Things have been pretty much the same here lately. I've been writing a lot of short fiction for the Maelstrom site, which takes up most of my writing time, leaving little time for blogging. Sorry about that.
I went for a run along the Brays Bayou trails this morning, and it went okay in spite of the lingering effects of some breathing trouble I had yesterday due to the high tree pollen count. It wasn't one of my better runs, but I enjoyed the route, and after how I felt yesterday, I was glad to be running at all.
A lot of people were out this morning, especially cyclists. We're having spring-like weather and everyone seems eager to enjoy it. The bayou was full of birds, gardens are full of new green leaves, and I saw my first butterfly of the season. Right now the squirrels and birds are having a go of it outside the window of my study. I have no idea what they're fighting about, but it sounds important!
I'm doing a second round of edits on the Maelstrom novel and I've designed a first-chapter chapbook that I'm going to get some pricing on. Ideally I'd like to be able to give it away for free as a promo item. In the meantime, my plan to make the first chapter available on the web is going forward and I'm looking at February 23 as the date for that. I'll have my new artwork by then, and by going with a later date than I originally planned, I won't be competing with the winner of my Win a Date with Bo Contest.
In critter news, Cadbury has made no recent escape attempts or steeplechase leaps over the barricade and Pixel is enjoying the warmer days by finding sunny spots in the window once again. It's so interesting to watch the way animals make small changes in their habits. It doesn't look like they change much, but they do! I wonder if they think the same thing about us?
Showing posts with label Cadbury; running. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cadbury; running. Show all posts
Saturday, February 07, 2009
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Med Center Run
I was a little unsure how to prepare for this morning's run. A cool front was supposed to move through mid-morning, dropping temps and possibly bringing rain. At 7:00 am, not only was the temp 71 (higher than predicted), but there was no rain on the doppler. This made me skeptical that temps would change as predicted, but I took a long-sleeved shirt with me, tied at my waist, just in case.
As it turned out, the extra shirt was a wise move. Not only did the front move through earlier than promised, but instead of dropping temps into the low sixties, it dropped into the fifties. I would've been so screwed if I had gotten caught six miles from home in just shorts and a shimmel. (Okay, I had shoes and a cap, too.) And lucky for me, it didn't even rain, although the sky gave me moments of doubt.
One of the places I checked out today on my run was this fountain plaza that I read about earlier in the week. I had seen the entry to it on previous runs but wasn't so curious I wanted to cross a busy street to check it out. I did today though, and it was...odd. Nice lines and symmetry, but it's so out of the way, its colonnade leading to nowhere, that you find yourself wondering why it's there at all. The view of the Burger King across the street doesn't help much, either. Oh, well. At least I've seen it, and it might be a nice place to stop for a rest on hot summer runs. Since it seems pretty deserted, I bet I could even cool off in the fountains without anyone noticing.
That's all the weekend excitement so far. And since I like quiet, I'm hoping it stays that way.
Cadbury, of course, is all about excitement. He says this place is too quiet and is annoyed that the party hasn't started yet!
What do you mean, no party tonight?
As it turned out, the extra shirt was a wise move. Not only did the front move through earlier than promised, but instead of dropping temps into the low sixties, it dropped into the fifties. I would've been so screwed if I had gotten caught six miles from home in just shorts and a shimmel. (Okay, I had shoes and a cap, too.) And lucky for me, it didn't even rain, although the sky gave me moments of doubt.
One of the places I checked out today on my run was this fountain plaza that I read about earlier in the week. I had seen the entry to it on previous runs but wasn't so curious I wanted to cross a busy street to check it out. I did today though, and it was...odd. Nice lines and symmetry, but it's so out of the way, its colonnade leading to nowhere, that you find yourself wondering why it's there at all. The view of the Burger King across the street doesn't help much, either. Oh, well. At least I've seen it, and it might be a nice place to stop for a rest on hot summer runs. Since it seems pretty deserted, I bet I could even cool off in the fountains without anyone noticing.
That's all the weekend excitement so far. And since I like quiet, I'm hoping it stays that way.
Cadbury, of course, is all about excitement. He says this place is too quiet and is annoyed that the party hasn't started yet!
What do you mean, no party tonight?
Saturday, December 13, 2008
Random Saturday
I went for a nice long run this morning, doing the same route as last weekend. I liked it better this time, so perhaps it was just my own mental state last week that made it seem tedious. It was warmer out than I expected it to be, so I actually had to come home after my warmup loop around campus and change into shorts.
Dan has a cold and I’m hoping he doesn’t pass it to me since I’ve got a lot of meetings this coming week as I try to wrap up some stale projects before the holiday break. Dan’s voice was hoarse last night but today he’s just drippy and is running a slight fever. I’m tagging behind him swiping things with alcohol and feeling glad that at least I don’t have a marathon coming up four weeks from now. Usually I’m paranoid about catching anything this time of year, lest it settle in my chest and turn into bronchitis. I still don’t want that of course, but I’m not out $100 or more in race fees if it happens.
My father is flying in tomorrow from New Mexico and will stay through January 4. I had hoped that now he’s retired he would stay through my birthday, but no luck. The family rumor mill has it that he’s already bored after retiring last summer and he’s going to start doing contract work for his previous employer, the New Mexico State School for the Deaf. Like me, he has to stay busy, and there aren’t a lot of things to do in rural New Mexico unless you want to raise goats and chickens and lay in a crop of beans and chiles. He grew up in the country and is very “been there, done that” on the farm thing, so I have a feeling paid employment of some kind is on the horizon, even though he doesn’t need the money.
Not much else happening around here. Last night I bought gifts for a co-worker in the Secret Santa exchange we’re doing at the office next week and I stumbled across some gluten-free chocolate-dipped cookies that I’ll give to my boss. That about wraps things up for my holiday shopping. I need to put all the gifts in one place and double-check, but I think everyone on my list who’s celebrating something in the next few weeks has been bought for, most of them months ago.
Cadbury just joined me in the computer chair. He wants to know when Santa is coming. Well, little bunny, have you been good?
Dan has a cold and I’m hoping he doesn’t pass it to me since I’ve got a lot of meetings this coming week as I try to wrap up some stale projects before the holiday break. Dan’s voice was hoarse last night but today he’s just drippy and is running a slight fever. I’m tagging behind him swiping things with alcohol and feeling glad that at least I don’t have a marathon coming up four weeks from now. Usually I’m paranoid about catching anything this time of year, lest it settle in my chest and turn into bronchitis. I still don’t want that of course, but I’m not out $100 or more in race fees if it happens.
My father is flying in tomorrow from New Mexico and will stay through January 4. I had hoped that now he’s retired he would stay through my birthday, but no luck. The family rumor mill has it that he’s already bored after retiring last summer and he’s going to start doing contract work for his previous employer, the New Mexico State School for the Deaf. Like me, he has to stay busy, and there aren’t a lot of things to do in rural New Mexico unless you want to raise goats and chickens and lay in a crop of beans and chiles. He grew up in the country and is very “been there, done that” on the farm thing, so I have a feeling paid employment of some kind is on the horizon, even though he doesn’t need the money.
Not much else happening around here. Last night I bought gifts for a co-worker in the Secret Santa exchange we’re doing at the office next week and I stumbled across some gluten-free chocolate-dipped cookies that I’ll give to my boss. That about wraps things up for my holiday shopping. I need to put all the gifts in one place and double-check, but I think everyone on my list who’s celebrating something in the next few weeks has been bought for, most of them months ago.
Cadbury just joined me in the computer chair. He wants to know when Santa is coming. Well, little bunny, have you been good?
Saturday, December 06, 2008
Saturday Check-In
I tried a new running route today, through the medical center and museum district, then a loop around Rice University before heading back home. I don't know if it was the cold weather or what, but I found the new route a bit tedious. It had no repeats, though, so I might try it again. I'm always looking for new routes that don't involve driving someplace first.
In bunny news, Cadbury has decided he is a cat. He digs in his litterboxes and flings litter everywhere. It's paper litter and easy to clean up, but it's still annoying.
I have a new recipe to try tomorrow: roasted root vegetables. Central Market's deli has a good version of this, but for a price that's comical in comparison to the price of the vegetables themselves. I'm going to add yellow potatoes and sweet potatoes to my version, so we'll see how this goes. And yes, I actually bought a rutabega. I'm a sick puppy.
I may also try to make this spiced nuts recipe before the holidays. It sounds similar to a recipe I've tasted before and I love the simplicity of using a crock pot.
I guess I better go clean up the bunny litter now. Maybe I'll get a mirror and the cat and try to explain a few things to Cadbury. He is so not a cat, even though he just jumped into my lap, expecting me to pet him.
In bunny news, Cadbury has decided he is a cat. He digs in his litterboxes and flings litter everywhere. It's paper litter and easy to clean up, but it's still annoying.
I have a new recipe to try tomorrow: roasted root vegetables. Central Market's deli has a good version of this, but for a price that's comical in comparison to the price of the vegetables themselves. I'm going to add yellow potatoes and sweet potatoes to my version, so we'll see how this goes. And yes, I actually bought a rutabega. I'm a sick puppy.
I may also try to make this spiced nuts recipe before the holidays. It sounds similar to a recipe I've tasted before and I love the simplicity of using a crock pot.
I guess I better go clean up the bunny litter now. Maybe I'll get a mirror and the cat and try to explain a few things to Cadbury. He is so not a cat, even though he just jumped into my lap, expecting me to pet him.
Saturday, November 08, 2008
Saturday Check-In
I realize I haven't been doing much with this blog lately other than posting bunny pics. Not that there's anything wrong with that, since who doesn't like bunny pics?
The truth is that things are pretty quiet around here and I'm happy for it to stay that way for awhile. Between changing jobs, losing Tid, learning the habits of a frisky new bunny, and dealing with a hurricane, I'm treasuring a bit of normalcy. I'm also working on a new novel, and my writing time is mostly diverted in that direction, rather than toward blogging.
(By the way, isn't it funny how the presidential slip-up "normalcy" has become standard English?)
I had an frustrating long run this morning. My hip didn't hurt (yay!) but my energy level was low and the early morning cold triggered some breathing difficulties. I honestly don't know how asthmatics in northern climes manage to not keel over every time they walk out the door, but I suppose that's another topic altogether. In the end, I did my nineteen miles, but wasn't feeling it. Too bad, since it's so rare for my hip not to bother me. I'm trying a new taping method, which I hope is helping. If I can get this hip issue under control, I can go back to doing triathlons, which would be nice.
Cadbury is all over this "sit in the chair" thing. Now he hops up here with me every night, which is sweet but sometimes interferes with what I'm trying to do. If I'm not quick to pet him, he'll get in my lap and put his front feet on my chest, demanding that I notice him. Right, little rabbit. Like you could ever be invisible.
I may be trying a new recipe tomorrow, so if I do, I'll be sure to post the results.
Gotta go. I have a demanding bunny in my lap.
The truth is that things are pretty quiet around here and I'm happy for it to stay that way for awhile. Between changing jobs, losing Tid, learning the habits of a frisky new bunny, and dealing with a hurricane, I'm treasuring a bit of normalcy. I'm also working on a new novel, and my writing time is mostly diverted in that direction, rather than toward blogging.
(By the way, isn't it funny how the presidential slip-up "normalcy" has become standard English?)
I had an frustrating long run this morning. My hip didn't hurt (yay!) but my energy level was low and the early morning cold triggered some breathing difficulties. I honestly don't know how asthmatics in northern climes manage to not keel over every time they walk out the door, but I suppose that's another topic altogether. In the end, I did my nineteen miles, but wasn't feeling it. Too bad, since it's so rare for my hip not to bother me. I'm trying a new taping method, which I hope is helping. If I can get this hip issue under control, I can go back to doing triathlons, which would be nice.
Cadbury is all over this "sit in the chair" thing. Now he hops up here with me every night, which is sweet but sometimes interferes with what I'm trying to do. If I'm not quick to pet him, he'll get in my lap and put his front feet on my chest, demanding that I notice him. Right, little rabbit. Like you could ever be invisible.
I may be trying a new recipe tomorrow, so if I do, I'll be sure to post the results.
Gotta go. I have a demanding bunny in my lap.
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