Cooler than You: Stupid Things I Say and Do

So, among the many things I say and do making my own workout gear is now  one of them.  Posting said photos of that gear is now a given.  Read on, as I may regret this in the morning.   First up: Sewaholic's Dunbar Top .  Yea . . . let's just say I was in desperate need of running tops and pants since I painted, overhauled, and revamped my tiny city apartment this summer.  As in, 90 percent of my running gear found its way to the bin with paint marks and rips.  C'est la vie.   Anywho . . . the top. I used some left over black swimsuit lining from the suit I made last summer, left over mesh from the bra rabbit hole , and some band elastic from the previous venture.  The purple performance knit my Mom got me over the summer, I had slightly less than a yard.  I was going to make a bra, but hey . . . sports top with a built in bra is even better!  For a truly wearable muslin, this bad boy was 1.5 hours from PDF purchase, p...

Fall has long come, and with it arrays and shades of golden color the sky, trees, and ground.  This week, as the temperatures dropped--a decided crispness enveloped the air--I finally got to pull out two projects I long ago finished.  Layers, wool, spun yarn crafted into fabric of its own signal a sadness that the last short sleeved days of the year are gone, yet at the same time there is a melancholy delight writer's like myself find in the cooler months.  Words and clicking keys acts as perimeters of distance between night and day, and in someways I know when the pages turn--the faster they do--my next destination and season will arise.  Though, as much as I take rhythm with the colder seasons I will say long and brutal ones, making you forget what summer weather is, take their toll, defeat you, and crack the line between a productively cold winter and a failed start as the battery froze and engine failed to start after six long months of running.   La...

As this year has run, and as I've attested, there has been a bought of Lupus hell and body image horror.  Okay, probably more horror on my end  . . . but still.  No matter how secure a woman is, shit still creeps in.  Everyone, and I mean, everyone has had it at come point.   With that being said, last summer I bought Heather's first pattern--that Bombshell --and some inexpensive black swimsuit material to try it out.  Then I lost the will to scrutinize myself in the mirror, in a swimsuit.  I mean, come on . . . who in the hell enjoys that torture? Even at home, in decent lighting?  So, it sat.  On my shelf.  Glaring at me like a maladjusted bitch ready to pounce.   And then I found myself inventorying my patterns and fabric.  In that midst (which the patterns are nearly half cataloged and the fabric is all noted and marked), I told myself I had  to do this.  Had to do it by summe...

While sitting in the waiting room of the OBGYN's office, I sent a text to four of my girlfriends reminding them of where I was.  I updated my status on FB remarking about being in the lady parts doctor's office.  Seems my willingness to go semi-public with my lady parts visit reminded several of my friends that they needed to see their girl parts person.  Score one for the sisterhood, right? While sitting in the waiting room I ran into an old co-worker.  We chatted, not about lady parts, but it was nice to catch up.  Only I could have the run into someone you know at the lady parts.   Then, while sitting on the table, waiting for the Dr. to come in, I sent a text to four of my girl pals about the pepto pink walls, the open in the front robe, and the impending stir-ups.  I asked if they were jealous.  Seems no one was.  I made jokes about the Franks resurfacing and being allergic to functional men.  My Dr. seemed to still get my humor...

Just in case you were wondering if I really do have Lupus I have some pictorial evidence for you. If I could upload the pain, I would do it in a New York minute. And yes, this marks a new kind of day.  I'm showing people my rashes.  Ignore the flabby arms; if you saw me two months ago you know I look much better now on the size front.  As for the butterfly rash, I might show you that someday . . . though I wouldn't hold my breathe if I were you.  I should tell you that I sent the pics via picture mail to my 'rents first this time.  Eh, I figure they might like to know first . . . Want the story . . . As I schlepped through five miles Thursday, I felt my arm start to burn. Well, it had been itching for days. Seeing red blotches sporadically appear is nothing new, but to see this (on both arms) was unpleasant.  It was more painful than normal as I still slopped through my last two miles.  What?  You really didn't think I was going to sit...

Post Shamrock 8K: Virginia Beach, VA 21 March 2009 Sandra and me PRE Ukrops Monument Ave 10K: Richmond, VA 28 March 2009 If you live in these parts you know about the Richmond Monument Ave 10K every March, and if you are in running circles you certainly know about it. Almost 30,000 people is no small number. Matter of fact, it is one of the biggest races in the world. Nice huh? Even nicer that I ran it, and this year marked its ten year anniversary. Running with that many people is somethin’. Running and seeing people as far as the eye can see in the front and back of you is pretty dammed awesome. Those 6.2 miles were amusing in their own regards. The highlight/point of this run is the course up and down Monument Ave. Literally, you are running with the statues. There is something pretty amusing about that. Even more amusing . . . running past the houses with the frat boys sitting on the upper decks slamming back their beers. Nice, yet very classic indeed. Running/walking...

These days I've been thinking a lot about what has transpired in the past year. Last year this time I was fretting away the days until a defense, battling severe anemia, and then there was that pesky surgery on the horizon. Don't forget I was staring the prospect of unemployment in its ugly face. Funny how much things have changed, and it is also funny at how they haven't come that far from where they were. Last month I realized that I hadn't gone out much in almost two years. That was when things started, well I should reword that. That was when the health started to go sour. I didn't feel like explaining so I let that conversation make me sound like more of a loner and nerd than I really am. I defended just fine, had the bloody surgery four days later (yes, a bad pun I know), and things went awry. What I let people know is that there was an unplanned blood transfusion, which coincidentally gave me my bat wings. And seriously, for those of you that are ap...

Somewhere in here I might have forgotten to say that I'm running a 5K on 22 November. It's for the Arthritis Foundation, and this run is the Richmond, VA leg of the Jingle Bell Run. It's gonna be cold, I know. Probably not a keen mix for a Lupus girl, one with Raynaud's and Fibromyalgia, but it's all good. Arthritis goes with Lupus, you should be able to figure out why I know, so this one means something more than just making me get out the door everyday. I also have the obligatory obnoxious running hat and gloves. You know . . . goofy colors so that when you are chugging along the side of the roadway no one can miss you. See, here's proof I'm full force into the running train game again: https://www.kintera.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=278027&supid=238035162 I'll have my 30 minute time back by then. Trust me. Those that have experience with me and the running know. . . been doing it for years. While I'm not stealer, I am funn...