A Christmas Wishlist

I know it's a little bit early to be talking about Xmas, but if the stores are already putting out candy canes and ornaments, and my neighbors have already plugged in their big cheesy plastic snowman, then maybe it's ok to talk about what I want for Christmas. In no particular order, here's what I'd like this year:

1. A computer that works. That means no blue screen of death, no slooooow boot up, and no freezing everytime I try to open up a frigging spreadsheet....AAAAAAGH!! For the record, today wasn't too bad. Only had to flip the bird to my computer screen twice today for lack of cooperation.


2. Patience. This would help with the computer issue. My staff may also consider it a present to them, too.


3. One measly championship...in anything. Consider the following teams that I support:
   - Ravens - long shot
   - my fantasy team - since the football gods hate me (despite me sacrificing my Redskins fandom), Michael Turner is now out for who knows how long, so no chance
   - Penn basketball - similar to achieving world peace...a nice thought but completely impossible
   - Caps - since my interest in hockey is relatively new, I don't think I've quite poisoned their playoff potential yet.


4. Pie weights. Admittedly, this is a bit random, but it is the holiday season and I am baking a lot again. Pie weights are needed to help pie crusts from blowing up into big puffs of dough while they're in the oven. I've been using pennies wrapped in aluminum foil, but I'm thinking it's time to invest those pennies in real kitchen gear so I don't have to do this MacGuyver baking anymore.


5. A BB gun. The local squirrels are running around foraging for food, but they seem to enjoy using my roof and windowsill as a nut-trafficking route. This is incredibly annoying especially since my roof slopes down in my bedroom, so it sounds like their scurrying is happening directly over my head. A couple of warning shots might make the little bastards plan their re-up and distribution differently (can you tell I've been re-watching The Wire recently?).

Everything Old Is New Again

Is it just me, or does it seem like everything that was cool or popular circa 1985 is suddenly all the rage again? It started with Transformers, then GI Joe, and now V. For the uninitiated, V is a tv show about aliens (who look human but are really lizards) who come to Earth with a message of peace but who are really intent on turning people into food and slaves. The show originally aired in 1983, and the relaunch aired earlier this week (or tonight, thanks to the magic of DVR).

It surprised me that I still remember scenes from the original 1983 show. There was the scene where a car got blown up and one of the V (aliens) crawled out of the burning wreckage and showed his lizard face (heat exposes their true form). Then there was the scene where the lead V lady threw some guy into a glass room filled with sand...as well as some creepy crawly thing that scurried its way through the sand and then ate the victim. Finally, I recall the lead V lady devouring a hamster or some other small, cute rodent. That last one was especially traumatizing, as we had a guinea pig at my day care, and I thought they were really cute, not an option for Lunchable. Keep in mind that I was about 4 years old, so my parents letting me watch a show like that is perhaps an indication of lax parenting. Now, almost 30 years later, the show's back, and I can actually appreciate the storylines that mix the concepts of fascism, occupation and resistance, media tampering, and alien encounters all into one convenient hour-long package. I also appreciate the producers getting rid of the huge hair and red spandex unitards (yeah, nothing screams 80's like bad hair and awful clothes).

So, everything old seems new again. I'm ok with bringing back classic shows like V and remaking the Transformers, but I draw the line at remaking the Smurfs (you CANNOT mess with or do a live action version of the original) and bringing back leg warmers, big hair, and headbands.

Halloween and Other Randomness

Here's the rundown on the last couple of weeks:

• MCM 10K - Another race, another medal, another chance for mom and dad to load up on swag
• Practice Thanksgiving - There is no such thing as too much turkey...or cider...or pie.
• Halloween - Brit-com with zombies and close encounters with the deer-kind
• Ravens v Broncos - A winning equation: purple sweater + purple Coach wristlet = 30-7 stomping of previously undefeated team.

MCM 10K

My last big race of this year was the Marine Corps 10K, which was the same day as the full marathon (we just started at the Smithsonian and ran 20 fewer miles...hahaha!). Mom and Dad came with me to the race again, as they were on the hunt again for freebies. The morning was cold but clear, and about 6000 people ran the 10K. I did ok and attacked The Wall (VERY steep hill leading to the Iwo Jima Memorial) at the end of the race. My knee was acting up again, though, so I got checked out by the ortho physician on duty and iced it until I couldn't stand the cold anymore. I met up with Mom and Dad before heading off to the refreshment area to grab some snacks and then head home. Mom and Dad seemed to enjoy it, and I did appreciate the moral support. Mom told me later that she was at the bottom of The Wall, cheering me on, so that was nice, even though I didn't actually hear her over the rest of the crowd.

Practice Thanksgiving

Anne invited some folks over to practice her Thanksgiving feast-preparing skills on Saturday, and if the test run is any indication, she's going to have a really good meal on the actual holiday. There's probably nothing as comforting (food-wise) as warm turkey, mashed potato, and stuffing, so helping the Vances polish off a turkey was a good way to spend the evening. Much better than manning the door, waiting for pint-sized candy panhandlers to stop by.

Halloween

After I left Anne's house, I headed to Silver Spring to see Shaun of the Dead with Beney. I don't usually like horror movies, so a British comedy that happens to feature zombies was a much better fit. On the way to the theater, though, I was driving along Rte. 29 when I suddenly was hit on the right side of my car by a flash of white. The impact dented an area around the rear passenger side of my car, just around the wheelwell. I figured it must have been a deer because no one would possibly run across 29 in the middle of the night for no reason. Then again, it was Halloween, and there could have been some drunken idiot running around, so I called the non-emergency number for the police to report the accident, just in case. I didn't get a call back, so I think Bambi just picked a fight with my Honda and lost. I got to the theater right on time and had a good time at the movies.

Ravens game

Yesterday was also a lot of fun, as I got invited to the company box at Ravens stadium. Since the big boss was going to be there and we were entertaining clients, I didn't wear my actual Ravens gear and stuck with a purple sweater instead. It also gave me a chance to break out a purple Coach wristlet that I saw at the mall recently and bought on a whim. The clouds breaking and rain stopping just as the game started should have been a sign that the football gods wanted the Ravens to have a good game. They ended up breaking their losing streak, and the Ravens looked really strong all game long. It was a good result for my new favorite team!

FF Week 6 Stats

It's been a while since my last post, so this will be a long catchup entry. For those who want the cliff notes version, here it is:

• Fantasy football record thru week 6 - 4-2 (not bad)


• Baltimore half marathon - light rain and some shady spectators didn't stop me from setting a personal record. Oh, and I was able to walk just fine the next day, so that's progress!


• Girls night - taco's + milkshakes + catching up with the girls = good times


• Caps game - Uncle Ernie has some nice digs at the Verizon Center but could at least comp us for a drink or 2. And my sports fan theory is proving itself out - every time I root for loses!


• Komen 5k - Another weekend, another race, another personal best


• Holiday baking - Recipe #1 - apple pie (from scratch, of course). Nothing says the holidays are near like a delicious dessert and my kitchen looking like someone just dropped a bomb in it.

And for the extended, detailed version:



Fantasy football - Not much to say here other than I've only dropped 2 games so far, and both during bye weeks where I had to start multiple 2nd or 3rd stringers. That's a pretty good record to have, and picking up K. Faulk should improve my running game for the rest of the season, so here's hoping that at least my make-believe team will end up with a better record than the real-life teams I root for!



Baltimore half-marathon

I haven't trained as hard for these races as I really could, but I do my best and just tell myself that I've done that distance (or longer) before and can do it again. The Baltimore half was the weekend after the Army 10, so I hadn't really run all week since I hadn't stretched out too well after that race and was pretty sore. Still, I really wanted to finish the half because of the challenge and because I could also get another medal for doing the "double" (Frederick and Baltimore half marathons). So, I got up at 6AM, did some chores, and then scarfed down a bagel and fruit before heading to Ravens stadium at 7. I got there around 7:30 and avoided the massive backup at Russell Street by taking the next exit up to MLK and swinging around the stadium...then ended up sitting in the long line of cars on the quest for parking. My race didn't start until 9:45, so I had plenty of time to park and check out the end of the 5k race before making my way over to the start line. The race started on time, and the first 3 miles were pretty easy, with some rolling hills and generous downhills. By the time we rejoined the marathon course at mile 3, I was still feeling pretty strong. I figured I'd save my energy, though, for the end, and hit a water stop before approaching the big incline at mile 5. It was a steady climb for the next mile or so, and although I walked the first 50 feet, I ended up running the remainder of the hill because I felt an adrenaline rush and because it was a relay exchange point and I didn't want to crap out in front of all those people. By the time I got to the top of the hill, I was feeling really good and had passed a bunch of people. The rest of the course took us through some parts of Baltimore that I'd never been to before. Some neighborhoods were definitely nicer than others. The nice ones featured people cheering on the runners, playing music, and handing out goodies (gummy bears, pretzels, water, and beer!). The not-so-nice neighborhoods featured a hooker trying to cross the street (pretty sure that was her profession because nobody else wears shorts that short with fishnet stockings and stilettos), a junkie yelling encouragement, and a really pissed off lady leaning out of her window and yelling obscenities at the runners for waking her up. Ah, Charm City! The course concludes at Camden Yards and M&T stadium, and the last mile is really pretty energizing with all the people cheering on the runners and the final half mile that takes you through the stadiums. It was really a lot of fun, and the extra medal was just a nice (shiny!) bonus. It'll definitely be on my slate of races again for next year.



Girls' night - Liz and Anne were nice enough to come over to my house after the Half to hang out for a bit that evening, as we'd anticipated that I'd pretty much be crippled and wouldn't be able to make it down the stairs to my car. Surprisingly, I was in pretty good shape and was able to help with the taco's and milkshakes. After polishing off our overstuffed tacos, we caught up on work and gossip and a couple of episodes of Glee, which is my new favorite guilty pleasure. All in all, a great, relaxing night!



Caps game - Last Monday, the team went to the company box at the Verizon Center to see the Caps take on the Devils. I hadn't been to a hockey game in about 4 years, and the last time was also with a group from work and we got to use the company box. The main difference was that this time around, the entire arena was bathed in red and the fans were completely rabid. Not sure if DC's always been a hockey town, but I don't remember so many people being that into hockey before. The Caps lost in a shootout (just proving that if I cheer for a team, they will undoubtedly lose), but it was still a pretty exciting game and a lot of fun to watch. I even went out and bought tickets for a game next month, so I'm taking Beney and Melanie with me so they can also Rock the Red.



Komen 5k - This past weekend was the Maryland race for the cure, and the office women's initiative sponsored a team to participate. I ran the 5k race and shaved another minute off my time, so that was pretty good. It was cold and rainy but that was almost an incentive since it just made me want to get to the finish line faster. So, there's just one more race to go this month (actually, it's this upcoming weekend), and then it'll be a long layoff until the next races begin in the spring. Still, it's nice to end the running season on a high note of a pair of personal bests. We'll see how this weekend's MCM 10K goes (guess that'll also be a personal best since I've never actually raced that distance before).


Kitchen experiments - I make a trip to the farmers market almost every weekend, and this past weekend was an especially good trip since it was cold and raining and there were almost no patrons. The vendors were eager to unload as much of their produce as they could, so I got some good deals, especially on the apples. So with 6 pounds of apples, I decided to bake my first apple pie. Aside from a little (ok, a lot) of mess from the dough, it turned out pretty well. Now that I've got that crossed off my list, I can move on to the caramel apple pie (more advanced version of the classic), pecan pie, chocolate covered macaroons, pumpking pie, and cheesecake recipes that I've been meaning to try out. Good thing I've gotten into running...that should help to burn off all those extra calories.

4 Down, 3 To Go

I think that my addictive personality is starting to manifest itself in road races. I am in no way a disciplined runner, but for whatever reason I have been signing up for more and more races. I started the year with 4 races on the schedule, and it's turned into 4 races in the month of October alone. I've still got 3 races left this month, but last Sunday was the Army 10 Miler, which has so far been my favorite race. It's enormous (30,000 people signed up, 22,000 ran), the course is pretty easy (only gently rolling hills), and the course is scenic (goes past the DC tidal basin and major monuments). So, here's the rundown on last weekend's festivities.

Saturday was somewhat hectic with me running errands in the morning, then literally running (just a 5k to stay loose), and then more running...only this time to the DC Armory to pick up my packet. I drove to my parents house for the night since I could buy myself an extra half hour of sleep in the morning. There was also the added fact that both of my parents were going to go to the race with me. I got up the next morning at 5 and scarfed down a bowl of cereal. I woke my dad up at 5:30 by saying, "Wake up daddy. The US Army wants to make you breakfast. Don't keep them waiting." My dad was up and ready to go by 5:45. We were at the Metro station just after six, along with about a dozen other people. By the time we made it down to Metro Center to transfer over to the blue line to the Pentagon, the Metro stations were packed. We got to the Pentagon a little after 7:30, just in time to watch the parachute teams and catch the Blackhawk flyover. My mom insisted on taking random pictures of me and others warming up (my warm up consisted of a little stretching and then wrestling the d-tag onto my shoe). I attempted to escape the photo frenzy by telling her that she couldn't pass a certain barrier, but the overly-helpful soldier manning that post waved her through and insisted she could accompany me to the runners' corral. Eventually, I persuaded her to go with my dad to find some breakfast, and she rolled out.

At 8:10, the second wave started and I took off. It is quite a sight to see literally thousands of people take off running, and even though I hadn't trained properly (not even as much as last year), it was still enough to get the adrenaline going to get in a decent first 6 miles. I had bought a new watch specifically to help gauge my pace, and I was clocking in the 11-minute range, which was faster than I wanted to go, but I figured that would give me some cushion on the home stretch. The first few miles are probably the most impressive. Running over the bridge into DC, you get a great view of the Potomac, and as you progress over the next few miles, you run past the Tidal Basin and its monuments and the Kennedy Center. One of the runners had brought a small camera with him and was snapping pictures of the monuments and the general scene as he ran - great idea that I'll have to remember for next year! By mile 6, we were in the heart of DC, but the liter of water I drank that morning meant that I had to make a pit stop during the race. That was unfortunate, because it added at least 10 minutes to my time (no joke, it was a ridiculous wait for the bathroom, and while I could have put in another mile in that time, I wasn't sure where the next bathroom would be, so I waited). I eventually finished in a pretty woeful time, but I finished nonetheless and still enjoyed the experience.

Here's me with Dad, just before the start gun. Notice the backpack my Dad brought...he came prepared to raid the food and giveaway tents!














At the finishers area, I picked up the latest in my collection of shiny finishers coins, plus some food and a bottle of water. By luck, I ran into Beney, who had come to cheer me on. We stocked up on some more cookies and muffins and then headed off to find my parents. When we found them, my mom and dad had clearly gotten their money's (or at least my money's) worth of food and random giveaways. They each had 2 bags stuffed with things like hats, cookies, muffins, bananas, bottled water, chocolate milk, Power Bars, Larabars (coconut cream pie protein bars - YUM!), Army hats, Army t-shirts, half a dozen snackable-type lunch kits, and a DVD on how to become an Army officer (yeah, not exactly applicable to either of them, but hey, it was free!). I was thoroughly mortified when my mom proceeded to pull out all this loot on the lawn across from the Pentagon Metro station where we were hanging out while the crowd cleared. Mom then proceeded to show me the pictures she'd taken that day with my camera. She ran into the mayor of DC and took a picture with him, then proceeded to take pictures with the color guard, random runners with rainbow wigs, and just lots of other random people. Mom and Dad both said they're really looking forward to the Marine Corps 10K I'm running at the end of the month. I think they meant they're looking forward to all the swag!

Making Like the Jeffersons....

...and moving on up! Thursday was a big day for me professionally, as it marked my 8th year with the firm. It was also promotion day, so I am now a senior manager, which now means that I am also allowed to work in an office. Luckily, I was assigned one on the 5th floor where I usually sit and where most of my teams sit. I moved all my things out of my usual cube and into the office last night. After a client meeting this morning, I came into the office (my office!) to do some work. After 8 years of life in the cubes, it is very weird to be sitting in an enclosed area, unable to turnaround or look over and talk to people. It's almost claustrophobic. I am considering what to put in my office as decoration and so far have only come up with lucky bamboo, but one measly stalk of vegetation does not make for good decor. We'll have to see if a trip to Pier 1 or Pottery Barn can give me any other ideas in how to spruce up an otherwise spartan office. I am also going to have to remember that I do have an office and not go directly to cube 5063 as I have been for the last 4 years!

Other than the new digs, here's what else is going on with me:

• My fantasy football team is now 2-1. Thanks much to the Atlanta Falcons for putting in a pathetic performance and coming up 20 points short of the expected fantasy points. Just like the Redskins last week (see below), I lost to a team that hasn't won in quite some time.
• I am now a Ravens fan (yes, officially...I posted it on Facebook). Returning to the Redskins will require the firing of Coach Zorn and a change in ownership, as well as a sincere apology from current ownership to the fans who have suffered through a decade of greed and mismanagement. We need a Robin Hood to steal the team away from this Prince John, and sadly, that savior won't come anytime soon. In the meantime, I'm going to change my allegiance to a team that has a coach who doesn't always look completely panicked/shocked to find himself on the sideline of a football field calling plays, doesn't immediately pull out big wads of cash to plug the holes that pop up in its roster and coaching staff, has a defense led by a half-rabid/half-genius player who doesn't give a crap that people think he might be getting too old, and that is familiar with the concept of winning, especially against a team that hasn't won in 2 years. Plus, I like purple.
• I am running the Army 10 Miler this Sunday despite logging no miles since the Navy 5 Miler a couple of weeks ago. I should be ok since I ran the Frederick Half with not much training either. After this weekend, it's the Baltimore half, the Race for the Cure 5k, and Marine Corps 10K. Here's hoping that my knees and lower back won't go on strike and abandon me on the course.

FF Week 1 Stats

Fall is here, which means that the weather is cooling off, my audits are starting to scramble into high gear since busy season is right around the corner (and so my stress level is starting to rapidly increase), but most importantly…FOOTBALL IS BACK!! I am not by any means a football expert, and everyone knows I am a total klutz and would be a danger to myself and others if I were to even try and play football, but I do love watching the NFL and playing God with my fantasy football team. I actually won this week (which is more than I can say for the ‘Skins), and posted 100+ points! That is a huge improvement over last year, when I picked a kicker and defense first. Before you conclude that I am total moron or Al Davis-level insane for picking those positions first, I just didn’t fully understand how the draft worked then and assumed that the system would fill each position in order (i.e. QB, WR, RB, etc). I learned my lesson, got up to speed on how it's supposed to be done this year, even did a mock draft, and ended up picking a pretty solid team…or at least it was this week!

In honor of the start of the regular season, here are my stats from fantasy football (and other randomness) for the week (well, technically, the last 4 weeks):

• Approx. points racked up in Week 1 of FF: 113
• Cowboys on my FF team: 0 (out of principle)
• Redskins on my FF team: 0 (out of a desire to win, for a change)
• Training sessions taught during this year’s instructor rotation program: 4
• Cities visited for training: 4
• Number of times I went to Capogiro in Philly last week for gelato: 2
• Flavors of gelato sampled at Capogiro: 4 (and no, I did not get 4 cups of gelato…there were 2 flavs in each small cup…I’m not that much of a fatty!)
• Staff who attended happy hour after training in Philly last week: 30
• Regrettable incidents that occurred during and after the Philly happy hour last week involving certain staff: You’ll never know (pleading the 5th here to protect the innocent)
• Cities I visited yesterday: 3 (started in Secaucus, then flew to Miami, then flew home to Baltimore)
• Mojitos consumed at dinner last night in Miami: 2
• Miles I ran last week: 0
• Miles I have to run at this Sunday’s race: 5
• Likelihood that my time is going to suck at this Sunday’s race: 99.9%