Reading, Peeing, Grading, Reading, Eating, Grading, Reading, Grading, Running, Grading, Reading.....

Well, you get the picture. Finals are in full swing around my neck of the woods. My progress is coming along quite nicely. Although, all the caffeine, holiday cookies & candies available around school has aided in my work progression. Well, back to another stack of composition.

What is everyone else up to these hours?

Oh yeah, and GO VIKES!!!!!

"Jackson's Half-Court Shot Sends Vikings Past No. 11 Syracuse, 72-69"

An Angel in the Snow

Sometimes you encounter that perfect amount of snow. You know, the quantity that is larger than a dusting, yet not overwhelmingly annoying. About 2 weeks ago we had that type of optimal snow in Parma. To celebrate the event, I made a snow angel outside my office. Sure it only lasted a few hours (till the snow bombarded us later that evening) but it was a nice sight to see while it lasted...

Pictures From The Michigan/Northwestern Game

Here are some pictures from the Mich/N.W. game two weeks ago. My brother was a good sport for the game. He did manage to wear the scarlet and gray under his coat and signal the "O" (see pict below) but he also managed to put up with my goofy windshield wiper & my frequent running into gift shops.

Happy Tuesday

It has been over a month since I last updated my blog. Time sure does fly when you are having fun! You would think that after this much time, I would have something quite witty to say. Sorry, nothing really new to report. Enjoying my day of laundry, grading and cleaning on this chilly Tuesday afternoon. I had my morning class at B & S but my afternoon and evening classes are cancelled due to Veterans' Day. I feel like a big olde cheat since I am enjoying my day of leisure while others sacrificed both their time and bodies to truly deserve this day. Thanks veterans!

Another Thing That Scares The Poo Out Of Me Besides Halloween During This Month Of October...

Sit Back & Just Enjoy The Melody On This Sunday...

Da 1/2

So I learned from my brief journey to Erie, Pa that I am not so handy with the roads of my neighboring state. However, neither were the folks at the hotel who gave us wrong, half ass directions to the course. Nothing like slowly (and the speedily) driving through the streets of Erie while occasionally stopping at local establishments to get some help with my bearings at 5:30 in the a.m.

All I have to say is that thank goodness Brian has a lot of patience and was able to guide me to the start of the race with the help of a borrowed map at McDonalds. Running a marathon is tough enough but throw in having waste precious time to calm down my spazish self and you have one antsy situation. I have no idea where he gets his calmness from or directional skills, but I need some of those traits!

When we all finally made it to the course, with just moments to spare, I soon found out at around mile 3 that this was going to be a hot one. My sweat band had already reached its capacity. Figuring a 1/2 PR like I had hoped was not in the cards, I proceeded to chat with runners around me and yell "Go Browns" to every a-hole sporting Stealers (not a typo, I call them that because they always steal Cleveland's hopes) garb. My actions did not make the heat situation any better but it did pass the time in a mildly entertaining way.

I finished in 1.49.01/ 8.19 per mile pace. When I think that in 2005 I ran a 3:36:56 it makes me more than a little sad but after considering the heat and my under prep work I am content. I think it would be a great flat and fast course if the weather was... Per say.... 40 degrees cooler. Oh well, to wish and to hope! I have no idea how Brian and the rest of the marathoners got it done that day. Just thinking about doubling the distance inspires me to perspire even more.

The Full That Would Become a Half

Looking back, this subject line resembles a bad divorce topic line. However, the gist of this post is to discuss the Erie Half Marathon. Sorry it has been a while since my last post. The new gig and moving has kept me quite busy. However, all good things so I got no complaints.

I had all the intentions of running the full marathon but I decided at the expo (if you can call it that - a pavilion in a state park with two small half tented vending areas pimpin shirts and gels) to back off and do the half. My first concern was the weather. It poured kittens and puppies on the way down making driving a bear (like all the animal references in one sentence?) Plus, the weather was warm and humid. In addition, I really cannot deny that I had been pretty lazy with the training. Yes, the fall on my knee set me back a little, but before and after the injury I still could have put in more speed and distance. Well, got to jet to class. More to come where I discuss the casino stealing my dough, yelling at Steelers fans and Brian saving my ass with stellar directions.

3 Reasons to Cheer This Week....

~ New job

~ Closed on my condo

~ My b-day

Cute Puppy On The Prowl

Alicia and John recently adopted a lab pup named Dorsey. She is little cutie pie. Here are some picts.

Guess Who Is Excited to See The Great Neil In Concert On Sunday??

I AM! I AM!!!!

Because It's All Fun & Games...

Until your girl gets the boot on Shear Genius
It was a good run Gail! Now who am I going to be pulling for?
Perhaps some day I will make the trek out to Columbus and shell out the big bucks for a cut and style at your skillful hands.

Dem A Classy Bunch Of Stick Ball Players In Wisconsin...

Something tells me that very apologetic letter from the teammates was handed to the wife and/or baby mama a few days after....

A Picture is Worth A Thousand Words...

Really I can only think of 3:
Dominate Athletic Prowess

Backyard BBQ Run Down List:

THINGS TO DO TONIGHT


~ Get hammered

~ Have fun

~ Attempt to drunkenly jam my guitar

~ Text message Steve that I am drunk at backyard bbq.

~ Smile lots

~ Eat yummy food delights

~ Listen to my mom yell at us to use the sparklers that she, for some reason, insists on purchasing every year for our 5 year old mentality delights.

~ Pass out, while still smiling. : )

HAVE A GOOD ONE!! BE SAFE!!

The Favorite Place That I WANT To Be This Week - Track Town USA

Because I want to be in Eugene, OR this week watching the best of the best so their thang....
Because watching some of the close events makes me smile, yell and even turn on the water works a little. Because even though I was pullin for the local gal and Michigan grad Katie McGregor to get her ticket to Bejing (4th place twice = hard to swallow squared) I still had to give credit where credit is due... Hell of a race Amy Begley...

Favorite Television Drama. "Every Day Above Ground Is A Good One."

Jen recently started indulging in season one and hearing about her love at first view made me reminiscent of a show that I hold so dear. So lovingly,in fact, that I made the theme song my ring tone. Well, that is until I tore my phone in half and have been trying, without much luck, to get it downloaded once again on to my new phone. Oh well.... I still got nothing but heart for "Six Feet Under"& here are just a few snack pack reasons why...




Eliminating The Notion That A TV Drama Has To Have One or Two Truly Unique Characters While The Rest Of The Cast Is A Mix Matched Assembly Of Poorly Construed Archetypes: For its 5 year run, the show always had between 10-12 characters that were strongly developed. Yes, having Alan Ball (American Beauty) call the shots was the glue for the show, but the slue of talented writers and actors helped to create, and even more amazingly, keep the stamina up for as long as they did.

Facing The Taboo Head On: As everyone can guess from the title and even just knowing a bit about the show, it dealt with death. The only thing besides, well, you know, taxes, that you can't hide from. Some times the expiration's were natural and clean but most times they were heart wrenching and just over the line bizzaro. As much as you "eeeked" to view it, you just kept coming back.

The Best Series Finale Ever: The way that show ended was a masterpiece. I can count on both hands how unfulfilled I have been with many of the series finales of my likable shows and that scared me going into the "Six Feet Under" last call. From plot, symbolism, point of view, characters, music to irony, the show delivered without disappointment. I have seen the final episode probably 4 times and during and after every time, I cry. Yes, cries of sadness for it ending but most of all I am quietly sobbing because I pretty much have come to terms with the notion that no other show is going to come close to this one. And you know what, that is a-okay.

"These Are A Few Of My Favorite Things..."

I am rounding third and headed for home with My Life On The Run. Which, by the way, is a terrific read. Even if you are not a running enthusiast, I still think you would dig it. Anyway, the last chapters deal with Bart's (you know, since I got the chance to briefly shoot the shit with him I feel like we are best buds. In reality, I bet I faded quickly in his mind with all of the other crazy question asking fans)favorite runs. I decided to focus on some of my favorites. Well, since it is summer, I thought that favorite ice cream flavor would be a great starting point.

So, here is it.... Superman. So many flavors, so much goodness.... Yum, go get ya some!

HAPPY B-DAY ALICIA!!!!!

This a picture of Alicia & some nerdy girl last year on her b-day. We went skating. Alicia digs the skating and she is very stellar at it. In fact, a little girl was quite infatuated with her and was making autograph requests. On the other side of the rink, I was trying very hard for my bum not to hit the ice.
Today Alicia is 29. Hooray for the birthday girl! I hope you have a great day! If you see Alicia today, give her a b-day high five.

Fun With Hats at Katie B's Bachelorette Party!

Get Off Your Duff & Turn On Your Tele to....

"Swingtown" - CBS (yes, they now do have another show worthy of watching besides "How I Met Your Mother")
Thursday, 10:00 pm - Come on, Friday is the next damn day so don't pull that "I get up early to make a living" crap with me. DVR or old school VHS this bad boy if you just can't keep your eyes open or if your at the bar.

Hot cast, good story line, and the threat that basic cable is going to drop it in about 2 weeks because of the whole "too controversial" jazz. Better watch it before it defunks in a few months to premium!

A Fun Kind of Crazy

This weekend was a whirlwind of corn roasting at the rib burn off, a wedding, running, grading essays, more corn and more corn. It was a fun and exhausting weekend. More on that later. Got class stuff to prepare. I hope you are all beating the heat!

Some Sweaty Dudes and Dudettes

Here are some picts from the race this weekend. It was a steamy one, but the race went better than I hoped. The added bonus was that no one got submerged in the river during the canoe portion. 25th out of 76 ain't too bad for these ladies!
The following picts are of Jo, Jen and me before and after the race. The two boys are Mark and Matt, Jo's friends from work with were a blast to hang with over the weekend.

What's Brewing?

Heading down to the southern region of Ohio this weekend to participate in Little Miami with Joanne, Jen and Jen's aunt. Should be a heap load of fun with some canoe action of 6 miles, joggin of 5.5 miles & bicycle pumpin of 18 miles. If anything, it will be interesting and a whole lot of fun. When the 3 of us get together there is always a heap load of tom foolery going on....

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

Yesterday was Senor Puffy Tail's (AKA Stewie's) b-day!
The big 1
What did you get him?
He likes things that are fuzzy or make cool noises.

An Excellent Use For Those Ye Old Bridesmaid Dresses...

This is what happens when Athena & her friends get together for a holiday white elephant party (AKA tacky gift exchange) while sporting former bridesmaid dresses with consuming lots of alcohol. Oh, and throw in a creepy doll for good measure...



















Thanks Jen, for sending the picts...

Fun Times in Countryville

This weekend was a blast. I honestly could not have had a better time. Actually, I wish I had more time to visit Nashville, TN. I was happy I did the 1/2 instead of the full because it was quite hilly. However, I did enjoy the music along the way.

When Lisa moved back to Tennessee I was bumming and struggled to imagine why. I am true to my city of Cleveland but now I can see her draw to Nashville. But I guess when the push comes to the shove, which, lets be honest, most times it does, I just like to have my friends close by - especially the ones that are just genuine in every essence of the word.

Already thinking about going down again in the summer if she can put up with me for another weekend.

I guess the moral of this adventure is that if you keep an open mind, you never know what you might end up enjoying.

Yeeeee With A Little Bit-O- Haaaaw Action

Heading of to Tennessee this weekend to shuffle on through the Country Music Half Marathon. I know, I know, 13.1 miles of country music. This yankee does not know what she is getting herself into. Well, better a half than a whole. The bonus will be my home girl Lisa showing me the finer parts of the south with all its hospitality and such....


And no Alicia, I will not be kidnapping Tim McGraw for you....

I know sooner or later, hopefully more towards the second, my memory will fade. Events that I once held onto with crystal clear clarity will become mucky in my mind. However, I hope that when that day does come that the memories I am able to hold onto are the fun little ones. Those spontaneous moments in life that make you lean your head back and let out a great belly laugh. Since e. e. cummings laid it out Since Feeling is First, I hope my mind is etched with miscellaneous moments.... Such as friends singing impromptu karaoke at local dive bars....

Wow, it looks like it has been over a month since I last updated this thing. Guess time flies when you are having fun. I can't really think of anything entertaining to post at the this moment. I will give it some thought. As for now, good luck to all my peeps that are running Boston! Kick some butt and I will be hoping that the weather does not include any massive amounts of heat, cold or rain!

When The Weird Gets Weirder

So yesterday I decided to make a brief pit stop in the discount store next to the Chinese restaurant. I had about ten minutes to kill before my pick up order was going to be ready so I thought why not amuse myself with browsing through trinkets instead of paging through stained, bent paged copies of People from 1998.

This choice soon proved to be an excellent one. I spied it on the top shelf down the floor zone graced with phone cards and first model cd players that most likely skip all around town at the thought of it's consumer moving while enjoying tunes.

This gadget appears to be a lady, with a swan. There is also the added bonus of a phone and lamp attached. I have no idea who made this, how much it costs (I looked, there was no price tag)or who the target audience is for this item of splendor. All I know is that I must have it!

Good Luck Tonight Mr. Anderson!!!

To the guy that made screwing in rollerskates in front of Burt Reynolds surprisingly poetic instead of down right creepy, I wish you and your little ditty about "An Oil Man" the best of luck.
I am willing to bet my kitten that D.D. Lewis already has a clinch on the Best Actor but here's to hoping that you will grace the stage (they better not do that half ass interviewed in the chairs for the lesser known awards that they did last year. What a mother fuckin slap in the face!) for acceptance of the writing, director and best pict. I will have my fingers crossed and my milkshake cold for you. : )

When I think of how talented this couple's daughter is going to be it makes me cry tears of joy.....







When I think of how horrible of an actress this couple's daughter has the potential to be it makes me cry tears of pain...

Cute Twinfant Alert!!!

What is better than one cute baby? Try two! This weekend I was lucky enough to hang out with Brian and Teresa's little bundles of joy. I also love how they call Caden & Cole the "twinfants".

301, Who Said It Could Not Be Done?

Yeah, my 301st post. Honestly, it does not look one over 250, if I do say so myself.

I know, I have been a little absentee balloted recently, and really I have no excuse. I do still care and love you all that check in. Oh, and that is a handsome shirt/pretty blouse that you are sporting today.

As for me, just chugging along. Nothing too high or low to report. I have to admit that I like it that way. "A steady as she goes..."

Here are some random updates in no order of significance:

~ Work is going well. I have my 6 classes and the routines have seemed to kick in with students as we enter Feb. I have 3 speech classes this semester (the class I heart the most) so that has been a nice incentive during these brisk winter days. The schedule is a little wacky with 8:25 am classes, afternoon and classes till 9:50 pm but I do like variety and I guess I am still young and bold enough to pull it off without a hickup. Dan has been showing me the ropes of the program director position as he hints more and more about switching spots and going back into teaching as opposed to administration. I have been involved with some meetings and such this week.

~ I am teaching Eng 1020 this semester at the community college. It is an 8 week class that fires up in March. I am so psyched! Still debating on which to start first with: the poetry, the drama or the research? Any suggestions? Yeah! Getting to put one of my minor degrees into practice!

~ Running has been consistent. As of this very minute, I am banking on doing a 1/2 in the spring with a possible full. However, just training for a quailty 1/2 and leaving the full for the fall does seem like a tempting plan as well. Still flip flopping on this one.

~ House/condo hunting has resumed. Well, at least to the extent of me scoping out places via internet or drive bys (not the shoot em up kind) again. Even if my ambitions of physically exploring places have not been so phenominal at least I do have a better idea of the sorts of things I would want in my furtue home.

~ I gave up the ranch dressing for Lent again this year. I know, it may sound trivial for most but for me, it is a tough sacrifice. I would put it on oatmeal if I would not get weird looks. However, my dad gave up soda and he is a SODA ADDICT. I take some comfort in knowing that he is going through more craving hell than I will be these next 30ish or so days.

Well, that is all I got. Catch ya on the flip side.

The Jewish Version of My Mom

My home girl Stephanie in the library at school let me borrow volumes 1 & 2 of Amy's Answering Machine Messages. The hysterical answering machine messages from Amy's overly cautious, borderline schizo mom. The first disk had me laughing so hard yesterday in my car that I was literally in tears. No topic is too taboo for this wonder mom: the weather, common colds, sheep skin condoms, quality Jewish rye bread. For a hearty laugh, you at best be checking it out!

For a sample of some of the goods, check out the site: http://www.sendamy.com/

Because I Heart (Parentheses) As Much As The Next Sap On The Street

Hi Gang (or at least the 3.4 people that read this on occasion):

I hope you have all been well. I know, there has been a drought concerning the recent posts on this blog. I apologize for that (but really, who should I be apologizing to?). Anyway, I don't have a good valid excuse for my absentee nature. I had a nice fat holiday break from teaching (you know
the one that I used to get freak nasty pissy about when my teacher friends were maxin & relaxin and I was working the grind at the good old investment company). I hope that santa was kind to you. I got no complaints for the bearded dude this year.
For all of those that are curious about what I was up to, here is a list of some events I am pretty sure many of you cannot lay claim to having partaken in (listed in no particular order of importance):


~ Watched half of season 1 of Dawson's Creek

~ Had horrid food poisoning or stomach flu (still up for debate) that had me laying in the fetal position in my bathroom floor

~ Saw a drag king show

~ Almost adopted a one eyed kitten at the pet store

~ Half ass cleaned my place

I am sure there are more boring details, but nothing is coming to mind at this time...