Merry Christmas. Time for a run.

You know you're a runner (or just really wierd) when a fun Christmas activity is a 12.9 mile run.

Granted, it was a beautiful winter day here in the Chicago area... probably upper 30s, sunny, mild wind. And I did already sign up to do a half marathon on Super Bowl Sunday. I knew that I'd *have* to run over the holidays so I'm able to successfully complete the 13.1 mile race. An my mom lives about three miles from the entrance to the Illinois Prairie Path, which is a great car-free path that winds through the western 'burbs. It's mostly gravel (which my knees appreciated), lined with trees and relatively uninterrupted by intersections. It's one of the (or the, depending on your source) first "rails to trails" trails that was constructed from an old railroad line.

Still, almost 13 miles on Christmas?

Who am I kidding? This does not make me a runner. This makes running my much-needed-over-the-holidays-Prozac.

Looking back, I think that music was my outlet during middle school and high school. During high school, I practiced clarinet with such frequency and intensity that I was, without realizing it, really releasing stress through music. Sure, there were times when band was a stressor, but music itself is so different from other parts of one's life. My senior year of high school, friend and distance runner AD (now AS) got me to join track. And thank goodness. Thank you, thank you, thank you. I played clarinet occasionally in college, but haven't picked it up for many years now. But I always have a pair of running shoes around. And I make time for endurance activities, like biking, swimming and running. Running makes me feel good and relaxes me.

I have made it through difficult times this year by leaning on friends and family. Everyone has been so awesome and I am beyond grateful. And for the pieces that I have had to work through on my own, I thank my running shoes and my bicycle. And I thank my body for letting me do these things. I know that I am lucky to have this outlet.

What do you do? How do you cope? Drinking, music, crafts, cooking, reading, sleeping, sports, talking, medicine, computer games, shopping...

Wow. This is a really cheesy post. I really need to get back to posting about solar panels, waste reduction and public transportation.

One more semester done

I just finished my 3rd semester of my MBA program. One more semester to go! June 2008!!!

I have tons of interesting news articles to share, probably some hilarious stories to post, etc, so I'll get on that sometime this week. Or not. We'll see. I need some time away from the computer.

I do now accept that it is December, but I'm not really convinced that I'll be back in Illinois next week. Baby steps...

December?!?

That is all.

The Blog Readability Test

I'm guessing that the high readability level is from some of the articles I've posted, not from my own "I studied engineering so I wouldn't have to write papers" style of writing. Or maybe because sustainability is a long word.

Side note - most government websites are supposed to be written so someone with a 7th grade education could read and understand everything on the page.

Regardless, a fun thing to check out if you have a blog, myspace or facebook.

Oh, and I did "buy nothing" yesterday. :) It was pretty easy though. The only thing I would have done is started to do Christmas shopping online while procrastinating or put gas in my car so I'm ready to drive up to Santa Rosa on Sunday to go mountain biking with PP and DB.

Did any of you lovely readers score any deals at the stores yesterday? Or did you join the buy nothing movement too?

Today is Buy Nothing Day

Biggest shopping day of the year... and also a day to try to buy nothing at all. I'm going to try to buy nothing today by doing some homework and going on a bike ride. I have plenty to eat in my apartment already.

Buying nothing may get more difficult if I decide to go out tonight. Hmmm...

Tropical fish... no water needed

Check out this article in Reuters news about the Mangrove Rivulus, a tropical fish that can live outside of the water for over three months!

Educational fur shure, but I decided to share it because of this last paragraph - a quote from the scientist, "This is probably the coolest fish around, not only do they have a very bizarre sex life, but they really don't meet standard behavioral criteria for fishes," said Taylor in a summary of his paper.

Scott Taylor is probably a pretty hilarious guy - I love the mix of the very colliquial "coolest fish...bizarre sex life" right before the very serious-researcher-sounding "standard behavioral critera."

Geeks rule.

Horribly wonderful pun

As seen on the back of a truck...

Modesto Food Distributors
"Poultry in Motion"

Insight from Best of Craigslist

Once again, Craigslist is awesome. If I end up with one more CL related post, it's going to have to get its own label. Until then, I <3 Craigslist.

Best of Craigslist is usually filled with such interesting nonsense and a good read when you're just winding down the day or looking for a distraction, assuming you're not at work where you're going to get flagged for looking at a potentially pornographic website.

Anyway, today I found this little essay about "Dating in my 40s."
A gentleman from Denver lays out for us his rules about dating. #1 really got me thinking, but I'm not sure I agree with all that he has to say. Sure would be nice for me if he was right (as much as one can be about this sort of thing). Your thoughts?

1. I never seriously date a woman who terminated her last relationship because she wasn't "happy". Happiness is an emotional response to external stimuli. To break the vow of "til' death do us part" over an emotional state that may or may not be another person's fault, is shallow and shows a lack of emotional maturity. It tells me that woman is too self absorbed to be a reliable partner in the future.

job search begins... back where i started?

I graduate in May 2008, so it is time for me to get going on the job search. I'm not tied to San Francisco, though I love my friends, the city and the lifestyle. So I've been thinking that I'd open up my search to other areas, thinking that the city AND job would have to be pretty awesome to get me to move.

(though there would be something nice about having a fresh start somewhere new)

I hopped over to SustainableBusiness.com and found on their Green Dream Jobs listings...
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Sustainability Coordinator
University of Illinois at Urbana/ Champaign
Champaign, IL
US

Job Type: Full Time

The Division of Engineering Services of Facilities & Services of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) seeks a Sustainability Coordinator.
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The rest of the listing is here.
In some ways, this qualifies as a dream job. But C-U? It was great for the 4.5 years of undergrad... EB is there, so I'd have a friend. And it's <3 hours to Chicago. But could I go from San Francisco to Champaign-Urbana???

Not that I really have to worry. I doubt I'd be the best applicant. But still. This job search thing is going to really make me think and possibly, make some very difficult decisions.

Your thoughts?

vote!

just a reminder...tomorrow's election day.

don't forget to vote!!!