I'm having issues.

I keep eating things I shouldn't.  I'm not doing it because I'm hungry, it's for other reasons... I got a bit blue yesterday... nothing too major, but it all has to do with being felt like you're left out of things.... it all goes back to me being pissed off at my art people of Seattle... the scene is so small here....  I suppose if I wasn't so anti-social it would be better... but still... I am out of the loop and it makes me cranky...  once I overheard one of the professors in Grad School say that the Seattle Art Scene was fluffy... I was pissed off when I heard her say it but she was right... and this was not some fly by night professor - this is a big deal big time professor... you would probably know her name if you in art circles...

I think it all goes back to not feeling included in things.... I thought I had friends from my time at Crawl Space but nobody ever thinks of me to help with anything, nobody ever has time to go to first thursday with me...  booo- you all suck.  it's not just art people too....  it's just general dissatisfaction... it even happens with camp people too... I just feel like I'm not included sometimes... I know a lot of it has to do with my a-social behavior...  boo...

so I just sit here and eat....

is it really only Tuesday?

I could use another weekend....  it's sort of a letdown now, with the race behind me... nothing for me to worry about at the moment...  I guess that's good.  My cycle class was proud of me - that was nice... I have also seen the photos of me coming across the finish line...  it's not as bad as you might think...  I may have to order a poster of me dragging my ass across the line.

I think I will try to sit on the sofa just a little bit longer today... I always get to work way before I need to... not that I mind...

This morning I tried a trick that I saw in a running magazine... I stretched out my arch and calf before I got out of bed and then I immediately stepped into my slipper with my orthotic in it so my foot wouldn't hurt.  It worked pretty well... I just have to hold out another week or so until I get to have my foot looked at.

I don't really have any plans today... work, maybe going to happy hour with my mom and her friend... maybe I should go to the gym and work on my core...  I need to think outside the box when it comes to fitness now... what in the hell did I just say??  oh well, I know not what I do....

I think I'll go check my account balances now....

Can you spot the error?

If only I could run 26 miles in that amount of time... ha ha..

Back to the real world.

I am up and walking today... that's good news.  I think I might be able to teach today too!  woot woot...

Two weeks and I'll be at camp... that's kinda groovy.  I'm looking forward to a week off.

Here's a rundown from yesterday... I skyped with the other Jen Towner for an hour, then I went grocery shopping at Albertson's to buy Lean Cuisines which were on sale.  Then I went to the gym for CPR and AED training... I am certified now!  So... if you take my cycle class and you pass out I know what to do to keep you going until medical help arrives. 

When I was done with that I stopped by Fred Meyer and bought a rotisserie chicken for dinner... it was yummy... then I ate dinner and then sat around and watched television.

My body doesn't hurt as much today.  I'm glad that things are feeling better... I'm pretty sure my toe isn't broken, now today my hamstrings are really tight and my hip is a bit sore... I can always go see the chiropractor if I need to. 

I have a bit of a headache, hopefully I will get some advil in me and it will go away... 

My brain is now empty... I better drink more coffee and get rid of this headache...

Ouch.

So, I'm sitting here on the couch with my foot elevated.  It feels better today but my heel still hurts.  I've been using the crutches we have to get around the house a bit quicker... it helps but is a bit cumbersome... hopefully it will feel good enough tomorrow that I won't have to use them.

here are my official results (cut and past job from the website)...

Bib

FName

LName

City

State

Country

Age

Sex

ChipTime

ClockTime

Overall

SexPl

DivPl

AgeGrade

Pace

Ttlrace

Ttldiv

Ttlsex

5 Km

10 Km

9 Mile

25153

Jennifer

Towner

Seattle

WA

43

F

2:26:03

3:05:49

9647

6119

853

48.3%

11:09

17593

1799

12560

33:36

1:06:23

1:37:15

Read more: http://results.active.com/pages/searchform.jsp#hot_links#ixzz0s42GpSra

you have to be aware that there's about three minutes there that I was in a porta potty to trying to get out and in of spandex... I had to wait so long at the start line I had to pee by the  time I got to the first set of porta potties.. that's alright... it's all part of the drill I suppose. 

Overall I have to say I think it was sorta fun.  I think it would have been more fun if I had been able to train a bit more... and my foot hadn't been hurting.  Will I do it again?  Maybe...  I am going to wait until my foot gets better though... I've signed up for the torchlight run but I might have to skip it if it doesn't work out... that's the end of next month...

The rest of my body is a bit stiff but it will be alright... I'm going to take it easy today and rest.  I have CPR training today so I will hobble down to the club to do that, but other than that I think that's it.. rest and ice, rest and ice and advil!

here are some photos from the race... not too exciting - sorry.

The Crowd before the race.

Me freezing before the race with my "free" banana...

My feet post race...

Overall - good times... maybe next time I'll get someone else to do it with me!

Now it's back to the sofa and the dogs...

I did it.

No, I didn't ask out Mr. Arms but I did run the stinking half marathon without too much trauma.  I did get tripped up once but I didn't fall... that kind of made my knee feel a bit funky... then I ran on top of a turtle in the street and twisted the bum foot... but I kept on running and here I am now to entertain you.

I think I will spend the rest of the day on the sofa.  It seems a reasonable payoff for the grueling 2 hours and 20 minutes I ran over hill and dale and Tukwilla! 

I took six advil, took a bath and am now icing the foot... later I will pop the blister that has re-formed under my toenail!

I will post more later... remember- I have tomorrow off too so I will probably lay around  the house again.

I should go to bed soon.

It's 8:07... I should got to bed soon.  I need to get up at 3:30 in order to get showered, dressed and downtown by 4:30...  my foot has been a bit sore today, but I can't decide if that's just a normal thing... I've tried to rest it...

okay, if I break my foot they will give me a ride to the end.

if I throw up I'm sure there are garbage cans along the way to hurl into...

If I have runner's tummy (irritable intestines if you know what I mean)... I have dark pants I'm wearing...

I've got the body glide for the chaffing...

I have id for the free beer at the end... I have my bus pass to get home...

I have my pride...

what more does a girl need?

besides a date

run run run run run run... I guess there's always walking if the whole running thing doesn't work out...

Wecome to my weekend!

I am sitting here - I don't really have anything to do besides going to the chirpractor again - he's giving me a tune up in the hip area... 

Yesterday I went to the race expo and got a bunch of goodies... I also got my arch taped up professionally... I'm going to keep the tape on through the race - that sort of puts the leg waxing I'm supposed to have today in jeopardy but I don't care.  Hopefully she can just work around the tape.  I'll let the hair grow in those weird parts (I don't care)....

Last night we had a camp meeting.  It should be good...  It was good to see people I haven't seen for a while.  I am pretty psyched about it... there are going to be enough new people it won't seem like the same old thing... woot woot...

A friend of mine is going to be walking the half marathon so we are going to be meeting downtown to take the shuttle to the starting line... I have to be there at 4:30 am... yikes!  I'm going to have to go to bed really early tonight...

I think this afternoon I will go over my race outfit...  I'm not working today so I think I may post later...

The final countdown.

We are quickly going downhill to Saturday... I don't quite know if I'm mentally ready... okay, of course I am...  Today I am going to head down to the marathon expo and pick up my number, t-shirt and goodie bag...  there will also be a bunch of vendors so I will check them out... I think I'm going to take a long lunch to do it.

The people from SPIbelt will be there so I am going to go check them out... I have attached a link to one of them for your reference... you use it when you run - keeps your personal items close to your body with no bounce...

Today I also need to figure out the rest of my clothing choices...  I don't want to be one of those people who suffers during the run because of my chaffing... I also plan on keeping my body glide nearby...

Yesterday I used KT Tape to tape my arch... it felt pretty good but it's still a bit sore.. 

oh look at all this product placement I have decided to do a dual post on Jeneratorrunning and the Jeneratorrant... oh the good life...

Okay, onto other things... last night my Zoe decided that she needed to relieve herself on the sofa... bad dog.  She got a big old spanking from her momma.  She's trying to make it up to me this morning...

I think that's all I need to tell you this morning...  Have a nice day!

A compliment.

Yesterday I went to the chiropractor and he gave me the all clear to run on Saturday... that's kind of nice.  I've decided to not run at all this week and just wait for the marathon.  okay, back to the compliment... when he was finishing up he complimented me on how much I've done to change myself since I moved back from Chicago.  He said that I've made noticeable changes and he can tell (more muscle etc...)... I thought that was kind of nice.

Yesterday I got this preview of the course for Saturdays race.




I'm not feeling too daunted by it all just yet...

It turns out the buses don't run as early as I need to be downtown so I have enlisted my mother to drive me down at the crack of the morning on Saturday....

Today is going to be nice again... maybe not as sunny but it will be as warm.... I may bare the legs today... woot woot...  I have to teach tonight and then that's it... I'm officially tapering  tapering is lingo for runners when they rest before the race in order to be all fresh for the run... okay, whatever...

I better go taper.

Sleeping in (sort of).

I slept in for 45 minutes this morning... not really sleeping in but I'll take it.

Yesterday turned out to be pretty good.... I was in a good mood, singing, jumping around... it took having a pretty good day to realize how cranky I really was.... I don't like being cranky.  I like being happy. 

Yesterday the foot felt pretty good all day... I think the key is wearing the orthotics...

This morning the sun is streaming through the window and it's a bit warm... I may have to bare the legs today... but I am still going to be wearing my sensible shoes...  it's just the way it goes right now.

I don't know what to do with myself right now... maybe I'll just sit back and watch the Today Show...

Here we go.

On the bright side this morning?  I only have a four day work week... another bright note?  I can sleep in tomorrow AND Friday!  I have a chiropractic appointment tomorrow morning so I could sleep in until 7 am if I want to...I think I'll put in the earplugs tonight and see if that works in keeping me on the other side of wakefulness...

This morning I have a new body part to complain about - that would be my abs.  I took a core class on Saturday and I am sore.  I've not taken any core classes since I started teaching on Monday and Wednesday nights... it's right before I teach so I usually get set up on the bikes and get settled and I don't have time.  I think I may have to start taking at least half of the class and then leave early... half a class is better than none I think.

I think work won't be so intense this week - which will be nice... I can't handle intense all the time...  this week it's all about marathon prep... I'm down with wearing the orthotics all week,  resting the legs on Thursday and Friday, armpits waxed on Friday.... what else?  Oh yeah, I need to figure out what I'm going to wear...  I think I have it down... compression tights, running tights (I know it seems redundant), bra top, spibelt (to carry my cell phone and jellybeans), smartwool socks, shoes... all I have to figure out is my top... I have a few tops that I wear to cycle in and I think they would work alright... I'll have to see how it goes...  As long as I look cute... oh, I always look cute though... well, unless I've just woken up...

What else do I need to do today??? I think that's it... woot woot... three weeks from today I'll be at camp.... that's a good thing.

ending it off in a better way...

today has turned out better than the rest of the weekend... took Dad to Lena's and he had "the best omelet ever"  that's nice, I had one of the best chicken pita's ever....  after lunch/brunch I went to whole foods and stocked up on arnica products... arica gel, and pills... hopefully they will help with the foot and knee stuff...  I'm actually feeling better... I think the plan of wearing my orhotics nonstop is going to be a good one... got to keep those tootsies in the right place...

I spent about four and a half hours in my studio working on my website and puttering around... even though I'm not making things it makes me feel like I'm doing something beneficial for the art career... 

Also while I was at the studio I took this photo.

Kind of scary don't you think??? I think my hair looks much better now (and my eyebrows...) and you can't see my boobs in the current picture but they are much better looking now... more in control and less in the way...  the smile is still the same though... and I have a better choice in watch... I know, it's the small things sometimes...  Don't you like the mullet?  oh, the sign of the times...

It's only 8pm but I could go to bed right now... no problem... maybe I'll turn on the Food Network and watch the Simpson's Cake Challenge...  mmmmm cake.

Oh, if you want you can always check out the updated website with the audio and video...


here you go!

Lump on a frog on a log in the swamp...

That's what I was last night.  I had a big old pity party... I'm still having it a bit.  Boo... I suck.

Slept in until 7:15 this morning.  That's pretty good.... I'm taking my Dad to lunch today for Fathers day... I think I may take him to Lena's... it's low key and most likely it won't be crowded.

Less than a week to go and I'll be done with that stinking running thing.... at least for a while.  My foot isn't feeling too bad... I've decided to wear shoes all week that I can wear my orthotics in all week.  Baby the foot and then run on it.  I talked to someone in my class yesterday and she said I shouldn't have a problem running 13 miles.... last year she had only ever run 9 miles before she did it and she did fine.  I'm a big goofball...

I think this afternoon I will go to the studio and work on things... My website has been upgraded to the multimedia kind so I may upload some audio files to the site.

I think I will also go through my old hard drive again and try to find photo's from the  good old days....

I think that is all I have to say this morning...  I'll talk to you later....

Cranky again.

it never ceases to amaze me how cranky I become on the weekends... poop.  I only gained two plus pounds last week...
the smell of bacon is in the air...  i could eat a pound and a half right now in one sitting...

why don't people ever ask me to do anything?  What is wrong with me?  do people actually think I have a full life?  I have a lot of things I do but it's far from full and fulfilling...  I feel like a leper...

boo hoo... I'm crying on the inside.

Someday soon I will sleep in.

I am hoping to sleep in sometime soon... I might be able to next Friday - I"m taking the day off before the Marathon to go pick up my stuff at the expo.  I'm still not sure this is a good idea.  I have an appointment with my chiropractor on Tuesday - he'll tell me whether or not I should do it.  I want to do it just to prove that I can... I hope my semi-injuries don't hinder it.


This afternoon I"m getting my hair fixed... I can't believe it's already time to get it done... time just flies by.  Before you know it I'll be dead.  I was also invited to a patio party in Bellingham.  If I get done in a reasonable amount of time I will drive up there...

I guess that's all I have this morning...

I'm sitting with the boot...

on my foot... boot on the foot.... boot on the foot... boot on the foot.

Today went pretty well... work was quiet and we got an early dismissal at 4 woo hoo!  I was only going to give it the 20 minute test at the gym (that's when I have to stay at least 20 minutes but then if I want to leave I can), but ended up staying three hours... I walked for 40 minutes, did the pilates class and then I tanned and went in sauna for a few.... please don't judge me about the tanning... it's free and I don't go all the time.

When I got home I iced my knee and foot and put the foot in the boot... foot in the boot

Now I'm watching Say Yes to the Dress and will go to bed when it's over.

Weigh in will not be great tomorrow.  I might be down but it won't be close... boo!

It's here

Finally it's Friday again.  This week has gone by fairly quickly which is good...  I want to complain, but I've been doing that too much so I will just post some photos that I took off another old hard drive last night.  It got late so I only took a few off the drive to share...

This is me at the Dickeyville Grotto in Wisconsin

This is the cemetery out back

I can't remember which building this is in Chicago but it's an interior by Louis Sullivan I think

 

These are a few details from my studio wall my first year in school...

Looking at all the photos brought back some good memories... I miss my friends in Chicago, and I miss the creative environment I had back there... although I wouldn't want to go through grad school again, I'd definitely go back if things were right....

I may dig up some more photos later and post them...

Happy Birthday Zoe!

That baby dog of ours is one today...  she celebrated by waking me up. Good dog.

Yesterday work was fairly uneventful which was nice.  I'm tired though.  I think this is either because I keep waking up because of that foot splint I've been wearing (I finally contacted the podiatrist yesterday)  OR.. I've been a little stressed out at work so now I'm just able to calm down and my natural response is to be tired.

Today it's more of the same.  Tonight at Western Bridge is an opening of a show by my friend Josh Faught from school.  I should go, but the Seattle Art scene just makes me cranky and my social anxiety gets the best of me... We'll see how it goes.

Deeg from Pilgrim Firs posted these photos of my tree yesterday...  I think they're kind of nice...  it's only taken twelve years for her to get decent looking  Okay, she's been decent looking for the past five or so... but for a while there it was iffy....   I remember when they planted that tree in my honor... it's funny how quickly time goes isn't it?

Oh well.... only a few more weeks and I get to visit her.

only nine days until I have to run... hmmmm.... I wish my foot felt better... I may end up having to be one of those people who runs part way, walks part way.... that's boring, but that's what I may have to do.

I am numb.

I woke up this morning with a numb toe.  It's a bit annoying, but my arch and heel feel better.

I spent most of last night eating.  I shouldn't ever NOT go to the gym... I get into too much trouble... things just fall into my mouth and I can't help it.

Yesterday I had yet another semi stressful day at work...  it should be getting better seeing that people are starting to go on vacation.  I really shouldn't get too stressed out about things but I can't help it... I get stuck in the middle of things that I have no idea about... or don't get enough information about and then everything needs to be done last minute... I need all the information people so I can do my job!

What else??? The Nordstrom Rack announced yesterday that they are moving into the mall that is adjacent to my office building.  That's the best piece of news I've had all week!  I won't ever have to go out into the rain to find a new pair of shoes...

Okay, my resolutions today - eat more vegetables, drink more water, not freak out....  I think I need more coffee...

Day two.

Yesterday I was greeted by a non-working voicemail system again... argh... finally after a bunch of phone calls and visits from technicians we have a properly functioning voicemail system.  It turns out sometimes technology makes things a lot harder than it needs to be.

On a brighter note - IT'S PAYDAY! and I got my night brace yesterday and I wore it last night.  I woke up quite a few times but I think it's because I'm used to pointing my toes an twisting my ankles when I sleep and this wouldn't let me... it's alright. My foot feels better this morning... I think the key is that I will take some painkillers before I go to bed and maybe it will keep me from waking up.  If not, I'll get used to it eventually...

Today??? I don't have any plans except working... I would go running tonight but I think I'll hold off until Thursday.  Less than two weeks until the Marathon (okay half marathon)... 

Here we are.

Monday is here again... it doesn't seem too horrible.  But we will have to wait until we get to work to decide for sure.  Don't get me wrong... I love my job, but I think it's time for a vacation... it's coming soon and I will be back to normal...

Yesterday I ended up going to the studio instead of the dance recital - I actually made some work and took photos and ate ding dongs...

And I took photos of ding dong wrappers!

I also managed to add some more images to my website and revamp the colors... I may switch back to my original colors... but I sort of like yellow...

here - take a look

On a different note - the cute actuary brought me coffee from Chicago yesterday... I recommended a coffee place to him and mentioned if he wanted to he could bring me back some Black Cat blend... he did and I owe him big!  I would have given him a great big kiss, but that would have been inappropriate... anyway, I'm old enough to be his mom... okay, maybe not his mom, but his older sister...  it made my weekend.

Yesterday I also returned that horrible night splint...  my heel hurts a little bit but I will survive... the knee is back to normal... oh body, please hold out for two more weeks!  then you can go to hell...

I think that is all I have to report this morning...

Old photos from Italy / quick photo collage

These are some photos I took off my old hard drive from Old Crusty (my old laptop).  Most of these were done in 2002 when I was in Rome.  If you want to know what they are or where they were taken please let me know.

Too much?

My momma just mentioned that maybe I work out too much...  she may be right... but if I didn't work out I'd just sit around the house eating all the time.  Case in point last night.  I managed to power through some fried chicken, a chocolate muffin, ice cream and nachos....

I woke up with a sore knee and back... blurg.

Today I'm not so sure what I'll do.  I should go to the sudio, I should go to Olympia to my nephews dance recital, I should clean something... I should get a life.  I've been feeling a bit disenchanted again because although I have a lot a friends I really feel alone and that my life has past me by without a lot to show for it....  I'll snap out of it.  I'm missing my friends in Chicago... even if I moved back there though it wouldn't guarantee happiness...  I just would like life to be a little different.

Oh, I have a zit on my lip too.. greatness!

I think I'm ready to go to bed.

It's only 6:10 but I'm ready to go to bed.  It's been a long day...

I was exactly the same weight this morning as I was last week... at least I didn't gain anything...

I had a massage - it was nice... we actually went for two hours and I have some nice bruises on my back from the cupping... I betcha that's why I'm so tired... I get wiped when I get a massage.

My knee started freaking out a little bit during class today so I'm going to have to keep an eye on it.  Just what I need, another body part that's hurting...

Weekend I love you.

I am well rested and ready for the weekend.  I am going to face the music and get on that scale... then I'm going to teach and then go get a massage...

I feel pretty good this morning otherwise... I think I'll try to post more later..

It's my friend Karolina's 30th birthday today... if you know her wish her a happy birthday.

photos galore!

photo!

It turns out that I was at the maximum of my free online storage.  I forked over five bucks to get a bunch more so I will upload photos like crazy to get my money's worth!

It is finally Friday!

Last night I didn't go to the gym - that was kind of nice... I figured I should give my foot a break.  I ordered a night splint for my foot. 

It looks like this.

I tried the other funky one the other night but had to take it off because it pulls up on my abnormally long second toe and it hurts... I am going to return that one this weekend.

Yesterday at work we continued to have phone issues... I'm not sure who decided on our phone people, but I not sure it was the best...

Let me see.... did I mention that I have been trying to convince my cousins daughter to come to camp?  well, I am...  I am also trying to arrange cycle class coverage for my classes while I'm out to camp - and the other instructor who teaches on Tues/thurs is going to be gone so she is looking for people too.  I am going to cover a bunch of her classes so  I will be raking in the money!  okay, maybe not raking it in, but I'll be getting a lot of exercise and a bit extra to go into the moving out fund.

I am thinking that I may have to get a massage tomorrow.  I have a half price one coming my way and my legs are a bit tight.  Maybe I will call today and find out if there is an opening.

Maybe today I will investigate why I can't upload photos to the blog... it's pissing me off a little bit...

ARGH!

It's all downhill from here

Yay - it's Thursday!  It's all downhill from here.

I am currently trying to convince my cousins daughter that she needs to go to summer camp.  It's not an easy job but I'm going to try.

Yesterday I mentioned the show Work of Art on Bravo... it turns out that it's on at 11pm so there is no stinking way I could have stayed up to watch it...

I don't have much to talk about this morning...

I am still having problems uploading photos - I may have to investigate and change templates...

Today I am having lunch with my friend Marjorie... she's in Law School at Harvard (I bet you didn't know I had smart friends did you?)...   I think we will be going to the food court in our building - they have a pretty good Mediterranean place.... I think I may have to have some falafel...

It's the same old thing...

I sit here on the sofa and complain about something hurting on my body...  today it is my heel... that good old plantar fasciitis again.  The ankle is good so something else has to go out...

Last night I ran for about a half an hour - it felt pretty good but I probably should have not done it just to let my foot rest.

I think if I were to take a look back over the posts I've done over the years I probably have the same pattern of being cranky  pre-vacation.

Tonight on Bravo is the premiere of Work of Art.  It's a reality show for Artists.  I know one of the persons on the show... well, I don't really know him, but I've met him.  He taught at school...  I also accosted Jerry Saltz in the elevator once when I was in school.  He is one of the critics... I would equate him to the Nina Garcia of Project Runway...  who knows if the show takes off I might apply to be on future edition.  You know I have experience being on television while making art...

Onto other things... not much going on... I work, teach, then come home and watch So You Think You Can Dance...  oh my life is so exciting...  t-minus seventeen days until I have to run thirteen miles...  I know I can do it if my foot will let me....

The longest Monday on record.

Let me just start by saying that I am glad that Monday is over.  It started all with me being greeted at work with a non-working voicemail system.  I spent about half an hour standing on a counter messing with circuit boards and power switches... the system restarted itself... but that's not how I wanted to start my day.  The day didn't get a lot worse, but it didn't get much better.

four and a half weeks until camp... that will be nice...

It's looking a little nice outside... who knows - maybe I will bare my legs to the world...

I think that's about all I have to say this morning... sometimes I miss the old days when I had unlimited time to post in the mornings... I'd just sit there and watch the Today show and post.... oh the good old days!  I've gotta run!

What do I do now?

I'm feeling a bit cranky.  I'm ready for a vacation I think... or something... camp will be here in a month or so and that will definitely help with the attitude adjustment.

I'm just feeling the itch of not being in an art related career... I know there are a lot of people out there in my boat... I am just feeling that I might need a change at some point.

I need changes in all areas... I'm feeling a bit stunted....  I am grateful for everything I have but I think I need something different... 

Here's  a little video of Stinky I took the other day...  She's pretty cute...

We'll see if it processes correctly...

I am happy to report that my ankle is back to normal.  I think a tendon was out of place or something... now I'm just back to my heel and arch hurting a little bit.  Less than three weeks to go and then I have to run 13 miles....  I think I will try to do a long run this weekend... at least 12 miles... just to see if I can do it.... I'm sure I can... I'll keep on icing my arch to make sure I don't hurt it more... if I was smart I would just give up running...

okay, onto other things.... why is it that Sally Field never has a problem finding a man on made-for-tv movies but I can't seem to get a date?  I'm just wondering...

It's raining again...

I slept about ten hours last night... it reminded me of the good old days of college - okay, college was not all that great for me the first time around but you get the idea.

I like sleeping... here - let's plug some items that I think contribute to a restful nights sleep
First we have the buckwheat pillow - it conforms to the neck and head and supports it while you sleep..

i've been using one for a long long long time - at least fifteen years...



Then I also use a body pillow to support my body when I sleep as well... I'm a side sleeper so it keeps my hips from going wonky...






If I ever manage to find a significant other they are going to have to sleep in a different place because I don't think there will be room for them.



Today It's raining again so I think I will go to the studio...    I don't know what I'll work on - but it's a good day to go.

My ankle is back to normal... I don't think I'll run for a while on it though... I have three weeks until the half marathon... the only other thing I have lined up running wise is the torchlight run...  I may have to move onto other physical activities to keep me challenged...

Nap time...

Here's the rundown...
I was down at ww... but not enough.
I survived cycling and my ankle is feeling back to normal (knock on wood)...
I went to the Mariners game and they lost 11 to 2.  But I got a free hat and ate kettle corn.

When I got home I took a bit of a nap - I think I may have to go to bed at 9pm... I think I won't have a problem doing that...

Today in cycle class Mr. Arms wore bike shorts... maybe I should call him Mr. Legs instead!

A bit better.

My ankle is better today - my arch is back to hurting now.. it only woke me up once during the night.

Today I am going to weigh in and hopefully I will be down - I don't think it will be enough but that's alright.  I'm back on track.  After ww I am going to teach (with a heavily guarded ankle) and then I am going to the Mariners game - my first one of the year...  That's all I've got planned today...  tomorrow I think I'll spend the day in the studio...

Hey, buy a bike! and shoes!

I don't know how I feel about this advertising ...

Okay, this fair trade foot lotion is something that I can really recommend... it's the best ever!

Okay, I think I need to get a move on... test out the foot... drink more coffee....

National Doughnut Day

So here we go, trying to make money on the blog... since it's National Doughnut Day I thought I would add a link to a doughnut pan!  Who wouldn't like to make doughnuts at home?

Oh I think that's about all I can must in the promo department...

This morning my ankle is feeling a bit better... still not 100 percent.  I may call the doctor today if it doesn't feel better...  I bought a brace for it yesterday and wore it last night.  I managed to only wake up a few times... once because the brace was too tight and a few more times because of the cat...

Tonight I am moving back to the house... I think the puppies will enjoy that...  I think I will too... although I do enjoy being on my own.

Yesterday I ordered a Deb Sokolow limited edition glass from the benefit for Three-Walls.  Three-Walls is a gallery in Chicago with a residency program... if I ever get my act together I will apply for a residency there... and as you know (or you should know) Deb is one of my friends from Chicago.  She recently had a piece up in the MCA and I own a few of her books.  I have more pieces of work by her than I do anyone else...  here is a link to her website

What else do I know about????

Not much....  I guess I should go.  I have to pick up doughnuts before work and I have to be there at 8 to let the phone people in...

Later gators!

ANKLE!

I am sitting here with my heel in a bowl of ice water... I'm hoping soon the excruciating pain from the cold will go away and I can pay closer attention to So You Think You Can Dance...
oops.. I forgot I was posting... it got a little cold there.

I lasted about 15 minutes then I had to take my foot out.... it warmed up and then I put my brace back on.  I also loaded up on advil

I forgot I was posting again... it's almost time to go to bed... don't worry I'll be back in the morning...

Tomorrow is national doughnut day (no - I'm not kidding...) I have to go to Top Pot and pick up doughnuts for the office in the morning...

Testing Testing...

I signed up for Amazon Associates... people use it to make money off their web sites... I'll probably make five bucks... you never know though...

I don't think it's working...

What I'm dealing with this morning...

I woke up at 3am with a pain in my ankle... it feels as though a tendon or ligament is out of place and it's making it difficult to walk.  I hope it will just resolve itself within the next few days.  I think it happened in the middle of the night - at some point I took off my arch splint - when I woke up later that's when it hurt.

I am one of those people who "pops" their joints,  I am constantly rotating my feet to make my ankles feel better... that won't be happening today.

Hmmmm all of this the day after I received my information about the half marathon... I think maybe the running gods are trying to tell me something...

I was planning on going running today but I don't think I will be with the ankle like this. 

Yesterday I purchased plane tickets to New York in February for the College Art Association Conference.  I used frequent flier miles so I only had to pay five bucks.  It's good to plan ahead... I'll be flying in and out of Newark but that's doable... I like New Jersey... I've been to the Ikea there a few times and the airport three times!  I can get a shuttle into the city and it will only cost 30 dollars round trip.

Now I just have to arrange for lodging.  I can always sleep on the futon at Maria's and Chris - my old home when I lived there in 2007... that might be a bit cramped... I may start saving and get a hotel room.  My friend Marty is thinking of going... maybe If I plan early enough I can get a good deal and split it with her (or some other grad school friends of mine)...  it's good to plan ahead...

I hear the coffee pot calling to me... I think I will hobble out to the kitchen and get another cup...

Different sofa, different cats

I had a busy day yesterday.  It was pretty much nonstop until 8pm.

I did manage to get my fellowship/grant application in but I'm not counting on getting it.   It's good just to be in the practice of applying for things.  I also got my key card fixed for the studio... I should be able to get in again - no problem.

The rest of this week is pretty non-eventful.  I have the usual, teaching and work - and then on Saturday I get to go to a Mariner's game with a few friends from ww.  It should be fun - even if we don't win.  I also get to move back home on Friday.

I have to get back to focusing on saving money for the big move out...  I've been doing alright but I can do better... I just need to quit buying shoes (but it's hard)... 

I am still having problems uploading photos to the blog... I know you miss them... so do I.

I think I will go get another cup of coffee and consider getting ready... or maybe I'll just sit here a while longer...

Tuesday - like a Monday...

I had to wake up early this morning in order to get everything cleaned up where I've been staying... I have to transfer things over to the other house I'm moving back to.

I would do most of it tonight but I have an appointment after work...

I didn't get around to finishing my application yesterday.  I will try to get it done during lunch today and then take it up to where it's due today... I'm not sure if it's going to happen though.

Yesterday I bought a night splint for my foot  to help with the plantar fasciitis... it might work if it didn't pull on my extra long toes... ouch... I had to take it off in the middle of the night.

I don't think I can dilly dally much longer here... need to get back to cleaning...