A whine and a tune

I actually got up this morning after just two snooze hits and was out running by 6:30am. As if that weren't a feat enough in itself, I also managed to run 12 miles and tackle some hills*. That said, now for my whine: wahwahwahwahwah my knees. Okay thanks. I mean they are fine just mad at me for torturing them without their consent. I try to make it up to my lil knobbies by wrapping them in these. Buying wrap-around ice pack things was a great investment. Using bags of ice that melt and won't stay put is a real hassle and therefore I ended up never icing my knees, which I think is a bad move.

Today I heard this dance jam in the car on WXYC Chapel Hill. I really liked it and called to ask about it so now I am sharing it with you guys. It's a French gal called Yelle. I guess some of her tunes are pretty famous or she is getting famous since one song had like 10 million views and she apparently remixed a Katy Perry song as per her request. The song I am posting didn't seem to get as much love and there isn't even a real video. I am putting a snippet of the tail end which is probably the best part. Hit the link for the full track beneath the vid.



YELLE - Tristesse/Joie**

*It has come to my attention that the marathon I am running is very hill-y.
**I did not put this track on the internet, it was already there. It's just a link, take it or leave it.

It's gonna be a scorcher!

So the next few days are supposed to be really hot around here. I gotta get a loooooooooong run in early tomorrow morning before it heats up. Since it was a pretty mild day today it should be fine. Monday, however, is going to be brutal as I have a bunch of mid-day walks and it's predicted to reach the high 90s. A suggested method of staying cool:

Slurpies!

Otherwise, you might end up like this:

Dazed and confused.

*That fine lady loungin' in the pool is Nona, le pooch de DJ Don Knotts!!!

run. rain. DANCE!!!

Last night I did a ten mile run in the rain. As soon as I got out of the shower and dressed I skipped over to see my grrrl Alex aka DJ Don Knotts spin some tunes. It was a Lady DJ night and I had my besties, Tricia and Katie, there with me to back it up, or whatnot. At one point in the evening I started dancing in circles around Tricia and Oliver not realizing I was doing a weird run dance. Always training!

I am posting what is like my favoritestestest jam right now. No one played it last night that I know of, but it's always in my head and guess what????? HERE IT IS BABY!!! LOOKOUT!!!!!!!!!!



xoxoxoxxxxx

Summer eats

I just took my "lunch break" and made a delicious salad. It was so colorful and fun I thought I would share a picture with you all!

Ingredients:
Spinach
Red cabbage, thinly sliced
Peach (my current obsession)
Lighted toasted almonds
A few plump golden raisins
Fresh mozzarella
Salt and pepper, to taste

I topped it with some shredded soy chicken that isn't as photogenic but so so so tasty and a bit of my favorite dressing, papaya-poppy seed.

The Climb

Hey dudes, uh yeah, so long time no typey. I got nothin'. I just didn't. Sorry. But, NOW I AM BACK. I went to the beach last week for a few days which is part of the reason I haven't been around. I was in vacation mode. Though tso much that I didn't do any running. I would have slacked off more had my dad not been asking me regularly if I had done it. Rascal. I had a bad run the first morning there. I felt a little sick when I woke up and foolishly thought "Hey, I will just run this off." Ehhh, wrong. I definitely had to side step and do a little yacking into a bush next to a hotel. Classy as Carolina Beach. I skipped running the next day in favor of lying in the sun and splashing in the waves. Picked up on Friday with an 8-miler.

Now, back in the Triangle, I am dog- and kitten-sitting in Carrboro having a swell time. It's nice to be in a new location to change up my running routes and this lil town is very pedestrian friendly with lots of sidewalks and bike lanes. Tonight I am going on a group run around the area and afterwards we get free house-made chips at Tyler's. I guess I will have to buy a beer. Shucks.

Finally, I bet you guys thought the title referenced that awesome Mylie Cyrus jam, and guess what? It does, but I am going to blow your mind and post a different jam that fits the bill too and it gets me to the other side.

First World Problems

What's better than dog poop in your yard? Oh, I don't know, maybe a wooden cut out of a pup in the midst of doing the deed permanently installed for everyone to see. Seems like an odd way to say you don't want people to let their dogs relieve themselves on your lawn.


I always think the anti-excrement signs are a little unfair because you can't really predict when the dog will want to go and then it feels really messed up to pull him/her away just so some one's stupid grass can remain untainted. Outty.

Update Gun

All right, I know. I have become one of those people that blogs all the time at the beginning and then starts slowing down and then it seems like I will never come back. Well boys and girls, this will not happen. Today I offer you some BULLETS (get it? get it? the title? oh me, so clever).

• Been runnin'. Doing a 9/10-mile long run now. That puts me a bit behind my goal of being up to a half marathon at this point in my training, but I am keeping my head up. Except when I am keeled over trying to catch my breath. Just kidding. Sort of.
• Been walkin'. Still hanging with dogs on the regular. Must love pups.
• Been eatin'. Hooked on eggs over easy like an addict. I will put one on top of anything. Name it. Don't bother actually, I've already done it. Also got some amazing produce from my Grandpa's garden - cucumbers, tomatoes, corn, beans, greens and blackberries. He is 90 years old and works a garden that takes up most of his backyard! Incredible. The figs are coming in and I am so so so ready to grill those lil suckers.
• Been readin'. My girl Amy got me into Lorrie Moore. I am reading her short stories now and wondering why the Durham Public Library doesn't carry Anagrams. I also picked up Reading Lolita in Terhan but I stopped a couple chapters in because I decided it was time I actually read all of Lolita.
• Been watchin'. Finally saw Milk. It was good, but I definitely agree with people that said Paranoid Park was the far superior GVS movie to come out in 2008. Watching Freaks and Geeks with some first timers. What a thrill! That show is so darn good. I also caught the new Woody flick. This was the best line: You should never go in a tomb! It's hard to see Larry David in something other than Curb, but Patricia Clarkson is great.
• Been hangin'. Lots of good times with friends and family lately and coming up. Last week included a great house show at Craig's including an insane smorgasbord at about midnight and an amazing taco/housewarming party at John and Lanae's the next day: homemade bbq seitan + pups + kitties + friends + jams + guac + vegan choco pb crunch treats = BEST. Right now I am in DC seeing my main man Z. This coming week I head to the beach with my family for some relaxing (and running, of course).
• Been reachin'. And exceeding my fundraising goal! I have now passed my minimum, and with the latest batch of check donations that will process in the next couple weeks I will have met my personal goal. It doesn't end there for me though and I will be setting a new goal in the next week. I just want to send out a preliminary THANK YOU SO MUCH to everyone that has donated to the cause so far. I am blown away. I just can't wait to share this love and generosity with my mom.

That seems like a pretty good overview. I am gonna get better at updating regularly again. Until then, check out this cat I take care of sometimes:

Doesn't his face look like a lioness? Maybe it's hard to see, but I am telling you!