Four Miler

I just had a great run with one of my favorite ladies, Kiki from Pinch Me.  I haven't run a road race since...2008?  That one was a 10K in Maine with my friend SP.  

Today's race was a 4 Miler down in Arlington and it was great.  

Credit: http://pacersevents.com/fourcourtsfour/index.html

The course was downhill for the first mile, then pretty flat then almost 100% hill for the last mile.  Woohoo!  And I was pretty pleased with my time.  

I'm certainly not at a point that I'm worried about running a specific time, but felt good with just over 10min/mile pace.  

939 496/864  270/430   1594 Sarah V.  27 F Silver Spring      MD 41:45.3 40:25.3 10:07

I do have to brag on Kiki for a minute.  She's running a half soon and another marathon in the coming months (yes?) and she ran eleven miles BEFORE we started the actual race.  She is AMAZING.  :)  And running with her may be the only way anyone could motivate me to run longer races.  

Maybe that IRL Half Marathon will happen after all.  MF?  Mrs.?  Jenna? Kiki?

Things I Love Thursday...

Title blatantly stolen borrowed from Gala Darling.  She's fabulous.

So, the things I love...

1. Wren's ears.  Seriously, if any dog ever had cuter ears, I'd like to know.  I want to frame then.  It's a sickness.

2. Kelley C-W's amazing voicemails.  To know love, you must hear her voicemails.

3. Hot showers.  Hot coffee.  Hot soup.  Anything hot, especially on a cold, wet, miserable day like today!

4. NPR.  Yes, yes I've said it before.  Ad nauseum.  But I do love them.  And Netflix.  I could live without cable, gaming systems, or even (gasp) internet if I have NPR and Netflix.

5. Grilled ham and cheese plus tomato soup (tomatoes Mom!) for dinner.  With Hubster as an added bonus.

6. Blog stalking.  :)

Alright...I'm 99% certain we will be losing power in the next 15 minutes thanks to the MONSTER storm that's about to roll through.  So, later!

Scattergories

Brain is running wild with random things...

1. Hubster and I are in the initial stages of planning a trip to Argentina's wine country late in the fall (so spring/early summer in the Southern hemisphere).  We're trying to work it out for both our Moms and my Uncle (DOU!) to join us.  I'd be lying if I didn't say that I could get used to this planning a vacation every 6 months thing.

2. I'm going to be speaking today at a mini-forum on education, the achievement gap, and my education-related passion.  It's a group of W&M kids in one of Drew's classes.  Do any of you know Drew?  He's amazing.

3. The above point reminds me I have a post on education, the achievement gap, etc. etc. that I've been wanting to finish and post.  I'll get on that.

4. I've had a bit of free time of late and I can't seem to make myself get the painting done.  I just have a few touch-up jobs around the house and then our bedroom.  But UGH it's hard to motivate.  Sometimes I want to paint EVERYTHING.  And sometimes I say screw it.

5. I may have even more free time than I had anticipated (hoped or wanted) because of another "delay" with the job.  Thanks to you who have offered advice.  I'm definitely keeping my name in front of everyone I can.  It just looks like paperwork is tied up with City Council or some CFO of the department.  Frustrating to say the least.

6. Because of the ridiculousness of now waiting 2.5 months for this job, I have resolved to start looking for another job.  On Monday.  Right after I paint.

7. There's been a lot of talk about kids in my life lately.  I have a ton of friends who are pregnant, will probably be pregnant soon, or are talking about having kids in the foreseeable future.  Some days I'm on that bandwagon.  Some days I'm not.  And last night, Hubster and I talked for awhile about WHY we want to have kids.  And it brought up a lot of questions like "Is it something I feel we have to do because it's socially desirable?  How will kids change our relationship?  Is having kids something I absolutely want to do and if so how (adopt? have our own? etc...)?"

8. I really adore coffee. Have I mentioned that?

And I'm out.  Happy Sunday!

I have a husband, who knew?

I don't think I've told you all (er...you two), but I have a HUSBAND!  Really, the last month you could have said that to me and I would have laughed.  Hubster spent all of February covering two services at the hospital and generally was out of the house from 5am until 9pm seven days a week.  It SUCKED.  But I was thankful we got the CT/Vascular rotation for the shortest month of the year.  woot!

This month!  Oh this month is altogether different and amazing!  At least for me.  Hubster is board out of his mind doing GI procedures all month.  Yep.  Eight hours a day of colonoscopies.  Sounds fun, huh?  But he's out the door by 6:30am and back by 4pm...sometimes earlier!  It's a miracle.  :)

And, bonus, it means that he won't be sleeping through our upcoming vacation!

Who knew being married to a doctor could be so great?!?

Antsy

Credit: http://www.4seasonsoutdoorservices.com/mnlawnpests.html

I'm officially getting antsy about this whole job thing.  I've been told my start date will be March 28th, but as I haven't signed anything or received more than bits and pieces verbally and via email, nothing is certain.


My subconscious rebelled this morning and forced me to eat a giant piece of cake for breakfast.  I'm taking it as a subversive move against my personal and professional desire to improve nutrition.  Apparently subconscious Sarah says "ha! NO!" to that.  Oh well.  Back on the bandwagon tomorrow?

This American Life

Have y'all seen this show?  I'm pretty sure it was only in production for two seasons but it is AMAZING.  I've mentioned before that I love NPR and This American Life is one of their radio shows that was made into a TV show a few years back.  It's now on Netflix Instant and you should check it out!

Credit: podingtonbear.com

Reasons why TAL is the best:
1. IRA GLASS
2. Crazy men who don't fully understand the implications of cloning a pet bull.
3. They're short enough to not bore you, but engaging to capture your attention.
4. Ira's voice.
5. The great conversations that always start.
6. Talk to an Iraqi
7. Ira's glasses.