Bits of Nostalgia.

Whoa, so, how annoying was yesterdays post? Terribly whiny I say.

But today, I am full of vibrant energy. Feeling generally good about the world and listening to music that sounds something like this:




(it is recommended that you also listen to this while you read the remainder of this post)

I think it was about a year ago next week (or this weekend) that I was headed off to the Dominican Republic for a week in the sun and although we didn't hear music like this while we were there, it somehow takes me back to that place.



Also, Cyd Charisse died the other day, ya know, and as I was running on the treadmill and watching the news I saw a clip from Singing in the Rain. Now, I'm no old movie aficionado, but I do know Singing in the Rain and Cyd Charisse and after a few chunks of time on YouTube I was reminded of what a spectacular dancer that woman was and a looker to boot.



Also, because all I do now is watch the news and run, I saw some tributes to Tim Russert yesterday and it occurred to me how when someone dies we eulogies them so quickly and then we move on... and that is a necessary part of the grieving process I think, but I like the idea of the memory of those we love living on. A life is bigger than a eulogy and influence is long lasting.

My grandmother's memory lives on with me. I remember her regularly and she somehow still influences what I do. I really loved that woman and she taught me a lot about living. She was a feisty lady and I'll never forget how in her later years she would take her cordless phone from her house and go for walks around the block... assuming that the phone would still work even if she was a block away. I think grandma would have loved cell phones.

And, I've been getting a lot of German spam lately to my work email. It reads something like this: "Probieren Sie es - Mann Lebt nur einmal" or this: "Potenzprobleme? Ab jetzt nicht mehr"
Oh, Jah!

Finally, tomorrow I am taking Robin to the beach with me whether she likes it or not. I've taken a day for relaxation and fun, so come rain or shine, we will be showing our white limbs off to the world. Actually, I don't know if anyone's limbs can be as white as mine are currently but I do know that I will still be slathered in spf30.

Awesome!

Turn that bike around.

I feel a bit off today.
A bad mood, maybe?
Possibly getting sick.
Feeling a bit disconnected and frustrated with the Wednesdayness of Wednesday.
Not quite here, nor there. Wednesday, that is.
I have a kink in my neck.
I also have a brand new office chair that doesn't quite fit my desk, which is especially frustrating as I made my way to Office Max in an effort to do some quality sitting and find the right chair. I found it, but it is too short and one couldn't know that unless one tried the chair at the desk.
Oops.
So hopefully it will go to use elsewhere in this building.

You know, the truth is that I always have a small case of wanderlust, but summer brings it on big time. That is what I feel.

I'm trying to curb this all by running.
Yesterday I headed away from work trying quite hard to go home because I wasn't feeling well and didn't feel like working out, but I managed to turn my bike around and go back to the gym. I think I might have the same struggle today.

Ok, so if I'm not Debbie Downer enough for you, check out this little piece of info.

Stick a Pin in It

Gross.

I'm going to go run around the hall or something and shake off the funk.

Here, kitty.

This morning on NPR, someone dedicated the segment to their cats. You know how you can give money and then they mention your name or you dedicate to "Jacob, the love of my life." or "My beautiful children whom without I could not live."? Well some cat lady (ahem) had the segment dedicated to like frisky and whiskers or something like that... and the catch phrase was "stay off the counter!"

I'm just sayin'.

I had a nice night watching Jessica in her new esteemed role at the Hideout and benefiting from her access to beverages. It was funny because somehow at one point conversation turned to the blogosphere and the internets and my blog(s) was explained. Jessica said it could potentially be my grocery list and I thought that was quite funny because it could indeed be my grocery list. In fact... just kidding. And you know, I wouldn't necessarily read this because I realize it is incredibly censored and not especially interesting, but I do like it as a record of the things I have done and will do. It is a lot of nothing, and I am totally ok with that as my goal for this summer is to do a better job of embracing nothing, so rather than feel self conscious about being boring, I will embrace this and all its nothingness.

Continuing on that track (whoa, puns!), I ran 3 miles yesterday and I rocked it. I even sprinted at the end. Look out Bastille Day 5k. I'm comin' for ya.

Turns out I can't get an iphone until next March... unless I buy myself out of my contract. I may do this. I think it is worth it.

I'm contemplating joining netflix again. This feels like another logical step toward embracing nothing. Or cable? Maybe cable, with movie channels. Then I might not leave my house. Danger! Danger!

Minus the deets.

I haven't told stories here yet today, not because I haven't had the time but rather because I don't know exactly where to start with my writing.

I could tell the story of the graduation ceremony that I helped coordinate and kept making me emotional even though I had no emotional investment in it. Mary said it is like Extreme Home Makeover in that it is supposed to make you emotional. It is even orchestrated for tears.

Or, maybe about how Tina and I traversed across the cityside to work on a project for our dear friend who is moving. It will be sweet when it is complete and I look forward to sharing it.

Or maybe even more eventfully, how I thought I was caught in a tornado on Sunday morning and the pane of glass on my front door was shattered. The best part about that story is that my landlady somehow managed to blame me for it.

But you know, I just am not feelin' like givin' the deets today. What I will do is post an embarrassing picture of Mary, detailing her sunburn she obtained whilst driving from PA to IL with her whiter than white arm out the window.



I will also say that I feel especially jealous of her travels this summer.

To Fridays

Jessica made this for me.

She describes it like this: "made from words i took from the laze posts 6/4-6/11. the bigger the words are the more often the appeared in the text."

Pretty sweet, but could I shutup about work and summer already? Oh, and bandaids. I mean, c'mon.

I'm tired today.
There was a thunderstorm last night like no other.
I am completing work duties today and tomorrow so I can then move into (here goes) summer mode. I just want to go to the beach instead, but I suppose the weather is preventative.

I will be back with a vengeance next week, witty quips galore.
much love.

Whoa, I almost forgot.

http://thelaze.blogspot.com officially supports Barack Obama.



We at theLAZE (ok, me) believe that Barack is the best candidate for president of the United States and will do our (my) part in getting him elected.

Congrats on being the Democratic Nominee, Barack. You rock.

The Kinks.

I feel like a million pounds have been lifted off my wee (although recently worked out) shoulders. I have completed my coursework for the school year and although I am not in the clear yet, my year of hectic commitments is coming to an end. After my work this Saturday, I will officially be able to call it summer. A sweet summer it will be. I have my vacation time mapped out and secured. I have tickets purchased for summer concerts, days specifically set aside to do nothing, projects to be completed and overall I just feel really good. I've almost made it through a hectic and semi rough patch. I feel successful.

AND, I'm ready for a "break", or something resembling a break.

Now, on to more important things.

I am not wearing any socks today and although I think this is perfectly fine, it occurred to my while I was waiting for the bus that maybe this is inappropriate work environment such as mine. See, I prefer no socks during the summer months because my feet (being extra large) get very hot and uncomfortable, so providing them with a little extra breathing room makes for me being a much happier camper. This being said, I work in an environment where I certainly push the dress code boundaries to begin with often wearing jeans when that is technically against the rules, so it seems that jeans and revealing a bear ankle may be a bit much.

But! Have no fear. When in need of fashion justification, take a trip on over to the Sartorialist.



Thanks, Sartorialist!

And this gentleman is rockin so chic grey in his locks, just as I soon will be.

In other consumer news, I want one of these, like, whoa.



My plan is up in November. Let's make it happen!

And in world news.
China put a ban on plastic grocery store bags. Go China!

Finally, in personal workout and health news.
I continue to eat better than I used to.
I also have continued to work out regularly and have run over three miles twice now, so I know can make it through my upcoming 5k run. I like that people are impressed when I say I'm running a race because it is quite silly to be impressed with something so short... but I'll take your oos and ahs. Keep em comin'.