In My Dreams....

I had a dream early this morning that I was running in a 5K race and nearing a PR (personal record) when I came across a building along the course with a restroom in it, so I popped in. While I was in there, someone pointed out where the race expo was, but I didn't stay and look because I wanted to get back out and finish the race. When I got back outside I didn't see any runners, so I ran ahead and discovered I'd taken a wrong turn! I followed the other runners down the right trail, worried that I'd really fallen behind! My alarm went off before I finished the dream, so I don't know how the race turned out.

I listened to a running podcast yesterday that talked about weather. In one instance, it started snowing before a winter-time race, but after they'd marked directional arrows on the road. The first-place runner took a wrong turn, but corrected himself in time to win the race anyway! That wasn't happening to me in this particular race. :)

In My Purse....

Okay, this is the mobile version of "By My Bed....," as I've found I like to have a book in my purse. It's handy for reading over lunch at work (after I've finished reading "The Chronicle"), or when I have a long wait somewhere. Anyway, the paperback currently in my purse is Dan Brown's Angels and Demons. I've read The DaVinci Code and enjoyed it. So far, Angels and Demons is off to a good start!

Some Days Are Like This....

I wonder if today will be one of those days! I felt a little out of sorts when I woke up this morning, and I haven't sorted back out yet.

In My Dreams....

When the alarm clock went off this morning, I instantly remembered I'd been dreaming. I dreamed that George and I were participating in a version of the TV show "The Amazing Race," held mostly in the North Carolina mountains, but at one point I had to check in on the Duke campus for some clues to continue. I knew George was part of this grand scavenger hunt, but we weren't working together in my dream, so I asked a person or two if they'd seen him and knew of his progress. I was both curious and a little competitive! ;-) I don't remember if we were on the same team but in a "divide and conquer" mode, or if we were competing against each other.

I've enjoyed watching "The Amazing Race" in seasons past, but haven't watched it at all this fall. Time in front of the television has been limited the past few months. I think this is a great trend, overall!

New Size!

This afternoon I met Mom for some shopping at Talbot's at the mall. It was fun to try on clothes and discover that I'm down to a size 14 on the women's (plus) side of the store! This gives me hope that I'll be on the regular side of the store in the months ahead! One of the things I've missed is shopping in "normal" clothing stores.

Snuggle Socks

Last night I made my way to a couple of stores, Dick's Sporting Goods and Barnes and Noble. At Dick's I was looking for some leggings for cold weather running, and a long sleeve t-shirt or two. I was reminded that they're a little on the expensive side, so I stuck with the leggings, which, at $50 (wow!), and a pair of snuggle socks! I found the snuggle socks in the Life is Good section, where I drooled over the long and short sleeve t-shirts. I was delighted to find that the XL fit me with room to spare, then I remembered that Mom told me they run a little big. Now I wish I'd tried on the short sleeve Life is Good tee that had "Gotta Run" and a pair of worn sneakers on the front, plus the Life is Good Face on the back. The Life is Good t-shirts are all $25 a piece there.

I wore the snuggle socks last night, and they kept my feet very warm, so life is good, indeed.

By My Bed....

Right now I'm reading the book The Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals, by Michael Pollan. I'm only about 100 pages into it, but I'm fascinated so far by the economics of corn and agribusiness. (Strange but true!) So far, I'd recommend it. I have to finish it soon, as someone has a hold on it after me, so my lending period is only two weeks!

Inspiration

George and I joined his family for Thanksgiving dinner at the Washington Duke Inn last evening, and it was wonderful! I was able to eat well without overdoing it, between the salad bar (including yummy salads and fresh fruit), some green beans and mahi mahi, and some more fruit for dessert. The layout of the dining room was well thought out, with salad bars on each side, and the hot food bar down the middle of the room, with the carving area (turkey, roast beef, etc.) in the back of the room (or the front of the room, depending on your perspective, I guess!). The desserts were in a totally different area, which, personally, I REALLY appreciated! :)

Best of all, though, I enjoyed the company last evening. It was so nice to catch up with George's family last night. Icing on the cake: I sat next to a family friend, Mrs. W., who's actually a retired pediatrician, in her 90s. She is still so incredibly sharp, and I love, love, love talking with her! We talked politics, the environment, family, my diet, all kinds of things. She's such an inspiration to me, and I'm always glad to see her at family affairs!

Beautiful Libraries

A co-worker sent us this link to pictures of beautiful libraries, and it's definitely worth a look-see! What a feast for the eyes! Check it out:

http://curiousexpeditions.org/2007/09/a_librophiliacs_love_letter_1.html

Thanksgiving 2007

Again, this will be a slightly different Thanksgiving for me. I'll be having lunch at the Rice House, staying on the Rice Diet. For dinner, George and I are joining his family at a local hotel restaurant, which is very nice. The plan is to eat my Rice Diet supper ahead of time, and once at the hotel, look for what I may be able to eat, like salad, fresh vegetables, or raw or steamed veggies.

Apex Turkey Trot Race Report

I ran another 5K this morning, the Apex Turkey Trot, and set a new PR! Click here to check out my race report.

Duke Football

I know, I know, the words Duke and football have a much different meaning to most folks than, say, Duke and basketball. Still, I enjoy rooting for the football team as well. I've been a lifelong Duke football fan, in fact. Even before I became a Duke basketball fan, I was pulling for the football team. What's even more surprising is that I grew up in Alabama--SEC Country, close to both Auburn and the University of Alabama! The reason for this craziness is that my dad played football for Duke, so I grew up hearing football stories, and even going to some games, as my sister came to Duke, and I followed a few years later. I continue to follow the team, and usually attend at least one game a year. Part of it is that I love fall weather and an excuse to be outside, doing something social. I'm also an eternal optimist--yes, my glass is usually half full! I keep hoping things will turn around for the Duke football team, which has just one win (out of 10 games) so far this year.

Well, I was just checking this week's football rankings. Duke is #86, and this week's worthy opponent, Notre Dame (also 1-9 for the season), happens to be ranked #88! On paper, it should be a close game! Wish the game were going to be in Durham, but it'll be in South Bend. I'll be crossing my fingers!

Extreme Makeover-Cubicle Edition

I've decided to start working on my cubicle space at work, to make it more organized and pleasant! Of course, my department is moving to a new building next summer. On one hand, why get all gussied up if I'm moving? Well, that's actually a good reason! A big part of what I need to do is DEAL with all the books and things that have landed on my desk and shelves. Some of the things are gathering dust, I noticed on Friday. Ick! The less I have to move into the new space, the better.

I also want to have a space that's pleasant to work in on a daily basis, and where others feel "relaxed" when they stop by. When people stop or walk by now, what do they think? She has lots to do? She's unorganized? Whatever the thoughts, I'd like to clear the clutter, spruce up the plants, and make it a more pleasing work environment. Now that I've blogged about it, I've got to do it, right?!

I took a couple of pictures of my work area on my camera phone last Thursday, which I've added above. I didn't notice until just now that I pretty much missed my desk area! Ooops! I need to work on it as well, though I made some good headway on Friday afternoon. Meanwhile, if you have any suggestions, please let me know!

Lost & Found

Yesterday morning I realized that I was missing my gold chain necklace, which I wear nearly every day. I couldn't imagine it falling off, and I couldn't imagine WHERE I'd left it. When I got home last night, I started retracing my steps, even clearing away some clutter (yay!), but to no avail. This morning I kept my eyes peeled as I went through my morning routine, looking in odd as well as obvious places. I shouted out in delight when I finally found it--in my UNDERWEAR drawer, of all places! I have no clue how it got THERE! But I'm happy I found it. :-)

Where's the strangest place you've found a missing item?

Latest Progress Pictures from the Rice Diet

Back in September, they took another "progress picture" of me at the Rice Diet Program. It's encouraging to see the progress, really, as I don't really see it in the mirror on a daily basis.

August 2006

February 2007

September 2007

Free to Breathe 5K Completed!

I ran in the Free to Breathe 5K in Raleigh this morning, and ran a personal best! My race report is on one of my other blogs. Read about it here!

Happy Halloween (a day late)!

Even with work and a busy evening, I had a nice Halloween! This is my second Halloween on the Rice Diet, so sweets are off limits, of course. I decided to pass on yesterday's annual library-wide Halloween lunch, which included pizza and homemade desserts this year. It sounded wonderful, but I decided to forego the temptations! Last night, though, I went to the library on East Campus to hear Reynolds Price tell his Halloween tales, and it was charming, as always! He has such a wonderful, melodious voice, and a good sense of humor, to boot.

Afterward, I stopped by to see one of my nieces, LLJ, who's a freshman at Duke, and lives near library I visited last night. We had a good visit before her night out on the town in Chapel Hill, which has a big bash on Franklin St. every Halloween. She shared a cute story from earlier yesterday! She and a friend decided to dress up as ghosts for their big Econ. lecture yesterday. They went to class early and put their bookbags in seats in the middle of the lecture hall, then slipped out to don their sheets, which they cut holes in for their eyes and mouth. Only catch was, they accidentally bought bottom sheets, so the bottoms of their sheets were curling under and poofy! They glided back into the lecture hall just as the class was about to start, now with a full room of people! Now, with their sheets on, no one knew who they were, but with the sheet bottoms acting as they do sometimes, elastic and all, they kept getting hung up on chairs and knees and stuff as they made their way to their seats. Afterward, LLJ says, other friends from the class were saying, "Who were those two people dressed up as ghosts?" LLJ and her friend shrugged their shoulders, "I don't know!" Cute!

I didn't get home until after 8:00, and we didn't have any trick-or-treaters, but I didn't expect any, really. I didn't even buy any candy.

How did YOU celebrate Halloween?!