To Trivia!

Team Trivia tonight. the first time since this past summer when we lived in Delaware.

I am absolutely HORRIBLE when it comes to team trivia, but the beers and laughter are why you go, right? And I ran 4 miles today, so I at least earned a beer....

So with what team of people am I joining for team trivia?

a mom's group.

yes, somehow, even though a separate facebook group was set up just for me, the childless one, I am invited to their mom's night out. (pathetic tid bit: it might be a pity invite because they were all talking about trivia night over dinner when I first met them, but still.)

Today's run:

4 miles, 61* weather, 58% humidity. I wore shorts and a tank top, and sleeves, which I probably didn't need. Total time: 36:12/9:03 average pace

Mile 1: 9:30

Mile 2: 9:01

Mile 3: 8:56

Mile 4: 8:42

Lunges to boot at the end. Not sure why, but it seemed to take longer than normal to get my heart rate down (it just felt like it was still running even though I wasn't). Maybe the higher temps?

And what can we say about unfriendly runners? I saw a man running without his shirt (it wasn't THAT warm), listening to his ipod/radio, and not a nod, glance, wave, or gesture of acknowledgement.

He must be a surgeon at my hospital.

Tonight

Dinner at our house with the parent's of my husband's high school best friend.

(sounds odd, I know, but they are such a nice couple-and the high school friend lives in a different state, otherwise we would have him over too of course).

It's beautiful out and I'm debating if we should just eat out in the patio....except the patio is still bare bones and because we're finally just coming out of winter, there are no plants to enjoy.

The house is nearly spotless (minus the messy closets); some more pictures are up on the walls (and off the floor), and dinner....needs to be prepped. Now. (on the menu: cuban food (piccadillo, black beans, perfect white rice, and flan)

Tomorrow I'm planning on meeting up with a friend at the Long Run location. I haven't been since October. She's running 14. me? probably 6-8. Unless I get conned....

The Division

Lately, I've noticed more than ever the effects of getting older. The canyon developing between my eyes, the dark clouds under the eyes, a wider set of hips, dimples on the bottom cheeks.

People always warned me about getting older (watch what you eat, it sticks!), especially patients. The patients never failed to sugar coat aging: "It's no fun getting older."

But nobody ever told me about the division that would come with getting older (age) and children; or should I say being child-less.

And if you're a military spouse reading this, you probably have already noticed this little unscientific factoid: it is rare to meet a 30 year old child-less couple in the military. I like kids. They are painfully honest and incredibly entertaining. But for personal, educational, and medical reasons, we haven't had kids yet (although hopefully maybe one day soon!)

Anyhoo-In an effort to expand my tiny circle of friends here in this new hometown, I was invited (by a friend who has kids) to a book club dinner. It was a good time, and I enjoyed the social aspect of it (although lets be honest: I can't contribute to a discussion on the merits of one car seat over another). I was included in their plan to meet up for trivia night as part of their Mom's Night Out. I gave them my email address, and most of the girls immediately friended me on facebook. I considered it a success.

Last night, I get home from work, shower, eat dinner, eventually get to the computer, and see on facebook that I'm part of a private group, 'bookclub' where there's a post saying:

"Made a group so we can have our book info here and that way Rachel can join and not have to see all the mommy stuff from our other group. Did I forget anyone?"

And I think.....it's nice. Except...you've made it known that there's a group out there that everyone except me is a part of.

I should respond. But I cant figure out what to say. To say something funny would come across mean or acerbic; And to ignore it would seem snooty.

Every time I read that line I feel this little black hole or better yet, a big fat black line.

I understand it probably wasn't the author's intent (and there will always be groups out there that you can't be a part of), but it was just made crystal clear that when people get together, those who have children vs those who have no children is taken into account of invitation.

But enough mulling; Time to change into some running clothes and meet up with the road hogs for a 5 miler followed by greasy pizza and pizza. Take that Dividers!

Another One Bites The Dust

Another RN is leaving my floor!

to work at a doctor's office!

more tomorrow; newest malady I believe I suffer from:

tension headaches.

One Week

I haven't taken a full week off running since probably living in Delaware.

There was the toe pain last week (naturally Sunday was BEAUTIFUL and perfect for running, but I was still feeling my toe and decided to continue giving it a rest).

Woke up Monday feeling like crud; worked Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. Today was a 'skills fair' at work, and I woke up early to meet up with two coworkers for breakfast at the Awful Waffle (and yes it was awful....my coworkers' eggs looked better than my waffle; at least the coffee was good, and the breakfast was deservedly dirt cheap.

picture from the internets, not my own

All that followed by my second post exposure lab draw, lunch at home, an afternoon with my kindle, tea, candle, cats on my lap, and a nap. It's a little too easy to become that homebody crazy lady with her cats and candles.

Survival

Another nurse at work turned in her 2 week notice.

That would be 5 nurses that we've lost in a two month period of time (three on day shift, two on night shift). That brings the total to 9 or 10 since I started working there a few months ago...

Anywho; this evening, just prior to leaving the house to meet up with the running club, my director/pseuo-nurse manager (another story) called to ask if I would be willing to come in tomorrow and pick up an extra "critical need" shift.

I normally don't mind picking up a half a shift (and only for the first half). Sadly, I'm already scheduled to work tomorrow. Here's hoping I survive tomorrow.

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And because this blog needs to incorporate something other than my job.....

Tonight's run was painful. My left great toe has been bothering me on and off lately. Yesterday after work it ached (as it did this morning). Hypochondriac that I am, I'm convinced I'm developing a bunion. After nearly turning around on the way to the run (the weather looked miserable), only a handful of us were actually there to run.

My toe ached, and then, just 1.5 miles into the run the rain really began to come down hard. My partner and I looked at each other and said, "let's turn around."

Glad we did; by the time I started my car and pulled out of the lot, it was pouring. Thinking of taking the weekend off and hopefully getting a new pair of running shoes.

Hope everyone has a happy friday!

Oops...I Did it Again!

I should have Just Said No.

I should have just heeded that age-old advice that parents tell their kids (if everyone else was jumping off a bridge would you do it too?).

Instead, I caved into peer pressure.

I signed up for the Chicago Marathon!

I never really thought of running Chicago. Truth be told, NYC is The One I Want To Run. But NYC is pricey (although not much more pricier than Chicago). There's no guarantee that I would get into NYC (it's a lottery system unless you happen to be super speedy, which I am certainly not). The weather for NYC during the marathon is also spotty. And if I were to get in the lottery and get pregnant and not be able to run in the marathon, I would be a tad upset.

While I can't defer or sell my bib to anyone for the Chicago marathon, at least I don't have to feel like I'm giving up a winning lottery ticket if something happens and I can't run in it (like getting pregnant).

There are three other people from the running club that also signed up for the marathon. My hotel is booked, registration complete. Now I just need to study and memorize the course, find a half that would possibly qualify me to get into a corral, and find places to eat and things to do in chicago. Oh, and I have to work on getting that weekend off of work. Damn work!