This is not a late reaction

More and more kids are now qualifying for free/reduced lunch! (Gasp!) It doesn't surprise me when unemployment rates are up and considering this 'financial crisis' we are STILL going through today, more and more families are relying on government assistance and food pantries. Which, by the way, are running thin on food and supplies for these families. I think that things have got to the point where we are all wondering when things will let up. Now with our new President-elect, things will still take it's time to get better but we are sure as hell close to it as we ever have been before.

I heard this great news story on NPR one morning while still lying in bed and trying to shake my sleep off. It was a story of different reactions across the world 2 days after Obama was elected. Parents & kids in Africa were singing and praising Obama's new victory. People in Paris were relieved that he was logical, straightforward, and an 'everyday American'. People all across our nation high five each other, hugged each other, cried, and had to pinch themselves the next morning to make sure this was really all happening. The same reaction was happening all across the world, not just in my circle of friends and social circle! We all felt the same way!

My reaction to Obama's victory was simple. I was shocked. I was shocked that by 10pm we all knew we had hope. By that time I received text messages from my mother saying she was so happy she was crying, I knew it was real! My sister text me and asked if I was doing okay and how I felt now. i told her relieved. My best friend called and said in the most excited voice, "HE WON! HE WONNN!" We were all so relieved and happy! I felt like we, as a nation, stood up all together and said "Fuck this shit. Get Obama in the office". I was overwhelmed. The next morning I made sure to read the AP, NPR, and BBC (those are 3 news sources I completely trust) on Wednesday morning to be sure it was still true. I didn't want some crazy ass outcome that changed as we slept on Tuesday night that now pointed to the fact that McCain won. I was thankful it wasn't the case on Wednesday morning. We were safe.

Thankfully again, I was relieved. People at work couldn't help but smile at me. Workers across town were in a good mood. People were walking with an extra bounce in there step.

What I am trying to get at we are strong. We are all smart and very strong. We just don't know how much we can change things together and how much of an impact we can make on anything & everything!

That night I watched tv and realized Obama was our next president, I asked the bartender to turn it to CNN (the tv's were set on the Spurs game and FoxNews). He questioned why I wanted to see another channel and I got into the fact that I just don't trust every station who calls the election so I needed to confirm it on another channel. He asked me if I voted and I told him yes. He began ridiculing me for voting because my "vote doesn't matter either way! it all depends on electoral votes!". He said I wasted my time and that I was basically stupid. I am stupid for standing up, being responsible in getting myself registered to vote, and using my given right to vote for free & speak up and be counted for something I believe it. I am stupid because I was utilizing the tools given to me, by this nation, to practice democracy and have a visible count of what I think is right for this country. I had a voice. His voice only made sound amongest ringing half emptied beer glasses, loud tv's, and the clank of someone breaking the pool balls in the bar. His voice didn't matter and didn't count. At least, not to me.

I asked him if he voted. He said no. I asked the guy next to me, who was laughing at his jokes and the remarks he made at me, if he voted. He too said no. I asked them why not and they still both had the same stupid remark of "Its stupid, it's a waste of time." blah blah blah. I asked if they were felons. They both stayed quiet. I told both of them that I was not sorry for them. They made their choice to make a bad decision and they did it on their own. They decided that at that time, of whatever crime they decided to do, they felt that was the right decision to make and they followed through with it. It goes the same for my mentality of voting. I too decided that at the time of the election, I deemed it important enough for me to make a decision on my own, and followed through with it. I made a decision that thankfully, was heard by those electoral votes that mattered (despite living in Texas and the electoral votes would automatically be given to McCain), and as one vote in millions and millions, my county favored Obama in a Republican (ridden) state. Travis County, Bexar County, and a few others counties in Texas stood out for it's overwhelming support for Obama and we were heard! The state capital of TEXAS (where unfortunately Bush came from) voted for Obama by a landslide!
Regardless, my decision made a better outcome than those 2 idiots at the bar. Seriously, what do they know and why should I care what they think.

So as a bet I told the bartender there would probably be only 1, if at that, person in that whole bar of 40 people, had voted that day. I asked him to ask the bar for anyone who shows me their "I Voted" sticker regardless of who they voted for, I would buy them a drink or a shot of their choice. The bartender was surprised I did that for I am not notorious for buying shots much less for anyone in the bar. He smiled, made the announcement, and guess what the outcome was?

Only one man came up to me and showed me his "I voted" sticker. He smiled, shook my hand, an we took a shot called "Braveheart". He voted for McCain and I tol him regardless, I was happy he voted. He explained he had not voted in 20+years but he felt it was important to him that he be heard. He felt strong against Obama and he needed to have a voice for McCain. We both respected each other for our choices and most importantly for the initative that we took to be heard. All other 38 people in the bar, they were all Mexican or black. None of them could prove they voted for me. Granted that perhaps they did some early voting but judging by the many men who came up to me and 'pretended' they voted and lied and said their stickers were at home or this and that, none of them could tell me what prescint they went to to vote". They stumbled on their words and had no quick response to where their nearest precinct was.

I am happy. I feel relieved. I am looking forward to what kind of work will be done and how much more ethical things will be done with our government. It was due time for Obama to be elected. Everyone is just so tired of the stupid games and shit that came down on us these past 8 yrs.

Hope is powerful and hope is here.

"you're the kind of girl i don't pay attention to""

Sometimes I just don't get why people do the things that they do like carry a 12gauge shotgun while you are on a school property whilst drunk and forget that perhaps you are done with school because you're now 68 years old. Yikes. What the hell was he thinking?

I was also thrilled to learn that perhaps herbal medicine is always the best cure for whatever symptom you are dealing with at the time. Echinacea works the best for me when it comes to colds.

Things to do soon:
- change lightswitch face plates
- make a mix CD for Bob w/insert
- find some pictures to put up in office for name plate that will be displayed outside of my office
- respond to emails
- figure out Xmas list and what I will do/make/purchase for my family/friends
- hike at the green belt
- buy some wheat flour
- get some more cool drinking glasses
- stop making lists
p.s. dia de los muertos, and my sister's birthday, was fun. i had never been to Mi Tierra in SA but I did enjoy it. I hated the beans but the rice was good. :o) I just wish they had more vegetarian plates.

I will be better at maintaining this blog

it has been awhile since I have posted anything. My apologies.

I have moved into a new place now and I am still trying to settle in still! I have been here for about a little more than a week.

Work is going great and my running is still in full swing. I mostly work out on my own and not so much with my team anymore. I feel really guilty about it but on the days I don't work out with the team I am usually working out with my friend. She has a big problem getting out on her own and has no motivation to so when she does phone me I know she really needs my support. I have been keeping a consistent schedule (not so much after moving in) in my running and am more conscious of what I am eating.

I am on a mission to start cooking alot more for myself & trying to bake as well. I want to make the transition to being a little more vegetarian but it is definitely hard. I like chicken too much. However, I did make my first veggie & cheese pizza from scratch last night! I have pictures to show! :)!

ACL Music Festival came and gone and boy did I have a good time. I saw Beck, Foo Fighters (this was their last show for awhile--they are going on hiatus), Man Man, The Kills, Spiritualized, the Fratellis, the Racontours, Mars Volta, Manu Chao, Mates of State, tegan and sara, Black Joe Lewis, Conor Oberst, Erkyah Badu, Jenny Lewis, and others. I had a great time and cannot wait until next year. Here are some ACL vids that a friend--Adken, whom tagged along with me at the festival, took & put together. Check it out. They are all pretty cool ! My favorite has to be some of the Racontour videos.
Here are some of my pictures from ACL:

Mates of State:

Vampire Weekend:

Jack White of the Racontours:

More catching up later...

raising politics and how you can apply it at your breakroom in your office!

Today I ended up speaking to my mom for a little over an hour. I called her because well, I missed her and rainy days always make me think of the times she would open all of the windows in the house and let the cool breeze come in and hit our feet as we walked through to the kitchen.

In this conversation I realize I have grown. Yeah, a little late in making this realization but trust me, it really hit me today.

She tells me how my dad and herself have taken enormous pride in raising my sister and I. What provoked this comment?! I had to ask. She said she is reading Avery Johnson's new book, a biography I believe, and she wanted to mention how he teaches his kids to be respectful of others and yourself & how people can perceive so much in the way a child acts or behaves in public. She tells me that whenever she would pick my sister and I up from relatives, day cares, summer camps, etc she would always get the compliment of how quiet, refined, and even well-behaved we were during our stay. They would ask what the secret was and she would say, "Respect...teach them to be respectful". Simple, right, she asks me. Sure. I never have known any other way.

One thing about the way my sister and I were raised was how admit my parents were devoted in teaching & making us understand our sense of self. We understand each other, we listen, we care, and we love. That is all we know. That was all we were taught. My sister and I have an undying love for each other. I cannot think of a time where we have had a fight. I think the last was probably when we were kids or something...if at that. We were taught to never fight with each other. Love one another because we are all we have. Unconditional love that never stops regardless. The little things shouldn't bother us because we are sisters...because we love. I kind of explained it this way for my mom (w/more or less words) whilst talking to her over the phone today. I heard her smile.

Then we went into the world of politics. She was telling me how ignorant people at work sound in the breakroom when they say that Obama isn't patriotic bc he doesn't wear a flag on his lapel or hold his hand over his heart during the National Anthlem. I ask her if she says anything and she says she would rather not. She told me how frustrated she has been these past 8 years. War, monetary problems, she's changed occupations 3 times so far in the past 4 years, and just in general how hard it is to get back into school, get a loan for a home and school, etc. I encouraged her to speak up when people said ignorant stuff. I reminded her that unless she opens her mouth she will continue to hear this ignorance all around her from her 'own people' as she called them (mostly Hispanic who work with her). I heard anger and disappointment in my mom's voice tonight. It made me sad and it made me feel so useless.

When do you think things will change? When do you think people will realize that that party that sits in the White House is the reason for our 8 years of just 'barely making it through'?! When will change happen?

I asked my mom that same question and she said, "Well, I guess when someone speaks up and tells them to educate themselves!" I agreed. I told her to speak up and educate them with the same notions my parents taught my sister and I--respect.

Well, I did it. I ran fucken 6.22 miles in yesterday's 10k!

It was tough but I did it! I got through the majority of it without much injury, in fact with no serious injuries. I am a little sore today but nothing I can't handle. I was that I was able to get through it and smile my way home knowing I did it!!!

All day I had been mentally preparing myself and physically getting ready 2 hrs before the race. I had a lot of anxiety, nervousness, anticipation, and even a feeling of 'oh shit! i am really doing this!?!". I was also bummed because about 2 hours before the race, my running & training partner was flaking out at the last minute. I am not sure what the exact reason was in flaking out last minute but he mentioned something about his kids wanted to eat dinner so he was just going to spend that money he was going to put for the race to feed his kids. He wasn't there so there in lay another realization that I would have to do this whole race on my own and without anyone anyone's push.

By the time I arrived to the run site I was nervous as heck. I tried not to drink much water before we stepped off because I didn't want to run the chance of my bladder begging me to empty it. I stretched, listened to some Kayne West to pump me up and situated myself in the middle of the group.

Because there were so many people running in the race, by the time i stepped off and away from the start line around 6:38pm. Miles 1-3 weren't too bad but the hills sucked along the way. Here's the map of the course:

All in all I made it through and stopped at every water stop to drink at one and the next I would pour it over my head. The cooling stations were really nice and so were the bartenders who stood outside the bars with super soakers who wet us as we ran past.

Towards the end I saw a man in a wheelchair and was clapping along he sidelines rooting us on as we ran. At the time that i saw him I was walking and as soon as we made eye contact I made it a point to pick it up and start running the last 2 miles. I saw him around the 4 mile mark.

When I turned the corner and saw the big red box that said "FINISH" across the top of the frame I knew I was home. I knew that I would soon be able to stop my legs from moving fast and get some really nice cold Gaterade. As I approached closer to the sign I felt all of these tingles all over my head and throughout my body. I felt instantly happy and had this natural high. I know at some point I wanted to cry and when I realized I wanted to cry I noticed I was crossing the finish line and the Nike staff was taking pictures of us all.

I am not sure what it was that hit me as soon as I saw that finish line closer and closer as I ran and ran to it. Seratonin? Perhaps...but I can tell you this. I feel really good today despite sore thighs and a shinsplit feeling in my right leg. I did it. I did my first 10K and I was the one that pushed myself to do it.

Trust me, I had second thoughts about it about 3 hrs before the race but I knew that all of the training I did, the runs, the miles, and the hard work I did was not going to just be pushed aside so I could miss one of the largest running events in the world!

I read there were 13,800 runners in Austin! :o) I stepped off at 6:38pm with one goal in mind--get my ass across that finish line regardless of time. At 8:08pm, I crossed the finish line with a huge smile & those 6.22 miles under the drawstrings of my running shorts. :o) I did it, muthafunkers!!! :o) HELL YES!!!

....now I start boot camp tomorrow at 5:30am to get ready for the Austin Half Marathon in February! There is more to come. This was ONLY THE BEGINNING! :)!!!!

less than week for the race! AHH!

well, it is officially one week until the Nike Human Race. I am getting butterflies and very anxious about this coming Sunday.

the run today was pretty awesome. i was surprised at how well i did and realized that my endurance to run in longer periods now is pretty decent. I did four miles in just a little after 45 minutes. it was a great day and i was super happy that my body was ready to run. i think i had a lot of stress and the relief of running made me surprised at how my breathing was going and the fact that i was able to get a veggie wrap at the finish line too! :o) last time i missed out on food because there were a lot of people there and i guess i fell behind in time.

i am very surprised at how time flies! geez. it's already close to the end of the year.

other news and things i have been checking out lately:

• dr. dre's son was found unresponsive by his mom. he was 20. this is sad.
• get the fuck out of here! four ways you know you have encountered an 'undateable woman'?! i have so much response to this article it is fucken ridiculous!

1. She Dates Around: "Warning bells should go off if a woman doesn't seem to have any particular type; it indicates that she's not looking for that certain someone so much as she's looking for that certain anyone."
So basically if she has been in a relationship with all different types of guys she is a slut and she is not worth anytime?! Never mind that this can be seen as a double standard for some guys all around. I don't know one guy who has dated a consistent "type" of girl. All the guys I know date around and fuck around despite what type a girl may be. This just doesn't make sense. Guys, wake the fuck up! Who gives a fuck who and what 'type' of guys she has been with. Consider the years she has committed to a relationship. Consider her faithfulness to one guy...not 'types' of guys.

2. She's a Micromanager: "She has everything planned: this weekend, next weekend, the color of her future bridesmaids’ dresses, the names of her hypothetical children, everything." Now granted I do know a few women who have their career planned out, their continuation of school (getting their masters, going to law school, etc), have vacation time set aside for November, and even has plans with me this weekend to run in the Nike Human Race but the article going to an extreme of 'color of her future bridesmaid's dressed' is stupid. I guess AskMen.com's audience are filled with dumb idiots who think a woman who 'has everything planned' is not a good thing. define 'everything'. Please...what are we in, the 1950's?!

3. Cats & Dogs: "The key is to watch how she interacts with her pets. Doting or obsessive behavior might indicate a desperate need for affection. Are her pets substitutes for people?" Let's get somethign straight, just because I love my cat doesn't make me think he is 'my kid'. A desperate need of affection is cat calling done by the men that live in my fucken apartment complex as I walk my trash out to the dumpster. Just because a girl has a cat or a dog (or a few), doesn't mean she is 'desperate'. This means she has a life long friend. Now, if the girl has a sickly pet or is known for just 'dumping' her unwanted pet after it gets old/sick/etc, then you should run. Run far far away. This means you are desperate. (stupid idiot)

4. The Push Over: "At first, it seems like a good thing -- she wants whatever you want. She thinks whatever you think. Soon though, you'll realize that she's just playing at compatibility in an attempt to convince either you or herself that the two of you are meant to be together." I have never known a woman to waste her time on stupid boys. If she agrees to do whatever you want to do then so be it. Maybe she DOES really want to do what you want to do and will probably expect you to do what she wants to do some days too! Chill out. don't worry...she doesn't obsess over you like you think she does or like this article makes you think. You're an idiot if you think she revolves her life around you. And if she rubs you the wrong way or you notice she is revolving her life/plans/goals around you, then talk to her. Tell her what you think and what you two should do. Communicate motherfucker. Don't trust this article.

The Boxing Lesson is a great local band that I have had the chance to catch whenever I saw the Lemurs or ran into them whilst roaming around downtown. The drummer, Jake Mitchell, has been labeled a Narco-terrorist under the Patriot Act. Again, this country has gone way too far! Read the article and if in Austin, go to their gig at Emos on Wednesday. This will be Jake's last show before he heads to federal prison for growing pot. It's just marijuana idiots! Damn.

Also, I went hiking with my good friend and got rained all over. It was the best day I had in a long time. We even had sushi and it was my first time having it. Keywords on how everything else went and my favorites of that day: 2 white tailed deer, rain in the woods, hours of talking outside of Borders on the white pavement, smiles, closing of the Olympics while eating some really good sushi, posing like the statues at the sushi place in the lobby, having my door opened everytime i went to the car, etc, etc, etc, etc.

I was a cool kid too at the sold out show

I am very fond of contests. Contests online, relays, running races, arm wrestling--all of it! (I challenged our HR rep to an arm wrestling match today to compete on whom would be a rep for the department at some agency meetings that are monthly. She shied away but I was serious). That being said, I won some tickets to the Emos show, The Cool Kids, courtesy of Covert Curiosity, a blog I highly recommend on reading if you love indie music and want a fantastic opinion on the stuff that plays in my ears on a daily basis.

I decided to take an old friend, Wil and despite how tired he was, I was glad he stuck around to enjoy the good set from my favorite DJ (ever!!...basically), DJMel. He is the coolest dude I have ever seen spin. Mi gusta mucho :)

First off this show was sold out. After standing in the 'will call & hard tickets" line, I realized we were in the wrong line the whole time. We should've been in the line for 'cash only & guest list'. (Damn, the bouncer who wasn't specific on telling those standing in line that the guest list does not mean will call! jerk).

There were so many hipster looking kids and underage too! I felt bad for them when I saw that they were being marked with HUGE letter O's on both hands and possibly ruining any chance for them to sneak a beer or two in between resting their eyes during the lasers (from the Hyper Crush set). I thought that surely all of these kids were cool enough to see The Cool Kids, but I was wrong. They were there for Hyper Crush. I caught some of their set and was pretty amazed at how many lighting effects they had, cool laser gadgets (they had a laser hand glove), and was impressed with the guy who played the day-glow Keytar. All in all, it was too much for me and plus, I felt like I didn't fit in because I wasn't wearing some cool old school colorful Nike kicks, a wide rimmed hat, nor had tight pants on.

The Cool Kids were awesome! I loved their energy and they definitely made a fan out of me! It was a little hot outside and humid (damn Emos for their outside shows!), but all in all with a nice cold Lonestar, I was dancing and throwing my hands up at their bad ass beats and shaking my ass! I gotta get the album! Check out their myspace and hear some of their songs. My favorite songs are Pennies and Bassment Party. Hell yes! p.s. I love their lyrics. They are so clever.

So I have realized I have about a week and a half until the Nike+Human Race 10k! I am nervous and excited. Also, today at work, I have made the commitment to run the At&t Half Marathon to raise money for the agency I work for, Communities in Schools. The training for this marathon begins September 2nd--two days after the 10k Race. (sigh) I think this will be excellent for me though! :) p.s.s. this marathon is a qualifier for the Boston Marathon (this is not my goal but it just gives you to what degree this marathon is!) translation: it's a big time marathon, son!

Other than that, the weekend activities will include more training on Saturday morning (with RunTex) and soon thereafter, head out to SA to visit my best friend and perhaps go to Six Flags to see a couple of shows with the parents.

Also, I am thinking of heading out to Emos on Sunday and seeing Talib Kweli, NYU educated rapper. I think that would be a show I would regret in missing. Stay tuned, folks!

I've liked the rain this much and want more

I completed another 3 miles on Saturday morning. It was very nice on Saturday morning because the sun was covered with clouds and well, I was in the mood to run. Although, the night before, my friend Priscilla insisted we go to Benders (a bar off of ben white) to drink some. I ended up having about 4 drinks total...mostly Fireman's 4. Twas tasty but it was super hard to finish those 3 miles in a timely manner that I was used to. In the end, I did alright. It was a good morning and my friend Priscilla even came and jogged some and walked. She is super sore from what I read in her text. Ha. She is on a mission to lose weight and although there were times she was cursing at me when I told her to walk faster, she was appreciative that I was pushing her.

Cool moments of the weekend:

• Sitting at Nueces and 6th while waiting for the light to change, I was able to see Michael Phelps win his 8th gold medal. I watched people at the Star Bar cheer at a 52inch flat screen tv as I clapped my hands and missed the light change anyway. It was super cool to see him come in first. Good job, Michael!
• Hearing the rain last night and even driving in it. Seems like when it rains here in Austin, everyone stays inside and doesn't come out. The streets were dead even last night as I left the laundry mat.
  
• Getting to speak to my cousin Angel who had been in Iraq for years. We spoke about cool Austinities we know and how she wants to come visit me soon. She hates Hondo and can't wait to move back to Austin soon. She says she misses the night life.
  
• Tax-free weekend. So far the 2 pairs of Dickies and blouses I have purchased are good buys and were definitely needed for work. Now I just gotta get some cool shoes while I can.
• Staying home on Saturday night and watched the rest of the dvd I got from Netflix on the Best of Colbert Report.
  
• Purchasing 4 cd's (3 used and 1 new): Foals, Appleseed Cast, Boxcar Racer, and The White Ghost Shivers. All for less than 20 bucks! Yay for Waterloo.
• Getting a Virgin de Guadalupe small figurine from the 25cent coin machine at the dollar store then right after getting a Jesus one. I am adding it to my collection of Homies.
  
• Changing my air filter in my car with the help of my friend Priscilla
• Getting in touch with a Realtor to really begin looking for a home here in Austin for a year or so in advance. She has started sending me emails on homes/condos in my price/salary range.
• Typing and submitting my 30day notice that I will be moving by Sept 30th to my apartment complex. I am giving a month and a half notice!
  

Uncool things of this weekend:

• Doing my laundry on a Saturday night at Spin Cycle. I felt like a loser but was relieved to see other people there doing the same thing that were probably a little cooler than me.
  
• Unanswered texts from my friend Marcos especially when I needed to know while at Waterloo if an older album was worth getting by Appleseed Cast for $8.
  
• Being asked to borrow $20 by a drug dealer I know from the bar I frequent after I had just purchased myself a Heineken.
  
• Having to watch the Olympics while at the laundry mat. (got to see the end of the women's marathon! that was cool!)
• Allergies....my nose is pist off and doesn't want to sneeze when it needs to.
  
• General cleaning of the apartment. Too much dust collects everywhere.
  
• Still not having internetings in my apartment. I need to get something going soon!

i was told twice today that it looks like i am losing weight!

Running is hard folks. I ain't gonna lie. Tuesday was ridiculous hard as we went up the hills of the Travis Heights area. I know now that i can defeat any hill. Well, except maybe mountains but then again, mountains aren't hills. They are mountains!

I am looking forward to tax-free weekend. Items I want to buy this weekend: new nice blouses for work, new flats, a messenger bag--probably a Dickies kind, and some new balance running shoes. probably some jogging shorts and sports bras too. check out the list before you make your own like i did!

a co-worker of mine told me today, in the middle of eating Texadelphia, that she can tell in my face that I am losing weight. I was kind of happy she said that and although I have noticed minimal difference I was happy about it. I am not sure how much I weigh but doesn't matter. I am almost to where I want to be in my weight but FAR from where I want to be strength wise and in my toning. So I shall continue and probably work on some weight stuff to tone up my arms and shoulders.

i read an article about honeybees and honey being scarce in England in 2009 or more precisely 'run out' by even Christmas this year. i just saw the movie the Happening only because of Zooey Deschanel (vocalist from She and Him). I am a little worried although I do not care for honey.

in efforts of moving out in about a month and a half, i am going to purchase a tv very soon. i have no tv to recycle but consider this. it was an interesting read for sure. so all the tv's we own now will eventually be 'things of the past' and maybe even consider antiques AND useless! wow.

so the minorities will be majority! nice. but then again, can there be an argument where perhaps this is NOT a good thing...we procreate and are usually under the poverty line.

you know i got a lot

it's been one hell of a week and vacation was lovely. i had a good time and although i don't want to bore you with details, i think i had some good quality family time and never wanted it to end. regardless, i think this next work week and the one following will be refreshing. i am excited about a fresh start at work and to getting myself in better shape for this fall/winter season. my goal is to lose 15lbs. i don't think it will be hard at all but i have to keep at it.

i have missed one week of training due to vacation and because of my knees. i had this horrible pain in both knees and after talking to my dad we figured it had to be my shoes i was running in. i just got some new Adidas shoes and my knees were not fully adjusted to my weight and the placement of my feet while running was probably not good either. i have adjusted my footing while running (i have to pretend i am running in a straight line with my chest out and head up). i have been watching my friends kids as well which has sidetracked me to all of her drama and the shit she has been dealing with. i adore those kids so i have had no problem in taking care of them when i can. i actually have gotten a little used to them and they to me. they know now that they cannot open the doors or take off their seat belts unless they see the key to the car in the air. they also are being tamed to have quiet time at least once a day which means whisper voices only and no tv just books. i'm busting out all my teacher courses and techniques. it works! :)

so this morning i did my first run in over a week. it was hard ad my knees hate me now but i had to go through it. i also went swimming to get my heart going and give my arms a workout. barton springs is so refreshing no matter how cold it is when you first walk in and want to scream "FUCKEN A!", like i normally do.

also: i have no internet in the apartment anymore which is very unfortunate but i have found other ways to get the net. today i am at the Central library downtown Austin. It was nice to catch up on current events by being able to read time, bust, spin, and rolling stone without having to pay 5 bucks a pop to read. also it's nice and quiet and gets me out of the house.

also, the search for a new place begins this coming week. i have until sept 30th to find a new place. i am giving myself before my birthday to be locked down on a new pad. i want to live in the travis heights area and have scoped out some potential apartments. we'll see what we come up with. i am excited about moving. i am getting tired of ghetto dudes staring at me when i drive up from drinking 5 cups of coffee with my heavy laptop on my shoulder and they see me walk into my apartment alone around midnight. there are so many people walking around the parking lot even after 1am during the week. shady muthafuckers, man!

other update: i got to see beauty and the beast in the park last week and had a blast! Also! I saw Batman at the Imax. I was super amazed at Batman and his fighting sequences. i fell in love all over again except when he spoke. i don't like whispering so you can imagine me cringing everytime he busted out his raspy voice. why couldn't the director keep him from speaking that way?!
pictures from the Imax. shhhh! don't tell i took pictures with my camera phone.

check in / progress

I am in the middle of week 2 of training. I have been running everyday at least one or more miles.

Soreness update: I feel good now that the horrible soreness is gone. I was sore horribly in my thighs and even the arches of my feet! (it may have had something to do with the trial Nike shoes I have been wearing to run every training day). No more soreness but i do feel my thighs and calves a little tighter.

This past Saturday morning was a nice change of scenery. We met at Starbucks near campus and ran down 24th street, crossed over Lamar, and into some park then came back around towards Enfield and back up Lamar Blvd. The killer for me was going back up 24th street! Man, I felt like I was going to fall face forward while going up that hill. I am glad I got through it and afterwards, well, my running partner and I had some good food (and cheap too!) at a small jalisco place. I had the huevos rancheros. It was a perfect way to end the morning run. I also ate an orange and a half a bagel that Nike was giving out after the morning run.

Sunday I didn't run because I claimed it as my day off, plus I was fighting a horrible hangover and migraine from Saturday night's activities. I ended up seeing the White Ghost Shivers out at the Beauty Bar. It was a packed house but I was happy to have seen them. It had been a whole year since I last saw them live. Good stuff. You should check them out.

p.s. i am in love with the 7'1'' bango player. He is super awesome and hot! :)

Monday I started my vacation time so I woke up early and hit the track at Fulnore MS and ran 2.5 miles. I did it on my own and was very happy about my motivation to get it done and over with. It felt good too!

Yesterday was tough considering that we had to do drills again. This time the distance to do the drills expanded and I was dying! Earlier in the day I spent some time with my friend Priscilla and her 3 kids by making piggies in blankets. I had wayyyyy too many! Boo. I felt it as I was running and doing those drills. I made it through though and it felt good.

After drills, we had our trainer walk/run the track with us, Carol. She was super nice and this was the first time working out with her. A little background on her: She coached girls basketball and track/field at LSU for 9 years. Now she is back in Austin living with family and loving it here. We learned she has been running marathons since she was 10 yrs old. She works at Run Tex as a trainer and she has offered her coaching/training services to the 101x team (the team I am running with in the race).

Carol was also very informative as to how we should be breathing (turns out I was breathing all wrong and coaches from elem/middle/high school ill informed us on how to breath when running). No in through your nose and out through your mouth. She said your breathing should be pushed out/exhale and in the inhale, well you don't have to think about it because naturally your body will do that on it's own. After learning how to breathe properly, I realized it was a lot easier to run.

All of her advice was appreciated. She also told me I shouldn't be running daily. I need to swim or even just walk. She said I am potentially putting myself at a greater risk to being injured. Agreed. She also said it was a 'big no-no' to have run when I was sore. No wonder my muscles hated me. :(

So today I am walking around Town Lake. I plan on taking my camera to take pictures and relax and enjoy the atmosphere. (sigh)

Oh, The Dark Knight at the IMAX is on the to-do list too! We'll see how that goes. It has been sold out everyday!

another day of running: this time it was downtown

all in all i ran 3 miles today. i had a good day and did enjoy the run. we ran across congress bridge (yet again, i couldn't carry my phone or camera with me so no pictures), by the long center, and various intersections of the warehouse district. afterwards i was treated to some delicious brisket with potatoes, beans, bread, and chicken too (all free)! it was very tasty and the Live Oak beer was decent and cold (free too). Gatorade is the best thing when I am done running. Next run: Saturday 8am where there are promises of healthy breakfast tacos and free Starbucks! i'm in.

soreness update: hella sore and is not gonna get better. now my arches in my feet are killing me. i think i may need to buy some new balance running shoes. any other suggestions?

tomorrow's plans: go into work for a couple of hours, purchase some new balance, and buy some bananas (my dad says i need to eat one every day for my running) oh, and also go to sleep early for the 8am run.

p.s. check out the rejected script for the dark knight. i wanna see this movie badly!

the warm wind took me along

today was the first day of training for the Nike Human Race. i wish i had some picture of the event but i could barely keep my car key sitting pretty in my sports bra without it looking like i had a third nipple, much less carry my cell or camera! ha. i'll see what i can get on thursday if i find a way to put my cellphone somewhere. although now that i remember, i think one of the Nike reps took a picture of me after i turned in my borrow Nike's--they were brand new too!

it was a nice long workout with the good folks from Runtex and thanks to the sprinklers at Fulmore Middle School, I was able to get through my sporadic mile run. also, Nike was there to lend us some Nike shoes to run in and I was super thrilled about that considering I showed up with my Chucks (left my running shoes in SA again). It hurt but I am here and now I know it's time to step it up. I have promised myself to run everyday at least for an hour at any pace I can. I am not trying to push myself or become some bad ass runner, I am just trying to get myself back up and out. I think ultimately I will feel better about myself and my self esteem will surely go up. :)

i'm tired and want some soy milk now so have a pleasant night and check out some Native Korean Rock. I can't wait to see if they make their way to Austin!

"night has come. it's done."--karen o.

bartender: your words are not kind, they hurt, & your drinks are watered down.

when you realize that you are not a person who is at will, you may realize you have lost more than you've gained (pocket or not). you are not a person but a pattern and you have become the one you are today because you made yourself. all that saddness, all of that anger...well you channel it the only way you know. make one more drink for her. it doesn't matter to anyone in here what happens to her. they just want to get in line. sure enough, you are first in line and you even have intention to get back in the line once you are done.

i don't feel bad for you. i don't feel remorse. i know you know better and you still have an excuse to treat those around you like a customer.

i've thought about all of the things i would say to you and all that comes out is a half written phrase. obscenities and all plus more than i knew i could even say. the more and more it comes out the more of what i realize is me forgetting. i forget who i am. i forget what i am capable of and what is good for me.

i thought of the things you said to me. i thought of the cover you had on. i thought about the phone calls and messages you sent of playing 'hot cross buns' via newcastle bottles. i thought about your excellent use of words and your corrections.

(((((((here i am and i want to be overseas. i'm not abandoning ship but i am kicking you off.
sorry, folks. be proud of me. i am making room for myself.))))))))

i want to live with paleo. i want to roam where he roams.

the dates i will be cutting my hair

i cut my hair on the full moon and every full moon. whether it is getting it trimmed at Wet, or trimming it myself over the sink in my restroom. you can see the dates for all of the full moons until 2010. why does it stop there?!?!!!!!....

i had a good weekend this past. i spent some more time at barton springs, went to the flea market, and even got to spend some good time with a good friend playing lotteria. my weekends are so enjoyable and i think i am getting a little more happier with myself/surroundings/direction. oh yeah, mozart's coffee is an addiction and a healthy one, at that too.

tomorrow's festivities: 1) see brothers and sisters at waterloo records at 5pm. 2) head over to barton springs for a dip and wait around for ephraim owens to play so i can hear him as i float on my back and star at the light blue sky.



flea market pictures:

U2 and them dorky ass 3D glasses

Tonight I went to see U2 3D at the Imax and I had a really good time! I was surprised on how much fun I had there and thought it was a fantastic idea to have such an extraordinary band, set, audience, and set list and film it, put it on a huge ass screen like the Imax and then to top it off, give us the opportunity to get dizzy, kinda sick, and really think you were at the concert. I love, love, LOVE concerts and I thought this 'movie' was an excellent way to capture their great sound, message, and the way they put on a show. (The bands I would love to see in this format would be the following: coldplay, radiohead, the white stripes, rage against the machine, the beatles, etc, etc...)

As we walked into the theater I noticed another movie posted for the same kind of movie, although I don't think it was in 3D, but for the Rolling Stones. You know what? If the greatest bands put out a 'movie' like this, I would definitely go see it.

I basically saw U2 in 3D and for only $6! (Student discount). This is the last weekend for the showing here in Austin. See if it's going to a your city or a city near you!

Below is the footage of the show but no 3D effects on this one. Sorry dudes and dudettes.

Los Lonely Boys were not so lonely tonight

That is for sure! Man o man. I went to KGSR's Blues on the Greens concert tonight and had a blast. I had a 12 pack of beer, some nice friends, and some great background music as well. I got to hear Los Lonely Boys play mostly their new stuff (which isn't too shabby but not their signature homegrown sound) for about 2 hours. I had to park hella far but it was worth it, I guess....I wanted to swim some more in Barton though.

I'm way too sleepy to continue typing. I am falling asleep.

P.S. More later on the race I signed up for that is at night! :)

The sun does kind of smell

Lately I just have been in this exploratory stage of the music I am listening to/discovering and dancing my booty off too as I warm up my left overs of fett. and chicken alfredo. I jut discovered Women, a band from Canada. I'm all about the lo fi sounding stuff. I think it always ends up being so refreshing to hear. Ratatat is coming to Stubb's on my birthday! I gotta go! I hear their new stuff is a nice listen from their last and apparently it doesn't sound all the same. I ain't knocking Classics (which really was good), but I am just glad to have read a review that says it ain't too shabby. Someone is always knocking them. Also, Fleet Foxes are simply amazing. I am a little upset at them for 'selling' their video via iTunes. come on....don't be turning Coldplay on us, now! You'll want to listen to Chromeo too.


I have too been spending my lunch breaks reading on what else I can make in the kitchen with chicken and everything I seem to favor. I really want to make this applesauce. Possibly even some banana bread. I just need a bread maker.

Also, take a listen at a new track from Mogwai. This is going to be a promising show for sure at Stubb's and one I cannot wait for!

amongst losing my debit card and not remembering the 2nd half of Friday night , I still feel good

I had some company this weekend and boy, did we tear up downtown Austin. All in all I had a good time, too many Jager shots, and for some reason (I think it was because it is my ring tone for anyone not listed in my phone book) we kept singing "Happiness is a Warm Gun" while we roamed 6th street. At one point I think Audrey and I were singing in people's faces. We jumped from one bar to another to another then one more here and then another there. Somehow along the way I lost my debit card. I have no idea where it is but it doesn't matter, no real damage. I will get another one this week and things will be fine. No one found it or made absurd purchases....well, besides myself. Regardless, we had fun and I think we took too many pictures of ourselves.
Here is one of 41 that we took


Saturday was a good day for me too. I won some tickets via Do512. I got to see some really cool bands but didn't stay for the headliner. I was too tired at the point they were about to come on and it was okay. Wil accompanied me to the show and with his work truck and all, he rocked on with me. (No worries, we didn't have any awkward moments...thankfully!) The one band I was super impressed by was from L.A. They are Imaad Wasif. Think Mars Volta and Black Angels too and a splash of Wolfmother too. It's good stuff considering there are only 3 dudes who are rocking the fuck out! Check 'em out. P.S. I had the hots for the drummer. His name is Adam. His girlfriend cheered on as she sipped on her Bud.

I got a new edition to my apartment! He was $1.60 and I kind of deem him as a protector. He watches the door and he is pretty long (that's what she said...). Check him:
I got him at the thrift store down the street. I also saw a tape deck player for 10 bucks. It was blue and from the School of the Blind. I didn't get it because of low funds, but if it is still there around the 15th, I am there! I haven't named him yet but maybe you can help me out with that later.

Check out how some Austinites up north spent their 4th of July via pictures. I don't think my pictures are appropriate to put up in blog form. You already got one picture and that is all you're gonna get!

I am really excited about Beck's new album that is going to be released this Tuesday. I have heard 3 tracks from the album and I gotta tell you, the first thing I said about hearing the first one was, "Damn, Beck! Go on, dude! I don't know how you do it but you're busting out some badass shit!". It's good stuff. Modern Guilt, out on Tuesday! P.S. Danger Mouse produced the album! Cat Power is even featured in a song and well, I can't wait to see Beck at ACL this year. He's gonna rock it, I know it.

Hmmm....what do you know?! The drummer of the band, RTX, whom I saw play yesterday at Emos, is teaming up with Zach De la Rocha (from RATM) and making beautiful music under the band name One Day as a Lion. New album is out on the 22nd of July. Nice! :)

T'was a good weekend and all in all, I had some good beer and nice cold bloody mary's inbetween meals. Long live America.

the beatles keep resonating in my head since last night

i was looking around on youtube and ran into this. i thought it to a beautiful film.

really now? Who will take care of you?

Orginially I wanted to come on and vent. Vent my frustrations that I was asked (AGAIN!) by my friend for some money for the father of her kids. He is bringing the kids from 2 hours away so that they can be here for the 3 day weekend (which really doesn't matter considering that they are on summer break and she doesn't work). He wants the money for gas. Alright, so why me?!

I guess I just did what I originially wanted to blog, but what stumps me is why/how do I attract people who are so needy? I think it is time for a serious change. I seriously need to wipe the slate clean of people who are really no benefit of being my friend and just constantly take advantage of me. I know understand my friends boyfriend. He spends and spends on her and for what? For nothing. Independence is something my parents instilled in me. How can we support someone else when we cannot support ourselves?

Some serious reevaluations need to be made. I guess I am going to have to let some go.

Laundry is calling me....I gotta throw my towel(s) in the next load.

my purse smells like comino today

i had no idea that coconut records has schwartzman as the main character in this band. awesome. i think he is as quirky as his roles he chooses. awesome! he even made a hit with the band phantom planet. i love this california song. mates of state has a cool cover of it too.

i hate being guilt-tripped into anything. i don't know why people see to come running to me when they have money problems or need a favor. just because i am capable of doing it doesn't mean i want to. and stop making me think i have to be quick and clever and try to make something up when you put me in a position.

today i had some central american food for lunch. one of the social workers i was working with made it as a suggestion. first the plan was to be go to triumph cafe however that was too crowded so we turned back around towards the school and went to a small hole in the wall place. i can't remember what it was i had for lunch but it was very good. it was two sandwiches of french bread with some special tasty/sweet sauce and pieces of caldo and cabbage underneath it all. it also had slices of beets on it, as well. it was good and very cheap. i guess i was expecting rice or something with it but it was more than enough to get through one of those sandwiches alone!
the table next to us had some kind of soup with beef in it and then the lady brought out this huge jug of what it looked like, coleslaw. it was kind of gross but she was eating it. her boyfriend, who was very rockabilly if you don't mind me saying, had some pita bread brought to him and he was suppose to scoop out that coleslaw looking thing on it. he didn't look too happy as his girlfriend explained to him how to eat it.
margarita, the social worker, said triumph cafe has a Vietnamese garden. she says it's very nice. i want to eat there.

i got a new movie in the mail today. everything illuminated. i wanted to read the book first but i don't think i can wait.
ciao. movie time!

it's a blog of mostly blogs but eh, you know

i awoke this morning to a slight discomfort on my back. i guess overnight a sun burn emerged from my skin and the sheets on my bed was irritating it. it made me not want to get out of bed. as a result, i was late to work but no one noticed(s) (ever).

i was kind of offended today when asked by a friend if she could borrow $50 for gas and she would repay me this friday. first off she left her husband and left him, in my opinion, for no real reason. i started thinking about what he did in the last week she was with him and remembered he joined the myspace community. she was upset because he would not give her his password and login. i mean, where does that line get drawn?! as husband and wife, do you HAVE to share everything--even down to passwords and logins?! please...! obviously there is a trust issue there and i am not too sure why it would turn into such a big deal. now, although, i don't think that this is the sole reason why she left him...i knew she would one day but didn't think it would take this to make her leave. regardless, my question has yet to be answered. i even thought about it for myself this morning as i was walking into work. would i share my password and login with my boyfriend...? with my husband?! why should i? would i eliminate all sense of security and 'rights of privacy' to my boyfriend? why? i know i will end up with someone who really doesn't give a two shits about passwords and email logins, etc. who cares. he will trust me and i will trust him.
i even had an ex roomie who 'had to' delete her myspace account because her boyfriend didn't approve. my other friend's boyfriend checks her myspace daily and i have heard her explain to everyone who all her 'friends' on her friends list was!!! get the fuck out of here.
(sigh) am i to expect to do the same to my other? i really hope not because shit, that would mean a red flag and one red flag is usually enough to make me leave and never, ever go back or pursue.

mary kate and ashley really know how to make good makeup. i purchased some new eye shadow (well, MK&A call it 'eye creme'--which really just means its a little cremer and gives your eyes more definition). i have it on now for looks and well, i like it. i had to buy a brush to apply because the texture looks like it may ruin my applicator brush. the last makeup i bought from the girls was liquid eyeliner and it was awesome! i prefer another liquid eyeliner brand but eh, they were good while they lasted...if you know what I mean.

i am in search of a blog written by someone out in the sea. keep your eyes open for me. lately i have been obsessed with mates of state's blog on parenting and their kids. i tune into another blog written by a stay-at-home-daddy.

i went to a dance party this past weekend. i had a lot of fun! i could not believe how many people showed up! it was at the Parish and it was sponsored by DJ Mel. He is my favorite local dj in Austin. I think the last song I danced away to was "groove is in the heart' mixed with some louis armstrong in the background. it was awesome. my friend wasn't feeling it so she sat and did the whole people watch. i am sure she saw me moving fast and all over the place. i didn't care. i had to dance and had to shake off all that stress i had built up inside.

i was complimented via email today and this is how the email kind of went:
co-worker: thanks melissa. you really know how to communicate so well to everyone and make everyone feel at ease about a stressful situation where it could potentially get everyone all rustled up.
my (only) boss: isn't she great?!
me: (no reponse)

i didn't respond bc i didn't know what the heck to say!?! what do you say? what would you have replied? my co-worker said something along those lines but not the exact...more or less. it was a nice compliment and i thought it was kind of funny my co-worker copied by boss on that email. and it's funny HE copied her and i on that response email. ha.

one hour til slipknot reveals their 'new masks'. i want to see it and see what kind of cool masks they will have now! i think it is a little ridiculous to keep up with the whole get up with the jumpsuits and masks but eh, whatever works for them. it just seems to me that the record company is doing this to have their members be interchangable. i wonder what the contract says for the guys in the band and have to be masked. how do they feel about it. is corey still part of slipknot? anyway, it happens tonight at 12:01am and i am trying to stay up for it. check it out on spinner. i hate spinner because they use slang like 'hookers' and 'gay' to describe music. it's stupid and they are gay.

i leave you with all things local and in austin. check it, yo!