road trip!

I'm headed to Washington, D.C. tomorrow where I will say to my love: "I am glad we were here together in our nation's capital" like Forrest Gump says to Jenny in one of my favorite sequences in the movie. We are going to check out the Jim Henson exhibit and the new ocean exhibit at the Museum of Natural History. The weather should be lovely, I'm really looking forward to it.

And Friday it's on to Penn State! One of my dearest friends is getting married. Josh hasn't been to Penn State, so I'm looking forward to showing him around (and dragging him to Mad Mex for a delicious margarita).

I'm hoping to get some knitting done amid all the car rides!

Race Report: oof.

Larchmont R.A.T. Race
Time: 44:29.2
Pace: 14:21/mile
Rank (only mentioned for emphasis): 139/139

It was a hot, humid night, so I knew it was going to be difficult running conditions. The air horn went off, I started running, I was feeling fine - till I looked behind me and saw *no one* there. No walkers. The cop on the motorcycle pulled up beside me about three minutes in, I turned to him and said "am I the last person?" He said very seriously, "I'm with you the whole way."

While I'm a slow runner, I've *never* been the last person in a race. I could see the pack of runners almost a football field's length ahead of me and I knew the distance between us was only going to grow. My face got hot (well, warmer than it was) and I knew a tear or two slipped out. I just felt so schlumpy and embarrassed - and totally pressured to run the whole thing even though my calves were already burning.

I realized I couldn't be down on myself the whole way or I might actually abandon the race. And I couldn't do that, no way. I was in a neighborhood I didn't know, and I didn't want to be even more embarrassed in front of the cop. So I did a little running, a little walking. And it was hard, but I got it done. The worst part was when it was a long straightaway, and cones down the middle of the road signaled that the front of the pack would be heading my way. So I had to pass a bunch of my co-workers (a married couple was throwing a party afterward since they lived within walking distance) as I huffed and puffed my way through it. The cop would vroom past me to the next intersection and either circle back or hang out and talk to cops there.

But I finished. 10 minutes back from the previous finisher, but I did it. It was a race I don't think I will ever forget - and even though it was just a training run for the Komen 5K in two weeks, it was a swift kick in the pants that I have a lot of work ahead of me.

checking in

At my job, I write a lot of double-edits - little breakout boxes that go with the stories I design . They're kind of a two-second summary of the story (in addition to the headline) or an interesting fact that gets a little more display.

So, I'm writing this blog post as a series of double-edits. =)

Running: I've run three times this week, 30-45 minutes and between 2.5 and 3.5 miles each time. It's felt so, so, great - mostly because the weather has been in the high 60s/low 70s when I've run. I really think the cooler weather helps me go farther. It's amazing how much happier I feel. Gracie's come with me each time - she's a great running buddy. =)

I'm feeling a little better prepared for the RAT Race 5K that's six days away (RAT = Race At Twilight). I don't really care about my time, I just want to finish it and not pass out - I'm going to a party immediately afterward (co-workers live within walking distance of the race, and they're throwing a party afterward). I'm registered for the Komen Race for the Cure, which is about a month away - that's the race I hope to do pretty well in because I'll have been training for some time.

Knitting: I've got four rows and binding off to do on the jade cowl. I haven't been in much of a knitting mood the past few days, sadly, so it's languishing. Next on the needles is another cowl - I found some orange yarn for my friend Stephanie:



I got two balls of it - SWTC Karaoke. I got some pretties for myself, too.



Scarlet Fleece sock yarn in Pacific. It's a lovely teal shade - and it's nice and thick (should make some thicker, faster-to-knit socks).



This is my favorite. Pagewood Farm sock yarn in Golden. It's so bright and happy.

Books: I finished "Eclipse" - the third book in the "Twilight" series. I'm waiting till payday on Friday to do an order with Amazon. I've really enjoyed these books, I don't want them to end! I'm totally going to see "Twilight" when it comes out in November, but I have a feeling I'll wait a week or two from its release date so the storm of all the crazed teenage fans passes. =)

off work!

Today's my only day off this week, and I'm spending it wisely - lunch with my aunt, drop-off at Salvation Army (seriously, these clothes have been in my trunk way too long), shopping for a dress for a wedding at Penn State in a few weeks (my first trip back since graduation three years ago!), and a stop at KnitWits for the ever elusive orange yarn for my friend Stephanie's cowl. This is the third shopping trip for her cowl! I bought some orange yarn but returned it - I didn't like the loud, variegated look of it, and I didn't think she would, either. I then brought some pinky purple Malabrigo, but I'm feeling regretful because it's not the color she wanted. But I'm not returning it ... maybe it will become a cowl for myself! I hope I can find *something* in the right shade of orange soon ...

I'm still hard at work on the jade cowl. It's about 5 inches deep right now. I'm using US 7 needles, but I'm getting some intense laddering between the needles. The metal needles are really frakking heavy. I think I might go down a needle size on the next cowl I make.

Oh yeah ... I ran this morning - just 1.5 miles or so. It was about 85 degrees and kind of humid. I don't recommend drinking two glasses of milk before running, though, just to satisfy a craving. Oof.

Hanna = a total bust

I bought loads of bottled water, a cooler and everything ... all for a few strong wind gusts and five minutes of rain. What a bummer! Oh well. I'd rather we didn't get walloped, of course. But I was hoping for a little excitement.

I spent *all day* yesterday (seriously) knitting ... this is the progress:



A Gloria cowl! I love it so. It's not for me, it's for a friend. I've been stocking up on Malabrigo to make these cowls for three friends' birthdays coming up. In other news of advance preparation, I finished a knitted gift for my mom - but no pics until Christmas time, cuz she reads this! The only other Christmas knitting I'm planning are hats for my dad and brother.

Today's my return to work after a three-day weekend. Yesterday was two years for Josh and me; I can't believe it. (We celebrated Thursday with a trip to P.F. Chang's.) I'm in a bit of a funk today, though; I don't know if it's the return to work or general funkiness or what. I'm just cranky with the dog, with Josh, and I just want to curl up in a ball in a silent house. I woke up with a headache yesterday and fell asleep with one, so I'm thinking it's PMS. Meh. Feh. Bleh.

bring it on, Hanna

I'm hunkering down for Tropical Storm Hanna with my knitting (and flashlights and bottled water, just in case). I'll be back with a report later!

a visit - and some running news

Sorry I've been AWOL, I was playing hostess to my brother this weekend! I bought him a plane ticket a few months back as a little present for the craptastic year he's had. But it's getting better - he just moved to a new apartment in Columbus, he's single, and he's making a big change (joining the National Guard in a few weeks). And of course he spent nearly every day here at the beach.

And he tried blue crabs:



I took a little video of the bay:



We took a day trip to Baltimore for an Orioles-Yankees game.



It was really fun - just a long, hot day. The game went on foreeever - it was 8-7 when we left in the middle of the seventh inning!

Now that he's back in Ohio, I returned to work where I've had a few busy days thanks to the Democratic National Convention. And tomorrow is my weekend again, thank goodness. I've got a lot to catch up on around the house.

And best of all, I made a not-so-triumphant return to running. Yesterday I did 2.2 miles and it was tough, but invigorating. I've got to get back to it, weather or no, because I've registered for two 5Ks - one on Sept. 26 and one on Oct. 18. The October race is the Race for the Cure, and I'm organizing a team from the newsroom again. I'm looking forward to both of 'em.

I won a blog contest!

I've been putting my name in for blog contests for months now and have never won ... until now! Carly, practically my neighbor (she lives in the next city over, close enough in blogland) had a yarn giveaway and I won some pretty Plymouth Sockotta:



She included a nice note. Thanks, Carly!

proof that I've been knitting

A sweater in progress, whee! And ... a finished sock:



I also have some stash enhancement, from a Socks that Rock order. I had planned on buying some of the retiring colorways, but after I added and deleted and re-added, none of them ended up in my cart.

Mustang Sally in lightweight:



Dutch Canyon in lightweight:



And Oregon Red Clover Honey in mediumweight:



I really must get cracking on Christmas knits ... currently on the needles is the mate to my Fire on the Mountain sock and the sweater. Knitting has slowed, I've been going to the gym and wasting time on the computer and, most of all, I've been been in a funk. Things are topsy-turvy at work and lots of people I really respect are leaving. It's really bumming me out. In fact, I'm headed out the door now to bid some farewell over bevvies.

I'm not dead.

Just a little check-in post because it's been a while ... I'm around, just not feeling very bloggy. . Work is a little more stressful than usual right now and it's taking more of my attention/thoughts, even when I'm at home. And I am knitting - I even cast on for my first sweater - but not feeling inspired to take photos. I hope my mojo at everything returns soon ..