Remember how I talked about liking to keep track of stuff? The number of books I read, how many times I've gone to the YMCA or how many miles I've run so far this year?
Well, keeping with that running thing...I also like to know how long it takes me to run those miles. Meaning, I need a watch.
I have a watch. It's a really nice silver, stainless steel Fossil watch with a blue face. I used part of the money I got from my high school graduation to buy it. And I've worn it everyday since and feel completely naked when I forget to put it on.
But it doesn't do well as a timer.
So last weekend I was at Target and I took a quick swing through their watch department. After looking at my options, I bought this one. It was exactly what I was looking for. It had a timer, was kind of sporty and best of all, was only $9.99.
I got it home, set the time and tried it out on my run. It worked perfectly. The next day, I noticed it was 15 minutes slow, but it was just the time. I didn't buy the watch to tell me what time of day it was. I bought for the timer function. So it didn't worry me too badly. A few days later, it was slow by like 5 hours. Again, not too worried.
After what happened today, I'm officially worried.
I had no display. There were no numbers. The LCD display was blank. And since the display was blank, the timer, not functioning. Meaning I had to guesstimate how long it took me to run the 4 miles today based on what songs my MP3 player played during my run (thankfully, I chose to listen to the Fall Out Boy CD).
I'm sure the answer is fairly simple. Buy a new battery. But is a battery going to cost just as much as the watch? Because if so, that defeats the purpose of my cheap watch. And of course I've already thrown away the receipt and it's probably in the landfill somewhere north of town, so it's not like I can return it.
Figures. My cheap watch will turn out to be more expensive since I will either have to find a replacement battery or buy a replacement watch.
Monday, May 7, 2007
I haven't run in these parts before
Even though I couldn't see the clouds of Lake Flies swarming in the air, I wasn't about to take a chance of inhaling more of them though.
So instead of running in my neighborhood, I came home, threw on a T-shirt and a pair of shorts and headed out to some paths I haven't run before. I trekked all the way across town to the Wiouwash Trail, a trail that I've been wanting to explore for a while.
I parked my car at one of the parking lots and off I went. I headed north on the trail and was running along side Lake Butte des Mortes. I went north for about two miles, passing the lake, running through a wooded area until I got to a highway interchange. At that point, I thought it was a good idea to turn around and head back towards the car since it was starting to get late.
Even though I was running alongside the lake, I didn't have to do battle with those nasty Lake Flies since they were no where to be found. But that doesn't mean there weren't any bugs. It was getting close to dusk, so there were all of these tiny little bugs flying around. They weren't too bad. They just kind of kept pelting me as I was running. I don't think I inhaled any of them, but they were so tiny, even if I had it wouldn't have been the end of the world, unlike the Lake Flies.
It was a good 4-mile run. I enjoyed the trail a bunch. There's a part of it that starts closer to town that I want to try, but I thought I'd leave that for another day. Maybe in a few weeks I can combine the two chunks for a nice long run.
So instead of running in my neighborhood, I came home, threw on a T-shirt and a pair of shorts and headed out to some paths I haven't run before. I trekked all the way across town to the Wiouwash Trail, a trail that I've been wanting to explore for a while.
I parked my car at one of the parking lots and off I went. I headed north on the trail and was running along side Lake Butte des Mortes. I went north for about two miles, passing the lake, running through a wooded area until I got to a highway interchange. At that point, I thought it was a good idea to turn around and head back towards the car since it was starting to get late.
Even though I was running alongside the lake, I didn't have to do battle with those nasty Lake Flies since they were no where to be found. But that doesn't mean there weren't any bugs. It was getting close to dusk, so there were all of these tiny little bugs flying around. They weren't too bad. They just kind of kept pelting me as I was running. I don't think I inhaled any of them, but they were so tiny, even if I had it wouldn't have been the end of the world, unlike the Lake Flies.
It was a good 4-mile run. I enjoyed the trail a bunch. There's a part of it that starts closer to town that I want to try, but I thought I'd leave that for another day. Maybe in a few weeks I can combine the two chunks for a nice long run.
Saturday, May 5, 2007
Time to find some new running routes
I've run into a problem.
As much as I like running in my neighborhood, well aside from the cars that feel the need to drive 55 miles an hour while I'm running on this tiny gravel shoulder, I think I need to relocate for a few weeks.
See, the Lake Flies have arrived here in the City on the Water.
It's not like I didn't know they were coming. Every year, around Mother's Day they appear. And they swarm. And buzz. And cling. They're just not fun. And since my neighborhood is right on the lake, there's no escaping them.
Today, during my extra-long dinner break, I went running. I took the usual 3.25 mile route I take. Up the highway of death, through a neighborhood and across the highway into another neighborhood that's right on the lake.
As I'm running along the street, not only are my shoes kicking up grass clippings, but I'm also disturbing the Lake Flies, which happened to be congregating on the street. So I'm running along, flailing my arms as I try to ward off the flying creatures.
I can totally handle ingesting a few bugs along the way every so often, it helps me out in getting my protein since I don't eat a lot of meat. But I draw the line at inhaling Lake Flies. These things are huge. And they have these furry little antenna things sprouting off their heads. Not fun to inhale.
So it might be time to try out some other running routes here in the city. Routes where there are less Lake Flies to swarm me as I run.
As much as I like running in my neighborhood, well aside from the cars that feel the need to drive 55 miles an hour while I'm running on this tiny gravel shoulder, I think I need to relocate for a few weeks.
See, the Lake Flies have arrived here in the City on the Water.
It's not like I didn't know they were coming. Every year, around Mother's Day they appear. And they swarm. And buzz. And cling. They're just not fun. And since my neighborhood is right on the lake, there's no escaping them.
Today, during my extra-long dinner break, I went running. I took the usual 3.25 mile route I take. Up the highway of death, through a neighborhood and across the highway into another neighborhood that's right on the lake.
As I'm running along the street, not only are my shoes kicking up grass clippings, but I'm also disturbing the Lake Flies, which happened to be congregating on the street. So I'm running along, flailing my arms as I try to ward off the flying creatures.
I can totally handle ingesting a few bugs along the way every so often, it helps me out in getting my protein since I don't eat a lot of meat. But I draw the line at inhaling Lake Flies. These things are huge. And they have these furry little antenna things sprouting off their heads. Not fun to inhale.
So it might be time to try out some other running routes here in the city. Routes where there are less Lake Flies to swarm me as I run.
Thursday, May 3, 2007
Spin-offs aren't my thing, but this might be OK
I haven't wanted to talk about it for a while because I wasn't sure what to think about it.
The Grey's Anatomy spin-off.
Why take away Addison and put her on a spin-off, a Grey's Anatomy wanna be?
But after watching tonight, I think the spin-off has some potential. If anything, it has eye candy. I mean, who can complain about watching Taye Diggs and that alternative medicine dude (whose name is on the tip of my tongue, but I can't for the life of me remember what it is or where --- wait, he was on that Summerland show, the one with Uncle Jesse's wife Rebecca from Full House).
But the spin-off, I guess I'll give it a chance.
The Grey's Anatomy spin-off.
Why take away Addison and put her on a spin-off, a Grey's Anatomy wanna be?
But after watching tonight, I think the spin-off has some potential. If anything, it has eye candy. I mean, who can complain about watching Taye Diggs and that alternative medicine dude (whose name is on the tip of my tongue, but I can't for the life of me remember what it is or where --- wait, he was on that Summerland show, the one with Uncle Jesse's wife Rebecca from Full House).
But the spin-off, I guess I'll give it a chance.
Where were these 24 hours ago?
I'm slightly annoyed.
Remember yesterday, my day off? The day where I didn't do a whole lot, but did manage to make a trip to the library? A trip that was mostly to return some items, but also wander around a bit, looking for something that caught my eye?
And I wandered. And picked up two DVDs (In Her Shoes and Ladder 49) and a book (Off Main Street: Barnstormers, Prophets & Gatemouth's Gator by Michael Perry). And then I brought them home, with the intention of watching the movies sometime this week and reading the book after I get done with Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.
Now the fine folks at the library decide to send me not one, but two e-mails informing me that some items I had put holds on are now in. In fact, one of them was there yesterday. It just conveniently showed up after I left the library with my loot.
So now I have to go back to the library. And it's not like it's on the other side of town, because honestly, it's two blocks from where I work.
That's not why I'm annoyed.
It's the fact that I have to go back, without anything to trade them for. And that means my pile is going to grow. And that's a lot of return dates to remember. One date for the two DVDs I picked up yesterday, a date for a CD I already had checked out, a date for the book I picked up and now I'll end up with with two more due dates for the two items that are waiting there for me.
That's a lot to remember.
Remember yesterday, my day off? The day where I didn't do a whole lot, but did manage to make a trip to the library? A trip that was mostly to return some items, but also wander around a bit, looking for something that caught my eye?
And I wandered. And picked up two DVDs (In Her Shoes and Ladder 49) and a book (Off Main Street: Barnstormers, Prophets & Gatemouth's Gator by Michael Perry). And then I brought them home, with the intention of watching the movies sometime this week and reading the book after I get done with Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.
Now the fine folks at the library decide to send me not one, but two e-mails informing me that some items I had put holds on are now in. In fact, one of them was there yesterday. It just conveniently showed up after I left the library with my loot.
So now I have to go back to the library. And it's not like it's on the other side of town, because honestly, it's two blocks from where I work.
That's not why I'm annoyed.
It's the fact that I have to go back, without anything to trade them for. And that means my pile is going to grow. And that's a lot of return dates to remember. One date for the two DVDs I picked up yesterday, a date for a CD I already had checked out, a date for the book I picked up and now I'll end up with with two more due dates for the two items that are waiting there for me.
That's a lot to remember.
Wednesday, May 2, 2007
The winged creatures and I get along just fine
I didn't drag myself out of bed this morning until 10 a.m. In my defense, it was my day off and I wasn't really sleeping until 10. I was awake around 8:30, but kind of dozed on and off until 10, when I decided I really should get up and do something.
I got up, had some peanut butter toast and then decided to spend some time reading about Harry's adventures during his third year at Hogwarts. At one point, I looked up, noticed it was nice and sunny outside and decided that even though I was enjoying Harry's adventures, I needed to be productive.
So I got up, threw on some sweats and laced up my running shoes. I went over to the park and I ran. It was a bit breezy, but lucky for me, I was running into the wind on my way out and therefore had the wind at my back on the second part of the run.
It was a nice 4.4 mile run through the trails at the park, along the lake. Even though it was about 12:30 or so, there weren't a whole lot of people there, meaning I didn't have to run around a bunch of walkers, bikers or other runners. It was just me, the sea gulls and the geese. And a class or two of school kids. But mostly just me and the winged creatures.
At one point, I was almost done with my run. I could see my car, that's how close to the end I was. Up until this point, me and the winged creatures were getting along fine. But then I had to pass two older gentlemen who were walking, so I edged over, closer to the grass. And I think I freaked this big old goose out. Cause all of a sudden he made this motion like he was going to lunge at me. And that wouldn't have been good. You would have read about it the next day in the paper: "Runner attacked by goose." Lucky for me, the goose was just getting up enough power to launch himself into the air so he could avoid me and the walkers. Apparently he'd had enough of people invading his space, cause he flew away and landed in the water.
But other than the encounter with the goose, the run was good. I felt good and I made pretty good time. By no means am I the fastest runner on earth, but the past few days my pace has been faster and I think that's a good thing.
Now, it's time to go catch up with my friends from Grey's Anatomy.
I got up, had some peanut butter toast and then decided to spend some time reading about Harry's adventures during his third year at Hogwarts. At one point, I looked up, noticed it was nice and sunny outside and decided that even though I was enjoying Harry's adventures, I needed to be productive.
So I got up, threw on some sweats and laced up my running shoes. I went over to the park and I ran. It was a bit breezy, but lucky for me, I was running into the wind on my way out and therefore had the wind at my back on the second part of the run.
It was a nice 4.4 mile run through the trails at the park, along the lake. Even though it was about 12:30 or so, there weren't a whole lot of people there, meaning I didn't have to run around a bunch of walkers, bikers or other runners. It was just me, the sea gulls and the geese. And a class or two of school kids. But mostly just me and the winged creatures.
At one point, I was almost done with my run. I could see my car, that's how close to the end I was. Up until this point, me and the winged creatures were getting along fine. But then I had to pass two older gentlemen who were walking, so I edged over, closer to the grass. And I think I freaked this big old goose out. Cause all of a sudden he made this motion like he was going to lunge at me. And that wouldn't have been good. You would have read about it the next day in the paper: "Runner attacked by goose." Lucky for me, the goose was just getting up enough power to launch himself into the air so he could avoid me and the walkers. Apparently he'd had enough of people invading his space, cause he flew away and landed in the water.
But other than the encounter with the goose, the run was good. I felt good and I made pretty good time. By no means am I the fastest runner on earth, but the past few days my pace has been faster and I think that's a good thing.
Now, it's time to go catch up with my friends from Grey's Anatomy.
Tuesday, May 1, 2007
A mid-week's break plans
The work week's only two days old and already I get a break. Well, mostly because I'm the weekend reporter. But still, a day off all to myself with no obligations. I can do whatever I want. So here's what I'm tentatively planning to do:
* A trip to the library. I have to return some stuff and I just might browse to see if anything else catches my eye.
* I think I might go and run in the park again. It's not supposed to be as windy as it was on Sunday, so maybe I'll actually be able to finish the entire 4-mile loop without having to turn around because it felt like I was running into a cement wall.
* I need to catch up with our friends on Grey's Anatomy. I missed last week's episode due to a birthday party. And of course I have to be caught up before Thursday night.
* I'll probably read a bit.
* And maybe waste some time putzing around on my computer. Or playing Roller Coaster Tycoon, a game I recently rediscovered.
Of course, this could all change the moment I get up and decide I want to do something completely different. But at this moment, that's what I'm guessing I'll probably do.
* A trip to the library. I have to return some stuff and I just might browse to see if anything else catches my eye.
* I think I might go and run in the park again. It's not supposed to be as windy as it was on Sunday, so maybe I'll actually be able to finish the entire 4-mile loop without having to turn around because it felt like I was running into a cement wall.
* I need to catch up with our friends on Grey's Anatomy. I missed last week's episode due to a birthday party. And of course I have to be caught up before Thursday night.
* I'll probably read a bit.
* And maybe waste some time putzing around on my computer. Or playing Roller Coaster Tycoon, a game I recently rediscovered.
Of course, this could all change the moment I get up and decide I want to do something completely different. But at this moment, that's what I'm guessing I'll probably do.
My monthly page recount
April's finished and I'm happy to announce that in the closing hours of the month, I also finished "A Confederacy of Dunces," a book that I struggled through for most of the month. Now that I'm finished with it, I think I know what my problem with it was. It had no point. There was no plot. And I didn't like that.
But it's done with. And so is April. So it's time for the monthly recap of what I've read.
In April I read 4 books and a total of 1,333 pages. That brings it to a total of 21 books and 7,138 pages read. Four months into the year, I'm halfway to my goal of 40 books for the year, not too bad.
Here's what I read this month:
Harry Potter & the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling
Harry Potter & the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling
Encyclopedia of an Ordinary Life by Amy Krouse Rosenthal
A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole
I think it's time to head back to Hogwarts for a bit. Later on tonight, I'll start reading about Harry's third year at Hogwarts in Harry Potter & the Prisoner of Azkaban.
But it's done with. And so is April. So it's time for the monthly recap of what I've read.
In April I read 4 books and a total of 1,333 pages. That brings it to a total of 21 books and 7,138 pages read. Four months into the year, I'm halfway to my goal of 40 books for the year, not too bad.
Here's what I read this month:
Harry Potter & the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling
Harry Potter & the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling
Encyclopedia of an Ordinary Life by Amy Krouse Rosenthal
A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole
I think it's time to head back to Hogwarts for a bit. Later on tonight, I'll start reading about Harry's third year at Hogwarts in Harry Potter & the Prisoner of Azkaban.
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