Read

It's December 30th. Holy Crap. It's December 30th. Where did 2010 go? Why have I not blogged since April? Was it April? I probably should have double checked that before I started typing.

Anyway, It's the end of 2010. And if I have a regret it's this... I didn't read enough. This picture:

This is the pile of books I gained this year. Some were bought, some were gifts, some were liberated from the back room early reader's copy pile from my Dad's store. My point is, I only read four of them. There is a fifth book I read this year that I can't seem to find...... (Terry Pratchett's Going Postal)... that should be in the pile, and a sixth (CD Payne's Youth in Revolt) that I borrowed from a friend and, of course, returned before moving to Iowa.

I'm embarrassed. Ashamed, even. I only read six books this year? That can't be right. Only six?! Ugh. I guess it's true. Please don't tell my bibliophile parents.

I'm not one for New Year's resolutions, but I do have one for 2011: read more! I like reading. Odds are if you're reading this, you know me well enough to know that I like reading.

So here's to next year. And reading the 14 books I'll be carrying over from last year.

run!

I went running today! I find myself a mere 20 min drive from the US National Whitewater Center. So not only does this place have awesome opportunities for rafting and kayaking, but also miles of wooded trails to explore.

Seriously. Don't tell me you wouldn't have rather spent your afternoon out here with me than in your office or wherever. Just look at that lake!

Well, anyway, today was also the first day I used my fancy new phone app "My Tracks" to see how far I went. Not only does this app measure how far, but also how fast, the elevation changes, average overall speed, average "moving speed" (you know, minus those times I stopped to take pictures) and also gives me an awesome little graph of speed overlaying elevation change.

I have to admit I'm pretty proud of myself. I went almost 5km (ok so I forgot to put in english units before starting out) in just over 45 minutes "moving time." Total elevation change over the course: 128m. Max speed: 9.18 km/hr (5.7 mph) and average speed: 6.33 km/hr (3.9 mph). Not bad considering the hills and woods and my fear of bees. ( I only had to sprint away from one bee... but it was huge!)

I won't delude myself into thinking I'm going to start running regularly like this, but it's nice to know it's an option. Maybe once a week? once every two weeks?


Anyone want to go running with me in Charlotte, NC?

Are you sure that's a no?

music music music

Yesterday was a good day. And not just because it was 75, sunny and I played my first round of golf since 2008. (oh and I bought a new putter! it's all shiny and awesome and the grip is blue and it matches my golf bag... ahem, moving on)

Yesterday three new CD's came out that I actually wanted enough to buy the whole album. This has been a rare occurrence in the last few years. I've probably purchased, maybe, 10 whole albums in the past two years. Not to say there haven't been hundreds of songs worth picking up in that time, just that I rarely feel like I need the whole album.

The first two I'd been eagerly anticipating: (Links will all open up the album in iTunes)

New Gorillaz - Plastic Beach! It's much more of the crazy out there Gorillaz, than it is the radio friendly hits Gorillaz, but I love it all the same! So far my favorite tracks are White Flag and Stylo.

New band... Broken Bells with their self-titled album. It's the non- Cee-Lo half of Gnarls Barkley and the frontman of The Shins. I've only listened to it all the way through once so far, but I can already tell it was worth the $9.99.

Unfortunately I'd been so caught up waiting to hear these two albums that I completely missed the release date of the third. I knew it was "spring 2010" but then stopped paying attention.

Frightened Rabbit - The Winter of Mixed Drinks

If I haven't shared my love of Frightened Rabbit with you before, I apologize. Their 2008 album The Midnight Organ Fight is one of those 10 albums I bought in the last few years and if anything I love it even more two years later. If you watch enough prime time TV you've probably heard at least one of the songs off their last album. It's a bit moody and depressing, but not in an emo, I hate my life kind of way... trust me, it's good moody.

Their newest album, however, is everything I loved about The Midnight Organ Fight but more upbeat.

Crap, I have to go to work, but you seriously should check out all these albums. Just do it. You know if you don't, you're probably just going to surf on over to LOLCats or something equally time wasting :D

Seriously North Carolina?

I love snow. But part of our deal was that I would put up with 3 months of humid 95+ degree days in exchange for a winter that rarely dropped below 50 degrees. What gives?

Ok, I do really love the snow :D

Also, because I just keep forgetting to post this picture....

One of the computers at work was reverse Trogdor'd.

give up

Ever just have one of those weeks?
Where nothing seems to go right...
And nothing you do seems to matter?
And every step forward feels like it's immediately followed by one giant push two steps backward?
(sigh)
I'm just having one of those weeks.

I know it will turn around.
It always does.
And of all the things that could be going wrong, my life really isn't that bad.

Some times you just want to wallow...
Keep your hood up and sunglasses on...
Listen to alternately depressing and angry music (don't worry I have playlists for these types of days)...

(sigh)

I need to move back to the midwest.
I miss you all.

Boo Apple

If you haven't yet heard...Apple held a press conference today and announced the iPad. There's been quite a bit of hype about the "new Apple tablet" and to be quite honest I'm disappointed. It's a big iPod Touch. That's it. It's an expensive toy.

I never expected to say this but... Booo Apple. iPad shmiPad.

I want an Apple tablet that could replace my laptop (or at the very least compete with the netbooks out there). I want it to run OSX. Is multitasking really too much to ask for? It's great that they've upped the memory to 64GB, but no USB port? No Flash support?

Seriously Apple.

Weak.

Shiver

Just in case you haven't heard, the South (and most of the rest of the country) has been experiencing record cold temperatures. Have no fear though, I've not become a complete cold weather sissy. We're still talking about daily highs of 35 degrees. I'm just saying that this is abnormally cold for North Carolina... and that I've been eating a lot of comfort food:

Grilled cheese and tomato soup!

Not just any grilled cheese and tomato soup, however, Grilled Havarti and Apple Smoked Garlic Cheddar on Asiago Peppercorn Sourdough. And Roasted Red Pepper Tomato soup. Mmmmmmm.

As you can see in the picture, grilled cheese and tomato soup is never complete without pickles and chocolate milk. Don't laugh until you've tried it. You've probably been missing out on a good thing.