Miscellaneous

Since I don't have one particular topic to discuss, I will just bore you with the mundane today-lucky you...

First of all, Carnival and I made up. It seems that when you have a travel agent listed in the past, they become your travel agent forever (at no additional cost to you) unless you speak with the travel agency and request them to remove the info themselves. Good to know...two months later! So, the cruise is paid up and now I've just got to fill out all the info and get everything printed. Only 62 days to go!

I got my hair cut yesterday. Took off about 4 inches (so it's shoulder-length) and added a butt-ton of layers and some side bangs. I think it's a pretty cute cut but now I'm forced to actually do more than throw it up in a ponytail. I may have to comb it once in awhile now.

I got in 3 good runs this week and ran 4 miles today at Tephord Park. Sometimes I get sick of my regular route and need to get out there and check out the new scenery. At least today was much cooler and breezier than last time I ran there, although I have realized that I now need to find a good headband to run with cuz my new bangs were flying everywhere!

I'm nearly finished with the book 5 of the Harry Potter series. Can't believe I've only got two more to go! Anyone got any other good book series for me to read?

Well, that should do for my rambling. Now I think I'll figure out what to do about dinner and get ready for my Law & Order-Criminal Intent evening marathon to begin. Such a nice, relaxing weekend and only 4 work days for me this week-I get Wednesday off for Veteran's Day. Good times.

Put Down the Snickers and Step Away from the Candy Dish

Slowly...alright, now slowly turn around and step out of the kitchen altogether. Good girl. Now, I want you to go to your room...no, don't be looking back at the kitchen, there is nothing there for you..focus....good job. Okay, put on your running clothes. No, those are your lounge-around-the-house clothes. What? You think I don't know the difference? I've been around the block,you know. Stop complaining cuz I don't care. You've been a lazy ass for a week and it ends today. Now go! Good, we're making progress here. Yep, that outfit will do. Sure you don't want to wear a tank top instead? Well, I hardly think the middle finger was a necessary response. Get dressed. I said, GET DRESSED!! Alright, get your shoes on. Nope, not taking Wilson for a walk but nice try getting out of your run. Once again, I've been around the block. Get your watch and iPod. Whatever.....you freaking know where it is so stop acting dumb. Sigh. Middle freaking drawer. You are starting to piss me off. Okay let's go. Nope-not to the kitchen. No, you don't need a drink, you just want candy. Let's go. Baby steps, baby steps. Good....almost there.....and here we go!

Carnival Woes

Carnival has made my shit list. So, I got online over the weekend to pay my remaining balance...and searched that damn website numerous times to find out where to make my payment...and searched some more....walked away cursing.....whined to Brian.....came back and searched some more. No luck, could not pay the bill. So, I called my mom and asked her where she paid from...she tells me it was in Manage Bookings. Okay, I've been there 20 or more times but, hey, I'll try again. So it opens a window and tells me to make a payment I must call my travel agent or 1-888-Carnival. What tha????

So, this evening, I finally broke down, researched Google for Carnival's number and called them. They tell me I am registered through a travel agent and should call them. Huh, travel agent, well this is news to me. And if I did have one, they are doing a shitty job cuz I've never heard from them! I tried to explain to Carnival that I've got no stinkin travel agent and booked it online but they insist it's set up through one. So here's what I think happened. When I registered for this cruise, it took all my old info from last year's cruise and applied it to this one. Last year we, of course, had the cruise set up through a t.a. for Meg's wedding. Ugh! So frustrating! I called the agency, (after 5pm so left a msg) and hopefully I hear from them tomorrow. What a freaking clusterfu**.

So, here I am, trying to control my fuming rage with a chilled Bud Light since there's nothing I can do about this tonight. Hopefully it will all magically work out tomorrow. A girl can dream, right?

Oh, and Carnival? Your 888 number? Yeah, it has too many freaking letters so it is not a valid freaking number. How about we work on changing that? Thanks a bunch.

Ah, the weekend is here

I can actually admit that I had a good week at work. I trained a couple people on new job responsibilities, had some meetings, got taken off all my phone lines (woo hoo!) and got through many of those icky files on my desk. It was a good work week. Never thought I'd say that!

The weekend has started off pretty well. I went to the dentist this morning and am now good for the year, stopped by McDonalds for my coffee fix and made a quick trip to Publix for dinner fixins. Now the pot roast dinner is in the slow cooker, the coffee is half gone and I am ready to start the laundry before sitting down with a book for an hour or two. I plan on running 4 miles this evening and might even do some hula hooping. Other than that, no big plans for today. Tomorrow is going to be a shopping day since I desperately need some new work and exercise clothes and I've put it off long enough.

Hope everyone has a great day!

Another 3

Well, that nice, cool weather was refreshing but fleeting and it has nearly flown by the wayside. Today was a bit warmer-back in the mid-to-high 80s and I could feel it in my run this evening.

I was actually looking forward to running tonight. Whoa, when did that happen? Me, look forward to lacing up the shoes and hitting the pavement? Wow-it's got to be my dreams of the tiara medal pushing me forward. Although tonight was a wee bit warmer and much sweatier than my Sunday run, I pushed myself harder tonight and managed to finish my run about 2o seconds faster-yeah me! After the last two days of running 3 miles, I notice my 2nd mile is my slowest, like 10-15 seconds slower. I don't know if I relax more or what but I made it up for it by pushing through in the last mile and shaving off some time. Overall, it was a good run and I felt pretty good when I was done. I'm supposed to do another 3 miles tomorrow night and then 4 on Sat. per the HM training program I'm following.

I have you in my sights, my pretty little medal! Did I mention I put a pic of last year's medal on my phone for inspiration? Oh yeah. A little madness goes a long way.

A Refreshing 3 miles

Today was simply glorious...and all it took for Sunday to be a glorious day was waking up to a temperature of 58 degrees. Love it, love it, love it!! Brian and I were up just after 7am, had breakfast, went grocery shopping and then did our respective chores: his-outside, mine-inside. I was all done with the house cleaning and most of the laundry by 1pm so I spent the next couple hours sitting outside in the glorious weather reading the fourth Harry Potter book (just can't put them down!) while Brian finished yard work and had his garage time. I then checked in on my beloved Vikings and watched them get lucky with another win against the Ravens. I'm glad they won, but it could have been so easily lost. Guess the football gods were in our favor today.

After much pondering, I finally got my running gear on, did some stretching and went out for my 5k run. The first mile was tough...some shin issues and my foot has been bothering me but I pushed through. It's funny-someone's shirt at the 10k last week said running is a mental state and we're all crazy! Well, I can definitely attest to the fact that it's a mental state cuz I really wanted to turn around or just walk but told myself to push through and, after the first mile, I was feeling really good and had no trouble finishing my 3 miles. Day 1 of HM training down and tomorrow is a rest day-for running anyway. We'll see if I get ambitious for something else.

I Want the Crown

Or is tiara more princess-appropriate?

Now that the Race for the Taste 10K has been successfully completed, I am debating on what my next race will be. I am thinking the new Wine and Dine Half Marathon (which has replaced the afore-mentioned 10K) is a definite choice, but it is nearly a whole year away. I know me-with that much time to "train," I will most likely slack off until a month or two before and then try and hurry up and add mileage. So, since my running high is still, well, high...I think I am going to go for the crown, er..tiara and I'm planning on doing the Princess Half Marathon in March 2010.

This race brings all my favorites: Disney princesses, pink clothes, a great benefit and a tiara medal. How can I go wrong?! But, before I race to sign up, I have to complete a mini-challenge: run 4 days a week for the next month and increase my mileage until I can run at least 7-8 miles at one time without wanting to throw a temper tantrum along the street. If I pass, I can sign up by November 15, if not, then no tiara for me.

So that is my running challenge for the next month. I am doing this because, although the 10K was lots of fun, it was a lot of hard work for this former sprinter to handle since me and distance running have it out for each other. I shall overcome!

Maybe if I wear my medal when running, I'll become more inspired. Hmmm....