Seven Things

Tim tagged me a few weeks ago on this "Seven Things" meme, but I'm a bad blogger and just now getting around to fulfilling his tagging me. Generally speaking I'm an open book. There is little about me that my friends don't know. For instance I thought about writing that I've paid for a car with a credit card. The offered rate for the life of the balance was better than any car loan anyone could have gotten for such a low amount on a used car. But I'm so damn proud of that that I tell just about anyone who will listen. And you all definitely know about my baking. So, here's my attempt to do this without admitting anything that might doom my social life or embaress someone else.

1. I have a thing for sunglasses. Most of the time I've got about five pairs lying around and they rotate as I lose one pair and buy more. Usually I buy pretty cheap ones because of my ability to lose them, but as I get older my tastes definitely get more expensive.

2. Coffee has become my comfort food, but that probably has more to do with the cream and sugar I put in the coffee than the actual caffeine. I spent grad school actively attempting to avoid a caffeine dependency and still try to not drink coffee on a daily basis, but sometimes I just absolutely need that jolt combined with the creamy goodness of half and half and sugar. Also, I can now taste the difference between cheap gas station coffee and Starbucks and even asked for a french press for Christmas (which I didn't get).

3. I've lost track of all the pets I had as a kid. I know my first pet was a goat named Emily. And of course I remember the dogs and the memorable show steers, but the procession of cats and hamsters and fish and the like all completely blurs together.

4. My current sheets are flannel in a very uncharacteristic floral pattern that completely does not go with my new duvet cover. But they're super warm and comfy.

And because I'm an open book that's all I can think of. Yes, I am so terribly exciting...

fitness

Reading all these Crossfit Central blogs while wasting time on the last day before the Christmas holiday is making me feel like a lump. Maybe I can get in a run tonight. Or at least play with the kettlebell a bit when I get bored with the packing and cleaning. Definitely have to find something to do while I'm at the parent's house or I'll go nuts.

A brief look back at 2008

2008 has been very good to me. Finally I feel as if I'm getting back to being the person I am meant to be - I've come a long way from December 2007. So, as inspired by Jeremy and Lance, and in honor of my one year anniversary of holding a real job, a brief look back on 2008.

I am thankful for:

-My job, which has provided me with the security to truly get myself back on my feet.

-Crossfit Central and all the coaches who have motivated to push myself farther and harder than I ever thought I could and into better shape than I thought possible and playing better rugby than ever.

-The move from front row to 8 man and playing as B-side captain for the fall season. It has been an amazing experience and I pray that we have enough players to fill two full sides again in the spring. A year ago I'd have done almost anything for the opportunity to play B side rugby. Rugby for fun, rugby for the joy of 80 minutes of absolute freedom, win or lose, rugby because I am young and strong and I love it and I can.

-Learning better who I really am and where my boundaries in so many areas of my life lie.

-That my best friend moved to Austin this year.

-For my friends and teammates who have become my family here in Austin over the past four and a half years I've been in this city.

Thanksgiving

So I'm in Austin for Thanksgiving for the first time in a while. It's much too warm to be the end of November to my still mid-Atlantic sensibilities. Right now I'm sprawled on my bed thinking that there really ought to be something I could be up to or somewhere I could be going tonight. It sounds fantastically decadent. Next year I'm making something up instead of settling for a quiet night in with my oven and Kitchenaide mixer.

Politics

I early voted on Friday afternoon. Now I'm just ready for the election to be over. Let me know what happens so I can get on with life.

Interesting fact I learned today: Since FDR was in office the Washington Redskins have predicted the outcome of the every national election. If the 'Skins win the home game before the election the incumbent party stays in the White House. If they lose, the president from the other party is elected. And they lost (big time) last night to the Steelers. Here's hoping!

Austin RRFM

In a random act of senseless violence I lost a cousin last month. She was radical and idealistic and genuinely believed there was a better way than how our society exists. And she wasn't afraid to live out her principles. Every time I think of her I am inspired to greater kindness and a more meaningful existence.

She founded the San Francisco Really Really Free Market, a sort of monthly garage sale, except that nothing is bought or sold. It is more like a potluck where everyone contributes what they can and everyone walks away enriched by the experience in some way. Austin's RRFM is this Sunday on the east side of town. Sounds like it's worth checking out.

This is for you, Kirsten.

Rocking the Kettlebell

Crazy workout today - power swings with a 24 kg (53 pound) kettlebell. Bottoms up swings and presses (!) with the 16 kg kettlebell.

Rocktoberfest indeed.

Rocktoberfest II

Second Rocktoberfest pledge: Baking. I have a fairly large number of friends with October birthdays. And I'm going to make cupcakes for each of their celebrations that I attend.

Recently I discovered a dark chocolate cupcake recipe that is fabulous. I made it for a work potluck and they went over quite well, so I think that's what I'll make for my teammates' post-rugby practice birthday drink up at our sponsor bar.

Tuesday's workout was killer - eight rounds of 20 seconds hand to hand kettbell pass-offs, followed by eight rounds of the same, but power swings, then snatches, then sprawls into a high pull. I managed everything except the snatches with a 16kg kettlebell. I'm getting there...

Sidenote - the pumpkin ice cream at Amy's Ice Creams is amazing.

Rocktoberfest

For whatever reason I keep thinking I'm going to leave work (13 minutes and 20 seconds) and walk out into a chilly, dim late fall evening. Despite the fact that it is most definitely still summer here in Austin. I think my body has decided enough with this weather, if we can't have it for real, we'll fool ourselves. Even Denver wasn't as deliciously cool as expected. Not incredibly hot, and the changing Aspen's on the drive to Boulder for Sunday's match were lovely, but it was nothing like I had hoped. Then again, pretty much nothing about the month of September, much less that trip, was. On the bright side, the beds in the hotel were fantastic and the pitch in Boulder was downright lush. An "oh, please tackle me" kind of lush.

October isn't starting out so great either, for a variety of reasons. I am, however, going to attempt to celebrate Rocktoberfest along with The Modern Gal. I pledge that I am going to do my best to make that 16 kg kettlebell my primary weight. I may not be able to press 16 kilos by the end of the month, but I will at least be able to snatch it. That will make me feel like I rock.

Also, I pledge to come up with another pledge for Rocktoberfest...

Plus, DQ has Pumpkin Pie Blizzards for the month of October. I'm going to see Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist tonight with friends. Iron Man is out on DVD. Sunday I get my birthday cake during Pattie and Carrey's house warming. Not to mention that I get to play lots of rugby during the month of October. Fun, low-stress rugby with our B-side, starting as eight man.

*I know I'm not blogging much. Keep up with me on Twitter instead.*

Summer Summary

It's been a good summer. A few adventures, plenty of time with my friends, a job that doesn't make me want to smack a cocktail waitress... Like I said, a good summer.

Started out with a weekend in central Illinois for a friend's wedding, and then some time in the big city before heading home.

Chicago was fun. I spent hours in the Shedd Aquarium. A good part of that watching the dolphins, who laughed at me and my opposable thumbs. I think really think they're probably smarter than humans. At least most of them truly enjoy life. And best of all was the weather - absolutely beautiful, with temps falling into the 60's at night. I might have appreciated it more during the triple digit days of July.

Then summer 7s started in earnest. The Satiated Beavers had quite the summer, with our A-side cleaning up tournaments from Texas to New England and our B-side tearing up the social life, out to play some rugby, drink beer, and break hearts. The Debutante Ball was quite the experience.

That's the UT ladies, playing as The Freemartins for the summer, along with the Beavers brave enough to don prom dresses and get scrappy. Scrum downs involved the hokey pokey and no run away tries were allowed.

I've already mentioned the Beavers winning Bloodfest and our next tournament was supposed to be Corpus Christi. The only tournament left for those of us not going to Cape Cod, which wound up being the same weekend. However, a few of us decided one tournament was not enough, resulting in a road trip to Baton Rouge for five of the Beavers. We went with an important goal in mind: It was a weekend to play rugby, drank beer, and break heats.


We made picked up some whores, played some really fun rugby on the lush bayou pitches, and made some new friends. There were also a lot of jell-o shots involved.

Corpus Christi was...Corpus. It seems that this tournament always starts with such high expectations that some angst and/or drama is inevitable. When I remember it, I remember awesomeness, but I spent a fair amount of Saturday in a pretty bad mood due to sucking it up while attempting to ref for the first time. Thinking that reffing is going to have to wait until much later in my career, though touch judging some official matches would be okay. Despite that, we were at the beach, playing rugby, which makes up for pretty much everything. Saturday started early - up before the sun for some of us. Others, particularly the Huns, not so much.




Though we got it together. And remembered the exuse for spending the weekend camping out on the beach. I have zero photos of the matches, mostly because I spent so much of the day on the pitch, either playing, reffing, or trying to watch the more experience refs and figure things out for myself. Carrey has those, along with some from the party, though.




There was also plenty of trivia played at The Flying Saucer, an outdoor showing of Labrynth, and Zilker's summer musical, Beauty and the Beast. Numerous birthday parties involving everything from Casino El Camino hamburgers to slip 'n slides. Tubing trips. A couple of weddings, which are beginning to seem more strange the older I get. All in all...a really good summer.

Steampunk 8

Steampunk 8
Originally uploaded by katbret_photography.

Me + internet connection = dangerous. Looking for welding goggles ala Dr. Horrible sent me down a Steampunk bunny trail. I'm fascinated. And seriously wondering if I could pull this off. Surely it's not too soon to be thinking about Halloween?

awesomeness

edit: It's free on Hulu! Go Watch It NOW!

..stand back everyone, Nothing here to see,
Just imminent danger, In the middle of it me,

right now

I love the internet. (Thank you new neighbors for having unsecured wireless. You are welcome to my parking space until I find car. Maybe even after.) Right now I am watching Kina Grannis and David Choi play on webcam from Kina's apartment. Watching them musically bounce off of each other as well as the people watching/chat rooming from home so much better than television. My God I'm a nerd.

A nerd who WILL be buying Dr. Horrible, thankyouverymuch Mrs. J.

Summer

According to the weather widget on my Google homepage it is currently 103 degrees in Austin right now. One hundred and three. Degrees.

Ridiculousness. The city of Austin has also taken over my thermostat and decided it's stuck on 82, probably because of high energy usage throughout the city (go figure). I'm officially sick of the heat.

Labyrinth in the Park

Much like last summer, aside from having considerably better employment, I have been much too busy actually living my summer adventures to write about them. Or anything else, really.

Last night, though, was a new thing for me. As our Wednesday night Merge event the group went to see Labyrinth, hosted by a local radio station and Central Market. Outdoor movies are one of the greatest summer activities yet invented. The night was perfect for it - warm and humid with a slight breeze, a nearly full moon hanging in the sky just over the enormous blow up screen. The crowd was HUGE. Apparently most people my age grew up with this movie and have remember it with exceptional fondness. I'd never seen it, not suprising given my media-sheltered upbringing. At the age of 25, Labyrinth is kinda twisted and just bad, in a fabulous sort of way. Mrs. Juicebox, who loved it as a child looked at me and whispered, "I don't remember it being this bad! I haven't seen it since I was little, but we loved it then!" about the time the pink-orange limb-shedding creatures started dancing and singing. Like I said: twisted, but kind of fabulous. And totally entertaining for a warm July night.

Car Shopping

Since the end of April I've been without a car. There has been a rollercoaster of various frustrations. First it was figuring out whether I should just find someone to rig a "good enough" fix or just report it to my insurance. Then once I had made that decision I waited weeks for my insurance to get around to inspecting it. Apparently someone routed my claim to San Diego and no one there bothered to bounce it back. Since then I've been car shopping, dabbling at first, because the entire process intimidated the hell out of me.


Now I'm actively searching for a car and still finding myself divided on what I should do. A new car is an automotively safe decision. There's a warranty, no one else has abused the engine, they're all shiny and perfect. But they also come with car payments. Years of car payments, thousands of dollars I could be saving instead.


Used cars come with their own issues, of course. What hidden problems are there? How badly did the previous owner treat the vehicle? (Don't buy a used silver Accord in the Austin area right now, by the way - the previous owner will tell you that himself.) How much money in maintenance is this going to require? Does buying a higher mileage for cheaper balance?

I'm still as intimidated as hell, but getting more and more fed up with being carless. My bike is great, but going most places just takes so much effort compared to a car. And it's July. In Austin. I think my breaking point that will force me to just make a decision and buy a car is coming soon.

Tagged by Finding Normal

A - Attached or single: Very single.
B - Best Friend: Erica
C - Cake or Pie: Do I get graham cracker crust?
D - Day of the Week: Friday at 4:30
E - Essential Item: Bicycle
F - Favorite Color: Purple
G - Gummy Bears or Worms: I like to bite the heads off the bears
H - Home town: Frederick, MD
I - Indulgences: Grocery shopping at Central Market. Being on foot is really just an excuse.
J - January or July?: I like the beginnings of seasons better than the middle, so May AND November.
K - Kids: Please Jesus, not for a long time.
L - Life is incomplete without: Books, friends, rugby
M - Marriage Date: Much later
N - Number of Siblings: 2
O - Oranges or Apples: Apples
P - Phobias or Fears: Failure
T - Tag Three: BMW Mechanic, Brooke in Sacramento, Scrumhalf Connection
U - Unknown fact about me: The scabs on my palms itch right now
V - Vegetarian or Oppressor of Animal: *Rolls eyes*
W - Worst Habit: Being judgy-judgy
X - Rays or Ultrasounds: Ultrasounds therapy is great!
Y - Your favorite food: Shrimp, avacado, feta, steak
Z - Zodiac Sign: Libra

good to know

Interesting revalation of the weekend:

If you look cute in a mini-skirt while on a pub crawl "socially awkard dork in a bar too loud to attempt small talk" comes across as "too cool for school."

Bloodfest was good, if a bit surreal. Being one of the in charge people had me all kinds of distracted. I've never done bracketing, but that wasn't difficult. Game times were more so, but that wasn't something I was in control of. Working with the guys was a good experience, though, if not enough to convince me I should be an officer next year.

It was a day of with some great rugby and good times had, broken up by a pretty fantastic storm most of us waited out under the trees. And the Beavers took 1st place! Wendy at Scrumhalf Connection has a write up and video on her blog of both Bloodfest and the Dallas tourney.

(photo by Shalay Mefford)

overheard at work

State employee #1: "Well, I didn't know you liked mayonaise on your hotdogs."

State employee #2, in the most incredulous voice possible, "Who doesn't!?"

yuck.

Fit

Yay strong, competitive women! And yay Crossfit!


I came back from my kettlebell workout today to Katy's post about her team Crossfit training. After spending my entire bike ride back thinking how much I love being able to conquer a tough workout and how I can't imagine not having fitness always be a part of my life, no less. That her team is working out together is great idea - I wonder if the Valks would be down for it? It'd be a great way to combine two of the best things in my life.


My WOD was five rounds of:

5 Burpees
10 Snatches
10 Box Jumps
15 KB swings

I finished in 14:32 with a 12 kb Kettlebell. Not too bad.

a bit too much

Yesterday, I managed to kick my own ass. My bicycle is currently my only form of transportation - aside from begging rides from friends, the bus, and my own two feet. And I hate asking for rides. So yesterday I get the brilliant idea to ride my bike to rugby practice. After having ridden my bike to and from work and from work to my kettlebell workout. It's about five miles from my apartment to practice, with a slight uphill grade, as all of Austin slopes uphill from the river. Not really all that bad, or so I think.


Yeah, right. I made it through practice and through the ride home, but man am I regretting it today! If it I hadn't had the kettlebell workout I think it would have been okay, but for right now I'm gonna stick with the bus or bumming rides.

rugby in prom dresses

Yes. Rugby in prom dresses (photos here and here). Most fabulous thing yet this summer. Saturday during the Dallas 7s tournament was the Debutante Ball - a chance for us girls to glam it up and get scrappy all at the same time. Very much fun, though I'm carrying more injuries from the short amount of rugby I played on Saturday (one 7s match and the Deb Ball) than from any of the matches I played this past spring. My favorite are the scratches from the beads on one of the other player's dress. Small price to pay for a pretty good tackle.

That's me showing off the scratches on my arm (and poking fun of my favorite BMW Mechanic). Here's a better photo of the arm injuries. They're healing nicely, but I've gotten some funny reactions to them over the past few days.

um, yeah...

So, I keep writing blog posts. I just don't actually post them. Because I read back over what I've written and they are complete crap.

There are photos from Chicago, though. If they ever make it from my camera to my external hard drive to the computer I might actually post them. But I'll keep trying to write something I actually want to share with the world.

At the moment I'm sitting in an increasingly noisy and crowded Casino El Camino alone, waiting for my friends to show up. Feeling increasingly conspicuous in my plain grey t-shirt, naturally colored hair, and naked of eye liner. Hungry, but waiting. (The fries smell amazing.) Does any good ever come of being punctual?

I Can Has Bicycle

I bought a bike. A gorgeous K2 Trailhead. I love her. She is freedom. She is a faster commute to work. And every time I see that gas prices have risen again it makes me exceptionally happy to not be driving.

Hollywood takes over Austin

Aside from the fact that the power in my apartment was out (and still is...) thanks to Wednesday night's huge storm, Thursday evening started out fairly normally. Until I actually get Nasty's and find several friends and other familiar faces milling outside between a tent of rather technical-looking lighting equipment and a large truck. There is a very different breed of people wandering around, wearing headsets or carrying walkie-talkies and looking at the group of us that is gathering like we might be vermin. Apparently someone is filming something. And they've removed the underwear which has resided on the ceiling for longer than I've been in Austin. (I do not envy the person who was assigned that job.) And Stiffler's mom is inside. From what I can see as people come in and out of the front door it's very bright inside and probably really hot from the lighting. Nasty's under strong lighting...well, it's a sight I have no interest in seeing.

The movie people don't like us, but that's too bad. The waiting regulars are griping, in that completely ineffectual way that Norm or Sam may have done on Cheers. Mike summed it up nicely, "This is a rugby bar. At 9:30 on a Thursday night. Get out of our bar." The crowd continues to grow, and to gripe. Another former rugger drives up, slowing down upon seeing the ruggers milling outside, causing pompous git walks up and asks derisively "Can I help you?" Finally someone comes outside, lets us know that this is the last shot and if we're quiet (and thus don't f*ck up the sound recording) they'll go away. Eventually, they do, though not before a sighting of the "talent." For the record, Heather Graham is a very normal-looking person in person. And Jennifer Coolidge (aka Stiffler's Mom) is a rather statuesque woman and looks exactly in person in the movies.

reasons to play

There are a myriad of reasons I play rugby. But I swear, this is definitely one of them.

Atlanta was fantastic. We lost our first game 32-24. Two tries in the last five minutes - if we'd been playing full 40 minute halves the Valks just might have won. The score in the second match was 24-0, a win for the Valks. Playing was a heck of a lot of fun and Atlanta put on a great social for us as well. Kangaroo court was excellent, per always, with some truly imaginative punishments. I truly adore travelling with my teammates. It was such a great weekend that I fell asleep nearly as soon as I sat down in my seat on the airplane and Atlanta and didn't wake up until we landed in Houston. Didn't even manage to turn off my cell phone in flight. Oops...

Spring 2008 has been a really great season for me and I'm very much looking forward to the fall. If I work hard enough this summer I may even earn my starting position back. Now that we have some down time though, I'm even more looking forward to the prospect of getting a free weekend, though between all the weddings and 7s tournaments and the men's semifinals being here in Austin I don't know when.

itchy

Seriously, there is something wrong with me. Has to be. Just looking at these pictures, from what looks to be a pretty incredible product, makes my eyes itch and I think about to sneeze. Look at number eight...I think there's another Corgi hiding in there. Despite my incredible allergic reaction to just the photographic evidence of buckets of dander using the Furminator looks like the most satisfying thing, to take a shedding pet and remove So. Much. Fur. Like picking a scab. Or trying to get the dandruff out of my show steer's tailhead when I was a kid (bet you didn't know cows could get dandruff...), trying to get out the big flakes without breaking them. Yes, kinda gross - but seriously, I think we had the cleanest show cattle ever, what with my father constantly riding us to be in the barn spraying down our steers, which probably contributed to their dry skin issues. Not to mention the depletion of the aquifer around my hometown.

Sing Sing Sing

There are many, many things to love about Austin. One my personal favorites, though, is the Alamo Drafthouse. First run movies along with a ton of super cool special events, a full menu of food and beer to be had by the pint or even the bucket. This is where I saw Snakes on a Plane. The only way to see that cheerfully, fantastically cheesy-horrible movie was at the Drafthouse, on opening weekend, in a theatre packed with enthusiastic watchers ready to yell along with Samuel L. Jackson about the "motherf*ing snakes on this motherf*ing plane!" For the Simpsons movie they sold a home brew named Duff Beer and plates on pink frosted donuts. When I saw The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe there we got to leave the theatre through a wardrobe by way of an enchanted forest with a light post and all. For a special showing of Some Like It Hot the male servers dressed in drag. A myriad of creative ideas that make it so much more than the mega-theatres.


However, the absolute best idea ever had by the folks the Alamo is most certainly The Sing-Along. From the website: "From musical movies to cinematic music videos, the Alamo's series of Sing-Along Extravaganzas takes the best parts of going to a concert and the best of going to a movie theater, mixes it all together, and leaves you with something completely new." I can't claim to know the history of The Sing-Along, but I do know that they have been held with a very wide range of musical preferences. Moulin Rouge, The Little Mermaid, 80s Rock, I think this summer is the third Michael Jackson extravaganza. The "Love Bites" Sing-Along has become an annual Singles Awareness Day event.


I love them. Mona convinced me to go my first one a month ago (Justin Timberlake Sing-Along) and after the second (Just Can't Get Enough - The New Wave Sing-Along) I now am officially hooked. Both times I sang myself hoarse and danced my butt off in my enthusiasm, along with a theatre full of other enthusiasts. I just can't sit still when I hear Spin Me Round, even if I'm just at work, much less in such an exuberant atmosphere. No room for being self conscious here, which may just be the best thing about the entire experience.

West LAUs

(photo credit to Ashley Mefford)

This past weekend was fantastic. Getting to play with such talented, cool people was a lot of fun. Wow, I'm impressed by my TRU teammates and playing with them was fantastic. My playing was far from spectacular, but I kept up and didn't do anything too stupid. I'm happy with my performance. Everything around me made sense, I remembered to look up and see what the offense was doing. I'm learning more with every match and playing feels good. My shoulder may disagree with me and I jacked up my left ring finger, but it's worth it. So worth it. (You never realize how much you use something like a minor finger until it hurts to type. Or open a peanut butter jar or swing a kettlebell.)



TRU beat Missouri in the first match of the day, 27-22. ERRFU defeated HOA in the second. Then both of the afternoon matches ended in a draw. TRU v ERRFU tied 0-0. It was a good match, with a powerful defensive showing from both teams. There's a great write up at Your Scrumhalf Connection, with pictures, also by Shalay.

hustle and bustle

Our society is broken. Our way of life, with its constant movement and hurry and meaningless chasing after money and status, is unhealthy. There is nothing new about my feelings towards it, yet this amazing article deeply saddens me. A world class musician anonymously playing in a metro station in DC and most people don't even take notice, much less stop to listen. I'm not suprised, but it does make me wonder if I would have noticed. If on my morning commute something so beautiful as this music would have made me look up from my internal monolouge and at least wonder or smile.

Why don't we ever stop moving to just experience the incredible things around us?

just a thought

I love Austin, but it probably should not require one to four different kinds of drugs (Zyrtec, Mucinex, phenylephrine, and ibuprofen) for one's sinuses to be clear enough to feel alive in the mornings. And my eyes still itch.

I hate that my allergies get in the way of everything. I'm a morning person. In college I used to bound out of bed before 5:30 in the morning and happily study until going to my first class of the day. Not being able to breathe puts a bit of a damper on a tough rugby practice. Focusing at work through a haze of sinus pressure makes the day seem awfully long. Thank God oak season is nearly over. Frakking tree sex...

you can't make this stuff up

From today's sermon as part of a series on relationships...

"...and then she turned out to be a psycho hose beast..." -Ted Beasley, teaching pastor

Yes, my pastor quoted Wayne's World. On Sunday morning.

workout of the day

42 High knees with jump rope
7 Turkish Get Ups
7 Kettlebell snatches/side
7 In/Outs

I was four in and outs short of five full rounds.

Tuesdays and Thursdays are my favorites. Instead of eating on my lunch hour I go and work out. Thirty minutes of an all-out-no-holds-barred-how-hard-can-you-push-yourself kettlebell class at a nearby Crossfit gym. No matter how I feel when I walk in, once I leave the rest of the day goes much better. I'm usually shaking, my hands far from steady, even my legs not sure of what they're doing after pushing so hard. But my mind is clearer and I'm more alert. Today I can even breathe better, but that might be the 2nd Zyrtec in four hours that I took right before leaving work. On a bad day I'll come back to work feeling ten times better than when I left. Granted I'm smelly and gross and drenched with sweat. But I let myself cool down a bit, change clothes and get back to work, grabbing lunch when I can during incubations. And life, it is good.

note to self

Note to self: Refrain from wearing that mascara if working out mid-day. No one will tell you you look like a racoon, merely laugh at you behind your back.

overheard

"They're not cool, but it's whatever."


Co-worker's highly political description of the current relationship between a superdelegate and the candidate they're not supporting, but yet used to be friends with.

rumor mill

Another week of conventional and real time PCRs. The most interesting thing I've seen here in the three months I've been employed by the state was the Bastrop food poisoning cases (and I can actually talk about these, there was news coverage and a press release). It has also run its course and is now old news. Yes, my area, and specifically me, tested them, but they were negative for the genes I test for. As well as everything else that was tested for, including the reportedly previously detected shiga toxin. So they have been shipped to the CDC, who will hopefully figure out what may have caused the outbreak.

Much more interesting than the actual results was to see the rumor mill running tangibly. Not that the rumor mill is always running around here, usually at high gear, but that's about people. I try not to pay attention to the gossip and there's no way to validate what you hear. The local news correctly reported an outbreak in Bastrop with one child dead and another five individuals ill. No connection between the cases was apparent. Shiga toxin was detected by a local lab. By the time I heard people standing around in the halls talking about the outbreak it was six dead from eating at Whataburger in Bastrop. Remotely possible if untrue. I however, enjoy escalating things ridiculously, as does my lab mate. Truly blowing things to ridiculous proportions.

A: Have you gotten samples from the outbreak yet?
T: The one in Bastrop?
A: Yeah, it's riduculous. People here, who should know better, are saying six people died from eating at Whataburger.
T: Really? I heard I heard it was twenty four people died at Whataburger.
A: Yeah, twenty four people killed in a drive by shooting in at the Whataburger in Bastrop. With shiga toxin coated bullets!

whining

There really ought to be something I could blog about that somehow matters or is in some way at least a little bit significant. Today, however, has shaken it all out of me. Getting frustrated with this damn gel, or rather the PCR which is requiring five gels to get results. Seriously, there has GOT to be a better way to do this. And here I am at work past five o'clock just getting more and more frustrated with this damn thing because I think I'm going to have to do it over again despite all the pain and effort and ridiculousness and why did I even try doing this many samples at once and people are waiting for the results and maybe I'll just getting really drunk on green beer tonight and call in sick tomorrow.

Okay, done whining now. I think.

best sentence i've read all day

I'm thinking that all that bourbon might have had a tiny effect on the magnitude of my righteous indignation.

Okay, right. Back to work. Very important err...gels to run and samples to confirm. Yes. Very important. My GOD it's slow around here.

weekend

Simply put, this weekend rocked. Friday night was the Dropkick Murphys show at Stubbs. I went with some great friends and ran into a number of others (some literally, as I spent most of the show in the pit). Many of whom were happier than I've seen them in a long time. Leave it to a rugby player to sparkle with excitement while in a mosh pit. The show was totally worth waiting two years since the last time they played in Austin.


Saturday night was a time warp. One of my teammates held a party to celebrate leaving her Starbucks employment after five and a half years. Six hours disappeared without my noticing, lost in good converstation about everything from books to politics. One of our rookies is apparently a kindred spirit of mine. Even if she does think Jonathon Frakes looks better without the beard. And getting to spend time with my best friend was golden, watching her be as comfortable as I've seen her since she moved to Austin. By the time I happily, wearily crawled into bed after dropping off drunk friends, it was after 5AM. Damn daylight savings.

Go Vote

For the first time in a long time the Texas Democratic primary actually has an impact. Go vote! I could say I don't care who you vote for, but actually, I encourage you to vote for change, for a better future. Hope may not pay the rent, but it goes a long way towards getting people to step up and take advantage of their opportunities to help themselves.

It's not a long stretch to figure out who I voted for...

Days that feel like today...

Clouds and Heifer
Originally uploaded by Hull Cove.

...make me miss morning like this. Or maybe it could just be the time I spent talking to my family on the phone before 9:30 AM today. And the realization that it is time for yet another show season, already, and I am missing out.

cuz there's not a whole going on this afternoon at work

Last night during a rather chilly training S and I got off on a tangent about Muppets. While we should have been listening to our captains describe a drill, of course. S mentioned something about Animal and somehow I wound up on even more of a bunny trail thinking about Muppets playing rugby. Animal is definitely a hooker.

1. Cookie Monster
2. Animal (because it takes a special kind of crazy to love the front row)
3. Sweetums
4. Big Bird
5. Sam the Eagle (why are the tallest muppets birds of all things???)
6. Gonzo (classic crazy flanker)
7. Telly Monster
8. Rowlf the Dog
9. Kermit the Frog (manager of the chaos; The Muppet Show or a rugby match)
10. Grover (every team needs a super hero)
11. Ernie
12. Dr. Teeth (he looks like he could tackle)
13. Fozzie Bear
14. Bert (Ernie had to pester him into it, but then he fell in love with rugby at first ruck)
15. Rugby Tiger (our fullback has been known to imagine herself as panther when she plays)

Muppets make me happy.

GoBama

This year, in a shocking flurry of political awareness, I am actually paying attention to the primaries. Being aware like I haven't been since Mr. Muldoon was indoctrinating the young and impressionable minds of the fall 1999 "American History: 1950's and Beyond" class at Governor Thomas Johnson High School. A class in which watching Matt Lauer and Katie Couric and discussion of the current political situation, led by a teacherr who worshiped FDR, was a daily ritual. (And my mother wonders why her daughter went to the left side...) Not only have I watched two debates, and wondered why they're still called debates, I have read the websites of the forerunners of both parties and scanned a number of the others'. None of it compares going to the Obama rally at the Capitol on Friday night.

It hit me standing in the crowd waiting for the rally to start that this is history. This primary, this year, these people around me, we are making history. It is entirely possible that the future will look back on these moments the way we as Americans now look back on certain moments of the 20th century. I am wondering if my redneck, staunchly union, strictly Democratic grandfather has burst a vein in his head yet at the thought that his two choices are a woman and a black man. This year's democrat race is completely different from anything that has ever happened before.

At the rally the excitement was tangible. So much optimism, so much hope in the air. Barack Obama is an excellent speaker, articulate and charming. And he offers a change from the status quo. Here is someone who actually has a voice willing to stand up and say "The system is broken. The way we do things now is not effective. But that does not mean a dead end. It can be changed. It must be changed." Hope may not pay the rent, but it does give people incentive to be part of their own solution. ((Stepping off my soapbox))

It was a very cool thing to be a part of. I'm glad I went, along with Kelly (our own precinct captain), Mr. and Mrs. Juicebox, and the handful of others in our group. The crowd was enormous, stretching well beyond the area strictly blocked off for the rally. The line to go through security stretched around the block, though it moved fairly quickly at 6:30ish, when I got through. I was worried about finding my group, but Mrs. Juicebox had made a sign that, while she was asked to put it away by one of the volunteers (apparently no home made signs allowed) made it much easier to find them. I did take my camera and will eventually put up some photos. The huge flood lights behind the press people were directly opposite where we were standing, which made taking pictures kind of difficult, though. All in all it was a great way to spend a Friday night and yet another reason I love living in Austin!

Statesman Article

lunar eclipse

Now why is that it's tonight that Austin has a crystal clear, beautiful night sky? Tonight, the 21st, the night after the total lunar eclipse??? Not last night while I was outside in the stinking humidity wishing the clouds would clear so we could stare up for a while instead of running sprints.

rugby weekend

Finally after all this training, we have our first match on Sunday. Matches, actually, and while we're just scrimmaging against the Texas U-23s and A&M I am very much looking forward to the chance to play. Weather permitting, on the gorgeous UT IM Fields, which actually have lush, well cared for grass. Tomorrow is a chance to kick back and watch the UT Women play Texas State in San Marcos. The UT girls have worked so hard, and I'm so proud of them. I can't wait to see the forwards scrum.

This season has its frustrations, as they all do, for me. The Valkyries moved training from Tuesdays/Thursdays to Monday/Wednesdays. My entire life is arranged around having rugby on that T/R schedule and readjusting has been a challenge. Due to a prior commitment I can't make Monday night practices. As a result I've been training with the UT girls, but nothing can really make up for missing that practice. On the flip side, though, is the fact that I'm getting a chance to develop relationships with the college girls, some of whom will hopefully stay in Austin and play with the Valks after graduation. I'm also getting to work on basic skills, do plenty of running, and build confidence in my own abilities. Three seasons of playing with the Valkyries and the college girls think I'm awesome. It's good for the ego, but I know I have a long way to go to become thinking rugby player I want to be.

However, being on the pitch with the girls, out from under the pressure of playing up to a level beyond my mental and physical and even emotional capabilities, feels good. It's easier to remember why I love this sport and finally I'm getting back to the place where I'm playing for myself. Playing rugby because life just makes more sense when I play, because I love the game, as opposed to playing because my teammates are relying on me. Even intense Valkyries practices are fulfilling. This season I'm focusing on developing my fitness, committing to workouts outside of practice. After years of just trying to survive-graduate school and then minimal employment-I'm finally mentally and financially in a place where I have left over energy to give to developing as a player, to being the kind of teammate my teammates deserve.

swoooooon

This morning one of my blog-heroes, Ree, aka Pioneer Woman, asked in this morning's post if her readers were morning people. So I commented. Because I dearly love the peace before the sun comes up and the feeling of having the world to ones self. A love much dampened by my congested sinuses these days. I said as much. AND SHE COMMENTED BACK! (Why yes, I do happen to be a sixteen year old disguised as an independent career woman.)

currently listening

Last summer I saw Kina Grannis play an acoustic show with my friend Josh and a few others. Last week she won the Doritos "Crash the Super Bowl" competition I can't stop listening to her. She's talented, she's adorable. She's so much more that just "the Doritos girl." And she just posted a new video in a myspace bulletin.



Hopefully Austin will see more of her soon.

attempting to look like an adult

Much like Mrs. Juicebox, I am also in need of a haircut. Not because anyone thinks I'm 20, or because in my job anyone at all cares what I look like, but because I haven't done anything with it since last spring. Except for that brave moment I cut my own bangs back in December. But, seriously, it has been that long. And I'm tired of looking...whatever... Not that the Julia Stiles 2004/2005 bob wasn't a good look, butI missed my long hair. So, no matter what my mother has to say about it, my hair is staying long. Ish...

Definitely something feminine. I am proud of my rugby bruises, but balancing that image with the fact that, I'M A GIRL, DAMMIT is important. In order to be anything but stick-straight, my thick, fine hair has to not be weighting itself down. And I like the face framing look, and the side swept bangs are a great trend. I'm thinking the layers on the left with the bangs on the right. Perhaps slightly longer.
















Or I might chicken out and go for the same old look I have had since May 2004.

nesting

Current wish list:

Staple gun
Electronic stud finder
Cordless Drill


New apartment, and apparently I'm nesting. Feeling crafty on top of that, which are dangerous things. The moving in has gone well, and I have most everything in just the right place. Exactly nothing hung on the walls, however. And a shiny new bookshelf that needs to be assembled. The drill would be nice to have for this little project.

Work is painfully slow and I'm amusing myself by looking through design blogs, aided by the Bloggie postings. This is dangerous. Exceptionally so. If I wasn't stuck in lab I would have already traipsed off to the craft store in search of perfect wrapping paper and textiles.

Kukuburi

A few months ago I stumbled across an incredible web comic. Kukuburi. Absolutely fantastic. The story line, the artwork, the flying whales. It even has a cute girl on a scooter. Seriously, I fall in love all over again with every update. Go! See! Appreciate!

yummy

It's a good thing it's rugby season, because I keep getting lost browsing through the yummy, butter-laden recipes posted by The Pioneer Woman. With pictures no less. Lots and lots of photographs of scrumptious, fattening, stick to your ribs food. I cannot wait to have my own kitchen again. Somewhere to make a mess without worrying about how many dirty cat paws have been on the counters, or using someone else's knives or looking like an idiot making a mistake. (I make a lot of mistakes the first time through a recipe.) Because, oh my does that pot roast look amazing. Not to mention the shrimp penne. Or oh! oh! mashed potatoes...

Can you tell I'm a little hungry here? Like I said, it's a good thing my physical activity spikes during rugby season, because I feel like I gained a couple of pounds just thinking about making any of these, much less eating them.

success

It worked! I finally got a conventional PCR to work! Everyone I worked with in the lab as an undergrad would be shocked. And I might actually get to keep my job after all.

no more roommate playing guitar hero at midnight

Saturday I signed a lease. I'm so excited about this I can hardly contain my joy. Finally I'll have my own space again. My own space. With only me in it if I so choose. No more judgy, anal roommate. No more litter box in the kitchen. I can keep the windows open if I want, leave dishes in the sink over night. Before putting them in the dishwasher. Keep my stuff in the living room instead of crowding all of it into a single bedroom. Finally.

The official move in is next weekend. Into my own apartment. My own freshly painted, with wood floors and an east-facing bedroom, balconied apartment. It's ten blocks south of work, thus walking distance. In central Austin. I've been decorating the place in my head since I saw it, without any regard to my actual current furniture situation. Because in my head I can do that. I have, however, resisted actually responding to any craigslist ads posted by people selling chairs or futons or really awesome shelving units, which totally displays incredible self control.

like being 14 all over again

Back in Austin and readjusting to non-vacation life. As well as my own "cooking." Which is in parenthesis quotations because these days it's actually what passes for cooking, but usually involves something frozen coming out the microwave hot. Also adjusting to the fact that my parents are getting along and by all appearances communicating after a year long separation and God only knows how much of my adolescence. Call me a cynic, but this dramatic of a change in my dad all of a sudden makes me wary.

But on a more shameful, frightening note, I went through my old closet while back home. Came across my tape collection from middle school. In addition to a wide range songs ripped off the radio were two Carman tapes and a Newsboys tape. Mortifying.