We all need a nuggets & fries night

Yes, I have a degree in Nutritional Sciences. No, I don’t eat perfectly every day. And yes, sometimes, I still have chicken nuggets & fries for dinner.

Not from McDonald’s, or any other fast food venue. From your local grocery store with 0 g Trans fat and blah blah blah. You don’t care. Neither do I.

After a slooow afternoon at work and an hour long commute home, full of bumper-to-bumper traffic, I was a little on the ‘grumpy’ side. Since I wasn’t driving, I had basically spent the hour being frustrated that we weren’t moving and slowly getting more and more sleepy. If I had closed my eyes for two seconds, I would’ve been ouuut.

Rather than jumping into bed at 6 p.m., I decided to have a cup of the iced coffee in the fridge–hellooo, wake up!–and head out for a little run. Whew. That’s easily the best way to end a long day. A jolt of legal stimulant and 5 miles of ‘letting it out’. Yesssss.

When I got back I had absolutely zero desire to cook. None. At allll. And since our fridge is bordering on empty anyway, I made the only thing that sounded soooo good. Nuggets & fries. Not ‘healthy’, not fresh, not any of the things we tell you to eat. But, yet, delicious. Then we made a batch of Peanut butter-cup Brownies. From a box. Granted, those are actually for the co-workers tomorrow (it’s our last day as interns as this current “location”). But don’t you think we didn’t lick the bowl. Yummmmm.

Pictures will never look the same

((I’m also over here again today. J is still gone, and this is an attempt at her fab fashion stuffff.))

I recently discovered a new way to waste my time. Yesssss.

In one of our technology classes we played around with Microsoft Picture Manager. I had no idea this existed ( I know, where have I been???), and was instantly fascinated. It’s extremely simple, just messing with size and colors and flipping/rotating, etc. But these simple things are the ones I didn’t even know I could do on my computer. I thought you had to have that fancy picture software and all kinds of fancy knowledge of how to use it. Wrong.

Basically I’ve already wasted an hour or two playing with my pictures, just seeing what they look like when I change the hue to Bright Green, or make them all classy in Black & White, or crop it and flip it so that I’m on the opposite side (which, for whatever reason, is so entertaining to me). So, while watching Project Runway, this is what I do as I sit on the couch….

….I spin pictures 90º and make give them a purple hue. Of course.

….or crop them so you only see my Loves, and I make them a slight shade of green.

…I might even go crazy and rotate the other way, and brighten it up about 10 shades. It looks like someone sprayed Chlorox on the picture. Hmmmm, interesting.

…Then I take a picture from a recent day trip to DC, and actually make something of it. I love the way this kind of looks like a painting.

…Or take another pic from DC (US Botanic Gardens), and make the jungle bright, or just a little bit darker. Ooooh.

I think I’m addicted.

I don’t like the seat, and now my knees hurt

There were no treadmills or ellipticals open at el gimnasio today, so I hopped on the only thing that was open. The bike.

We don’t have a good track record, me and the exercise bike. I never find comfort in the seat, and every time I get on one, I’m reminded that my knees hate me. They are completely destroyed from 10+ years of soccer, and they aren’t afraid to consistently remind me of the damage done. Sometimes after “long” runs, on the nice hard pavement, they scream at me for at least an hour. It feels like a small child ran around waving a two-sided sledge hammer and saw the eye of the Target on my knee caps. Not good.

But then they lay dormant for months, and I forget what goes on down there. Then I go and test them. I hop on a little stationary bike, even though I kind of hate them (sorry bike people! It’s great exercise, it’s just not what I’m used to….), and I start pedaling.

Since I don’t use the bike, I never know what “level” is hard/medium/easy. Other than the obvious, 1-5 probably means you’re not doing anything but sitting and pushing air….or warming up/cooling down I guess. I don’t know how high these levels go, and I don’t know the point at which I will feel like I’m pushing a ten year old in circles with my legs. Gah. So much to think about.

For this particular bike, I quickly found out that Level-15 was pushing it. That would be my “hard”, with 11 or 12 as the “medium” interval. I did this for about half an hour, with every 15-interval feeling like a mile sprint….over and over. Seriously, this bike thing is hard! To me, it feels like lifting weights consistently for 30 minutes. Or at least it did today. Hmm, not my forte.

Anyway. The parts of my legs “burning” the most were thighs (yes, expected), and shins. Weird. The knee issue kicked in around minute 5, and I just ignored it as usual. Dumb. I finally got off and could barely walk. Whatever muscle is located directly under the knee cap was certainly not appreciating the extra attention. I’ve never felt that kind of burn, not even after 13 miles. Ehhhhh.

I decided that a slooowww jog back to the apartment could either makes things a Lot worse, which I would figure out instantly, or loosen up my legs and help immensely. Very luckily for me, it helped. A loooot. Good ol’ running.

And I can assure you this–I don’t care how many runner people tell me that I need to incorporate cross training. Nope. Not happening. This chick is sticking to running, and knee-saving. MmmK, thanks.

All the lights were Off, and it was really hot!

We got off early enough for me to enjoy a nice long run outside today. After the crazy tropic rain storm that came through here over the weekend, this was much needed. I also needed to shake off Friday’s incident (found heere). Gah.

I left one of the lights on. Not for any particular reason, I just remember leaving it on. About an hour later, I walked into the apt, and it was off. Roomie (who will be further referred to as C, typing roomie is just too lonnggg) was not home yet. Sooo, she didn’t turn it off. Hmmmm. It felt as hot inside as it did outside. Checked the thermostat and turned the air down (which actually means “up”, because it’s getting cooler right? Yah, that always confuses me too). No noise….hmmmm.

I tried to turn on a lamp, and nothing happened. Ahhh! What if there’s somebody in the apartment doing these crazy things?!?! Yup, that was my first thought.

I’m sure you all deduced what was going on faster than I did. The power was out. Completely OUT. All the rooms were dark, all the clocks were off, it was getting hotter by the minute (and I’m still sweating from the run. Mmmm, disgusting). I opened the fuse box and checked everything. Which did nothing. Gah. There goes the extent of my electrical knowledge. I sat on the floor and pondered all options, which all led to electricity. I wanted cold water, so I opened the fridge and things were already starting to feel warm. Ah! We just went grocery shopping! Not. Fair. Plus, I had ice cream in the freezer. What if it melts?! (Ben & Jerry’s Frozen Yogurt Half Baked. Yesssss. So delicious.)

C returned from the gym and informed me that she was basically thrown off the treadmill because the power went out in there too, and the track came to an abrupt stop. Scarryyyy. I always worry about that when I’m on those things. Seriously, they could do it. And if you fell off, that would hurt!

We sat there for over an hour complaining about everything we couldn’t do without electricity. It’s amazing, really. No internet. All our homework things are online or on jumpdrives. Not helpful. No cooking. No light in the bathroom for a shower. I went to grab my little fan because we were both so sweaty. Umm, nope. Can’t plug it in. No TV, obviously…….

……………………………

…..Decision: go grab something to eat. For all we knew, the power could come back on in five minutes….or five hours. Besides, it was very boring in the living room, realizing what we couldn’t do. No no, we like to be pro-active over here. Off we go!

LIghts were on when we got home. Thank youuuu. These two chicks definitely needed a shower. And to catch up on Gossip Girl. And to lounge around on lap-tops browsing the internet, writing to you people. Ahh, electricity. Welcome back.

If you feel like wandering…

Go visit Jen @ Toujours Complexe !! Which isn’t actually Jen, for today, it’s…ME!

I’m guest posting for the first time everrrr. A little strange not to be on my turf, but very exciting!

And if you’re not interested yet, let me just tell you something. Over there, I have posted a little story about a running…um, “Incident”….that occurred this weekend. To yours truly.

It involves a bike crash, a punk teenage kid, aaaaaand a cop. Yes, crazy things are happening over here. Gah.

Now, GO. And check out her site, because she’s all fashionista and fabulous. You’ll love her.

See ya tomorrowwww*

It’s time for weekends with Ben again!!

It’s football season!!!! In case you haven’t checked out that little link over there —>, I should tell you I’m a liiiittle excited about this.

And by “a little”, I mean…I ordered the BIG 10 Network so I can watch every Penn State game. And I have been mentally preparing myself for the excitedness that is Sunday afternoon STEELER’s games. Hellooooo Fall. Welcome back, I have dearly missed you.

I don’t even know why I like watching football. I’ve said it before, I honestly did not know one single thing about this sport until I came to Penn State. Not one thing. Honestly. I knew that if there was a touchdown, somebody scored. I thought touchdowns were worth 7 points. What the heck is a “kicker”?! Ehhh, yah.

But I know now! I know everyyyything. And I love it. Even if my attention span tends to wander here and there while I’m watching, I’m still there. Don’t worry. I’m still screaming when they fumble the ball, and cringing when they attack (tackle, whatever) each other, and pumping my fist in the air when we score (a touchdown, worth 6 points…aaaand the extra kick, worth 1 point! Yup).

I can’t wait to watch that crazy haired Polamolu, and Big Ben, and Hines, and that new couch who isn’t as crazy as Cower. And before that, I’ll be watching Joe Pa and the Lions in Happy Valley. Still trying to learn all the new players and hoping that we beat Oregon State. Yessss.

Things I’ve learned after writing to you 164 times

It is officially my Blog birthday. One year of blogging! Yessssss.

A year ago I logged onto wordpress.com. I had been sitting in front of a computer at work for three hours. It was after shopping online, and compulsively checking e-mail, and stalking facebook, and finishing homework and thinking “Omgggg what can I possibly do to entertain myself for one more hour?!”

Uhh, blog? Sure. And This is what I came up with.

I’ve learned quite a bit since then. 365 days, and 164 posts later, I’m still learning.

::I never thought I’d be a “regular” post-er. Always figured I’d just write when I had time. Then it changed from being something I thought I should do, to something I wanted to do. Even something somebody else wanted me to do.

::For a while I had no idea how to insert pictures. Uh, we won’t elaborate on that. I realize this is quite easy to do. I still wonder where to draw the line; show the eyes? block out the face? just say, who caressss, and put them up? I might take them down eventually, but for now, they’re around.

::Some posts toe the line that I have yet to draw, and I’m okay with that…..for now. I constantly wonder when it gets “too” personal, and usually refrain from anything close. Every once in a while I’ll give you some insight into the wonder that is me, I’ll give you a story or two, and I’ll share a little of the people who mean the most to me. We’ll keep at that….for now.

::I’d much rather share random stories and thoughts, than try to keep a “theme”. I like to run (and train, and race!!), and cook, and experiment with recipes, and take road trips, and lounge around, and study, and watch TV on DVD, and have Cosmos, and read books, and then hop on here if I think about something interesting. And that’s just how it works.

::When I incorporate things I learn from my “regular reads” into day-to-day conversation, I feel like I’m exposing a guilty pleasure. And don’t we looove it? It’s like reading a PEOPLE magazine and then telling your friend “Uhh, did you see that Jen and John broke UP!? I know, riiight?!”. Except it’s more like “Well this blog I read about ____ , blah blah blah”. Am I the only one who does this?! Gah, I hope not. What can I say, I like your blogs. I read them. And sometimes I’m entertained enough to talk about them. Be flattered. Yes, be very flattered.

::I’m finallyyyy learning some basics of html-coding and how to add stuff by myself in the “text box”. I can’t even tell you how much fun I think this is! It might only go so far as putting in text and images and horizontal lines, but we’re goin from there. And it’s funnnnn.

Now, a year later, I have an online documentary of my senior year of college, and the transition I’ve made into the next phase of life. That right there….is priceless. And a little crazy.

I thought about trying to come up with 164 things I learned after 164 posts. Aren’t you glad I ruled that one out? Ehhh yah, me too.

Happy blogging!

An iced coffee should come with a warning

I’ve known for a long time that I don’t handle Caffeine overload too well. At one point a bottle of Diet Pepsi could make me start to shake. I still can’t do Midol. Gah, that’s a disaster. If I try drinking more than one cup of coffee per day, I can’t sleep until 3 in the morning. And there’s not much you can do to entertain yourself until 3 in the morning.

Over the last few years (thank youuu college, and study sessions that lasted way too long) I’ve built up a little tolerance. If I make my coffee half-n-half (decaf, regular) I maaaybe handle two. And if I have more than one Pepsi in a day, I won’t be bouncing off the walls. Yes, this is progress. However, it’s no reason for me to go get all cocky on myself. Which is exactly what I did today.

My roomie is a coffee drinker, so we have it brewing and aroma-ing the kitchen every morning. Mmmm. I don’t always grab a cup, but today I did. Yum.

Then we had a break from 10-11 because we got done early with something at work. We headed to Starbucks, and I got an Iced Coffee. I used to hate these things, and that’s a whooole ‘nother story. But then my sister came to State College last spring and forced me to taste hers. Tall Iced coffee, one pump of hazelnut, one splenda packet, topped off with a little creamer.

Um, it was Delicious. I instantly understood how somebody becomes addicted to Starbucks. Scary.

Anyway. I bought one today, and enjoyed it’s amazingness. Not even thinking about how the caffeine content of those little babies is about twice that of hot coffee. Yes, I’m dumb. Basically, by 10 a.m. I had drank the equivalent of 3 cups of coffee. Ehhhhh.

But why stop there, right? Right.

In the afternoon, I bought myself a little bottle of Diet Pepsi. I guess I was craving some carbonation, and something to sip on while I listened to presentations. Oh, and also a serious caffeine overdose. Yes, that’d be great. Luckily we got done early, because on the drive back I could barely even decide new song-radio-CD-scan-new CD-omg I love this song-radio-oh, the lights green now-omg are we home yet?!?!

I channeled the energy into a workout on the elliptical. Otherwise I’d still be shaking and this post would be completely random and I’d get up and fold laundry and then read something and then type some more and then put the laundry away and then buy a song on iTunes and then remember to check my e-mail….

Just kiddingggg. I’m going to sleep. But seriously, the iced coffee should come with a warning:::After consumption, please refrain from all caffeine products for the next 24 hours. Thankssss, Starbucks.