What did I get myself into?

Back in January, I agreed to be a team member of a group in my ward and run the Wasatch Back Relay. Sigh. Okay, now, I do run. I don't run far and I don't run fast - but I do run and I thought this would be a great opportunity to really step it up and do something worthwhile, challenging, but most of all motivate me to work out every single day. Our team captain, Miss Marianne, being the excellent team captain she is (not to mention sponsored marathon runner - you see all the red flags already, don't you? I'm a fool) sent us out a training regime to follow so we could be prepared come June 20-21st. The first couple weeks are a breeze and I didn't really take it seriously. "Oh I run that anyway" I thought, "I have time before I actually have to start training." Well the days came and went. My life changed a bit the last two months with the addition of "the boy" - so I lost focus (as one naturally does) of my previous goals - life and otherwise. I still ran each week - but I didn't strive to improve my distance nor my time. "I've got plenty of time...and look at the cute boy I found," was my constant excuse.

Well friends, "the boy" and I are no longer (no no no, it's okay :) I still really like the boy but it was the right thing to do. Never fear. I'm completely fine...ish) and yesterday I went out and ran 5 miles. True. Which seems really good but it was 5 miles on a flat consistent track and in perfect weather. The Wasatch Back Relay stretches from LOGAN to Park City and is 176.6 miles, overnight, on weaving, hilly, high elevation asphalt! You just got that sick feeling in your stomach for me didn't you? That "oh yeah, you're screwed" feeling. Yeeeeah. Here was the training plan I was SUPPOSED to be following the last two months. I have highlighted where I should be by now.

INTERMEDIATE TRAINING PLAN:

Date	Mon	Tues	Wed	Thurs	Fri	Sat	Sun
Feb 4	3M	4M	3M	4M	3M	5M	Rest
Feb 11	3M	4M	3M	4M	3M	6M	Rest
Feb 18	4M	5M	4M	5M	4M	6M	Rest
Feb 25	4M	5M	4M	5M	4M	7M	Rest
Mar 3	5M	6M	5M	5M	5M	8M	Rest
Mar 10	5M	6M	5M	6M	5M	10M	Rest
Mar 17	5M	7M	5M	6M	5M	8M	Rest
Mar 24	5M	7M	5M	7M	5M	12M	Rest
Mar 31	5M	8M	5M	7M	5M	10M	Rest
Apr 7	5M	8M	5M	8M	5M	13M	Rest
Apr 14	5M	6M-H	5M	8M	5M	12M	Rest
Apr 21	5M	7M-H	5M	3M/3M	5M	14M	Rest
Apr 28	5M	8M-H	5M	9M	5M	5M/5M/3M	Rest
May 5	5M	8M-H	5M	4M/4M	5M	16M	Rest
May 12	5M	8M-H	5M	9M	5M	6M/4M/4M	Rest
May 19	5M	8M-H	5M	5M-5M	5M	18M	Rest
May 26	5M	8M-H	5M	9M	5M	5M/5M/5M	Rest
Jun 2	5M	8M-H	5M	3M/3M	5M	14M	Rest
Jun 9	5M	6M-H	4M	8M	4M	7M	Rest
Jun 16	5M	4M	3M	2M	Race	Race	Sleep!

Schedule Key
H = Hills - start and finish hill workouts with 10 min of easy running
/ = Multiple Runs - two to three runs within 24 hours
M = Miles

Here is a pic of the Relay I will be running in 3 months. Okay okay okay. Deep breaths. Of COURSE I'm not running the whole damn thing. Ha ha. That would be RIDICULOUS. I will be running only 3 legs of said damn thing. 12 people on our team, 36 legs, and most of them(the legs) considered moderate or easy. The very hard and hard ones I am leaving up to other team members. My team IS made up of marathon runners. They are obligated to take the 7.6M, "very hard", death hills and elevation disaster, runs. Seriously. I've ever only run a 5k and that was so crowded I didn't even get to RUN the first "K." I know I can run 5m on a track and feel fine. So I'm not THAT far behind in the program. Plus, now would be a GREAT time to find something else, anything else, to focus on for a couple months (assuming that's as long as it will take to not feel a little sad inside from time to time). So here's the plan - start training. What did you expect? That's really as far as I've gotten. Just start. I'm going to try and just pick up right where I SHOULD'VE already been and see how it goes. Now, if you recall I've been struggling with a "foot" issue - as in possible stress fracture in my foot from running on old old old, old old, running shoes. I bought new shoes to counteract this issue - and unfortunately it worked. My foot feels awesome. Well, dammit. There's no backing out of this - and besides, backing out or giving up is completely against my character - ask anyone...

Oh dear, what have I gotten myself into?

She BUZZED my NECK!

Alright. So, I cut my hair and it IS SHORT! Okay, I realize that the two options I asked the Internet to choose between are both short...well, more like shortish. I went with #1. When it comes to hair I don't have many qualms taking a risk. My hair is thick and grows quickly. So I figure if I want to vomit after getting a haircut - at least it will be back to "normal" in a couple months. THIS haircut, I'm torn. I think I like it. I'm pretty sure I like it. Which, let me tell you, is already a good sign. Normally I hate my hair the first week I get it cut - any cut - by anyone. It doesn't lay right, it doesn't "do" right, it just kinda takes it some time to "come into its own." All that said, this is the shortest I've ever had my hair - and I knew it was short when the hairdresser, BUZZED my NECK! Buzzed it! I like running my hand over the little sprigs where the buzz took my neck fuzz, it feels pretty cool, but I also feel naked and lets admit it...a little "old." I want it to be "cut, hip" short, not "mom" short. Oh, there are bangs involved too. BANGS! Soooo....here's the...er...final product. What do you think?

Worried Face Me - Now I think I look more like a British Man

Attempt at sultry side angle
Buzzed Neck!!! (and I have little neck freckles. Who knew?)

Side profile...this is the momish side I worry about (mostly cause now, I do , in fact, look exactly like my mom. ..whom I love...but oh dear.)

Let it grow, let it grow, let it grow...(t least in the back...she BUZZED it! Buzzed!)

Okay - no more Clinton, McCain, or even Obama. Here's a real reason to VOTE!!!

Alright, time for a new haircut. I have two choices set on the table for consideration. I took a pic of a pic ;) from a magazine that is a little more edgy, a little shorter, and spouting GREAT summer colors. The color is a win - but what about the cut?

Choice 1

I've also included this more conservative but flirty, hippie, and "aw" look in contrast to the "edge and angles" seen in pic 2. SO! Come on Internet friends. If you care about my future (and yes this does mean dating future particularly ;) ha), tell me what you like best, what you don't like at all, and why I should go with one or the other. Now this is something worth VOTING for EV-Er-Y-ONE!! Deadline is Friday at 2:00pm - for by then I will be on my way to a "tooootally new do." :)

Choice 2

Wait wait - no listen! Don't choose the one YOU like best - choose the one you like best for ME :) After all, it is all about me...er, and whomever has to look at me.

I like it when the Engine roars.

I have a white 97 Saturn. It's done me some good. And by good I mean it's continued running for, oh, the last 3-4 years. There's not much more you can ASK of certain vehicles, especially having been a poor struggling student, then a poor unemployed member of society, that it runs. And the Saturn runs...rickety most of the time, shaky at about 70mph, makes funny grind grind or screech screech noises for no real reasons, but never the less, carries on. There was one time I thought my Saturn was possessed by demons. There was much in the way of light flickering, sometimes lights not turning on or off when commanded, and then sparking out all together. The main troubles with my Saturn have consisted of electric issues. One boy once put it, "Huh, you're lights are out - it must be an electrical problem." Cute those boys, aren't they? :) So cute.

However, on an Easter trip down to the land of Emery County, my car had finally had it. I've been unemployed for the last 5 months and thus have not been able to give it the maintenance it so needs and rightly deserves! No full service check ups, no changing of tires for the winter, cracked windshield, many of the afore mention light flickering and dying issues, as well as things like "crazy swinging drivers side door that cuts your leg off if you aren't quick enough to pull it in as it swings precariously out of control due to lack of door stopping device/hinge to maintain it", and my running into our garage wall (it's at a really bad angle to try and enter and really small!!) things of this nature. However, if the threat of imminent highway death isn't enough to try and pay for these things to get fixed, getting a ticket for not registering said death cab is. My car will not pass any sort of "city folk" inspection, but as far a "country folk" inspection goes - I'm gold...or I will be gold when I've left it in Emery County for a week to be diagnosed and healed. This plan was solidified when I let my little brother, 15, drive my Saturn home from Grandma's house in Emery to our house in Huntington (40 minutes of darkened country highway), and we got pulled over because my tail lights were out. He's 15!!!! Big swear words were said - however, boy had...er...was getting his learners permit in one week. ONE WEEK! So we figured meh....what's a couple of days officer? Officer was nice. I got the citation for my freaky car light blinking problems and as an added bonus, also got to drive with my hazards on the rest of the way home. Freak show, freak show, freak show, freak show....sang the hazards to every passing car, "What's wrong with that thar car? Why the hazards? Slow down Cleatus...we don't wants to be part of whatever devils be in that vehiculer." Sigh....at any rate....

My brother Seth is in the Caribbean right now. I know. He deserves punishment. However, this means HIS car has been sitting at home in E County for a couple of months....as in since October. He doesn't want anyone to take it because well 1. He's paying for it still 2. He needs something when he gets home 3. He doesn't want a bunch of miles on it and 4. I will wreck it. I probably won't wreck it, but it's like I would bump it into something (garage anyone?). That's my luck...and his. However, with the Saturn on the brink and Taylor's information now prematurely in the hands of local law enforcement, the time has come to take Seth's car for one week, and finally leave mine to be pampered. A week at a "spa" for the Saturn. Seth drives a two door, Dodge, something or other. It's a stick shift and...wonder of wonders...it actually GOES when I press the gas. Not only does it go, but it ROARS into a SPEEDY frenzy and I can pass cars left and right! It's SO COOL. I love to hear the engine:

....VvvvvvrrrrRRRRRRRROOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMAHA AH AH AH!!!!

The end bit was me laughing in an evil, somewhat testosterone like, manner. Fella's I totally feel it. That thrill of going fast...cruising in the ride....weaving in and out of local Provo slow SUV traffic and basically retarded BYU J-walking freshmen. The joy I feel when I don't have to worry if I'm going to have enough juice to you know, make it up a hill, or drive in the left lane, is irreplaceable! These are the small joys I've been missing for years of driving a gutless possessed wonder...oh, that I'm very grateful for of course (crossing self). I just like it when the Engine roars, that's all.

A Werewolf? Er...what? A....Werewolf?

I'm about to revel how completely 100% nerdy I am. I know I know - this whole time you've found me to be somewhat witty, clever, occasionally cynical, but logical and even, dare I say, in very few instances bordering on cool. Well, not really cool...but at least not completely lost to the world of Dungeons and Dragons or....er...uh....Star Tre....no I like that...Star War...no, like that too...X-File...er, Greek Mythol...ah, Xena...ahem, Harry Pott...well, damn. Check it out. New X-Files Movie interview with Gillian Anderson (No I did NOT go searching - someone EMAILED it to ME!) - I think something a-slips out! Or at least...if it's not denied, it's confirmed. The Truth is Out There...at the full moon?

Spending the Paycheck I don't have yet...

I bought new running shoes. I need them! I know I know, they are expensive; good running shoes are at any rate. And I do realize I have to WORK for 3 weeks BEFORE getting a paycheck (read March 28th), however, as far as running shoes go, this particular purchase probably saved me from obesity, low self esteem, personal frustration, and depression for the remainder of my life. I do not exaggerate. Recently, on my runs, I've lengthened the distance and decreased the time...or tried to decrease my time, thus adding to the impact on my body. Also, I've been running on the same shoes for, oh, two years. GASP! You see? Ye olde runners out there KNOW that the cardinal rule of running is to get new shoes at least every 500-800 miles. So if I run 4 times a week, 4 miles each time....4x52....er...well it's more than 500!! I bear testimony the fact that runners need new shoes often. Last week my left foot started to really hurt during the middle of my runs (ha ha - runs...anyway), and additionally, continued to hurt the day after I had run. No good. The phrase "stress fracture" was emblazoned on my mind every time I felt the achy pain in my outer foot/upper arch area. Stress fracture then morphed into serious injury, into not being able to run for a couple weeks, into my pushing myself to do so anyway because I couldn't afford nice new supportive running shoes and there was no way I was going to sit around and gain pounds a few months before summer, to a lifetime injury, to no running ever again, to weight gain, to non-dating, to a life of loneliness, poor self-esteem, and constant regrets "WHY DIDN'T I JUST BUY SOME BETTER SHOES!?!?! WOE IS ME!" You see the problem...thus, I bought some. Look at how SAWEET theys be! I always wanted Shox - and not just for the style (a little for the style) but for the ankle and arch support they so blessedly offer. However, Shox seem incredibly heavy to me and as a runner - heavy shoes are not so desired. Thus I resigned myself to not having the Shox. I went to the mall today, on the look out for some New Balance or lighter Nike brand running shoes and the heavens parted in Finish Line to reveal these little gems: light weight, supportive, durable, oh sooooo stylin, and yes SHOX! Hurrah for a happy future! Also, now that I can't afford food, I will find "summer body" me faster than expected! It's a win win really.

"I'm in love. Can you believe it? I'm finally in love, and I feel great..."

I started a new job today at BYU. BYU is weird. No no, it's a fine academic institution and all of that. In fact, so far as academia is concerned it's top notch....I'm sure. I'm considering (read as "likely getting") my MA in English here eventually. Thus I feel BYU is worthy to provide such sufficient knowledge for me to carry through into my even more ambitious future plans of getting a PH.d, and eventually becoming Professor of English something or other at (insert houghty University name of choice here - or say Cambridge) where I will ultimately concentrate on writing novels and essays, campaigning for a porn free Internet option, taking up gardening, and feeding and grooming my 5-7 house cats. I dream big. I'm so used to not mixing "church and specific (or "perceived as" religiously biased) theological viewpoints (read LDS) seen as intolerant and unacceptable to the very "tolerant" and accepting University of Utah community", that it will take some getting used too. We (me and boss) opened orientation with a scriptural anecdote a la Book of Mormon, and then I was promptly presented with the book of the month for the company book club, "An Infinite Atonement." Cool. Just...different for me (and most I would assume). So I guess it's more...peculiar...than weird.

My new "boss", also called Andrea, is a deliberate talker - as in she talks very deliberately - putting emphasis on r's in each word. It's a deep, guttural R in fact...like you almost have to couple the r's together in any sentence to get the phonetics of her speech just right "Rright in herre...therre's Joseph in marrketing...he's black and therreforre we are diverrese. Do you see?" She didn't say that. But you get the point - and Joe IS black. A brrotha. I'm glad for this because Utah doesn't boast a large African American community - and I feel the state is the lesser for it. Vote Barrack. I don't know if that helps - but my mind made the connection. You know, black, to under represented minority gropus, to African American Presidential Candidate hopeful (hello adjectively heavy title!) Barack Obama. Keep up now...

I was only at the new job for a couple hours. Mainly, I went in, got my book (and a t-shirt!) - met a few fellow co-workers, and then was sent about BYU campus to take care of the odds and ends of acquiring a new job: parking permit, PHONE (I get a business phone -ANY phone - I'm thinking something red, paper thin, fancy, and that sings the time), benefits orientation set up (to be followed by benefits orientation March 17th), things of this nature. During my little "orientation to working at BYU" with the cutsey little front desk Provo-bopper, it was mentioned that all employee's must follow the honor code...(wayward look at my green streaked hair)...with no extremes in piercing or hair color (pointed noticing of my green streaked hair) accepted. I know I know. I bought a box of hair dye labeled "Saturdays Conformity Ritual" and it's waiting for me before I actually BEGIN said BYU job on Monday. Sheesh. Nice engagement ring by the way - do you know there are some companies that allow the first 5 years of engagement ring payoff interest free? True story. Remember to tell your sucker hubby that when he gets off the grave shift at job #2 and before he begins studying for the MCAT. He'll find it noteworthy.

This round about of walking events only took about an hour - most of my stops consisting of me finding out I need "this and this" from my employer before I can do "that and that." I wouldn't have minded finding out these extra little steps that will ultimately span into "real" Day 1 of new job - but the fact it was bitter cold outside discouraged me! Sigh. No! Don't worry I won't rant about the frigid wind that made me want to vomit - because it does happen to be very nice outside right now - but really, winter makes people lazy and unmotivated. I didn't WANT to walk to my car in Visitor Parking again and get my vehicle registration. Why? Because it's cold. I'll do it Monday. Plus, I'm hungry.

After leaving said "errands" and heading towards CP80 - I stopped and got crumb doughnuts and a Diet Pepsi. What? A little pick me up doesn't hurt...twice in one week. Psh. I ran 4.5 miles the other day I'll have you know! So it's hard sugar and caffeine (really, the doughnuts weren't as bad as I thought - 360 Calories and 16g of fat per package - there's six doughnuts in that package! Not too bad!) - I find this a winning cocktail in the AM. Come to find, however, I've entered a new stretch of "I'm hungry and NOTHING sounds good - take it away - I can't eat it" period (as in the time frame not the...whatever) again. Weird. It happened last month too. I just plain didn't want to eat anything. I was hungry, but couldn't stomach the thought of food (hunger, stomach the thought of food, ha ha -so clever). Cliff and I had JUST started going out during this "no want to eat" time so folks would diagnose my lack of desire for food as "oh cute - you can't even eat you like him so much..." Uh...no offense baby ;), but I can't think of anything or anyone I've liked THAT much to not EAT. I loves eating! In fact, I probably would eat MORE given that situation. I plan my meals each day and get excited when the appropriate "eating times" approach. The night before instead of planning my outfit (okay, not instead of - more as "companion to") I think "mmm, breakfast. I love cereal." After throwing away my salad dish or empty Teriyaki Bowl at lunch I think "I wonder what I can eat for dinner?" I like food - thus why this newly acquired disorder in my life is so distressing. Last time, I think it was 2 weeks before I could stomach the thought of FOOD again. Two weeks of hungry. How do you do this Mary-Kate Olsen? Hunger is NOT comfortable. Ask Africa! That entire continent is hungry all the time. And here I am, food before me, and I just CAN'T make myself do it...take the plunge...make the commitment. This is what I'm entering again. I know this because after the doughnuts (which were "eh" and slightly "forced" - completely strange to me) I wasn't thinking about lunch. 1:30 comes and I realize I'm actually getting hungry. So, I walk to "the hole" (aka- the food court for this barrage of look-alike office buildings housing a variety of office job "what nots" and "whos who"), and consider a salad. I want to keep it light because the boy and I are eating out later. Mmm, later. So I construct a meaningful salad, but keep it small. I take out the Sedaris to start my read and eat lunch ritual - and find myself pushing the greens around to begrudgingly find the most appealing parts of the toppings - they being the garbanzo beans and bacon bits - and forcing them in my mouth. Chew. Ick. Chew. I can't do this. Swallow. I'm done. A couple forkfuls of bacon flavored garbanzo beans swimming in Italian Light does me in. Weird. But the David Sedaris Essay was perfect...

I read "A Shiner...Like a Diamond." This particular essay is found in "Me Talk Pretty One Day" - one of several humorous anthologies he's released describing his dry, wickedly funny, clever, and dark takes on family, politics, Christmas, and the pets we go through over our lifetime. I recommend it. Cliff gave it to me for Valentines Day. He wanted to be responsible for starting my Sedaris canon - it's like I'm his convert and he moves up a literary level every time I recommend it to someone; "Oh it's awesome. Cliff started me on it and I just love it. You should really read it." He may be responsible for tens of hundreds of people's Sedaris interest via me. The irony is, I "kinda" knew who David Sedaris was from 1. Working at Barnes and Noble (holla! I miss you! I give myself paper cuts just to remind me of the good days) and 2. I'm "pop culture" aware-ish. Weak reasoning on #2 - it's mainly #1 that's responsible for my knowing at least his name. This isn't the irony - the irony is after Cliff had mentioned him and given me said book - I was watching Letterman one night and his first guest was one Amy Sedaris. "What ho?" I thought to myself, "Could this be a relation to one David Sedaris the acclaimed humorist?" I consulted Cliff and he confirmed that Amy Sedaris is in fact sister to David Sedaris. This was very apparent anyway as I watched her small stint on Letterman (and ya know - they share a last name). She's completely random, super cute, and drop your pants hilarious. If you didn't know - that means damn funny...hella funny even! "A Shiner...Like a Diamond" is an essay describing a bit of Amy Sedaris's character through David's words. A combination of this essay, seeing her on Letterman, and now being more acquainted with her brother, I've decided I really want to be friends with Amy Sedaris. Best friends. Seriously. Only Sedaris can describe Sedaris (catch that?) well enough to continue with my blathering explanation of why I want to be her friend...so here it is,

• " Nothing seems to stick to her (Amy), partly because she's so rarely herself. Her fondness for transformation began at an early age and has developed into something closely resembling a multiple personality disorder. She's Sybil with a better sense of humor, Eve without the crying jags, "And who are we today?" my mother used to ask, leading Amy's "Who don't you want me to be?""

This women at the age of 12 had her Dad believing he was talking to one of her mothers friends about her ficticiuos failed marriage over the phone, and furthermore, solicited him for an extra-marital affair after continuing this "impersonation game" over a number of weeks. How seriously cool is that? Oh, her father politely declined her offer - thank goodness. Think of the therapy. Amy's kept this love of "make-believe" throughout her adult life. Maybe it speaks of some deep-seeded identity crisis that has never been resolved, or a psychological fear that if she were to discover who she truly was - it might turn out to be wicked, coarse, shallow or worse - incredibly boring. Whatever the reason - I'd love to be her friend and watch (even participate!) in some of the antics she comes up with just for "coming up with's" sake. Admittedly - I would also make an appealing target for her "theatrical whims" because I'm a ridiculously gullible person. Sigh. And I just told the Internet that. Be gentle. However, it is a sacrifice I'm willing to make in order to witness others reactions to her "fatty suit" and walking around the city with her face painted up to look like a sorely beaten women. When some audacious stranger would ask her what happened to her face, it looking bruised, yellowed, and grotesquely "stitched" up she'd exclaim "I'm in love, can you believe it? I'm finally in love, and I feel great!" You can't buy comedy like this. Or, wait...I guess you can.

(Oh, and I'm sorry if I scared anyone (or got anyone excited - Mom?) with that title...like Cliff. Sorry. Actually, I thought it was a clever rouse to get you people thinking you were reading something sappy. SUCKERS! (don't take offense readers - trust me still - and keep reading me too. I like it when you read me...tell your friends.)

Winter - you are finished!

"Little darlin - it's been a long cold lonely winter..."

That's right. For me, winter is officially over. It's done. I've HAD it. HAD IT! I'll take no more part in it. In my rebellion against cold temperatures that continue to fend my darling warm weather off every weekend, ever other day, over every brisk evening - I've decided I will no longer acknowledge these pathetic and desperate attempts to squeeze out one more frigid wind gust, one more ice storm, one more back chill or goose-bump. Mr Winter has had his day, and it is finally over for me. I've put away the snug-Uggz, the wooly sweaters, and the puffy coats (I look like a little burnt marsh mellow in that thing), and have started digging out the blessed flip-flops, the casual skirts and dresses I so adore donning in the summery months, and the light "Spring" jackets. I'm putting my socks, my tights, and my closed toed shoes (well not all of them) away. I'm going to start running outside, scheduling picnics in the park, Frisbee throwing fests, and planning my Saturday afternoons under large trees with a good book and a good boy for company. T-shirts, light chino's, OH! Sun-kissed hair (a little lighter for the summer months I think), a hopefully more bronze glow to my skin vs the transparently white pallor it has become, less make-up, and even parking a little further away than I have to from various edifices just so I can enjoy the weather for a moment. I'm hitting the gym more and the Starbucks (mmm, hot liquids) less. Lemonade, Kool-aide, and ice-water will replace steaming hot chocolate, herbal tea's, and cough syrup. Instead of hearty soups and rolls - a light salad or sandwich, please. Bike rides, Sunday evening constitutionals, the smell of BBQ's and sprinkler water - long siiiiiiigh - yes, winter has had its day and I am breaking summer in a week before Daylight Savings Time. OH that blessed blessed day! How do I love thee? In so so many warm ways. In fact, I think I will have a very summer party in celebration of one hella long and miserable winter finally, FINALLY, coming to a close. I just wasn't ready for it this year - and with the lack of funds to make winter bearable (read snowboarding, snowshoeing, or plane ticket buying to warmer climate), it's been a veritable frozen hell. I feel that everyone has their ideas of what a personal hell would be like - some it would resemble a windowless cubicle, others a never ending lecture in an asbestos ridden classroom a la OSH building on UofU campus (true story), some perhaps an eternal testimony meeting in a freshmen singles ward (or really any singles ward), me - this year - it would be the promise of an endless winter; frigid, sickening, and shivering forever. Shudder. I like the idea of eating fire (that's for you baby) vs. ice cubes at the moment, "and the days are LONGER there!" (Sorry - abstract reference...I may or may not explain someday. Or maybe someone should explain for me?)

So take that winter. You're officially ignored, unacknowledged, done, packed up and put away in the back of my closet, wadded up and stored at the bottom of my drawer, forgotten, expunged, foregone, reduced, ceased, closed, completed,  settled, finalized, closed off, wrapped up, done for, finite! and officially (perhaps delusionally?), FINISHED. Good longer days and shorter nights to you! 

"Here comes the Sun...do du do do....here comes the sun and I say, it's alright!"

TBS, USA....such great movie options

I don't watch R rated movies. Yes, it's true. I don't watch them. I figure "eh, they're just movies", and there are plenty of good PG-13's, PG's, and...er...do they have G movies anymore? out there for my enjoyment. I'll be even more honest - I avoid some PG-13's as well. There are just some things contained in R (and some PG-13) movies I don't find...necessary (for lack of a better term). I don't feel I am missing enough of the "art and genius" of these films to compensate for materials that connote an R rating (extreme violence, sex, and language). THAT said - I want to sing "Hurrahs!" to cable TV movie spots. Really. They are able to show those movies that I choose not to watch in the theaters, and show them on TV without worrying about the extreme violence, the "uncomfortable" kind of sex scenes, and hard language. Take that out - and I feel I still get the full movie enjoyment...er, well, I guess at least the bits I prefer to limit my experience to. Just a little patience, and I get to participate in the movie genius that many of these movies portray. I can discuss the movies too! Er...in a couple years. Right now, Wedding Crashers. Hilarious. Cheers to USA, TBS, TNT, A&E, and all those cable channels that allow tender souls like myself to still enjoy the movie for the movie's sake, without being too traumatized. ;)