Summer Update

I realize that one thing a blog does is allow others to laugh at/pity/envy my life. Here is brief anecdote about my summer life in lounge pants. How people feel when they read this is entirely out of my hands.
As some of you know, I have been working on various "hobbies" this summer. One hobby I have given a solid effort to so far has been going to the gym. I have been trying to go in the morning, after I "sleep in" of course. The only problem is that once I get there my toes go numb after five minutes on the treadmill or the eliptical machine. I don't think that is normal. I have a couple of working theories about why this happens. 1.) I am allergic to working out 2. ) I am a freak 3. ) I am wearing bad shoes. Instead of abandoning all gym ambitions I decided to go shoe shopping. After all, there is nothing more motivating for a hobby than the chance to shop for, buy, and wear new shoes. I am sorry for the long lead in to the actual anecdote....it was needed background information.
Here is my shoe shopping anecdote:
Disclaimer: I don't know anything about athletic shoes.
Last night I was browsing through TJ Maxx when I came across a pair that I thought would solve all my numbness problems. I bought them, took them home, and ran up and down my hall in them. They were too big. Alas. I made it my mission today to find a better pair and actually look--instead of stumble on a pair. I talked to running and shoe experts alike to to get their opinions and advice. I was ready. I started out by going to DSW. They had several options, one pair in particular. I decided to move on to other stores. I went to three other stores, including back to TJ Maxx to return the original pair. In those other stores I managed to buy two pairs of sandals and a pair of flats, but I did not find any shoes that I liked as much as the DSW pair. Later in the day I returned to DSW to buy this great pair of New Balance All Terrain Running shoes. They were 40% off in the clearance section. I tried them on in the store of course, but somehow I missed that they were actually men's shoes. They were in the women's section after all. I was all set to test them out at the gym when I really studied how wide and guyish my feet looked in them. I did some internet research and found out that sure enough my shoes were for men. I told you I did not know anything about this subject. On my third trip to DSW today I managed to find a great pair of shoes. I went directly to the gym and started breaking them in. After 30 minutes on the treadmill my feet were still not numb--they felt a little funny, but maybe that is just breaking in new shoes. I don't want to be allergic to the gym or be a freak.
Now, feel free to laugh/shake your head in pity or shame/envy me for my FOUR new pairs of shoes and day of shopping. Or all three.
Summer sure is super.

Approaching Summer...

It is official. I have exactly one month left of school!! I am anxiously awaiting my break. This is a serious perk of my job. Each summer I want to do something productive, useful, fun, relaxing...you get the idea I am sure. One summer I took a cooking class. Another summer I thought about playing tennis. Last summer I got my Netflix subscription and really made use of it.
Question: what should I do this summer? I am open for suggestions. Here are some things I thought about already: 1). become a gym rat 2). write an average book that will make me some serious money and sell at midnight release parties all over the world--or write a book of beautiful language and deeply resonating characters that no one will read. 3). Make this blog look somewhat decent. 4). Grow out my bangs. 5). Throw financial caution to the wind and become an adventurous traveler--or just a traveler in general. 6.) Learn all the dances from So You Think YOu Can Dance 7). Somehow commune with nature.
The operative verb in my question above is SHOULD. It will be interesting to see what I
WILL do. Feel free to send any suggestions you may have my way. I need to start planning.

Romance?

Masterpiece Theatre's rendition of Room with a View left me a warm glow of romance where there wasn't before. I am sucker for sweeping landscapes, Italian carriage drivers, poppy fields and sudden passionate kisses, emotional piano playing, and beautiful music behind it all. It was not as great as the book or the original film...but still...I was provided a moment of romance.



Sigh, Thank you.

Sweet Valley High

Does anyone else remember those crazy Wakefield twins? Elizabeth and Jessica sure were the IT girls of their day. I read yesterday about how they are now trying to be the IT girls of today as well. In order to accomplish this transformation there are few changes that had to be made. Random House is rereleasing the first few books in an attempt catch the Gossip Girl series wave. One change in the new edition is that will be driving a Jeep Wrangler instead of a their Fiat. Another change is that Elizabeth is the editor of the Oracle--the school website; she also has an anonymous blog. The final change, one that they proudly announced in their press conference, is the most disturbing of all. The twins used to be a "perfect size 6." Now they are a "perfect size 2." Let's hear it for Random House! It is not like body issues weren't bad enough when girls of my generation thought that size 6 was "perfect." My only hope is that teen and tween girls are smart enough to recognize that the Wakefield twins should not be their role models or dictate what a perfect size should be. Let's leave that up to every other show, magazine, book, or pop star. They are all sending the right message to the young girls of this generation, right? Good luck girls! You will need it.

Complete Jane Austen

The masterpiece Complete Jane Austen has been great to watch and enjoy. It should not come as a surprise that I am even writing about this...but I am not trying to surprise anyone. One of my chief goals in life is to enlighten others to the brilliance of Jane Austen. I just finished rereading Sense and Sensibility. It was a weekend well spent. I realize that as great as the movies are--there is no comparison to the original books.

Target troubles

So, tonight I decided to forgo the lounge pants and venture out. I was feeling crazy. I went to Target. On the way there I plugged my iPod into my iTrip for some driving tunes. I got to Target spent about 45 minutes browsing and shopping with my sister and mother. We were looking at some of the rings at the display case as girls are wont to do. Suddenly I put on a ring and it was stuck. My finger was turning purple and throbbing!!! I had to slather some lotion on and work it off slowly and painfully. Can you say dysfunctionality?
Once it came off we checked out and went to the car. I was sitting there in the parking lot looking for the iPod to plug in before I drove off. I was rummaging and searching through my purse. Panic was slowly rising. I opened the car door and found my beautiful, shiny, new iPod sitting in the snow. It had been there the whole time and was freezing cold. Again with that dysfunctionality! This is why I should not leave the house and the lounge pants!!!!

My iPod is still cold and my finger still hurts.

2007 in review

A new year always brings introspection and reflection. Forcing myself to consider the state of my life is scary and pleasant at the same time. One of the scariest realizations I made was that biggest change in MY life for the year of 2007 is that my hair grew. Whenever I see anyone I have not seen in awhile the first thing they say is, "Whoa, your hair is long." Having longer hair has daily affects that have influenced life. That is really the only major change I could thnk of for 2007. Of course things changed for others around me and that causes change; however, I can't say that those really count. I deliberately chose not to make any resolutions for 2007...I can see that maybe I should have. WOOPS!
I wonder what changes await in 2008! (that rhymes)