Anyway, Madeline has interrupted my work with comic relief. Once again, licking the soap (but not as vigorously as she licked the candles):
Not budging while I sheeted the bed:
And just posing like the little darling she is:
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Busy!
I've been busy! I meant to blog about the Land Between the Lakes trail runs, but I'll just refer you to Rob's blog - he has a nice race report and pictures. Since LBL, my running has been really blah, even after a five (!) day hiatus. So I decided that was a good reason not to push it this weekend, combined with the fact that this weekend has been work work work (though I did run about 8 miles this morning). I'm taking another break now because my head hurts - mentally and physically. I have 18 papers graded, and 17 to go! And then a bunch of other stuff!
Anyway, Madeline has interrupted my work with comic relief. Once again, licking the soap (but not as vigorously as she licked the candles):
Not budging while I sheeted the bed:
And just posing like the little darling she is:
Anyway, Madeline has interrupted my work with comic relief. Once again, licking the soap (but not as vigorously as she licked the candles):
Not budging while I sheeted the bed:
And just posing like the little darling she is:
Monday, March 09, 2009
Umstead Trail Marathon
As you can see from my March 3rd post, last week began with enough snow to close down schools and lows around 11F. But the week ended much differently, weather-wise. On Saturday in Raleigh, N.C. it was bright and sunny with a high temperature of nearly 80. It was a beautiful day to be outside...except for those of us running the Umstead Trail Marathon. I've certainly done long runs in temps this warm, but I've never raced long in such conditions. Well, I guess there were those two Mahomet half-marathons, but at least they were flat and over with in a couple hours!
I actually have no idea how I was able to finish in 4:39:47. That's 10 minutes faster than I did LBL last year, and Umstead was way hillier and hotter (LBL had snow, but heat is even worse), and I was just as poorly trained. I started worrying about whether or not I could finish at mile 11 - ELEVEN! My stomach felt like it usually does at the end of a marathon, where the thought of another gel makes me want to barf and nothing seems to quench my thirst. The Gatorade on the course tasted really concentrated, which was good - it's sometimes watered-down on race courses - but I still had trouble staying hydrated. My friend had salt tabs at the mile 21 aid station (thank you Mickey!). I've never used salt tabs before, but the way I was feeling I figured they couldn't hurt! It's hard to tell if they actually helped because I still felt lousy the rest of the race, but maybe I would've felt even worse without them.
Anyway, I don't have any pictures from the race itself, and if any get posted on the website, I probably won't re-post any of me here, because I am sure I looked awful. I got splotchy sunburn and my arms and back still ache from my hunched-over, trying-not-to-collapse running form. But I do have a picture of my...handmade frog award! In this race they give awards to the top 15 male and 15 female finishers. Somehow, I just made it - I was number 15!
Also, all finishers got a pint glass:
And our goody bags had some of the best schwag of any races I've done. Socks perfect for Sandra Cooke, Ph.D.:
Gels, chews, lotion, organic lip balm, and a body glide sample:
Speaking of body glide, I have never used it because I have NEVER had major chafing issues...until this marathon. Andrew says I've been lucky. But I am worried that it means my thighs have gotten fatter! Anyway, I am totally gonna be a body glide user from now on (but I'll also try to slim my thighs!)
And then of course, the technical race tee-shirt:
Also, the post-race food was pretty good - veggie and chicken burritos, chips, fruit, oreos, and more. So all in all, it was a good race. Besides the usual soreness (and chafing and sunburn!), my left foot hurts today, but it's better than it was yesterday. So hopefully I'll be able to start AND finish the LBL 23K this Saturday!
I actually have no idea how I was able to finish in 4:39:47. That's 10 minutes faster than I did LBL last year, and Umstead was way hillier and hotter (LBL had snow, but heat is even worse), and I was just as poorly trained. I started worrying about whether or not I could finish at mile 11 - ELEVEN! My stomach felt like it usually does at the end of a marathon, where the thought of another gel makes me want to barf and nothing seems to quench my thirst. The Gatorade on the course tasted really concentrated, which was good - it's sometimes watered-down on race courses - but I still had trouble staying hydrated. My friend had salt tabs at the mile 21 aid station (thank you Mickey!). I've never used salt tabs before, but the way I was feeling I figured they couldn't hurt! It's hard to tell if they actually helped because I still felt lousy the rest of the race, but maybe I would've felt even worse without them.
Anyway, I don't have any pictures from the race itself, and if any get posted on the website, I probably won't re-post any of me here, because I am sure I looked awful. I got splotchy sunburn and my arms and back still ache from my hunched-over, trying-not-to-collapse running form. But I do have a picture of my...handmade frog award! In this race they give awards to the top 15 male and 15 female finishers. Somehow, I just made it - I was number 15!
Also, all finishers got a pint glass:
And our goody bags had some of the best schwag of any races I've done. Socks perfect for Sandra Cooke, Ph.D.:
Gels, chews, lotion, organic lip balm, and a body glide sample:
Speaking of body glide, I have never used it because I have NEVER had major chafing issues...until this marathon. Andrew says I've been lucky. But I am worried that it means my thighs have gotten fatter! Anyway, I am totally gonna be a body glide user from now on (but I'll also try to slim my thighs!)
And then of course, the technical race tee-shirt:
Also, the post-race food was pretty good - veggie and chicken burritos, chips, fruit, oreos, and more. So all in all, it was a good race. Besides the usual soreness (and chafing and sunburn!), my left foot hurts today, but it's better than it was yesterday. So hopefully I'll be able to start AND finish the LBL 23K this Saturday!
Thursday, March 05, 2009
Kitty weed
You all know I love cats, right? So hopefully you don't consider me cruel because I think what this man did is hilarious rather than abusive.
Tuesday, March 03, 2009
Snow Day!
We actually had a snow day on Monday! 2-3 measly inches is all it takes for Duke to cancel classes. I was mostly cozy and productive at home, but I did take a couple walks around the neighborhood. Here is my snow-covered street (well actually the snow-covered vegetation bordering the street):
I thought my neighbor's snow-covered trees across the street looked really pretty:
My house doesn't look that exciting - I need to get a shrubbery! (but not too expensive, haha):
I walked through Northgate park near my house. It wasn't as pretty as I thought it'd be - the snow was melting pretty rapidly - but this little creek looked kind of nice:
This March snowfall caught some of the flowers off-guard. My daffodils aren't blooming yet, but lots of my neighbors' flowers were. I saw quite a few snow-covered blooms on my walk. I should have gotten a close-up shot of my next door neighbor's flowering bush - it's in the picture to the right of my house - all the egg-yolk-yellow flowered were frosted with snow.
Speaking of flowers, Andrew's mom gave me this lovely pink bouquet for my 30th birthday:
I thought my neighbor's snow-covered trees across the street looked really pretty:
My house doesn't look that exciting - I need to get a shrubbery! (but not too expensive, haha):
I walked through Northgate park near my house. It wasn't as pretty as I thought it'd be - the snow was melting pretty rapidly - but this little creek looked kind of nice:
This March snowfall caught some of the flowers off-guard. My daffodils aren't blooming yet, but lots of my neighbors' flowers were. I saw quite a few snow-covered blooms on my walk. I should have gotten a close-up shot of my next door neighbor's flowering bush - it's in the picture to the right of my house - all the egg-yolk-yellow flowered were frosted with snow.
Speaking of flowers, Andrew's mom gave me this lovely pink bouquet for my 30th birthday:
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Scariness
I did not listen to Gov. Bobby Jindal's speech last night, nor have I read any of the recent articles about him. But the recent headlines and news radio snippets I've heard that mention "Jindal" and "President" in the same sentence are quite scary, if for no other reason that this. That crap will only pull our nation backwards on the educational and science trajectories, when we need to move forward.
Friday, January 30, 2009
Lilly Ledbetter, again
Here's a great op-ed piece from the NY Times on Lilly Ledbetter and other women who have fought to end gender discrimination in the workplace.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Lilly Ledbetter
Since Obama was sworn in, nearly every day has been - as a friend of mine remarked recently on her Facebook page - "like a liberal Christmas". Today, President Obama signed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Restoration Act into law. Lilly Ledbetter filed a lawsuit against her employer, Goodyear, after she discovered she had been paid less than her male counterparts, but her lawsuit was thrown out because it was filed more than six months after the discrimination occurred. The Act makes it clear that the 180 day statue of limitations begins with each new discriminatory paycheck. I think that the 180 day statue of limitations is still too short, but at least it is now clear that it begins on pay day, not on the day the pay was agreed upon.
Of course, all Senate democrats voted for this Act, but it is especially noteworthy that all female republican senators also voted for it, whereas only one male republican voted in favor (Specter).
Of course, all Senate democrats voted for this Act, but it is especially noteworthy that all female republican senators also voted for it, whereas only one male republican voted in favor (Specter).
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Homemade Minestrone
I don't usually cook with meat, but last week I got inspired after thumbing through the Joy of Cooking, and I decided to roast a chicken. Then this week I was about to throw the chicken carcass away when I stopped and thought "hey, I should make stock!" So I did, and the chicken stock actually turned out pretty well, so from it I made minestrone soup:
It is not too bad, if I do say so myself. I put in almost twice as many macaronis as the recipe called for (you can probably tell from the picture) because I like a lot of pasta in my minestrone. I also put in twice the fresh herbs, and a little less broth than the 10 cups the recipe said, so it is quite flavorful.
So. Today begins the last week of my 20s. I am slightly bummed, because I feel like as long as I'm 20-something I can still pretend I'm a kid sometimes. But it's gonna be hard to feel like a kid when I'm THIRTY. I was boosted a bit this morning by some lady at church asking me "how school was going", and when I mentioned I teach at Duke rather than take classes there she said "oh, you don't look old enough to be teaching!" (I've had this conversation with at least 4 people at church, and it always makes me feel better). So I guess as long as I don't look 30, maybe I can get away with continuing some of my 20-something habits. Like wearing a short skirt. According to some magazine or something I read somewhere once (Glamour? Washington Post fashion column?) only women under 30 should be wearing short skirts. At 30 you've supposedly reached some level of maturity that is above the teen/collegiate/20s-look-at-me-I'm-so-sexy look of short skirts. Well, that's a fashion rule I'm gonna break because my legs are too fabulous to not show off once in a while!
It is not too bad, if I do say so myself. I put in almost twice as many macaronis as the recipe called for (you can probably tell from the picture) because I like a lot of pasta in my minestrone. I also put in twice the fresh herbs, and a little less broth than the 10 cups the recipe said, so it is quite flavorful.
So. Today begins the last week of my 20s. I am slightly bummed, because I feel like as long as I'm 20-something I can still pretend I'm a kid sometimes. But it's gonna be hard to feel like a kid when I'm THIRTY. I was boosted a bit this morning by some lady at church asking me "how school was going", and when I mentioned I teach at Duke rather than take classes there she said "oh, you don't look old enough to be teaching!" (I've had this conversation with at least 4 people at church, and it always makes me feel better). So I guess as long as I don't look 30, maybe I can get away with continuing some of my 20-something habits. Like wearing a short skirt. According to some magazine or something I read somewhere once (Glamour? Washington Post fashion column?) only women under 30 should be wearing short skirts. At 30 you've supposedly reached some level of maturity that is above the teen/collegiate/20s-look-at-me-I'm-so-sexy look of short skirts. Well, that's a fashion rule I'm gonna break because my legs are too fabulous to not show off once in a while!
Saturday, January 24, 2009
At last
After 8 long years, the abortion football has once again been thrown. Obama has repealed the Global Gag Rule. An excellent start in the process of undoing the damage of the past 8 years.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Women in Science
Two posts in a day, how 'bout that! Yesterday's New York Times had a great article on the problem of female shortage in the sciences. The article mentions that "President Obama might be able to change things significantly for young women in science — and young men — by signing an executive order that would provide added family leave and parental benefits to the recipients of federal grants, a huge pool of people that includes many research scientists." Wow! As a young woman who anticipates (well, hopes) to be seeking tenure and raising kids at the same time, I think that would be fabulous. This article states our plight quite well:
...expecting a young woman to sacrifice her reproductive fitness for the sake of career advancement is simply too much, and yet the structure of academic research, in which one must spend one’s 20s and early 30s as a poorly compensated and minimally empowered graduate student and postdoctoral fellow, and the remainder of one’s 30s and into the low 40s working madly to earn tenure, can demand exactly that.
Yes, these are the things that keep me up at night.
...expecting a young woman to sacrifice her reproductive fitness for the sake of career advancement is simply too much, and yet the structure of academic research, in which one must spend one’s 20s and early 30s as a poorly compensated and minimally empowered graduate student and postdoctoral fellow, and the remainder of one’s 30s and into the low 40s working madly to earn tenure, can demand exactly that.
Yes, these are the things that keep me up at night.
Snow!
I love snow! I really do - I think it's pretty and peaceful (although my opinion changes somewhat in treacherous driving conditions). I thought that moving to North Carolina meant no more snow (or least not enough snow to ever cover the ground), but looky what Madeline and I saw out our window this morning:
Yay! I wish I had some cross-country skis (it's just barely enough, I think), but running in it this evening will be fun, too. Hmm, I hope the other Godivans show up for our East Campus run! It is possible these southern folk don't feel the same way I do about running in the snow.
So exciting! Here is my first house experiencing its first snow (with me as homeowner, that is):
I don't own a snow shovel yet, but I think it'll be okay. The snow on the sidewalk is starting to melt already. Here is my neighbor's holly tree with berries and snow:
Here, I was trying to take a picture of the little sweetgum balls with snow caps:
I decided to stay home today and watch the inauguration. Two things that made me happy today: snow and the fact that BUSH IS FINALLY OUTTA THERE! Good riddance, too. I might leave my "Bush's Last Day" bumper sticker up for a while longer, just to prolong the celebration that he's GONE.
Yay! I wish I had some cross-country skis (it's just barely enough, I think), but running in it this evening will be fun, too. Hmm, I hope the other Godivans show up for our East Campus run! It is possible these southern folk don't feel the same way I do about running in the snow.
So exciting! Here is my first house experiencing its first snow (with me as homeowner, that is):
I don't own a snow shovel yet, but I think it'll be okay. The snow on the sidewalk is starting to melt already. Here is my neighbor's holly tree with berries and snow:
Here, I was trying to take a picture of the little sweetgum balls with snow caps:
I decided to stay home today and watch the inauguration. Two things that made me happy today: snow and the fact that BUSH IS FINALLY OUTTA THERE! Good riddance, too. I might leave my "Bush's Last Day" bumper sticker up for a while longer, just to prolong the celebration that he's GONE.
Thursday, January 08, 2009
Haven't blogged in a while!
To the 3 people who actually check my blog every few days - sorry I haven't blogged in a while! I had a merry Christmas, did you? One of my Christmas gifts was, once again, a digital camera! Yay, now I can post recent pictures of better quality than the one above (that was taken w/ my minolta film camera - it's just not that good). Although, I've only used my new gift a little, so far. Need to put a bigger memory card in it, and my big memory card is somewhere in my closet. So anyway, here are some more pictures from the holidays - pre-digital camera.
Madeline looking creepy:
A red-tailed hawk that my cousin and I got really close to at Thanksgiving:
Life is good - I promise to write a more interesting post later!
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Wednesday, December 03, 2008
Excellent, excellent opinion piece. Excellent.
Thank you Olivia Judson! Dr. Judson, a darling, talented evolutionary biologist at the forefront of her field and author of "Dr. Tatiana's Sex Advice to All Creation" (one of my favorite books) has written an outstanding article on the Bush administration's assault on science. Amen! Also, I really must read Shulman's book that she mentions. This looks like a good book, too - I love the cover!
Hopefully the economy and war will not completely distract Obama from this important task of restoring credible science to government.
Hopefully the economy and war will not completely distract Obama from this important task of restoring credible science to government.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Sunday, November 09, 2008
Raleigh Marathon
Here's a belated race report for the Raleigh Marathon! We dragged ourselves out of bed at 4:45 am, which was somewhat eased by "falling back" an hour and our 9:30 bedtime, but was still a bit tough. But I'm glad it was a 7 am start time, because by mile 20 it was getting quite warm for us middle-of-the-packers, and from that point on the course had almost no shade refuge. So here's me, Madelyn, and Kate a few minutes before the start (thanks Marathonfoto!):
Kate and Madelyn did the half-marathon, and both did very well! As I mentioned before, I finished in 4:05 - not the sub-4 I had hoped for, but I underestimated the hilliness, even after studying this elevation map:
See those big hills at miles 5 and 13-15? I powered up them, feeling strong and still maintaining a sub-9:00 pace. I only slowed down a little at the 17-18 mile hill. I was feeling way over-confident and trying to guess how big my PR would be. Then the course left the lovely shade and soft dirt road of Umstead State Park - we turned a corner and were suddenly on a concrete sidewalk heading uphill and straight into the sun (miles 19-20). I didn't hit a wall or anything, but just could not keep up my pace for the rest of the course - even on the slight downhill from mile 22-25. Mile 25 was awful - it doesn't look like a big hill on the course elevation map, but it sure felt steep and way longer than a mile (as mile 25 usually does). So I revised my goal to 4:05 and finished in 4:05:24. Not too bad I guess. So here I am within a few tenths a mile of the finish. See my Obama '08 shirt? I got lots of compliments on that! And no heckling!
Kate and Madelyn did the half-marathon, and both did very well! As I mentioned before, I finished in 4:05 - not the sub-4 I had hoped for, but I underestimated the hilliness, even after studying this elevation map:
See those big hills at miles 5 and 13-15? I powered up them, feeling strong and still maintaining a sub-9:00 pace. I only slowed down a little at the 17-18 mile hill. I was feeling way over-confident and trying to guess how big my PR would be. Then the course left the lovely shade and soft dirt road of Umstead State Park - we turned a corner and were suddenly on a concrete sidewalk heading uphill and straight into the sun (miles 19-20). I didn't hit a wall or anything, but just could not keep up my pace for the rest of the course - even on the slight downhill from mile 22-25. Mile 25 was awful - it doesn't look like a big hill on the course elevation map, but it sure felt steep and way longer than a mile (as mile 25 usually does). So I revised my goal to 4:05 and finished in 4:05:24. Not too bad I guess. So here I am within a few tenths a mile of the finish. See my Obama '08 shirt? I got lots of compliments on that! And no heckling!
Thursday, November 06, 2008
The Land Slides Further
Check this out:
Obama adds symbolic NC victory to White House win
Obama had won North Carolina! It's the first time a democratic Presidential candidate has won the state since Carter won it in 1976. Isn't that crazy? That's crazy! In a good way of course! It makes me proud to be a North Carolinian. So that means Obama has 364 electoral votes to McCain's 162. GOPs, we CRUSHED you!!
To change the subject, Connie has asked for a race report - yes, I will post one later. In a nutshell, it was a tough race but it went well - ran a 4:05 marathon on a very hilly course.
Obama adds symbolic NC victory to White House win
Obama had won North Carolina! It's the first time a democratic Presidential candidate has won the state since Carter won it in 1976. Isn't that crazy? That's crazy! In a good way of course! It makes me proud to be a North Carolinian. So that means Obama has 364 electoral votes to McCain's 162. GOPs, we CRUSHED you!!
To change the subject, Connie has asked for a race report - yes, I will post one later. In a nutshell, it was a tough race but it went well - ran a 4:05 marathon on a very hilly course.
Wednesday, November 05, 2008
Landslide Victory!
Hooray for President-Elect Obama!
Wow. IN, FL, OH, VA, CO, NV, NM?!?!?! Wow! This is amazing. Now us liberals can get to work with Bill Ayers and Jeremiah Wright to implement our radical socialist agenda! (just kidding, CG - do you realize how ridiculous you sound now?) In all seriousness this is a really exciting time in our country's history, and I'm looking forward to seeing how it all plays out. He's definitely got his work cut out for him.
Man, Phillies winning the World Series, Obama and other dems winning office...this is shaping up to be the Autumn of Sandra Cookie!
Wow. IN, FL, OH, VA, CO, NV, NM?!?!?! Wow! This is amazing. Now us liberals can get to work with Bill Ayers and Jeremiah Wright to implement our radical socialist agenda! (just kidding, CG - do you realize how ridiculous you sound now?) In all seriousness this is a really exciting time in our country's history, and I'm looking forward to seeing how it all plays out. He's definitely got his work cut out for him.
Man, Phillies winning the World Series, Obama and other dems winning office...this is shaping up to be the Autumn of Sandra Cookie!
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
PHILLIES WIN!!!!!!!!!!!
THE PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES ARE THE 2008 WORLD SERIES CHAMPIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I'm so excited I don't know what to do with myself!!!
I'm so excited I don't know what to do with myself!!!
Let's go Phillies!!!
Monday night was a letdown, but at least it wasn't a loss. I am SUPER-EXCITED for tonight! I don't want to get my hopes up too high or jinx them...but I can taste a World Series victory!
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