- Number of creeks to cross: 2
- Number of walls to climb (with the help of Marines): 2
- Number of Marines that I stepped on: 2
- Number of Marines that I kicked in the face: 1
- Number of industrial hoses spraying water on us: 2
- Number of muddy ponds: 2
- Number of hills: too many to count
- Number of muddy hills: 1
- Number of injuries I sustained: 2 scratched knees
- Number of fake boobies: a higher proportion than most of my races
- Number of minutes that the Camp Pendleton 10k Mud Run took me: 95
- Number of minutes that I waited for my teammates so that we could finish together: 45
- Number of times that a Marine yelled at me: 1 (in the shower line!)
- Number of naps on race day: 3
- Number of hours of sleep the night before: 4
- Number of clever teams and outfits: too many to count. My favorite? "The Mudder Games. May the mud always be in your favor," with "Tribute" on the back.
- Number of times that I'll do another mud run? Lots!
Saturday, June 9, 2012
Camp Pendleton 10K Mud Run 2012
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
Summer Schedule
At my current job, we work a 4/10 schedule during the summer. My schedule becomes 8:30am to 7pm, M-Th. This is the week that we switched to our summer schedule.
Luckily (?), I teach on Mondays, so I left at 5:30pm, so I got out of my first 10 hour day! Let's not talk about the fact that I taught until 9:30pm, because then it'd be a 13 hour day...
Today, I voted. Our contract (secured through our union), allows us two paid hours to vote. I got up at my normal time (okay, okay, may be a few minutes later... Not more than 15...), voted, stopped at Fresh and Easy to pick up salsa for a Mexican potluck we had at work, and got to work only a half hour late! Oh, I also got a skinny iced caramel machiatto from Starbucks; it was right next to Fresh and Easy! Anyway, although I did stay until 7pm, it wasn't quite a 10 hour day since I got there a little late. And, really, the Mexican potluck took some time, too.
I went to the gym after work, and remembered that I get better parking during the summer! But it's very discouraging to get home at 9pm. Then I got distracted by The Big Bang Theory, and watched a half hour of that. After flossing, brushing, showering, and getting ready for bed, I was only 15 minutes after my bed time. But still, it sucks to get home and pretty much only have time to get clean.
Tomorrow will be my first full 10 hour day for this summer. And another trip to the gym, so I won't get home until 9pm again. Ug.
On the bright side, I'm leaving three hours early on Thursday (a 7 hour day!) to go to a Cirque du Soleil show. I'm seeing Iris, and am excited. It's my first CdS show, and I'm sure that I'll love the physicality of it, as well as the film theme of this show. Plus, I got a Goldstar discount on the tickets!
Sorry, there's no pithy ending to this blog. It really is just a pointless anecdote, a First World complaint about my work hours.
Luckily (?), I teach on Mondays, so I left at 5:30pm, so I got out of my first 10 hour day! Let's not talk about the fact that I taught until 9:30pm, because then it'd be a 13 hour day...
Today, I voted. Our contract (secured through our union), allows us two paid hours to vote. I got up at my normal time (okay, okay, may be a few minutes later... Not more than 15...), voted, stopped at Fresh and Easy to pick up salsa for a Mexican potluck we had at work, and got to work only a half hour late! Oh, I also got a skinny iced caramel machiatto from Starbucks; it was right next to Fresh and Easy! Anyway, although I did stay until 7pm, it wasn't quite a 10 hour day since I got there a little late. And, really, the Mexican potluck took some time, too.
I went to the gym after work, and remembered that I get better parking during the summer! But it's very discouraging to get home at 9pm. Then I got distracted by The Big Bang Theory, and watched a half hour of that. After flossing, brushing, showering, and getting ready for bed, I was only 15 minutes after my bed time. But still, it sucks to get home and pretty much only have time to get clean.
Tomorrow will be my first full 10 hour day for this summer. And another trip to the gym, so I won't get home until 9pm again. Ug.
On the bright side, I'm leaving three hours early on Thursday (a 7 hour day!) to go to a Cirque du Soleil show. I'm seeing Iris, and am excited. It's my first CdS show, and I'm sure that I'll love the physicality of it, as well as the film theme of this show. Plus, I got a Goldstar discount on the tickets!
Sorry, there's no pithy ending to this blog. It really is just a pointless anecdote, a First World complaint about my work hours.
Sunday, June 3, 2012
Snow White and the Huntsman
I gave Kristen Stewart the benefit of the doubt, and went to see this movie. The people that I saw it with really liked it. I was all "meh." Here are the problems that I have with it (there might be SPOILERS in here...):
- Someone who was locked in a tower her 10+ years would not have the stamina of a huntsman. Or any stamina at all.
- Who gets to decide who's the fairest of them all? What if I only like red-heads? Or chubby women? What if my type is mixed-race gothic punk? It's just sorta simplistic for today.
- The camera spent an inordinate amount of time on Bella... uh, Snow White when she wasn't really doing anything or expressing anything. She was mostly just breathing (and then that whole scene where she wasn't breathing..."
- We also were looking at her back a lot. I guess to show what she was seeing, what was in front of her. But it was more breathing, really.
- The last scene was ridiculously uninteresting. Again, she really just breathes. And almost smiles.
- Kristen Stewart doesn't close her mouth much. She's a mouth-breather.
- The rallying speech was uninspiring. I don't blame that all on Kristen Stewart, though. The writing does have to take some blame. And really, in the context of the story, she wouldn't have had to rally too much. Everyone was on her side, she just had to mention the little fact that she had the power to kill the queen.
- I'd like to have seen more between William and the Huntsman, to know what each of them were thinking of the other one. I liked that bit in the third Hunger Games book where Peeta and Gale talk about their predicament with Katniss.
- The huntsman mostly just glowered for the first half of the movie. The acting during that first half was really lackluster. Director: "Kristen- look scared. Chris- glower. Good!"
- Snow White was very persistent. Against odds, she just kept running, kept trying.
- A Snow White story finally gave some background as to why a grown woman would care if she's the prettiest, why she would care so much that she'd destroy for it.
- I liked how they made Snow White peaceful and loving, a friend of animals.
- Yay, the apple's back in the story!
- I liked that Snow White was unsuccessful in defeating the queen when she was basing it out of anger, but was successful when it was more like protecting herself. That keeps with the theme of the character.
- Well, the whole cast was white, except may be for one evil guard. Fail.
- There were, obviously, two female main characters. They did talk, to each other, about something other than men, so it passes the Bechdel Test. And they both were strong characters, in their different ways.
- There were little people; is that a disability?
- Presumably everyone was straight. Wouldn't it have been awesome if Snow White was a dyke?!
Thursday, May 24, 2012
Blind Date
I dreamt last night that I was dating a blind guy. It was interesting,
because I started to think about all sorts of ways to be attractive for him, and what he wouldn't notice. First off, my hair would definitely change. Now, when it looks good, it feels crunchy. But a blind guy would want soft hair! So I'd probably get a much shorter cut. I also thought about smell. He'd probably be more sensitive to smells, so I'd have to shower more often, pay attention to the lotions, hair products, deodorant, colognes that I wear, and watch my farting.
He wouldn't notice make-up, except may be the taste of lip gloss, so I could skip out on that a lot more!
I don't think dating a blind guy would affect how my partner would feel about my weight. Either way, he'd be touching me, so it's still a personal choice how firm or round (s)he prefers. Similar for breast size, although there'd be less focus on the look of them and more on the feel and grab-ability. :)
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Vera's Hurt!
Yesterday, as I was leaving the school parking lot, someone hit Vera!
I was driving through the parking lot, when I noticed this SUV backing up. My first instinct was to slam on the brakes (which I did), and I knew that I needed her to notice me. So I yelled, "Ah!" She didn't notice me until she heard my side mirror crunching in to my door. :( May be the horn would've been a better choice?
When she first got out of her SUV, she was still talking on the phone! And not in an, "OMG, I just hit someone, I gotta go!" way, but in a "Yeah, yeah. I should get off the phone..." way. It was a speaker phone, but still.
Luckily, a campus security officer was in the same parking lot, so he came over to helped. Unfortunately, he didn't see anything. He helped us remember all of the information that we should exchange, and reminded me that the college's auto shop was still open. The other person took FOREVER to get her insurance information, saying that it was her father's car. Poor, broken Vera was blocking her SUV from leaving, and I wasn't about to leave until I had her insurance information! Eventually, after talking on the phone several more times, she gets me her father's insurance information. While I'm getting all of her information, she asks whose fault it was. I just stare at her. Then say, "Yours." My Prius is quiet, but it's not invisible!
Since my side mirror was now dangling limply on the door, I went to the auto shop to get it removed. I knew the instructor, Larry, so he was really nice. He even asked me how I was doing!! So sweet. The students took off the mirror while I graded papers. Larry looked up the part, and found that it cost over $250. Who knew that Vera had heated mirrors? Looking at the door damage, he said that the whole repair would probably cost over $1k. The other driver had asked me not to call insurance because her father is a mechanic. But for a thousand dollars of body work? Heck yeah I'm calling my insurance!
On my drive home, I sorely missed my mirror. You don't know how often you use it until it's not there!
The next day, I left Vera with the body shop that Allstate suggested, and got a very red Versa. This is the second time that I've had a rental Versa, and they don't hold a candle to my Vera! I mean, where's the back-up cam? Why doesn't the radio show me what songs are playing? Why can't I change the radio or the temperature from the steering wheel? You really expect me to do math to figure out my average gas mileage? Why do I have to click the fob to unlock the door? Why do I have to put the keys into the ignition? It's all so arcane.
After almost a week in the shop, I finally have Vera back. Yay!! I do miss some features of the Versa, though. I like how you could choose how much face versus foot fan you wanted.
The insurance company called, too. Although I paid my deductible at the auto shop, I'll be getting it all back because they've agreed that I'm not at fault. And Larry was right, it did cost about $1000!
All's well that ends well, I guess.
I was driving through the parking lot, when I noticed this SUV backing up. My first instinct was to slam on the brakes (which I did), and I knew that I needed her to notice me. So I yelled, "Ah!" She didn't notice me until she heard my side mirror crunching in to my door. :( May be the horn would've been a better choice?
When she first got out of her SUV, she was still talking on the phone! And not in an, "OMG, I just hit someone, I gotta go!" way, but in a "Yeah, yeah. I should get off the phone..." way. It was a speaker phone, but still.
Luckily, a campus security officer was in the same parking lot, so he came over to helped. Unfortunately, he didn't see anything. He helped us remember all of the information that we should exchange, and reminded me that the college's auto shop was still open. The other person took FOREVER to get her insurance information, saying that it was her father's car. Poor, broken Vera was blocking her SUV from leaving, and I wasn't about to leave until I had her insurance information! Eventually, after talking on the phone several more times, she gets me her father's insurance information. While I'm getting all of her information, she asks whose fault it was. I just stare at her. Then say, "Yours." My Prius is quiet, but it's not invisible!
Since my side mirror was now dangling limply on the door, I went to the auto shop to get it removed. I knew the instructor, Larry, so he was really nice. He even asked me how I was doing!! So sweet. The students took off the mirror while I graded papers. Larry looked up the part, and found that it cost over $250. Who knew that Vera had heated mirrors? Looking at the door damage, he said that the whole repair would probably cost over $1k. The other driver had asked me not to call insurance because her father is a mechanic. But for a thousand dollars of body work? Heck yeah I'm calling my insurance!
On my drive home, I sorely missed my mirror. You don't know how often you use it until it's not there!
The next day, I left Vera with the body shop that Allstate suggested, and got a very red Versa. This is the second time that I've had a rental Versa, and they don't hold a candle to my Vera! I mean, where's the back-up cam? Why doesn't the radio show me what songs are playing? Why can't I change the radio or the temperature from the steering wheel? You really expect me to do math to figure out my average gas mileage? Why do I have to click the fob to unlock the door? Why do I have to put the keys into the ignition? It's all so arcane.
After almost a week in the shop, I finally have Vera back. Yay!! I do miss some features of the Versa, though. I like how you could choose how much face versus foot fan you wanted.
The insurance company called, too. Although I paid my deductible at the auto shop, I'll be getting it all back because they've agreed that I'm not at fault. And Larry was right, it did cost about $1000!
All's well that ends well, I guess.
Monday, May 14, 2012
Glee Locker Room
While listening to all of the Glee soundtracks on my run yesterday, I was thinking about the show. I was struck by how there have been a somewhat high number of scenes in the boys' locker room. Then I tried to think of any scenes in the girls' locker room. Nope, none. What does this say about gender in the Gleeverse? Are only men allowed
to be healthy, fit, and strong? You can't tell me that the Cheerios
don't work out. We have seen Rachel on an elliptical in her own room,
but never with others. We've seen Quinn in physical therapy, but that's
about it. I mean, even Artie and Leprechaun are in these locker room moments. These skinny or dough-y guys are seen the locker room or gym, but no women?
Don't get me wrong, I am gleeful that there aren't gratuitous scenes of these girls changing in the locker room while having a conversation, but I do wonder what this pattern is telling the viewers about what's appropriate for girls and boys to do.
As I considered this (while still running), I realized that there are a lot of scenes in girls' bathrooms. Like, a lot. Including several songs. I don't remember any songs in the boys' locker room, except Sam singing to himself in the shower. Of course the writers want private areas for some of their conversations or songs, but is it necessary to have them be gender-segregated? The library is a pretty good place for a private conversation, too. A high school student in a library seems much more realistic than Leprechaun in the gym.
What I see in this pattern of gender-segregated locations is that women are supposed to stare at themselves in the mirror, trying to perfect their hair and make-up, while men are supposed to be buff. For all of the groundbreaking that Glee does, this is a disappointing pattern.
Don't get me wrong, I am gleeful that there aren't gratuitous scenes of these girls changing in the locker room while having a conversation, but I do wonder what this pattern is telling the viewers about what's appropriate for girls and boys to do.
As I considered this (while still running), I realized that there are a lot of scenes in girls' bathrooms. Like, a lot. Including several songs. I don't remember any songs in the boys' locker room, except Sam singing to himself in the shower. Of course the writers want private areas for some of their conversations or songs, but is it necessary to have them be gender-segregated? The library is a pretty good place for a private conversation, too. A high school student in a library seems much more realistic than Leprechaun in the gym.
What I see in this pattern of gender-segregated locations is that women are supposed to stare at themselves in the mirror, trying to perfect their hair and make-up, while men are supposed to be buff. For all of the groundbreaking that Glee does, this is a disappointing pattern.
Sunday, May 13, 2012
How to Get Your Prescription in 11 "Easy" Steps!
Step 1: Get prescription from your doctor(s).
Step 2: Wait for vacation because you work 9 hour days and don't have time to get your prescriptions in your daily life.
Step 3: Go to pharmacy that only serves hospital staff.
Step 4: Get your mother's prescriptions at a CVS, but save your prescriptions because you have Target pharmacy coupons (and have used Target pharmacies before).
Step 5: Go to a Target that does not have a pharmacy.
Step 6: Return home from vacation.
Step 7: Go to a Target with a pharmacy, but learn that one prescription must be ordered so you'll have to come back. Take back prescriptions because this isn't a convenient Target to get back to. Also learn that your Target pharmacy coupons are expired.
Step 8: Skip the gym to go to a convenient Target. Drop off prescription.
Step 9: Go back to convenient Target a few days later (after that one prescription should've arrived) after a doctor's appointment. Learn that prescription wasn't filled because your insurance changed prescription plans at the beginning of the year. Wait 20 minutes while they try to get your insurance information correct. Leave with assurance that prescription will be filled within the next day or two.
Step 10: Go back to convenient Target on your one day off every two weeks. Learn that the ordered prescription was for a gel, but Target got a cream. The pharmacist will not give out the cream until the doctor okay's it. Super-nice pharmacist calls the doctor right then to get approval.
Step 11: Get your prescriptions!
Step 2: Wait for vacation because you work 9 hour days and don't have time to get your prescriptions in your daily life.
Step 3: Go to pharmacy that only serves hospital staff.
Step 4: Get your mother's prescriptions at a CVS, but save your prescriptions because you have Target pharmacy coupons (and have used Target pharmacies before).
Step 5: Go to a Target that does not have a pharmacy.
Step 6: Return home from vacation.
Step 7: Go to a Target with a pharmacy, but learn that one prescription must be ordered so you'll have to come back. Take back prescriptions because this isn't a convenient Target to get back to. Also learn that your Target pharmacy coupons are expired.
Step 8: Skip the gym to go to a convenient Target. Drop off prescription.
Step 9: Go back to convenient Target a few days later (after that one prescription should've arrived) after a doctor's appointment. Learn that prescription wasn't filled because your insurance changed prescription plans at the beginning of the year. Wait 20 minutes while they try to get your insurance information correct. Leave with assurance that prescription will be filled within the next day or two.
Step 10: Go back to convenient Target on your one day off every two weeks. Learn that the ordered prescription was for a gel, but Target got a cream. The pharmacist will not give out the cream until the doctor okay's it. Super-nice pharmacist calls the doctor right then to get approval.
Step 11: Get your prescriptions!
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