Curve Balls

The old saying "Sometimes thing work out for the best" is not really how I was feeling the last week.  I do not like to withdraw from my races.  Probably the reason why I didn't post something immediately after is because  I beat myself up for about a week.  I am thankful, however, of my amazing support system, who know just what to say when I'm down on myself.  It might take me a few days to really appreciate their advice and support, but I do appreciate it.  My next race is Silverman Op Rebound relay, I'm going to do the swim.  1.2 miles is a lot shorter than my swim workouts so I should...should i say...do really well.

I just got back from Nebraska.  Lincoln to be exact, for a wedding.  No, I do not usually 'drop by' Nebraska, although in the summer, it's not too bad of a place to get away to.  This trip also served as an opportunity for a really close group of my college friends to have a mini reunion.  Not that it was needed this time, the wedding was amazing and well organized, but these friends can make any normal activity down right spectacular.  Just add alcohol.

Currently I find myself sitting in the middle of JFK airport.  Let rant begin: HERE.  Holy freaking Moses!  This has to be the most disgusting airport ... trash everywhere, ZERO organization of the seating (which would allow more seats to be available),  zero healthy eating options, and employees with the 'i don't give a hoot attitude.'  I feel like I need a shower after sitting in here for a minute, unfortunately I have another HOUR!  I am falling into some other conclusions here as well.  For the most part I don't mind people; I try to be friendly and even to the most disgruntled citizen, I usually get some sort of positive response back.  No one likes layovers, no one likes the boarding process, no one likes delays, and no one likes their personal space invaded.  I don't think it's too much to ask that I have a place to sit (I'll even sit on the floor if it's clean!) and a CLEAN FRICKIN BATHROOM.  I felt like I was walking into a nuclear fall out zone.  The LADIES bathroom was....ugh...I don't have words.  People evidently turn barbaric and do not remember how to flush or keep the stall 'clean'.  It was a miracle that there was toilet paper...no paper towels.  But the worst was that when I walked in, there was a toddler sitting in a stroller with a luggage...ALONE.  When I asked, "Um, whose child is this?"  Some lady in a STALL said she was hers!  Are you freaking kidding me!?  Myself and another mother kindly explained to her the gravity of leaving your child out of view...and I went on my way.  Next I find myself in a Wendy's line, I'm not going to bother with the 'no healthy food rant', and what do I see...  the same toddler...ALONE...sitting in the middle of the airport while the mom ordered food.  What is wrong with people.  I decided it was best for me not to get arrested for screaming at someone for being stupid, and quietly watched the little girl until her mother decided she was worth the attention.

(jumps off soapbox)

The only good thing about the next 12 hours is at the end of it, I will find myself in the UK!  I'm visiting some close friends that I haven't seen in a couple years.  We are even going to take some time to visit Paris.  I have been to neither.  This much needed vacation is going to be life changing, at least that is what I'm told when I mention to anyone that I'm going to Paris.  What I do know is when I get back I'll be 10 days away from another trip across the US to see a man who working to sweep a non-committal, un-trusting, spastic, and passionately flighty girl off her conservatively hippie feet.  Try to say that five times fast. ;O)

Now on to life...

Shana Tova!

And a good year it will be.  I have been meaning to start a blog for months now.  What better than on Rosh Hashanah? I  started a new book at sunset as well.  Stephen Colbert's 'I am America (and so can you!).'  I have heard the book on CD once before and since it was half off in the store...I picked it up.  If you like the show you'll get a kick out of the book.  I picked up reading it literally minutes after putting down Malcolm Gladwell's 'Tipping Point.'  If you are a statistical and analytical nerd like I tend to be, his compilations and analysis of historical and everyday epidemics really makes you think.  I became interested in his work when I lived in Texas.  A supervisor and mentor recommended his second book, 'Blink', to a class I was in.  Blink taps into that moment right before you make a decision.  Almost like telling someone to go with their gut instinct, but it's actually the moment before that.  It claims to uncover the power of thinking without thinking.  I have no idea why I'm drawn to his books.  I blame a class back in college that I took on human experimentation (both medical and psychological).

My last full race of the year is Sunday.  I am participating in the Nation's Tri here in the lovely Nation's Capital.  It's my second race of the year.  I'm slightly nervous because I had a minor stress fracture in my foot back in May that I'm not quite sure I'm over.  I have done a decent amount of preparation for this race.  As always, never the amount that I feel I needed to.  My mom is supposed to come spectate and make sure my heart keeps pumping...this time.  I'm just praying that I am not genetically mutated after swimming in the Potamac.  I ride my bike to work almost every other day, and when the Potamac is at low tide...lets just say I get flash backs of that Simpsons episode when Lisa was fighting toxic waste in the town lake.  If I survive the swim, my goal is to get under 3:00.  We'll see..

Now in celebration of the new year...I'm gonna go hunt for some apples and honey!