Comments (35)

By kilax, February 21, 2013 6:16 am

This Random Thoughts Thursday is more of a cheat post… it’s actually mostly in the style of “Articles I am reading this week“!

• I’m back home after five days in NYC. I always have a hard time leaving, but this time was particularly hard, and I feel pretty weepy and sad. Do you ever get that feeling when you leave a place?

My little NYC buddy

• Have you ever had plantar fasciitis? Ugh, I have a few times, and in both feet (not a once though, thankfully). I thought this article (pdf here), saying there is no consensus on what causes it, was intriguing. Previously, it was believed that plantar fasciitis was chronic inflammation of the plantar fascia. “But when scientists actually biopsied fascia tissue from people with chronic plantar fasciitis, they did not find much if any inflammation.”  So now they actually think plantar fasciitis is caused by degeneration or weakening of the tissues, which means the “itis” should be dropped from the injury name, because the “itis” suffix means inflammation!  Interesting (maybe only to me…)!
• Hee hee hee, I am not on Twitter, but I thought this article about “happiest and saddest states according to Twitter” (pdf here) was amusing. Researchers analyzed thousands of tweets based on positive and negative words to determine which states were the happiest and saddest. What cracked me up was what words were on the list as happy and sad – I kind of want to see the whole list! Some sad words are “mad, hate, no, boo, smoke and jail, as well as a colorful and thorough assortment of expletives” and some happy words are “LOL and haha, as well as good, nice, sleep and wine, and food or beach related words,” LOL, indeed. The article really focused on how states with more expletives in their tweets were “sadder.” Is your state more happy or more sad (click the link to see the graph)?
• Here’s a fun work from home idea (pdf here) – a virtual assistant! “These skilled online helpers work from home or through outsourcing firms to handle a widening range of clients’ tasks, from scheduling a doctor’s appointment, managing meetings or cleaning out an email inbox, to finding the perfect hairdresser or pair of pants.” Do you think you could use a virtual assistant?
• And now, for one more bagel picture! Ha ha ha. You guys may have guessed that I love eating all the foodz in NYC. I went a bit overboard this trip. I guess one good thing about being home is getting back to my normal eats! And not that I couldn’t eat my “normal eats” in NYC – I could! I just choose to indulge… a bit too much. Ha ha.  

Other Random Thoughts Thursday Posts: XXXII, XXXI, XXX, XXIX, XVIII, XXVII, XXVI, XXV, XXIV, XXIII, XXII, XXI, XX, XIX, XVIII, XVII, XVI, XV, XIV, XIII, XII, XI, X, IX, VIII, VII, VI, V, IV, III, II, I.

Comments (37)

By kilax, February 19, 2013 7:27 am

I love that Gina and Steve call us Aunt Kim and Uncle Steven around Luca. It makes me feel much more like a family member… or real aunt! Do your friends call you “aunt” or “uncle” around their kids, even if you aren’t really a blood relative?

Awhile ago, Gina started calling Steven Uncle “Slow Ass,”* because, well… Steven is not in any hurry. We’ll just leave that at that. Ha ha. 

So, I wanted a special name too! What did they come up with for me?! Aunt Nommy. As in, Aunt Nom Nom Nom GIVE ME ALL THE FOODZ!!!

How appropriate! I do tend to eat like a little piglet in NYC, because I LOVE the food here – and I am not much of a foodie (as in, I like to eat, but I don’t seek out special cuisine or pay much attention to food trends).

So in true Aunt Nommy fashion, here are some food porn pics from our trip this weekend! All photos were taken with Steven’s fancy schmancy camera… not my smart phone, ha ha!

BAGELZZZ

MORE CARBZZZ!!!

Food Cart!

Sweets

Don’t forget those veggies!

*Uncle Slow A, around Luca.

Comments (44)

By kilax, February 18, 2013 5:06 am

First race of the year!

The Cherry Tree 10 Miler in Prospect Park, Brooklyn, was my first race of the year last year too! Only last year, I ran the relay with Gina and her brother-in-law, Greg. Immediately when we finished the race last year, we said we should get together two teams for this year – the wives, their husbands, and their brothers. So, we had The Relayteds – Team A: Gina, her husband, Steve, and his brother, Greg, and The Relayteds – Team S: me, Steven and his brother, Andrew!

What a treat that all of us were able to run the race, and that Andrew was able to come out from Kansas City!

This was my first goal race of the year. I started speedwork in January and tried to eat a bit healthier to see what I could do at this race… as a gauge for my goal* 5K next Sunday! The course is interesting – a downhill, an uphill at mile 1.75, then a downhill finish.

So, flying, pushing, flying. Luckily, it was sunny out and there was no snow on the ground. Only 25+ mph winds! Ha ha ha!  And I only noticed them on the hill (<– of course)!

Steven ran the first leg and Andrew ran the second. Steven ended up running most of the race with Gina, and Andrew and Greg were really close too, so Steve and I took off together! Ahh! Close race!

Our team finished in 1:34:26 and the other team finished just a bit behind us! Great timing! Everyone was really pleased with their results – Steven got a great second wind (and after a week of being sick!) and Andrew’s last third of a mile was in the 8:00s!

My goal was an 8:00 average pace and I ran just a bit faster and felt great. I think I’m ready to push it at next week’s 5K!*

Have you run your first race of the year yet?

I love running in the winter and it feels a bit late to wait until February for my first race! But, the snowshoe race I wanted to run in January didn’t quite work… since there was no snow! Ha!

After the race we hit up Dun-Well Doughnuts. Sigh. Best doughnuts ever… and they’re vegan! Should I post some more food pics from NYC? I sure do have a lot! And they’re all fancy pants, since Steven’s been doing all the photo taking this trip. And how nice that is – it’s usually me taking all the shots! Who’s the photographer on your trips?

*It looks like the field will be more competitive this year so I won’t meet my 1st in AG goal. Maybe I’ll go for a course record? Not sure what my new goal should be!

Comments (33)

By kilax, February 12, 2013 4:41 am

Heh heh heh.

Yes, I own this book. 

I’ve been thinking about solo trips, especially with my upcoming trip to Salt Lake City (I did sign up for the half marathon!). Of course, my definition of a solo trip is any trip I take without Steven. But it may or may not be solo, i.e., completely by myself*! I may be going to see someone, or going somewhere with someone else… either way, I wanted to ask you about your “solo” trip taking habits!

How often do you travel solo, whether it be for business, pleasure or obligation (family, ha!**)? Do you prefer to travel with someone (whether or not it be your significant other)? Would you like to travel solo, but can’t? Do you feel guilty traveling solo (if you have a significant other)? 

I guess that is what I am getting at – I feel guilty going to far away places on my own. I’ve been to NYC a few times on my own, to see Gina and her family. Steven can’t go to Salt Lake City. I would like to do another Girls’ Trip with Erin. I feel bad leaving Steven behind! Which in and of itself sounds awful. I don’t mean it the way it sounds, but I literally am leaving him behind while I travel.  

But at the same time… I love to travel and don’t mind doing it alone, if he cannot go***. When I lived in Rome, I took a lot of trips by myself. I am good at rockin’ it solo. I like exploring areas on my own. I like being 100% in control of my itinerary. I like being in charge of my expectations only.****

And I don’t mind when Steven has to go on business trips or goes to see his family on his own. 

Sigh. I think what I really need is a good mix. And I need to plan something for just me and Steven that is not a visit to family or friend’s! Something romantic… ooo, la la. Ha ha.  I feel encouraged by Anne‘s recent honeymoon plans (!!!) and from Erin’s talk of a 10-year anniversary trip!

*So, uh, maybe I should call it something else!
**Totes joking. I love seeing my family.
***Because he is busy running a business! 
****But like planning trips for myself and others too! Geesh, I am a walking contradiction. 

Comments (31)

By kilax, December 15, 2012 6:30 pm

I really have my priorities straight when it comes to packing – presents* and running shoes.

Funny (creepy?) story about the shoes packed in the pink bag. I haven’t worn them since October when I went out in a muddy cornfield in them… when I got them to pack, there was a piece of corn stuck in the shoe tread. The corn had mold growing on it.

I know. I know. I should’ve taken a picture. Sigh. Blogger FAIL.

Where am I going?! NYC of course! To run my last race of the year with Gina, and do some shopping and cuddling.

But! First things first! It wouldn’t be December if my schedule was not crazy busy**, so this morning we had the Chicago Running Bloggers party at Erin‘s house!

We did a run in the rain***, had a huge chili bar and appetizers potluck, did a Yankee Swap and even had voting for the best “holiday-themed” dressed.

There was a HUGE turnout (20+ people), and I was excited to catch up with bloggers I already know, and meet a few I hadn’t met in person yet!

From L to R, starting in the back:
Back Row: Anne, Katie, Emily, Cary, Lauren, Maggie, Bobbi, Charlyn
Second Row: Amanda, Katie, Kelly, Amy, Marcia, me
Front Row: Riyanti, Emily, Lindsay, Sara, Erica, Erin
By herself: Kelsey
Not pictured: Christina

The Yankee Swap was fun! I am too anxious to choose a new gift to open when I play, so I usually steal one. So I stole the Philosophy Bubble Bath that Emily won. Hee hee hee.

Are you doing any gift swaps this year? Do you usually open a new gift or “steal” one in a Yankee Swap?

I had a lot of fun at the party, and am really excited that I have met such a huge amount of new (to me), local bloggers this year (and gotten closer to the ones I already knew)! It’s so much fun to have a huge network of friends all over Chicagoland. And I love that many of us share similar interests and can hang out outside of running events too! Now if only we could hang out ALL the time and silly work… and other commitments didn’t get in the way… one can dream!

*Prezzies, as I usually call them.
**Ha ha, this makes it sound like I had no control over this, when in fact, me and Maggie picked this morning for the party.
***I am on team SNOW!!!

Comments (18)

By kilax, September 25, 2012 6:35 am

Why do we visit the same cities over and over?

Is it to see family?

Yes.

To do the activities we know and love in that area?

Yes.

(okay, this should say “to eat the things we love in that area”)

Or because the area offers so much to see and do, it requires multiple trips back?

Yes, yes, yes!

New York City definitely meets those three criteria! This weekend trip was my fourth time there this year, and I wonder if I can sneak in a holiday trip to see Gina & fam and do a bit of holiday shopping…

Which cities do you visit over and over again, and why?

Comments (11)

By kilax, July 25, 2012 4:51 pm

A coworker of mine leaves next week for a two-week honeymoon in Italy. Jealous! He found out I lived in Rome for seven months in 2006 and asked if there were any places I recommended as must sees.

Don’t you love it when someone sincerely asks you specifically for a suggestion or opinion?

I sure do! Someone wants to hear what I think?! No problemo!

I rattled off a list of places to him, we discussed Italy in general, then I started working on an email with specific locations and links for each city he and his wife will be visiting. 

There was only one problem. 

Making this list required that I access my old blog archives from then. That is something I try to avoid. You’d think I would look at them from time to time to “relive the experience,” but I don’t. My blog at the time is a poor representation of studying and working abroad as a young person in their 20s, and damn, living there wasn’t quite what it could have been. 

It was amazing, yes.  It was a once in a lifetime opportunity, yes. I learned a lot about myself, yes. 

But I know it could have been more. 

I was adventurous. I did things that I look back on now and think “How was I brave/stupid enough to do that? How did I figure that out? How was I able to do and see so much?!”

But I know I could have been more adventurous. Sigh. If only I had the sense of adventure I had now. 

And I am more outgoing now too. I did not have very close friends in college. I mostly had acquaintances. I traveled with people sometimes, but no one I talk to regularly now. I’m not really re-living the experience by chatting it up with anyone in present day (especially since I was there for the last three months by myself). 

So anyway. I do not regret much in life. But I do sometimes think “I wish I could go back to living abroad and do it a bit better!” I am thankful to have had the opportunity to do it, and learn so much about myself. 

What I did right – eat gelato almost every day.

And I think it is awesome that my coworker gets to go there for the first time with his wife!

Is there anything you wish you could redo a bit better? Something that wasn’t quite what it could have been?

Comments (15)

By kilax, July 16, 2012 5:50 pm

… smile because it happened!

It was perfect timing when I saw this on Facebook on Saturday:

(It’s disupted whether or not this is from Dr. Seuss or annoymous)

I was in NYC with my friends (Gina, Steve and their son, Luca) last Friday through this morning. I always have an amazing time when I see them, then I come home all depressed. Gina and I were even talking about how looking forward to our visits can be more happy than the visits themselves because the visit feel like a sad countdown – “only one more day here,” etc.

How pathetic are we?! But it’s the truth. 

I saw this and thought “No more! I’ll be a big girl now and be grateful for the time we DO have together!” Okay, and it helped that they booked tickets while I was there to come out here in August. So this morning was “See you in three weeks!” Rather than “Sniff sniff…bawl…”

Do you tend to feel bummed out when events are over?

I remember feeling that way after my first marathon! And a few other races. And our wedding. And coming back to work after being at the river. 

And in case you are interested, here are a few pictures from my weekend in NYC! I still have a 5K recap to write too! Check out Gina’s right now!

Comments (21)

By kilax, June 18, 2012 4:16 pm

Steven and I are flying from Kansas City to Chicago today. Our plane arrived at the gate, all the peeps got off, then they announced that we have an hour and a half (so far, ha ha) delay because of high winds in Chicago. They know in advance we cannot land when we are supposed to, so they aren’t putting us on the plane. 

Fine with me. I have a lot to keep me entertained:

(one of these photos is more entertaining than the other)

Of course, some people seem to be freakin’ the eff out. Sigh. 

What is your best flight delay story?

On Steven’s birthday (December 22) in 2007, we had a flight to Kansas City to see his family for the holidays. We got to the airport early, and our flight kept getting more and more delayed (because of snow?). The airport was super crowded, and we did not want to lose our seats… but they were unfortunately next to a garbage can that was full of approximately 3782 dirty diapers. Gross. So we sat all day, for about eight hours, until the flight was finally canceled. We couldn’t get on another flight to get to Kansas City, or get a rental car, so we stayed in Chicagoland for the holidays, by ourselves. We hadn’t planned on having it be the two of us, so we had to go buy gifts to give each other the next day. Ha ha. 

That story isn’t even that bad! It was kind of a bummer we could not be with family for the holidays, but it was our first married Christmas together and we ended up enjoying it just being the two of us. 

In other news, I finally got to see my sister’s new place in Lenexa, KS this weekend! She moved there in the beginning of May for an internship. It was a lot of fun to see her place and check out the stuff around her home. I particularly enjoyed the T-Rex Cafe (store and restaurant). I found something even better than the Sipper-Saurus to bring back for my fave coworker.

I also really liked having my sister and her fiancé hang out with me and Steven’s family. It feels more acceptable to act as goofy as I would like to with my sister there acting goofy as well. Thanks, snister!

Comments (43)

By kilax, April 9, 2012 4:48 am

Yesterday I decided to depress myself by digging my shorts out of my closet and trying them on. 

They still don’t fit. 

The ones I bought, oh, three summers ago?!

You know… never worn? Are these even still in style?

I haven’t worn (non-running) shorts for a few summers. I just wear these stupid capris (photo from 7/8/11). Because they fit. But they look stupid. 

I am going to wear normal shorts this summer, dammit! But now the question is… do I try to lose 15 pounds to fit in to these (not a bad idea, I need to lose weight…) or go through the pain and suffering of shopping for shorts?

What would you do – buy new shorts or try to fit in to the ones you have? Does anyone else have a shorts dilemma?

Seriously, I need to lose weight, so this is not a bad idea for motivation. It probably won’t work as motivation, but it’s a good idea. 

Also, other things that made me feel a bit sad this weekend – old photos from college. I was trying to clear some space on my external hard drive for new photos and I deleted some photos from Europe taken by my classmates (mostly random shots I am not in). I was in a few photos, looking awkward…

That’s me all the way on the left, in Barcelona, having the time of my life. Not. Seriously, I am not anti-social or shy, but I did not really connect with anyone in college. Not in that “best girlfriend” sort of way. You can tell by how I am sitting with these people that I felt like I didn’t belong. Awkward…

This whiny posts makes me sound like I had a sad weekend. I didn’t. It was quite nice! I just wanted to share these two thoughts.