Current obsession: people who run

I have long harbored fantasies of being a runner. I know I've posted about it a couple of times, last August and last November--it's a real calorie burner and it's a really cheap and convenient way to keep in shape. Unfortunately with my short, thick legs, loose rack, and currently, some extra flab that feels like I have a couple of purses slapping my backside, I'm not a natural fit for running. But I still dream. And live vicariously through other people.

Currently I know two people at work preparing for a marathon in the fall. What I am fascinated by is that one of them is like me--never ran more a couple of miles at a time, though he definitely has better lean line for running. They're following a specific training program with scheduled runs building up more miles each week. I'm constantly asking how their training is going and how many miles they've run that week.

Some other folks in the office are more casual runners, one says it's not worth his time unless he runs for like, an hour. An hour!!! I don't think I could drive for an hour without fatiguing. Another one (who has run marathons) runs with her husband and they just go on some trail in the evening and "just go". I'm pretty sure I'd psych myself out attempting an open-ended jog like that.

Even though my weight has caused me to struggle to even run a mile, I wonder if I could ever run something like, 5 miles without stopping? How long would that take--a couple hours?

Maybe I could eventually build up to it...

Pix from an awesome weekend

My weekend kicked off with lunch with Linda, who totally surprised me with a gift of a Kindle!

I LOVE it. Of course, I open it and start to pull out the "Getting Started" guide. Linda sighs and starts plugging it in and before I know it I'm registered and cruising books on the internet. I've actually explored the non-book aspects of it (mp3 player, web browser) and am totally a new disciple in the Kindle clan.

Our cute kids had fun with their own technology, DSLites.

A great day was topped with a great night with an awesome birthday party for my friend Karen (in the center), which took place at Maureen's (on the right) house:


Maureen's girl and mine enjoyed the birthday cake:


The next day we spent with Nana and celebrated post-Mother's Day:

With a Princess cake:

Light cake, raspberry filling and marzipan coating--delicious.

Sweet ending to a sweet weekend.

No angry eyes for her

While we were driving, the girl grabbed a pair of sunglasses off the dash and put them on. I always keep a couple of pairs there and I asked why all of a sudden she was wearing sunglasses. She said she realized that when it's bright she tends to squint and furrow her brows. And she didn't want a permanent furrow like I have--she didn't want to have "angry eyes" all the time.

Hmmph. Smart girl.

The Weekend

I had an early start on the weekend, as I took Friday off. I treated the girl and myself to breakfast at the IHOP before school and bonus--a lady at the table next to us gave me an extra BOGO coupon. Sweet way to start the weekend, right?

Then it was off to Vegas with some friends. Yes, that's right, Vegas. A little pre-Mother's Day getaway with the ladies. Lady Luck was definitely with my friends that Friday night as they came out ahead a couple of hundred dollars ahead, whereas after feeding $80 to the slots, I had this to show for it:

The next night, I burned another $100 learning to play 3 Card Poker. I swung by the restroom and when I came out I pulled out that last money I had: a $5 voucher and the 25 cent voucher I "won" the night before. I put them in a slot machine that was on the end. At the $2 mark, Lady Luck graced me with her presence:

I pocketed $200 of it to cover what I brought--so worst case scenario, I would break even from this weekend in Vegas. I took the other $100 and went back to the 3 card poker table where my friends were. Bottom line, I burned that $100 but, honestly, I got a few hours of fun losing that money. It was a good and fun group of people and we were cheering each other on, hugging when someone won or just for luck. I definitely got the rush of winning big and also the disappointment of watching the pile dwindle back down again, only to win another hand to go another round.

Interestingly enough, it was enough time to generate some superstitions as I played--I felt I had to take a swig of my rum & diet coke before I would touch my cards (yes, I went through a few of those free drinks. And by few, I mean over half a dozen.) Sometimes I felt I had to literally ask the dealer to please give me a straight flush--it started as a joke and then I got a straight and I felt I had to continue that joke in an effort to repeat another good hand. I also came to believe it was bad luck when the dealer revealed my cards one at a time, instead of all at once.

Overall--a really good time. I won't bog this post down with details with all the stuff in between, but briefly, some NKOTB sightings, as well as one of Frank Trigg with his family, some dancing, some pool time, and of course, buffet time. I highly recommend the Bellagio buffet--get there early! I also left with a little more experience and confidence to play a table game again if I go to a casino. Maybe BlackJack?

Thanks to these ladies for such a great time:

You ladies are dynamite!

Last note for Teacher Appreciation week

For the last gift for Teacher Appreciation week, the kids were asked to bring in a piece of fruit. I let the girl pick the fruit when we were at the store last night. She wanted to give a small watermelon.

I guess I was trying to talk her into a smaller fruit by indicating it was so big (the girl sighed, she can share with her husband), how she was going to take it to school (I'll carry it), and how it may not fit in a fruit bowl (so?). At that point, I didn't see a reason not to let her bring it in. A plus was that it gave her space to write another note:

Hope her teacher likes watermelon!

Wish Granted

My sweet cousin Clara super surprised me with an Amazon package that came to work at such the right time. It was from my wish list, stuff from a late-night-wishing session and kind of forgotten about. There was a sweeeeeet Instax mini camera:

(and film!) but it was amazing she had chosen this book:

The girl and I had just seen "Exit Through the Gift Shop" last Saturday. It's a documentary about a fan (and amateur filmmaker) of graffiti artists who ends up a graffiti artist himself. It was made by Banksy and it was a funny and intriguing film, but to be honest, I wish it was more about Banksy himself and his work. I love his work--it's very clever, well executed, and often has a sense of humor to it. I remember while I was watching the movie that I wished I had this book.

Wish granted--amazing. Thanks Clara!

For her teacher

It's Teacher Appreciation Week and each day the kids are bringing in a token of appreciation. Monday was a personal note, yesterday was a flower from the garden, tomorrow is a piece of fruit, and today is chocolate or coffee. The girl asked me to pick up one of her own favorite bars for her great teacher:

And then we dressed it up:

Happy Teacher Appreciation Week!