The Latest
week2wisdom
i realize that for me, exercising is a lot like doing dishes (and for those who know, i'm not referring to the other metaphor, i'm talking about the actual cups and plates in the sink.)
most of you probably live in the modern world, with a dishwasher, so maybe this is not very relatable. in my house, i am the dishwasher (because i refuse to cook, and this is the division of labor that comes closest to working).
every single time i wash the dishes, when i'm done, i think *that really wasn't bad at all,* and it really never is. at least it's not nearly so big a deal as i turn it into with avoidance - the same way i do exercise. and with exercise, i almost always even end up enjoying it (though i do whine a lot, ask greg).
problem is...the dishes are currently spilling over my double-basin sink, all across the counter, with even more scattered across the house. now that i think about it some more, maybe this metaphor is only useful for making me feel kind of bad about myself :)
our assignment over the past week was to go walking 3 times. i went twice, and i'm okay with that. but the truth is, i'm all growed-up now, and it doesn't seem unreasonable that i should be able to convince myself to complete a simple task every *other* day.
though i hate to take advice force-fed me by mega-corporations with documented human rights violations, i think the best advice to myself right now is to 'just do it'. no internal dialogue about optimal weather conditions, or how various errands should be prioritized first, no invention of spontaneous small injuries...just quit thinking so much and make it happen.
the group factor helps a lot, and somehow i made it up and on the lake with the rest of the team this morning, for a much more challenging workout than last week. and since it seems unwise to try to give up all my issues at once, this means that i will most definitely not wash any dishes today.
re: the picture - that's "olga," about 10 minutes after she was born. my dog turned out to be very pregnant when we adopted her last year. she had 7 puppies only 10 days after we found out about her condition, and we raised them in our bathroom for 2 months. since i lived through that, i think i can make it through this challenge. (and olga's is a prettier picture than one of my dirty kitchen sink would be.)
liz
2:29PM Sat. Oct. 6, 2007 Read More | Comment »
Better Views
This blog has become more about my vacation than my training . . . so why stop now?
We made it to southern California (Redondo Beach) and the weather stopped cooperating. It didn't rain, but the wind working in tandem with the beach sand was enough to sand blast a mac truck. We got in late in the afternoon, made our way to the beach and didn't run.
I knew it would be difficult to run and train while I was out here, but I'm a little disappointed in myself. There have only been a couple of days that I really had the time and I didn't do something, but it still feels like I have been slacking.
We head out today for the Sierra Nevada Foothills, then get on a plane Sunday. I probably won't post until we get back to Austin on Sunday night . . . probably wont run until then either :(
I'm looking forward to meeting all of the other Club Chronicle team members next week, judging by the videos they seem to be a fun group. Please stop by soon as I will post more about my training (I promise) when we get back.
12:07PM Sat. Oct. 6, 2007 Read More | Comment »
Long Drive
Have a long drive ahead.
I will post when we get some time in Southern California.
12:07PM Sat. Oct. 6, 2007 Read More | Comment »
TODAY'S EVENTS
Encounters in the Garden Paintings by Josias Figueirido
Ivester Contemporary
Keep It Zesty: Edy Massih With Nadia Chaudhury at First Light Books
Dirty Martin’s 98th Birthday at Dirty Martin's Place
MUSIC | MOVIES | ARTS | COMMUNITY
Mystery Men Mysterious No More
Never heard of Dr. James Leininger or Bob Perry? Don't worry, you will, if Texas Dems have anything to say about it.
According to the Money in Politex report issued by Texans for Public Justice, these conservative ideologues were the two biggest donors during the '06 election. They dumped a combined $12 million into Republican campaign coffers, or rather, into the campaigns of hand-selected candidates that followed their conservative creeds. Amber Moon of the Texas Democratic Party called it "the Leininger effect," where increasingly radical Republicans were winning primaries and elections on the back of big-donor money. And now the Democrats are going to use that in the '08 campaign against every single GOPer that took their cash.
For election attorney and campaign finance expert Buck Wood, now it’s a campaign issue. “That money from the Leiningers of the world is going to be used against Republicans who take it. Because they’re buying this candidate who claims he’s representing you, but he’s representing Leininger or Perry.”
If the strategy pays off, Wood expects the money men to back away, or even be pushed away by candidates who realize their name association is a liability. That’s a big change from ’06, when their check-writing was almost brazen. “They threw a lot of money at campaigns very late last time around, and it’s kind of hard to counter that in a very short period of time. They can’t sneak up on anyone this time.”
3:49PM Fri. Oct. 5, 2007,Richard Whittaker Read More | Comment »
Marion Jones Admits Steroid Use
According to The Washington Post, track & field star Marion Jones, who won five medals at the 2000 Olympic Games, will plead guilty today to lying to federal investigators about using performance-enhancing steroids. I mention it here only because, according to the Statesman, she moved here to Austin earlier this year.
12:23PM Fri. Oct. 5, 2007,Lee Nichols Read More | Comment »
That's Why We Have Metal Detectors
This from CNN: Man kills self in front of City Council after zoning decision in Clarksville, TN:
A business owner shot and killed himself during a City Council meeting Thursday night after members voted against his request to rezone his property, witnesses said.Ronald "Bo" Ward, owner of Bo's Barber Shop, had told the council his business would go under if he couldn't get his home rezoned as commercial. After the 5-7 vote Thursday night, Ward stood and walked toward the council.
"Y'all have put me under. ... I'm out of here," he said before shooting himself in the head with a small handgun.
Chronic thought it knew something about how painful zoning is, but apparently not.
11:30AM Fri. Oct. 5, 2007,Wells Dunbar Read More | Comment »
NEWSLETTERS
Food Challenge
After a long consideration of changing my new body. I must learn how to power it with fuel. As of today Friday, Oct. 5,2007 I will be changing up:
1--sodas and replace it with water, small amounts of coffee, and Tea's.
2--Cutting out KFC Fried chicken and go for the grilled.
3--Eatting more salads with little to no dressing
4--Incorporate more fuits and veggies (funny it went from my mom to my doctor "telling me to eat all my veggies")
5--Not buying my Sutter Home Fre "Alcohol Removed" less than 0.5% weekend bottle wine.
6--Aiming for at least 7 hours of sleep instead of my normal 3 to 4 hours.
Okay thats it for now. Check back in a couple of days for more info on me.
Hey, if you have any suggestion or comments feel free to let me know!!
6:50AM Fri. Oct. 5, 2007 Read More | Comment »
Why *am* I doing this?!
I entered the Club Chronicle contest mostly because I have a silly obsession with filling out forms, (I even like doing my taxes) and the entry form in this particular case landed me on the Ladybird Lake trail.The goal I discussed in my entry form is evidenced in the lower 1/4 of the picture attached. I affectionately refer to my gut by its Spanish name, "panza." This lovely little word helps me to address her with comedy and kindness, rather than self-loathing. Don't get me wrong -- I'm not the petite girl in the room crying "fat," (or maybe that was obvious!) but I am getting tired of walking around with the outline of my bellybutton pressing against my t-shirts.I wait tables for a living, at the best little Italian restaurant in town, where pasta and cream sauces, and lovely, lovely cheeses abound.If you didn't know, a waitstaff's favorite part of the shift comes near the end, when we each decide what we're going to eat that night. No matter how annoyed you might have been with a fellow server during the evening, it's impossible to avoid a discussion of what they're going to have and what they think you should eat. I'm really not sure why this phenomenon exists, but there is a reason I'm telling you about it...During one such discussion recently, I gathered the many folds of my belly in my hands, and joked:"I know! I'll just cook *this* for dinner."The beguiling co-worker, we'll call him "Frenchie," to whom I was speaking dryly quipped, "So you're expecting company?"Zing! That's enough to jolt any girl out of her lazy streak (if only temporarily).So anyway, Tex-Mex, happy hours and the realities of being thirty-something have all conspired to give me the real Austin blues...in the form of a little panza that I'd like to send packing.I truly intended not to be inspired by participating in a reality stunt. I planned to do my durndest to show up for 8am on Saturday mornings, run around the lake in varied states of stupor, and put a big, fat checkmark on my list (I like to make lists, too) next to "exercise."Then I met the other wacky people who entered this challenge. People, these people are really brave and wonderful people. And I'm not always wild about people.Until I heard the other Club Chronicle members talking about their goals, I hadn't really allowed myself to acknowledge some secret goals I have for this crazy time. I'll write them in parentheses here, because I'm not exactly ready to shout them from the hilltops: (quit chain-smoking cigarettes like I have some special plan to outrun death, and maybe grow up a little and realize that the responsibilities of taking care of myself are solely mine, and might even be fun). There, I said it, but shush, don't tell anyone.I've never "blogged" before (I'm not even sure that really is a verb,) and I must say, it feels a little self-indulgent. I guess indulgence is what got me here, so if you're taking time to read this, thanks for indulging us all!And P.S. -- The Team Zen running group is free and open to anyone who's dumb enough to be ready to walk/run/move at 8am on Saturdays. So come on out (oooh, did I just call you dumb?) and get your jiggly on with the rest of us.-Lizzie
11:49PM Thu. Oct. 4, 2007 Read More | Comment »
Training While on Vacaton?
Yes, its true, I have been running while on vacation.
I know, its just not right, but I have to keep up on my endurance and keep pushing my run times.
So I have decided its much harder to run on the weekends than it is to run during the week . . . that is to say that running seems more difficult and tiring on the weekends. And the runs while on vacation, ten times worse! It's no joke, I feel like I'm dying and I haven't even made it a mile yet.
The area I am in right now is really, REALLY flat. It's the Central Valley of California, look at a map and its pretty much in the middle of the state both horizontally and vertically. Dry, flat land. Not much fun to run on, not much to look at other than a bunch of orange and cherry orchards. Nothing against our fine citrus friends, but as a whole, they don't really improve a run.
Well, I'm of to Orange County tomorrow, (fitting) then to Redondo Beach tomorrow night. I think there may be some better scenery out that way. And bye the way, I was talking about the geography, not the bikinis . . . for the most part.
I'll do my best to keep everyone up as I continue to train. Thanks for stopping by.
6:33PM Thu. Oct. 4, 2007 Read More | Comment »
PHOTO GALLERIES
Austin FC vs. New York City FC
MORE PHOTO GALLERIES >
