Century Mark

It's the end of the month and I've passed a mileage mark. For the month of March I've officially run over 100 miles! (108.6 to be exact!) I never thought I hit that mark in a month! It never even occurred to me to try, but I'm very excited that I noticed it! (Thank God I have a training log so that I can celebrate such events!) Woo-Hoo!!

I'm feelin' like a Rock Star!! (A very sore and tired rock star, but a rock star none the less!)

Sad Tales

This kid was a student at my school. He transfered out (to the other school down the block).

It just seems that in this day and age, we should be able to prevent stuff like this.

Hug Bank

I am officially at the point where marathon training is kicking my ass. I'm tired, sore and crabby. This has been my status for the entire week. I'm not looking forward to next week (it's the Big Run--and by 'Big Run', I mean the 20 miler), because I'm sick of having my ass kicked.

I know, I know, I did this to myself.It's not that I want to quit. I'm not even entertaining the thought. I think the major reason that I'm feeling this way is that I've had a nasty sinus infection for 3 weeks now. The antibiotics I'm on only seem to take the edge off. They're not killing whatever is making me miserable. I'm not even death's door sick. I'm just congested (nose and lungs) and I tire easily. All I want is for this sinus thing to be done with!!

I guess I'm just at the point where I could use a serious hug.

I think that there should be a place that gives out hugs. Like a Hug Bank. Huggers, of course would have to go through a background check. No one wants a hug that makes them feel icky (bad touch! bad touch!!).

There would also be certain scented huggers. For some reason, the smell of onions on your hands is very comforting to me. Growing up, it seemed like Mom's hands always had that smell from cooking. It's not a straight up onion smell, it's combined with other things that she was cooking. It's not that her hands were dirty, it's just the residual from being in the kitchen. It's what Mom smelled like, and after a scraped knee, there was nothing like a band-aid and a hug from Mom! Sometimes my hands smell like that...usually after making chicken soup. Call me weird, but you know what I'm talking about. Maybe be it's cookies, or a special dish--everyone's got their thing.

But, I digress. The point is, whatever was comforting to you...your Hugger would smell just that way. And you could pick your Hugger. You know, there are different types of hugs. You could get a Mom Hug. Maybe a Big Bear Hug. Or one of those hugs that also cracks your back. Maybe Huggers could get overtime, if they were needed for a crying hug. There could be group hugs or quick hugs.

And just for convenience there could be some High Fiver's too. Sometimes you're so awesome you deserve a high five and no one's around. This would solve the problem. High Fivers would also be responsible for Pats on the Back (it just seems logical).

I also think that dedicated Huggers should have some sort of badge. Then you'd know they were safe, and you could stop one on the street if you needed a hug...much like a Hug ATM, if you will.

I think that we could get people to do this job. It would be excellent for senior citizens. Instead of being a greeter at WalMart, they could be Huggers instead. There are voluenteer baby huggers in the NICU, so why can't this be spread to grown ups?

I need a hug.

Gettin' My Shamrock On

So...according to a bartender at a bar that I frequent; for St. Patrick's Day I made quite a performance. I was apparently dancing on the bar singing a parody of a song that I made up...

Clearly I thought that "My shamrocks bring all the boys to the yard...(Damn right! They're better than yours!)" was going to be a hit.

Are there any pictures out there? I hate to admit it, but that sounds like something I would do...

Machines Love Me

Today it seems that machines love me. I went to Judy's gym this afternoon (I'm house sitting) and got on one of the funky ellipticals that my gym doesn't have. I started my run and it seems that my 5 miles went much quicker than normal. In fact, I finished in 43:55--that's crazy fast for me!! Sure, I was trying to push myself, but I've never had an 8:47 split in my life!!

Then before I showered, I stepped on Judy's scale and I couldn't believe the numbers: 9 pounds lighter than Saturday!! S0 AWESOME!!!

Yeah, yeah. I know the machines are probably miss-calibrated. But if that's the case, maybe I should buy a lottery ticket or something. It's clear that machines are working in my favor today!

An Irish Blessing

Three of my favorite Irish Blessings:
(Three because a shamrock has three leaves??? Sure that sounds good!)

• May the road rise up to meet you. May the wind be ever at your back. May the sunshine warm upon your face, and the rain fall softly on your fields. And until we meet again, May God hold you in the hollow of his hand.

• These things, I warmly wish for you-
  Someone to love,
  Some work to do,
  A bit of o’ sun,
  A sip o’ beer,
  And a guardian angel
  Always near.

• May you be half an hour in Heaven before the Devil knows you’re dead!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Missed Calling

I should have gone in to marketing...maybe I could have been the genius that thought this up...

Thanks to the Land Down Under (ironic, isn't it?) For having a sense of humor! Way better than the American versions!!