I'd like to a monkey, be monkeys with you*

OK, so I was feeling SUPER grumpy on Sunday. but then, J posted some adorable photos of Baby V, and I am shamelessly stealing from her blog to post these, because seriously, EVERYONE needs to see the cuteness that is my niece.

How can you not want to just give her a big hug and kiss?  It's like cuteness overload.

*100 Monkeys

But I knew that you were a truth I would rather lose than to have never lain beside at all*

I am excessively grumpy.  I'm pretty sure it is due to lack of food, but ugh.  The grumpiness today.

I went for an 8 mile run today.  After last weekend's 7 mile attempt, and how good I felt, I was expecting this week's run to be ok.  Ha!

I quit after 2 miles.  I was completely mentally NOT in to this run, and I couldn't even force myself to run a second lap around the park.  I just felt mentally exhausted and I had NO energy and it was so frustrating, because my legs felt fine.  I SHOULD have been able to run, I just could not make myself do it.  

I have all sorts of excuses.  I didn't eat right today (I knew this before even going to the park), I am still fighting this cold which is making me super stuffy and hard to breathe, I have been working long hours making me super tired, but seriously.  

I just didn't want to do it.  That's pretty much it.  And I'm stubborn enough, if I really don't want to do something, I am just not going to do it.  Blah.

So, I went back home and am currently sitting on the couch watching football and yelling at my fantasy players for sucking.  Some consistency week to week would be FANTASTIC.  

I'm going to attempt the 8 miles again tomorrow.  Hopefully it goes a bit better.  Sigh

*Death Cab For Cutie - What Sarah Said always makes me sad, not sure why it's floating around in my head today (may also be explaining my grumpy mood)

This is the best way that I've found, to be the best you've ever seen*

I have found that I am missing a bunch of small items that seem to have disappeared in the move.  Like, an iron.  I really need an iron to fix my curtains (it's an iron on hem type thing).  And, my extra tube of toothpaste.  Things like that.  I'm also apparently missing my can opener.  Which I discovered in the middle of cooking dinner the other night, when I really needed to open a can of broth.

I KNOW I had one at one point.  Where it is, I have no idea.  

I finally resorted to stabbing the can with a knife until I had a hole big enough to pour the broth through.  I felt slightly pathetic.  And yet, I still haven't had a chance to actually go and BUY any of these things.  This weekend.  I swear.

**********

I am trying to figure out when I turned so old.  There are these annoying kids that live in my neighborhood. EVERY FREAKING NIGHT, no matter what time of night I am getting home (ok, seriously, they were there at 2 AM the one morning), they are hanging out on this corner. Now, these kids are NOT old enough to be outside at this time (they range from ages 8-13 or so).  

EVERY time I see them, I get so pissed off.  They are standing at the corner, not quite int he middle of the street, but enough so that you can't safely turn without worrying about hitting them, and ugh.  I just want to yell, DON'T YOUR PARENTS LOVE YOU?!?!?!?"  And WHY ARE YOU OUTSIDE AT THIS TIME OF NIGHT?!?!  You morons are going to get hit by a car!!!!  I know MY parents made me come home before it was dark at that age (and granted, when I was older, I snuck back out, but not at that age).

And then, I think, when did I get so old, that this started irritating me so much?  But seriously.  WHY ARE YOU ALWAYS THERE!!!!  Sigh, they're just obnoxious kids that should be at home in bed (and I swear, next I'll be peeking out my window, spying on them, yelling at them to get off my lawn!) 

**********

So, is it the weekend yet?

*Hedwig and the Angry Inch 

If I had the time, I'd stop the world and make you mine, and everyday would stay the same with you*

Random rundown

Little H turned 4 this weekend.  I can't believe how old he's getting.  I apparently had camnesia this weekend, and didn't take hardly ANY pictures.  I did get a cute one of D and Little H and his Lego gifts (Little H is a little distracted).  So, I guess you will have to settle for that.

**********

I ran the scheduled 7 miles this weekend.  I have abandoned all hope of actually running and finishing this thing, so now I am on a, just get to the finish line kick.  I did a run 2 mile, walk quarter mile type thing this weekend.  And, while I was incredibly slow, I actually felt like I could finish this race for the first time.  So I guess that's a plus.  

**********

Ever go on a date and not know you were going on a date until after you were on said date?  Ha!  I accidentally did.  That was awkward.  And no, I will NOT give details.  The entire thing just needs to be forgotten.  :-)

**********

Some friends/family also came up with some more...less useful things I am great at:

1. loving a deranged dog that nobody else could love
2. I am flypaper for freaks (I'm so good at that one).
3. I injure myself in the most bizarre ways.  (Just a few examples: breaking my foot twice while walking, stepping on a broken bottle and requiring 10 stitches, or kneeling on a needle and needing surgery).  RR apparently tells her friends all about me.  Her favorite story to tell is about me walking across the Best Buy parking lot and breaking my foot.  She fails to mention the totally hardcore part where I drove 30 minutes home...WITH A STICK SHIFT AND A BROKEN FOOT.  
4. I can bust out Vanilla Ice's Ice Ice Baby or Sir Mix A lot's Baby got Back in their entirety. It's a good party trick.
5. I'm good at being paranoid.  This one is really just obnoxious.

So there you go, five MORE things I'm great at. 

**********

I totally sound like someone you want to be friends with right?  :-P

*Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds - I randomly really like this song.  I think I'm still a closet Oasis fan.  :-)

There's an old voice in my head that's holding me back*

Past few weeks, I've been feeling kind of meh.  Some friends of mine have been pissing me off, same old crap.  I've just been kind of getting down on myself, so, I decided I would do Trapped's five things I'm great at.  

I had a hard time coming up with things (apparently I'm better at the whole self deprecation thing than I am at the self promoting thing).  However, I asked some people and came up with some things I agree with.

I am great at knitting.  Two friends from Virginia taught me how to do a knit stitch and a purl stitch.  From there, I've been able to teach myself everything else I've learned.  I knit awesome socks.  I knit awesome hats.  I knit almost awesome scarves.  I may not be the BEST knitter, but I'm pretty damn great for a casual knitter.  

I am a great friend.  I have a lot of patience.  I am generous with my time.  I drive ridiculously far to hang out with them.  I go out of my way to keep in touch with them.  

I am a great sister/daughter/aunt.  I am always willing to watch the nieces/nephews.  I make sure I visit my sisters and parents as often as possible.  I call home all the time.  I enjoy just spending time with them.  

I am great at making people laugh.  Granted, a lot of times, people are laughing AT me, but not always.  I am good with the witty comeback.  I make mundane activities (like running errands to Target) fun.  I tell stupid stories, but unless you're an ass, people appreciate that about me.  

And last but not least, I am great at reading.  I read like a fiend.  I HAVE to read for at least half an hour before bed each night, and usually can finish a short book in that time.  I don't "speed read", I actually read every word and usually retain the information.  I've had teachers accuse me of lying when I was younger because I would finish our silent reading assignments too quickly.  I'm great at it.  

So, some of these are kind of lame, but they're what I'm great at.  :-)

*Of Monsters and Men (anyone know anyone in Iceland?  I REALLY want this cd but can't get it here :-(  so sad)

So many things I'd say, if only I were able*

I missed a run last week, and I'm starting to get a little irritated with myself.  I am definitely doing bare minimum to get me to this finish line (it's not like my newest schedule was all that involved to begin with).  I did my long run yesterday (about 6 miles), and I was definitely struggling more than I should be at this point.  I probably walked about a mile (maybe a little more) of those almost 6 miles.  I'm really questioning if I even want to do this race.

However, I do still want to go to Vegas.  So will I let myself go without running the race?  Probably not.  So...I guess I'm back to my half assed training.  Sigh.  

*********

I covet this table.  COVET.  Unfortunately, I need two for my nightstands, and I don't really want to be spending this much money right now.   If anyone feels the urge to get me a random gift card to Target, I wouldn't turn it down.  :-P  You know, a belated a birthday gift or something. ;-)  Instead I plan to keep an eye on the Target website and just hope they still have it in a few months. 

Covet.

*Sara Bareilles - This song has been on the radio SO MUCH this week.  Pretty much sick of it. 

I took a sip of something poison but I'll hold on tight.*

I made a very big mistake this week.  And while it's not as big a mistake as I initially thought, it's still a very big mistake.  I have this ball of dread just chilling out at the bottom of my stomach.  It's awful.  

Got even worse when I went to buy gas today, and realized I didn't have my credit card and it wasn't anywhere in my wallet or purse.  Such a terrible feeling.  Luckily, I found it a few minutes later when I got home, but still, awful feeling (note to self, stop putting credit card in pants pocket).

How come when it's raining out, it always takes an hour to drive somewhere that should only take 20 minutes? Argh.  Hate PA drivers.  Seriously, they are terrible.

I ran my 2 miles on Tuesday, and was supposed to run 3 today.  Fail.  My "oh crap" schedule is not appearing to be a success.  However, I think I found my new strategy.  Genius.  But I plan to do it in style.  Limo with a wet bar is more my style.  

Yeah, not much else.  Been working super long days this week, so I'm even more boring than normal.  

Have a lovely weekend!

*Foster the People (seriously, this is probably their best song, needs to get more radio play...)

My mind forgets to remind me, you're a bad idea*

• I started my "oh crap, the half marathon is coming way too soon" training plan.  I ran 5 miles this Sunday.  That sucked.  I have no desire to run this half marathon at all.  I'm contemplating just going to Vegas for the fun of Vegas and screw the race.  Meh.
• My place is being overrun by crickets (overrun is a strong word, but even one is one too many).  Ugh crickets.  Even worse, Oscar's favorite thing to do is catch a cricket, bite it and shake it a bit, then let go so it's writhing on the floor in pain.  Leaving me to have to go near it for a mercy kill.  I am slightly terrified of jumping insects (I get this "they're coming right for me!" feeling when I see them), so having to go near them to kill them does not make me happy.  Ugh crickets.
• Speaking of Oscar, he is apparently as graceful as his mommy.  We were standing at the top of the stairs, and I started to go down, realized I forgot something, and turned back around.  Oscar attempted to follow, and instead, fell down the steps.  He literally went head over tail all the way down, hitting each step along the way.  I felt so bad, and all I could think was he was going to break his back again.  That sucked.  
• I have been trying to catch up on my TV shows lately.  I managed to FINALLY watch the last episode of Game of Thrones, and I caught the rest of The Walking Dead Season (just in time for the second season to start next week).  Excellent.  I have also been going back and watching Chuck.  I'm slightly confused.  So many people have said how much they disliked Season 2, and only ONE person I know liked it (he liked it so much, it is one of the reasons I decided to keep watching after I thought Season One was kind of meh).  Um, what are you people smoking?  Season 2 is freaking incredible.  Seriously.  Incredible.  
• And...last but not least, one of my most random pet peeves.  I despise when radio stations change the song lyrics to make them fit the local area.  Example, one of the stations around here change the lyrics in Lady Gaga's song from Nebraska to Philadelphia.  Or, in, Party in the USA (dying of shame I am referencing a Miley Cyrus song), Z100 always changed the lyrics to "and Z100 was on" (in a song about California btw, NOT New York).  No!  You wouldn't change Sinatra's New York, New York song to Philadelphia, Philadelphia (yes, I realize that makes no sense...but you wouldn't change it to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania either) and it drives me insane that they think its cool to change these songs.  Also, yes, I realize I just used Frank Sinatra and Miley Cyrus in the same example, and I apologize immensely to Sinatra's memory, but I'm just making a point.  It drives me insane.   Grr.  Stupid irrational anger of mine.  :-)

Anyways, that's about it.  Hope everyone had a lovely weekend.  

*Taylor Swift (meh, I figured I already referenced Miley Cyrus, may as well finish it off with Taylor Swift).

When I kiss your lips. Ooh I start to shiver, can't control the quivering inside*

Stupid comments

• The half marathon is in less than 9 weeks.  I am so boned.
• I used to have this HUGE girl crush on Zoey Deschanel, until I saw her in this AWFUL show the New Girl.  UGH.  Hate.  Pretty much every stupid stereotype in a show.  Just awful.  (I hope none of you like it). It has really...tarnished her appeal.  So disappointed.
• I took a short cut to work the other day.  This short cut took me TWO HOURS to get to work.  It was a really shitty short cut.  I will not be going that way again.
• I went running in my neighborhood yesterday.  I brought my phone with me because I was planning to meet J at the bar later and I was thinking she may call.  Instead, JH called, and I was so busy trying to figure out how to ignore the phone call, I ran into a gate.  Literally ran into the gate.  I'm thinking this is why people don't run with phones...

Yeah, I don't know.  I work a lot.  I don't really do anything else.  I'm so boring.  

*Phil Collins - OMG, I have NO idea why this song is randomly in my head.  And yet, I keep singing it ALL DAY!!!  Wouldn't you agree? Baby you and me got a groovy kind of love.

Promise I'm worthy to hold in your arms*

My house is looking a whole lot more put together after this weekend.  I invited some family and friends over on Saturday morning, fed them breakfast, and then put them to work moving and building furniture, hanging pictures, etc.  

I'm still hanging up a few more pictures, but for the most part, the place looks great.  My bedroom looks fantastic.  I still have one more picture to hang above my bed, and I am having a slight dilemma.  The wall is not a normal wall.  I think it may be a brick wall with a layer of drywall or something over it (ha, I know NOTHING about how houses are built, so I may be completely wrong).  It's the connecting wall to my neighbor's house, so it's definitely thicker than normal.  ANYWAYS, I have bent 2 nails trying to hammer them in, so I think I'm giving up on that method.

I have no desire to drill a hole in the wall (and I'm sure J, my landlord is strongly agreeing with that statement), so I'm not sure what to do.  I could use the command strips, but I am a little wary about that (it's a heavy frame, hanging above my head as I sleep...what could possibly go wrong?), or I could just put nothing there.  Blah.  Suggestions????  Ones that don't require drilling a hole, thanks.

*********

I am also in a period of...mourning (for lack of a better word).  I had my Garmin in my running shoes, and my running shoes in my gym bag, but the bag wasn't zipped.  My shoe fell out of the bag on my way to the car one morning so I grabbed it and threw it in the car.  Can we see where this is going?

My Garmin was nowhere to be seen for about a week.  Every morning, while walking Oscar, I would search the area hoping that this would be the day I found it.  Finally, on Friday, I see it laying under the tree next to my car.  

Yeah, that's not going to be doing me any good anymore.  Sigh.  (Also, where the heck was this thing all week???  It definitely was NOT under that tree all week).

I can't afford to buy a new one this month, but I'm hoping to work it into my budget next month.  I feel like I'm running naked without this thing.  It's awful.

**********

Football this year.  It's killing me.  That is all.

*Adele -(I've been listening to her as I unpack.  I just hope I don't start associating her with bad things.)