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.