Half-marathon

Miles 1-4. Hmm. Don't know if I can do this.
Mile 5. Subconsciously speed up in anticipation of half-way point. Get light-headed. Swear.
Mile 6.5 About frigging time.
Miles 6.5-8 La la la...
Mile 8 Gu gel! Mmm, tangerine.
Miles 8-10 Sugar high.
Mile 10 Big frigging hill. The "You could just stop" demon starts whispering seductively in my ear.
Mile 11 Seriously doubt viability of marathon.
Mile 12 Hurrah! Promise myself that in just nine minutes I never have to run again.
Mile 12.8 Walk very steep, short hill. Break into run and pass those who ran up the hill. See you, suckers! Spy finish line blocks away but quell excitement in case a mirage.
Mile 13.1 Finish line! Eat that!
Mile 13.2 Difficulties fade in warm glow of success and central heating. Thoughts turn excitedly to upcoming marathon.

My capacity

NAME CHANGE
I think I should change my blog name to "My Capacity for Self-Preservation" because as much as Husband runs into trouble and mayhem, I stave off embarrassment and trouble. And then we could have his 'n' hers blogs, and how cool would that be.

GROWING OLD
I really dread the day when I will have to change my profile to say "late twenties" or god forbid, "early thirties."

ADVENTURE
At all points in time I am simultaneously working on goals in the following categories:
-Self improvement (health, mind, skills, personal growth)
-Relationships (friends, family, Husband)
-Career
-Home (improvement, decor/upkeep)

And as things happen, the goals shift in relative importance to one another.
For example: Friend EC comes to happy hour with Sex and the City-esque tales of hijinks.
Thus: Home improvement goals fall; ADVENTURE goals rise.

Grassy

Remember when my cats were destroying my plants, and I grew them grass, but they eshewed it?

Apparently, like children, they need to try it many times before discovering that they like it.

Or maybe they needed Sylvester to show them how it's done.

Cadbury eating from a Chia cat grass garden, a Christmas present from my brother.

But really, I think they started eating it because they knew how much I would enjoy adding yellow and cartoon figures to my living room decor.

Canoodling

The New York Times has an homage to the inventor of the ramen noodle, who died Friday.

The cafeteria at my university in Japan served something called "Stamina Ramen," which I thought was the ramen equivalent of the monster cookie, but apparently contains pork, garlic, and leeks.

I always wondered if it was supposed to be for test-takers or runners, but I secretly hoped it was for lovers.

Peace Rally Tuesday

There is a peace rally in my neighborhood every Tuesday. As I speed up the highway exit, there they are, handmade signs, kids, sometimes a dog, just a half dozen of them, really. They tilt their cardboard peace signs at me. There is no call to action -- just "PEACE."

And I think, every week, as I creep up to make a right turn on red, "WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO DO?"

Still, I wonder.

Every Tuesday.

PEACE.