Open up and say AH

I was poked, prodded and stuck with a needle, but it turns out I'm healthy.

At least I think I am.

My doctor did suggest I go have some test done to check my thyroid. Apparently it felt semi-funky to her when she was checking it. She told me not to be alarmed and she was pretty sure it was nothing to be worried about, but that I should go have some ultrasound done just in case. They sucked some blood out of me today, but next week I have to go back for some other test.

On the plus side, I did get my medicine refilled, including stuff to combat my headaches. That alone makes all the poking and my sore arm worth it.

What to watch?

I have a dilemma that revolves around TV watching.

Normally, I'm not a big TV person. Sure there are a few shows that I have to watch: "24," "Gilmore Girls" and "Grey's Anatomy." There are also a few others that I like to catch if I'm around and have nothing else to do, shows like "Ugly Betty," "Friday Night Lights" and lately, "Deal or No Deal."

There used to be another entry in that "Must Watch" category. I used to be glued to the TV when "Lost" came on.

But here's where the problem begins.

"Lost" has been on a break since October (or sometime around then). So I haven't had to set aside time to watch it on Wednesday nights. But tonight "Lost" returns. And it starts with one of those recap episodes that ABC seems to be so fond of, those episodes that I normally don't like to watch. And after that recap, it's a new, hour-long episode.

My problem? I may need more than a "recap" episode to remember what's going on on that crazy island. Which make me wonder, is now the time I decide to get un-Lost? Because in reality, the show was starting to sputter for me. I was losing interest in the island and it's inhabitants. But if I decide to leave the island, it has to be a solid decision, one that I won't end up regretting in a few weeks. Because I can't really go back in a few weeks due to the nature of the show.

I guess what I'll probably end up doing tonight is putting my faith in my temperamental VCR (after I give it a warning that it better not mess up) and tape "Lost," because I don't care if it is the first new episode in months, there's a Badger game on and sorry ABC folks, Bucky takes precedence over an island full of survivors of an airplane crash.

Day 2

Two days down, nine weeks, five days to go.

I made it to the YMCA after work, even though I left kind of late. And even though it was cold, albeit not as bone-chilling cold as the minus 16 that we've had the last two days.

And there was even a treadmill calling out my name.

Jennifer...Jennifer

So I got on. Turned on the MP3 player, selected The Killers and I ran. And it felt good.

According to the chart I printed off the Internet last week, I was supposed to do a 1.5 mile run. And I did. And then I took a 10 minute uphill stroll on the treadmill to nowhere and finished off with another half mile jog.

It wasn't too bad. I didn't die like I thought I would considering I hadn't run in ages, opting for the elliptical machines the last month or so.

But it was good. And I might even do it again tomorrow.

I've got my running shoes on

Sitting around at work Friday when it was like 2 degrees outside, some co-workers and I decided on a plan.

It involves a pair of running shoes, 10 weeks and a goal of a 5K in April.

There's a half marathon and 5K race here in the City on the Water in April. One co-worker has decided to run the half marathon while another co-worker and I decided on the 5K route.

After making that decision, I spent a chunk of time Friday night looking for a good training program to follow. I know I've logged 2 mile runs on a treadmill to nowhere before, but I figured having a training "program" to follow will make me go to the YMCA on a regular basis. And that's part of my thinking in signing up for this race. I need to get back into the YMCA habit that I somehow lost somewhere between the 'burg and the City on the Water.

Day One of training was supposed to start today. On my "program" I was given the option between rest or a run/walk. I had good intentions when I woke up this morning. Even though it was -16 degrees below zero. I was still going to make it to that treadmill tonight.

Then I went outside.

And I froze.

Because, hello, it was minus 16 outside. And windy. Which made it feel more like minus 35. And just in case I need to remind you, that's freaking cold!

So there went my plans for a trip on the treadmill. But I don't feel too bad because, hello, I was given the option to either rest or run/walk. And I chose to rest.

Because negative 16 is just too cold to run.

But they say we might actually break zero tomorrow and have a temperature around 5 degrees. While not much warmer, it is in the positive numbers. So I'll be heading to that treadmill because my "program" tells me I'm supposed to run 1.5 miles.

I got my law degree from the U of Court

Call me crazy, but I almost wish I was sitting here for the next six weeks.

Of course, I wouldn't want to actually have to write about, just observe, because I think it will be fascinating.

Yes, even though I complain about it every so often, I love the days when I just get to sit through long court proceedings and listening to defense and prosecution strategies. It's like I went to law school, I get to learn about all of that stuff, but instead of paying huge amounts for a law degree, I just get to pick up on what I learn from observing in court.

A reading recount

January's over and it's time to see how I'm progressing towards that goal of reading 40 books.

During January I read six books and 2,089 pages.

That's fairly impressive for me considering all the craziness I dealt with during the work week that left me drained and not in the mood to read after I finally got home at night. But then I did also do some major page turning during the weekends, when I felt completely anti-social and didn't want to talk to people.

But anyway, here's what I read:
The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
Twenty Something: The Quarter-Life Crisis of Jack Lancaster by Iain Hollingshead
Queen of Babble by Meg Cabot
Truck: A Love Story by Michael Perry
The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield
I am the Messenger by Markus Zusak

I'm not coming out

When I left work, the sun was still shining. I think that's first time that's happened since, oh October. But considering I worked a ton of hours early in the week, I more than deserved to be able to exit the building at 3:30 this afternoon.

Originally I had big plans for my early day. I was going to head over the YMCA before the post-work rush hit. But then I realized how cold it was and that it was just going to get colder once the sun set and I decided to skip the YMCA, even though the parking lot was fairly empty.

So I ran some quick errands (to Walgreen's and Target) and came home. And the sun was still out and it was semi-bearable outside.

But I've been locked inside my house since 4 p.m. and honestly, if it wasn't for the celebration tomorrow night honoring Krista's 25 years on earth, I probably wouldn't leave my house until Monday morning when I had to go to work.

That's how cold it is. And it's only going to get colder this weekend. I shiver just thinking about it.

So now I'm off, to curl up in my recline with a cozy blanket and either watch a movie or read. Or both, not simultaneously of course.

You're kidding, right?

I have a problem with the mailman today.

He brought a very disturbing piece of mail. A letter from the fine folks at AARP, who are reminding me to register to receiving my benefits from their fine organization now that I've reached their membership age of 50!

Hello, can we say they're about 25 years too early? I think I'm offended.

I need to back up though. Because this isn't the first year I've gotten this friendly reminder to apply for my membership benefits from them. The first "reminder" came when I reached the big 2-5.

I laughed because here I was, celebrating a quarter of a century of living and these folks are reminding me to going the "American Association for Retired Persons." Retired? Really? Cause last time I checked, you had to work before you retired and I had a full 2.5 years in the working world.

I forgot about the "reminder" promptly. Until it showed up in my mailbox again last year. I ignored it again, figuring they'd get the hint.

And I figured they finally got the picture and realized that I was years away from being eligible for their organization since their annual letter didn't show up in my mailbox on my birthday this year. Yeah, turns out it was just a week late.

So to the fine folks at AARP, I'm sure you have a wonderful organization and offer great benefits from folks who are 50 and older. But since I haven't even reached three decades of life yet, why don't you just keep my name on file and get a hold of me in, oh say, another 33 years.