Running, running, running, blah.

My training could be going better! I can't lie. Looking back to three years ago, I maybe missed two or three mid-week runs my entire training period, and for the past several weeks, I have done ... no midweek runs. It's kind of ridiculous to acknowledge this, but there you go. It's just the truth. I've not missed any of my long runs, but I know I'm missing plenty of mileage that I should be getting in there. Today's long run was without a doubt the worst long run this time around. It was another 90-minute run, and I only made it 8 miles, and it was just straight horrible. I am really glad I didn't stop and I'm also really glad it's over. It was in the upper 60s, cloudy and gray, with 90% humidity, and I was drenched with sweat and felt heavy and plodding and like the worst runner ever to hit the streets. Hating running, hating life. HATE! But it's over now, and onward I go. I think I need to actually start running during the week and actually hydrate during the long runs ... the guy leading my training group said we should get 4-8 ounces of fluids in every 15-20 minutes, and ... no. Never. So -- I should probably get on that. And I should probably stop eating pizza and drinking beer the night before a long run. Lesson learned!

That's all I have to say about running right now. I am totally bored by the topic these days.

The best thing that happened today was my trip to the farmer's market where I spent every dollar I had in my purse on brown jasmine rice, goat's milk yogurt (what?), grape tomatoes, a quart of strawberries (oh, sweet blessed beginning of strawberry season!), organic satsumas, broccoli, oatmeal wheat bread, and two dozen eggs. Totally worth it. This is what happens after watching Food, Inc.. You remember that it's better to hurl yourself out of bed on a Saturday morning to get to the farmer's market before the eggs sell out than to sleep in, and you stop at as many different booths as you can, and you just buy some fresh damn food. It's important.

Also important: The Gavin and Stacey Christmas special is now up on YouTube! It will probably get yanked soon, so catch it while you can. Part one is here, and it goes on for nine parts total. Unsurprisingly, it is one hundred percent delightful. Oh, how I love that show.

Quick check-in

Bleary-eyed beginning to the first week of the year back at work!

I want to go ahead and make a quick note of last week's runs ... I had a quick three-miler (by quick, I mean I did it in 30 minutes -- quick for me) on a warm and sunny day -- we're talking shorts and a sleeveless shirt -- heaven.

And then I had my long run, a 90-minute extravaganza. It wasn't altogether terrible ... it was in the low 50s and sunny and really quite beautiful outside. It didn't take me long to take off my hat and jacket and run in shorts and a sleeveless shirt again. I guess if I had a fave running outfit, that would be it! My slowest was mile four, when I felt quite tired, but the rest of them held pretty steady, and I ended up averaging out at a 10:47-minute per mile pace for the whole 8.34 miles. I feel okay about it, though I have to admit that by mile 7, I was somewhat delirious and the bottoms of my feet hurt a lot.

I kept passing a lot of the same people more than once, so I think a bunch of us were out there on longer runs that day ... everyone looked a little deranged, bloated, and hungover, to tell you the God's honest truth, which I guess is par for January 2. But we soldiered on, and I really do love that feeling of not being out there alone, running among the strangers whose faces start to become familiar week after week. Somewhat dismayed, though, not to have ever run four times in a week yet during this training period. There was a lot more mileage in the schedule I followed last time, but I feel like it's going okay anyway.

I think this is the week when I am finally going to have to break down and go to the gym. I just don't think I have the constitution (or the gear) to run outside in the 20s, which is what it's going to be in the mornings this week. Bless the hearts of all who run in this and much colder weather, but I am not one of you. So ... treadmill, here I come. Gross but necessary.

Not sure what else to say. I find myself without a new book to read so I'm diving back into The Hunger Games even though I just finished it. It's just that fun to read. Meanwhile, I'll just be sitting back watching hour after hour of No Reservations.

Patriotism

Where to start. I will get running out of the way. I made up last week's failed long run attempt again at the beginning of this week, and I actually made it the full 80 minutes, and it wasn't altogether horrible. I made it 7.4 miles (average per-mile pace of 10:49), and maybe I could have tried to go faster, but I was okay with it. I actually really sort of enjoyed miles four and five, no clue why. Tomorrow I'll run again on the last day of the year.

It's been a holiday season of movies for sure. It's Complicated was funny and cute, and I'd be lying if I didn't admit that my very favorite person in the movie was John Krasinski (Jim Halpert), who pretty much stole every scene he was in, as I told mo, with his comedic adorableness. I didn't love it the way I loved another Nancy Meyers film, Something's Gotta Give, but I definitely had a good time watching it. Next was Nine. I have to say that I understand why a lot of people would not enjoy this movie and might actually hate it, but I liked it! Mostly I just liked Marion Cotillard, the most beautiful woman on planet earth, as far as I'm concerned. Her part, her first song, and her overall gloriously luminous face were the best things about the movie by a mile. (Hear the whole song here. Just trust me. It was gorgeous.)

Today I went to the big city with my parents and little brother to have a totally delicious lunch of crab gumbo, grilled shrimp, fish, shrimp etouffee, bread pudding with whiskey sauce -- pretty much straight ridiculousness. It was off the charts fantastic. We headed in the rain afterwards to a museum where we watched a new film and visited the exhibits. It was all very stirring, as you can imagine, and I think we all felt a bit raw emotionally on the drive home in the pouring rain. I made the mistake of trying (and failing) to articulate effectively some of my mixed feelings after seeing the movie and visiting the museum. About how it's hard for me to feel pumped up about America and victory while feeling overwhelmed, sick, and sad at the same time. About how everything and everyone now presents it as fact that we did the right thing in bombing Japan, but is that just spin to justify that we did it? Well, this did not go over very well.

I try to remember that my parents were born in 1946 and grew up with a different perspective on this, having parents and siblings who lived through it all. And I know that they think I Just Don't Get It. And I know that I don't. I have tried to get it, though, I really have. I took something like 27 hours of history classes in college, trying to understand. I spent days in Normandy (series of entries starts here) and at the Imperial War Museum in London and the Holocaust Museum in D.C., trying to understand. I dined at the same table as an English D-Day veteran and talked to him about it, trying to understand. I watched and cried through hours upon hours of The War, trying to understand. I have rented untold numbers of WWII documentaries on everything from the Battle of the Bulge (which basically caused me to have an emotional breakdown) to hidden Jewish children and Anne Frank and Hitler's final days to the Berlin Airlift, trying to understand. I was lucky enough to go on a special tour of Pearl Harbor, where I kept on trying to understand. Today was my third visit to this museum. What I'm saying is that I've tried to expose myself to lots of different avenues of understanding. But still. I do not.

It's just impossible for me to process. Maybe it's impossible for anyone to process, and maybe that's why it's all boiled down to we were right, they were wrong, the end. Maybe that's the only way that, as a nation, we could recover and heal from all that happened. My brother tried to tell me that I can't look at it through a modern filter, and maybe he's right. The wars of our lifetime have certainly not been not very clear cut, but back then, maybe things really were a lot more black and white. I guess we had to try to win by any means necessary because losing was too unimaginable. But I swear, I was permanently changed by The Book Thief. All I could think about during the film today when they showed the rubble of a bombed German town, the shell of a burning community, were the people who lived there, who probably were poor and starving and completely effed by the Fuhrer and now dead. And that ultimately it was his fault, not ours. And that ultimately the deaths in Japan were the psycho, un-surrendering emperor's fault, not ours. Right? I just cannot deal with the fact that so many regular, innocent people died who were just living their lives. And I can't even begin to deal with all of the soldiers and military people who died. I mean, I just can't. It actually sits on my chest like a weight, especially after days like today.

And when I tried to explain this, the reaction was that I was simply wrong and we had no choice and we saved the world and that's that. And -- yes. I get that. Of course I recognize that unspeakable horrors and atrocities were being committed that needed to be stopped. Of course I am glad that we won the war and liberated the camps and ended the power of the reigning mega-crazies and appreciate the sacrifices made by millions and recognize, on some level, that we did what we had to do. But it doesn't make me want to stand up and cheer; it makes me feel like throwing up because all I see is the death and destruction. And I think what I did the worst job of explaining today is that while the movie was very cool and riveting, I don't like things that pat America on the back to the extreme about how right we were and are about everything and emphasize that we are the best country ever, because I get icky associations of "enemy" countries patting themselves on the back using the same reasoning about how they're right about everything and are really the best. It is like I am hyper-propaganda-paranoid. IS THAT CRAZY? I think maybe it is. I think this is what sent my family over the edge on the way home. But I can't help it! I think I am in the midst of a personal patriotism crisis! I am just trying to honestly reflect upon this and figure out what it all means. Maybe at the end of the day, part of being alive is being for your own country. Like how you're for the college football team in the town where you were born. Maybe it's just what people are supposed to do.

I think I'll just go watch this and cry some more.

Holidays so far

Let's get the running talk out of the way first. Since this week was the first week of four runs, I figured I'd get cracking as early as possible, so I left work early on Monday to head out for my 45-minute run. It's possible that a couple of hours were not sufficient time to adequately digest the giant amount of food consumed at my siblings' birthday lunch -- red beans and rice, hush puppies, both fried and marinated crab fingers, etc. -- BUT! I soldiered on, and somehow I ran 4.5 miles in 45 minutes. Yes, you read that correctly. For those following along, that is quite fast for me, to keep a 10-minute-mile pace for several miles in a row, and I just feel sort of proud about it. The perfect weather helped! In case I haven't mentioned it, the weather this month has been vile and disgusting 9 days out of 10, and this burst of sunshine and dry ground is just making everything so much better. I think that I am getting a little faster in part because I am being really conscious about relaxing my arms, almost to the point where they're more straight than bent at the elbow, which is weird, but it's working for me. On Wednesday, the run was really short -- only 20 minutes -- and I missed run three as it was set for Christmas morning and was literally freezing outside and I thought, "Eff it." Run four was set for 80 minutes, and I only made it three miles after yet another gargantuan holiday meal before just surrendering, walking to my brother's house, and asking him, defeated, to drive me home. And that's it on the running front. Tomorrow begins a new week, and I'm going to start it with the long run that was a bust yesterday. It's a process.

I finished reading The Daily Coyote: A Story of Love, Survival, and Trust in the Wilds of Wyoming by Shreve Stockton, and it's a mighty fine read indeed. I've been aware of her website for a long time, but somehow I missed that she'd published a book about her life with Charlie the coyote. Reading this book is making me feel all sorts of smooshy lovey-doveyness towards my pets. It's fascinating, and the photos are beautiful. Now I'm in the middle of Kitchen Confidential, and so far, so good. I also finished Catching Fire, the sequel to The Hunger Games, and it, like book one, was ridiculous. Ridiculously awesome in every way. What happens in these books is unbearable on many levels, but that's just part of what makes them impossible to put down. The fact that book three does not come out until August is causing me actual physical pain. I guess I'll just re-read the first two over and over until that day comes!

Now ... The History Boys. I'd heard of this play and movie but never knew much about it. Because everything lately comes back to Gavin and Stacey, I noted when listening to audio commentary of the episodes that one of the creators/writers/stars of the show, James Corden (Smithy), explained that many of Smithy and Gavin's guy friends were in The History Boys with him, so I rented the film. And I have to tell you, I really liked it. I had no idea that the play was a smash hit in London, then went on a smash tour, then was a smash Tony winner on Broadway, and then became a film, and that these cast members were together for years upon years playing the roles all the way through. The special features on the DVD are adorable and quite funny and touching, especially the tour diary. I'm very glad I saw this film.

On Christmas afternoon, as is a tradition, we headed to the movies. This year it was Up in the Air. I knew this movie has been getting raves, but I didn't know much about it. It definitely exceeded my expectations and proved to me that George Clooney is not only a first class dreamboat (which obviously I knew) but also a mighty, mighty fine actor. He was just incredibly good, and the movie was totally enjoyable even when uncomfortable and sad. Anna Kendrick: also fabulous. It was excellent, and I'd totally see it again. We were still in the movie mood that night, so we watched Up, which made me laugh and cry and was totally scary and traumatic and not for young children, I don't think. But totally and completely great nonetheless.

The holiday season thus far has been lovely. My mom outdid herself with the tons of delicious food, meal after meal; it was great to spend time and laugh with my sister and brother-in-law, who were here for Christmas; I had a great meal on a friend's birthday with the best Sazerac I've had in ages, which was somehow just what I needed on Christmas Eve-Eve; we all spent a ferociously stormy Christmas Eve morning feasting at my very favorite cafe, which was wonderful; my dad surprised us with tickets to today's Saints game, which was fun even though the ending was truly hein; (for the best piece I've ever read about the Saints, and maybe even New Orleans as a whole, read this article); there were moments of reconciliation. I'm looking forward to more relaxation and fun in the coming week as we all ring in the new year.

Alright?

I will now talk more about Gavin and Stacey. One of my favorite things about this show is how the characters will randomly burst into song, which is something that happens quite regularly with my own family and friends. There are tons of these moments on the show, more than clips exist online for, but here are a few of my favorite of these moments on the show, none of which are spoilerish in terms of plot: Smithy's big entrance, featuring the magnificent Pam. Uncle Bryn singing James Blunt in the car. (Oh my God, Uncle Bryn. Who is funnier, sweeter, more tragic in a way, and more ridiculous than Uncle Bryn? No one.) Smithy and Rudi rapping. I wish I could find the clip of Nessa and Bryn sitting at the arcade rehearsing "Something Stupid" and the gang singing Jack Johnson at a crucial moment I won't give away, and many more. And finally, in the spirit of the season, Smithy and Gavin doing "Do They Know It's Christmas?"

I really can't stop talking, at least in my head, like the characters on this show. A common Welsh greeting, apparently, is to say, "Alright, Stace?" and then the person responding will say, "Alright, Ness?" (I feel like I sound like Uncle Bryn when explaining something like this.) It is now how I want to greet everyone. Basically, I want to pretend that the entire world of Gavin and Stacey is real and that I live in it. I was able to find season three, so now I'm all done, except for the Christmas special, which is eluding me. I will not give up until I find it, though. (In case this sounds like an insane amount of TV, know that it's only 18 half-hour episodes, which is shorter than one season of an American show.) Basically, this show has made me laugh my face off and also get very moved at times, which is all I ask for in a show. I LOVE IT.

Other misc. things:

Four Months, Three Weeks and Two Days. I've been meaning to watch this for years, ever since A.O. Scott, whose reviews I normally trust, declared it his top film of the year a few years back. I knew nothing going into it. Um ... don't watch this movie by yourself on a cold and rainy night. That's all I have to say. It was harrowing. And horrifying, and bleak, and stark, and really scared the pants off of me in ways I can't really articulate without being spoilery about it. It might be a good movie, artistically speaking, and an important movie, politically speaking, but it's a movie I never want to see again.

The Hunger Games. The Hunger Games! I've been hearing all about The Hunger Games, but somehow it didn't fall into my life until now. On Gavin and Stacey, Gavin's mom, Pam, who is one of my favorite characters on the show and possibly ever in anything, exclaims, "Sh*t a brick!" when something truly major happens. And it was her voice, in her accent, that I heard in my head when finishing the book in bed late last night. "Sh*t a brick!" Like ... something major had happened, and that something major was reading this book and every single thing that happened in it. Major. Majorly exciting, majorly scary, majorly romantic, majorly awesome. I cannot wait to read the sequel. I am sh*tting a brick in anticipation.

And now for a running update ... feel free to skip if such things make your eyes glaze over. They practically make my own eyes glaze over, so I feel you. Yesterday wrapped up week 8 of training with a 72-minute run. I made it 6.62 miles. (10:45, 10:46, 10:50, 10:59, 11:14, 10:53, 10:33). I feel fine about it. After a week of no other running (I know) and a steady intake of cookies, brownies, turtle cheesecake, chocolate covered pecans, peppermint kisses, etc., I wasn't in the greatest condition for running and definitely felt it. But the day was the first truly gorgeous day we've had in weeks ... low 50s without a cloud in the bright, sunny sky ... so I vowed to enjoy the run as much as possible. When I felt tired, I told myself that I was basically running half a half-marathon, and with 10 weeks to go, that feels about right on track. I don't want to start going really far until the end; in addition to being probably physically impossible for me in this shape, it also seems anti-climactic. From here on out, the schedule demands four runs per week, and I'm going to have to be way more on the ball about actually running when I'm supposed to!

It's been a truly lovely weekend so far. A little sunshine goes a long way, it turns out.

What's occurrin'?

I've decided to try to start talking like Ness on my new favorite show, Gavin and Stacey. This means I will say things in a Welsh accent like "fair play," "tidy," "genuine," "well done," "crackin'," and "what's occurrin'?"

I am honestly starting to bore myself with the running entries so I'll try to keep this one short & sweet. Big surprise, I only ran twice last week. Again. I was set for a 65-minute run over the weekend but ran a five-mile race instead. It was in the low 40s and pouring down rain when I got up, but I knew my friends were going and I wasn't about to be the only one who stayed home. Miraculously, the rain slowed to a drizzly mist right as the race started. I ended up running the whole five miles with a friend, which was fun. I knew this route like the back of my hand, so it was nothing too adventurous or exciting, but it was great to have company and to notice on my trusty watch how we were speeding up a little bit pretty much each mile. (10:30, 10:30, 10:18, 10:17, 9:45). I feel good about my pace ... a little over 51 minutes wasn't anything record setting, and we came in very near the end of the pack, but I keep reminding myself that I'm getting faster, for me, and that's what counts. The only truly heinous part was soaking both feet in a very cold puddle about half-way through, but I toughed it out. I've never done a non-tri race without music, but iPods were outright forbidden, so I left it at home. (UNLIKE SOME PEOPLE. I'm just too much of a rule abider, I cannot help it.) It was strange to run without music, but I didn't mind it much since I was with a friend. It started pouring pretty much immediately after we finished, which put a damper on the post-race festivities, but overall, it was a good event. We milled around inside for a little while to visit, and I changed immediately after finishing into some smartwool socks and dry sneakers that I'd brought with me in the attempt to stave off the death cough that plagued me for several weeks after romping in the snow last year with wet feet, and so far, so good! This week, week 8, is the last with three runs ... it's 4 runs per week for the 10 weeks after this, starting with Christmas week, God help me. At least boot camp will be over! I've really enjoyed it, but I am tired, and I want to start sleeping past 5 a.m. more often than not.

It seriously rains every day around here lately. Everything is saturated. We are a moist, moist people.

What else? I finished Born to Run, recommended by Linda, and enjoyed it. I wish more of the book had focused on the Tarahumara because they were the part of the story that mostly interested me. I liked learning about some of the major characters in ultrarunning because they're quite a group, and all of the stuff about feet was interesting. Overall, while it isn't a perfect book, it's a pretty good read, and it definitely made me want to become a better runner. (I also liked this piece about running barefoot in Central Park. The whole barefoot running movement intrigues me, but I keep wondering, what about the skin on the bottom of your feet? Do you basically end up with hooves? No, thank you?)

I ordered calendars made from the beautiful photographs of my friends Jessamyn and romanlily, and they've both arrived. They're lovely, and I can't wait for 2010 so I can use them.

I went to my favorite local cafe three days in a row last week, which might be excessive. But if that many gingerbread au laits and peppermint mochas and pastries and good visits with good friends are wrong, I don't want to be right.

Dog update: The man I yelled at last week and his big dumb black dog were about to cross through my yard when I pulled in my driveway recently when coming home from work, so I just sat there with my car idling across the sidewalk staring at him so he'd see me and hopefully keep walking. He did. Yesterday morning, I happened to be in my room when I heard him telling his dog to "do his thing" in my yard again, so I banged on the window, waved, smiled, and yelled, "GOOD MORNING!" Once again he jumped out of his skin. He looked away and mumbled "Good morning" and hurried along. I mean, what is it going to take? Seriously? He's a little older than I first wagered, so maybe he's truly senile. Who in his right mind would take his dog back to a yard, clearly with no baggies in hand, where he's been spotted numerous times, been given the stank eye from both inside the house and the car, and even been asked rather vehemently to clean up after his dog? Encouraging his dog, "Do your thing"? Again? What is the world coming to? I can't even be mad anymore, it's too ridiculous.

Finally, design genius and overall nice Southern lady AB Chao (some of her work) stopped by yesterday with her cute husband and supercool daughter on their way home from winning a state football championship because they might as well be the Panthers I mean Lions. Basically, she told me how to live. As some of you know, she is good at this. It was a delight to see them all.

Now there is nothing left to do but finish up season 2 of Gavin and Stacey and company, my new best friends, and figure out some way to score the Christmas special and season 3 from across the pond. Luckily I have a mighty fine Irish friend who might be able to assist me in this endeavor. This show is really only about three things: family, friendship, and love. And it manages to be about them in a very hilarious way. And I love it very much. OH! And I started The Hunger Games, which I'm about a million years late in reading. And holy mother of heaven. It is so good! I can't put it down. You were right, everyone in the world.

1/2 Marathon Training: Week 7, Run 1

Today's 35-minute run was pretty good. My legs were a bit tired from lunging a lot in the hour previous, though, and I cannot lie ... I ran the first 2 miles at a 10-minute mile pace, and I was very winded by about 2.5 miles in. I slowed down enough, my legs feeling sluggish and heavy, that mile three was clocked at 11 minutes. I think maybe what I need to do is just slow down to 10:30 and keep it kind of even if I'm supposed to be running at a steady pace that day. (Which I was today.) Maybe I shouldn't be winded doing 10-minute miles, but I totally was, and sweat was raining down my face! The great news is that my shins did not hurt at all! New shoes FTW!

Part of the enjoyment of today's run was the weather. It was a decent morning ... still wet and muggy but at least not cold or dumping rain, which it has been lately. Everything is so humid that the knob on my backdoor is dripping wet from condensation and there are basically surging swimming pools of condensation all over my carport. The windows are all fogged, etc. The sun was actually shining, though, so that's amazing. It's weird to think it was 71 when I got up this morning at 4:55 and that it's supposed to get down to 36 tonight. Weather is such a roller coaster around these parts. I guess we just have to go with the flow.

So ... in short, my 3.36 miles came in with an average overall pace of 10:25-minute miles, which I feel okay about. The longer distances are coming, and I need to start mentally preparing for them.

Today's Best Running Song: Drunken Lullabies. Oh, how I love that song. (Thanks, mo!)

Running & misc.

Week six of running training consisted of only two runs. (Sigh.) But onward I go. The second run was meant to be a 5K race, but considering that it was dumping freezing precipitation, I opted to stay home. It would have been hardcore and all, but there's something to be said, I think, for staying well. My third (really second) was a sixty-minute run on the first day of decent weather around here in days & days. The sun was out, and it felt like a miracle. I bundled up but had removed my jacket and hat and gloves by the end. My pace was just under 11-minute miles on the average, and I made it 5.47 miles. Not as fast or far as I would have liked, but I honestly had to give myself a talking-to during the run. I kept feeling very bothered that I am not (and might not ever be) as fast as some of my running pals but I just tried to tell myself that I'm not competing with them and I'm only competing against myself to try to get better. Which I have. So I tried to take some pride in that instead of lamenting that I'm not super speedy. All in all, it was an utterly gorgeous day & an utterly gorgeous run. New shoe report: My shins felt surprisingly okay during and after the run, but for the first time, as soon as I slowed down to do my walking cool-down, my knees ached like crazy. Not sure it was the shoes or the three previous days of squatting and lunging like a lunatic at boot camp. They feel okay today, thankfully. I've never had knee problems and don't want to start now! Best Running Song: I Gotta Feeling by the Black Eyed Peas, mostly because it made me think about this.

When I got home, I set about stringing up some Christmas lights, made difficult by the fact there were large piles of dog poop scattered about the front yard. I had a suspected culprit in mind as I've seen the same silver-haired man urging the same big black dog to "do his thing" in my yard not once but twice. The first time, I was too shocked to react. The second time, I heard him through the window, so I flung open the blinds and stared at him, meeting his eye, hoping that would discourage him from coming back. I was just telling my dad last night about this man, which of course thoroughly annoyed him in that protective dad ass-kicking kind of way. This morning, I woke up early but wasn't quite ready to leave the warm fuzzy cuddly cloud of bed, so I lay there finishing The Canning Season (lovely) and I heard him again! I peeked out slyly and saw him in my next-door neighbor's yard and as he made his way across her driveway to mine, standing smack in the middle of my yard in front of my window urging the dog to "do his thing," I snapped my blinds open, knocked loudly on the window, plastered a smile on my face, and shouted without really thinking, "Sir, can you please start cleaning up after your dog? I keep stepping in his poop! Thank you!" He jumped about a foot in the air, gave a little startled and apologetic wave, and dragged his dog away, looking horrified. I really did not want to be rude to an elder, but give me a break! I really wanted to throw my robe on and chase him down the street with my box of poop scooping bags and helpfully inform him that they're only $5 at Walmart, but it was cold and by then he was long gone. I feel strangely guilty for fussing at him, but I really tried to do it nicely, and those piles of poop are really big! What is so appealing about MY front yard? It's neat, trimmed, edged, mowed every week, and I had freshly strung Christmas lights shining in the morning sunlight! Does it really invite this same man over and over to not only allow but encourage his to dog poop in it? Of all the yards in all the world? And why in the actual middle of the actual yard and not the patch of grass between the street and sidewalk? Why all up in my grassy business, right by my freaking house? I just do not understand this.

Meanwhile, I've finished season one of Gavin and Stacey on DVD. It's a BBC comedy/drama, and season one is six half-hour episodes of hilarity and delight. I enjoyed it so much. I watched all the behind the scenes stuff, and as usual, they made me like something I already liked even more. So sweet, so naughty, so funny, so romantic, so real. I was eager to get season two, but it has no release date yet in the U.S. I am bummed about this and will console myself by trying to incorporate more Welsh slang into my vocabulary.

Giving thanks

Phew! Finally catching my breath after a whirlwind Thanksgiving holiday, which included stints in D.C., Connecticut, and New York in varying degrees. I've never not spent Thanksgiving near home with my whole family, so it was a bit of an unconventional adventure. It was great to spend time with my sister and her husband and his family, though, and experience a touch of winter and their traditions. It was never too terribly cold with the exception of one day when we walked down to a very pretty, very chilly beach.

We had Thanksgiving dinner at a magnificent home that made me feel like a very patriotic American and sing songs from the musical Ragtime in my head. (In 1902, Father built a house at the crest of the Broadview Avenue hill in New Rochelle, New York, and it seemed, for some years thereafter, that all the family's days would be warm and fair ... Fine weather, isn't it? Isn't it? Now that we're out of the city, isn't it? Nothing like the city ... Safe? Yes, everything's safe in New Rochelle ... )

As for running ... after completing four solid weeks of running training, week five (Thanksgiving week) was basically a bust except for a short but lovely run when I was away. It was lovely because I got to run over paths and bridges that looked like this:

And that wasn't even the only spectacular park we visited! We also went here:

What is better than a bunch of trees and lakes and hills and the sun shining through the branches at a state park in Connecticut on the second to last day of November? Nothing. Nothing, that's what!

Week six of training got off to a late start today ... it was very cold and windy and gray and wet this morning, with the misty drizzle basically drenching every inch of me by the time I was done. It was only a short 20-minute run, but I think it was about all I could handle after getting a bit derailed. I'm not too worried about it, though. I got some new shoes (inspired by Linda) and they felt okay. (I got the black and gold ... the color options in my size were limited, and this choice made me feel Saints proud.) I think the run was too short to fully evaluate them. I guess my shins will probably decide in the end, just like they do everything else! (My watch hasn't worked for the last two runs, so I hope I'll be back on track with keeping up with my pace and distance soon.)

I've been doing a lot of reading ... that's one great thing about traveling long distances. I finished An Abundance of Katherines and Paper Towns by John Green (both of which I hope to write about soon) and The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing: Traitor to the Nation (volumes one and two), a staggering reading experience that I wrote about over here.

My greatest TV surprise lately was accidentally stumbling upon Indigo Girls: Live at the Roxy on Palladia, a channel I didn't even know I had. I take this is a special cosmic gift since I just happened to see it when scrolling through my guide and it was on that very night and doesn't appear to be airing again any time soon. It just came out on DVD, so it's available for purchase, but I got it for free in all its HD glory! It features many performances that I've watched over and over on YouTube, as well as World Falls and Closer to Fine and Cannonball and Last Tears and Don't Think Twice, It's Alright, all with my beloved Brandi Carlile. I mean, Shame on You? The Wood Song? What more could a girl want? The whole thing is just heavenly.

(In other TV news, Ugly Betty and So You Think You Can Dance and Parks & Recreation and Modern Family continue to make me happier than anything else on right now. I'm so behind on Friday Night Lights that I can't speak to it at the moment, but I'm sure once I catch up it will be at the top of the list as usual. And the fact that Chuck returns next month ... forget about it. I can't wait!)

Meanwhile, I'm back at boot camp, and you know it's been too long since you were last there when the teacher whips out the orange cones and the first thing you feel is irrational hope that she's brought candy since they're the same orange color as the wrappers on all those Reese's peanut butter Christmas trees you've been eating. Oops.

1/2 Marathon Training: Week 4, Run 2

The second run of week 4 was a 30-minute run. This is the most tired my legs have been since starting the training program. My calves were so sore that I honestly think they forgot how to work. I just could not get moving ... my pace was lousy and I was just lurching around like I was half-lame. In the work-out of the early morning, I could barely balance on some of the moves ... I was just wobbly. I know my legs were very fatigued, and maybe I shouldn't have tried to run at all, but I did.

It was in the low 40s again, but I was pretty warm in my layers. The water was extra beautiful today ... covered in mist that made everything a bit mysterious. All the different birds were out, which was as dazzling as ever. Even the pelicans, though, largely failed to buoy my spirits or my legs. It was just a struggle. I only made it 2.45 miles (12:15-minute mile average pace) ... I mean. Yeah. That is not great. But ... at least it's one more run under my belt.

Today's Best Running Song: Don't Know Why (You Stay) by The Essex Green. As noted last year, I first discovered this song via Sweet Juniper a few years ago, and my life has been all the better for it since. This song makes me feel like I could run forever. It might have been the only excellent thing about today's run. Good thing it's mighty excellent.

1/2 Marathon Training: Week 4, Run 1

So ... today began week 4 of half-marathon training. Three down, 15 to go! I set off at about 6:30 in the morning; it was 42 degrees out, which is probably the coldest outdoor run I've ever done (I know, I am a wimp!) ... but I was already plenty warmed up and delirious so I just went with it. It was a 30-minute run, and my legs hurt, and I only made it 2.75 miles (average 10:56-minute mile pace), but it was great to have it over and done and be totally done with my day's exercise before 8 in the morning.

The pelicans were out again and as usual knocked my socks off. I'm not sure what else to say about it except I drove back to see them and made myself late for work trying to take pictures of them with my cell phone like a dork.

I've decided I really am going to try to do most of my runs outside this winter ... in previous training experiences, I've mostly gone to the gym to use the treadmill when it's in the low forties or below, but today showed me that I can do it. I might not be able to do a proper burpee or hold a side plank to save my life, but I can wear some layers and deal.

It's fun to see the same familiar faces around the various routes in the morning. We smile and wave sometimes in recognition. It's nice.

I feel pretty good stamina-wise; it's just my darn legs hurting me, especially my shins, so I don't want to go too full out. Hopefully they'll start feeling better.

Today's Best Running Song: Let It Ring by Amy Ray. First heard this song in concert earlier this year, and it's been a running staple ever since. It makes me feel strong and brave and makes me wish people would just act right and be fair and believe that one day they will. Let it ring, let it ring, let it ring.

1/2 Marathon Training: Week 3, Run 3

It's been a hard week for me. I feel like I need to go ahead and give a big disclaimer that I am well aware that "hard" is relative. I'm not suffering from the flu, carrying a baby, taking care of a baby or two or three, or going through anything that anyone would consider "hard." But nonetheless. It's been hard. Very little sleep for various reasons and all of the accompanying ridiculousness -- you know how you have those days when everything that can be broken, dropped, spilled, run into, tripped over, or ruined is just that? I was just stumbling, bumbling, and fumbling around all week. Broken dryer, broken iPhone, broken spirit over epic battle with the electric company. The pelican runs and the concert were definite high points, but overall, my eyes stung with tiredness and I made a mess of just about everything.

Which is why this morning's run was a welcome relief. I knew I had a very busy day ahead -- working on a big school project (taking a 10-minute break to write this entry), washing tons of laundry and drying it at my neighbor's house because my dryer won't start, baking pumpkin pecan muffins for a co-worker who had surgery last week, and just basically trying to get myself together for what is going to be another exhausting (but hopefully better) week ahead.

I did my grocery shopping first thing to get that over with and then set out for a 40-minute run. I made it 3.68 miles at a 10:52 average per mile pace, which could have been better but could have been worse. What felt good was going faster the second half of the run than I did the first, which is unusual for me. I had a lot of trouble getting going, but about 20 minutes in, I started feeling somewhat stronger and better about the whole scenario. It was a beautiful and perfect sunny morning, and I decided I might as well try to somewhat enjoy myself.

Overall, I feel good about it, and I feel good about having decided to start training for the race 18 weeks out. It's such a long time that it takes a lot of the pressure off, and I don't feel too rushed on building up to the long runs on the weekends.

Today's Best Running Song: Don't Stop Me Now by Queen. This band wasn't a big part of my childhood ... I only first heard this song in this spectacular wedding video, and now it's one of my very favorite running songs. I cannot help but feel happy when I hear it and like I could run on and on and on.

1/2 Marathon Training: Week 3, Run 2

This morning's run was my coldest so far of my training. "Cold" = low 50s, which I know many of my running pals out there in Chicago & Seattle will scoff at and rightfully so. But it is what it is. I was already very warmed up, though, when I hit the road, so it was no big deal.

It was another pretty slow-placed run ... 25 minutes, 2.11 miles, 11:40-mile average pace. My legs were in a good amount of pain from lunging their little hearts out, so I just kind of took it fairly easy and tried to run on the grass as much as possible.

I don't even know what else to say about this run except for (broken record) PELICANS! It is hard to explain what the sight of all these pelicans is doing to me. Did you know that the underside of the wings of these big, bright, white, gorgeous pelicans is dark black at the tips? And that in addition to giant white pelicans, there are tiny, minature baby pelicans? I swear, I would run every morning of my life at this ridiculous early hour just to behold the splendor of these pelicans. They'll be gone soon enough, but I will never forget what it has felt like this week, running alongside them.

I tried to find a good picture of what they look like ... this comes close ... multiply the ones in this photo by about 100 and that's what it's like ... this video is also a nice capture of the pelicans in action ... and here's a nice slideshow. And here are a few more shots of what they look like all huddled up together, which is how they've been lately. Seriously, they are too much! I am so in love with them that my heart can barely take it. If I slow down a little to get a better look at them or to linger near them a little longer, so be it! They are worth it.

Today's Best Running Song: Moulin Rouge finale.

1/2 Marathon Training: Week 3, Run 1

The first run of the third week of training was a bit unusual in that I set off for it after having gotten up in the middle of the night for a bout of intense exercise prior to running. So I was a bit sore & delirious. But not in a terrible way. Sure, it was a 20 minute run and I only made it 1.7 miles (11:43 pace), but that was okay. I wasn't in a hurry. I couldn't feel my legs, I sort of felt like I was totally out of my body, the wind was whipping, the sun was rising, and best of all, the birds were out in full force. Hundreds and hundreds of them.

I'm not a birder, but I've determined that there were snowy egrets, great egrets, lots of various ducks, blue herons, gulls, cormorants, and Lord knows what else of every shape and size and color flying and swimming around. Apparently it was breakfast time, and the wings were a-whipping and the birds were a-diving and it was all just so glorious.

Best of all, though, were the pelicans. These pelicans! They just kill me! Year after year, these white pelicans kill me. They are so big and mighty and graceful, and when they're together in a huge group, like they were today, it's almost unbearable, the beauty. As I jogged along the curve of the water, they were gliding in the same direction, and I was just hypnotized and mesmerized and overwhelmed with glee.

First, they were just moving along peacefully in a group of what must have been a hundred or more, and then they started bobbing their heads under water in unison, almost like they were dancing. A woman and I passed each other and basically just laughed out loud in shared disbelief of what we were seeing.

Meanwhile, dozens of pelicans flew directly overhead, and seeing their giant wingspans floating and circling above and then their flapping descents on to the water's surface ... seriously, it was too much. I basically had to stop and run in place at times because I didn't want to miss a moment of it.

I realize this is more about birds than it is about running. But that's what today's run was for me. Sometimes being out there for a run is more about what's going on outside of us than inside of us. Or maybe sometimes those are really the same thing.

Today's Best Running Song: "Viva la Vida" by Coldplay. I know it's the most overplayed, overblown song in the universe, but I still love it.

1/2 Marathon Training: Week 2, Run 3

Today's third run of the week was scheduled to be 35 minutes. It only lasted 20. Oops!

It was almost 80 degrees outside, which in some months would be mild and fantastic, but I think I've been spoiled by the somewhat cooler temps lately because it felt like approximately one million degrees when pounding the pavement in the full sun.

Even Zuko was slowed down by it and didn't seem to be enjoying himself as much as usual. I started feeling really barfy and almost like I was going to pass out by 2 miles in, so we just walked the rest of the way home (about 1.5 miles). Part of my feeling of sun-stroked parched-ness might have been attributable to the many slices of lemon rosemary bread purchased at the farmer's market this morning that I consumed prior to the run. Oh well!

My average pace was 10:20-minute miles. I don't know how I keep ending up in the tens, but alright!

Today's Best Running Song: My Eyes from Dr. Horrible.

Highlight of the Run: Big, beautiful white pelicans! They make me very happy.

1/2 Marathon Training: Week 2, Run 2

Ah. The gloriously manageability of a three runs per week schedule! It is delicious.

This was my first morning run since daylight savings time started ... it was 49 degrees out, which I realize is balmy to many people, but it felt plenty cold to me. But I soldiered on and it was actually quite lovely. Obviously you warm up very quickly, and it was a clear and very pleasant morning.

I did 2.41 miles in 25 minutes at a pace of 10:22-minute miles, which felt okay! I have to say, I do feel like I am pushing myself pretty hard at that pace. I hope to get to a point where it just feels a little more relaxed and normal. Although -- maybe these runs aren't supposed to feel relaxed and normal. Maybe they're supposed to make me breathe hard and make my legs ache -- maybe that's the whole point. Anyway -- I look forward to my last run of the week being smack dab in the middle of the day on Saturday or Sunday.

Today's Best Running Song: I Get Along by The Libertines.

1/2 Marathon Training: Week 2, Run 1

This week I'm starting to use a training schedule devised by the leader of a training group I joined. Instead of mileage, it's based on time, which is a method I haven't followed since C25K and One-Hour Runner back in 2006. So it will take a little getting used to, but I'm trying to be open to it because I'm sure there's a method to the madness. Also, it only has 3 runs per week for the first 8 weeks of training, which I suspect will be a welcome relief once boot camp starts and my body is beaten to a daily pulp.

The first run of the week called for a 20-minute run at a steady pace. I'm not sure what happened, but I ran 2 miles in 20 minutes. I've never run a 10-minute mile in my life to my knowledge, so that was surprising. I attribute this to two things: (1) An insane dog named Zuko was setting the pace and (2) I think psychologically 20 minutes felt so much shorter than a usual run that I just went a little faster than I usually do. I know that it's an average pace for a lot of people, and even quite a slow pace for many, but I am just not a 10-minute miler. So I am a little bit in shock.

This was also my first run in the dark. I bought a very stylish and becoming glow in the dark reflective vest and a blinking red light to clip onto Zuko's leash, so I felt visible, and I know these routes like the back of my hand, so I felt pretty sure on my feet, but I can't say I loved being out there in the dark. I suspect I'll end up doing a lot of runs during the week at the gym. Even though I dread the gym-induced case of Hot Face that I always get and the sweat flying off the brows of my treadmill neighbors and hitting me in the face.

Today's Best Running Song (also known as one of my top running songs of all time): Get Up by Bleu.

1/2 Marathon Training: Week 1, Run 4

Magnificent. That is the only word to describe the weather on this sunny, 65-degree day. Thanks, November first. You are awesome.

I am typically a better morning runner than later in the day, but I waited until mid-afternoon to go today, partly because I had a busy day happening. I set off for my first four-mile run since last fall with a little bit of trepidation, but I need not have feared the distance! It turned out to be this week's most enjoyable run so far.

I followed a route I haven't been on since last fall's training (unless I was on a bike). I had to adjust my vision a bit to take in the familiar landmarks and scenes at such a slower pace than what I saw when whizzing by them over and over on my bike. It was nice to be back on this route on foot, because it's one I've run a billion times in the past, just not lately ... there were lots of people out, and that always puts pep in my step. The sun was blasting but it was comfortably cool and I don't even know what happened, but I felt pretty strong and dare I say happy.

The guy leading my training group said the best possible terrain to run on is trail, which I take to mean grass? Dirt? I'm not sure, but luckily there are a good number of grassy or dirt patches along this route, so when possible, I stepped off the sidewalk or street to run on that slightly springier surface, and I definitely think it helped to prevent some shin/calf pain. It also felt sort of adventurous to have to do tiny little leaps over tree branches and feel acorns crunching underfoot and whatnot.

My average pace per mile was 11:28, and I am perfectly fine with that for now. After all, this week I ran 12 miles. Last week, I ran 3. The week before that, and many weeks before that, I ran zero. So how can I not feel good about that?

It felt great to finish the run and stretch in the sunshine with this view. Delightful overall.

Today's Best Running Song: The Speed Test from Thoroughly Modern Millie, which will probably only appeal to the showtune lovers in the house. The song speeds up as it goes along, and it is super fun to run to!

1/2 Marathon Training: Week 1, Run 3

Today's 3-mile run was fueled by pure aggravation! Apparently this makes me run fast, because I did it with an average pace of 11:05-minute miles, which is very speedy for the likes of me.

How do I know my average pace? Well, that would be thanks to my new Garmin watch ... one of my triathlon gal pals highly recommended it, and Linda has it, too, so I took the plunge. I have no earthly idea how to work most of the features, but the very basic ones (time, distance, pace) seem doable enough for now.

I was aggravated because I spent two hours today driving to and from a very cool sounding estate sale that apparently did not exist ... I carefully followed the explicit directions, and I arrived at what can only be described as a shack/junkyard, where four muddy, barefoot children confirmed that the address listed in the ad was their house. "There ain't no sale here," they assured me. "But let's check with Maw Maw." Maw Maw confirmed: no sale. I'm not sure what happened, but it was kind of a pain. Oh well! At least I had some good tunes to keep me company on the way to the country and back. I consoled myself by stopping at a neighborhood garage sale and buying myself a fake orchid and a fake gold necklace.

I think I also went a little faster today because I was being dragged by Zuko. I ran with him a lot over the summer as part of Project Exhaustion to get him over his OCD leg licking, and it totally worked. However, I haven't taken him out in a good while, and I noted the other day that he's started again, this time on the top of his paw. I was a little worried that it would hurt him to run on it, but he seemed as jazzed and spastic as always and totally unfazed. I have no idea if I'll keep taking him running with me, but I enjoyed it today, even when he'd try to pull my arm out of socket when chasing a flock of ducks into the lake or a squirrel up a tree. The sky was totally sunny and cloudless and beautiful, and I definitely got tired -- shins and calves, mostly, as usual, but it felt good.

Meanwhile, I think another friend might be training for the race ... this makes me very happy.

Today's Best Running Song: Dying Day by Brandi Carlile.