Catch Up

A lot has happened since I last wrote, so I'll try to cover at least some of it...

I moved from Elkridge into Baltimore City. Had a little trouble sleeping at first with the new noise (though it's not really too bad), but I'm more used to it now. E-Z Pass makes me feel important.

Softball playoffs are currently under way. We didn't win this week, but it's best of five, so we get to play at least one next week. I've been playing a little better after a mid-season hitting funk.

Indoor volleyball is going well and I'm starting to get much more comfortable and hit the ball better.

I'm back into running, training for the Harrisburg Half (9/13), Baltimore Marathon (10/10), and ultimately Las Vegas Rock n' Roll marathon (12/7).

Wal-Mart printed my receipt double-sided. Never seen that before.

Even back in the 1920s when Cyclone opened at Coney Island, people waited 3-5 hours!

There's been something almost every day I feel like writing about but with all the craziness of moving it has been tough to get myself to do it. Now that I'm settled in a little, I'll check in more.

The last week and a half of work has been crazy.

Family reunion this weekend in Youngstown! I'm so ready to see everyone and have a great time :)

Out!

One More Night

Well, after tonight I have just one more night in Elkridge. A little bittersweet, actually. Let's see what city life brings. Makin' the move tomorrow and Saturday (wish me luck!)

Learning v. 24

I usually list some things I've learned (and sometimes firsts) over the past year around my birthday, so here we go...

- Actors used to only work for one studio, which is why you'll see people in a lot of movies together, such as Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers
- Colin Hay was part of Men At Work
- Actress Colleen Haskell (The Animal) was on the first season of Survivor
- Toilets flush in the key of E-flat
- 40,000 Americans are injured by toilets each year??
- What babaghanoush is (an eggplant dish) - I think that's how you spell it...
- The movie "Rollercoaster" took place at Six Flags in CA
- What notarized means
- Arby's isn't very good leftovers
- How to actually play tennis
- Louisville is the 16th largest city in the U.S. (according to their airport...)
- How to bet on horse races
- Windows + E = opens "my computer"
- Windows + L = locks computer
- Ctrl + H = find and replace
- 60,000 prisoners transfer themselves via Greyhound/public transportation each year (minimum security or halfway house people)
- 4'3" is a song by John Cage...4 minutes and 3 seconds of silence
- I've re-learned how confusing girls are
- Colon, MI is home to the world's largest magic supply manufacturer
- The University of Michigan was founded by priests, orginally named Cathelepistemian, and was originally located in Detroit
- Novi, MI was named for its stagecoach stop number 6 (No. VI)
- Michigan is the only place in the world with a floating post office
- Michigan has the largest freshwater shoreline in the world
- Don't try to drink something in the middle of a yawn...
- Baboons can be used to scare away tigers/lions/etc. in Africa
- Kimchi (Korean health food) is quite spicy
- I've re-learned the difference between Miss and Ms.
- I don't need friends around 24/7 like in college (though it would be nice)
- I've resorted to the fact, as a long distance runner, a lot of my time is spent training
- Positional play in indoor volleyball
- It is very humid in Maryland
- I still haven't adjusted from the college schedule
- The Office is an awesome show
- MLB pitcher Antonio Alfonseca and blues guitarist Hound Dog Taylor had polydactyly
- Bucknell won the first Orange Bowl!

What will the quarter-century mark (=/) bring?

Finally

Okay, so I'm finally updating. Let's see...

Business trip was sort of interesting, though I only stayed for about 24 hours. Flew from there to Minnesota for Grandma's Marathon (in Duluth). The race was hot and had very little shade, so it was pretty tough. I felt good for the first 8 miles, and then I tired quickly. Halfway I decided it wasn't worth it and held back a little. Nonetheless, I walked a lot in the second half of the race - the most I've ever walked in any marathon. Ended up finishing in 3:45:49 - so I'll be running Las Vegas again this year to try and BQ. I saw the black flag along the way and my dad saw 92 degrees on the bank sign...they were darn close to canceling the thing.

Sunday we skipped our typical stairs/waterfalls/hiking trip and caught most of a Twins/Astros game in Minneapolis for Father's Day (I had to catch a flight).

I took about a week off of running (well, with an easy 4-miler that Tuesday) and started back up this week. I had a real bad calf cramp Wednesday morning getting out of bed, so I had to kind of slow my start up for the training. I went 8 today for the first long run of Baltimore/LVM training. My next race will probably be the Harrisburg 1/2 Marathon in September. Depends on if I find a 5k or 10k along the way...

I decided on a place to move to in Baltimore. Finally. Looking at places and deciding took a lot of time and I kinda got tired of it. I move in next weekend, so I'm starting to pack up (forgoing the holiday stuff). That being said, my room's a big mess...haha. We're still trying to find someone to take my spot here since the guy that was going to bailed on us last minute. Trying out the city life...

I turned 24 last Friday (not yesterday). Saw Transformers, which wasn't all that great, but entertaining enough. Then Saturday I went up to PA for some fun games and to see people. It was a good weekend :)

I started watching The Office from the beginning and finished Season 5 last night, so I'm all caught up. A good cliffhanger, but it seems pretty obvious... I guess the next season starts in September. It's a hilarious show and I greatly enjoy it. I'm definitely a Jim.

I started playing indoor volleyball last week, so I've learned quite a bit about the positions and everything. It's fun and I'm getting more comfortable out there (or in there?)... I've meanwhile been sucking at the plate in softball, but at least my defense is okay-ish. I'm such a rookie =P

Okay, back to making a mess of my room. I mean...packing.

Back...

Ok, so I'll update tonight after about 2 weeks off. I've just been busy with work, running and finding a new place to live!

To Grandma's!

I'm actually in Utah right now for work. Flying out tomorrow evening to Minneapolis for the marathon Saturday in Duluth. I'm ready! Here we go!

New Favorite Site

Found a new favorite website to putz around on. It's got a lot of weird, funny and amazing things.

It's called Oddee.com

Enjoy!

Centennial Light Bulb

So apparently there's this light bulb that's been burning continuously for 108 years. Why didn't we build more on that technology so that we have light bulbs that never burn out?? Judging by the picture, I'm sure it's not drawing a lot of juice, but still...108 years!?

Centennial Bulb

DET vs. PIT

Tonight's a big night for the DET/PIT sports match-ups. Well, the Tigers/Pirates game isn't that big, but since Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals are tonight and Detroit is playing Pittsburgh there too, it adds a little to the match-up. I am actually going to the Orioles/Braves game tonight at Camden Yards, so I need to leave early to catch the second half of the hockey game. That is, of course, if the thunderstorms tonight don't postpone the baseball game. I wouldn't be too upset about that, to be honest :)

GO WINGS!!!

Also, I think I hurt my left wrist at softball last night. It was wet, and I slipped on the grass. It's probably never going to be 100% after fracturing it in college.

I need to workout.

Did I say this yet? GO WINGS!!!

Lightning Run

It was 83, sunny and humid when I started my run after work today. 3 miles in it was pouring rain and I had to take a 30-minute break because of a severe thunderstorm. Let me tell you...running in a severe thunderstorm is rather scary, and something I'd like to avoid doing in the future. It sure made me run a lot faster...Here's the crazy weather (started just before 5pm, did 3 miles in 20+ minutes, waited 30 min, ran a 6:21 mile back to my car):

It's pretty ridiculous that it dropped 17 degrees in 20 minutes!