1 down…

Me and the girls are going shopping!!! Wohoo!

We’ll see what day two brings!

Big Day Tomorrow

Just thinking about quitting makes me want to smoooooke like crazy, but tomorrow’s the big day.

Couple of things:

1. I am never doing this again. I’m not going to put my body through this whole nails on a chalk-board withdraw process. It’s annoying and I am not a fan.
2. I have a bet with my boss. I will catch him swearing before I smoke. Loser buys lunch, but it is soooo much more than that. There’s never-ending pride that comes with winning that.
3. I have packed some killer salads for lunch this week. I am jealous of my future self getting to eat them.
4. I have started doing a low-impact walking video in the mornings. It’s a little lame and some of the chicks in the video are in their 60’s but hey – if you’re looking for a little something to get your blood pumping, I highly recommend Leslie Sansone’s Walk Away the Pounds.

Other than improved health and bragging rights with the boss-man, I developed a couple of incentives. It blows my mind that I would need to reward myself to quit a habit that other people simply never picked up, but hey gotta find some fun in some of this…

1. Day 1 – Shorty needs a new bra(s). Over sharing has always been my forte.
2. Week 1 – Finally replace my lost jean jacket that was a casualty in flop relationship.
3. Week 2 – Solar Lights for the walk-way. My walk-way back to the house is terribly dark. It’s not the most exciting gift but I figured I’d put it up on the list so I remember to get it done.
4. Week 3 – Paint the kitchen. God I can’t stand these purple walls one minute longer.
5. 1 Month – big effing concert/maybe trip. Been kicking around maybe going to Coachella this year. It’d be super expensive but is totally on my bucket list. If not that gig, it will be another one… Maybe front row tickets to whomever blows into town… We’ll see.
6. 3 Months – I will finally get a TV.
7. 6 Months – Lasik Surgery. Go big or go home.
8. 1 Year – A European vacation. Might have to have a fundraiser – but why not???

Looking forward!!!

Off to smoke and then flush the rest of my pack!

 

2013 Planning

Clock’s ticking. So that’s 27 days to prep. Let’s start a new checklist – My January looks pretty cray so we should prep accordingly (Not necessarily in order of importance):

1. Find a gym ASAP. Since I moved Trainer Matt is 30 min opposite direction from home. It’s true that I could get a pretty killer deal at the current place, but I really need to find a place somewhere between home and work that will fit the schedule. The hot guy at work (I call him sporty spice cause he books it to the bathroom at 4:45 to change into his work out gear) should know a close by gym. I have been looking for a reason to (talk to) him so this will kill two birds with one stone.
2. Tell everyone you know that you are quitting. End of story.
3. New Work-Out Playlist: STAT. Seriously. This is a must have. I am off tomorrow so I should tackle this then.
4. New Rewards List. Duh – best part. As if being healthy is enough for me.
5. Anticipate new schedule since last time you quit: Last time I was working on my masters degree on-line. Any given day I could run to the gym and (run) the track for hours. Now I am locked into the 8-5 and my neighborhood is a tad dangerous. So running on a whim is not nearly as available. I have to plan for this shit.
6. Sign up for some new races – 2013 Tackle the Tower is on the books, but I’m not registered. Need to get more frightening, possibly embarrassing activities on the books.
7. Plan my freaking meals: Due to how hectic things were I spent a lot of time at Chipolte in 2012. Fortunately for some crazy reason you can’t tell from the size of my arse. When I qizzle the shizzle I won’t be able to metabolize that stuff like I can now. This is essential to my success.
8. BIGGEST DEAL OF PLANNING: I need to do some 4-month mark planning. That time when you think you are safe… This was the most dangerous time for me. It wasn’t the first day, first week, first month — it was four months into this vigorous training that I lit up and got right back on the dole… how can I avoid those pitfalls? How can I do better than last time? What set things off? How do I combat moments like this?
9. The next couple of weeks will continue to be crazy. The holidays are far from over to me. My lil bro comes home this week. Menagerie will occur. My cousin will be in town. My sister’s baby shower less than two weeks away – I can smoke through all this, however I need to keep my eye on the prize. I can’t get lackadaisical with this list or loose sight of my goal.
10. Crime and punishment: What will hold me accountable? What is so cruel that I couldn’t bare smoking a cigarette? In Stephen King’s “Quitters, Inc.” a character’s wife looses a pinky finger in the case of a relapse. I don’t have a wife, nor do I know someone macabre enough to chop off a limb of a loved one to ensure my health. This needs some thought. I am clearly not afraid of eating a welching on the bet to eat a creamed onion. 2013: Step up your game yo. What scares me enough not to smoke???

This is my mission if I choose to accept it… it’s all laid out for me here. It’s the start of a blue-print for success… All I have to do is follow directions. What could be easier?

2013: Something New?

So yeah – 2010 was a great attempt. 2011 and 2012… forgeddaboutit!

Wow. I can’t believe that is 2013 and I am back to the drawing board at kicking the habit. Where have the years gone? And how had I been so successful in back in the early months of 2010 to be back at the whole “Set a date” step today.

That Summer of 2010 sure was fun. Fun enough to throw caution to the wayside and just quit quitting… I blame Pearl Jam and the Summer of “F & UN” but really it was me who dropped the ball.

2011 was crazy. I scored my first big job and finally got back into an apartment of my own. You would think that this would have been perfect timing to start a new routine. Especially as a new friend – THE GIANT POSSUM – that sat outside my door made it’s first appearance. I mean smoking is gross and addictive, but adding the fact that A GIANT VERMIN is perched in your smoking lounge should be enough to get anyone hyped up to quit. I apparently am hard-core committed to this filthy habit.

So I set the date in 2012 with every intent of making the effort. Three things happened early on that really allowed me to shirk my efforts in regards to smoking cessation:

1. I had a big meeting to facilitate at work the week after my 2012 quit date. My ex-smoker boss (suggested) that this might not be the right time to quit.
2. My sister was getting married in July – As maid of honor I had quite a full plate of duties that didn’t really allow me to focus on the whole healthy lifestyle that I need in place to successfully quit.
3. My best friend’s mom – who is an astrologist, pulled out her ephemeris and said, “Honey this is not the year for that”.

Needless to say, she was right. This year was incredibly full, personally and professionally. It was great – my sister’s wedding was beautiful and my first full year on the job was incredibly successful. However, there were several stressful moments along the way that would have only been harder a) not smoking or worse b) losing my shit and smoking and the upset that would have followed. So yeah – among a few other things 2012 was not the year for me to jump the smoking train.

That being said, this is the first full year of working that I have used every single personal day because I have actually been sick. And by sick I don’t mean hung-over. I mean sick as all get out. I know stress can have a crazy effect on you, but I can’t help but think that if I had stuck with it back in 2010 I would have spent those personal days getting pedicures or nursing a maja Sunday brunch hang-over instead of actually being sick. My sister always told me that once you turn 30, your body changes and you begin to feel it – so maybe for me it was 33.

At any rate – enough. I’m pretty certain that I am the last of friends my age that is actually a full time smoker. Most quit when they got pregnant others when their job required them to. If they can do it – so can I. It’s a waste of time, money and just plain breaths. For more information on why smoking esses a d click here.

I am a little nervous though: How many times have I made that sweep declaration to join the world as a non-smoker??? I started this blog way back when because publicizing your goals holds you accountable. I have publicly failed and lived through it. Is this blog really going to hold me accountable? Are these reports and idle threat? Should I tweet my goals? Facebook them? God forbid share this blog (which speaks pretty candidly about several other scandalous escapades) on my social networks?

So yeah the new date: January 28th, 2013. The Monday after my big annual meeting and a week before my first niece is due. That’s 28 days kids – let’s get planning.

Welcome back?

I’ve been quite lackadaisical at blogging, non-smoking, concert going, exercising, doing cool stuff, etc… all of the above except for work. Loving the new job, but it is turning out to be quite the ass-kicking contest.

I’m cereal — I come home and I’m in total couch potato mode. NO MAS! I haven’t turned into a fatty McFatterson yet, but am concerned that if I don’t do something soon, I’ll let the grind seriously debilitate me. I don’t even have any funny stories to tell except for the fact that I have watched a lot of internet tv as of late. I’m embarrassed, but I actually watched Heathers last week. That’s 90 minutes of my life I am never getting back. Barbra Walters should be calling any day now for my big fascinating interview.

So here’s the new deal:

1. Tuesday, January 17th is the first day of my new life as a non-smoker.
2. So, that’s really my only plan.

There are a few things that I need to take under consideration:

1. The smoking sitch at work: The liberties have been great for making friends. But I need to cut it out. A) I’m waaay to busy to smoke. B) I feel like I smoke more now than when I tended bar. Once you make it a work habit it’s a hard mother effer to break. How will I know that the work day is passing if I don’t smoke?
2. I’ve moved to a cute little place closer to the city that and farther from my parents basement. It’s very trendy and urban. However, there aren’t any close gyms nearby. Lots of Yoga studios, which deserve their own post… but it’s almost like I have to drive all the back to the suburbs to get a work out in. It’s dark and urbany and who am I kidding… like I’m going to run before work in the a.m. It also happens to be dark and ubany when I get home from work. So there’s that. Maybe I need to  join one of them sports clubs… I gotta brainstorm…
3. Blogging: The last thing I want to do when I come home is sit by a computer and type. Holy carpal tunnel. “Hey guys, look at my sweet new neckbrace…” Although my recent discovery of Spotify is making that a little easier. I highly recommend it.
4. There is a giant possum outside my door. HUGE! Completely unrelated, but still gross. It’s made a little burrow underneath the neighboring house. If it gets any bigger, I’ll be purchasing a saddle and riding it work.
5. What else? I can think of a million other excuses. Quit smoking? Whaaat? Why? Be right back… going to grab a puff…

That’s not very promising, but beginning the conversation is a step in the right direction.

Wish me luck.

Dear Lord and the Baby, it’s been a long time…

Good Lord it’s almost been a year since my last post…

My many apologies! We left off somewhere last fall. I can’t believe the R.I.P. iPod was my last post. What a sad note to leave on. Someone must’ve been eating my porridge or some other candy ass shenanigans. Lots and nots has changed since then.

Well, for starters I finished my Master’s degree. Hurray! My sis got engaged. I moved back in with the rents. After a few months of looking, I found a job. A good one. If I had to customize a job for myself, I probably wouldn’t be able to come closer if I tried. (Besides riding afghans around all day, of course.) Wohoo! I hung up my bartending shoes and became a working girl again!

It was quite a busy first and second quarter for sure. So eventful, that I barely had time to post. Or post at all. Who am I kidding? The excitement, of course, has spilled into the summer. Between the new job, cradle robbing and apartment searching there hasn’t been a spare minute. I promise that fall will paint a very different picture.

For example I will quit smoking September 1st. Yeah, ’cause I’m still doing that.

You know what else I learned in 2010? I apparently am a welsher. See how the creamed onion debacle went down below:

I actually tried 4 more times. Couldn’t get those nasty suckers down the hatch. They are like giant explosive fish-eggs that have been sitting in dirty dish water for a days under a hot sun. (No offense, Dearest of Aunties —aka the best cook ever.)

More to come, and more frequently. I promise.

R.I.P. Classic iPod

I feel like I can finally post this, as my beloved iPod has finally been replaced. It’s so nice. I didn’t even want to take off the plastic wrapper in fear that I’d finger print it up. In addition, I finally had to move all of my music off of my computer. It was eating up over 40 GBs of my hard drive. My design software was running slow… like molasses. I’m relieved that the ol’ Mac is running smoother, but I lost all my meta-data. That’s the info that keeps it all organized: my playlists, date added info, ranking and play count info. Aaaaand with a new iPod —all that info is gone… Cest la vie… I guess I can rebuild it. At any rate here is the R.I.P Classic iPod playlist. Be warned, it’s pretty sad. It’s kinda only for people that enjoy watching and re-watching just the really sad parts of Simon Birch.

1. You Don’t Know Me, performed by Ray Charles and Diana Ross
   This is one of the most beautiful and saddest songs ever written. It’s seautiful. I am glad Diana Ross is accompanying the great Ray Charles in this version. Makes it a little less lonely. If that’s even possible.
2. Everybody Knows, by Ryan Adams
   This one adds a little bit of a twist to the broken hearts club. Not only is it apparent that you are broken hearted, but everybody knows about it. Now he’s my go-to sad guy. Definitely the singer/songwriter that you’d want to just pull the covers over your head on a fall day and try to sleep through to. Also would accept: Strawberry Wine, Come Pick Me Up, Damn Sam I Love a Woman that Rains, and oh my, Carolina Rain… talk about regret.
3. These Arms of Mine, by Otis Redding
   Can you believe this guy died in a plane crash a just week before his hit The Dock of the Bay was released? I told you this playlist was redunculously sad. Nobody should read this. Except A) This facebook friend of mine that is always posting about what a wonderful life it is (maybe she’d give it a rest for just a day) and B) those people responsible for/and cleaning up of the Gulf Coast Oil spill. While everyone in the media has moved on to Brett Farve’s texting schedule, birds and fish are still dying. Also would have accepted: Dreams to Remember.
4. For Today, Jessica Lea Mayfield
   This little lady is so amazing. When you see her in person, it’s like her voice actually has physical force. If that tightening in my throat when I cry could sing, this is exactly what it what sound like. (Cause it’s unstoppable… derr…) Seriously, if you feel like crying, pick up her album. Or see her in public. Then you can cry in public like I am no stranger to. (Seriously, some people have crazy places that they’ve done the nasty in… for me, it’s crying. [refer to earlier crying on the treadmill] post.)
5. Goodnight Elizabeth, Counting Crows
   Someone get Adam some Prozac already. I kid, I got nothin’ but love. Their whole collection is a rainy day sing along. I just love the line “We couldn’t all be cowboys, some of us are clowns…” It’s true. And to be completely honest with you, I’d rather be a clown. I hear their jokes are better, although not completely sold on the face paint…
6. Graceland, Paul Simon
   Wait, what? Yeah, that’s right. Don’t be deceived by that infectious beat. Even my little peanut, Pauly isn’t fool proof. I personally think this is the song about Carrie Fisher: “Like I never noticed the way she combed her hair before I left…” and ” Loooosiing looooove is like a window in your heart… everybody see’s you’re blown a part…” Also would have accepted Hearts and Bones: Ahh, be still my aching heart… I’ll throw it on the playlist for good measure.
7. The Diner, Ani DiFranco
   My latter day hero. Ani has gotten me through many a heartache. There are many songs that would apply: Untouchable Face, As Is and of course the angry Napoleon. She has a song that talks about seeing a former lover and she is so unsatisfied that her eyes actually Dialate. However, I chose this song for my R.I.P. iPod Classic playlist, because I couldn’t imagine anything sadder than ordering a beverage for someone that you hardly have a quarter to call for. Plus she misses him “blowing his nose”. When you love the most icky parts about someone -that’s the real stuff. Dear Ani: Thank you. Sorry about your heartbreak. Why don’t you write songs about it and then several other women across the world can ruminate in your (their) heartache? He doesn’t love you already. Get over it. As much as it’s appreciated, I’m not sure if it’s healthy. I still love ya. I’m just saying.
8. Dying Day, Brandi Charlile
   This is a newbie to me. It’s breath taking. Her voice is amazing. Plus, she’s adorable. Granted, this is actually a nice song. Granted you’d have to have some one to come home home to. It’s kinda’ like Dean Martin’s You’re Nobody Until Somebody loves You. Of course, it’s great, you know… given that you have somebody that loves you.
9. Footsteps, by Pearl Jam
   Ahh, sigh…

I’m stopping at nine. That’ll do it. I have to go. I have a post I’m working about my awesome concert weekend in Rochester. And my Cavaliers winning. Cavaliers > Celtics > Miami Heat… Just sayin’.

So completely irrelevant, but…

The other night I ended being up way too late and watched this horrible talk show that was focused on women’s poor body image. It really saddens me. First of all that there is a show on TV that is worthy of discussing body image, when there are so many serious “f’d” problems in the world, sickens me.  Man, love what the good Lord gave you already. One of my fellow bartenders at work who is skinny as a rail has the nerve to complain about being F.A.T. She’s literally microscopic. It’s one of those instances that make you feel, “Wow, if you’re fat, what am I, Jabba the Hut? I hate to say this, because it’s almost socially unacceptable to admit it, but I’m actually completely happy with my body. Granted, I could be a lot smaller in some parts of my body, have less “beauty” marks, golden skin, etc… the list could go on and on, but I digress… My point is, who you are and how you feel about yourself should depend a lot more on the life you lead.

Wait. This post started out about how I want to banish low-rise jeans. Seriously I hate them. I dunno. Since my favorite skinny-22-year-old, button-fly-high-waisted-that-hug-me-in-all-the-right-places jeans were vandalized past the point of of wearable, I have a new appreciation for high waisted jeans. Seriously, as a grown woman with a waist that starts just before my shoulders begin, I rally for the re-invention of what some may call “mom-jeans”. If I buy lowrise jeans that fit where fashion designers think my waist is, I end up looking like I have a dump in pants. Conversely, if I buy jeans that fit my behind, the low-rise jeans cut right into my my stomach. Giving me what some would affectionately call a “Muffin Top.” How many times have you been out and about and seen ladies pulling up the drawers? If these women had access to jeans that were actually held up by the small of their waist, this would be a non-issue. Anywho, I never had to pull up my 22-year-old-button-fly’s. They came up to belly button. Big deal. It’s not like I’m in the business of wearing belly shirts anyways.

I guess what I am saying is that poor body image might be a design issue. That’s all.

(P.S. They were 22-year-old jeans because I bought them when I was 22 years old. Not 8. God, I loved those jeans… they’re getting their own play-list.)

SCRATCH EVERYTHING I JUST WROTE: Check these puppies out!
Why didn’t I think of these?

Pajama Jeans

You’re welcome.

Fall of F & UN (Sounds better than Fall of D & EBUACHERY)

It’s on like Donkey Kong…

Well, not so much, but as the new season starts there’s many, many things to be excited about. For starters I have only 8 more weeks of school. Then I will be a Master of Disaster. It’s about time that I get a fancy preface other than just being a disaster. Also, the time has come for me to put my big girl britches back on. C’est la vie my sweet flip flops, tending bar and sleeping until noon… Mama’s going to be a working girl! Time to shine my heels… (Okay, so the prospect of job hunting and lavishly pursuing a company, makes my skin crawl, but I’m trying to stay positive.)

Also, while I prefer the hot summer sun, I do love me some fall activities: bonfires, Ohio State games, Halloween, Birthdays, Thanksgiving and big sweaters. (Wait. That last one isn’t really an event.) But you get the gist. It’s action packed all the way until January. In addition, my awesome cousin, Andrew, is coming to town. He’s one of those “Full-of-lifers”. (As if that’s an everyday cliche.) He has been doing some amazing work reporting for the American Birding Association on the BP oil spill. We’re mui proud and I’m pretty pumped to see him. So yeah, all signs point upward.

These are actually the things I’m trying to focus on. In reality I just got done creating a R.I.P. Classic iPod playlist that has the most depressing songs you have ever heard of. Yeah, this is the one, for people who like, really love to cry. This is the crying (okay, sobing) in the shower playlist. It’s for people that take joy in watching the movie Precious. I actually don’t want to post it in fear of what it may do to some people —or the intervention that some of my friends might attempt to schedule. So things are, (how do you say?), meh. It’s just your basic laundry list of things that suck: Financial aid continues to play a very time consuming game of cat and mouse with me while I try and sink every moment into school and tending that bar, my car needs $500 of work done, while I’m (how do you say) a little behind on the payments thereof, my DEAR SWEET iPOD is broken (God, give me the will to live!), I’m breaking out like a thirteen year old, rent is due aaaand some clown on match.com wrote me a very long “You’re stuck up” letter just because I didn’t respond to his “wink”… So I’m just saying, if you see me riding a bike with a boombox on my shoulder, please don’t judge me if I might be smoking in transport… Why was this so much easier last January?

So without further ado… The Fall of “F” & “UN” (Sounds better that Fall of ‘D’ & “EBAUCHERY’) playlist:

1. Animal, by Neon Trees
   This song is great in so many ways. For starters: It’s a pretty great work out song. I want some more… “Excuse, me waitress, I’d like my abs aaand my thighs to burn tomorrow. Can we kick it up a notch?” Plus I love the phrase “Say Goodbye to my heart tonight”. As if it comes out. “Hey guys, I’m leaving my heart at home tonight, everybody say peace out.” Any who, good jam.
2. Paris (Oh Oh la la), Grace Potter and the Nocturals
   Baller. End of story. Here’s the studio version. Impressive. It’s really hard to find a jam that says (from a lady’s perspective), “I’m gonna getcha” without a school girl pop artist. I hate those little pop music divas.
3. Come on Over (All I want is You), by Christina Aguilera
   I lied. Pop music has it’s place under the sun. I don’t care who you are. So I resorted to listening to some old CDs in lie of my broken iPod. This song is off the “My Hetero-lifemate Mix” gifted to me by my college roomate, Merideth, circa 2003. We worked at a little Mexican Restaurant at the time. At the end of the night, after all our customers left and we strapped on that massive vacuum pack to clean the place, we’d blast this song on. I think Merideth even had the Spanish version. Oh the fond memories…
4. Ready to Start, by Arcade Fire
   I have got to get my hands on this album. I love this band. (Of course I do. Yeah, I’m going to pimp out a bunch of music by bands that I hate.) While this song may not be super upbeat in content, you can’t help but move. You’re welcome.
5. Gotta Have You, by the Weepies
   Ah, the cool down. This is definitely one of those fallsy-pull-back the covers songs. Deb Talan’s voice is simply intoxicating.
6. Dylan’s Hard Rain, Ryan Bingham
   If I could drink someone’s voice I’d be toting his around in a 2 liter. It gives me goosebumps. But seriously, I’m not one for expletives in songs, but in this case it’s completely appropriate. With election time flooding every channel with vicious campaigns, I think it’s essential to have a song about problem solving. “Maybe one day our friends will be American farmers.” I’m not a pot smoker focker, but it just makes sense.
7. Maggie’s Farm, by Bob Dylan
   Speaking of… So with jobs looming, one of my favored customers told me to make a list of companies that I would kill to work for. It’s not just about seeing what’s out there, it’s about having a fulfilling career with a company you love. Of course my buddy Jimmy Fallon was at the top along with Rolling Stone’s Magazine. We’re dreaming big, right? Well, yesterday I was watching my favorite late night show, and Jimmy’s guest was Jann Wenner, the Editor of Rolling Stone Magazine and the President of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum Foundation. He was the guy that recently interviewed President Obama for the magazine. When discussing the President’s playlist he mentioned Bob Dylan. He assumed, of course, that the President’s pick was ‘The Times the are a Changing‘. I sat on my couch saying, “Don’t say my favorite Dylan song, Maggie’s Farm, which is about no-longer working for the man.” Needless to say, it was this very song that my two favorite prospective employers were raving about. So I’ll be spending the next couple of weeks trying to figure out a perfect package that will blow Mr. Wenner’s mind. The coincidences are just too eerie to not react to. What am I Chandler, of Friend’s interning with 20-somethings? We’ll see what happens…
8. Ordinary, by the Alternate Routes
   This song of course, is amazing. It’s a little opposite of the big dream of the previous song. It poses the question of whether you’d be happy with an ordinary life. It talks about the people at your funeral. It’s just so touching. Life is about the people you touched (not literally), not your FINANCIAL AID FORMS. I’m just saying. This song is about perspective. I have a feeling that if I were to trade my car and iPod for a bike and a boombox, I’d still have countless people cheering me on. This song always reminds me of my best friend’s dad. I just attended his 65th birthday party. While attended by many, it was a pretty intimate party. He’s a pretty simple guy. Growing up he had like a twelve pack of these ‘rust’ (maroon-reddish) shirts and he wore them to work every day. It was quite the running joke for us in high school, but now as adults, we marvel in the simplicity of it all. Anywho: He likes his donuts, gambling in West Virginia and most importantly, his family. I’m very lucky to be a part of it. That is what this song is about. If I could have a smidgen of that kind of value at the end of the day, I’d be a very lucky person.
9. Hotel Yorba, by the White Stripes
   Back to fun already. Isn’t that what this playlist is about anyways? Listen to this song while watching this video of Disney’s Robin Hood muted. Timeless classics, melted together. Again, you’re welcome.
10. Debra, by Beck
    This song is very near and dear to my heart, as it takes me back to simpler times and simple crushes. I want someone to step to me with a fresh pack of gum. (Nicorette gum is expensive, bitches!) 7 minutes of a Beck falsetto. Does it get any better than this?
11. Bring It on Home to Me, by Sam Cooke
    This is baby making music. That’s all I’m going to say about that.
12. Head Full of Doubt / Road Full of Promise, The Avett Brothers
    Seriously, if you don’t have this album, I have no words for you. (Marly, I’m carrying around a copy in our identical purses, just for you.) There are so many nuggets of goodness on this piece. This song is definitely about hope. I’m a little “man down” right now. I don’t know what I’m going to do with all my work if financial aid doesn’t come through (Again!), nor if I walk out my very tiny apartment to find my broken car getting seized…  However, I’ll get through this time. I have a head full of doubt, in a lot of aspects of my life, but a road full of promise. I’m like Cleveland, with all the cards down, there’s gotta be a joker soon… That is what this song is about. Sometimes that’s all you got, —a song. Even if you have to call it into a radio station and wait patiently by your boombox to record it…

Seriously, this is way better than my R.I.P. Classic iPod Playlist. One day soon I’ll unveil my “Bomb Ass Rap Mix” from my college days and we’ll all be smiling then…

The A.K. Rowdy Marathon…

So they gave me a medal. And I’ll be wearing it everywhere I go.

Yeah, I’m not going to lie. It’s pretty special. It will go real nicely next to my third place bowling trophy from fifth grade and certificate for best pronunciation in German 2 (of course that was after I lived there for six years so don’t get all excited.) I make jokes, but it was actually pretty cool being a part of it all. Apparently, it’s a pretty big deal. People travel from around the world to participate in this race. Also, I had never been in a relay before, which was cool. You feel pretty bad-ass slapping that slap-bracelet on to start your leg (even for a Sunday trotter like myself.) Also, I AM SUPER PROUD of my friend Megan who did the 5.7 mile leg of the race. She also just started running this year and I think it’s an awesome accomplishment! 5.7 miles! That’s pretty bold for a first timer…

So the important part is that I didn’t die. It was 2.8 miles, half of it up hill, after a summer of smoking like it was my job. My quitting September 1st efforts have been lack-luster. However, on Sunday, after the marathon and I wild night out for my friend Kate’s birthday, I was done. Today, I am on day two no cigarettes. Man this really sucks. I can’t believe I have to do this again.

You’d think that after going through this whole process of quitting, that it would be enough to never want to do it again… Wish me luck… again…

Next year Megan wants us to run the half marathon…