Comments (10) What’s your favorite thing to get at an ice cream stand? (it doesn’t have to be ice cream – any treat your favorite stand sells)
Slushies!
Nom nom nom. The stranger the color, the better.
It’s so hot here today, I think I am going to ask Steven to take me to our favorite place – Dairy Dream!
Other Random Thoughts Thursday Posts: XIX, XVIII, XVII, XVI, XV, XIV, XIII, XII, XI, X, IX, VIII, VII, VI, V, IV, III, II, I.
Do you ever sleep wearing earplugs (or using some other noise-cancellation device)?
You’re doing it wrong, Data.
I had to bust my earplugs out last night to try to fall asleep. Our next door neighbors had guests* and they were talking very loudly outside, near our bedroom window. I finally fell asleep but Steven said he kept waking up because they were talking on and off until 1:00 am.
Sigh.
Anyway, wearing earplugs to sleep is odd. They shut out so much noise that all I can hear is my breathing… which also keeps me awake. I wish I had noise-cancellation window shades. Or considerate neighbors.
When I grabbed my earplugs, for some reason, I started to think about the reason I bought them initially – to use on the train.
I’m not so crazy that I don’t ever want to hear people talk on the train. Just not when I am trying to sleep in the morning. Or after I’ve worked all day. Let’s just say I am thankful for the Quiet Car.
A few weeks ago, I had lunch with Amy, Erin and Molly. I had never met Molly before! She’s new to the Chicago area (as of last “winter”) and is a total sweetie (and super cutie), so check out her blog! During lunch, Molly asked me about where I live and it came out that I have a long-arse commute of an hour and 20 minutes on the train. So she asked what most people do – what do you do on the train?
It always make me laugh when people assume I do work on the train**. No. I already am at work for 9.5 hours – that is enough for me.
What do I do?! In the mornings, I sleep. On the way home, I read blogs, if my pos Verizon wireless card is working. Since it usually isn’t, I just get really irritated and get off the train with an elevated heart rate and a bad attitude. Lucky Steven.
During lunch that day, I really dorked out and told the group about what I think you need to sleep on the train. The essentials: jacket and gloves to stay warm (am only), pillow to sleep on, and a comfy seat.
The comfy seat makes or breaks the deal. In my opinion, not all Metra seats are created equally! And there are at least four different ones I have sat on – new blue, old blue, new red and old red.
Old Blue was not available for a picture.
So here’s the deal. The New Blue seats are too stiff. I am not sure what is going on with them, but you can tell by looking at the seat that it’s rigid. I think maybe the springs are not worn down enough in them? Anyway, they HURT to sit on. You have to arch your back to get comfortable, and by the end of the ride, your back hurts. I’m sad when the train pulls up in the am and the Quiet Car has these seats in it.***
Wah wah wah.
I sadly did not get a picture of the Old Blue seats, but those are all nice and worn down – the seats are actually kind of sunken in from so many people sitting in them – so they are comfortable to sit in. The Old Red ones are my favorite because they are really tall (so you can lean your head back on them) and the seats are nice and soft. The New Red ones are decent too – not too rigid.
But Old Red and Old Blue are my faves.
And now you know how dorky I really am!
If you’re a Metra rider, tell me what you think about the seats – am I totally off?****
*I really hope they were just guests
**Molly did not, I am just bringing this up, because a lot of people think this
***The type of car changes nearly every day. Not sure why.
****About the seats. Obvs, I am off my rocker.
I haven’t worn pants to work since April.
Not like that, guys!!!
Don’t worry. I’m not going in to the office pants-less. I’ve just been wearing skirts and dresses. It started out with it being a comfort (weather) thing, then turned in to, “I haven’t worn pants in a long time and I am afraid to see if they fit,” sorta thing.
Ugh! What am I going to do come winter?!
That’s right. I’ll wear tights under my skirts and dresses. Muah ha ha. I will never have to wear pants (in to the office) again!
Seriously though, I kind of feel like I have a work uniform. And that seems a bit bizarre. But it definitely makes getting dressed before 5:00 am much easier.
Do any of you tend to wear something very similar every day of the week?
Today’s skirt, courtesy of Gina:
Kind of related (to my refusal to try my pants on) – in the beginning of July Erin emailed me a link to an orange dress from The Limited that was on sale for $25 (what the eff, now it is on sale for $17!!!). Since Erin taught me how to dress myself, and the dress was not that much money and it was ORANGE(!!!) I ordered it. It came a couple of weeks later and sat in my closet, in the bag for an entire month. An entire month! I did not try it on until last Sunday!
I had read the reviews of how it fit, ordered it in my size and wasn’t sure if it would work or not. But I decided to finally try it on Sunday night, thinking I may wear it to a wedding this Saturday.
Apologies for the crappy photo!
So it fits. And I feel like an idiot for having it sit in my closet for so long. I don’t wait that long to try on workout clothes when they come in the mail. I practically rip them out of their packaging, strip down and try them on in the kitchen.
What is the point of me posting this? I guess I am wondering – is anyone else afraid to try on their clothes?
Since I did my long run yesterday, I decided to do a 24 mile “recovery” bike ride today.
My goodness. I have never seen so many runners on this trail. Every time I passed one I wanted to get off my bike and run. I wanted to shout “I’m a runner too! I am only riding my bike because I ran 26 miles yesterday! I will probably run tomorrow! Be my friend!”
I really love riding my bike. But I think I love running even more.
What’s your sport of choice? To do, or to watch?
Since I have been biking a bit more, I’ve thought of some running versus riding preferences. Tell me yours!
Surface
Run – unpaved trail
Ride – paved trail/road
Terrain
Run – flat/uphill
Ride – flat/downhill
Temperature
Run – 30°-50°
Ride – 70°-90°
Season
Run – winter
Ride – summer
Fuel
Run – GUs/Vegan Fig Newtons
Ride – GUs/real food except fries
Hydration
Run – hydration vest or handheld, water
Ride – handheld, water (yet to try vest)
Outfit
Run – compression shorts, tank
Ride – compression shorts, jersey
Companionship
Run – preferred
Ride – not preferred (too hard to hear)
Tunes
Run – headphones
Ride – speakers through the bra (party, y’all!)
Chafing
Run – have to lube up
Ride – lube free!!!
Yesterday was partially rainy and partially cool (low 70s). It was enough to make me feel a little bit chilly when I got home from my rainy run. And it was enough to make me want to wrap up in a blanket on the couch. And drink something warm.
I am so ready for fall.
It’s funny. Last August, I was saying I was sad summer was ending. Not this year. It was in the 90s on Saturday. We were outside for four hours at a farm sanctuary. I felt hot and uncomfortable. I got a sunburn. On the way home from our day of driving all over northern Illinois, I shared a cold weather fantasy with Steven* that included hot drinks, wearing socks, and taking hot baths (all at once or individually).
I am so ready for fall.
Okay. “Fall” weather.**
I convinced Steven that we should make chili for dinner last night, even though it’s not that cold out (and will be in the high 80s today).
That is another thing I am looking forward to about fall/winter – hearty dishes like chili!
Are you anxiously awaiting fall/fall weather? Or do you like the heat?
*I think my love for cold weather worries Steven.
**Let’s hope we get some this year.
Highlight of the Week: Ugh, just surviving. Ha ha. This week was not set up for success, schedule-wise. I am very happy to get in what I did! Especially my longest run before the 50K with awesome friends, and a spur of the moment bike ride on Friday that was really enjoyable.
Monday | August 20, 2012: rest
Tuesday | August 21, 2012: 6 m run
Loc: Neighborhood, Temp: 74°/70°, Time: 56:41, Pace: 9:27 avg, Difficulty: medium, Felt: thirsty/snotty
Wednesday | August 22, 2012: strength class
Strength: circuit and kettlebells, Difficulty: hard, Felt: sore in my back
Thursday | August 23, 2012: rest
Friday | August 24, 2012: 8 m run (w/GRCer Terry) + 20 m ride
Loc: Rollins Savanna, Temp: 66°/67°, Time: 1:15:54, Pace: 9:29, Difficulty: medium/hard, Felt: like I was working hard
Loc: Around Round Lake, Temp: 91/80°, Time: 1:48:05, Pace: 11.1 mph, Difficulty: easy, Felt: happy
Saturday | August 25, 2012: rest
Sunday | August 26, 2012: 26 m run (w/Kelly, Bobbi, Sara + Matt)
Loc: Des Plaines River Trail, Temp: 68°/77°, Time: 4:43:40, Pace: 10:55 avg, Difficulty: medium, Felt: sluggish for the last 3
Lessons learned:
Reminders for next week:
Do you think the top bed sheet is necessary or unnecessary? (not the fitted sheet, but the one on top of that – the loose one)
This photo is totally posed. I mean, besides the fact that it was after I got back from a run and had taken a shower (I told Steven to hurry up and take the photo, because I felt so nice and comfy that I may fall asleep for real) – I don’t use the top sheet. I sleep on top of it. Or, with it bunched up between me and Steven. I just use a fleece blanket and the fitted sheet below.
I don’t get rid of my top sheets though! That is what prompted me to ask this question. I was talking to my mom and Erin about people we know that do not use top sheets, and my mom said that she knows someone who sold all of theirs at a garage sale because they had no use for them!
Thank you to everyone who entered the SockGuy Giveaway!!! The winner was #24 – Molly, who chose the Channel Air Pink Lime socks. Molly, please send me your mailing address (kilax@ilaxstudio.com) and I will order the socks for you!
Other Random Thoughts Thursday Posts: XVIII, XVII, XVI, XV, XIV, XIII, XII, XI, X, IX, VIII, VII, VI, V, IV, III, II, I.
Oh yes –
it’s true.
Also true.
(No photo proving so)
Funny story (maybe?) – I was looking for fun athletic socks on Amazon. I found the SockGuy beano ones but could not read what the bottom said. I thought I knew what is said, but I emailed SockGuys to confirm. Here is their response:
Thank you for contacting us. The bottom of the beano sock says, “Fueled by burritos.”I hope you appreciate the comedy.Thank you for you business.
Ha! Yes. I very much appreciate the comedy.
Anyway. I love fun socks. Especially fun socks that can be used for exercise! So I’m sponsoring a giveaway of SockGuy socks!
SockGuy Giveaway Rules
Also, check out this schweet giveaway on the ZOOMA page for a ZOOMA hat! I love mine!
Don’t forget, you can register for the 10/20 race by using code GLAMB8 for $10 off the half marathon and $5 off the 5K.
Hi! I'm Kim, a 34-year-old living in Chicagoland with my husband, Steven, and our cats, Khali, Apollo, and Starbuck. I work in the design industry (architecture), follow a vegan lifestyle, am addicted to running, and am an ACE certified personal trainer (working at Essential Fitness, LLC ("Efit"))! I write about a variety of topics, and consider this a "life" blog - a place I can share anything that's on my mind. Please visit the "About" page to get a better idea of who I am! :-)
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