Cooler than You: Stupid Things I Say and Do

About two weeks ago, or so, I ran a half marathon. I haven’t written about it until now because I haven’t known what I should make out of it. Was it fun? Yes. Was it worth it? Yes. Did I have an epiphany? No. Hence . . . Not having a runner’s epiphany shouldn’t be a big surprise, especially on a long, public run. The half marathon started at 8:00am, in the rain, and the rain stayed for the better part of the course. I still finished in less than four hours, heard my name called, and a handful of people came in after me. I didn’t have a great finish time, but I did have a finishing time. That is all that matters in my book. I chalk this one up to good times. For the record, if you don't use gel you may or may not end up with blisters on various parts of your body. It's all good. Even with my iPod a long run can still get lonely, and you are still left to your own thoughts (even if they aren’t necessarily good ones). Like I said, nothing profound, but a few key...

Okay, so most of these...oh, hell all but one...are Amy Butler patterns and I love them all. Two I made in December, and the rest have been since February. My favs are the orange weekender, train bag, and make up bags on the right. I've used them for a weekend jaunt, and they were the bomb. Really, they will hold everything and the kitchen sink! I've got a couple of skirts and tops, but I'll post those later. The pink wallet is the same pattern as the dark purple one mentioned in another post. The light purple one is a coupon holder, and the big purple tote...that is Amy Butler's Birdie Bag. I made it before it was cool, and it was wicked easy, so worth it. It kinda got buried in the bunch here...Finally, that small bag upfront it a business card holder. How cool am I? Yea, this makes me look like a bag whore, eh?

This pattern, which I wish I could take credit for, came from the blog Confessions of a Fabricaholic. So simple, so easy. I love the zipper inside and the pocket on the back (see the money sticking out). And yes, it is well used--as you can see.

Momma fell in love with this pink fabric when I made a skirt from it a few years ago. So, when I found some more of it I made her a Bow Tucks bag for Mother's Day.

Front of Quilt Back of Quilt Sometimes I sew. Sometimes. Really, when my friends have babies I make them quilts because I know nothing about babies. Pregnant women have been known to laugh at my stupidity. Hell, an old friend's mom was buying stuff for her upcoming grandchild and she asked me to go get a breast pump for her to compare. I asked if it was a baby bong. I shit you not. So, I make baby quilts. This one I started when I took a Curve Master class at the Hampton Quilt show in February. I even bought the fabric there--it's vintage 30 themed--because the class was last minute for me. I think the odd sized circles are cute. The back, with the Jack and Jill, is too awesome for words. And, on this one I did curves for the first time and I used the double needle for the first time to quilt it. Very cool. Oh...this one is for Mellie Bellie, a college roommate. She awed so much over a Winnie the Pooh rail fence I made for Maddox I just had to make a "good" one for ba...

I'm breaking down . . . I just can't keep these inside, so here's some of the best of the Spring final crop. They are from my history survey course, which covers ALL of US History from colonial founding to the present. Whoosh, I know. I am the professor on Red Bull . . . ha ha, I know. Lotta, lotta in one semester. For the record, I do what I love, and I love what I do. I wouldn't keep up the fight otherwise. For the most part, I am told that my classroom skills are excellent . . . but there is always a bunch along the way . . . I have corrected spelling. 1. From an ID for temperance Temperance was a belief that you should not drink alcohol. It was started by farmers and grew popular for a couple of years but then died down pretty fast until prohibition. Reading about it reminded me a lot about the pioneers from Ireland. 2. In 1937 Japanese planes sunk the Great Gatsby. The Ten Percent Plan counted slaves as ten percent of the census because they weren't ...

Booger proof. GROOOOSSSS!

Just when you thought that boogie shit was over . . . I'm grading his exam and the pages are stuck together, from . . . BOOGIES! Seriously, I shouldn't have to put up with this shit.

Hey! Since I virtually embarass her on here so much... Happy 20 plus 13 Tanfer! Cha cha.

Hey, For those of you who get the emails of the blog...sorry about the blank email and the one with typos. Kept sending before I was ready. Grrr. Just read on the web page instead. The "final" post is fixed. Cheers, A.

So today I wanted to force spring-like weather and celebrate finals week. I wore my jeans and flip flops with my really cute glass cherry earrings. They were a New Year's gift from Tanfer, and I love them. They really are just too cute (see pic). Though Tanfer might not like me after reading this post. Tee hee hee. On the way home, while talking to Kim about stress and total nonsense, my right earring got caught on the collar of my sweater coat. Hey, like I said I wanted to force spring weather... Well, when I turned my head with the earring attached to the sweater nothing tore or got painful, but it did pop as it bounced on my ear. Yup, I popped my cherry today. Whatcha ya wanna bet Tanfer chuckled and shook her head at me? Ha ha!

Just done, there might be typos. Ignore those. The iPod goes in, the playlist goes on, five miles is clicked, and the affirmative female voice of Nike + iPod tells me, “your workout is now started, press the center button to pause workout.” At that I walk up Holly Ave, with a speed of increased intensity, while The Killers begin to break noise in my ears. I love the warmth of the night air, and I love the peaceful silence darkness brings to me and my run. I turn the corner from Holly to Nichols, for a minute stretch of barley visible darkness, before crossing Jarratt Ave. Over the train tracks and a hundred yards or so take me to the sidewalk. Then I start to run at around a third of a mile into the route. The green and white sign of BB&T bank casts an eerie glow onto an empty street and the parking lot is empty (as is the Post Office too). Usually by the time I near the bank I can start to smell the laundry mat. Yet, here, it does not give off the smell of freshly fluf...

Many of you remember the nose picker (see the 24 April post). Well, he's taking his final today. That is good on the fact that I am done with the land mines in class, but guess what? He just snacked while testing. Anyone up for some salty chicken with that side of boogies?