When You Need A Little More Happy

I woke up this morning at 4:33am because I was having a nightmare. With the state of the world right now, is it any surprise? Actually, it is a surprise. My nightmare was about being attacked in bed by a snowshoe crab.

A crab.

I'm not even entirely sure I know what a snowshoe crab looks like...is that even a thing...'snowshoe crab'? I'm sure I've heard it before... and I'm sure as hell not going to Google it because it looked terrifying in my nightmare and I don't want to research it more. Someone else get on it. I'll describe it to you and you can tell me if that's what it looks like.

And that's besides the point. I was being attacked because my arm got caught underneath it and, as everyone knows (in the world of this dream) if you get underneath a snowshoe crab, it will attack. My mother was not five feet away on the phone, distracted, and I could not get her attention to grab me a spoon.

Because everyone knows that a shiny spoon distracts the snowshoe crab. You gotta get the back of the spoon underneath the eyes and mouth of the crab and it calms right down, like a baby. (That's a thing right? Babies like shiny things and calm right down when they have them. Kind of like how I am with pizza and wine.)

I hope my brother and sister-in-law aren't reading this because I really want to babysit my nephew and I'm not entirely sure I'm making a very good case for myself.

ANYWAYS. I couldn't call out to my mother to get off the damn phone and get me a freaking spoon because my throat was dry and no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't call out 'MOM'! I had to save my own damn self and pull myself out of the dream....

....then I searched quite dramatically around my bed for a crab (not there, thank goodness). And pulled up the news on my phone and proceeded to cry over the recent mass shooting out in California.

MY MORNING. SO FUN.

So I've decided to give myself an exercise in creativity. Everyday I will post something ridiculous and silly. Because I want my world to have more ridiculousness and silliness in it. I am tired about crying over mass shootings, home grown terrorists, ISIS terrorists, Trump, refugees, bombing Syria, and I am really sick of how much DAMN FREEDOM we give snowshoe crabs, letting them just go wherever they please and letting terror win. NO MORE CRABS.

I would like to take this opportunity to apologise to whatever poor marine biology student stumbled upon this post in search of more information on the snowshoe crab.

THEY ARE TERRIFYING. DO YOU HAVE A SPOON??

Right now here are 10 things that make me happy:

1. 'Tis the season for Elf. Thank goodness for that movie. It's wonderful and I'm going to watch it on Friday night, in a onesie, with pizza and wine. Then I'm gonna watch Home Alone. Because if Kevin McCallister can face the scary world, so can I.

2. This post that I wrote.  It's very silly and I love it. Also, I have come so far.

3. In order to save money for two trips to London next year (and also to fuel my Whole Foods addiction...*hangs head in shame*) I took on a part time dog walking job. It makes me so happy because everyday my clients (the dogs) are ECSTATIC to see me. "You're here?! For ME?! And we're WALKINGOMGGGGGGG!!!!" Who gets to have that much happy at their jobs? If you need a good laugh, I'd be happy to reenact the dog wiggle dance for you. Also, I have this one lab that can't handle how excited she is, so she lays down for a belly rub immediately when I come inside the house. Another dog, who is a very big black lab, gets so excited about a walk that he barks like a maniac then needs to go get a toy to calm himself down. Dogs are the kind of happy I want to be.

4. I'm going to go to London in February. This makes my heart very, very happy.

5. Coffee. I live in a world that has coffee.

6. My nephew is almost 9 months old and he is the cutest thing EVER. He's cuter than puppies, guys. I can't share pics cause he's anti-social media and that is OK. Just know that he'll melt your heart. And someday I'm going to teach him the very best swear words. Then he'll be the cutest, foulmouthed child. And I'll be so proud I could give something back to this world.

7. I actually got Candy Cane Joe-Joes this year. I'm already down one box and have another waiting in the wings.

8. I have two weddings next year that I am SO EXCITED about being in. Next summer is going to be stellar.

9. All the very best humans I know are reproducing. Which is real good. We need all the good humans we can get.

10. I thought at some point I would have gotten sick of Chipotle. Nope. Just tried out their Sofritas in a burrito bowl and it is all I can think about right now. WHEN can I have that again?? Despite recent issues they've had, it can't scare me away. You know, if you want to get me Christmas gifts this year, I would not be opposed to Chipotle gift cards. Seriously. One time in London, I went so frequently that the workers at the St. Martin's Lane location would just slip me a free burrito card because they knew how happy it would make me.


Okay. That's all for now. I'm going to go make some coffee and tackle some things for the day. Probably gonna carry a spoon around with me all day. Fucking crabs....

xxLindsay

Grad School Woes

I should be working on my review of Pride & Prejudice to post for my blogger Jane Austen Book Club. But the words just aren't coming.

I think I need more wine.

The blog post ideas have been coming in fast and then get stopped up like a clogged drain when it comes time for me to actually start writing. I blame grad school. I just can't function as I normally would when I have all these future plans up in the air.

Oh yes, grad school is up in the air. This may, or may not, have been the reason I demolished half a bottle of wine and found myself sobbing over the Keira Knightly Pride & Prejudice last Thursday. Not something I normally find myself doing, but ya know. Stress buster right there. Let's all be grateful I didn't eat my emotions by consuming a Domino's Pizza, then spend the next week complaining about my dairy issues, my face looking like I rubbed it in the pizza and...just ew. (PULL yourself together woman. There is NO need for that kind of behavior.)

This is how I feel right now. I wanna curl up in a blanket and hide. With my wine and my shitty pizza and Jane Austen movies. Oh wait...CHECK. Did it.

Funny thing about going to grad school in the UK. You can't just go on a visitor's visa...even though a visitor can be in the UK for up to six months and technically my first term is only two and a half months. I'll be back in the US in time for Christmas. But you can't go over and study on a visitor's visa (and would people please stop suggesting I "just try it"? How 'bout I try smacking you? That'd be more fun than me breaking the law. So stfu. <----look br="" i="" m="" stress="" swearing=""> Here's the deal. I need a student visa to go over, regardless that the school wants me. In order to apply for said visa I only need TWO things. 1-Proof that I can pay for school. Check. I have a letter from my loan company (bless you Sallie Mae) that they sent over right quick when I asked, that says I have the money. Love that that qualifies instead of having to have the money actually in my bank account. Thank you, UK government. No seriously...that does make things easier.

Number 2-I need a CAS-Confirmation of Acceptance to the school. That's not the email the school sent me saying "OMG we totes love you, come join our hippy ways in drama. Let us show you the way to a life of happiness and thriftiness. You won't even miss food. Too expensive, let's improv our emotions instead." (I wish they said that.) A CAS is not the really nice letter and packet they sent my way a few months ago. Loads of lovely, heart-palpitation inducing, information about my new school. Nope.

The school has it's hands on my super official, special, one-of-a-kind CAS letter. And they won't give it to me until I've given them my first payment. A payment of $5,000.

Okay, no worries. That's what my lovely loan is for and I want to pay with the loan. I don't have the money and while my parents may, I'd rather not ask them as I'll need help with cheaper things...like plane tickets, visa fees and maybe, possibly, some lovely apartment decorations and new school clothes. But really just the plane tickets and visa fees. Cause ya know....savings? What savings? I used to work in theatre, as a dog walker, gym desk attendant and waitress. Also I love wine. So, seriously...what savings?

I checked with my loan company, who's being so unbelievably helpful and understanding that it's a little mind blowing. They explained that my loan disbursement dates (the two dates that were chosen for the loan money to be sent to the school and then to me) were set by the school itself. And oh look...the first disbursement date is for October 15th....so that's only a week and a half AFTER my first day of school.

And you can't enter the country to go to school without a visa damnit. (Stress swearing.... #sorrynotsorry)

I emailed the financial director, who chose those dates. First she asked me to call the loan company because she didn't think that changing the dates (or picking the dates) was something she did (then WHO pray tell?!). So I did and the loan company said that she did and she can and no they won't give me a number/email for financial director lady to contact as she should already have that info....because she accepted the loan and chose the dates.

Emailed financial director again. Response: "Oh okay. I'll change those."

.......

That was over a week ago.

I was going to call her today. And boy will she not like that conversation. I get all "super perky, uber helpful, sunshine-y, customer service-y" when I'm pissed about something. Not many people know how to handle that (think over-caffeinated squirrel) and it's gotten me through a lot of bad customer situations. People will bend to my will because nobody knows what to do with all the freaking sunshine and positivity. However, she's lucky cause today is a bank holiday.

Nobody wants to mess with someone this perky. Because she just might be a murderer. I'll admit to nothing.

Ergo...tomorrow I will be calling and explaining to her why I need that loan money last week, in order to get that CAS emailed to me, in order to apply for my visa which could take as long as eight weeks to get approved for and if I don't get that visa before the start of school, then I can't go to school and then I cancel my loan, and oh no...then the school won't get that money. (Run-on sentence FTW! My undergrad English professors will be so happy that I'm using my degree well...and not continuing on in the field, as I'm quite inadequate to do so.)

I'll say all that way nicer. I think.

Here's hoping I can send in for my visa before the end of the week.

Cheers,
Lindsay xx

P.S. So I have a contingency plan if I end up canceling the grad school plan...I'm going to go on a spa bender. Oh yes. I've gotten a massage three times in my life now, and even on this last trip for just reflexology on my hands and feet, they still want me naked. I feel you. I want to be naked too. Did shit just get weird? Have some wine, you'll get over it.

Obligatory "Oh My God, I'm naked underneath this robe!" shot. You must do it.

Crohn's Girl Running

There has been so much goodness and delight and sunshiny happiness going on in my world of running that I have had no time to update anyone on it. I haven't even filled in my parents on all the gory details of everything I've done and I live with them.

I just wanted to revel in all I've done this summer. It's gone by too, too fast. And isn't that said every summer?

Funny how most adults, majority who aren't even teachers, speak like summer time is break time and it's NOT. I still go to work every day (until grad school in OCTOBER!! *Pending Visa*). Just for some reason, summer is the time of "The Trips to Every Place I Can Think Of". Here, stupid airlines that give me no snack, take my money. Take me places!

For a good part of this year, I had taken on the challenge of participating in Team Challenge. I've never done anything like that before and let me tell you....I am so glad I did. Team Challenge is an organization that runs/walks in races and raises money for CCFA, Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America. Amazing group raising money for my people. How could I not get involved after training for my first race ever, the Disney Princess Half Marathon, and finding that I so absolutely love training for a half. (Yes, 14 yr-old Lindsay, I did go insane. Who'da thunk?)

Also, joining Team Challenge and being on the National Team (I had no local running team near me, since I live in the middle of nowhere) I got to meet amazingly cool runners who like arts and crafts as much as I do:

From my mentor, Abbe. Totally still have this, as it is AWESOME. She gets additional awesome points for spelling my name correctly. Even relatives, who leave comments on my FACEBOOK wall spell my name incorrectly. 

 The whole National Team met for the first time at the Napa to Sonoma Wine Country Half Marathon weekend, though some have been doing Team Challenge for a few years and know each other well. After just a weekend together, I'm certain I'll want to do Napa again...if only to kick the boys butts in time. I can shave an hour off my time in a year right? Totally sane goal...uh-huh yes. Watch me. I do love a challenge that involves more than "let's see how fast I can get my iron levels up, decrease my roughage, and reduce flare-ups so my GI doctor doesn't put me on any scary drugs." Oh the life of a Crohnie, you have no idea how fun. Surprise stool samples required.

Are you eating right now, I really hope you're eating right now. I mean, at my dinner table, we only talk about bowel habits when we're eating. So much sharing right now! How EXCITED are you?

Fun fact: when I first signed on to the National Team, my amazingly awesome and perky team leader, Adina, was excited to hear I had Crohn's as that meant we had the most amount of people with the disease on the National Team then they had had in a long time. Surprise, surprise, (at least to me) most people running for Team Challenge don't have Crohn's or Colitis but are running for others who do. That almost made me cry right there. And trust me, if you do Team Challenge, you cannot make it out of the Pasta Dinner without shedding some tears. Seriously. So many inspirational stories from people and it was truly inspiring to see how many people were running in honor of someone. I was really glad to be a part of it and actually able to run, unlike so many others who have Crohn's and Colitis worse than I do.

Fun fact #2: Until last October when I went to my very first CCFA support group meeting, I had never met anyone with Crohn's or Colitis. In all my 14 years with the disease. I only ever heard that some one's friend of a friend had it. So when I was actually at the half and met tons of people my age with it, it was a little more mind blowing than I expected.

Other than partying it up with a whole lot of other people with bathroom issues (guess what? we know ALL the poop jokes. Yes. All of them.), I loved this half marathon because it was in WINE COUNTRY. If you know me, you know I love my wine.

We celebrate long runs with WINE. I'm sure that's a total recovery rule. In my book. "Can't feel my knees! I know, I'll drink wine! BEST IDEA. I win."

 I ran a good race, better than my first half, not in terms of time, but the fact that I ran longer. I ran 12 miles before my digestive system woke up and alerted me to the fact that if I did not start walking soon, there would be some impolite issues to deal with soon. My first half, I made it just 10 miles. (Full race recap of the Napa Half coming soon. With more runner-friendly details other than how much wine I was drinking...although that is a fun detail in my book.)

This is what happens, though, when you don't actually follow any training program at all. As a part of Team Challenge I was given a run plan to follow from our very cool training coach (each team has their own coach), but I still have issues wrapping my head around the fact that I'm a runner. I get intimidated by expectation and often times my "training" is just running a few times a week and seeing how long I feel like going. I think after the joy I got from doing this one, and my steel-hard reserve for doing better than the boys next year, I will actually put a little more thought and effort into working on a run plan. Like, for serious guys. I'm going to start lifting weights and swimming (ohhhh cross training! Look at me go!) and everything (intervals anyone?).

I'm kind of pumped.

A few more pictures from the run:

After a long run, bananas are the only thing my stomach can tolerate for the first 45 minutes after I'm done.

How cool am I with my water belt? Yeah...you wish you were this dorky.

 This was my first time fueling up in a hotel room before a race, so I went all out and bought my favorite Gluten Free Honey'd Corn Flakes and Almond Milk for the job, ate a banana and....some tuna straight from the can. I can't help it, it's delicious and fuel/stomach friendly. I have some weird, but fun! (sarcasm folks...), dietary issues. It's not a necessity for me to be Gluten Free all the time, but before runs I'm sensitive to it if I've been eating it the days leading up to the run. Weird right? It's like a build up or something, that affects me.

Pre-race fueling in a hotel room...when you dietary issues. Always such a good time.

 The day before the race was one of the best I've had all summer (except for my birthday). I got invited to a winery that's not usually open to the public. We got a special lunch, loads of wines to taste and were allowed to wander around the gorgeous old house and property. I hope to write a post just on that winery. It really was an amazing way to get ready for a race.

So. Much. Wine. Clearly, doing it right:

Day before a race, I always seem to wind up with a wine glass in my hand. I think it's just my process now. 

 For some reason, after my half marathon, I went into a runner's coma for three weeks and didn't run at all. Then one day I decided I wanted to just jet off to Chicago to visit my sorority sister, Carrie, and check the city out. She just happened to be running in the Zooma 10K the Saturday I would be there. So, you know, just as the recovery rules go, after a half marathon, not running for a few weeks, I decided to push myself and do the 10k.

AND THEN I PR'D! And stuffed my face, and drank my weight in bourbon and whiskey.

If I haven't said it before, I'll say it now...clearly, I make good choices.

Ooh look, jewelry!!

Zooma 10K is awesome cause you get JEWELRY!!

 I managed to beat my old 10K time of 1 hour and 17 minutes and did it in 1 hour 12 minutes. I blame it all on my friend Carrie. I didn't want to embarrass myself by slowing down and we were both kept fairly distracted by the beautiful scenery of running along the lakefront and gossiping catching up. Also...damn that sun was hot. Felt hotter than running in Florida for the Disney Half.

I was proud enough that I went ahead and ate enough dairy to cover me for the rest of the year. Normally, I keep my distance (only slightly sensitive, don't worry, no serious allergies here), but how could you go to Kuma's Too and not order the mac and cheese? We added the bacon and peas because clearly we are genius'.

I love you.

 After that I made love to a burger. Medium rare with herbed goat's cheese, fried red onions, corn salsa and a lemon vinaigrette. Screw fries. With a burger that good, it needs no accouterments.

I'm fairly certain that burger made me a woman. Thank you Kuma's.

Ohmygod. I will dream of this burger FOREVER. Goatsnake = forever love. And my beer was as dark and thick as espresso. Best stuff I've had in awhile.

So over all, my running choices have been gooooood. Who would have thought that someone with Crohn's could have such adventures? And adventures that don't involve the words "surprise stool sample day"? Definitely not 14 year old me. When I was diagnosed, I was fairly certain, as certain as an all knowing teen can be, that my life was over. No travel, no good food, no exercise (cause back then, exercise was seen as something that would cause a flare-up), no friends that would understand.

Over the last 14 years of having this horrible, no-good, very bad, super lame, disease, my life has been pretty stellar.

And oh look.....I'm going to move to LONDON, ENGLAND for grad school in October for Acting. BOO-YAH. I win.

Cheers,
Lindsay

Cooper River Bridge Run 10K Recap

The Cooper River Bridge Run 10k took place last Saturday in Charleston, SC.  I went down and stayed with two of my most favorite people in all the world, my best friend Danielle and her husband, Brandon. They've been doing the Bridge Run for years and this year I finally was able to fly down to run it with them.

Danielle and me several trips ago...I go down to Charleston a  LOT.

Danielle and Brandon. They are the awesome and make me happy.

Advantages of living at home with your parents. Money for travel. Don't be too jealous...I live in the middle of nowhere. I have to travel to go have a social life sometimes.

Except when my friend Jen drags me to do frightening things, like watch Jurassic Park IMAX 3D.  When JP first came out, I was 10 I think and I cried almost the whole way through. I survived this viewing quite well, but not going to lie, I had help in the form of two mini bottles of wine in my purse. What? I get overly stressed in these kinds of situations.

Sorry off topic. RUNNING.

Back to it.

BUT FIRST....a picture of Brandon and their dog Kingsley.  Cutest boxer ever.

Especially when he's asking somebody to open his doggy door for him.  He's such a delicate flower.

Distracted by cuteness. Annoying right?

So yes, I flew down to Charleston on Thursday night and we ran on Saturday. Friday night was lots of hydrating and chilling. Had an amazing dinner at Mustard Seed in Mount Pleasant where I got pork chops that were to die for, garlic mashed potatoes and veg. And there was a glass of pinot grigio tossed in there for good measure.

For some reason, both this time and for my half marathon, I've ended up having wine the night before. Not usually something that is recommended before a race.  But just a glass or two, nothing to seriously dehydrate me. But I think it's working for me. Or maybe I'm just a wino.

We all got up around 4...or I mean, just I got up around 4 because I am on a strict anti-jet lag sleep schedule to help me get on British time before I arrive in London next week (!!!). Luckily, Brandon is the sweetest guy ever and set the coffee pot to brew at 4am for me. Everyone was up by five. I had my pre-run food, always a cup and a half of coffee (having it that early is the best, it means that it gets my system working faster than normal and the only reason I'd have to use a Port-a-Potty at the race will be cause I drink too much water), and I had 2 slices of Udi's Gluten Free white bread with peanut butter, and a package of tuna fish that I put in a bowl and sprinkled with lemon juice. I always need a little protein before going on a long run and tuna fish with lemon and nothing else works so, so well for my sensitive stomach.

We got dropped off at the race by Brandon's mom and walked about a mile to our corrals. There were around 40,000 people running in the race. I don't remember how many were at my Disney Princess Half Marathon but the Bridge run felt less crowded.

Can you see the submarine? Yup, there were guys running with a fake sub.

Front of the sub. I'd be terrified they'd run into me. But I didn't see them during the run at all, just afterwards.

They were very well organized with the corrals in a straight line, lots of music planned for every quarter mile and plenty of water stations with volunteers. I'm glad they weren't hawking any sports drink. Most of the time, for a run this short, I just want water. Even though I carry my own bottle with me, I always end up needing more if I'm going over 5 miles.

Dani and I planned to stick together the whole time. A first for me! I've never really ran with anyone keeping pace with them. Dani was worried I'd leave her in the dust because I've been running more often than she, but we really ended up being a perfect duo. We brought our music with us and kept it relatively low so we could point something out or make small talk if we wanted. It worked out perfectly.

Pre-race obligatory shot. New tall running shirts from Lululemon. Very comfortable.

We started off at a slow pace, somewhere around 12:30, but still running. At about mile 1.75 we started to head up the incline of the Bridge. We had already talked about the fact that neither of us had been doing incline work and we planned on walking it anyways. With corral we were in, I'm not sure we could have run up it anyway, as the crowd got quite thick going up and everyone was walking. But we pressed on running until half way ("just to that big metal sign that runs across...just a little further! Come on we can do it!"--I turned into a right little motivator for the both of us. Weird place for me to be, let me tell you.) We walked for just under a mile until we reached the top where it levels off and started running again.

On the way down the bridge our time got quite a bit faster than our starting pace. We were doing 10:30 at one point...again, I haven't done incline work much, so therefore I haven't really done downhill running either. Kind of hard to really control yourself. I was worried about going too fast and burning out or hurting myself to be honest with you. But we managed just fine.

Mid-Bridge obligatory shot. Yep. Who didn't wear sunscreen or bring sunglasses? Clearly the Northerner.

Running the rest of the way we did around the 11:30-12:00 minute pace which worked for us. I just felt happy the whole way. At no point was I feeling run down or like I was itching to go much faster. I felt comfortable. What a weird, happy place to be in when running. I was worried I wouldn't hit that point.

In the book I just read, the author Tom Holland calls it the "cardiovascular turning point". The point when it turns from uncomfortable to comfortable. Or something like that. I don't know, I didn't come up with it. I'll write something up about that book eventually. It was a pretty great run read.

We ran through downtown of Charleston, which was the best part I think. A lot of locals come out to cheer the runners on, so it was a bit motivating seeing a lot of them sitting on front stoops playing their boom boxes loud and yelling for us.

By the time we turned the last corner, I looked at my Garmin, only 1 mile left, I yelled to Dani "SPRINT and we'll beat your time (from last year)". And sprint we did. It felt great and we were laughing the whole way passing people. We managed to beat her time last year from the Bridge Run, when she did a lot more walking, of 1 hour and 20 minutes. We clocked in at 1 hour and 17 minutes. Two minutes over my 10K time for the Disney Half, but I think I still did better because the Disney Half was fairly flat for the first 10K. The Bridge Run...clearly not flat.

Just past the finish line.

Definitely a blast and now I'm torn between what my favorite distance to race is...10K or half marathon. I have my first 5K Color Run coming up in May with my friend Jen, which should be fun to add into the mix. Clearly doing the beginner runner rules backwards. And I also have another half marathon planned for the summer....but more on that later!

My favorite photo. Post-run, post-food happiness. 

The end of the race was definitely the only irritation. After Disney, I just expected that all races had their water and food located somewhere after the finish line. Not here. We had to go searching for it in the park and it was the furthest booth away. The closest booth....free bottles of BBQ sauce. Not exactly the thing I'm craving after a run. We were kind of pissed. But once we found the water and bananas, we felt much happier and enjoyed the fact that I was clearly turning into a lobster. It's okay...I barely see any light during the winter in Rochester. It was nice getting a little extra that day.

Well, now that I've blogged about running, I should go do some. Mornings before work are my favorite, but the fog this morning is so dense. I hate when you're at that point of...run now in semi-crap conditions, but still bearable or run later with the chance of worsening conditions (rain in my case...ugh.)

At least I have a brand new pair of Brooks to look forward to...and they're PURPLE this time. Clearly, I have a love of running in purple.

 Lindsay xx

P.S. The food down in Charleston is beyond amazing, and my post-race brunch was no exception. Dogfish Head 90-Minute, two fried eggs, pulled pork with BBQ sauce, biscuits and, my favorite, GRITS. Lawdalmighty, do I love some grits. Creamy and delicious. I suggest you head down south and try some immediately. 

Brunch was done at Fleet Landing. Brandon's mom and her friends went ahead of time and reserved a table for our big group. BEST idea ever. They do it every year and obviously it is worth it to have friends not running the race.

Forward, Ho!

April is the month when all the best things are happening....we'll turn a blind eye to the shit weather for now and pretend it's not happening. Stupid snow.

On Thursday I leave in the morning and head on my way to Charleston, SC for the 10k Bridge Run. I am so pumped about it! I'll be running it with one of my best friends from college, Dani, and the weather is going to be fabulously warm. Charleston has definitely risen in my esteem over the years and is quickly becoming one of my favorite places. Well...it helps that Dani and her husband are there, but still, very awesome city.

Even though I've already done a half marathon as my first run, I'm still a bit nervous for this run. My runs lately have been a bit laborious....I blame the weather and the dreadmill workouts, ick. And I have done little-to-no incline workouts. So running up a very high bridge will be interesting. We're already planning on walking it. Way to go positivity. I am positive it will be annoyingly difficult to run up it, so we will walk.

This will also be my first run that I set out to run alongside someone else. Caitlin and I for the half marathon knew we were just going to go, go, go and not pay much mind to running together as long as we *survived*. Well we did survive, hooray! And now I get to see if I can manage a better time for this 10k than my 10k time during the half...which was 1 hour and 15 minutes. But even if I don't PR, that's okay as that's not what I'm setting out to do. I'm setting out to do it along side my best friend and have a good time.  I hear there's beer afterwards. SOEXCITED!

Once I get back on Monday, I'll only have one week before I'm getting back on a plane and heading to LONDON. Yes, from now on I will be saying it like that...LONDON. I am so excited. I've already started my jet lag preparation  I got up at 4am this morning....and it KILLED, just so you know (and funnily enough, I'll probably still be late to work this morning...sucking at life, that's me!) Next week, I'll aim to wake up at 2am in hopes that I won't be a zombie the first few days in LONDON. Starting on that Thursday, I'll have to be peppy as I'll be starting in on my three day workshop/audition for a grad school. 

Nerves and excitement to the point of vomiting.

I don't want to talk about it.

I'm hoping to do a few reminiscent posts over the next two weeks about my trip to London last year. But we'll see if that happens...I've been running around a lot lately with trying to get applications and UK border visa stuff appeased. Also there's been much crying with my hands deep in failed pastry dough attempts.

Idon'twanttotalkaboutit. 

Stupid fucking pastry dough.

No matter. Hopefully more shit will get done in these next two weeks than it usually does...(she says with hesitant positivity). 

In a completely, random and unrelated to anything I've been talking about here note....I've finally discovered one surefire thing that causes me stomach pain. Hallelujah! Vitamin C with rose hips. And it's the rose hips that does it, as I've definitely taken plenty of vitamin C before with no problems. It's super exciting discovering stuff like that as my stomach/my Crohn's can be so mysterious about what it hates. Can digest dairy, hurrah! but not in a 5 cheese egg pie, with a side of chocolate milk, boo. Can have salsa, yay!, but not anything else that borders on spicy (keep away the hot wings and the Thai food...it burns). So little steps like discovering, for sure, that rose hips makes my belly ache are like discovering there's alien life on other planets.

Well...maybe not that monumental...but ya know, whatever.

Okay.....carry about your day now. Now that you have that knowledge thrown at you. Boom. You're welcome.

Lindsay xxxx

P.S. Blogging is a physical sport in my house...trying to balance the laptop on one hand and deal with the dog that needsattentionrightnowwhydon'tyoulovemepetmeplease!!! Evidence:

Blogging with Charlie. He needs his morning snuggle time. 

I am not lying. He acts like he's dying for *the rest of the day* if we don't give him morning cuddle time. We created this monster and now we must pay. 

A Little Rambling and Lot of Recap (Disney Princess Half)

Sitting at my writing desk in my room with a cup of PG Tips and I'm starting to feel more happy than I have in the past week.

After the finishing the Disney Princess Half Marathon, (yes, I'm surprised too, I SURVIVED! cue your gasp in amazement) I felt such a fantastic sense of accomplishment and a rode a magical, sparkly high that comes after doing something you never thought you could do and you did it in a freaking TUTU.

It's hard to keep that feeling going. I always crash after feeling an unexpected jolt of euphoria (luckily I am a caffeine addict and I'm used to it). Maybe one would call it a runner's crash.

In a, what I thought was going to be short but is really long, recap:
--The first day of the expo. The day that all blogs and all Disney info told us to get up early for and arrive first thing to avoid crowds. ABORT this idea immediately. Trust me, you do not want to see your fellow ladies in arms, dressed in pink, ready to cut...a...bitch. Over Disney Official Merchandise and a place in line, no less. It was a freaking mad house. I am not much of a fan of crowds or people touching me or jostling into me. There is barely room to breathe at this expo. So maybe try for later in the day maybe? I'm not sure, but bring coffee and chocolate, and maybe have some chocolate flavored liquor to pour into your coffee if you want to survive this situation with your faith in humanity in check.

Noted for future expos. 

I think it would have been better for everyone involved if I had arrived slightly intoxicated. Instead of "Hey you in the pink tutu! We're not in the race yet, but if you elbow me ONE more time, I will give you a reason to run now!", I'd be more like "I like your shoes. Everyone needs to bedazzle tennis sneakers. It's such a good idea. Let's not fight ladies, let's hug it out."

Princess runners be crazy,  yo.

--The Saturday before the race, my running partner, Caitlin, and I managed to be THE MOST relaxed people ever. We did not nap, we hydrated, we consumed carbs. It was awesome. There were movies involved.

--Race day. I set three alarms. Felt reasonably refreshed, even after only getting five hours of sleep (I'm a 9-hr a night kind of lady). Caitlin and I primped and prepped and glittered up. Caitlin had made her tutu the day before and discovered many ways of how not to remove a tutu, and for her embarrassment I give you my running partner Caitlin: "I'm covered in sweat and glitter. This must be how strippers feel..."

Sunday morning at 330am, we were ready!

We had done a driving test of the route to the race, following official guidelines, the night before. You can also forget that idea folks. They went and changed the route the morning of. But we followed the crowd and made it there in good time.

I need to interject that the Disney Race Day volunteers are the most magical human beings in the world. I WANT TO GIVE THEM ALL HUGS. Awkwardly but with feeling. In the parking lot, each lane had it's own duo of volunteers on a loud speaker yelling out our lane to remember. "Lane 83 ladies, you are in lane 83...ohmygod I love your shoes. You WORK that dress, Cruella. I love what you've done with your hair. Who's happy to be awake right now?" Or something along those lines....they were a godsend for ladies who don't like to find themselves on the wrong side of 5am.

Another thing you can ignore from recaps of years past, the recommendation to use potties along the walk to the corrals. I can tell your right now, that's what everyone was doing. Better to use the ones in the first area where you start in, before walking to your corrals. SO much quicker. 

I'm an obsessive water sipper, which was a mistake while waiting in my corral because I definitely had to pee during the run. There are plenty of porta-potties along the route, but the one time I stopped to wait in line, I waited so long my body started to hurt so I just ditched the line and kept running.

Caitlin and I separated when it came time to head to the corrals, I was corral E because I guesstimated my time for under three hours (highly recommend!) and Caitlin was in H because she had just added the max time. Neither of us have ever done a half marathon but luckily this was the perfect race for first-timers. I think Caitlin was so crowded in H because most beginner runners added the max time too (not recommended, as she was unhappy with the close quarters and many people feeling up her tutu). It worked out okay for us being separated because we both listen to our iPhones while running and aren't much of the runner/chatter kind. I'm also slower than her and I think it would have not helped me much mentally to see her race off...or maybe it could have pushed me to run faster, no clue. I've never trained running with another person, other than my little sister, so I'm not sure how I would have been.



On the walk to our corrals:

The start of the race for corrals in front of mine. Fireworks are the BEST way to start any race. And I fully appreciated that the Fairy Godmother sent each corral off in the same way, Bippity-Boppity-Boop!

One of things I loved best...there were men in the race (though not allowed to compete or to be in corral's A or B) and almost all 1,000 of them showed up in costume. Here's one of many Jasmines. 

 There were also a lot of male Ariel's and, my absolute favorite, a few Merida's! Yeah Brave!! It was just heartwarming to see that many of the men there were there to run with their lady partners in encouragement or because their marriage contract requires them to be the Prince Charming to their Cinderellas. It happens.

Our fake nerves photo prior to separating:

 To tell you the truth, I didn't have much nerves for this race. Mainly because this was my first race EVER. Of any kind. I'm glad I didn't share that fact with too many people prior because there are a few people who have raised an eyebrow at that and asked "is that really a good idea?" Well I can tell you right now, with this being my first race ever, YES. The Disney Princess Half is a PERFECT beginners race. There were even people speed walking the whole thing. There were ladies of all shapes and sizes, covered in glitter and tutus and crowns and it was THE BEST THING EVER. Granted, there was much bobbing and weaving to be done because, as it's the first race for many people and apparently many people don't obsessively pore over runner blogs like I do, a lot of people didn't know you aren't supposed to slow down in the middle, but walk on the side instead. You can just pretty much guarantee that the middle of the road is for slower-downers and walkers and the sides are for the runners. Just accept that now and you will enjoy yourself.


Here's my OHMYGODISURVIVEDANDTHEYACKNOWLEDGEDITWITHAMEDAL face. (Did ya get that? No? Me neither.)

 *What I'm actually saying "oh my god, I can't feel my knees or my feet and I'm surprised to find I don't care."

The post-race food was amazing and very much needed. As someone with a lot of stomach issues, I was grateful that they provided things I could eat, hummus, GF crackers, bananas (though this actually was my first time having a banana as whole item instead of mashing it like baby food, I figured I earned it. Screw Low Residue Diet....though I did stay away from the nuts packages.) The Luna Protein bar and the dark chocolate were also delicious. Not gonna lie...definitely had the dark chocolate square once I was back at the hotel, in an Epsom salt bath, with a glass of red wine. Most deserved glass of wine ever. Lose your knees, get some wine. 

*I Look like a very oddly dressed mountain climber.

 Sweaty and gross, but happy. Notice hair in bun...BEST advice ever that I got from another blogger. Tay writes over at Running Across The Pond. (My fav kind of blog, expat in England and writing about running. Love.) She provided loads of last minute advice via Twitter when I was mildly freaking out about running in 75-85 degree weather for the first time. (Hey, I did just start running in October...in Western New York...I'm used to running in 30 degree weather. And even that can feel on the warm side sometimes.) But yes, hair in bun when running means no sweaty rope smacking you in the back. I also took her advice to put a lot of ice in my water bottle when running. She may be posting about how to run in the heat soon, so go stalk her blog now.

*Hey guys. My Mom made that skirt. I have no skills in the craft area because she horded them all...and gave some to my sister. But me...I'm lucky I can pick out matching colors and tie my shoes. BUT I DID RUN 13.1 MILES...almost continuously. And without vomiting.

I continued to wear the medal for the majority of the day. Even when we went out to dinner, once we regained feeling in our legs again, off to a British Pub (is anyone surprised? Two Anglophiles go on a weekend trip together...the majority of what we ate was British food we stumbled upon.)

I would definitely do this race again. It was so much fun. I would love to do it again and actually run it with Caitlin and whomever we can corral into doing it. Maybe actually stop to take pictures with some characters this time. (I didn't train to stop and then to start up running again..so I didn't bother with waiting in super long lines for character pictures. The experience is really enough though, people. It's so amazing to see all the costumes other people come up with!)

Truth be told...I cried at mile 4 mainly because I was SO EXCITED to be there. I never thought I could do something like that. I was so worried people were going to get concerned about the girl ugly crying through mile four...and most of mile 5 (cause mile 5 runs are my fav...so I just let myself get emotional about everything...I'm going to be so good with babies someday. I GET YOU small thing that cries over everything. Me too.) I pushed my music up higher and just let my semi-aggressive rap/Whitney Houston classics/pop music carry me along.

Cannot tell you how funny it was to run through Cinderella's castle with the song "Bad Girls" by M.I.A. blasting..."live fast die young, bad girls do it well".

Last note for future runners...there are about 4 inclines. The race recaps I read only mentioned around 2 at the end, but there's definitely an incline at the beginning near mile 4 or 5 (yes, I cried and ran up hill. Can I win a medal for that? Pat on the back? Hug?). I had to walk two inclines, but got up the very last one with some Macklemore and Ryan Lewis's "Make Money".

I wanted to pump my fist excessively. But didn't. Mom, see how much a lady I am? Dig.ni.fied.

For my awesomesauce friend and co-running-pilot, Caitlin's race recap--check it out here, she gives even more fabulousness to our adventure.

Cheers,
Lxxx

P.S. Here's my playlist...I love reading other runner's playlists so feel free to send me your list of favorite running music!
--Respect (Aretha Franklin)--Free Your Mind (En Vogue)--Pretty Girl Rock (Keri Hilson, the song I SOBBED to at mile 4...love it so much. Used to run only to hear that song and then collapse in a heap.)--Try Again (Aaliyah)--Whatta Man (Salt-N-Pepa feat. En Vogue)--Thrift Shop (Macklemore & Ryan Lewis)--No Diggity (Blackstreet)--Put It On Me (Ja Rule)--Ignition Remix (R. Kelly)--Look At Me Now (Chris Brown)--Down On Me (Jeremih & 50 Cent)--Ready or Not (Bridget Mendler)--I'm Every Woman (Whitney Houston)--Party In The USA (Miley Cyrus..don't judge me)--Hard Knock Life Ghetto Anthem (Jay-z)--Empire State of Mind (Jay-z)--Bad Girls (M.I.A.)--Ain't No Other Man (Christina Aguilera)--One and Only/Fall Out Boy (Timbaland)--No, No, No Part 2 (Destiny's Child feat. Wyclef Jean)--Get Up (Ciara)--Clumsy (Fergie)--Move Bitch (Ludacris)--Just a Girl (No Doubt)--Fighter (Christina Aguilera)--Big Shot (Billy Joel)--Come to Me (Diddy)--Queen of the Night (Whitney Houston)--C'mon Let Me Ride (Skylar Grey feat Eminem)--Ain't No Rest for the Wicked (Cage the Elephant)--Chelsea Dagger (The Fratellis--PERFECT for running up hills with women in tutus, at least the opening bit of music is and it makes me laugh)--Make Money (Macklemore & Ryan Lewis)--Bounce/Justin Timberlake (Timbaland)--Hit Me with Your Best Shot (Pat Benatar)--You Make My Dreams Come True (The World & Band/Hall & Oates)--Can't Stop (Maroon 5)--Outta My Head (Ashlee Simpson)--Oh My God (Mark Ronson feat. Lily Allen)

Snapshot: Cozy Comforts of a Sunday

Plan were made. Early mass at 8:30am, beginners yoga at 10:30am, filling and rewarding Chipotle burrito for lunch, off to see Argo with a free movie pass, and then on to hang out with my family at my brother's house. Maybe some reading in the evening before bed. Funny how we make so many plans, even for a day of rest.

That was my day of rest plan...but Sunday has a funny way of sneaking up on you. Snow packed grounds and nippy air outside the sun streamed window. The enveloping hug of the duvet that protects you from the chill. Just enough coffee to be happy and sociable but not enough to fight the lure of snuggling in bed with a book.

My itinerary slowly dropped bit by bit, like the ice melting from the house...drip, drop, plop.

8:15, should get ready to go to mass....Ash Wednesday is this week. Should start going again. Say hello to all the other lapsed Catholics. Shakespeare Uncovered on the tv, fresh second cup of coffee, very cold outside the window I perceive....there goes mass. Drip.

Parents and sister awaken and we all convene in my parents room, sit, chat. Laugh at lame jokes, read the news. No talk of the week ahead. Worries aren't allowed. It's Sunday. Chill. Dad heads downstairs to start up some chocolate chip pancakes, but I have yoga class to head to. Dad puts on some sausage and Mom, raised eyebrows, says "you're not joining us?" No go yoga. Drop.

Cozy up to my bed in a chocolate and coffee haze. Bright and gorgeous in my purple and white, stretch of a room. Wish I could capture it on my iPhone. But it's not meant to be captured. Snooze a bit off and on and set an alarm for burrito and movie. Pick up my "Londoners" book and read a bit. Do I really crave a burrito or am I mentally still recalling my craving from yesterday after my run? Do I feel like going to a movie alone right now when reading in my cozy, sunlit room is so comforting? This moment is a sensory memory I want to preserve for another time. Plop.

Not sure how my other plans will go. Family time presides on Sundays. Got on my snug knit socks with the aloe infused lining. Fit just nicely in my boots to head to brother and sis-in-laws house. Light lunch, small bowl, warm gf pasta with some roasted veg coated in a balsamic glaze, feta melted, and basil lightly tossed in. Comforting.

The only concerns for the rest of the afternoon and evening are "can I have another home-brewed beer bro?" and "what's for dinner?" Transferring from day clothes to sweats, which book to read and what to watch before bed.

Grateful for a Sunday such as this one.

L xx

Film Acting Superfuntimes

I don't remember who I stole this from. But one of the crew put it on their FB page. Thanks dude.

I feel like I should give a little update on the whole acting thing. I started this blog to profess my love for all things British, silly and dramatic, but don't ever provide any of the actual created drama...instead I litter the web pages with all my mental dramas.

Aren't you so lucky?

I've done a few things to make January a truly fantastic month and wonderful start to 2013. I participated in a film short, an AWARD WINNING film short, and I survived URTA. And kind of enjoyed it.

Guys...I say the latter and I'm not even drunk. (Any actor who's done URTA to attempt to get into grad school knows where I'm coming from.)

First, the film short. I hopped on to that project after a friend posted on Facebook about needing actors for the Rochester Movie Makers 72 Hour Mind to Movie Challenge. They got their person/place/premise and then had 72 hours to write a script, include original music (or music given by permission I think), and film/edit the whole thing. I volunteered to help out...though I've never done screen work before, and it was such a freaking blast.

(Picture credited to Matt DeTurk...yes I stole it from your Facebook and I will someday learn how to properly credit a photo back to it's original source. Today is not that day. I'm hungry and need to leave soon.)

The producers of the project, Matt, Adam and Katie, are my new favorite people. And I'm not just saying that cause I live at home with my parents and don't get out much. PROMISE. They're super creative and really funny people. I haven't laughed that hard in a long time (and there was NO booze involved, winning) so it was quite the good time. The whole script is quite pun-y, so obviously right up my alley. The filming is done so completely different than what I'm used to in theatre that it was  definitely a learning experience.

I can't say I love my acting in it. Though for this type of project, you can't really learn lines and delve into character background. We did a read through on a Friday night and we shot all day on a Saturday. We did each little bit piece by piece and didn't go in order. The whole movie can only be five minutes long, but it certainly took all day to make. I would definitely love to try out this kind of thing again. Hopefully, if I get into grad school I'll be able to take some classes on screen work and get better in that kind of medium.

This project, if anything, showed me how important a director and a script are to film. Listening to all the directors talk about their projects at the screening was immensely enlightening to the film making process (btw, if you're in the Rochester, NY area, I HIGHLY suggest going to the screening, even if you're not involved, just to see other creative projects made locally). I can see now that my acting, in just a five minute span doesn't really matter much unless there is a good director behind the camera and a great script. We had both of those and came in second place. So freaking proud of the team that made this film. Check it out below:

*Fun fact: the hay scene was done inside of Matt and Adam's kitchen. We missed out on doing it outside because the sun went down, so they dumped a full bale of hay in their kitchen just to get that joke in. These are the kinds of people I want to hang out with all the time. The kinds of people that will DUMP HAY IN THEIR KITCHEN for a joke. Baller.

(Picture credited to Matt DeTurk)

Though I obviously have critiques for myself...dude, what is up with my hair? (Just so you know, that's pretty much how I always wear it...with half of it falling out of my clip...so it was quite a true to life picture) I can say that my Mom loved it. So I don't really care what anybody else says, if my Mom likes it, then I can rest easy that I didn't embarrass myself. I win, guys, I win. I want a gold star and a brownie.

*Another fun fact: This is should come as no surprise, but I got real excited about doing this project after Matt said he was going to pay me in pizza. Embarrassing fact about me...I will work for good pizza.

(Picture credited to Matt DeTurk)

I will have to save URTA for another post as now I am off to dinner at a Hibachi place for the first time ever, and then to see "Identity Thief". Now Melissa McCarthy is definitely someone I idolize in the film world...her, Rebel Wilson and Catherine Tate. Comedic genius'.

Cheers,
L xx

Getting Into Excercise

You want to know how I got convinced that running might be something I'm in to??

There are races/runs where you can dress up! Yes. You heard me. I can wear a tutu and glitter for the Disney Princess Half Marathon in February which, hand to God, is the predominant reason that I signed up. Oh yes. Come on...you think a theatre nerd like me wouldn't be swayed by costume?

Oh and, like my friend CGriff, I believe if I can train my lumpy ass to manage a half-marathon without dying then I can be done with running. Like, check that bitch off my list, I came, I went, I may have vomited while covered in glitter (hell, I may actually vomit glitter, but a girl can only dream amiright?), but I did the half marathon and now I can be super-awesome-braggy-runner and talk about that time I did a half marathon. Then I'll go back to my yoga corner and get super flexible and strong and in my later years brag to all my runner friends about how I still have use of my knees. Win-win for ME!

Running ain't so bad....once you're done with your run. In my training I haven't quite experienced the runner high just yet. I just experience that "oh my God I may die while doing this" kind of feeling. But much like survivor euphoria (is that a thing? No idea..I'm just making shit up now..), I feel pretty freaking fantastic once  I've recovered and realize that, yes, I still have full use of my lungs and my legs and no vomiting actually occurred. (Hey, I have Crohn's, I think of the possibility of vomiting a lot)

You can tell the endorphin's are working when suddenly, sometime within the 15 minutes post-run, you start thinking..."you know, I could totally pick up kickboxing...and cycling, even though I think my butt would hate me and I hate the outfits...maybe I'll throw a little swimming in for the joints. I am going to be so freaking healthy. Are you scared couch potato? Huh? Are ya? (That's me talking to my inner couch potato. I taunt her a lot. Sometimes she taunts me. Love-hate.) Martial arts next year for sure. Three times a week, yoga three times, running daily with a rest day on Sunday's and then I'll throw some charity work in there. I can DO THIS. Taking on the world. One run at a time."

Oh yes. My endorphin-high version of me is fucking ambitious. And ludicrous  Totally not thinking about the fact that I can only really do yoga twice a week and swimming maybe once a week. For realz.

Also learned...I run faster, harder, longer when I'm listening to rap and imaging myself as the next awesome rapper to come out of lower-middle class suburbia. Hey...I wrote some pretty kick ass, angsty poetry when I was, like, 14. I was struggling through my goth/Buffy phase, so it's deep...real deep....like man-made pond deep. You don't even know. I struggled. My Mom refused to let me shop at Spencer Gifts or Hot Topic for my clothing and no black lipstick or dyed hair allowed. WTF? I could have ruled the goths...too bad I was rejected by them due to excessive perkiness. Why can't goths have a positive attitude?! I don't understand!!!

Rant done. Now go run, lumpy.
xxLindsay

Back to the Blog

You know, I leave this blog for just a little while, a short time my head is turned, and when I get back everything has freaking changed on me.

Grrr...I'm not good with change....

...Says the girl who's about to go through major life upheaval...yet again.  It's like I get bored after a few years and need to shake things up. Even if that means that I am taking a risk and it might not play out well for me.

Just a smattering of details for you, non-existent readers...I shall nickname you Fred. Makes me feel like I have an invisible friend again. Well, not again, but for the first time. All my invisible friends as a child were real....like a tree....or a bird. Sometimes the local pond was a good buddy too.

What can I say, I was a bit of a weird child. Who needs invisible friends when you can talk to nature, like a crazy person.

So Fred, yes, well...the past year (okay, maybe the past two years) have been a crazy time for me. I was doing well, am doing well, in our great country's capital. I have a super-duper love for the friends I have made here. They have really made my time here fantastic/amazeballs...even though I have never quite warmed up to the actual city.

But for some reason, my health has just taken a nose dive ever since I went full time at my theatre job. You'd think moving from a chaotic schedule of four hours of sleep a night, working many jobs, one of which was waitressing, and living off the most horrendous diet of coffee and ANYTHING SUGAR, to sitting on my ass, doing lots of office work (and still working crazy hours, mind you, Fred) would be a good change. Especially with having those wonderful things called "health benefits". And yes I was able to get a gastroenterologist (almost a year after having the job, sadly) to help me with my health. I went through that weird time period last year where I thought I was lactose intolerant but it just turns out I could digest nothing. Dairy being the hardest thing to digest, that was the first to go.

So I got on some lovely drugs and now I can tolerate some dairy. Some dairy. I don't have the crazy bloat, partial bowel obstruction, problems I used to struggle with last year, but I still have problems every single week that I'm struggling with.

On a super positive note, this decline in health has been a really great wake up call for me. I've searched out some awesome blogs online written by other people who have Crohn's and I can't begin to express how helpful that has been. I don't reach out to them, just peruse their sites and read their tales of struggles and battles won. It really does give me a lot of hope. If they can do it, so can I. And I'm not even that bad off, really, in comparison.

This disease has made me appreciate the greatness of my family and my friends that I surround myself with and, as a really fun side effect, has made me a hot crying mess over every goddamn thing. Get excited.

Come on, you can't tell me that you don't just love having a weepy, non-drunk, friend hug you and say "no, but I really love you man!" And, oh, am I a hugger. I give 'em out like candy. And you're gonna like it.

But to wrap all this up...change. It's gonna happen. To this blog, to my body, to my life. It's gonna be AWESOME. I am sure of it.

Today's a sick day for me, so I am on a super, mega-amazing positivity kick...can you tell? Had a mini-flare up last night after eating a few Hobnobs.....really?! Hobnobs? The most delicious, oaty, chocolatey British biscuit every (outside of Digestives, which I just couldn't find at the time my chocolate craving hit). Ridiculous. I know that my intestines can't be completely done with hobnobs. That's just not fair to life. But I wasn't reading the signs right...my body and I speak different languages so it's hard to tell what she's trying to tell me sometimes.  Like yesterday she must have, at some point, been saying "bitch, there will be no processed shit today. We are closed for business to processed deliciousness that you love."

I had a really creative, light, protein filled breakfast of arugula, spinach, caramelized red onion with bacon pieces that I had left over, and threw a poached egg on top. Let me tell you, it was baller.

But, per usual, I was hungry by the time I got to work. I tried to be all healthy and just snack on cucumbers and peppers but, no surprise, that did not satisfy. So I had one Hobnob...then two....and maybe a third. And felt fine....kind of. I ate a very lovely lunch of baked chicken, grape tomatoes, garlic, lemon juice, olive oil, on penne pasta. Went down fine. Wanted dessert.

Cause who doesn't?

Had maybe three more Hobnobs......that's when my stomach said, enough is enough and shut me down. That usually means she'll start to groan and gurgle and I'll start to feel the oncoming bloat. It didn't really get too bad until later in the evening. But after laying down for awhile and sweating under the miracle that is a heating pad, I felt a bit better. Still called in today as now I've moved into what I call my "recovery period". I need to be able to eat, or not eat, exactly when I want to. I need to be very comfortable, preferably laying down, and not stressing. So there's been a lot of HGTV this morning and a little Pinning on the side (oh, yes, I signed up for Pinterest yesterday and it. is. CRACK....ohhhh look at all the lovely photos. I'm still all about reading the blogs, but this is like candy. Quick and fun.)

But also planning. I swear I've done some planning today...got it all locked up in the old noggin. Swear I'll get acting on this stuff soon.  I hope to be able to go into more details at some point soon. And oh the blogging that I shall be doing. I am PUMPED. I've also been sitting on my ass all morning so it's pretty easy to be pumped.

Kind regards,
Lindsay