Last night, I went out to run a bit late. I know it was stupid to go after dark, but I was wearing a neon green Casella Waste Management T-shirt. I figure if it is safe for garbage men at dawn, it's good enough for me. Anyway, I was off doing the latest bastardization of Pig Farm, when I ran into some trouble-- a Good Samaritan issue.
I was passing by the pigs on Stateline-- a bit ripe at this point in the summer-- when a little dog came running into the road, complaining about the smell or something. He was a pocket dog, a Paris Hilton slap-bracelet. But he was in the road and he was following me. I started walking, trying to get him to turn around and maybe this is where I went wrong, but when I got back up to speed, he was planted in the center of the westbound lane, seated and ready to guard. Which, of course, is when I saw the headlights turn toward us.
I don't like watching things die, especially when I'm the one who provoked them to leave home. So, this SuperDuty SuperHuge truck is barrelling toward us and I'm on the shoulder and the dog is still in the middle of the road. With a few hundred yards to spare, I do the stupid thing and jump in front of the dog and start waving my arms like a deranged cheerleader. (Really, Safety First campaign? Did my public school fail the "Crossing the Street" lessons?) The driver honks and throws on the brakes, giving me time to pick up that stupidfuckingdog and chuck it onto it's own lawn. It's shaking. I'm pissed. It's pissed itself. No one is happy.
The driver rolls down his window and with my face level with his sideboard, I manage to explain "dog," before hopping back on the shoulder and running off. Was chased by two other small/disposable dogs on the way back through College Park, but nothing dramatic.
In other animal kingdom news, I saw four deer, three turkeys, and two owls on Sunday. Feels like Thanksgiving...
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Sunday, July 20, 2008
running with plants
HOLA GUAPAS
I hope that everybody enjoyed the spike in mileage with double runs this week. I did. Today's 1:40 included a lot of dirt roads (as do all of my runs lately) and while running on a "cart trail" I spotted an Echinacea population. Being the purple-coneflower-obsessed plant biologist that I am, I stopped to count the number of flowering plants and the one that will flower later. 18. Super-excited to have discovered remnants previously unknown to the Echinacea project.
I've been taking some aerial photos standing on a 10 foot ladder with a 4m pole. With a camera on the end, its like push-ups, so I've been doing more to train for it. Hopefully this will help me not to secretly die when we do them in practice like last season.
Saludos
I hope that everybody enjoyed the spike in mileage with double runs this week. I did. Today's 1:40 included a lot of dirt roads (as do all of my runs lately) and while running on a "cart trail" I spotted an Echinacea population. Being the purple-coneflower-obsessed plant biologist that I am, I stopped to count the number of flowering plants and the one that will flower later. 18. Super-excited to have discovered remnants previously unknown to the Echinacea project.
I've been taking some aerial photos standing on a 10 foot ladder with a 4m pole. With a camera on the end, its like push-ups, so I've been doing more to train for it. Hopefully this will help me not to secretly die when we do them in practice like last season.
Saludos
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Mistrakes
Accidentally miss the "w" in our web address and you get this gem:
Just another way to feel better about yourself. Or you could go for a run. Aw, snuggle-huggies {non-sexual}.
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Back to normal
Sooo finally our dorm has hot water again - Alliant Energy has returned the steam to Cedar Rapids! Hooray for hot showers! AND the science building and the dorms have A/C - much easier to put on rubber gloves on a not-quite-as-sweaty hand.
Also apparently I'm getting a roommate. A junior in high school. Named Cimone. Yep, with a C. So we'll see how that goes.
And, just to make sure the everything was going as usual, I have once again sprained my ankle. (Playing soccer, shh don't tell Eck.) I was even wearing my brace. I do not trust that thing anymore. This one is healing pretty slowly, I think it might even be worse than the Kettle Moraine incident last fall. I can walk on it fine, but it's nowhere near 100%, still pretty swollen and with some bizarre purplish regions (?). Hopefully it'll get better in time for the BIX, which is in a week and a half... in the meantime I'm using it as my excuse not to run, and thus am doubting myself more and more for this hilly 7-mile road race that's 1.5 hrs away...
Just spent the evening with Helen at Coralville mall (or something like that) pretending that we're not broke college students and that we actually can afford that $120 dress... and going to Goodwill and actually buying things there. Such as a Hawkeye sweatshirt (I had to) and Helen's choice of a CD titled "The Thing That Floyd Ate" which ended up being a terrible pop punk mix, including Less Than Jake and Anti-Flag, which really should have warned us but no. There was even a quote on the CD from Floyd about how he loves waking up in the morning with no teeth. Oh, Floyd.
Well I'm off to take a gloriously hot shower and maybe even scald my skin a little bit...because I can.
Take care,
KB
Also apparently I'm getting a roommate. A junior in high school. Named Cimone. Yep, with a C. So we'll see how that goes.
And, just to make sure the everything was going as usual, I have once again sprained my ankle. (Playing soccer, shh don't tell Eck.) I was even wearing my brace. I do not trust that thing anymore. This one is healing pretty slowly, I think it might even be worse than the Kettle Moraine incident last fall. I can walk on it fine, but it's nowhere near 100%, still pretty swollen and with some bizarre purplish regions (?). Hopefully it'll get better in time for the BIX, which is in a week and a half... in the meantime I'm using it as my excuse not to run, and thus am doubting myself more and more for this hilly 7-mile road race that's 1.5 hrs away...
Just spent the evening with Helen at Coralville mall (or something like that) pretending that we're not broke college students and that we actually can afford that $120 dress... and going to Goodwill and actually buying things there. Such as a Hawkeye sweatshirt (I had to) and Helen's choice of a CD titled "The Thing That Floyd Ate" which ended up being a terrible pop punk mix, including Less Than Jake and Anti-Flag, which really should have warned us but no. There was even a quote on the CD from Floyd about how he loves waking up in the morning with no teeth. Oh, Floyd.
Well I'm off to take a gloriously hot shower and maybe even scald my skin a little bit...because I can.
Take care,
KB
Hey!!!
Hello Ladies! The last couple weeks have been so busy for me with work. WOW. I had no idea going into this internship how time consuming it would be but I love it. Each day is a mix of memorable and challenging moments with the children at the Boys and Girls Club in Janesville. I am still enjoying summer in the little free time I have but it is going by way too fast. I can't believe I am going to be starting student teaching on August 25th and that isn't too long from now. AH!!
A couple weeks ago I was lucky enough to visit Amanda in Madison! We watched some of the olympic trials together. It was wonderful to see her so happy and get to catch up. Also, this past weekend was RiverFest so Heney and Quade and I hit up the Beach Boys Concert! It was great to spend time with those to crazy ladies and the night was full of lots of laughs. Getting to see some of you has made this summer so great. I can't wait to see the rest of you very soon! Lots of stories and good times to catch up on. Lastly, last week I went our for dinner with Eckburg after hanging out with him at his weekly radio show for WBCR. He is running a 100 miler this week so wish him all the best. I know Marta went out to Vermount to cheer him on but I will let you all know how it goes when I hear. I ran into Karl at the library this week and he is busy studying for his teaching license. He looked good and it was nice to bump into him! I think that is all for updates... oh wait, I sent Carly flowers and we have been in close contact. She is at home recoverying and if you get a chance call her and say hi!
So life is good right now for me. Miss you all like crazy and keep the updates coming you all. I will just keep doing my thing with all these kidos! The best thing about my summer is I get to bring out the best in kids! What more could I ask for??? :) Love to you all!
~Alicia
A couple weeks ago I was lucky enough to visit Amanda in Madison! We watched some of the olympic trials together. It was wonderful to see her so happy and get to catch up. Also, this past weekend was RiverFest so Heney and Quade and I hit up the Beach Boys Concert! It was great to spend time with those to crazy ladies and the night was full of lots of laughs. Getting to see some of you has made this summer so great. I can't wait to see the rest of you very soon! Lots of stories and good times to catch up on. Lastly, last week I went our for dinner with Eckburg after hanging out with him at his weekly radio show for WBCR. He is running a 100 miler this week so wish him all the best. I know Marta went out to Vermount to cheer him on but I will let you all know how it goes when I hear. I ran into Karl at the library this week and he is busy studying for his teaching license. He looked good and it was nice to bump into him! I think that is all for updates... oh wait, I sent Carly flowers and we have been in close contact. She is at home recoverying and if you get a chance call her and say hi!
So life is good right now for me. Miss you all like crazy and keep the updates coming you all. I will just keep doing my thing with all these kidos! The best thing about my summer is I get to bring out the best in kids! What more could I ask for??? :) Love to you all!
~Alicia
Sunday, July 13, 2008
Hi Everyone!
Okay... So, this is going to be a very short post because i don't have much time. Fire season is busy here in California!!!! You all should be very proud if Emma and myself. I just got back last week from a ten day assignment on the eastern side of the sierra's.... the Clover Fire. Emma left last Wednesday to detail with the Arrowhead hotshots for a 14 day assignment... i think she went to the Big Sur Area.... i am soooooo proud of her. she is probably getting worked like an animal! poor thing....
anyways we both are making the big bucks. 16 hour days when youare on a fire.... that means base pay plus 8 hours of over time... then hazard pay.... which we deserve...!
I am about to go on another fire tomorrow... i am very tired...
i love all of you and i miss running... i really am trying best to keep up...
but i am in incredible shape muscle wise... i am all buff due to the fact that I am on a saw team this year.
anyways.... as for my personal life.... i am single.... yes, joe and i broke up... or we are going on a break. i am sad about it...but am too busy to really stomach what has happened. so... i will probably need consoling when i get back to beloit!
i'll save the details for later.... due to the fact that i have no idea who will be reading this!
i will see all of you in august.... wish me luck on this next fire assignment!
muah,
-leah
anyways we both are making the big bucks. 16 hour days when youare on a fire.... that means base pay plus 8 hours of over time... then hazard pay.... which we deserve...!
I am about to go on another fire tomorrow... i am very tired...
i love all of you and i miss running... i really am trying best to keep up...
but i am in incredible shape muscle wise... i am all buff due to the fact that I am on a saw team this year.
anyways.... as for my personal life.... i am single.... yes, joe and i broke up... or we are going on a break. i am sad about it...but am too busy to really stomach what has happened. so... i will probably need consoling when i get back to beloit!
i'll save the details for later.... due to the fact that i have no idea who will be reading this!
i will see all of you in august.... wish me luck on this next fire assignment!
muah,
-leah
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
dirty cars and stealing traffic cones
Hey sexy mamas
What a journey this weekend has been. I drove down to Cedar Rapids to visit Karebear after work, which was a bit farther than I anticipated. I had Lee, the sexy voice of my GPS, to guide me, but nonetheless I did not arrive to Karen until about 1 in the morning, having left at about 6, including a detour.
I promptly passed out on Karen's convenient extra bed, waking up for the arrival of Heney and Gager. They brought me to the realization that my car is EXTREMELY dirty due to all of the dirt roads around here. Barney was almost brown. We tried to go to 'Floodstock" (a music festival) to benefit flood victims but alas, you cannot support flood victims without being 21. That night, we watched some fireworks and then sat around for an hour waiting for the traffic to die down enough so that we didn't idle for a ridiculous amount of time. Of course, we also stole a traffic cone. Afterwards, more of our own fireworks with Karen's REU friends. We taught them how to play Asshole which was entertaining. Me: President twice WHAT!
Anyways the next day we rolled out of bed to go help out with the flood clean-up. It was awesome to see so many volunteers come together to help out their neighbors. We ran and then drove to Des Moines for 80 35 and saw the roots live. ASTOUNDING. We also stopped for Pizza at the cheesiest and most kid friendly pizza restaurante you've ever been to in your life.... or so it would seem, but the front of the take out menus encourages its customers to "munch out." Hmmm...
So thats the gist. Even though I probably spent way too much money on gas, it was totally worth it. Don't worry, Barney has since returned to purple because of a rainstorm. Who needs soap anyway?
What a journey this weekend has been. I drove down to Cedar Rapids to visit Karebear after work, which was a bit farther than I anticipated. I had Lee, the sexy voice of my GPS, to guide me, but nonetheless I did not arrive to Karen until about 1 in the morning, having left at about 6, including a detour.
I promptly passed out on Karen's convenient extra bed, waking up for the arrival of Heney and Gager. They brought me to the realization that my car is EXTREMELY dirty due to all of the dirt roads around here. Barney was almost brown. We tried to go to 'Floodstock" (a music festival) to benefit flood victims but alas, you cannot support flood victims without being 21. That night, we watched some fireworks and then sat around for an hour waiting for the traffic to die down enough so that we didn't idle for a ridiculous amount of time. Of course, we also stole a traffic cone. Afterwards, more of our own fireworks with Karen's REU friends. We taught them how to play Asshole which was entertaining. Me: President twice WHAT!
Anyways the next day we rolled out of bed to go help out with the flood clean-up. It was awesome to see so many volunteers come together to help out their neighbors. We ran and then drove to Des Moines for 80 35 and saw the roots live. ASTOUNDING. We also stopped for Pizza at the cheesiest and most kid friendly pizza restaurante you've ever been to in your life.... or so it would seem, but the front of the take out menus encourages its customers to "munch out." Hmmm...
So thats the gist. Even though I probably spent way too much money on gas, it was totally worth it. Don't worry, Barney has since returned to purple because of a rainstorm. Who needs soap anyway?
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Duck in an Oil Spill
I woke up at 7 this morning and took off out East Grand. I went over the railroad tracks and crossed onto the course. 45 minutes later, I was back at the French House trying to scrub off for work. It was then that I discovered:
1. My left leg is now tie-dyed purple. The color won't come off.
2. My right leg is graced with an anklet of tar-- still warm, looks a lot like poop.
According to the Internet, I have to wait for the tar to harden and then peel/chip it off. Freezing it is the last resort. I got the bulk of it with Dawn & a sponge (technique stolen from the environmentalist oil spill clean-up films of my youth), but there's still a nice smear that should accompany me for the next couple days.
While I remember running through the purple flowers that got the best my left side, I'm not sure where this tar is from. Not a big deal, but something to obsess over. Good thing I've got some time to spare.
1. My left leg is now tie-dyed purple. The color won't come off.
2. My right leg is graced with an anklet of tar-- still warm, looks a lot like poop.
According to the Internet, I have to wait for the tar to harden and then peel/chip it off. Freezing it is the last resort. I got the bulk of it with Dawn & a sponge (technique stolen from the environmentalist oil spill clean-up films of my youth), but there's still a nice smear that should accompany me for the next couple days.
While I remember running through the purple flowers that got the best my left side, I'm not sure where this tar is from. Not a big deal, but something to obsess over. Good thing I've got some time to spare.
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