Get the Sh*t Out

When the sun comes up...

2011-05-21T21:47:00.003-04:00

“Every morning in Africa, a Gazelle wakes up. It knows it must run faster than the fastest lion or it will be killed. Every morning a Lion wakes up. It knows it must outrun the slowest Gazelle or it will starve to death. It doesn't matter whether you are a Lion or a Gazelle... when the sun comes up, you'd better be running.” Anon

My curtains

2010-03-18T15:10:00.002-04:00

Hey, you guys. Did you know that the curtains in my kitchen are made from souvenir heat sheets from the 2009 ING NYC Marathon? They are.

I have the NYC Half coming up this weekend. I don't imagine I'll do as well as I did after my 20 weeks of training for the marathon but I'm looking forward to it anyway.

It's that lovely time of year. I went running in shorts and short sleeves this morning. Wonderful.

Yawn Smack Yawn Punch Yaawn

2009-11-09T15:01:00.003-05:00

"None of us really grow up. All we ever do is learn how to behave in public." -- Keith Johnstone

But how come it's so hard for some people to learn how to be?

I hate when you must have regular dealings with someone, and you can see the infant grabbing things out of peoples' hands and shouting, "Mine!" isn't even remotely grown up.

I guess "must" isn't really accurate. I'll have to evaluate that.

Elites had to start somewhere

2009-10-26T16:38:00.003-04:00

Yeah, I am a plodder I guess. Way to make me feel bad on the way to my first marathon, NY Times and snobbish jerks.

Way to make me feel so much better, Letters to the Editor in response.

Oh, also, Mary Wittenberg responded to the article as well.

I want everything that I want

2009-10-19T17:26:00.004-04:00

I want Boyfriend to be healthy and able to run the marathon without pain and fear of permanent injury. I want this to happen immediately. I want to be able to give him advice about what he should do without worrying in the back of my mind that I am thinking too much about me and not enough about him. I want IT bands not to be a thing. I want to cross the finish line with him. I want him not to have pain. I want him to know that everything is going to be ok. I want to know that everything is going to be ok. I want all of this and I want it now.

I'm a contributor

2009-10-13T09:36:00.003-04:00

Yesterday, I added my first post to Run Like a Girl, a blog about running and that one Sunday in November that I've been training for. Purposely writing a blog entry about running, instead of trying to write about my life and ending up writing about running was an interesting new thing.
Good news on the not wanting to spend money front, my ipod is not dead. I was just in a hurry and couldn't do all the tricks before my run. Last night (after I went to the Apple Store and almost bought a new nano) I spent some real quality time doing all the things on the troubleshooting list and BlackJack came back to life. Phew.
Anyway, I'm really doing it. I ran 20 miles. I'm in the taper. I'm gonna do this.

2 Weeks, 2 weeks

2009-06-29T18:35:00.004-04:00

I am officially 2 weeks into training for the 2009 ING NYC Marathon. This morning I did my first speed workout with my brand spanking new Official 2009 ING NYC Marathon training shirt. You got me, NYRR's online store, you got me. It a great shirt and it makes me feel PEW PEW PEW! FAST!
So far Boyfriend and I have done every workout. We even ran 2 miles on Saturday after the Gay Pride Run in Central Park because we had 7 miles scheduled that day. Boyfriend had an awesome race and set an amazing PR. I had a really great race and personally triumphed by not even thinking of walking up Cat Hill, which was inconveniently located just before the final mile of the race. If you happened to be running or walking up the hill when I arrived you may have heard me and I apologize if I annoyed you, but I hope that I had the opposite effect. For my own selfish reasons I couldn't keep my mouth shut. That damn cat has spoiled too many races for me. I mentally prepared for Cat Hill, so when I turned the corner and there it was looming in front of me sprinkled with walkers I was able to conquer it. Instead of doing my normal steady run, I turned it up a little. Bounding up the hill I flipped the cat the bird and said, "Eff you, Cat." When I had a split second of doubt as I maneuvered through the walkers I said, "Don't let him beat you!" When I reached the crest of the hill I was able to use the generous downhill on the other side to continue my momentum while recovering from my effort. Boyfriend and I probably stood around too long stretching and eating our Popsicles after the race but the 2 miles we ran down to the 59th street subway stop were easy and fun.
Today I am thinking about visualization. I am visualizing myself running NYC with negative splits. I am visualizing an amazing fun run with lots of cheering and no pain. I am seeing Boyfriend and I cross the finish line with huge smiles on our faces. I can't wait.
Just under 18 weeks to go.

I'd rather have a PR than an excuse...

2009-05-18T17:07:00.003-04:00

but an excuse is what I've got.

I ran the Mother's Day race last Sunday. Slowly. I was in the middle of a pretty bad head cold. I didn't do the worst ever but I was hoping that I could do better than last year (which was where I set my fastest pace, the one that has been on all of my NYRR racing bibs since). Alas, I didn't. The pollen was thick in the air in Central Park. I raced, I chugged home, I sped off to the rest of my day. I never rested. By the end of the day I was thrice as ill as I had been. Monday I was miserable and had the beginnings of a terrible sinus infection. I missed in total 4 days of work and have not run since. I think I'm ready to get back out there. I'm feeling much better, although not 100%. The Brooklyn Half Marathon (from Prospect Park to Coney Island is 12 days away, so I have to get on the stick. Unfortunately, it looks like I'll have an excuse and not a PR for that race too, but this is just the beginning of my training season and I'm not ditching it. I'm ok with running slow, I've done it a bunch before. There is no doubt that I will have a PR on November 1st (first marathon so it will automatically be my fastest), so there's that to look forward to.

I can do it. Run, Maddy, Run.

30 Days Hath September

2009-04-22T17:16:00.004-04:00

Some people I work with are discussing how difficult it is to remember the "song" used to remember how many days each month has.

I've always thought it was pretty easy (also never thought it was a song) and now I am judging them for being stupid morons. Of course, I am also secretly remembering that I thought that the end of the I before E mnemonic device was, "and when sounding like 'ay,' in a neighborly way."

Wow, I'm lazy

2009-04-09T18:19:00.003-04:00

A whole month

2009-04-02T11:31:00.003-04:00

This is the first time in the history of this blog that I missed a whole month.

That's it. That's the news from Maddy today. Oh, that and I am trying to figure out what I want to be when I grow up. It was pointed out to me that I have spent the last 3 years trying to make this career work out for me. It doesn't really seem to be. Time to move on, but to where and what?

"Just living is not enough. ... One must have sunshine, freedom and a little flower." -Hans Christian Andersen

Craving

2009-02-17T18:20:00.003-05:00

A couple weeks ago while watching the late night rerun of Top Chef with Boyfriend we both succumbed to a craving. We talked about it and agreed it would be ok. Boyfriend went into the kitchen and came back with freshly washed stalks of celery that we then ate in bed.

Yum!

My Digital Life

2009-02-09T17:56:00.002-05:00

Oh, Blog. I neglect you so. But these days I have the old facebook to document my every feeling, mood, whim and meal. Bloggy, I promise that you won't go the way of my leather-bound journals or the book I was writing about people on the subway. (Or maybe you will in that I still re-visit these things on occasion, but I hope for your sake - ahhh, for all our sakes - that I visit you a little more often than those.) There are plenty of things that I could have documented here in the recent past, but those times are gone. Let's not dwell on the past. Let's be forward facing. What might the future hold for us?

I am going to begin training for the NYC Marathon pretty soon, so you can look forward to a bunch of boring running related posts. I just recently purchased a PDA-type phone that I may be too close to middle age to ever fully understand, so there could be some new foibles and complaints in that arena. I already have a few choice tidbits about my cellular provider's customer service that have been peppering my face to face conversations so, you know, any day now I could have a whole blog post about the very same subject. Terry Jinn's Enormous Television is rocking out with its 7 and a halfth show at Kenny's Castaways (half the size but all the on Feb 26th at 8pm if you're asking) so I'm apt to wax about my experiencing being a temporary rock star. I got a blender for Christmas and I'm a smoothie making mad woman who is questioning whether she is really as in love with her Waring the way she thinks she is or if this is just the heady buzz of a brand spanking new relationship and the honeymoon phase will wear off soon. If the day comes when I stop treating my blender in the tender way that I should, will I notice or will we just lull into the boring pattern of kitchen appliance and owner without realizing that we are missing the magic that we once had? My job is increasingly displeasing. Eh, I probably won't talk about that much here but let the idea that I am unfulfilled professionally color your perceptions of my posts, ok?

So many possibilities and yet...I've been gone so long. Today I make a commitment to not just update my facebook status but to update my blog. Yes I can!

Almost there

2009-01-16T16:10:00.002-05:00

Get Motivated

2008-12-12T13:50:00.003-05:00

Originally from Overthinking it.

And now the giving of thanks

2008-11-26T11:52:00.005-05:00

I would say this is an annual tradition but when I looked back to see what I was thankful for last year, I saw that it is not an annual tradition of mine. So, here goes my bi-annual tradition of blogging what I am thankful for. As this year draws to a close there are so many things to be afraid of and tense about. Although it is my nature to embrace the bad feelings and really hold on to them, I am trying to focus on all that is good. Thanksgiving is a great time for that sort of thing, so here goes.

No raises next year but I am thankful that while so many people are being laid off, I have a job that pays me well enough that I will be entirely out of debt early in 2009. I'm thankful that I live in a country where every 4 to 8 years there is a peaceful transfer of power. I am grateful to have been a part of the recent historic election of Barack Obama and I am hopeful for the future. That feeling of hope is something for which I am also thankful.

I give thanks for my partner. It is invaluable to have someone who you can listen to the President-elect's acceptance speech with and weep on his chest. Someone in whose arms you can fall asleep and feel safe. Someone who will make sure you have enough potassium and who will make you laugh until your sides hurt.

That my family is healthy and can be together (at least partially) on Thanksgiving is also something for which I am thankful. No matter how much they annoy me, I hope that they know I have real love for them.

I also give thanks for my friends (my New York family), people who know that under all the cynicism, sarcasm, and anger is a pretty nice person. My friends are people who understand that no amount of time or distance will make us not friends. They are kind and giving and hilariously funny. I am so grateful to have them.

Now some not so heavy things that I am thankful for: Endless.com delivers shoes to me in under 24 hours, facebook privacy settings so I can hide my status from my co-workers, nikeplus and itunes. Campfire Marshmallows even though I probably shouldn't eat as many as I have in the last 2 weeks.

Happy Thanksgiving.

It's a new day

2008-11-05T17:10:00.009-05:00

Birds flying high
You know how I feel
Sun in the sky
You know how I feel
Breeze driftin' on by
You know how I feel
It's a new dawn
It's a new day
It's a new life
For me
And I'm feeling good

Fish in the sea
You know how I feel
River running free
You know how I feel
Blossom on a tree
You know how I feel
It's a new dawn
It's a new day
It's a new life
For me
And I'm feeling good

Dragonfly out in the sun you know what I mean, don't you know
Butterflies all havin' fun you know what I mean
Sleep in peace when day is done
That's what I mean
And this old world is a new world
And a bold world
For me

Stars when you shine
You know how I feel
Scent of the pine
You know how I feel
Oh freedom is mine
And I know how I feel
It's a new dawn
It's a new day
It's a new life
For me

And I'm feeling good

Vote

2008-11-03T19:30:00.003-05:00

Go-bama!

Obesity Here I Come

2008-10-31T10:31:00.007-04:00

They closed the Starbucks in my building. While that news is troubling to 87%* of the working population, it doesn't really bother me much. In the 18 months I have worked here I had visited that Starbucks maybe 3 times. This morning, the part that makes this closure troubling to me made itself known. As I approached the entrance to my building I was faced with a sign that reads "Crumbs Bake Shop Coming Soon." I stopped dead in my tracks and grunted, "NOOOOO!"

Seriously, how could they? Don't they know I have totally begun to slack on my running because getting up to run in the chilly cold and dark before work is a lot harder than I thought it was going to be.** Aren't they aware that all my clothing has slightly shrunk, especially around the waist and butt? How could they*** do this to me?

Lamenting the new addition publicly, I secretly wait while rubbing my hands together and licking my lips for cupcakes. Yay! Booo! YAY! Blob.

*78% of Statistics are entirely made up.
**Last year I still had a gym in my building at this time, this year it's totally outdoors for me.
***Unknown, mystery, evil bakers of delicious cupcakes.

Craving

2008-10-24T15:45:00.001-04:00

Can't stop thinking about vegetarian wings from Red Bamboo.

Lately

2008-10-16T16:14:00.003-04:00

I haven't had much to say. I ran another half marathon. I did more than 7 minutes better, finishing at 2:28. Much better. Work sucks. That's not something I've complained about in a while. I don't have any more trips to Arkansas on the docket right now so, see there is something positive to say about that.

I am on an improv team that is new and has lots of potential. So that's good.

I am pretty fed up with politics. I bring it up only to say, don't talk to me about it because there is nothing you can say to me that would change anything. The process is so disappointing as it is, don't make me think about it too much.

Wow, I'm even boring myself. I would post a picture of the blister I had on my toe after the last half marathon (Grete's Great Gallop, Oct. 4) but even I draw a line somewhere. (It was pretty fascinating though - right on the end of my toe.) Now my running goal is to not get too badly out of shape over the winter. There are a couple to possibly 3 more races I may run this year and I'll try not to get down past 3 runs a week. This is an uphill battle already. When we finally "fall back" and it's not dark when I wake up my odds of getting out of bed before work might improve. Also when Boyfriend returns from his 5 week trip, it might be easier. Who knows? There are things I do know and one of them is this: I am officially qualified for the 2009 NYC Marathon. Boyfriend and I have guaranteed entries. Next year at this time I will be tapering. I will run 26.2 miles all in one day. I will always be able to say I did that. That will be awesome.

Does this whole thing read like this, "SIIIIIIIIIIIGHHHH"? Because apparently I am Eeyore. Let me fix that and write about something that I have good thoughts about.

Volunteering at a race was great. Boyfriend and I worked the ING New York City Marathon Long Training Run #2 in Central Park. It was very tiring, we picked kind of a long one. It helped getting up super early that day because we had to get up early the next day for the Queens Grand Prix half marathon. In the Long training run people can run up to 20 miles on the course so some of them passed me (I was a course marshall) 3 times. I tried to vary what I said to people for each lap. It really felt good when someone thanked me for being there, that was surprising, I didn't think I'd care if they cared. That's good to know - I'm not wasting my breath on everyone when I say thanks to the volunteers. At least not if any of them are like me. One runner came up to me after she was done and thanked me personally, she said she looked forward to passing me each time around. That was extra nice - so, they did notice I was trying my best to keep it unboring. Not everything worked, like when I started telling them to "be one with the road" or "become one with the pavement" which just sounded like I wanted them to fall. "You are air, you are lightning," seemed to resonate, but one runner in particular wanted to be "body glide." I can say after the Queens Half the next day I can totally relate.

Boyfriend comes home soon. That'll be good, as long as I can remember how to live with someone again. Wish me luck.

I did it and look what it did to me

2008-09-16T11:50:00.006-04:00

I didn't make my goal of finishing in under 2:30 but I got close. 87% of humidity was not fun, but starting and running at least the first mile with Boyfriend, Anna, and Stan was fun. While I was running it I thought, "What the hell was I thinking? I'm never gonna run a marathon." Now I have signed up for another half marathon first weekend in October and I am back to thinking I am running 26.2 miles next November. At least the once. It's the kind of pain you forget pretty easily I guess. What I do remember is the not painful parts. I remember feeling pretty good, at least for a moment, when I realized I had more behind me than in front of me. I remember the wave of joy that washed over me as I approached the 10 mile water station and realized I still had a gel to do and how funny I thought it was that I was excited about slugging down that gross gooey stuff. I remember hearing Boyfriend call my nickname just as I crossed the finish line and then seeing him run up next to me and walk with me to get my victory bagel (he finished 2 minutes ahead of me). Yeah, I think I'd like to do it again. And, sure, I can drag myself through it twice in a row to make a marathon. Why not? I came this far, right?

Been a long time

2008-09-12T12:26:00.003-04:00

Wow, I haven't updated for almost a month. You'd think I have something to say after all that time. Hmm. Let's see.

I went on vacation. Road trip to NC. My camera was being a little bitch for the first half so I have no adorable pictures of Boyfriend or Jason, Emily, or baby Zoe. Bummer. I like go karts. That, besides adorable baby visiting, was the highlight of the Greensboro leg. In Asheville we went hiking and ate a lot. That was great. I got to see my brother and his wife, also great.

I am running a half marathon on Sunday and while one is supposed to "taper" leading up to such a race, I seem to have "fallen off" instead. This last week I have run only 5 miles so far. I hope I make it on Sunday. It seems so long ago since I ran 10 miles (it was 2 weeks ago today).

Wish me a 13.1 mile run that feels as awesome as my 12 mile run 4 weeks ago.

Women's Olympic Marathon

2008-08-16T21:13:00.002-04:00

I ran 12 miles this morning. It took me 2 hours and 15 minutes. I'm pretty happy with that. If that were my half marathon and I ran a really slow final 1.1 miles I would finish around 2:30 which is my goal. Not the fastest goal in the world. I turned on the Women's Marathon in Beijing about the time they reached 11 miles. They had been running for just over an hour. They will finish 26.2 miles in less than the time I plan to finish 13.1. The announcer keeps talking about their pedestrian pace. Wow.

Deena Kastor dropped out with a foot injury. That's boo. The leader from Romania just did smelling salts? Wha? I'll stick with Gu and Clif Shot Bloks, thanks.

Birthday Massage

2008-08-13T16:13:00.003-04:00

Boyfriend got me a Deep Tissue massage at Great Jones Spa for my birthday. The spa was recommended by a friend. Yay. Now I recommend it right back. Yay, but why can't I have massages like that all the time? Siiiigggghh.

Also, in case you thought running wouldn't make it into this post...you would be wrong. Boyfriend and my sister and mother chipped in to get me a slot in a Chi Running class taught by Danny Dreyer (and my sister is going to take it with me yay again).

Yays all around, except for Boyfriends injury that gets a not yay. No yays for you Boyfriend's Iliotibial Band! You get boos. Boos for you. You get a mini-non boo (but certainly not a yay) for the fact that Boyfriend rode his bike along side my 11 mile run on Friday and I felt like a super star hero runner with an awesome trainer who handed me water and Shot Bloks. But I'd rather just have him running next to me.

It's hard

2008-08-07T16:56:00.005-04:00

"It's supposed to be hard. If it wasn't hard, everyone would do it. The hard...is what makes it great."
- Jimmy Dugan in "A League of Their Own"

Endurance

2008-08-04T15:18:00.002-04:00

"We are different, in essence, from other men. If you want to win something, run 100 meters. If you want to experience something, run a marathon."
-Emil Zatopek, Czech legend who won four Olympic gold medals in 1948 and 1952

1/2 Marathon Getting Closer

2008-08-03T18:26:00.004-04:00

It's not the next race on the list. I'll be doing a 5K in my neighborhood next Sunday and possibly running The Human Race 10K (with my sister) on August 31 but I feel like it's the only one on the list because those other races feel like nothing after running 10 miles. Is that a stupid cocky thing to say? Especially after my last 10k was so blech? Whatever.

Kseps, directed me to this today. I loved it. Maybe it won't make everyone want to run a marathon but it helped me realize that there is no way that I'm not going to. NYC 2009 I'm already working on it. The Queens 1/2 marathon will be our 9th qualifying race.

I can't give the actual source of this quote because I don't know it. I think I read it in an Adidas ad. This is one of the things that keeps me going even when, like today, my body doesn't have it.*

"There will be days when I don't know if I can run a marathon. There will be a lifetime of knowing I did."
-unknown

*We did our long run today. Yesterday I didn't fuel or hydrate properly and I did 9.98 miles in 2 hours with a lot of walking. It's ok, they can't all be winners. Back on track this week Friday 11 miles. Nice and slow. Boyfriend dropped out of today's long run, his knee was hurting beyond the point where he could power through. I hope it's not a training ending injury. I can do it without him but he is my pack. It will be very difficult without his support, right next to me (or actually in front of me a bit) pushing me along. Everyone send health vibes to Boyfriend, please.

Song in My Head

2008-07-21T12:07:00.002-04:00

No Children by The Mountain Goats. Stuck in there. I was hoping that by reading the lyrics I would somehow do a song in the head exorcism. I was wrong. But I did read some posts on one of those "interpret the lyrics" pages that were so misguided. Some crazy woman (I'm assuming here that it was a female and I am not at all concerned about making an ass of anyone) thought that the song was about people who were so in love and she thought it was beautiful. It is a great song but it is in no way about people who are in love. Also someone else thought the title was about how they had nothing, no love, no life, no children. Again I think it's pretty obvious that the title means, "Thank GOD we have no children." I've been wrong about things in the past but I'm gonna go ahead and say I'm not wrong about this.

Last week, I had Then I Met You by The Proclaimers stuck in my head. A much happier song. I don't want to ruin the surprise for my friends of a thing that will never happen, but I guess I'll do it anyway...If I fall into a pile of money that is so big that I can get out of debt and do a bunch of things I need and want to do and then have an ass-ton left over I will totally throw a party and have The Proclaimers play at it.

Don't worry, you'll be invited.

Race Report - Park to Park 10k

2008-07-14T14:04:00.003-04:00

I feel like I should report it even though I am not that proud. I finished the 10k yesterday in Central Park even slower than the Women's Mini 10K in which I walked a ton and complained about the weather. Yesterday was not as humid or hot, I walked very slowly for almost a half mile and considered dropping out because my back hurt. The worst thing is I contributed to Boyfriend's slow pace as well. I can't feel guilty about my own slow pace but I feel bad if I brought him down. He says the fact that we ran our first 8-mile long run on Friday was a contributing factor. It may not have helped, in addition to the miles and miles of walking in the sun we did on Saturday. (After Veggie English Breakfast at Chip Shop on Atlantic we walked to the promenade and over the Brooklyn Bridge. Lovely.) He also stopped to use a port-o-potty and waited on a long line when there were a bunch with no line in the next mile. As I passed them I wished I could telepathically tell him there were free potties up ahead. He caught up to me at the next mile. I can't poo poo my second 10K race. We need to work on our pace not just distance. I guess that's the lesson.
9 miles is on the docket for our long run this week. Wish us a not too humid day and an early wake-up.

Got it

2008-07-10T13:43:00.001-04:00

Grilled on it. Cleaned it. Ordered a cover for it. Love it. It didn't cost a bazillion dollars and Boyfriend even lit it without lighter fluid. Nice.

Grilling, chillin

2008-07-02T11:44:00.006-04:00

I want to buy a grill, but I want the kind that I have used at a vacation house. You know the kind you don't really worry about ever. Basically, I want a magic grill that will be there and clean and ready when I need it and disappear when I don't want it or need it. How come they are so expensive too? The first one I saw that I liked was $299 (or possibly more because it was a special Crate & Barrel or Pottery Barn or whatever special edition...color - yep - the only thing different is the designer color) and the one I really want now, that seems to be reasonable in its simplicity without the extra mess is $150. Boo on that. I don't even really eat meat. I just want grilled veggies and tofu dogs. Is it worth it? Maybe.

I have a tomato plant growing on my balcony now. That's kind of awesome. I ran 7 miles this past weekend and I plan on doing it again on Friday. I have a goal 1/2 marathon on my mind. I have off from work tomorrow and I plan on going shopping for clothes for myself for the first time in a really long time (the length of time since my last clothes shopping trip is evident by the 7 year old polo shirt I am wearing to work today.)

The other day Boyfriend and I realized we will have an awesome view of the fireworks from our roof (which prompted grill panic) so that will be cool for Independence day. I'm looking forward to my 4 day weekend. No show, no rehearsal this weekend. Relaxy time.

If I could control it

2008-06-27T17:14:00.003-04:00

Someone just told me that they will be making an exit from my life. I smiled. I didn't mean to. It may have been a split second, it may have hung there just long enough to have been noticed. It was definitely there though. There is a possibility it was interpreted as shock. Sure, there was some shock built in there too, but my face...the great betrayer, it showed my true feelings. Happiness, relief. Joy? I wouldn't go that far, but I'm going to have a very good weekend, I can feel it.

Accomplishment

2008-06-17T10:46:00.002-04:00

Thank you, I can has cheezburger, for making me lafs today.

Effort and Happiness

2008-06-16T14:32:00.007-04:00

I've been thinking lately that I am an underachiever.

I have spent a lot of my life pretending. Pretending I was happy or that a relationship was working that wasn't or that everything was going to be okay somehow, someday. These days I spend very little time pretending (well except for the allotted pretending time - see the improv show I'm in every Sunday night at 6:30pm through the end of July - no I mean come see it really). Now I spend so little time pretending that I feel like certain people for whom I cannot muster any kind of feelings think I am not interesting - or like a ball of paste. The thing is there are so many things in life that I am passionate about and that I love dearly and right now work, specifically workplace politics and requisite social scene, is not even near that list. I still have a real interest and even a hunger for what I do in the broad sense but I've begun counting down to when I can/should do something else. Maybe that means go get a big bad Master's degree in something ultra nerdy and academic or maybe it just means being rotated to a different client.

I am feeling restless. My personal relationships are going well. I care more about that now than I have in a long time and I'm learning how to make caring about me and caring about other people into a non-conflicting notion. I guess everything in the world can't go well at once - that's balance?

I'm rambling. Money doesn't buy happiness but it sure can buy me things that will make me smile and put me on the road toward contentment. I want to look in my closet and not feel like - what thing can I throw on this potato of a body to make it look and feel less like a big pillow? I want to have shoes that don't make me feel like, "Please don't look below my knees and judge me."

I want to be able to run a marathon and not feel like, "when can I walk?" I'm such an underachiever.

I've never had such a lack of deep intense desire for people to like me as I do now. Certain people, I just don't get because of their burning desire for the approval of others that causes them to act all day long. How tiring this must be! For me it is draining to try to react in a way that may be perceived as human by people that I don't care to emote for.

Gah.

The only thing you should ever work hard at is being happy. A wise man once said that to me.

How you feelin'? Hot, hot, hot

2008-06-07T12:25:00.002-04:00

NYRR New York Mini 10K completed. 11min mile. Not the best. It was so hot out there. I was wishing for rain. It was my first 10K race. I am not entirely unhappy with my finish. I had a lot of fun. There was so much encouragement from the volunteers and the other runners. I was walking at about 800 meters to go and a women came up behind me and gently touched my elbow and said, "You're almost done." I started running again and thanked her. It was really hot out there, did I mention. So much camaraderie. I am going to eat an enormous pile of eggs now made by Boyfriend who tried to me at the finish but panicked when he didn't see me by 1:06 and left the finish to go look for me. (I finished at 1:08). It was really nice of him to think I would finish that fast, but he should have known better. Next week when he runs the Father's Day race I will try not to over or underestimate him and just stick to the finish for a while until I see him.
I got a medal. Cool!

Someone else's opinion

2008-06-04T17:11:00.008-04:00

Blog linking about the whole Democratic nominee situation. Having only read it once and having a strong reaction, I have to say this may be something I almost wholly agree with.

Also while I'm at it (linking is the it that I'm at), here is an opinion piece from the Washington Post that outlines some things Marie Cocco won't miss, but that actually haven't seemed to yet go away. So I guess I'm just still waiting to not miss them.

NYRR 50th Anniversary Run

2008-06-04T13:17:00.005-04:00

At 5:30am. In the rain. For 5 miles. I hobbled and whined and speed-walked and burped and actually did some running (according to Nike+ my first mile clocked was my fastest mile yet) but finished sadly with only about 200 souls behind me (out of about 2000 racing).
My time was not good. Boyfriend stopped at mile 3 to use the Johnny on the Spot and I was glad to walk the water station and wait patiently at the other end until he got through the line and got out. It was a miserable morning, chilly, rainy, muddy. Wonderful. I really wouldn't go back and not do it even though my time was stinky. What I would do differently is try to realize that only crazy-fast running maniacs (and Boyfriend and I) signed up for this race and try to slow it down so I wouldn't feel so winded so early. I got up at 4am and now I am feeling sort of spacey.

Come on Cherry Coke, work your magic.

Can I also edit here to add...if you/I/anyone thinks the runners are crazy and dedicated can I take this space to talk about the nutty wonderfulness of the volunteers - people just standing out in the cold rain at 5am and cheering us on. Amazing. Whenever I have the breath I always say thanks and I go by.

More editing to add - someone found this post by searching blogs for NYRR 50th Anniversary Run so I did the same and found this. Hilarious.

Encouragement

2008-06-03T12:07:00.003-04:00

Someone reached my blog yesterday by googling this phrase: You eat firecracker sandwiches through a chain link fence. I can't figure out how, as I can't recreate it but I know what I like and I like this.

I would like to encourage this kind of behavior.

Not about running

2008-06-02T11:23:00.003-04:00

I started a run of improv shows last night and I performed at Ampers&nd with Boyfriend. I'm really having a lot of fun doing the make 'em ups lately, that's really good since I think it was feeling like cleaning the bathroom for a while there a couple years ago.
A lot of melted cheese was eaten yesterday. With Brunch I had a frozen Margarita. How is that okay?
This week is a short week for me, I decided to make my very own 4 day weekend. My company gives us 5 Summer Fridays. That's 5 Fridays we can take off during the Summer. I go back and forth on whether I would prefer the all Fridays in Summer are half days version of Summer Fridays. Today I am on the side of liking days off, I'm sure I'll switch when I get a long run of Fridays I have to work.
My nephew is graduating from High School in 2 weeks. Crazy. How did he get so old?
Too many of my conversations in real life involve things that happen on the internet.

First 10K

2008-05-25T14:08:00.004-04:00

I ran 6.25 miles (or so ) this morning. It took over an hour but I think that's not too shabby for my first time. I am running in a 10k race on June 7, so at least I know I can accomplish it.

It's not the prettiest of runs but I'm working on it.

Runniversary

2008-05-12T10:45:00.002-04:00

On Sunday I ran in the New York Junior League's Mother's Day Race to Erase Domestic Violence. Yesterday I got to celebrate the anniversary of my first ever road race by setting another personal record. Last year I crossed the finish line at 42:28, that's an average mile of 10:37. This year I finished over 3 minutes better at 39:25, that's a 9:51 mile. I'm still not the fastest runner on the planet. I'm still finishing well back in the pack with over half of the other women racing finishing ahead of me, but I'm improving and that's all anyone can work toward. I'm pretty proud of me.

Not bad. Not bad at all.

Totally Unremarkable Maddy

2008-05-08T12:13:00.006-04:00

Ok, Jen, I'm on it like Con Ed.

1. I can't hear very well without my glasses on (contacts in).

2. I think many people probably know this about me already so maybe it's not new but that wasn't one of the requirements was it? When I was very little I thought my mother was Japanese and her brother was Black, even though I knew my grandmother was Puerto Rican and White. I just thought race was like hair color, it could be different between family members.

3. One of the things I count as an asset to my new place is the different types of transportation and travel I am near and can see. I love to watch the subway roll in and out of the train station from my bedroom window and if I see a plane land or take off at Laguardia at the same time I'm ecstatic. When I run by the park and I can see boats on the east river (pleasure craft and barges), cars on the Tri-boro bridge, and Amtrak and freight trains on the Hellgate Bridge all at the same time I'm in heaven.

4. I am from a big family, when I talk to other people about their big families and birth order I assign them not a number but a name from my family and vice versa. For example, Boyfriend is Matthew (my brother who was also born second) and I am Linda (his sister who was born 4th), his brother Mark is Andrea. I think you get it.

5. I don't have a side of the bed as in right or left. I have a side of the bed as in - in relation to the bedroom door (I prefer to be closer to the exit - don't psychoanalyze me). This is something Boyfriend discovered when we moved since our beds have always faced the other way.

6. I get misty at everything. I just came back from a work presentation on Merchandising. At at least one point I was fighting back tears. I am a sap.

That wasn't so hard. Now I guess I should tag some other people but I am lazy. So I might and I might not.

Me? Unremarkable? Naw!

2008-05-02T14:10:00.001-04:00

I will get on this soon.

I'm sure there are some unremarkable things about me I just can't think of them right now.

Haw haw.

I'm saving the planet

2008-05-01T13:32:00.005-04:00

One click at a time. This might be temporary but I think you save rain forest by clicking the little green patch buddy on the right (who is currently a banana but may change with my whim). Who knows if that's true. I just want to get you all in the habit of using those mouses (mice?) to click things so you can navigate around the interwebs with ease.

Don't say I never did anything for you.

I have gym clothes with me. I am planning on going to the gym after work but before I go see Boyfriend's show. Until then it seems I will be eating as much candy and junk as possible.

In other news the CVS that is near (near is a relative term - as it is actually a subway stop away so that's not like a block away like my old CVS - but listen I'm not complaining. I was about to tell you something awesome so pay attention) where I live now is open 24 HOURS! Oh my gosh. The pharmacy is open ALL NIGHT LONG! This is wonderful news. This is the kind of thing that makes me smile and feel like the world is a wonderful place after all.

Anyhoo...so go save some of it so they can build more corporate chain 24 hour pharmacies.

Preeeety furniture: Mine!

2008-04-28T15:02:00.003-04:00

Yay! Now we're getting somewhere.

Also if you are getting somewhere and that somewhere is here and you need to stay the night.

More yays all around.

Inspiration from Zen Habits

2008-04-25T17:13:00.005-04:00

I hope to one day be able to write a blog post about my second (or first) marathon.

10 Things I Learned From My Second Marathon

“The marathon can humble you.” - Bill Rodgers

read more | digg story

You know what? I read Zen Habits some when I'm referred there by The Consumerist for debt reduction and other financial things, but really I should read it more. So, I've added it to my blog roll.

Make me stop

2008-04-23T14:11:00.002-04:00

I found my new apartment on craigslist. Ditto my couch. Make me stop looking at apartment listings. No matter how happy I am at my new place I can't stop checking to see if there is something better out there. (Haven't found anything yet).

I am wrong in the head.

Making room

2008-04-23T10:45:00.002-04:00

So I sold my desk. Now I really need that man with a van to get my couch. Also, old landlord, it's been almost a month, where is my deposit? I hate that I have to chase you down for it and I bet my old roommate hates it even more because he has to chase me down and probably thinks I have the money and am not giving it to him or something. I don't, old roommate. I'm waiting too.

My apartment still has a lot of boxes. Tonight perhaps I will engage in a most exciting list of activities: Doing laundry, unpacking more boxes, sorting my socks and underwear (I have too many of both really - even after I got rid of maybe a whole garbage bag full) and watching Top Chef (even though this season is exceedingly boring.)

Can't wait.

Old Onion News and New Me News

2008-04-21T17:21:00.004-04:00

This is at least a week old but I just saw it for the first time today.

Hilarious.

In running news: I hit a personal record and finished a race with an average pace under 10min mile yesterday. (9:56/mile for those interested check out how awesome I am on nyrr.org if you know my name and care about that sort of thing)

And I am selling my old ipod mini to a friend who lost her ipod this weekend. I always new Mr. Green Jeans would come to the aid of someone in need.

Onward, my mini friend.

I'm also trying to sell some stuff on craigslist to make room for stuff I bought/am in the process of buying on craigslist. Big wheel keep on turning.

Anyone know a reliable man with a van that won't cost an arm and a leg?

Spring!

2008-04-18T15:28:00.003-04:00

Yay! It's here it's really here. I am wearing a Springy dress. I got a pedicure at lunch. Went for a quick run in the gorgeous weather this morning even though I woke up late. I may have secured a couch from craigslists that doesn't make me gag. I'm looking forward to a race on Sunday (no rain, no rain, no rain...) Last night I discovered that if I lean off the left side of my balcony I can see the Chrysler Building. Ok so moving to Queens hasn't ruined my life so that's great and it's Spring.

I moved

2008-04-08T11:50:00.002-04:00

This weekend I said goodbye to my home of 8 years in Cobble Hill, Brooklyn. It was sad.

Now I live in Astoria. Hopefully it won't suck. I'll sit on my balcony contemplating the idea of it not sucking when I get home tonight.

Outdoor space, bitches!

Queens and Aces

2008-03-28T14:50:00.002-04:00

I'm going to Vegas next week. Exciting! Also, I'm moving to Queens. What? I know. It is happening. If Con Ed lets us have power we have a dishwasher and laundry room and elevator and AC and heat that we control ourselves. Untouched by Con Ed's whim - our 44 sq. ft. balcony facing Southwest.

OK back to cramming in work and when I get home throwing/giving stuff away. Boyfriend and I have already done a great job editing our two closet (walk-in and regular sized with huge amount of storage above) in to 4.5 ft representing our new shared closet.

Gah. Work work.

Thanks for finishing up early, rain.

2008-03-15T09:49:00.002-04:00

Not bad at all.

I'm doing this

2008-03-14T10:28:00.003-04:00

NYRR 8000

Longest race for me yet. Wish me luck. 7:30 in the dad gum morning. Yeek.

I love you, I hate you

2008-03-06T20:55:00.004-05:00

I continue my tempestuous relationship with technology. You would be hard-pressed to find a day in my life since last August 11 when I haven't said something complimentary about my Nike+ iPod set up (it would also be tough to find a day on the calendar since then that I haven't talked about running - mostly to people who couldn't care less but I digress) but BUT I think the little thing hates me. My fingers can't seem to stop ending the tracking of my runs right in the middle (or more likely with less than 1 mile to go) of my run. So then, like tonight, when I am running toward a goal I have to tack on a short whimpy looking run to finish up. Oh, technology, stop making me look like a lazy foolish person.

In better news the goal I was going for tonight was hitting the 200 mile mark. I did it, even though I had to run a crappy little .7 mile run to cap it off because my shaky sausage fingers ended my run by mistake, it's still an accomplishment. 200 miles since August 13. Not bad. (Incidentally, I also slammed the emergency stop button on the treadmill with the heal of my hand in the middle of the 7 min run. I can't catch a break.)

Still, STILL..Look at meeeee! I am a runner lady.

Ok and last thing then I will shower. (Yes, I am sitting here sweating into my chair cushion because this was so important to do the minute I got home from the gym.) As I was cooling down, a very fabulous male couple, one you might find at David Barton Gym rather than my modest NYSC, entered the gym and took to the treadmills on either side of me. The proceeded to work on their fierce sashays at extreme inclines - again on either side of me - while hanging on the the top of the treadmill. My yucky mood was broken and I got the giggles. I tried to pretend that it was something I was listening to and I'm sure they would never even think it was about them. After I got off the treadmill, I looked back at them from down the aisle as I stretched, now that I wasn't between them they looked like they were next to each other sashaying up the hill as fast as their tight butts could carry them. Yay!

Did I mention 200 miles? Woop.

Ok off to the shower and to pack. It says it will rain in Tampa tomorrow. Make it not so. I have a wedding to attend and I'm sure the bride would prefer bright skies.

Ahhh, Love

2008-02-25T16:45:00.001-05:00

They'll Have Their Own Reality Show within a Year

Black lady: Listen, you camel jockey, I don't care what you say, you was wrong to do that!
Middle Eastern man: Oh, shut up, you stupid nigga! I'm tired of hearing your shit! Go fuck yourself!
Black woman passerby: Oh my god, who the hell are you to be talking to my beautiful black sister like that?! You ain't got no right to talk to anybody black like that!
Black lady: Bitch, who the shit are you? Don't be talkin' to my husband like that!

--W 4th St station

Overheard by: Mawg Spawn

via Overheard in New York, Feb 24, 2008

Bananas

2008-02-22T14:51:00.001-05:00

How can I love the way bananas taste but not love the way they smell?

If I have a milkshake

2008-02-21T14:25:00.003-05:00

and YOU have a milkshake. And I have a straw, here it is, that stretches all the way across the room into your milkshake. I drink YOUR milkshake! I DRINK IT UP!

It's like a song I can't get out of my head today.

Also, I went bowling last week. That was fun! Yay for Leisure Time Bowl at Port Authority.

I made whipped cream

2008-02-20T10:58:00.002-05:00

I forgot to tell everyone in the world that I made whipped cream.
Boyfriend and I baked cupcakes on Saturday and I attemped to make my own icing with butter and whipped heavy cream. I screwed up but not before passing perfect tasty beautiful whipped cream in the process. So...I tried again on Sunday. I whipped up heavy cream (after refrigerating my bowl and beaters) with some sugar and then I added food coloring and piped the yummy goodness on to some chocolate cupcakes. Added some sprinkles. Delicious. I feel accomplished and domesticy. Also, I had a cupcake for breakfast on Monday. I do that a lot I guess. The thing about making whipped cream is, there is a moment where you think it is never going to happen, like you have been whipping forever and nothing is ever going to change. Moments after that feeling you will have perfect, light, airy, whippy, peaks and yummy goodness. Like magic.

Toilet Habits Update

2008-02-19T14:24:00.002-05:00

Last night I saw
who you might think of more like this

He was hilarious. Catch a show while he is in NY (until March 8) if you can.

The real reason I am here is, before the show I used the ladies' room at the Union Square Theatre (Home of Jump - which I might go see) and I was adjusting my dress, fixing my nylons, puling up my boots, making sure my ticket hadn't fallen out of where I had it tucked for safe keeping while I "powdered my nose" since I didn't have any pockets...um after all that I left the stall. I can't be 100% positive but I think I didn't flush. That's right. It was me. Ok, I know it's not the worst offense ever to leave a little piddle and some tissue in the can, but I would be wildly offended to have been the next person and glared at the back of Maddy-washing-her-hands' head. Ooops. Nothing I can do now but be repentant. Which I am. Sorry, lady who had to pee pee after me. Sorry you had to look at my urine.

Cutie Pouch

2008-02-15T11:48:00.004-05:00

Still sick. I will probably run again tomorrow. Do you like? I can't wait to not have to think about whether my sensor came loose anymore. I got one for Boyfriend too. Exciting. Right?

Happy Valentine's Day

2008-02-14T14:31:00.004-05:00

These are the things I am wishing for today.

Achoo.
Danny Dreyer says he runs unless he has a fever, but I'm no Danny Dreyer. Sniffle. Grooooaaan.

Virtual Ashes

2008-02-06T14:48:00.000-05:00

I don't think I'm gonna have time to do this today.

We had a company-wide meeting today at work. My face was displayed on a large screen in front of at least 500 people. I was dancing and strutting. I was not embarrassed.

I'm thinking of doing Master Cleanse. Or, perhaps, some other fasting, cleansing thingy dingy. Not for weight loss. I just feel like I need to hit the reset button. Especially after tracking my food intake for the past three days and eating pizza each of those days. The only one I wouldn't take back would be my trip to Lucali in Carroll Gardens. That was THE best pizza I have ever had in my entire life. I mean it. Grimaldi's, I still love you but I lust after Lucali. Also I took a trip to a small local bar that was great. I felt like I found some hidden treasure but I'm sure when it's not a Monday night at 8:30 that place is probably packed with people I'd rather not stand close to. On another Monday, though, you may find me there sipping a Brooklyn cocktail.

Too bad I won't be able to afford my neighborhood should I decide to move out of my apartment. I really like it and it's really nice. Really.

What a Sunday!

2008-02-04T11:50:00.001-05:00

This does no justice to my actual race. My sensor came loose. I am working on alternative methods to house my sensor on my non-Nike shoes so this won't be an issue again.

Overall Place	Gender Place	Age Place	Finish Time	Pace/ Mile
3774	1486	534	40:20	10:05

That's my real info. I'm pretty proud of me and Boyfriend who ran with me the entire way and I never felt like I had to apologize for holding him back. We both met and exceeded personal goals. I'm feeling really good about the 8K I was so nervous about last week.

Also, did you hear? The Giants won!

Boo hoo to Bill Belichick who couldn't even be bothered to stay on the field for the final play.

Phew

2008-01-29T11:32:00.001-05:00

I had to do a lousy slow achy run this morning after I had a really good run last night at 10pm, but I did it.

He really caught up to me, that little so and so. Wasn't he like 14 miles behind me at some point? I call a moratorium on running competitions against Boyfriend. It is not conducive to my training goals, which include doing other things besides running.

In other news, last night I went out to dinner with two of my lovely lady friends and we had an extremely over-eager waiter. It was off putting. I can't put my finger on what bothered me about his particular aura, because I like when someone seems like they want to do a good job. He was just trying too hard? I guess. Dude, we're a sure thing. Just be nice.

Also, I thought this was the most comprehensive of these quizzes I have seen. It might be fun to do just to see how the Dem candidates are all the same person basically.

Back to work, kitties.

Cupcake for breakfast?

2008-01-28T12:37:00.000-05:00

Delish.

More like a lunch appetizer. I should go get a salad for lunch since I am going to wonderful Artisanal for dinner. Yay for restaurant week.

Ok, guys. I see that I am not winning anymore. I'm working on it.

Yay for food. Boo for not winning. Yay for cheese!

Accountability

2008-01-18T18:08:00.000-05:00

I'm trying to make my runs longer, but I am falling back on the "quick and easy 2 miles" a little too often. So I'm posting a widget of my last 5 runs here so I have someone (the 3 people who read this and my perceived anonymous public) to answer to if I don't step it up a bit and challenge myself.

Speaking of challenges: I'm doing pretty well in this one:

First one to 35 miles wins. We both sort of took the first week of January off (woops he he erm shame) Boyfriend worked every day this week and had rehearsals and shows, so the last time he ran I was there running next to him on Saturday in Prospect Park. No wait, we did one of those "quick and easy 2 miles" on the treadmill on Sunday. Supposedly he'll be running while he's in Charleston, SC this weekend for the Charleston Comedy Festival. We'll see.

Step it up, lazies!

Also, here is a challenge I am looohooosing:

If you know anyone on Nike + who wants to run for Brooklyn get them to do it. The Brooklyn team is mostly real Brooklynites and the Bronx has all these hardcore 30 mile a day runners from the UK on their side.

Boo hoo! Me no like to lose - I already lost a challenge to Boyfriend recently so I'm in the mood to win.

On the Radio woah oh oh oh

2008-01-14T11:42:00.001-05:00

I broke my at-work-radio-bit cherry at this job today. It was a pretty good one too. I did tell my subordinate, who sits behind me, ahead of time so he wouldn't think I had actually gotten caught on video giving my husband a lap dance on New Year's Eve and it is on You tube, etc. Although I had an office at the last job I did radio bits from I don't have one here, but I thought I could pull it off from my "pod." It did not go unnoticed. When I got off the phone heads popped up all around and people started converging on me. "Sorry, sorry guys. I'm not even married, no porn producers are calling me. Didn't mean to be so loud. Used to have an office. I don't think anyone is a fuckhead pervert."

He he!

Happy Running Feet

2007-12-25T01:33:00.000-05:00

I can't take much time right now but Merry Christmas to everyone. Thank you, Santa (aka Boyfriend) from my elated feet.

Omigosh! So flash. I'm so fast looking in these.

Awesometown.

and to all a good night.

What makes me happy

2007-12-20T13:38:00.001-05:00

New shoes. That's one thing. My knee barely hurts anymore, so I might run again soon that's another. After tomorrow I am off until January 3, that too makes me happy. I will be visiting sunny Pasadena for a few days - add that to the happy list also.

I guess there are quite a few things.

If there's one thing everyone needs it's purple peep-toe pumps.

Am I nutballs crazy?

2007-12-16T01:50:00.001-05:00

NYRR Holiday 4-Mile
Distance: 4.0 Miles, 6.4 Kilometers
Date/Time: Dec. 15, 2007, 9:30 am
Location: Central Park, NYC
Weather: 29 deg., 36% humidity, wind 6 mph.

A little, but I survived. Got my best time in a 4 mile race so far. I made Boyfriend stay with me because it was cold and I might have lost my resolve alone, but he also had his best time. We finished in 40'51" that's 10:12 per mile (age graded for our extremely advanced crotchety old age that's 40:22 for him and 40:44 for me). Not bad at all. I think having it be extremely butt ass cold is really good motivation not to slow down.

Is this boring to everyone but me? I just crossed the milestone of having run 100 miles (since August with my nike+ iPod) and I had to stop talking about it at work because the glazed over eyes were hurting my feelings.

I declare dead...

2007-12-13T12:24:00.001-05:00

things being categorized as "guilty" pleasures.

Stop feeling guilty about things that make you feel good. Just enjoy them. Is Project Runway a guilty pleasure for me? No, it's just a pleasure. I don't have guilt about enjoying an enjoyable piece of entertainment. I'm tired of people being embarrassed by the things they like. Is it a guilty pleasure that you watch The Real Housewives of Orange County? Maybe you feel guilty about it because those people are disgraceful but you shouldn't. If it makes you happy to watch awful people being awful to each other then you should embrace that. You like that really poppy tune by that troubled drug addicted celebutant? Great. It's probably for a reason. I bet it's really catchy and maybe it reminds you of that summer you spent at the beach. That's cool, just because it isn't sung by a band who wouldn't look out of place in Williamsburg doesn't mean you should feel bad about it. I'm actually sick of the whole concept that you should feel guilty about any kind of entertainment that you find entertaining.

Own what turns you on.

Not ashamed?

2007-12-12T18:21:00.000-05:00

I don't want you guys to have to click on a previous post or do anything strenuous to see that I am still not winning.

I do have a gym bag full of sweaty wet clothes under my desk right now and a run sitting on my iPod that I won't be able to upload until I get home tonight BUT Boyfriend is running at home as I type this; so who really knows where that leaves us? I ran at lunch so I couldn't run until I my legs stopped working, I had to get back and make a presentation on the changing print landscape snoooore.

The man next to me was running at an incline of 15 at 8.5 mph or faster. He was holding on for dear life. What's the point of that? If you are holding on the treadmill is going too fast for you. Seriously, what is the point? There should be a separate gym for you people - You and those guys that throw their backs around to curl weight that is too heavy for them. Oh, and that "trainer" in my gym with rat nest hair who is always telling people to engage their core and setting them up on machines all wrong. In their separate (but equal? who cares they're not doing it right anyway) gym they can workout and never break a sweat, they can bounce up and down on the elliptical trainers, they can use their back for any number of heavy lifting feats and they can hold on tight while "running" as fast as they can.

And I never have to see it.

Unrelated things

2007-12-12T10:25:00.001-05:00

I want my brain to stop trying to connect things that don't have any reason to be connected. In the 7 years and 8 months that I have lived in this apartment in Brooklyn there have been intermittent heat and hot water problems, nothing to write home about less than once a year probably. Since November 1 we have had continual problems, once for an entire week we had no heat and hot water. It seemed like those problems were over and we only had our lovely gas leak to deal with but that would have been too optimistic. This morning no heat, no hot water. Maddy has no patience. The landlord is not answering the phone. The gas leak is still not resolved. I am losing my mind. I wish I wouldn't connect the heat and hot water issue with some bad luck hoo doo situation but I am crazy and I can't help it.
I can has respite?

Ice rods

2007-12-07T16:03:00.001-05:00

Maybe you have a place where you stick things you may have obtained from a bachelorette party you hosted years ago. Maybe that place is next to the gas shut off valve and you don't look in there that often. And maybe, if you're lucky, the Keyspan gas guy will pull out your anatomical ice cube tray and your male roommate and your boyfriend will be confronted with said tray and hilarity will ensue.

He he!

Gas leak festivities!

2007-12-06T11:03:00.000-05:00

So, for years I have smelled gas around my stove/oven. I am always turning the knobs off when they are already off like some kind of obsessive compulsive ritual. A few years ago the whole building had the gas shut off for some work and I asked someone about the smell once it got turned back on. The response was something along the lines of, "nothing is wrong." Also in the last 8 years I have had the burners checked because they weren't lighting properly and new knobs put on the stove. All of these were opportunities that I used to mention to someone the gas smell. Every one of those instances went with no resolution. No one else ever smelled the gas. (Except once when my dad came upstairs to use the john after driving me home but I recall that that was very soon after one of the times I asked someone to look at it so I was all, "I know, but they say nothing is wrong, it always smells like that.") No one else ever smelled it, that is until new roommate The Zone moved in. Zone is just so much like me that I can't believe we are friends because I hate me so much.* Anyway, the Zone smelled gas and called Con Ed to come see if we had a leak. I didn't even know you could do that, but of course you can. Why wouldn't you be able to do that? Gas leaks can kill you in several ways. Luckily none of those ways ever got to me (or anyone) over the better part of a decade. Con Ed/Keyspan rushed right out, found a leak, shut off the gas to the apartment. Zone called the landlord (setting off a small panic attack in Maddy about the illegal sublet he just alerted my landlord to and the much larger profit my landlord could make if he got me out of his rent stabilized apartment that I always fear the landlord is dreaming about) and this morning someone came to fix the leak. Con Ed isn't rushing out to re-check but I guess that makes sense. Anyway, to sum up, no one is dead. Merry Christmas.

*I kid, I'm so enamored with me that I wonder why Zone and I have never been wildly and madly in love.

Edit at 3pm to add: The fun goes on. They didn't fix anything this morning. There is still a leak. The stove is older than dirt. The gas is turned off again because the leak was not fixed at all. I wonder what the hell they even did and why they left without saying, "Gee, I don't think I fixed anything." Now the dude says he can't come until Monday because he has to order a part. Interesting. So he left without replacing this part or making any mention of it this morning. Just, "There you go, I've touched everything. Want me to turn the gas back on? Bye."

The fact that we have escaped injury and/or death until now only means that our odds are slimming every moment. Merry New Year.

Keyword fun

2007-12-05T13:15:00.000-05:00

This is my favorite in the list of keyword searches that have brought people to my blog

1 0.95% how to get a right now poop

Only one person (that's less than 1% of searches in whatever period of time - this isn't a great statistical analysis get off my back) found my blog that way. I sincerely hope they eventually found the method they were looking for, unfortunately, I couldn't provide the answer for them.

Oh and there is finally something that is threatening to rise in the ranks and rival our friend Betty, it's variations on lyrics from Bon Jovi's "Dead or Alive" I think that's funny.

A year ago

2007-12-03T10:27:00.000-05:00

Last December I was starting a new job which is now my old job. Reading the entries I seemed pretty excited about the whole thing. I can remember being very busy doing excel spreadsheet stuff and not much else but feeling like there was the potential for so much more. Man, I ended up hating that place. In this very blog I wrote that the people were nice. Interesting, since a few months later one of the main things I found so loathsome about that place was the vomit inducing people. Now I am at a different job, Friday I will have been here 7 months. I like it here just fine. I can confidently say after 7 months that I like the people here for the most part. In the last few months I have found evidence that most of the people that I worked with at that horrible place have left. I can list a bunch of people that I actually did like - so I guess the place just made me hate everything. Also, even those people I didn't like were maybe hating on the place and giving off bad vibes and not actually as evil as they seemed. When I started this post I had a point. I wonder if I expressed it.

Awwwwwww

2007-11-30T10:20:00.000-05:00

I love you, Endangered Brazilian Ocelot Kitty.

Presenting...El Conquistador!

Adorbs!

Holiday Season Running Challenge

2007-11-29T18:04:00.000-05:00

I'm getting my butt kicked. It's too sad, I won't even post it here - it's too embarrassing. Stop running, Boyfriend! I'm gonna hide your sensor. That's opposite of the idea - which is to get us both to run more but I really feel like cheating in some way - should I kick you in the shins in your sleep? Bah. I guess I'll just run. BAH!

Edit: Ok, I was inspired by my shame and one dggoldst so now (at the time of this posting - watch this space for updates) I only trail by .11 miles so I will post the widget for better or worse.

Hopefully, the publicity will keep me running.

Spreading the Love Internationally

2007-11-20T10:26:00.000-05:00

So remember how I went to Mexico City with Boyfriend and we taught an improv workshop to High School students and then I never told you details? Yeah? Well, the new news is that they thought we were the most awesome. My friend, Christine, who coordinated the program said "Improv helped them be so much more open to cool stuff...You need to come in early Sept next year...It is the best to get things started." Pretty cool, huh? Also, 3 of the kids we taught played some of the games we taught them with middle schoolers during the orientation program for the school. AND one of them wants to start an improv club! I know, I am so nerding out right now. Sigh. Life is pretty good.

Happy Thanksgiving if I don't see you before then.

Say goodbye to the childish things

2007-11-15T11:16:00.000-05:00

Hi. Take your backpack off on the subway, especially if it is crowded. Not taking off your backpack is like carrying an extra body width around that has no feeling, so you swing it around in an irritatingly oblivious way and hit into things. Things mostly being my body. There is a lot of room down by our legs, hold it down there.

While we're at...you are a grown man, why are you carrying a book bag? Grow up.

Creep Tock

2007-11-02T16:22:00.000-04:00

Today is going by so slowly. Possibly because I am so excited about my weekend plans. I have nothing tomorrow but run (finally - it's been a while) and go out to eat (hopefully). I might sympathetically carbo load for people I know who are running in the ING NYC Marathon on Sunday. I am getting so psyched. I can't even imagine what people who are going to be running must feel like. On Sunday I have class at noon but luckily the ladies I know who are running will have a fast enough pace so I can go down to Mile 8 and cheer then hop on the subway and be in midtown just in time. Sean Taylor won't be running this year, give the kid a break he injured himself playing softball, besides even Grete Waitz didn't run the NYC marathon every year. (Or did she I don't really know) I wonder if anyone is excited to be running with Katie Holmes? Anyhoo, if you are feeling all marathony like I am you might enjoy Sean's marathon podcast from last year.
Look here's me running at the front of the pack.

Ok, ok, maybe that's not what that picture is, but it's sure fun for me to think of it that way. Actually, it is a picture of me running an 8'39" mile though. So there's that.

R.I.P. Marty

2007-10-31T10:20:00.001-04:00

Boyfriend and I carved a pumpkin on Saturday. Last night Boyfriend came home from work to find Martin collapsed and rotted already. Yeek. I don't recall them lasting such a short time, but I guess they were always outside and picked from a pumpkin patch not bought from a deli sitting on the sidewalk in the rain. Anyhoo, at least I took pictures while he lived. So now he is my Halloween themed desktop image.

Oh, Marty!

What are you so scared of?

Rotting?

Oh.

Show Plug, Halloween Show Plug!

2007-10-29T11:05:00.000-04:00

This past weekend (Oct 19-22) Boyfriend and I went down to Mexico City to teach an improv workshop to High School students. It was awesome.

I started this post on Wednesday then I never finished it. Originally is was called "Mexico City Improv Frontier." I promise to get back to it before I forget how fun that experience was. Quickly, the kids were hilarious, dogs in Mexico City are much cuter than dogs in New York City, Boyfriend and I went salsa dancing at Mama Rumba, and running at that altitude is difficult (for me anyway).

Ok. But what I'm really here for today is to tell you that there are only 2 shows left for Zombira's Scaretaculous Halloween Horrortacular! Tickets
are $10 in advance but cost more at the door. We had our first non-preview show last night and it was a lot of fun. I think you would like it. Look, one of the writer/performers that isn't me wrote about the show in his blog too. So that's what I'm doing.
Check it out - the show I mean. Tonight is the last night that The Disgraceland Family (actual freak show!) will be performing with us, but even without them it is a good Halloweeny show.

Ok. Plug in my blog now done! But I have one unrelated thing to say. It's getting to be NYC Marathon time. I'm not sure if I could ever run a marathon. I might cry the whole time because I would be so inspired by myself.

Update on Condiments

2007-10-16T16:24:00.000-04:00

Pictures of the little green guy from the salad. He was originally sort of grey. He looks much healthier now that he is being fed live fruit flies.

Home Stretch

2007-10-15T17:56:00.001-04:00

I's almost in the bag. Boyfriend is on his way home and working on very little sleep. OR SO HE SAYS! I just thought, "what if this delayed flight and no sleep thing is all an elaborate ruse?" Oh MY GOSH! What is Boyfriend is really running right now? Poop! I could lose this thing after all.

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Edit: Yay! I dids it.

Back to work

2007-10-12T11:57:00.000-04:00

So, I should be working but wow. Sad. Silly. Strange. Upsetting. Is it funny? Not yet. Hopefully, someday. Right now I am concerned for an acquaintance who is friends with a bunch of my friends and whose job may be in jeopardy. Gratefully, people where he works are some of the most understanding people I know and they are more worried than anything.

Hipster? What the fuck? Nice conclusion to draw.

Eureka!

2007-10-05T20:50:00.000-04:00

Bananas!

Apparently, I have actually forgotten how to take care of myself. As soon as the new handyman finishes fixing my sink I am going out to buy a bunch of nature's perfect and delicious potassium delivery devices.

Condiment

2007-10-04T17:58:00.000-04:00

Oh, my gosh. I almost forgot to tell you...
I probably wouldn't believe it if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes so it's ok if you don't believe me since I don't have proof. You should know that I am not prone to lying though.

Yesterday, my cube neighbor opened her salad from the deli across the street and a frog jumped out. A frog the size of a dime, but a frog nonetheless. I saw it crawling on her desk. Someone has it as a pet now. I hope it's not a scary poisonous frog or something. It's kind of adorable, that means it's not deadly, right?

A frog!

Taking a day off

2007-10-04T11:39:00.000-04:00

So as of this exact moment I am beating Boyfriend in our running challenge (He's probably still asleep right now). I did something odd to the arch of my right foot last night. Ibuprofen, elevation, and ice (as well as a hot shower) have made it feel better (now my left foot actually feels worse - maybe it's just jealous of all the one-on-one treatment I gave to righty last night, I don't know) but I think I'll take tonight off. Of course, this gives Boyfriend the opportunity to pull ahead but I can't let that make me run and cause myself permanent damage. You don't understand how hard it is going to be to not run tonight. I have some cleaning to do so hopefully I will be too busy to even notice that I am not running or possibly too tired and my lungs will be too burny (I intend to attack the bathroom with bleach) by 10pm to do my normal empty-gym-night run. Who knows? If I can make myself stay off the treadmill tonight I will probably show lefty some love so it won't be so envious.

You might win this round Boyfriend but don't get too comfy in the lead, I have a short race in Central Park on Saturday at 8am so I might feel all pumped to come home and run some more.

Don't get cocky, it's gonna get rocky...you know the rest.

What else can I win?

2007-09-27T23:42:00.000-04:00

Ha! The challenge doesn't start until after Boyfriend lands and gets settled in Boulder, but let's see who can beat the pants off the other. Double entendre!

Yay!

I win?

2007-09-26T10:26:00.000-04:00

The voting is over. The thing I voted for won. I like when it turns out I voted for the winner.

But really more importantly in my life I am going to miss the first half of the Top Chef finale tonight because I will be interning at the theatre and won't get home until late when they will probably be re-running last week's episode which I already saw.

Bloop.

Do you?

2007-09-19T22:52:00.001-04:00

Care that is.

There, go vote. Mark Ecko bought the ball that broke the record and now he wants hlep deciding what to do with it. What do I care? I don't really. I just like to vote in things. If you like to vote then you should. Also if you like to vote and are in the NYC are and know me then you should probably come to my shows at The Project and vote for my team.

I voted asterisk. Barry Bonds can suck it.

Not Buying a Robot Any Time Soon

2007-09-13T23:31:00.000-04:00

Man, my love/hate relationship with technology and working out continues. When I got home from work I put to use some tips I read online to get my nike+ ipod sensor to work again (yay). Once my face was sufficiently (or overly was it?) stuffed with spicy maki I watched the rest of the Top Chef I missed yesterday and once I had digested enough (or so I thought) I went down to the gym to run for 20 minutes. Man, I am so disciplined! Right? Look at me, I'm leaving Tim Gunn's Guide to Style to go running. After slipping on my Penn State tank top to motivate me to log my last couple miles in the Big Ten Challenge that ends at 11:59 tonight, I jogged down to the gym hopped on the treadmill and 'hit the center button to begin [my] workout.' Okay, maybe I should have taken it as an omen when I threw up a little in the first 30 seconds on the treadmill (yuck). Too bad I hadn't brought water in anticipation of a short run. At 17 minutes I decided I would pull out my rarely used Power Song (Don't Stop Me Now by Queen - good one, huh?) DISASTER! I held the center button too long like a doo doo head and reset my ipod! Technology loves to taunt me. I was on my way to one of my faster 2 mile runs at about 9:45 a mile. My ipod totally reset. While I took the time to shout, "No, NO NOOOOO!" in the empty treadmill room, I never missed a step. Naively I thought it might somehow still have the data and I started a new workout, ran about 4 minutes (3:55 to be exact) and went home with my fingers crossed.

Nope. My almost 2 miles is gone. Into the ether. I want my 2 miles! MY 2 MILES! Boyfriend points out that even if my ipod has lost my 2 miles my body hasn't. Well, Boyfriend, who asked you? Oh, I did. My mistake. Booo!

Anyway, the poop doesn't end there entirely. I'm sure I can get it to work again but probably my panicked clicking and possibly the dreaded removing when it says "Do Not Disconnect" has frozen my ipod in mocking corruption. Fine, be that way, ipod. Keep you screen light on until your battery dies. I'll fix you later. For now I'm still moping. Until I take a shower and get a chance to rock out on my brand new PS2.

Let's take this wireless guitar controller for a real spin. Please let Guitar Hero be on my side tonight.

There it goes again

2007-09-11T14:08:00.000-04:00

The climate since I have returned notwithstanding, I had another divine week on Fire Island. I really can't recommend it enough - although it seems by how many more people there were on the beach this past week that I should stop. I even ran. My ipod sensor is broken (wha? it's not a month old - I'll get on that one soon) but luckily I was able to borrow one so I got to log miles for my challenges. Lovely, lovely, lovely.

Sweet beach dreams to you all.

Blip

2007-08-29T23:30:00.001-04:00

See this is the reason I don't know if I'll keep that little Nike+ run tracker up there. I didn't just run .14 miles tonight. I was running 3 miles but I tried to pause the workout at 2.4 miles to tie my shoe and take a drink of water but I did it all wrong and I ended the workout. So then I ran for a little more than a minute more. Alas, I was defeated by my technical glitch. I gave up. So even though the story is mildy pathetic because I didn't finish my 3 miles. It's not a super ridiculous story where I run for 88 seconds and that's my whole workout. Jeez.

See.

Oh, this is going to be troublesome if I feel like I have to explain every little thing. Yikes, you can all see how I always almost crap out 75% through my workout.

Maddy, you are a silly sweaty girl. Go take a shower.

Edit: Hey, I put a graph of my last 5 runs there so it is constantly changing. Looks like I don't crap out 3/4 into my runs now. Sorry you can't look at my pitiful 88 second run anymore.

Gonna Fly Now

2007-08-28T17:46:00.000-04:00

Notice my new fangled running tracking thingy dingy.

I don't know if I will keep it up there. Maybe I'll eventually get embarrassed about how slow I run, but for now I am so excited about the awesome birthday present I got from Boyfriend so I'm showing off. I'm really enjoying keeping track of my runs. When I get back from the gym I can't wait to upload my progress and see my stats. So cool. I sit there all drippy sweaty and I don't just hook up my cute tiny nano, I scroll through all my goals and see where I am in the challenges. It's ridiculous in the most nerdy exciting way.

This reads like some weird commercial. A bad commercial written like a 3rd grade book report. I don't care.

Me loves.

Here, look at one of my goals.

See how awesome it is? See?

Struggling is less interesting than juggling

2007-08-22T17:00:00.000-04:00

When a meeting is so long you experience three different stages of alertness it is too long.

Maddy: Fighting afternoon meeting nap time urges one complimentary Coca Cola Cherry at a time.