Training

So pleased that the weather is nice and that I have gotten back into running. I really missed it. It just makes me feel great. Not only the physical activity but the feeling of freedom and of reflection. Ran 3.7 miles yesterday and 2 today and I'm feeling a bit sore but nothing a can't handle. I've traced out 5 and a 6 mile runs to work up to now that I know I can do almost 4. Running farther also helps you run faster, so I've also considered running in some 5K events this spring with my mom. I won't run races to win, but they are fun.

Other than that just doing my usual working and everything. Didn't do anything for St. Patrick's Day but did get a total drunk dial from my brother around dinner time. He was definitely celebrating :-) He does bartend at an Irish pub though, so basically I'm proud of his work.

Just Be

Sorry posting has been so sporadic lately. I am too poor to have internet access in my apartment. Nothing really exciting is going on. Working as usual. Got a new tattoo on the back of my neck, right underneath my hairline. It's a star, to remind me to shine no matter what :) Also it looks frickin B.A. My mom bought me some new tires for my car and my stepdad bought me new windshield wipers so I am totally hooked up, lol. Just saw the new Alice in Wonderland movie last night at the imax. It was pretty cool. I adore Johnny Depp no matter how cracked out his characters are. Tomorrow is my only day off this week and I have some great plans. I have a brunch date with the lovely Naomi to catch up seeings how we haven't seen each other in months! Then I'll have some lovely mix of laundry, running and cleaning. Then I get to babysit some of my favorite kids in the whole wide world which is wonderful because it's actually fun and I get money :)

Speaking of running, I've been getting back on track like I used to be in the fall. Particularly since mommy dearest bought me a new pair of running sneakers too. Love her. Ran 2.5 miles today. I forgot how much I enjoyed just going outside and doing it. It's nice to have that time to yourself not necessarily to think but rather to just be. It feels great.

Also, Margaret and I are going to Florida in about 3 weeks and I am so excited for a vacation. I plan on dividing my time between running, sunning, reading and enjoyed some dacquiris :) Kidding. I'm not going to get hammered. I am just going to enjoy relaxing and really not doing much of anything. I am especially going to enjoy the lack of pizza!

Been really homesick for Russia lately. Probably because I've been working on my scrapbook. Lena, Masha, Misha, Sergei...I miss you!

Drama

Things have been going pretty good lately. Chris and I ended up splitting up but it was the right thing to do. I've just been working like 40-45 hour weeks and doing my thing lately. Paying my bills and trying to keep my nose down the best that I can. I'm really missing all my friends lately. And I can't wait for warm weather. Plus my trip to Florida! Some exciting things though! Jacque and Casey found out today that their baby is a boy! Riley Owen is the name that they have picked out and I can't wait for him to get here! Also, I think Special K is finally going to get back into tattooing so I can get some more ink!

On a side note: Life Lesson #173: Never let a drunk, straight boy dye your hair. Particularly if you are drunk yourself. And most particularly is the dye is fire engine red. Beer pong/hair dye parties are a bad idea :)

Life Is A Highway...

...and I'm gonna ride it...all night long. Sorry for how completely depressing my last post was. I was really not in a good place. Things are feeling a little better now. That lyric just popped into my head because I have to drive to Rochester tonight to pick Chris up at the airport and I'm worried that I will have to drive in the snow and be on the highway and all that. But then it kind of got me thinking, you know. I like the metaphor of life as a road. Sometimes its bumpy, sometimes you run out of gas, get a flat tire, car breaks down. It could be snowing or raining or sunny. But you just have to keep moving forward until you get where you're trying to go I guess. I just like it.

How Many Times Can I Break Til I Shatter?

That's pretty much what my life feels like right now. I'm broke. My car is broken. My boyfriend won't speak to me. I'm on the verge of tears all the time. And then I log onto facebook for the first time in weeks and have to read about fires, shootings, friends dying. How much can we take? Humans are so physically and emotionally fragile and it seems like so many people all over the world are being constantly pushed to the limits of what they can endure. It's heartbreaking.


Upon reflection I guess things aren't really as bad as they feel. The snow and cold just makes me so depressed and then things that are bad seem so awful. I do work full time, support myself in my own apartment, will be able to get my car fixed and am trying to show the boyfriend that I care about him and that he doesn't need to push me away. As far as the fires and shootings go, I have to accept things that I can't change.


One exciting piece of news. I am going to Florida for a week in April. I just have to pay $100 for my plane ticket and for my own food/drinks. My aunt is paying for the hotel and the rest of the flight. And while she and my sister are waiting in lines at disney world and all that jazz, this girl will be laying in the sun, drinking, and enjoying a whole week straight of not having to make pizza :)

Car Air Fresheners and Mocassins

Those are two things that I like. Things have been really good and pretty bad lately. I'm getting by.

Francesca = Car Owner

Woohoo! Bought my first car today and it's awesome! Did all the DMV business and all that jazz and have been enjoying how awesome it feels to have my own set of wheels. It was raining all day today so I didn't have a chance to take pictures or vacuum out the interior and clean like I want to but oh well. Also didn't have a chance to pop that top down yet but you know I will on the next sunny day, even if it is freezing out! Pictures soon I promise.

Spent the day doing the car stuff and then babysitting all evening. It was really nice to just relax for a good part of the day. On rainy days I'm all about the sweat pants and book and that's what I did for the 2 hours I was babysitting after the kids went to bed. I love babysitting for the family that I do; the kids are great. I fed them fish sticks and broccoli, we watched Mamma Mia, and then they all got ready for bed like little lambs. The baby didn't go right to sleep tonight, but I got him to sleep eventually. Then I chilled out on the couch and read, and was paid to do it, it's awesome.

Anyways, 9 hours of real work tomorrow, so I really need to get some sleep. I'm just so excited these past few days that sleep has been really hard. Hopefully a long, hard day's work of pizza slinging will tire me out so I can go to bed tomorrow night at a more reasonable time.

Also, first long(ish) excursion in my new car on Tuesday when I head up to Roch to go dress shopping (with Tiffany!)...yay! And I'm going to try to sell some clothes that are too big for me to Plato's Closet so I have money to buy a dress...yay :)