Hello, my name is spaz!

The weekend is going well. Turkey was delicious--Jeremy's mother heard that if you roast a turkey upside down all the juices run to the breast. She was correct, my friends, and it was probably the best Thanksgiving dinner I have ever had.

The game went in our favor. The stadium is big. The beers were cold. etc, etc.

The one difference about this weekend is that I cannot shut up. I have had so much energy lately that I seriously have not stopped talking. The couple that came in town from Orlando has the gift of gab and they could not get one word in edgewise. It's pretty remarkable, but even more so that Jeremy has not killed me yet. We have been in the car for a combined 7 hours and I have kept my life thus far.

Just wish us luck tomorrow on the way home. Hopefully you will hear from me again on Monday.

This is how I (casse)roll

As you may be aware, Thursday is Thanksgiving. I have two signature dishes for the day of thanks...corn casserole and pecan pie (mine is special because it lacks corn syrup, which is terrible for one's digestive system). So this evening I baked the two while simultaneously mopping my kitchen floor.

This will be my last post for the week. I have a busy one! Tomorrow, I work at 6am (it's way past my bedtime), then I drive to San Antonio. Tomorrow night, we are having a birthday dinner for both Jeremy and his mother whose birthdays fall 4 days apart.

Thursday morning I wake up early to run the San Antonio Turkey Trot, go back to help cook lunch, eat lunch, drive back to Austin, tailgate, attend the UT football game, then go have beers with our friends in town from Orlando. I am tired just thinking of all this activity.

Then on Friday, we drive to Dallas for my step-cousin's Bat Mitzvah. There are events from dinner Friday to brunch Sunday. We then drive back to Austin because I have to work Sunday night.

I hope you and yours have a great holiday. Don't eat too much and give thanks to the wonderful things in your life.

Off Topic

As some of you may know, Jeremy and I (emphasis on the I part) agreed to start a blog that allowed us to air our pet peeves of the world. We were becoming tired of complaining to one another and wanted a new audience. Thus, Meatbert was born!

The reality of our blog is that I have taken it over with my jog blogs and goofy stories. Jeremy actually only checks it every 3 weeks. He apparently is not a big fan. Maybe he just doesn't have much to complain about lately....but let's get real.

I have noticed something that has been bugging the daylights out of me. Here is the deal--if you own a big, giant, gas guzzling car, LEARN TO DRIVE IT!

I first noticed this phenomenon last week at Target. I was walking back to my car with the cart when I encountered a brand new Lincoln Navigator that had to make a six point turn to get out of the spot. This bugged me for several reasons...1. My Target just opened in October and the parking lot was designed for all the suburbanites with larger cars that live in my neighborhood. By this I mean the spaces are roomy with large aisles for one's reversing pleasure. 2. It is my understanding that newer, bigger SUVs are designed to drive like a car, with good turning radii and brake ability. 3. I had to stop and wait several minutes for the six point turn. Really, it was amazing that the driver didn't know to turn the steering wheel when backing up. 4. The Lincoln Navigator's new ad campaign boasts spaceship like abilities. Let's get real. I could have pushed that SUV out of that spot with the emergency brake on faster than that douche bag drove out of it.

Ever since that day, I have noticed this kind of behavior all over the city. I drive a small car that I love and I refuse to be bullied by a soccer mom trying to drive her big car while simultaneously talking on her cell phone and feeding her children (who are probably spoiled brats).

So, for those of you out there who fit my description, learn to drive!

10 Milestones

This morning, I ran 10! miles. I feel pretty accomplished because a few months ago I never would have thought I could do it. I also was proud that I ran most of the mileage, only walking during the big hills on my route.

Those experienced in the running world tell you to take an ice bath after a long run. It constricts your blood vessels, preventing swelling. You are supposed to fill your bathtub 1/4 full, add 20 lbs of ice, then marinate in the chilliness like a shrimp cocktail for 10-15 minutes. My coaches personally swear by this method and tell you to take one each time you see them. This is how it goes:

Coach: How was your run today?
Runner: Great/Not so great (depending on the day)
Coach: Don't forget to take an ice bath!

The thought of cold water always makes me crazy. I don't like to swim in sub 80 degree water. But today I was feeling a little achy and I was already cold, so I decided to give it a go.

OMG!!!!! The minute I put a toe in the water, I knew how un-fun it was going to be. I put on 4 layers of shirts, topped with a sweatshirt hoodie and rocked myself back and forth. There was a point of time (about minute 4) that my legs were shaking so badly I had to hold them down. Admittedly, the 10 minutes went by faster than I imagined they would. The worst part is that I can't tell whether or not it worked. Surely it must have, but my legs are uber sore and my feet have been cold ever since.

So, next time you physically exert yourself, try it. It's at least interesting to empathize with those suffering from hypothermia.

My sister....

.....is lots of fun but sometimes sits on my couch, gorges a protein bar, and tells me to dust my lights. We are trying to garner energy to shop, so wish us luck.

Aint nothin' gonna break my stride....

.....I'm running and I can't stop now, oh no, I got to keep a movin'.

I can't remember who sings that song or any other lyrics that comprise it, but that's what I sang in my head on Saturday while running.

That's right, my friends, I'm back! My foot still aches, but no longer with crippling pain. It was nice to be back in the world of runners, especially on a brisk morning. I was a little nervous, but I did quite well. I just have to remember to take it easy, as I truly feel my injury is the result of over-training. I'll have to cut back to 3 or 4 days a week instead of the 5 I was sustaining.

Anyways, last week was jam-packed with fun. Jeremy turned 27 for the umpteenth time. Happy Birthday, Meat! We got a new refrigerator after weeks and weeks of urgent emails to our property manager. The compressor was making horrible sounds and we were sure all the groceries we got last week would spoil. They have in a way because I won't eat them--I have a food handler's certification and I cannot be certain those items were held at proper temperatures for a sustained period of time. Improper food handling is kind of my phobia. In order to get my certification, I took a course that spent 3 hours describing the diseases you can contract from food. That course caused me to have nightmares that I was eating raw ground beef for almost a year.

My room organization is going slowly but surely. I bought another dresser. Jeremy and I finally agreed on a couch to purchase, and it's lovely. The only problem is that our living room is three times longer than it is wide, so the couch is going to swallow it whole. But it's lovely.

The weather is beautiful but causing both Meat and Bert problems. Meat's of the perpetual runny nose variety and Bert's of the achy sinuses. It's nothing a little Claritin and netti-pot can't cure.

So, life is good here. I hope you are doing just as well.

I've Been Had!

So I am out shopping today for my massive room organization (oh, did I mention I am massively organizing my room?) in a shopping center with tons of stores that deserve my patronage. After stop 3 of 4, two big ladies practically accost me in the parking lot rambling on and on and on about the fact they are out of gas, no one will help them, it's about to rain, blah, blah, blah. They yelled in my ear and everything. Now, I rarely fall for this kind of transparant BS, but while accosted I was searching my purse for keys and 2 dollar bills happened to be at the top of my purse--my usual response is to fib and say that I don't have any cash. Really, who carries cash anymore? I feared an ass-kicking so those ladies got my money. Bitches!

That's not the worst part...

I feared they may ask me for a ride to the gas station (they pointed to a sad looking car across the parking lot) so I walked the 1/4 mile to the next stop, The Container Store. Usually the walk would not bother me, but my foot is still in a considerable amount of pain, and as the ladies pointed out, it was about to rain.

Long story less long, I dragged my bulky purchases back from The Container Store only to find an empty spot where the alleged sad, gasless car used to reside. It would have been impossible for those ladies to get gas in the 20 minutes it took me return to my vehicle, even if someone took them to a gas station.

My guess is they had to scarf down some Taco Cabana (which happens to be in this shopping Mecca as well). At least I didn't get rained on.

New Here!

It has come to my attention that my blog is boring. I often feel pressure to blog, even when I am uninspired. The result is a bunch of poorly written posts that go nowhere.

My solution, you ask...

Hangman! Check it out to the right. But, be careful, it is kind of hard, or at least the word I got. Cavitation. Never heard of it, so I killed the poor cartoon bastard. He's pretty cute though.

Anyways, have fun.

Ow! My foot hurts

I absolutely hate going to the doctor. You sit in a tiny room listening to nurses talk smack about patients through what should be a thicker door while you wait an extra 20-30 minutes to see the nurse and another 20 minutes to see the person with whom you actually made the appointment. Every doctor's office I have been to is the exact same, down to the fake walnut cabinets full of swabs and latex gloves. The minute I sit in an examination room (I decided to not abbreviate to appease Shelly), I can feel my blood pressure soar. I always feel better psychosomatically to give myself a rationale to escape the poking and prodding that is sure to come.

Today I visited the doctor because I am experiencing foot pain. I have had problems walking for a couple of days now. It is more than likely tendonitis, but could be due to the fact that they found an extra bone in my foot. Who knows? The good news is that it is unlikely a stress fracture which would have prevented me from running my race in January. Nevertheless, my feet are still cold from my visit and my blood pressure is still not back to normal. I got prescriptions for pills and creams and have to ice my foot 3 times a day. Hopefully that will help.

A little TLC is in order, so Jeremy and I are going on a voting date. I figure I will still be on edge until they announce the new president. Go America!