accident though I wondered if that was the Jersey drivers having a sixth sense about each other.

On the way out of the mall, I had someone creep behind me to get my space. They were disappointed to see that I had parked as far away from the mall as possible. If that's just regular Saturday afternoon traffic, I would hate to see how it is during holiday shopping. (Un)fortunately the drive back was rather unevenful.

I'm supposed to be checking out the King of Prussia mall as well within the week or so. I'm sure I'll have an update as to how that trip goes as well. Maybe some compare and contrast with all of those English classes/papers coming in use?

And the record begins with a song of REBELLION

Why does everyone want to live vicariously through me?

Actually, scratch that. I know exactly why. If I was a lesser person I would blame my parents. But at 24, I feel that I have to own up to my own many mistakes.

I'd like to say that people want to live vicariously through me because I'm fun but we all know that's not true. It's mostly because I don't care. For example, my roommate tend to go out fairly often together. At bars we tend to wingman for each other. Most people would think that this is awesome but we accidently wingman for each other. I tend to make small talk with people and she sees this as I'm interested in the guy. Then I see her talking to someone and feel obligated to wingman for her, making it a vicious cycle. However, after several weekends of this, I believe that she has finally realized that I'm just not interested.

It's things like that. I'm usually up for whatever and tend to go to the extreme, ultimately creating ridiculous true life stories.

inhale exhale

Last night I had to talk myself out of buying cigarettes. For anyone who knows me, that's actually a big deal. The last time I really smoked was 2 September 2008 and the last time I bought a pack of cigarettes, Mike's Mart was still around and Sparks were new. It's not even that I was really craving a cigarette itself, I just wanted the action of smoking and the peace it brings.

I'm not quite sure why but the past couple of Wednesdays I've been down. Not sure because it's the last night of class so I'm just loose ends or what. I have realized over the years that when the seasons change, I kind of get into this funk. There's really no rhyme or reason to it, it just happens. I guess it's to remind me that I can't be happy all of time. It probably doesn't help that I signed up for my second quarter classes earlier this week. I'm already having anxiety over them because they're all online and the second quarter means that I'm closer to being finished with this program and with Philadelphia. Though I've already decided that while I'm not a huge fan of Philadelphia, I do really enjoy living in the city and it could be worth a repeat.

move into the city

So I've been a resident of Philadelphia, PA for a month. And I think I like it. I say "I think" because I find myself constantly comparing it to what I know, Northern Virgina. It's definitely nice to be able to walk every where. I drive maybe once a week to make sure my skills are still smooth. However, what really bothers me is the fact that 1. no one holds a door for anyone following and 2. no one smiles when passing someone- they all look down. I really didn't think the Northern Virginia/DC area was that friendly but it sure is compared to Philadelphia.

Whenever I tell someone that I just moved to Philadelphia, I know maybe a handful of people, and I don't have any family that close by, they say how brave they think I am. I honestly don't see it. To me, it's more of an opportunity presented itself and I took it. There was also nothing left for me in Northern Virginia. Maybe one day I'll change my mind and move back but at this moment, no. Would I have moved to Philadelphia just because? Probably not because it's not somewhere where I can imagine myself living for more than a few years.

My room is still in shambles and somehow the blank walls don't scare me like they did in college. Maybe it's because I'm okay with the lack of permanence of anything in my life at the moment. Or it could definitely be the fact that I'm not sure where I want anything to go. Also I'm in a new city and kind of feel like a blank canvas since very few know me. There's something comforting about a re-invention. But once again I have a sweet closet with shelves. As my place does not contain any closets, shelving is clearly important for someone who has a lot of crap (aka me). Looking back it's funny how my biggest issue with my room was where I was going to put my shoe collection. The shoes have now become organized which leaves me staring a blank walls, trying to figure out where I want to put my new posters (I destroyed everything I had on my walls after college because it wasn't feasible to hold on to it then).

Light Bulb!

So I've been writing for about a year now and there really hasn't been any cohesion with my posts. However, due to the fact that I am moving and am completely expecting upheaval in my normally staid life, I plan to write about it; therefore giving my blog a subject and hopefully some better writing. (This post should not be an example of said writing ability).

So to summarize my great idea, I will be writing about life as a Philadelphia transplant. As of right now, my news is short and sweet: currently unemployed with a legitimate move-in date.

Why the need to kill others?

Some Fatal Shootings at US Workplaces

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Filed at 5:02 p.m. ET

Some fatal shootings at U.S. workplaces:

-- Aug. 3, 2010: Warehouse driver Omar Thornton shot and killed eight people before apparently committing suicide at a Manchester, Conn., beer distributorship.

-- June 25, 2008: Wesley N. Higdon, 25, killed five workers, then himself, at Atlantis Plastics in Henderson, Ky. A sixth shooting victim survived.

-- March 18, 2008: Lee Isaac Bedwell Leeds, 31, shot and killed four men at a junk yard in Santa Maria, Calif.

-- March 12, 2008: Robert Lanham killed two people in the Regions Bank of McComb, Miss., where his ex-wife worked, then forced the woman to flee with him before killing her and committing suicide.

-- Jan. 30, 2006: Former postal worker Jennifer San Marco, 44, shot and killed six postal employees, then himself, in Goleta, Calif.

-- July 2, 2004: Elijah Brown, 21, killed four co-workers and wounded three others at ConAgra Foods meatpacking plant in Kansas City, Kan., before committing suicide.

-- August 27, 2003: Recently fired Salvador Tapia, 36, killed six former co-workers at an auto parts warehouse in Chicago, then was shot dead by police.

-- July 8, 2003: Doug Williams, 48, shot and killed six workers and wounded eight others before killing himself at a Lockheed Martin aircraft parts plant in Meridian, Miss.

--Feb. 25, 2003: Emanuel Burl Patterson, 23, shot and killed four fellow jobseekers and wounded a fifth at a temporary employment service in Huntsville, Ala.

-- Feb. 5, 2001: Factory worker William D. Baker, 66, killed four co-workers, then himself, at the Navistar International factory in suburban Chicago, Ill.

-- Dec. 26, 2000: Software tester Michael McDermott, 43, shot and killed seven people at a Wakefield, Mass., Internet consulting company, Edgewater Technology Inc. He was convicted, sentenced to life without parole.

-- March 20, 2000: Fired employee Robert Harris, 28, fatally shot five people and wounded another at a Dallas-area car wash. He was convicted, sentenced to death.

-- Dec. 30, 1999: Housekeeper Silvio Izquierdo-Leyva, 36, fatally shot five co-workers at Tampa, Fla.'s Radisson Bay Harbor hotel. He pleaded guilty, was sentenced to life in prison.

-- Nov. 2, 1999: Copier repairman Byran Uyesugi, 40, fatally shot seven people at Xerox Corp. in Honolulu. He was convicted, sentenced to life in prison.

-- Aug. 5, 1999: Truck driver Alan E. Miller, 35, fatally shot two co-workers at Pelham, Ala., office, then killed a former co-worker. He was convicted, sentenced to death.

-- July 29, 1999: Former day trader Mark Barton, 44, killed nine people at two Atlanta brokerage offices before he committed suicide.

-- March 6, 1998: Former Connecticut Lottery Corp. accountant Matthew Beck, 35, fatally shot four lottery executives, then himself.

-- Dec. 18, 1997: Fired employee Arturo R. Torres, 43, killed four former co-workers at maintenance yard in Orange, Calif., and was shot to death by police.

-- Sept. 15, 1997: Fired assembly line worker Arthur H. Wise, 43, shot and killed four at Aiken, S.C., parts plant. He was convicted, sentenced to death.

-- April 24, 1996: Firefighter Kenneth Tornes killed four superiors at Jackson, Miss. firehouse. He died on death row.

-- April 3, 1995: Former employee James Simpson, 28, shot and killed five people at refinery inspection station in Corpus Christi, Texas, then killed himself.

-- July 19, 1995: City electrician Willie Woods shot and killed four supervisors at C. Erwin Piper Technical Center in Los Angeles. He was sentenced to life in prison.

-- July 1, 1993: Gian Luigi Ferri, 55, a mentally disturbed man with a grudge against lawyers, killed eight people and himself in a San Francisco law office.

-- June 18, 1990: James E. Pough, 42, killed 10 people and wounded four others before killing himself at a General Motors Acceptance Corp. office in Jacksonville, Fla.

-- Sept. 14, 1989: Joseph T. Wesbecker, 47, on disability for mental illness, killed eight people and wounded 12 others at a printing plant in Louisville, Ky., before killing himself.

-- Feb. 16, 1988: Richard W. Farley, 40, killed seven people with a shotgun at ESL Corp. in Sunnyvale, Calif., before surrendering. He was sentenced to death.

-- Aug. 20, 1986: Pat Sherrill, 44, a postal worker who authorities say was about to be fired, killed 14 people at a post office in Edmond, Okla., then fatally wounded himself.

------

-- Compiled by AP News Researcher Julie Reed Bell

(This version CORRECTS that June 25, 2008, shooting was in Henderson, Ky., not Dixon, Ky.)

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2010/08/03/us/AP-US-Workplace-Shootings-List.html

I can see the need to kill yourself; everyone has a breaking point but I cannot understand the need to bring others down with you.

trip down memory lane, briefly

So I was recently reminiscing about boys, specifically boys during college. It might have had something to do with the fact that I was in town where I had gone to college. I'll admit that there was a decent amount of boys then. Some I still speak to and some I don't. But nonetheless, still part of my life.

In particular, one thing haunts me to this day. M., during one of our ridiculous drunken arguments, said quite reasonably, "you know, you're the only girl I've ever been able to talk to." It might have been one of the nicest things anyone has ever said to me.

I know that I tend to choose to remember only the nicer things in life and bury the ugly. But when an off-the-wall compliment like that comes to mind, I can't help but drudge up the rest and wonder what happened to him. If he's found another girl to talk to or watches Adult Swim by himself.

I go to bed too early these days to watch.

Work It

So I've recently switched up my work-out routine. Instead of running several miles, I've dropped running and taken up Jillian Micheal's 30 Day Shred workout. So far, I believe it's working.

Or at least it was working when I did it. I've taken the past couple of days off. I know it's only a 20 minute workout but sometimes I just can't find the motivation. But I could tell this morning when I woke up and looked into the mirror. There was less definition and more rounded-ness which can be okay when it's not bikini season. Granted it probably didn't help that I pigged out at a late dinner for reasons that I'm still not sure of.

I have a hard time pushing myself without a goal. For example, I'm not planning on running any races anytime soon so I've pretty much stopped running-the heat doesn't help either.

Anyways, I'm hoping with the holiday off and not having to go to work will give me the extra time to workout and to do some things that I've been talking about for weeks and have yet to touch-ie cleaning my car.

He's Just Not that Into YOU

I recently watched He's Just Not That Into You for the first time. Now, I knew what I was getting into but I did not expect that particular ending. While not every storyline had a happy ending, it still gave into that ridiculous Hollywood type ending. The story line that I'm referring to is the Gigi and Alex one where she pursues every guy who is indifferent to her. Yet in the end, she dates Alex, the guy who gives her advice on how to act with the indifferent men who finally has a light bulb go off in his head so they end up happily dating despite the fact that she's a whack job. Even the story line with Janine and Ben - the married couple that doesn't end well - he is type-casted as a cheater and she as an uptight, Type A perfectionist. Is there no such thing as normal?

I feel that they took very specific types of people and tried to show how ridiculous relationships have become. While technology can be partly blamed for this, relationships have always had an awkwardness to them.

While I believe that there is a lot of truth to the statement, "he's just not that into you," I believe that the movie does not justify that statement. Not necessarily because there were some happy endings, but rather because it does not look at the big picture fully enough. Every woman featured, if she wasn't in some type of a relationship, was pining to be in one. Why is it not okay for women to be single? Or is it just once a woman reaches a certain age, she becomes relationship-hungry?

While, I could be digging too deeply into this, the movie was not as strong as I thought it could have been. However, there is nothing wrong with the statement, "he's just not that into you", because seriously, would you want every guy all about you? I sure as hell wouldn't- probably because that's too much work for me. And I'm not into every guy I meet.

Out of Office

Wow, definitely just realized that it's been over a month since I've written anything.

In that time, I got drenched at Shamrock fest in DC with some awesome people, been onstage with the Dropkick Murphys (twice), ran my first marathon, saw the glory of Tennessee, and got accepted into graduate school.

I'm still having a quarter-life crisis going on, a bit early, but I blame my dad for that. He has a habit it saying all of the horrible things I think. For example, I applied to graduate school for something that I'm passionate about and am super excited about the fact that one of the schools wants me. However, I know that it is going to cost a lot of money to accomplish but to me it is worth it. My dad never went to graduate school so he doesn't understand the whole situation. Part of this issue is that I've been so used to having running goals for the past couple of years but now I don't have any because I have no idea where I'm gonna be in the next 6 or so months. I did sign up for the Army 10 miler but that's partly because it sells out within 2 days and that you are able to transfer that race registration. I think that it is the uncertainty that bothers me. I plan on going to an open house for grad school in a few weeks and hopefully that will help cement my decision. It probably doesn't help that I'm horribly indecisive, especially when it comes to something that will change my life.

I'm still immensely proud of myself for sticking with my decision to apply to grad school. To those that care, here is my essay:

I know the exact moment that I realized I wanted to be a librarian. I walked up the stairs at the Andy Warhol Museum to the famous stuffed Great Dane, Cecil, guarding the library with its hundreds of boxes. I had always been a great lover of books but I had never put the two together until then. That museum visit crystallized my next goal: attending graduate school for a degree in library science, with a focus on archives that will help me share the experiences of the past with the minds of the future. Just as those dedicated researchers at the Warhol Museum created an intensely personal learning experience for me, I too, would like to make an impact on the learning experience of others. Having the opportunity to change the way the past is presented to society and to help shape the way history is viewed is why I want to pursue this degree at Drexel University. Moreover, its close proximity to a plethora of museums such as the Philadelphia Academy of Fine Arts, American Philosophical Society Museum, and Independence Hall, to name a few, is what makes Drexel University particularly attractive to me.

Growing up I had a severe speech impediment that led to a love of reading because of my inability to communicate with others. I spent so much time at the local library that I volunteered during middle school summers even as my speech impediment became less noticeable. The library was the one place that I always felt accepted, and it nurtured my love of reading. This love of reading spilled into my classes, as my teachers encouraged me with book recommendations. Because of this, I was often the only student who had read the majority of books a professor would mention throughout a class, regardless of the subject matter.

I carried this same dedication to the playing field. During the fall semester of my sophomore year in college, I broke my collarbone playing rugby. Unable to play that semester, I rehabbed so that I could play the following semester. Despite my coach’s wariness about letting me play, I persisted, and by the following fall semester, I was playing full games in a completely different position on the team. Likewise, when I did not receive the grade I thought my class work deserved, I would discuss it with the professor to better understand his or her expectations of me. Being armed with this knowledge- made me better prepared in my studies and fostered closer relationships with my professors, with whom I developed strong bonds that transcended the classroom.

I feel that my experiences with rugby and school, combined with my eureka moment at the Andy Warhol Museum, would make me a valuable member of the diverse community at the College of Information Science and Technology in Drexel University. Specifically, I see the Library Science and Information program at Drexel University as the bridge from my past to my future of helping others experience history in a manner relevant to today.

Just some poems I found

So for my high school graduation, my parents bought me a Mac Book as my gift. I had several ups and downs with this computer throughout college but essentially it got me through the four years. Barely. As soon as graduation hit and everything had been turned in, it died. I had a flash drive that I used but rarely did it contain the finished versions of papers, poems, and essays, and narratives-essentially everything that I had every written for the past four years.

Needless to say, I was devastated when it crashed. Especially now, since I tend to look at my former writings for inspiration. Here are some of my favorite poems written senior year that I found the other day rummaging for a paper:

White Lady

Small silver blade
Powder of white
On a square mirror
Blade
Divide the White
Lady
Into equal lines.

Roll a twenty-dollar bill
Tightly.
Breathe in deep
Pinch nostrils together.

Snot runs down your throat
Green as the money spent.


He Asks Me

Please he asks me
It’ll feel so good.

You know exactly what to do.

I shift my body down the bed
Wiggle my goodies
Bobbling backwards
I position myself
Between his legs
Take him into my mouth
Try not to gag.

I prove my love.


Be a Lady

Don’t pick your nails, girl
She told me.
But I did
Down to the quick redness between my fingers
Stain.

Don’t sit with you legs spread, girl
She told me.
But I did
Wide as they would go
Stretch.

Don’t wear to much makeup, girl
She told me.
But I did
Black circles around my eyes
Slut.



These were part of a poetry project that I had done. Sadly, I'm having issues with getting the spacing exactly how I want it on here so if anyone has any ideas on how to do that, it would be greatly appreciated!

Scars

When I was five, I got the chicken pox. I got it from a boy down the street that I was best friends with. Our moms had gone to high school together. The first pox I got was on my face, I didn't think much of it; just that I had another bug bite/pimple that itched. As they started to accumlate throughout my body, my mom took notice. Out of school for a week, I itched and tried not to scratch. After a week, the doctor and my mom deemed me ready to go back to school. But neither could have prepared me for the onslaught of questions I would have to deal with regarding that one pox on my face. Right below my eye, no one could miss it. It was like a pit mark, leaving a deep scar that has slowly gotten bettter with age. Now people claim not to see it unless I point it out to them. Probably because I have so many other scars.

A few summers back when I was lifeguarding, I was sitting on a table in the office and this guy saw my knees and was amazed because scars overlapped each other. There are scars from childhood mixed in with falls I've taken during cross country meets (it is a brutal sport), from rugby, from shaving, etc. You name it, I've probably gotten a scar from it.

Put simply, I scar easily. I'm not exactly sure why but that's just how it is. I have a scar on my thigh from my aunt accidentally scratching me with her fingernail from over ten years ago.

It leads me to wonder if I'm the same on the inside as the outside or if I compensate. Something to ponder . . . .

Lady GaGa

I have to admit that I'm a huge fan of Lady Gaga. Say what you want about her-the girl's got style. Regardless of her sexuality you have to give her props for being different. She's no cookie-cutter blond. She's definitely an original and good enough to stick around. I want to compare her to Joan Jett but the only similarity is that they they're not afraid to go against the grain.

Gaga's lyrics are original and catchy and the beats are always good. Sometimes I'll catch myself singing the lyrics and actually listen to what I'm saying. Its not always appropriate. But that's the fun of it.

On my running ipod (yes, I have a different ipod for running), her music blends nicely with my punk rock. Both are great inspiration and motivation to keep it going. Granted, it doesn't mean I'll run in a straight line but it keeps me going.

My current favorite song on her album is 'Telephone' and yes I loved it before it was a single. To me, every song on that album is single-ready. But it is the lyrics that drive the point home for me in that particular song. For example:

You shoulda made some plans with me
You knew that I was free
And now you won't stop calling me;
I'm kinda busy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UHZ6Uvib478&feature=related

Kinda sums up my relationships with guys in a lighthearted but serious manner.


That is all, I wanted to publicly declare my admiration for Lady GaGa and that I cannot wait to see what she comes up with next.

Punk Rock Love

So I was going to give a list of some awesome punk rock songs, just in time for Valentine's Day (or Vagina Day) but I found this list instead:

Top 10 Punk Love Songs for Valentine’s Day

Posted by on February 14th 2008 to Songs Tagged Anti-Valentine's Day, Punk Love Songs, Top 10 Punk Love Songs for Valentine's Day, Top 10 Punk Songs, Valentine's Day

Yes, believe it or not there IS such a thing as a punk love song.

While it might deviate from the traditional, romantic, sappy Lionel Richie-esque music you’re used to hearing on V-day, I’m a fan of the non-traditional.

For some of my recommendations for the best punk love songs for Valentine’s Day, click “Read More.”

Feel free to add your own suggestions in the comments!

1. The Casualties – Punk Rock Love

Seriously, this has to be number one on the list. Why? Because it’s the freaking punk love anthem, that’s why! (Or just because I said so!)

2. The Ramones – I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend

Yep, it’s the quintessential punk rock love song for Valentine’s Day if you’re trying to win over that special girl.

3. MxPx – Everything Sucks When You’re Gone

So, it’s a little depressing. And kind of sad. But if you care about that special someone in your life, the message rings true.

4. Unwritten Law – My Angel Without Wings

Just read the lyrics, and you’ll totally understand why this song has to be on your uber-cool V-day song mix.

5. Social Distortion – Angel Wings

The title might be similar to Unwritten Law’s song above, but trust me – it’s totally different. It really doesn’t start getting Valentine’s Day-ish until closer to the end, but still awesome.

6. Descendents – Nothing With You

I almost forgot about this song, but it will totally work for Valentine’s Day. Especially if you’re into doing nothing with your sweetie. Yeppers.

7. Buzzcocks- Ever Fallen In Love (With Someone You Shouldn’t?)

Yeah, I cheated with this one. This song is truly more of an anti-valentine’s day song, but hey – you have to have at least ONE!

8. Bouncing Souls – Hopeless Romantic

With lyrics like “I gave you my love and if you turned away, I guess I’d be screwed…” how can you NOT consider this a totally awesome punk love song? Yep, I thought so.

9. Mae – Ready and Waiting to Fall

In my humble opinion, possibly one of the better punk rock love songs around.

10. Cheap Suits- Punk Rock Love Song

“I wanna thank you for being the love of my life.” ‘Nuff said about this track.

Compliments of News in Punk (http://www.newsinpunk.com/2008/02/top-10-punk-love-songs-for-valentines-day/)

Definitely a good beginning list but I can think of several more such as Saw Red by Sublime with Gwen Stefani, Bastard in Love by Black Flag, Like an Angel by Rise Against, and When Our Love Passed Out on the Couch by X (local band btw) all come to mind.

I will definitely have addition to make later on as I dwell on this more.

Suggestions are welcome of course.

40 and single with a college education

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/01/26/marriage-and-women-over-40/

This makes me feel better about my chances. Not that I ever wanted to be 40 and single but it's definitely possible with how picky I am.

Treadmill Etiquette

So I was at the little gym that my family belongs to last night. I was treadmilling because my training for the marathon called for 8 miles and it's too dark at night when i either get home or when I wake up to run in the am. But I'm on the only person on the treadmills until a mother and daughter set up shop until they realize that I'm not done with my workout. (I took a water break at that particular moment.) So they nicely move to the other end. Ten minutes later however, a man plops himself on the treadmill next to mine. He is a heavy breather and runner. There were so many other treadmills that he could have chosen from. I know in the big scheme of things that it doesn't matter, but at that moment, I really just wanted to finish my run, lift for legs and be done. He definitely managed to put a damper on things. It might have been different if he was closer to my age and cute but he was neither. Oh well, I'll be outside for my long run on Saturday.

Cancer

So I stumbled across this website yesterday:

http://www.politicsdaily.com/2010/01/11/my-bra-color-me-furious/?hpid=moreheadlines

And I have to say that I agree with her.

Thoughts?

Stress

So I stressed myself out all last week about my grad school applications. I managed to finish the essays (I think)-or at least the rough drafts. Now I'm stressing out about running. It's a bit silly, I realize that. But I've signed up to run a marathon in March and while I was pulling up running plans for 3 days/week training, I realized that not being able to get my long runs in due to holiday madness and weather issues has really hurt me. Luckily I found a plan that I can slide right into but it still sucks. I'm upset with myself because it's not that I'm procrastinating, it's more than life just kinda gets away from me. The holidays with all of the snow really messed me up. This weekend I'm taking the GRE's again so I need to review everything for that. I plan on doing that during my lunch breaks like I did last time, stay in Friday night and study/clean. I have friends coming in on Sunday to go to the Caps game with me. It'll be a ton of fun but I need to clean my room and bathroom beforehand. It's times like these that I wish I really didn't have to sleep, or could survive okay on 4-6 hrs/night. And I know that everything will get done and be fine, but until they are, I'll stress about it.

News Years & NFL

So I probably should put down my New Years Resolution but I didn't really do one this year. I had a roommate in college who did a little something to improve herself every month. It would be something small like remembering to floss her teeth every day. And I think that I'm going to try something out along those lines. January's is to lift once a week to help balance out all of the running I do and to not be such a shit show. I really outdid myself already. Granted, it was New Year's Eve and then one of my best friend's wedding but still. I'm actually a bit ashamed of myself. I must be growing up.

Anyways, I really wanted to bring up something that has been on my mind for the past couple of months: instant gratification and the NFL.

Now that the season is over for about a third of the teams, the firings have begun. While I would like to commend most of the teams for holding back the urge to fire mid-season, a lot of the coaches fired do not necessarily deserve to be fired. The Giant's defensive coach is gone. Granted the defense sucked but it was his first year, it seems a bit hasty to me. Especially if it was a new system for the players to learn, not to mention all of the injuries.

All of the Bills coaches are gone. I'm kinda okay with that. Something was not working but I'm not completely sure if firing everyone was the answer.

Zorn from the 'Skins. He never should have been the head coach. He wasn't hired for that position but because Snyder is an ass, he couldn't find anyone else to do the job the way he wanted it done. He wasn't about to bring in his own guys or suggestions to the roster. That limits a coach a lot. Despite Zorn's losing seasons, he was a class act. And I really do wish him the best of luck.

It's seems the NFL mentality is that they can't get to the playoffs, something is wrong with them. Maybe there is, maybe there is not. However, it seems more fair to give a coach more than a season or two to make that great of an impact and turn a team into a winning one. Most of the better teams this year have a core group that have been together for years. Some are just lucky. Regardless, firing a coach only puts a team back to the beginning, opening them up to defeat for another year.

It'll be interesting to see in the weeks to come who else ends up being hired and where the fired people go.

(It's just my little rant and I had to get it out before I exploded.)