(This is yesterday's pic)

I'm pretending these are for the beach and not the gym shower

John Adams statue in Quincy Center

(Today i give you 3 pics to make up for missing yesterday)

Today at borders i wondered when they'd branched out into set care

Most of the time I'm okay with my diabetes. I don't remember life before it. Even remembering times from when I was 8 or 9, pre-diagnosis, my mind has rewritten the memories to include injections and testing kits, things that were far from my mind in those days. It's shown me how strong I can be. It's given me experiences that few others in my life have had. It's brought me interesting people to meet, our busted pancreases giving us a common ground to start on to discover other things we might have in common. It's made me part of something larger, yet so small and close. It's given me new ways to look at and appreciate life. It's given me a career goal to struggle toward that I might never have considered if not for this disease.

These are the things I try to remember on days like today. Day 2 of a new workout leading to a new me and I had to throw in the towel halfway through, then undo any good I had done in that half workout by eating 4x what I had burned in cookies and candy, desperate to not pass out in my underwear in the locker room.

Days like today, it's hard to muster up a positive aspect of diabetes.

Labels: diabetes, gym, health, nursing school, thinking

Thanks to my busted pancreas, i was only able to do half my workout tonight

But it does make the morning more civilized

I've started a new fitness program called Couch-2-5k which, essentially, gets my butt from sitting on the couch to running a 5k in just over 2 months. I did day 1 yesterday and I didn't die! Today I started my strength training routine with BSC's Xpress Line. Mostly I got my settings on the machines adjusted and went through one rep on each.

So hey, yeah, who would have expected me to be actively working toward running? For fun? No one that knew me in middle school or high school, that's for sure.

I'm so tired. So, so tired. But it's a good tired. Unfortunately, it's also a tired that removes all ability to form sentences.

Too bad I have to study for a microbiology test for Saturday. That's gonna be fun.

Labels: couch-2-5k, gym, nursing school

Forgive my awkward pose, it was the only way to get both pieces in the shot

This weekend we did much the same thing we did last Valentines Day Weekend-ish: We saw a friend play the character of Melissa Gardner in "Love Letters." Last year we saw Amanda and Alan. This year was Carolyn and some guy who looked like Alec Baldwin playing a politician. I thought about turning it into a tradition but quickly squashed that idea because I don't think I could handle seeing it again and again and again. It's a very powerful, moving play but damn is it depressing.

Both were quite convincing in their respective roles even though I seriously cannot handle that play.

Before going to the play we spent the day being Bostonites. That is to say we took the subway to two different malls to hit bookstores, Gap, and Banana Republic. I loved every minute of it. We hit Copley/The Pru first for B&N, Gap, and BR. We decided against B&N because the book I needed for bookclub is only in hardcover and we don't have a B&N rewards card. We hit the Galleria next and each got a book at Borders. Then it was off to Harvard Square where we decided to eat at Bartley's. I got the Dick Cheney while Nate got ... what he always gets, which is a burger with cheddar and tomato.

Today was much less exciting as I just spent it in my pajamas. I have no idea what I'll even do for the daily photo unless it's just my butt sitting in my chair.

Tomorrow: a day off! Hooray! This has been the best weekend between waking up Saturday thinking it was Friday and then realizing I in fact did NOT have to get up and could go back to sleep, no class on Saturday, and not having to get up tomorrow.

Labels: boston, friends, other bloggers, theater, weekend

Still stand by this VDay post I mae two years ago.

The gym was deserted tonight, though that didn't surprise me. However, I was there with my husband so it was okay.

I gotta say, it's dizzying to watch the video for OK Go's "Here It Goes Again" while actually on a treadmill. I don't think I recommend it.

Labels: blog business, gym, holidays

From me and my favorite sweater

I'm just as shocked as you are

And nary a page to read

My box full of scanned research documents and my hot new shoes

We're back in Mass after our whirlwind Jersey weekend. It was ... weird being back in Ridgewood for that long. Especially being at the womens club a scant two blocks from GW (my middle school) and right in my old neighborhood. We stopped at the Rite Aid in town so I could get a snack and though I haven't been there in many many years, I walked in and instinctively headed to the cooler and reached in for a snapple before I remembered that I was there for a diet coke.

I'm still a little shellshocked after going to Garden State Plaza. I, like any other self-respecting North Jersey kid, spent many an evening walking its corridors. I remember when they built "the new section" and you could tell the difference between them by looking at the floortiles. Now I don't think I could find my way to the food court. Sigh.

The wedding was so much fun, as an event that gathers my entire family in one place can only be. The ceremony was simple and sweet and the reception was quite the party. I was sad to have to come back home, and not just because we had to drive 5 hours. :)

There were some low points involving illness and hospitals and stuff that's not fit for a public blog. Not involving me, don't worry.

Mostly, I'm pretty lucky to get to be related to this bunch of loons and I treasure every minute I get with them.

Labels: family, weekend

I've been rereading this and it still makes me laugh out loud. The autograph is what makes this a prized possession, though.

I feel like all I do anymore is run. Running after buses, trains, into class, to catch the elevator, to the gym, to meet someone. I feel like I'm always late, always 10 minutes behind. This weekend will be no exception. I have class Saturday, leaving at 12:30 when Nate picks me up and we head to NJ after a quick stop in Hartford to pick up a Lisa Gaumond original. We have to be in NJ by late afternoon for coffee with my aunt the bride to talk photography, then dinner with my cousin/bff and her husband, then the wedding Sunday. I'm getting palpitations thinking about it.

I dropped my chem class because I was drowning in it after missing the first class thanks to an unpublicized room change that left me wandering 2 stops away from the class building for 45 minutes. One less thing to rush for.

Now it's time to rush off to bed. While I do that, you should all read this really cool article about my Uncle Brian. Especially if you're into the theatah. The article's old, from when he got the Gypsy Robe, but well worth the read.

Labels: family, news, nursing school, thinking, weekend

An online friend of mine is in the running to win a free coordinator and free photographer for her wedding.

So if you wanna help, clicky here and vote for couple #2.

Thanks, blogland!

Labels: other bloggers

This fine young man standing on the seat was ejected from the celtics game tonight for public drunkenness.

After taking Friday off to let the meds really do their work (I'm on a taper of Prednisone, hence yesterday's pic of my pills. I took 6 the first day, 5 today, 4 tomorrow, and so on) I was raring to get back into a productive life. Minus the gym because I can't walk all that far without being winded but it's a start!

This weekend my internet friend Laurel and her husband are in town from the far west for a conference. She's tons of fun to talk to online and it carries over into real life. She flew in this morning and crashed on our office floor (well, on an air mattress) for a couple of hours because I couldn't in good conscience let her sleep on the airport floor. Then we got on the train and I sent her on her way while I headed to class.

Got to class and ... no one was there. No prof, no students, no note. I'm confused and concerned and annoyed because this is the third problem I have had this semester with this school and its class locations.

So back I went to downtown crossing-ish to shop a bit until Laurel finished her Fenway tour. When we met up again, we went toward the Common, taking the long way, because I'm terrible with directions. We were quite a pair, climbing Beacon Hill stopping to rest every few blocks and stopping on a bench to take our handfuls of pills. I should mention that she's about 4.5 months pregnant and not just a wimp like me.

After that we met Martha, another internet friend I've hung out with a few times since moving up here, at went to Lulu's Bake Shoppe for incredible cupcakes that I will dream about for years to come. Mine was pumpkin with cream cheese frosting. More please.

From ye olde bake shoppe, we went to the aquarium! I'm kicking myself for forgetting my camera because I can't show you all the fun stuff we saw. Mostly penguins. We also learned that clipping a sting ray's barb hurts no more than cutting your own finger off. I'm guessing we got the new girl to give the talk. There were also giant turtles, creepy eels, blind fish, birds, fur seals, a tent, and more penguins. The Rockhoppers had one giant penguin that just stayed on top of the rocks like the one in Happy Feet. He was the unanimous favorite, especially when we passed by again on our way out and he had stood up to shower in the spray they were using to clean the rocks.

THEN, after parting ways, Nate and I met Laurel and her very funny husband for drinks in Kenmore. BU kids never fail to amuse and horrify. The boys tried a whole range of beers while we sipped our sodas and fended off encroaching elbows on our table, which was apparently the best table in the whole place judging by the way the guy next to me lovingly patted it.

Caught the last train home, thank god. I love you, Boston, but another hour of trains on the weekend might be nice.

Tomorrow, more wandering until Laurel's flight back to the wild west. Then I guess there's some sort of big sports game on TV.

Now, though, bed. I love bed. And sleeping in. I love that, too.

Labels: boston, daily report, friends, nursing school, other bloggers, weekend

Thanks bronchitis!