The Ugly Side of Running and School is Out For the Summer

Today on my run, I felt something under my sports bra. I pulled my shirt and looked down to see a bug had somehow crawled into the space between my boobs. Remember when I said that running was sexy? Scratch that.

Well, it still is. Maybe. Maybe just marathon training is not sexy. Bugs sticking to me, coming to work covered in sweat, making sure I eat the right things before runs to make sure I don't have issues, effed up feet. These are all things that are not attractive. The feeling of strength is, but the rest? Not so much.

Half marathon training, you were cool with me. No disgusting issues there. Ah well.

School is out for the summer! Sounds weird, huh? I am all done though, and super excited. Today was my last day of Spanish, and now I never have to take it again. Unless... I want to. However, Spanish is a lot of busy work. I'm not sure I'm up to another year of it.

It's weird though, because now I'm going to have quite a bit of free time. Spanish took up a lot of time, especially with the commute. I'm not complaining.

Welp, that's all from me this evening, because I have to get up early tomorrow. On the day after I get done with school. Odd.

What part of working out grosses you out the most?

Procrastination and Getting on the Bike

I've officially become what I avoided being this whole school year. An extreme procrastinator.

Alright, maybe it's just because I don't have that much of this class left. It also could be because on Mondays and Wednesdays I end up having a big chunk of time to work on my work. But during the school year if I ever did homework, I didn't have anything distract me. Now... let's just say I've been doing a lot of multitasking. Not so good. I am doing my work... just other things are going on while I do it. I'm thinking this habit will change once it's the real school year again.

Other than homework, I did do something today that I haven't done in quite a long time. I rode a bike.

Yeah, it seems a little weird, but I just haven't done it in a long time. I've had my reasons, like my bike has been messed up for awhile. Every summer I have to fix it, and this summer I just haven't done it. Maybe I'm resentful of it. However, I was able to ride a friend's bike that is staying at our house for a bit to my dad's work and back.

I suppose I don't hate biking. I don't like biking in competitive or athletic form is all. One of the things that I dislike to do the most is ride bikes with other people because I am slow. That makes me feel crappy about myself, therefore building hatred towards the metal demon. (Okay, not that bad. Right.)

I like the idea of leisurely biking down a little road, not in a race setting. Spinning sounds awful.

That's all I've got for today, so I'll see y'all later.

What athletic activity do you like to do alone? With a group?

The Future Tense and the Conditional Tense

Gee, it's been awhile since I've talked about a lesson that a fictional character has taught me... but that's not going to happen today either. I simply don't have any lessons I can recall at the moment. So let's move on.4

Ah, I'm so excited that it's the last week of Spanish. After this, no more language classes ever! No more nights of piles of meaningless assignments. Lovely. Truthfully, I brought up the Spanish to talk about what we've been working on lately.

In Spanish (and English as well), there are two different types of future tenses. There's the Future Tense (duh), and the Conditional Tense. The Future tense is a tense that is used when we know that something is going to occur in the future, such as:
"I will go to the bank" or
"They will dance at the party."

For the Conditional, it's the future as well but it's what you would do in the future. It's not a for sure thing:
"They would bring it to the store tomorrow."
"I would speak to him if I could."

Why do I bring this up you ask? Well, I've simply got to wonder which version of the word is used with hopes and dreams?

Because let's think about it. Are you definitely going to become a musician when you grow up? How about how many children you're going to have? It's just a weird concept.

As for dreams and desires, I've been thinking about them a lot lately. Yeah, I need to live in the moment I know. However, with thinking about these dreams and goals, it's been making me think, "Why do we all wait and wait and wait to even think about going for our dreams?"
I use travel as my example. There are some days where I simply think, "I could just pack up some things and go on an impromptu road trip. Just me, the road, and the world." After that initial thought, reality sets in. "I have school, and a job, and how would my running schedule be affected?" We throw so many roadblocks in our way, don't we? It makes sense to think about one's responsibilities, but at the same time we don't want to be stuck, right?

All I know is that I don't want to be looking back on my life regretting how few adventures I had.

What are some goals you know you will achieve in your future? What are some goals you hope you achieve?

Spanish 203: Bring on the Homework

It's August? Did I miss something? No, that's just how time rolls ain't it? Yeah...

As I've mentioned many times before, today was the start of the last part of summer Spanish. It's a good thing for sure.
One of the changes that has happened is now there's a new professor. For the last two terms, I had a professor who was quite nice. She didn't really give us homework except for big projects, and it was very relaxed. This term? I'm a little worried. Mondays and Wednesdays are my more relaxed days because I don't have work.
I've been working on homework for most of the afternoon. I don't have that same time tomorrow. It's a little worrisome.
Three weeks though? Ah, I can make it.

I think that's one of the things that makes me the most excited about actual work though, you know? You don't get homework. Oh sure, there are jobs where you have to take work home with you, there's no denying that. However, you're getting paid to complete that work right? Probably would make homework more enjoyable if you were getting paid to do it.

What's something that makes work better than school to you? What's something that makes school better than work to you?

Summer Classes and Borders

One more day of Spanish 202! Yes! Three more weeks of Spanish, three more weeks...

Since we're talking about Spanish, I just have to say one thing: It's taking over. It always does the last week of class. (Then again, I'm not really sure I can say that because this is only the second part of a three part program. Still.)
Anywho, as I've said before when my life gets busy, my life gets messy. Random areas in the house are starting to have little piles build up. The bedroom just has things that need to be put away. The car? Terrible. And it's making me feel a little crazy. Still, I just need to concentrate on finishing up this "term", so as soon as I'm done tomorrow... it's time to get organized.

...After my run. And after work. Well, I'm guessing Friday is when organizing will occur.

I managed to stop by Borders today and take a look around. The depressing-ness of the liquidation finally hit home while I was finding a parking space. Giant yellow "Going out of business" banners everywhere...it's sad no matter what type of business it is. It's even more depressing when it's a store you used to spend hours reading and perusing the shelves.

Truth be told, even with sales the books were kind of pricey still. It was only stuff for about 10% off, but I did manage to snag a magazine for 40% off.

I wouldn't spend 5 bucks on a magazine normally, but getting that magazine for $3? Why not. Borders needs some love.
Although after I told my mom that, she replied, "Well what about when they were taking over all of the little businesses before?"
...I still like my Borders.

Have you visited Borders since the liquidation started? How do you feel about Borders?

Cancelled Class and Not So Healthy Eating

Ah, don't you love it when luck is on your side?

For me, that luck came in the form of class being cancelled. I don't know why it was cancelled, but it was good for me. I ended up working on Spanish homework all day though... So did it really matter?
(Yes. Yes it did. Because I needed time to work on the stuff.)

I'll be honest with y'all. Despite working on eating healthy most of the time, there are days where all I want to eat is junk food. Hey, sometimes I'll eat junk instead of real food. Not both, just instead. Sometimes I'll eat junk and good food. I think one of the benefits of still being fairly young is that I can eat pretty terribly some days and not completely destroy myself. Or maybe it's the running. Then again, sometimes it's the crappy food that messes with my running. Ah, I dunno.

So I don't eat the greatest sometimes. Which is a big reason I'm not doing a health blog. That, and I don't know how to cook healthy food (let alone any type of food, really).

Yeah, I'll admit I could eat cookies instead of a real meal. Which I have done before. Recently.

What not so healthy activities do you partake in?

Looming Homework

So I've got a couple of big Spanish assignments with approaching due dates, and I've been trying to work on them all weekend. How has that been working out?
...Eh.

You know when you have a lot on your plate, and then you just don't want to do anything? I mean, not just not your work, just nothing? Maybe that's just me.

Still, I think it's kind of the idea behind going cold turkey on something. For instance, when you decide that you're not going to eat chocolate anymore that's all that you want to eat. When you plan on starting an intense workout, you instead lounge on the couch for longer than usual.

Avoidance? Perhaps. I just... I just don't want to do my homework. Blargh.

How do you deal with a bunch of work that you're not in the mood to work on?

The Age Old Question Regarding Food

I'm done with Spanish 201! ...Now onto Spanish 202, starting on Monday. Huzzah.

I may only have nineteen years under my belt, but I know that there is one question out there that should be fairly simple that instead is one of the most frustrating questions to answer.

Where should we go out to eat?

I'm not the only one out there who finds this question so baffling, I know it.

Why is it that question is so difficult to answer? I don't know. It's especially bothersome in a place you know well, because you think, "We went there a few days ago, I don't want that."

90% of the time, everyone knows what they're in the mood for food wise. It's simply trying to analyze what the rest of your group would approve of.

Which usually means someone is disappointed. Maybe not always, but it's certainly not uncommon.

I'm tired. How will my long run fare being tomorrow? Ack.

How do you decide on where to eat when with a group?

Spanish Compositions and Dried Fruit

Blah, I dislike Spanish compositions, and I don't think anyone else does either. So we're not going to talk about that. We're going to talk about dried fruit.

Oh yes. We're living on the edge over here.

From the very first time I tried an oatmeal raisin cookie, I knew that baked goods and dried fruit do not mix. Sure, there are many people out there who would disagree with my stance, like my own father. Favorite cookie is oatmeal raisin? What's wrong with him?

Strangely enough, despite my hatred of baked goods with dehydrated fruits I love dried fruit by itself. During the school year when I ate breakfast in Valsets, I would always take a scoop of raisins meant for waffle toppings just to munch on. Not as a garnish, just alone.
My favorite dried fruits are craisins and raisins, just because they're so good to chomp on. However, if I don't measure it out... I could probably take down a whole bag. And dried fruit can be pretty calorie-packed if you eat a lot of it.

...not to mention what cranberries are good for. Ack.

Then why is it when I see a raisin in my cinnamon roll, I'm grossed out? Maybe the softness of baked dough clashes with the... really, what consistency would you call dried fruit? I'm at a loss.

I'm off to the cousins' house, so ta ta!

What is your stance on dried fruit?

Awkward Looking Running Gear and Summer Homework

Ooh, I am tired! But let's continue.

What do you get when you take fruit snacks....

And you add running shorts with a front pocket?

You get what looks like lady junk. It's hard to tell from the picture, but it looks... well, ridiculous.

Long run today, meaning that pretty much my energy was drained for the rest of the day. Also, because I'm quite intelligent, I decided to run during the hours in which the sun is at its peak. Yeah, after the million times I've said that I'll never do that again... Here we are.

One of the things about having school during the summer means homework during the summer. I haven't had much, but today I needed to work on my part of a group project. I started it hours ago. I'm still working on it. Goodness.

Oh, and fireworks were purchased today. Don't worry, we'll be repping our patriotism for sure.

I have to finish up my project, but I'll see y'all tomorrow!

What's the weirdest exercise clothes has made you look?

Making Errors and Making Bread

I'll be honest with you. I'm feeling not so great today, especially since I failed at a task that a trained monkey could accomplish. And you know how I feel about feeling like an idiot.

I did make bread today though, and that was pretty cool.

I wanted to see if I should make bread to have with peanut butter or eggs instead of English muffins in the morning. I shall test it out tomorrow!

I did try a little bite though. Pretty good! I got the recipe from a cookbook for teens... because I'm just that advanced.

I'll be honest with y'all out there. I don't know much about cooking. When I was in high school I always wanted to get into Foods class so that I could learn how to at least make something. Geez, I barely know how to boil water. I can bake alright, but cooking? I dunno.
Next school year though, I need to be able to cook. I don't want to eat out constantly, and Ramen isn't fulfilling. Therefore this summer I'm going to practice. I've been studying cheap food, scouring for things that sound healthy. This bread is one of the things.
I don't want to go to school tomorrow. Or do anything that requires work. I want to read, draw, try to make up a song on the piano and create imaginary vacations in my mind. I don't feel like getting the chance to screw up on something in the work setting again.

Hey, the bread turned out, so I'm not that incompetent I guess.
Hope everyone has a lovely evening!

Do you cook? How did you get into cooking?

Right Idea, Wrong Time and 10,000 Hours

My talent for having the right idea at the wrong time is at full power apparently.

Confused? Let me explain.

As you know, on Friday I went up to go get a textbook for my summer class. One of the two things I needed to get done while up there was that, and they just happened to be taking inventory.
"Well, you don't really need it yet. I mean, what are you going to do with it beforehand, look at it?" my sister told me.
"I guess you're right," I replied.

Hmm. Actually, I do need it. Looking over the syllabus, I noticed that we have homework due the first day of class. Hoo boy. That just means I have to get up there as soon as the bookstore opens, then finish the homework in the hour and a half before class. That's all I can do.

The second instance of the right idea at the wrong time happened today, when I went into town to go get books from my mom's business. I had the key... To her part of the building. Did I have a key to the entire building? No. Pish.

In other thought processes, I've been thinking about the 10,000 hours concept. The idea is that you need to spend at least 10,000 hours working on a skill to become an expert in it. Being very type A personality, I want to get a start on that as soon as possible. The only problem with that is I don't know what skill I'd like to develop.

Oh geez. It sounds like I'm talking about majors. Similar though, isn't it?

What's your 10,000 hour skill?