Blood Faucet

Before going over to Mama C's for dinner tonight, I decided to take a shower and since my shower looked dirty, I decided it was also time to clean it. As I was scrubbing the shower floor on all fours, I noticed the water around me turning red. It took me a second to realize I was bleeding and the red wasn't something else. Then, since I was in the shower, I tried figuring out where the hell I was bleeding from. Honestly, my first thought wasn't that I was bleeding from my nose. For some reason, I thought my eye was bleeding, so when the blood started gushing I freaked the fuck out.  I nearly had a panic attack in the shower. I closed my eyes and tried to calm down. I brought my hands to my mouth which is when I realized it wasn't my eyes, but my nose. I leaned forward to stop the bleeding - contrary to what you hear, you aren't supposed to throw your head back, if you do that, you risk the blood drying or clotting in your throat which could prevent you from breathing if you are also pinching your nose.
It stopped after a few minutes but I was pretty scared. When I was younger I used to get crazy, uncontrollable nose bleeds. I'm not talking pinch your nose and use a few tissues type of nosebleeds. I'm talking nearly an hour of bleeding and needing to use towels to sop up the blood. It was very scary for me. I eventually needed to get a blood vessel in my nose cauterized which is when a doctor inserts a silver nitrate stick up your nose (which I remember being extremely uncomfortable). I haven't had a bad nose bleed since then. That was several years ago.
Anyway. Just thought I'd share.

Vanilla Sky

Ever watched Vanilla Sky? You know that part where Tom Cruise is running down the middle of the street in Times Square, all by himself? I did that this weekend. It was so cool!

I got up early Saturday morning to make a 7:35 flight to New York City to run the half marathon on Sunday morning with my friend and old coworker, W. I have been training for awhile - not as hard as I should have, but I have. 

The course starts in Central Park. You do a full loop and a half of the park (about 8 miles) and then out into Times Square, down to the Piers on the southwest end of Manhattan and into Battery Park. It was freezing at the start line and W and I stood there for at least an hour. Once we got going we warmed up a bit, but it was still pretty cold the entire time. 

Check out where I ran!

The best part of the race was running onto 7th and into Times Square. The entire southbound lane was blocked off, so it felt like me and the city. It was awesome and really emotional. The cars to my left and the people on my right - both cheering me on. 

I will say that I ran the whole thing. I ran it very slowly, but I ran it, and I am pretty impressed with myself for it. 

W and I want to do a yearly NYC race together, maybe the half, maybe not, but it was a good experience and a great weekend!

PS. Apparently Hugh Jackman ran the race (clearly I didn't see him, I'm guessing he finished with a faster time) and I saw Lenny from the Today Show cheering people on.

Happy St. Patrick's Day

No St. Patrick's Day is complete without this gem:

parting is such sweet sorrow

so mama c has a blog and her last entry was about how her son has started to wave bye to her when she leaves for work. i think this is the sweetest thing ever. even sweeter than when he sticks his hand out to give you a high five. well yesterday he and i went for our weekly walk around the park. he loves to be outside and watch the world. such a happy little monkey. we were out for an hour and a half at least. on our way home he almost always falls asleep, but not this time. when i drop him off and go to leave i always make a point of asking him for a kiss and waving goodbye. this time he waved back! HE WAVED AT ME! i couldn't believe it. SO CUTE!
EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!

no pictures please

this weekend i ran the shamrock n' roll race. i did fine. i kinda don't want to talk about it because this sunday i get to do twice the amount i ran during the NYRR half marathon. super. why do i do these things to myself? i'm super nervous. i can physically do 13 miles, but i'm not sure i've mentally prepared myself and that's what running 13.1 miles mostly is - mental.
anyway, you know what i hate about races? the photographers and the after-race spam (actually, it's pretty bad beforehand, too). i try to hide my number from photographers when i go by them, but sometimes i forget and they take a picture of me i really don't want. then i get an email each day for the next year about how i need an 8x10 of myself looking the worst i've ever looked framed next to my bib number or some shit.
STOP IT.

Losing My Religion

I just got back from Mass. I've been going to Ash Wednesday Mass for several years now - on my own (or with a friend), unforced by my Mango. This is the second year in a row it made me uncomfortable. I consider myself a fairly open minded person so when the archbishop starts talking about "they hypocrites" and how I should never be like them and how awful they are, it makes me cringe. I work with several Jewish men I respect a great deal. I don't feel they are any of the things told to me in today's Mass.
For this reason, I've decided to look into other religions and see if there are any that better fit me and my spiritual perspective.

I am Catholic now because I grew up Catholic. I don't really have a strong tie to Catholicism. I go to Mass not because I necessarily adhere to all the Catholic principles but because the church, any church, is a house of worship and a place I can feel at peace with my thoughts and prayers. Maybe there is a religion that better suits me, maybe there isn't, but I'm going to find out.

Brasil 2014

Every year I take an international trip. Usually by myself. I haven't planned this year's trip, which usually happens in the late fall/early winter. I'm still not sure where I want to go. I thought maybe Germany and people keep asking me what happened to Greece, but I decided the year I go to Greece I am going to collect all of my vacation and go for a month. Anyway...

I decided 2014's trip will be to Brasil for the World Cup. I can't wait!

All You Can Drink Monday and Tuesday

I don't usually disclose what I am giving up for Lent, but this year, because I failed so miserably at my New Year's resolution, I decided I'd share my hope for Lent so that all my friends can keep me honest.

If you know me, you know how much I love Coke or happiness in a can as I like to call it. The fizz, the bubbles, the sweetness, it's just so GOOD. I have a problem, I know.

I am no longer affected by the caffeine. I could drink one right before bed and not lose a wink of sleep. Where I'm sure it does affect me and which I choose to ignore, is my overall health. I drink at least one Coke a day. A regular one, not one of those nasty diet ones. This can't be good as I've seen how much sugar goes in one can. I know its horrible, but I LOVE IT SO MUCH.

So now you know why I need to let it go for Lent. I'm doing it for The Lord.... but let's be honest, I'm doing it to see if I can do it and if I can, think how many pounds I might lose!
I mean... I am TOTALLY doing it for The Lord!

New Glasses

I love my new Ray-Ban eyeglasses, but I hate the adjustment. My eyes feel a little drunk.

Birthday Shout Out

He can't read, but his mom can. 

Happy Birthday Little Dude!

Bargain Shopping

I am not a bargain shopper. I hate TJ Maxx and Ross and Marshalls. Mostly because I am impatient, but also because when I have been in a TJs or a Ross in the past, all the clothes look old or used or both.
A couple of weeks ago, my friend forced me into a TJ Maxx to look at luggage (he is moving to NYC). I wandered over to their designer section not expecting to find anything, but I ended up finding two pairs of Joe's Jeans (the Provacateur style I wear) for less than a price of one pair at Saks (where I usually buy them)! UM. SCORE!
Since then, I have rethought my stance on bargain shopping. Last night I ended up at Nordstrom Rack after my run. I only ran a 5k but I still thought I deserved something. I wasn't finding anything and finally gave up and went into the shoe section to try on ridiculous shoes. Some glittery gold platforms from Steve Madden, some red patent stripper shoes by Guess. Then these caught my eye:

At first I thought, "AWFUL!" They look like a picnic in the park....but I kept going back to them and trying them on. They started looking really hot. I had to have them. They were only $20, if I don't end up wearing them, no big deal, but I think I am going to wear them for sure. I can guarantee you my mother hates them.

7 Mile Think

I've been preparing for the NYRR NYC Half-Marathon on March 20 (eeeee! 18 days), so yesterday I ran 7 miles. Shockingly, running that far gives you a lot of time to think. Here's what I thought:
1) I need a beach vacation. I think I'll go for my birthday (June 28). I'm considering Bermuda. I went last year with my mom for mother's day/her birthday. It was paradise. A really expensive paradise.
2) These long runs make me think I deserve a reward or a treat once I'm done. Yesterday, it was flowers. What will it be tonight? Hmmmm.
3) Men are mostly stupid.
4) I need new music, though I created a Jamiroquai station on Pandora which I listen to while I run. Some of it is slow, but most of it makes me want to dance. It's perfect.
5) While it's true that women are picky and if I wanted, I could find a boyfriend or someone to sleep with by the end of the week (because men AREN'T picky), I kinda like being picky. I've slept with too many losers not to be.
6) I really hate that John Galliano ended up being a anti-Semite. His designs for Dior are beyond words. How does someone who creates such beauty end up being so ugly? Paris Fashion Week is this week. I know the Dior collection is going to be amazing, it always is, but it doesn't seem right to support it.
7) I wonder how long I can go without replacing my cracked iPhone screen. (Second time, sigh)
8) I can't wait to pick out my new running outfit at lululemon. If you are active and haven't tried out lululemon activewear, go. NOW - it is the best fitting, comfiest on Earth!

I'm pretty sure these are the minimum I thought about.
If I think of any of others, I'll let you know, as I'm sure you are dying to know.