(no subject)
Apparently I feel that now the appropriate thing to stock up on in case of apocalypse is no longer frozen pizza, but yogurt. Not that I still don't have many frozen pizzas, but lately I've purchased five quarts of vanilla yogurt, one quart of kefir, and twenty 6 oz. cups of Rachel's yogurt in assorted exotic flavors. At least it's supposedly good for digestion, so as snack/meal foods go I can gleefully slurp my way through all of that with a minimum of guilt. But before that happens, I'll probably stock up even more -- I think there's a cubic decimeter of space left somewhere in my fridge...
Running went quite well on Sunday -- I finished in 1:30:39. OK, so I was hoping to be under 1:30, but considering it's a personal record and over twenty minutes faster than the last time I ran the same race, I can't complain too much. It's also kind of amusing/pleasing to find that when I check the race results, I show up on the first page -- 19th out of 1200 runners. And other than some minor post race knee pain and some tired moments going up hills, the whole thing felt good too. And I get to relax now, running-wise -- no more races planned until next May.
I've also taken about half a step towards learning Japanese -- the first program/audio book thingy I borrowed from the library seems doomed to be unimpressive for general learning, but I'll try to pick up what I can. I need something that's less "I'm a tourist visiting for a few days" and more "I wish to achieve a comprehensive understanding of a new language." I'll make another stab at requesting something from the library that's more suitable within a few days. Meanwhile, I wish the word "okonomiyaki" would stop repeating itself over and over in my brain.
I think I should also make a conscious effort to increase my music library a bit. You know, just because. And I really need to get my ebay habit in check again, because it's incompatible with my lukewarm desire to save some money to put into the stock market while it's down. Not that I don't think I still have a fair amount of time to do that in, but my money tree doesn't exactly put forth fruit that often. Which for some reason makes me think of cross-breeding the apricot tree that popcorn was popping on with the money tree and seeing if that resulted in explosions propelling dimes and dollars at high velocity in all directions. But, oh yeah, reality.
Some people might want to know stuff to get me for my birthday in a month. All my worldly desires (uh, well, most of the ones I can think of) can be found
In order of usefulness/covetousness (mostly) and updated as of 2/24/2009:
1. I haven't found any proof that such a thing exists, but thanks to Rosetta Stone, I'd really like a magnetic poetry type thing of Japanese kanji and kana characters.
2. Wooden Spoons. For stirring... uh... hot stuff. Or stuff in hot pans. Basically this comes from noticing tiny bits of melted and rehardened plastic in my hash browns one morning.
3. Poetry or fiction books written in Japanese. I was a little heartbroken when the one I had my eye on at the Thrift Store was sold before I got around to purchasing it. Sure, it would have taken me years before I was able to read even a tiny fraction of it, but...
4. Due to near obsessive/compulsive listening to the soundtrack, I wouldn't mind owning any of Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle on DVD, Except the double feature movie Princess in the Birdcage Kingdom. But I'm picky about pricing and patient when it comes to DVDs, so no rush.
5. Maison Ikkoku box set DVDs, volumes 1,4,5,6, and 7. Not sure how I feel about bootlegs (all-region DVDs), so for now I'm avoiding them. Good sources for these are ebay or this web site (for some of the ones I'm missing): www.mjentertainment.net
6. T-mobile phone minute cards ($100 increments are the most economical, but whatever is good... although I should probably be considering switching to a contract.
7. A small houseplant, to replace the one I killed. The empty pot I now have is roughly 4 inches in both diameter and height. I enjoy having plants in the house, but I'm terrible at remembering to water, so something that's at least somewhat drought resistant would be good.
8. I could use more technical/running socks. I tend to wear slightly thicker technical socks when I run, so proper running socks (which I think tend to be thin) may or may not be quite what I want, but I'll be happy with anything that helps keep me from having (more) blisters.
Frog Knows. I enjoy getting homemade stuff, random music CDs, recipes (preferably vegetarian), activity vouchers, or other creative ventures. Don't blow a wad of cash on me if you've already got a great idea for something cool.
9. A new CD burner for my computer. Sadly, the ones from my old computer don't fit in the case I have. Things this far down the list are pretty low priority. I don't need anything fancy and used is fine... you should be able to find one for around $20. It does have to have a normal, flat front, or I'll just have the same problem again. Obviously an external drive would be fine too.
10. Traders & Barbarians -- the expansion for Settlers of Catan. I don't have anybody to play it with right now, but I have a minor impulse to complete the set.
11. Chandrika soap. I don't know why I can't just buy this for myself, but it feels like a luxury item I don't quite need.
12. A backscratcher. A moment of whimsy says I need one of these. I remember you used to be able to get them practically free at party shops or win them at fairs...
13. One largish pillow, or possibly just a new pillow case. Not for sleeping, for keeping me from hurting my neck/back while doing crunches. Definitely a thrift store/DI item if you feel compelled to get this for me.
14. I'll never say no to more Rachel's yogurt. Really. :) Well, as long as I have fridge space. I'm sadly empty at the moment.
15. Running shoes/gift cards/gift certificates usable for running shoes. The best deals I've found online at ebay and holabirdsports, but any running store will also do. Currently I run in New Balance 857/858s and maybe 859s (I haven't tried them on yet, but they'll probably work) or Mizuno Wave Inspire 3 or 4 -- size 11.5 normal width for all. But I have several backups at the moment, so not a priority.
That's about it -- today I'll be walking and running and maybe trying the new health food drive-thru (it sounds contradictory to me, but I'm willing to check it out) and doing minor shopping and just maybe folding my laundry. I'm feeling quite cheerful today -- I wonder why?
Running went quite well on Sunday -- I finished in 1:30:39. OK, so I was hoping to be under 1:30, but considering it's a personal record and over twenty minutes faster than the last time I ran the same race, I can't complain too much. It's also kind of amusing/pleasing to find that when I check the race results, I show up on the first page -- 19th out of 1200 runners. And other than some minor post race knee pain and some tired moments going up hills, the whole thing felt good too. And I get to relax now, running-wise -- no more races planned until next May.
I've also taken about half a step towards learning Japanese -- the first program/audio book thingy I borrowed from the library seems doomed to be unimpressive for general learning, but I'll try to pick up what I can. I need something that's less "I'm a tourist visiting for a few days" and more "I wish to achieve a comprehensive understanding of a new language." I'll make another stab at requesting something from the library that's more suitable within a few days. Meanwhile, I wish the word "okonomiyaki" would stop repeating itself over and over in my brain.
I think I should also make a conscious effort to increase my music library a bit. You know, just because. And I really need to get my ebay habit in check again, because it's incompatible with my lukewarm desire to save some money to put into the stock market while it's down. Not that I don't think I still have a fair amount of time to do that in, but my money tree doesn't exactly put forth fruit that often. Which for some reason makes me think of cross-breeding the apricot tree that popcorn was popping on with the money tree and seeing if that resulted in explosions propelling dimes and dollars at high velocity in all directions. But, oh yeah, reality.
Some people might want to know stuff to get me for my birthday in a month. All my worldly desires (uh, well, most of the ones I can think of) can be found
In order of usefulness/covetousness (mostly) and updated as of 2/24/2009:
1. I haven't found any proof that such a thing exists, but thanks to Rosetta Stone, I'd really like a magnetic poetry type thing of Japanese kanji and kana characters.
2. Wooden Spoons. For stirring... uh... hot stuff. Or stuff in hot pans. Basically this comes from noticing tiny bits of melted and rehardened plastic in my hash browns one morning.
3. Poetry or fiction books written in Japanese. I was a little heartbroken when the one I had my eye on at the Thrift Store was sold before I got around to purchasing it. Sure, it would have taken me years before I was able to read even a tiny fraction of it, but...
4. Due to near obsessive/compulsive listening to the soundtrack, I wouldn't mind owning any of Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle on DVD, Except the double feature movie Princess in the Birdcage Kingdom. But I'm picky about pricing and patient when it comes to DVDs, so no rush.
5. Maison Ikkoku box set DVDs, volumes 1,4,5,6, and 7. Not sure how I feel about bootlegs (all-region DVDs), so for now I'm avoiding them. Good sources for these are ebay or this web site (for some of the ones I'm missing): www.mjentertainment.net
6. T-mobile phone minute cards ($100 increments are the most economical, but whatever is good... although I should probably be considering switching to a contract.
7. A small houseplant, to replace the one I killed. The empty pot I now have is roughly 4 inches in both diameter and height. I enjoy having plants in the house, but I'm terrible at remembering to water, so something that's at least somewhat drought resistant would be good.
8. I could use more technical/running socks. I tend to wear slightly thicker technical socks when I run, so proper running socks (which I think tend to be thin) may or may not be quite what I want, but I'll be happy with anything that helps keep me from having (more) blisters.
Frog Knows. I enjoy getting homemade stuff, random music CDs, recipes (preferably vegetarian), activity vouchers, or other creative ventures. Don't blow a wad of cash on me if you've already got a great idea for something cool.
9. A new CD burner for my computer. Sadly, the ones from my old computer don't fit in the case I have. Things this far down the list are pretty low priority. I don't need anything fancy and used is fine... you should be able to find one for around $20. It does have to have a normal, flat front, or I'll just have the same problem again. Obviously an external drive would be fine too.
10. Traders & Barbarians -- the expansion for Settlers of Catan. I don't have anybody to play it with right now, but I have a minor impulse to complete the set.
11. Chandrika soap. I don't know why I can't just buy this for myself, but it feels like a luxury item I don't quite need.
12. A backscratcher. A moment of whimsy says I need one of these. I remember you used to be able to get them practically free at party shops or win them at fairs...
13. One largish pillow, or possibly just a new pillow case. Not for sleeping, for keeping me from hurting my neck/back while doing crunches. Definitely a thrift store/DI item if you feel compelled to get this for me.
14. I'll never say no to more Rachel's yogurt. Really. :) Well, as long as I have fridge space. I'm sadly empty at the moment.
15. Running shoes/gift cards/gift certificates usable for running shoes. The best deals I've found online at ebay and holabirdsports, but any running store will also do. Currently I run in New Balance 857/858s and maybe 859s (I haven't tried them on yet, but they'll probably work) or Mizuno Wave Inspire 3 or 4 -- size 11.5 normal width for all. But I have several backups at the moment, so not a priority.
That's about it -- today I'll be walking and running and maybe trying the new health food drive-thru (it sounds contradictory to me, but I'm willing to check it out) and doing minor shopping and just maybe folding my laundry. I'm feeling quite cheerful today -- I wonder why?