Sundays at the Firehouse

I spent a 12-hour shift at a local firehouse as part of my EMT-B clinicals. This schedule is posted on their bulletin board. Sunday's task still makes me chuckle. (Click pic to enlarge. And no beer in the firehouse, btw, also a joke.) Although, logically, wouldn't #1 need to be on the schedule only once??

(btw, it is not any warmer on the East Coast than out West. Drat. And if you're wondering why I am inside instead of out wandering about: back sore from the long plane ride. And if my spine doesn't straighten out on it's own, will have to do therapy, so trying to take it easy. Hope to get some good picture taking time in later this week, though.)

Quick Hits

Three things:

1. Not having syphilis! I'm going on a trip overseas later this year and the country's visa requires you to prove you're syphilis-free. At the doc's, the nurse came in and asked me, "Did you want a pap smear while you're here?" Nope, I sure didn't. Nurse: "Oh, I just figured since we're already testing for syphilis..." trails off. I explained I don't REALLY think I have syphilis, it's for a visa. I'm sure she gets that all the time. Also, thanks a lot nurse!

2. Harold and Kumar!

3. Big trucks! I'm driving my dad's big black V8 engine truck while my car is in the shop. I can't park it worth beans but I feel like the Queen of Sheba driving it. I want to drive over the top of other cars. My Toyota will seem so small after this.

Water

I am in love with whoever did this.

Street art in the East Village, NYC, via Gawker, via somewhere else.

Murray Hill Inn, NYC

Murray Hill Inn is a 5 story walkup converted into a hotel on 30th St. and 3rd Ave, only a short walk from the 33rd and Lex 6 train subway station. I stayed here on my last trip to NYC, a great little place in a nice neighborhood if you don't mind not having a full-service hotel. And the best part, it was $130 a night weeknights and $170 weekends. If you have priced hotels in Manhattan, you know this is a bargain. The room was small and no proper closet, but very clean, with hardwood floors and a big marble bathroom. (You can pay less for a full size bed or shared bathroom.) The front desk people are super nice and they'll hold your luggage until 6 PM day of checkout. Seriously, this is where I'm staying every time I have to pay from now on. (And yes, I do have NYC on the brain. I leave Sunday. Not looking forward to the long plane ride with this hurt back, but I guess that is what drugs are for.)

www.murrayhillinn.com

Amphipod Micropack

I bought this to carry my chapstick, lube, extra energy gels and car key during the marathon. Instead of hooking it onto my waistband, I clipped inside the center of my sports bra. I thought it was more comfortable near my center of gravity than on my hip. It worked great, I highly recommend it. (The only downside is it soaked up sweat sitting next to my skin, but it's washable.)

As far as the marathon, I didn't have any injuries or illness, not even a blister. I wear Brooks shoes and Nike wicking socks and they served me well. I ran in a running skirt, rather than shorts, and I recommend that as well, more comfortable in my opinion. I hit the wall around mile 25 and walked a half a mile, but then picked up and ran the last 1/2 mile. I really wanted to cross the finish line running. I took a 1 minute walking break every mile or so throughout.

Quotation, plus Drugs

"By heaven, I do love, and it hath taught me to rhyme, and to be melancholy."

Love's Labour Lost, IV.III.332

My problem: boring is worse than bad. I consistently fall for guys whose intentions are not kind, but also not boring. In my dating life, I'm a sad girl with a lot of fun stories. At least I have melancholy to remember them by. Still working on the rhyming.

And you know what? I have a kind heart and perhaps naive intentions, but manage to not bore myself. I'd love to meet a guy like that.

Also, I love Lortab.

Trying New Things

Saturday, April 19th, my first full marathon. This is why I'm doing it. And because I want to know if I can. But mostly for my dad.

Male Athletes

The Order of Hotness:

Canadian Hockey Players
All Other Hockey Players
Lacrosse Players (especially the team I saw last night in the HPER building on campus)
Baseball Players (especially Johnny Smoltz, excluding all Yankees)
Soccer Players
Pick-up Football Players (the hotness of amateur sports)
Divers
Non-Pro Golfers (the guys I know in my personal life who golf are all kinda hot)

And of course, the ultimate cage fighter:

Wolverine. Definitely my favorite male athlete.

Please note: this list is not based solely on looks (except the divers) and has not been scientifically verified (except by infatuation).

Pjur Eros BodyGlide

I picked up a travel-size tube of this silicone lube to carry while running, I use it on my upper thighs and all clothing edge/skin contact places to avoid chafing when going long distances. I noticed how soft my hands were after applying and started using it as hand lotion and on my legs after shaving. Makes your skin feel super-soft and look nice and healthy. It's hypoallergenic and fragrance/dye free, so won't interfere with perfumes or irritate your skin. You can buy this stuff in adult shops, but also on Amazon.com. I highly recommend it in place of lotion.

Pjur Eros on amazon.com, $19.95 ($3.95 for travel size)

New York City

I am going back to NYC at the end of this month. Two reasons I love NYC:

1. Geographical freedom. There is just something about knowing you can take a train to JFK and end up anywhere else in the world. Exhilarating.

2. Anonymity in chaos. A great place if you want to be alone; there are so many people, no one notices you unless you want them to. And I find chaos a great tool for focusing. Stimulating.

During Enchanted I had a chuckle at the Evil Stepmother's description of NYC: "A place where there are no happy endings!" I'd have to agree (for reasons I won't get into here, but those of you who know me know what I am talking about). But still love the place.

I Heart Jim Mug

Why yes, yes I do. Thank you, mug people.

(Afternoon tea at my desk. Very exciting life I lead.)

Old School Chic

It's been a long time since I've seen clothing in a Guess ad I would wear, but these new ads are gorgeous and remind me of the video for Gwen Stefani's Cool. The song, meh, but the hair/makeup/clothes in her flashbacks are beautiful. (And his green eyes, oh man...) I love wearing skirts and high heels and dressing up a bit, I'd take any of her outfits. And the girlfriend's black dress? I covet. Breathtaking.

I'll come right out and say it: I've been on too many first dates with sloppily dressed men. I believe in making the effort to look good. In general, I want myself and other people to know they are worth taking time to look my best. For me, that means being true to my own sense of style, which I admit might be more formal than others. But a guy showing up for a first date in a t-shirt that says, "If you flash me, I'll give you a dollar?" Ugh. Surely there has to be a happy medium.

Hotel Room Keys

I found this in my purse; evidently I love hotel room keys and can't bring myself to turn them in when I check out. I did the same thing in NYC, but found it in my pocket when I grabbed my Metro card on the way to the ceremony, prompting the dash back to the hotel with the best man to properly check out, prompting his cute line about having the rings with him, prompting me to think he is darling. Anyway, if you ever go on vacation with me, don't let me be in charge of the room key, mmmkay?

In Vegas I grabbed a key because I was the last one out sunbathing, my fair-skinned friends are sun-wussies. On one occasion their abandoned chairs were taken by a group of five handsome men. Hooray for wuss friends, right? Except...I was on my stomach reading a magazine, put my head down to close my eyes for a minute, and too lazy to move the magazine. Do you know what tanning oil and sweat do to ink? I do...now. It transfers it to your skin rather well. I got up shortly thereafter to leave and one of the guys said to me, "Excuse me..." and I'm thinking, "This cute guy wants to talk to me before I leave? Awesome!" But then he keeps talking: "Excuse me...but I think you got ink on you from that magazine, it's all over your forehead. I just didn't want you to walk through the casino like that."

Seriously, don't let me have a room key.

Quick Hits

A few things:

1. FloJo eloped today! For those that know her, she will no longer use Floyd, but I am still calling her FloJo.

2. In Vegas last weekend, I lost one of the diamond earrings my dad gave me several years ago. Just plum fell out. I never wore them regularly 'til my dad died, then wore them as a reminder of him. And seems kind of appropriate, as I am coming to different terms with his death, that I lost it. Time to move on to another stage of remembrance. Also, a reminder how transient "things" are, and why they don't really matter.

3. Did you know The Office starts back up this week? It does. RFos + JKras forever!

4. I had so much fun in EMT class last night, it hit me how my classmates are incredible people, funny and talented with diverse goals and a desire to help others. It's just a good feeling to be there with them. And my teacher is awesome and joked around with us when I asked why no one had thought to make bras out of the new splinting material, it holds so well. And that the air pump for the splints was so much like a penis pump, I was suspicious at how many people were so good at using it. In general, she is just very cool. I want to be like her when I grow up.

(btw, if anyone has wondered "Is she going to keep writing about silly crap forever?" the answer is "No." I do have an expiration date, and it's a positive thing, trust me.)

National Civil Rights Museum

In memory today of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., a place I recommend every American visit: The National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis, TN. The films, exhibits and artifacts are explicit and detailed and immense, so if possible, take a full day for your visit. It is emotionally draining and at times deeply painful, but along with Ellis Island and Pearl Harbor, a place I wish every American could see at least once. At the end of the museum (which is the hotel where he was killed, converted into a museum) you walk out onto the balcony in the same spot where he was shot while this song by Mahalia Jackson plays on loop in the background. A very solemn and moving place.

Silliness

I'll do anything for a picture, if it's funny (to me or someone else).

Laptop Sleeve

I bought a new laptop (15.4 inch Sony) and have been looking for a laptop sleeve with handles that is not ugly. This is harder than I thought, there are a lot of ugly bags out there. Then I found these. Out of my price range for a sleeve, but I really like this brown and blue striped version. And the orange one.

Laptop sleeves, acmemade.com, $149.99 - $179.99