it’s official

Posted on by
14

I just registered for the GMAT! Suddenly, I am very, very nervous. Even though I did well on the practice one and I’m taking a class, somehow there is always this fear that something will go terribly wrong. Like when I was heading off to be an exchange student at the ripe young age of fourteen and I had to have my blood tested for any number of different communicable diseases. I knew I didn’t have any of them, but somehow, until I got the results, I kept worrying about what they would be.

I take the test in just over a month at 8 am on a Saturday morning. This test is all that stands between me and grad school. Well, this test, a few applications, several essays and letters of recommendation, at least one acceptance letter from at least one program, and thousands upon thousands of dollars in student loans. Holy cow, I have a lot to do! So, if my posts are shorter, just know that I am busy studying like crazy, or writing a gazillion essays, or begging for letters of recommendation, or running. And if my posts aren’t shorter or less frequent, you shouldn’t be impressed. You should be concerned about my sanity and sleep habits.

Oh, the joys of life!

true friend on a monday morning

Posted on by
12

I got a phone call from my friend Dawn this morning (we work together) telling me she was going to stop at Sonic on her way into work. She wanted to know if I wanted anything. I almost cried with joy! How did she know that’s what I needed? I had tried to get out the door early this morning for that very purpose…but it didn’t happen. For those of you not addicted to caffeine, you will likely not understand how truly fabulous this was.

It’s going to be a good day!

for breakfast – lemon-poppy seed scones

Posted on by
12

I love lemon-poppy seed anything, but scones are my favorites. I had a great recipe for them back in the day that disappeared in one of many moves, I’m sure, but I found this one on-line and I have to say it’s pretty good. I did make a simple glaze, which wasn’t part of the recipe, using a little lemon juice and powdered sugar. The glaze is totally optional and might actually be better using milk, rather than lemon juice…but I like things pretty lemony. Also, as you will see, the recipe intends you to use a food processor. I don’t currently own one, so I made them by hand and it worked just fine.

Ingredients

  • 3 c all purpose flour
  • 1 c plus 1 Tbsp sugar
  • 3 Tbsp poppy seeds
  • 1 Tbsp baking powder
  • 2 tsp grated lemon peel
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 10 Tbsp (1 1/4 sticks) chilled unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
  • 1 large egg
  • 2 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
  • 1/3 c (or more) whole milk

Preparation

Preheat oven to 375°F. Position rack in top third of oven.
Mix flour, 1 cup sugar, poppy seeds, baking powder, lemon peel, and salt in processor. Add butter and cut in, using on/off turns, until mixture resembles coarse meal.
Whisk egg and lemon juice in medium bowl to blend. Add to flour mixture. Using on/off turns, process until moist clumps form. Add 1/3 cup milk. Using on/off turns, process just until dough comes together, adding more milk if dough seems dry.
Using floured hands, gather dough into ball. Flatten into 8-inch round. Cut round into 8 wedges. Transfer scones to large baking sheet; brush with milk. Sprinkle with remaining 1 tablespoon sugar.

Bake until scones are golden brown and tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 25 minutes. Transfer to rack and cool. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Store airtight at room temperature.)

blog party…

Posted on by
12

So, I stepped out of my comfort zone and went to a blog party where I knew no one (well, other than stalking their blogs). I was teetering back and forth when Anne (Anne who I have yet to meet but will in less than two weeks) told me that I had to go so I could meet Annalisa (below) and Lori (below, below), among others.

me and Annalisa

Lori and me
me and Lori

Well, went I did and it was quite fun. Annalisa and Lori were just as fun as Anne thought they would be, plus I got to meet Annalisa’s cute sister’s, Laralee and Crystalyn. I think this will be the beginning of multiple, beautiful friendships. It was so fun to see all of these people in real life, people who I have admired, nay stalked, for a while. These women are even more amazing and beautiful in real life as they are in their blogs.

Annalisa, Crystalyn, me and Laralee

For more on the evening, you can visit Jill’s blog…she’s the grand master of the Blog Party. Thanks again, Jill, for a fabulous evening.

13.1 miles…and a realization of insanity

Posted on by
7

So, 13 miles was the run today. I tacked on the .1 for good measure and because I wanted to complete a half marathon.

What I would like to talk about today is the fact that I came to the conclusion while running these 13 miles that I am insane. Totally and completely off my rocker. I just ran 13.1 miles. And I hurt. And I’m tired. And, for the first time ever, I had to stop in the middle of a run to use a bathroom. No one should ever run so far that they can’t make it all the way through before they have to pee.

And, as I was suffering all I kept thinking is, “Wow, when I finish this damn (yes…I swear sometimes, especially when I’m running 13 miles) run, I will have run HALF of a marathon. HALF! THAT’S IT! WHAT THE HELL WAS I THINKING?!”

Well, I guess it’s a little late to consider that now. I’m in it. I’ve come this far. And more than anything, I have publicized this whole experience to the point that I can’t quit. Plus, I have this disease. I believe I’ve mentioned it before. It’s called the “all or nothing disease”. I can’t do things half-way. So…all it is…and all it will continue to be.

A few other realizations…after last week’s run and today’s, I have discovered that I hit my groove at about mile 7. See, sane people would never find that out because they would run 3 miles, hating every mile, and be done. That’s a good amount of exercise…enough to keep one healthy and happy. No one ever needs to find out that it takes them seven miles to get into a groove. SEVEN FLIPPING MILES!

Okay…I think I’m done now. After all of that, I must admit that I feel pretty good (emotionally, that is…physically, I’m hashed). I did my farthest run to date. I kept my pace, I managed to avoid any blisters (something I didn’t do on my “short” midweek six-miler), I added another mile of uphill, I learned that I can stop to use the restroom and keep going afterwards, and I burned 1975 calories. That’s over half a pound. Crazy! I guess all of the weight loss makes sense when I add up all of the calories I manage to burn while running. Just kidding…I did get one blister.

So, while I now realize just how crazy I am, I’m not quite ready to ask for help or give it up. I’m addicted.

And a few of my favorite things before I publish the playlist:

And the playlist…most of these songs I already made available last week. The few new ones I will try to make available for downloading…but I don’t have the time right now. Running 13 miles takes a chunk out of a person’s day. And, as you’ll notice, I changed my slow songs back to every sixth song…this seems to work better for me than every fifth. As for notes…I am getting the playlist thing down. I got the right songs in the right places. I have no complaints today…about the music that is.

  1. Freedom 90 6:30 George Michael
  2. in too deep 3:29 sum 41
  3. Summer Love 4:15 Justin Timberlake
  4. i didnt steal your boyfriend 3:04 ashlee simpson
  5. Workout Plan 2:52 Kanye West
  6. If You Were Here 2:57 Thompson Twins
  7. beautiful love 4:09 The Afters
  8. My Love (Feat. T.I.) 4:36 Justin Timberlake
  9. How We Operate 5:28 Gomez
  10. Every Other Time 4:07 LFO
  11. LOVE 2:37 ashlee simpson
  12. Big girls don’t cry 4:28 Fergie
  13. Lifetime (radio) 3:29 better than ezra
  14. Simply Being Loved 4:21 BT
  15. Witch In The Ditch 3:44 Erasure
  16. Glamorous (Feat. Ludacris) 4:06 Fergie
  17. Fit But You Know It 4:14 The Streets
  18. Fields of Gold 3:33 Sting & Edin Karamazov
  19. Do It 4:04 Spice Girls
  20. what about us 3:57 Brandy
  21. Mr. Brightside 3:41 The Killers
  22. i wanna have your babies 3:34 Natasha Bedingfield
  23. Just The Girl 3:50 The Click Five
  24. No One Is to Blame 3:59 Emile Millar
  25. Dance Dance 5:02 Fall Out Boy
  26. I See You Baby 4:03 Groove Amada
  27. Get Over It 3:16 ok go
  28. Summer Girls 4:19 LFO
  29. Clothes Off 3:55 Gym Class Heroes
  30. A Sorta Fairytale 5:29 Tori Amos
  31. Irreplaceable 3:47 Beyoncé
  32. knock ’em out 2:53 Lily Allen
  33. Workout Plan 2:52 Kanye West
  34. Hot ‘n’ Cold Pussycat 4:11 Basement Jaxx vs.
  35. Girl From the Gutter 3:58 Kina
  36. Lay Lady Lay 4:37 Magnet
  37. in too deep 3:29 sum 41
  38. SexyBack 4:02 Justin Timberlake
  39. Yummy 4:57 Gwen Stefani