When I'm out of school and making $$$ as a nurse...

...I am going to buy myself one of these bad boys:



It's a Harveys Seatbelt Bag, and I am totally in love with the look. And yes, it's made out of car seatbelt material. This is the first time I have really wanted to get myself a "nice" purse, as most upscale styles don't really appeal to me. But this is right up my alley, and it looks cool to boot! This particular one is the Messenger bag, which is what I prefer because I can wear it over my shoulder like I'm used to.

The kids are finally asleep now, so I have to get working on my microbiology homework. Matty is cutting some molars and was a crab-ass all day, so I didn't get much done, to say the least. So now is the time!

Today's stats:
Elliptical:
Time: 30 minutes


***UPDATE***

I just found out that I got 99 out of 100 on Thursday's lab practical!!! Woo hoo!!!! There's a confidence-booster for ya!

Another weekend gone

Is it just me, or is this year just flying by? I can't believe we're nearing October already. And I can't believe the weekend is over. *sigh*

I did a brick workout today. I want to start riding the stationary bike a little more again, but it's hard because it's so freakin' boring. So I figured I'd use the bike ride to warm me up for the run. This evening was an awesome one for a run. It was warm and sunny and felt more like spring than fall. I actually waited until 5:30 p.m. to head out, as it was hovering around 85 degrees earlier in the afternoon. It had cooled into the 70s by 5, so that made it more bearable for me.

Wish there was more to report tonight, but that's about it. Until later....

Today's (Sunday) stats:
Bike:
Time: 25 minutes
Distance: 6.43 miles

Run:
Distance: four miles
Time: 43:44
Pace: 10:56 minute/mile

What's cuter than cute?

My boy Matty in his new big boy bed!!

Last night was the final time Matty slept in his crib. Today we picked up a "new" toddler bed for him that I found on Craigslist. It's a toddler bed in the shape of a fire truck. It was a STEAL and oh-so-cute that I couldn't turn it down. He really seems to like it, too.

Here are a couple pics of the big guy in his new bed:

Checking it out:



Eating a cracker:



Taking his first siesta in it (I had taken off the light on top to replace the batteries, but waited until he woke up, that's why it's missing here):



Since I didn't get a good pic of the entire bed, here is an image from the Internet:




So now we're going to list his old crib on Craigslist and hope someone will take it off our hands. :-)

Today's stats:
Elliptical:
Time: 30 minutes

Second test today. Much better!

We had our second test in micro today. It was our first lab practical, which are always a little intimidating.

I studied my arse off the past few days. I was really worried this test was going to be a killer, seeing as the first lecture test was difficult. Well, my fears were unfounded and this test seemed really easy. I mean, REALLY easy. I don't know how hard she'll be grading them, but I feel much more confident that I did well on this test. Such a huge weight off my shoulders, for sure.

Since I was feeling a bit more unburdened this afternoon, I went out for a short, "fast" run. It turned out to be pretty good. It was faster than what I'd been doing, so that's positive. The only bad thing is my back is a little sore. Hope I didn't run TOO fast! ;-)

Today's stats:
Run:
Distance: 2.7 miles
Time: 28:21
Pace: 10:30 minute/mile

I ran today...

...but I don't have the energy for a "real" post right now. Sad, I know.

Oh, and I think I will keep the bloggy open for now. I will just talk about nice, safe things, like kittens and rainbows. :-)

Today's stats:
Run:
Distance: 3.25 miles
Time: Not caring today

Thinking about making this here blog private

I am thinking about closing off public access to this blog. I don't think there's any real reason I should leave it open for just anyone to read. Of course I want my running peeps to read it, so I am thinking of making it available to those who WANT to read it (and comment, LOL), but not the free world.

So I guess I am saying anyone who wants to be able to access this blog should give me their email and I will add you. I will leave this up for a few days, then it goes into lockdown. Sorry if this causes any problems, but I think this is the direction I should go in.

I don't know if I'll keep it private forever. Only time will tell.

**COMING BACK TO ADD**

I got 82 out of 100 on my first micro test. Not great, but not horrible. At least now I know what her testing style is so I can be better prepared for next time. And there will be one extra credit lab, so that should help.

Today's stats:
Run:
Distance: three miles
Time: 32:26
Pace: 10:48 minute/mile

First test and I am worried

I probably shouldn't be so concerned, but we had our first microbiology test on Thursday and I am a little worried.

(There was some stuff here but I took it out and am too lazy to think of anything else to put in. Sorry)

We have our first lab practical next week. I have another study date tomorrow. I think this semester is going to be filled with study dates with Kristen until December, since it appears that we have a test almost every week from here on out. Scary.

Today's stats:
Bike:
Distance: 10 miles

I was gonna...

...come on here tonight and post about microbiology: the good, bad and ugly. But Matty is still awake (WTF!!??) and he is now zooming his Hot Wheels cars all over my computer desk. So a lengthy post is out for tonight.

(He just moved my mouse out of the way because it was blocking his cars' path.)

Anyway, I managed a run this evening. I didn't realize it had been about 10 days since my last one. That's what I get for being sick, I guess.

More later.

Today's stats:
Run:
Distance: 3.25 miles
Time: I forget (It's on Garmin, but I refuse to turn it on to check right now)

I think the October HM is out

I was so planning on running my second HM in October, but I don't think it's going to become a reality.

There are many reasons. One is that I haven't been able to do many long runs this summer, and I don't feel prepared. Also, school is a big thing on my mind (and more important right now). And I just can't see myself spending $50 right now on a race.

There are a couple small club runs I am considering instead. I think that will keep me happy.

Tonight is an elliptical night. Be back later to post stats.

**COMING BACK TO ADD**

I used the elliptical tonight. It marked my first workout in more than a week. It felt pretty good. I also did push ups. I backed down to Week 4 of the 100 PUP, since I was sick all last week. I will eventually get through this darn thing!!

Today's stats:
Elliptical:
Time: 30 minutes

Day 1 Week 4 of 100 PUP:
Total push ups: 93

Me?? An Honors student??

Well, College of the Redwoods thinks I'm Honors material!!

I got a cool letter today from the college Honors department. It read as follows:


Dear Michelle:

Congratulations! You have the requisite GPA to join the Honors Program at the College of the Redwoods. The program offers several transfer and resume-building advantages to students like you. For more information about how to apply for acceptance into the Honors Program, please visit the Honors Program website at: http://www.redwoods.edu/departments/Honors/ or call the Program Director, Professor George Potamianos, at (707)476-4318. We, at the college, applaud your achievement and hope that you will give the Honors Program serious consideration.


Well, don't I feel special! (And yes, I do!) Especially since I was NEVER even close to an honors student the first time through college. So I am secretly overjoyed that I could be one now!

I think I might just check out this Honors Program after all!

I have the flu and I think I am dying

OMG, today was awful.

I started feeling sick last night, and by 6 a.m. today I was in deep. I woke up feeling like I had been kicked by a mule. My temperature was 102+, my body ached, my head spun with dizziness and I ended up puking up what was in my stomach, which ended up just being some bile, since I also puked up my dinner last night before I collapsed in bed with the chills.

I emailed my teacher, since I had class today. She emailed back and told, in no uncertain terms, to stay home! She doesn't want the sickness in her classroom, adding that she wanted me to rest. So I listened to her. Tim took the kids to school (they had a full day, despite the fact I wasn't at school), and that afforded me the opportunity to sleep ALL DAY. Sure, it was a NyQuil-induced sleep, but it was rest all the same. I really, really needed it.

I am thinking maybe it's a 24-hour bug, since I am starting to feel a smidge better right now. Or maybe that is the NyQuil talking. Whatever. Needless to say, I will be taking a few days off from working out until I feel healthy again.

I *swear* I will make it past Week 5!!!!!

I am making a promise right now to make it past Week 5 of the One Hundred Push Up Program this week. I have been procrastinating moving on to Week 6, and this will be the last week of said procrastination.

I think.

I am starting to not feel well tonight. I saw one of my classmates in the store today, and she was sick as a dog. She told me something is going around and she's not going to class tomorrow. And she coughed all over me. *ugh*

I was starting to feel a little weird this morning, but now I am really starting to feel icky. I am taking my Zicam in hopes that it helps reduce my sick time. I really, really don't need to be getting sick right now.

So I only did my push ups tonight, and will decide tomorrow if I will run then. Totally depends on how I feel, at this point.

Today's stats:
Day 1 Week 5 of 100 PUP (again, again, again!):
Total push ups: 126

Someone called the cops on us

Seriously.

This evening we were playing with the kids in the cemetery across the street, as we have done a million times before. It's an old cemetery, completely unfenced, and people play in there all the time with their dogs and kids.

As we were playing a Fortuna police officer drove up and stopped. I didn't think much of it until he started walking toward us. We stopped and greeted him. He went on to tell us that someone called and was upset that we were playing in the cemetery, citing how we also had been in there yesterday evening). The cop was polite enough, but basically asked us not to play in there anymore. WTF? Well, maybe if they want to keep people out so badly they should erect a fence around the damn thing.

Both Tim and I left feeling SUPER annoyed. We don't know who called, but we think it must have been an older person in the neighborhood who doesn't have anything better to do with their time than log retarded complaints with the police. I have seen so many people in that cemetery over the years we have lived here, and not once have I seen anyone get kicked out by the police.

Oh, and apparently it's OK to these same people in the community that our neighbor now has a freakin' junkyard filled with cars that he's "working on" for other people, and that almost all the other people around here have dogs that bark LOUDLY all the time at nothing. Yeah, that's fine but a couple people playing with their kids in the evening is a crime. If we had an honest to goodness back yard at this house, you'd better believe we'd play there instead. But all we have is a front yard that has NO PRIVACY from said junkyard, so we try to make due.

I know the people who called will never read this blog, because they probably still send letters through snail mail and don't have a computer, but I just want them to know they can F*** off. I am really starting to dislike Fortuna, and I want to thank them for making me even more anxious to move out of this town.

Anyway, I did have a race this morning, and most of my day was actually pretty decent (before this incident). I bettered my race time from last year by 42 seconds, which is amazing because there are some gnarly hills (and trail running) during the first half of the race. I had a nice afternoon visiting with my friend Kristen afterward. And now that is all overshadowed by this shitty evening. *sigh*

Today's stats:
Soroptimist and Arcata Fire Department Run:
Distance: 3.1 miles
Time: 33:39
Pace: 10:49 minute/mile

I didn't realize...

...that Jelly Belly made dog-poop flavored jelly beans.

I am sitting here "enjoying" a few Jelly Belly beans (wishing it was a chocolate cake, no doubt), which I plucked from a big bag that Tim brought home a few weekends ago. Most of them are flavors I don't care for, and the one flavor I do love, buttered popcorn, is nowhere to be seen.

Anyway, I was eating a Dr. Pepper-flavored bean one second, and then popped another one in my mouth. I thought it was the same flavor. Nope. Tasted like dog crap. Seriously, it was nasty. It didn't taste like chocolate (which it could have been since it was brown). I don't know what it was, but I literally yelped "What the hell is that??!!" as I spat it out. So very gross.

(*Oh, and if any Jelly Belly employees happen to stumble across this post, I really DO love Jelly Bellys. Especially BUTTERED POPCORN. So please send me a bag of BUTTERED POPCORN flavor. Thanks!*)

I have a race tomorrow morning. It's the same race I ran last year where they served gourmet pizza afterward. I am secretly hoping they have that pizza again. ;-)

So tired...

...that this is all I can write.

Today's stats:
Run:
Distance: three miles
Time: 32:54
Pace: 10:58 minute/mile

Two short workouts

That's all I could get in today.

I somehow squandered my five-hour break between my lecture and lab. I was all prepared to go running then, but got caught up doing a million other things during that time frame and ran out of time. Oopsie.

But I did get a very short run in after lab, and then a short stationary bike ride this evening. That is good enough for now.


Today's stats:
Run:
Distance: 2 miles (around a track)
Time: don't know

Bike:
Distance: 5 miles

Not much to say....

I am printing out 10,000 pages of lecture notes for my micro class in the morning. (OK, so it's only 60-75 pages, but that still takes FOREVER to print on my outdated machine.) Our teacher does all her lectures off these notes (via Powerpoint), so it's helpful to have them. But it's also a huge pain in the ass.

It doesn't feel like we just had a three-day weekend. It was way too short. And the kids are going to HATE me in the morning, since I let them stay up way too late tonight. They're going to be getting a wake-up call around 7:30 a.m., and they, like their mom, are not morning people. Hate might not be a strong enough word, actually.

OK, off to prepare their little backpacks for the morning and get myself to bed.

Today's stats:
Elliptical:
Time: 45 minutes

Day 1 of Week 5 (yes, again!) of 100 Push Up Program:
Total push ups: 131