Running tracks

I found a new favorite running song.... Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger by Daft Punk

Also among the favorites for running (also for skiing/boarding) are:

Atom Bomb - Fluke
Last Resort - Papa Roach
Angels Deserve To Die - System of a Down
Stronger - Kanye West (his version of that Daft Punk song!)
Freak on a Leash - Korn
The Most Wonderful Girl - Lords of Acid
Jungle Boogie - Kool & the Gang
Getcha Groove On & Rollin' - Limp Bizkit
One Step Closer - Linkin Park
Save Yourself - Stabbing Westward
Somebody Told Me - The Killers
Under The Gun - Supreme Beings on Leisure
Going the Distance - Cake
Melt With You - Modern English
The Promise - When in Rome
Bass, Beats & Melody - Brooklyn Bounce
Feel the Beat - Darude


I need to start running again and good music helps keep me moving. I'm always open to suggestions for new tunes, so if you've got any please pass them on!

Christmas Chicken

Favorite new Christmas tradition that I learned this year.... fried chicken and mimosas! Mmmmmm!

Before Today

I was listening tho this song....

o/`
I don't want excuses
I don't want your smiles
I don't want to feel like we're apart a thousand miles
I don't want your attitude
I don't want your things
But I don't want a phone that never rings
I want your love and I want it now
I want your love and I want it now
o/`

... and right then my phone rang. Things like that make me happy.

Wheeee....

...eeeeeee!

Concentration

It's a good thing this semester is ending. I don't think I can take much more of it. For some reason I can't seem to concentrate on anything. Well, except...

Can't wait!

This crap has got to end. The semester has been too long. I'm ready for it to be over and get up into the mountains! Even with a busted knee, a day on the slopes is what I need!

Thank you Dani!

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

:)

New York, part 3

The view from the B train heading into Brooklyn: Brooklyn Bridge and downtown Manhattan.


Things you will only see in places like New York: Waiting for the L train at midnight on Friday I was entertained by these musicians as well as other folks waiting for the train. It felt a bit like I'd stepped onto the set of a musical. The music was great, the audience broke out dancing....

New York, part 2

New York was spectacular! I hardly slept the entire time I was out there. Arriving an hour and a half late on Wednesday I made it into Manhattan in time to catch up with the hashers for the on-after. Somehow they managed to keep me out until ~3am. On Turkeyday, I ran around the city during the day. I didn't head over for Macy's parade, but instead just wandered around watching the people who showed up for it. New York has the best pizza on the planet. In the afternoon, I went back to the Queens for dinner with my family. It's always nice to see that they are still the best kind of crazy. I have to admit it makes me a bit nervous when they start talking about the nice Jewish boy I am required to meet and the wonderful traditional wedding we will have. *shudder* I'll resist that whole wedding thing as long as I can, thanks.

Daytime on Friday was spent on a brief, unsuccessful shopping trip and hanging with my dad & step-mom. Then it was over to Brooklyn to hang with my friend Khris. It's funny. He's got a great little flat in Park Slope, but his tiny flat costs twice as much to rent as my huge flat downtown here. Oh the joys of big city life. I wonder where I'll be able to live if I do end up going to NY for med school. Brownie: Yuengling was consumed in Brooklyn. So was Brooklyn Lager, for that matter.

Sometime around midnight I joined a few of the hashers out at a bar in Manhattan for some karaoke. That was scary, but entertaining. I tried to do a silly song, because I was too much of a sissy to really try to sing, but ended up making a complete ass out of myself because I didn't actually know enough of the words. Ooops. Maybe next time I'll just stick with a song I can actually sing.

I met up with Khris again on Saturday and went to see a great Off-Broadway show: The Constant Couple at the Pearl Theatre Company. It was fantastic! If you happen to be in the area before 23 Dec, I highly recommend it! I hope they've got this whole Broadway on strike thing sorted out the next time I'm in NY!

New York, part 1

You know you need a vacation when getting to your vacation seems like too much work. I can't wait to get into New York. With luck, by this time tomorrow I will already have run a hash with some folks out in NY. Maybe I'll go into the city on Thursday for the parade. I know I'm seeing a show with a friend on Saturday, but the rest of it I'll just have to play it by ear! Just thinking about it makes me happier already. Woohoo!

To med or not to med?

Lately I've been debating the merits of going to med school. Is it worth the stress I'm putting on myself? Maybe I should change my major to theatre and find work as a stage manager somewhere? Maybe some sort of recreation degree and find a job outdoors somewhere? The problem with those options is that you don't get to cut people open, fix them, and put them back together if you're not a doctor.

A couple more...

Defying Gravity!

Elphaba at Halloween with theatre people.

It's really a sharp hat, don't you think?
You know black is this year's pink!

My blog sucks.

For how incredibly busy I am, I can't seem to think of anything interesting to write on here. I mean, honestly, who wants to hear about chemistry exams? I sure don't!

Give me beer!!

Whew! I've survived 4 exams in the last 3 days, plus the closing weekend of our show. I can't believe it's done. As far as the tests go, I know I aced two of them. The other two weren't my best work, but I don't think they will be grade destroyers. As for the show... well, it's hard to believe it's over. I'm relieved to have more time to get caught up with the rest of my life, but I'm sad it's over. The show itself was great, but the cast and crew were what really did it for me. They're an amazing bunch and I'm going to miss being around them so much.

All I have left this week is a lab write up that should only take me 10 hours or so... Oh, and of course I still have to teach my dance class tonight and dance at the Caspian tomorrow night.

Then it's on to my favorite holiday of the year! I can't wait for the parties on Saturday! (Oh, and Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and next Saturday!) Woohoo!

Halloween Costume from last year.

Blah.

Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.






Oh, and blah. Back to studying.

Shopping and Fucking

Come see our show! A Theatre 'd Art presentation of Mark Ravenhill's play, "Shopping and Fucking."

October 5-21 at 8:00 pm.
Friday, Saturday, Sunday only
$10 General Admission
$5 with any student ID
Free for UCCS students with ID
Location: Osborne Studio Theatre, 3955 Cragwood Drive (@ the corner of Union & Austin Bluffs)


According to director TK "'Shopping and F*cking" is a bold social commentary on our society, as people become more detached emotionally while still maintaining physical contact---interactions that are sexual but not personal, "transactions." It presents the notion that people are beginning to live life in the fictional stories that they tell themselves; stories with happy endings and contrived characters; stories that shield them from the pain of the real world."


Though shocking and brash, this play is a dark and dramatic comedy, featuring 5 characters, each of them trapped in their own world, detached from the others yet unable to cope without them. It is raw, sexually graphic and not for the faint of heart, yet open to anyone who can see beyond the shock, anyone who is willing to truly examine the nasty side of our consumerist society.

Holy Crap!!

I have no life. Just when I thought I'd have a reprieve, instead I have new activities to consume my time. Blah. One day I will catch up with myself.

BWAAAHAHAHAHA!

Yay! So my prof for biophysical chem decided that we didn't have the necessary information in order to answer one of the questions. So he threw it out and that bumps my B up to an A-! *happy dance* It's still not perfect, but I'm definitely not complaining about an A-. Plus, I got an A on my analytical chem quiz.

To top that off, my Bellydance Fitness Fusion class went really well tonight. I was a little bit worried, because I was a bit scatter-brained, but I had four more people sign up.

And to round off a generally good day, rehearsal for Shopping and Fucking went incredibly well tonight. We even got out early! I'm so impressed with our actors, they've come an incredibly long way in a rediculously short period of time.

All in all, a good day.

?

So I found the video on youtube of me and my girls bellydancing. I put it on myspace and on facebook. Is there an easy way to get that embedded on my blog?

Fsck!

I got my first B on a chemistry exam yesterday. Biophysical Chem, to be specific. Proof positive that sleep is necessary for me to do well. Staying up until 3:30am the night before finishing my theatre project was a bad idea. On the upside, I did fairly good job on my theatre. We had to design our "perfect theatre" and draw it out to scale. That's a scary undertaking for someone who has no experience in drafting and tends to be a perfectionist. Too fun. Maybe I'll scan it in once I've finished it.

The other thing to note is that I'm fairly certain that my grade is still one of the highest in the class. Rough f'ing day, yesterday. At least rehearsal was fun.

Today, we took our first quiz in Analytical Chem. That one was a lot less scary. Which comes as a major surprise. I guess we'll see...

"Hell is other people."

I'm going to see this show this Friday night! Anyone interested?

Hamlet & Antonio

Searching for the act and scene of a particular line from Hamlet, I came across this website (http://www.barbarapaul.com/shake/hamlet3.html). I had no idea how many titles of various works came from different parts of Hamlet. Who has the kind of time to determine them and list all of them out? I'm grateful they did, else I wouldn't have found the line I sought.

Theatre Works did an excellent job with the production of both Hamlet and Antonio's Revenge. Of course, my view on this may be slightly colored by knowing members of the cast. It helps make the show more personal for me. Sitting in the very front row also had a strong impact. There is an intesity felt when you're that close to the action that can't be described properly... I could see the glistening of tears and mirth in their eyes, feel the air stir with their movements. I was drawn in more completely than I have ever been for a show before.

"... to hold, as't were, the mirror up to nature; to show virtue her own feature, scorn her own image, and the very age and body of the time his form and pressure."

Front Porch Sitting

The past couple of nights I've spent a lot of time just sitting out on my front porch. The weather is just perfect for lounging in a camp chair with a glass of wine and good music. It reminds me of the lyrics to a song... o/' Oh I could go crazy on a night like tonight / When summer's begining to give up her fight / And every thought's a possibility / The voices are heard but nothing is seen o/'

Bellydance Fitness

I just got a new job teaching group fitness classes at the new UCCS recreation center. Of course, the classes I offer will be bellydance! I'm debating whether I want to keep them as a beginner bellydance class, a bellydance-aerobics class, or some combination of the two. I'm leaning toward the latter. It's hard to have bellydance aerobics with people who don't know how to do any of the moves.

The bennies: getting paid for my hobbies, use of the space for rehearsal, and groovy tech shirts that say UCCS fitness instructor.

Schedule: Wednesdays @ 6 - 6:45pm (starting 12 Sep)

Shopping and Fucking

... by Mark Ravenhill. The title of the play that I will be Assistant Stage Manager for in October! I get to work with my favorite Theatre 'd Art people. I'm stoked to be back in the theatre again. I've missed it so much!

You spend too much time painting your house when...

... you get all the way to the bar, have some beers, and talk to tons of people before you notice that there is still paint on your leg. I'm dead sexy. Rrrrr! In two days I've competely repainted the kitchen, painted two walls in the front room, sewn and hung curtains. I'm making my house look purrrty. Why I chose to do all this the first week of school, I have no idea. It seemed like a good idea at the time.

What a load (of crap)!

So my two incredibly short weeks off are over and school has started again with full force. My classes this semester are Analytical Chemistry (with lab), Biochemistry, Biophysical Chemistry, Technical Theatre, and Languages of Art. On top of that I'll be working in the Osborne Threatre all semester for student productions. Hopefully I'll be in some of them! Don't worry, I'll keep you posted. Until then, it's off to lab...

Go Big Red!

I had a suprisingly good time out in Nebraska this week. Angela and I got a lot accomplished, we unpacked a lot, bought and assembled a bookcase and a chair, and even visited her campus. Wednesday night we went out in Omaha. For the longest time Omaha was just the name of a Counting Crows song to me. So it was fun actually visiting. Josh, the guy we went out to hang with, is completely nuts. I thought I was crazy, quitting my job to go back to school at 28, but this guy definitely wins. He's already an ER doctor and is now going through law school. I feel a bit more comfortable with my crazy life decisions! Our pub crawl through Omaha got cut a bit short. The first bar we went into was dead, but the bartender was great. As it turns out, he's a second year law student at Creighton and had tons of info for Josh. The free shots he kept pouring us didn't hurt, either. :)

N for (k)nowledge!

Josh, even more loony than me

Jared, kickass bartender

Bellydance!

A couple of shots from work tonight. There was a painter at the restaraunt tonight taking a million photos. I'm going to have my portrait painted. :) These pictures were taken by one of the staff. The first one is my favorite, but they all came out well.

Mt. Rosa

Went out a couple days ago for a quick hike up Mt. Rosa. Brownie put some pictures up, but left out my favorite one!

Made it!

Never, never, never take summer classes. I learned it the hard way, but at least the semester is over and I am fairly certain that I survived. This weekend I'm off to Ft. Collins to help out with the Wild West Relay. I'm sure there will be great pictures from it! :) The highlight for me is the pork and porter check we're setting up. Mmmm... beer and bacon.

Barr Trail Mountain Race

Woohoo! I didn't die. I completed both the run and the Mantiou pub crawl afterwards. The run was amazing. Yesterday was actually my first time all the way up to Barr Camp. Normally I only do the Manitou Incline and then run down ~3 miles of Barr Trail. For the pub crawl, we started in the park (some over acheivers started at the finish line) and went to Ancient Mariner, Kinfolks, Royal Tavern, Townhouse Lounge, and the Keg.

It's amazing what I'm willing to go through to get a free shirt that says I'm willing to go through it. Hands down, the best prize was the one Brownie put together for the finishers (see his page for a picture of the Barr Camp PBR). I hate to admit how much this race hurt, but I did meet the goal I set. Considering how little I trained for it, just finishing in the time limit seemed a reasonable goal. Of course, that means I have a ton of room for improvement for next year...

It hurts good, I swear!

The whole crew, hashers + my buddies Jen & Chris.

Time: 3:20:31
Place: about as close to last as it gets. I didn't realize exactly how competative this run actually is.
Weather: hot, but beautiful.

My blog sucks.

This is because my life is dull. I'm ok with it. It's a necessity these days.

River miles...

I finally sat down with my records from the past three seasons of rafting and compiled my miles. I was a bit shocked to find out that I qualify as a Trip Leader and I'm only ~100 miles away from my certification in the Gorge! That just means I can take more lives into my hands. Bwaaahahahhaha!

Rockies Fireworks Games

It doesn't get much more American than a ball game, complete with cheap beer, hotdogs, and fireworks. It was a great way to celebrate the 4th of July. :)

Justin & moi.



They brought all the people in those sections of the stands down onto the field for the fireworks. A few kids who were out there first pulled out a frisbee and started to play until security put an end to that.

Incline/Barr Trail

Nice hike up the incline and jog down Barr Trail (the longer way). I took my friend Tom up with me. His knee is even more messed up than mine. Even still, it wasn't too terrible. No PR today! Incline Time: 50:35, total time: 1:30

Denver Red Dress

Crawling out of bed on Sunday morning I didn't think I'd be able to walk, let alone run a red dress. Fortunately for me, I wasn't the only injured person of the day and I had a buddy to walk (limp) with. I will never again run a half marathon and hike a 14er in the same day... at least not until the next time.

Nappy Ritz

Go Buffs!

For more pictures see The Dani's blog.

Outdoors math: 13 + 14 = delirium

Saturday wore me out, but what a great way to go! First thing in the morning was the Slacker Half Marathon (from Loveland Pass down to Georgetown). That afternoon we hiked up Mt. Evans, one of the 14ers right on the edge of the front range. The Slacker left me wanting to curl up and sleep (hopefully after medicating myself).

The final stretch of the Slacker Half Marathon.

Me and the Dani enjoying the free beer.

I had no plans to actually hike. I wore my running skirt, JQR shirt, and chacos. I left my camera, sunscreen, warm clothes and day pack in my car. But somehow I found myself talked into it. We drove up to Summit Lake, where I had intended to hang out while eveyone else hiked for a few hours. When we got there Brownie was kind enough to point out that the hike wasn't much longer than the Manitou Incline. It couldn't be that hard... if I could forget the fact that my legs were exhausted and cussing me. So I borrowed some sleeves from Dani and up we went. Too bad for Dani and Brownie that they couldn't make it to the top. It was awesome! I suppose I wouldn't have felt bad about not summiting if I had tickets to the Widespread concert.

Somewhere around 13,000' before we parted ways.

Bungholio & I on top.

Pirates!

You just can't trust pirates! :)

10 f'ing miles.

This morning I ran the Garden of the Gods 10 Miler. It's the first time I've ever run 10 miles in one go. Surprisingly, it actually felt pretty damn good even with minor injuries. I didn't push it too hard and was just trying to run the whole way. I succeeded. That felt awesome in and of itself.

This is first r*ce I've done without chip timing. It's not a huge deal, but I've gotten used to that sort of accuracy. Starting in the middle/back of the back threw off the results in comparison with my Garmin (yes, I'm now a running-gear nerd). Either way, it's still just over an 11 minute mile pace. Not too shabby when you consider the route and that it was my first time.

From the website:
Official Results: 1:52:21
Distance: 10 miles

From my Garmin:
My Results: 1:51:49
Distance: 10.15 miles

CoTex gives you wings.

I am one lucky chick! I wasn't supposed to be home from the river on time to make it up to South Park, but we got back a couple days early. Naturally I tracked down the MOPP hash and from there decided to head up for some good CoTex action. I didn't get to stay for the whole weekend, but the part I was there for kicked ass. A couple of the highlights for me were.... all of us riding in a U-haul to the pub crawl and Hoover finding the perfect sized man to give her some motorboat action. Whee. I can't wait to see pictures!

Woohoo!

Little pieces of my float trip through Cataract Canyon.

Colorado River, before the confluence with the Green River.

PBR at put-in.

Morning on the river.

I drink good coffee every morning.

Chris makes a Poop Dog out of mud.

The amazing gals of the trip: Jen and I up top. Yvonne and Darshelle down low.

Zombie raptors?



Mud Wrestling was a favorite passtime on this trip.

Float-zilla. During a lot of the flat sections we tied all the boats together and used Paul's motor to push downriver while relaxing on the rig instead of having to row hard just to get somewhere. I prefer rowing flatwater when we're not in a rush and there is no wind. But with up-river wind, that motor is the greatest thing on the planet.

Strong enough winds will blow the boats upriver!

Floating to the Spanish Bottom campsite. Up above is the first sight of the Dollhouse in Canyonlands. SB is the last campsite before the rapids begin (woohoo!). We spent several days there just hanging out and hiking around.

Last year Jen lost her flip-line (a bit of rope used to flip upside-down boats back upright) in the mud at Spanish Bottom. The river was considerably higher last year. This year, while digging out one step to help carry up gear from the boat, Philsy dug up Jen's flip-line. Chances of that happening!?!?

The beach below the first rapid. This is a short hike from the SB campsite. We'd hike down here, play in the sand and river for a while, then head back to our site when another group floated in. They did give me and a couple of my girls a PBR before we went back to camp. :)

Yvonne and I. Sunrise at SB.

The Jen rowing her boat into Big Drop 2 rapid with her husband Chris.

Yvonne rowing with her passanger Darshelle into Big Drop 2.

I just love these gals!