How i spent forever traveling,pt. 3.14

Day 3 in NYC. This series is almost over. Day 3 brought the Harry Potter: The Exhibition, which is a display of some costumes and props from all 7 Harry Potter movies. Only you couldn't take pictures. But I didn't let that stop me as I snagged this blurry one of Oliver Wood's and Cedric's quidditch robes:

Gimme!!! The next day was the last day of the Book Expo and our last day in New York. We made our best effort to get over to the expo on the early side to get tickets to see Jane Lynch!! She was there promoting her book, Happy Accidents (due out sometime this year..september?). She talked a little bit about the book, read the epilogue, took questions, and then signed autographs. She was just as entertaining in real life as she is in Glee. Only not as mean. And taller maybe. And definitely more awesome.

And then we flew home. THE END. Finally.

How i spent forever traveling,pt. 3

After spending less than 24 hours in Charleston, my mom and I hopped on a plane (ugh, not flying again) at 7 am to NYC! She was attending Book Expo America so I decided to tag along. I still hate flying though. And I hate flying even more when I'm taking off from the top of a mountain.

[fog in the valleys]

We spent our first day kind of unsuccessfully shopping. It was gloomy, chilly, and occasionally rainy so not a good combination on the whole. But we finished the day with New York pizza, which is one of the most delicious things in the world.

mmm..take THAT We the Pizza, 2 Amys, and Adams Morgan Jumbo Slices! The next day we ventured over to the book expo and it was one of the most overwhelming experiences I've ever..experienced. It was up there with walking into Forever 21 for the first time. The expo was held in the impossibly huge Javits Center and there were rows and rows of vendors and displays. But that meant that there was also an abundance of free books and bags. That first day we met and had things signed by Daniel Handler (Lemony Snicket) and Tyra Banks. It was:

That night I also got the chance to meet up with a friend and have dinner a fondue restaurant. I had never been to a fondue restaurant. It was a weird experience. I'm not and will never be a big cheese and fruit fan. But cheese and just about everything else- delicious..

next up:

New York part dos!

exciting? if you like Harry Potter and Jane Lynch

then YES

How i spent forever traveling,pt. 2

After Preakness, I headed back to DC, expertly packed my dad's jeep TO THE BRIM with ALL OF MY STUFF (but seriously, i deserve an award or something) and left for Charleston. The drive was filled with traffic, Thunder Road over and over and over, and this guy:

He (she?) was even funnier to pass, but more dangerous to take a picture of. It was like a dog. I have never seen a horse with its head out of the window, only glimpses of butts from smaller windows. Perhaps he was coming from Preakness. Anyhoo, DC - it's been real, hope to see you in the near future. Horse - thank you for making me laugh on my long, interstate filled journey home.

next up:

NEW YORK!

exciting? i think way more exciting than

a horse with its head out the window

How i spent forever traveling,pt. 1

I'm finally back from what feels like an eon of traveling. And by back I mean back in Charleston, not DC. And okay it wasn't that much traveling..less than a week.. But it all started with a trip up to Baltimore for the Preakness! After going to a Kentucky Derby party, I had to keep up with the horse races. Infield at the Preakness was fun, sun, and horses. And live performances by Train and Bruno Mars. And more horses. I had every intention of betting on some horse or some race but did not realize just how complicated it is. Exactas? Oy..

next up:

The drive to charleston

exciting? you just have to wait and see

marathon or BUST

Well the marathon didn't go exactly as planned, to say the least. Occasionally on previous runs, I would have breathing problems that would cause me to stop running while I attempted to regain my breath. It was like a mix of hyperventilating and not being able to breathe. Maybe throw in some nausea and dizziness for added effect. It happened on 3 runs but subsequent runs were a-ok.

Enter the Pittsburgh Marathon. Of course I was feeling nervous about the run. But the morning of, my nerves were turning over to excitement. We started the run fine enough but maybe about a mile in I felt the breathing problems coming on. We moved over to the side of the road so I could regain my breath, and continued on. Only, it happened again a short while later. Someone was kind enough to come over and talk me through breathing...in through your nose, out through your mouth...and we continued on. Then around mile 4 I could feel it coming on again, reached for my dad's arm, and the next thing I knew I was on the ground. Apparently I passed out in my dad's arms and he hit me on the back to wake me up. Another runner helped my dad carry me to a nearby ambulance, where EMTs checked my vitals (all okay) and helped me calm down. Needless to say, I wasn't going to finish the race.

Once I was released from the ambulance, my dad and I made the walk back to our hotel. I was frustrated and disappointed. Frustrated that I couldn't will my body to complete the race. Disappointed that I couldn't complete something I was so mentally and physically invested in. At one point I removed my number bib from my shirt and ripped it up before tossing it in the trash. The rain didn't help. It's hard to think that I essentially failed at something I had been training for so long for. Hell, I partially created this blog to help me through the training process! I think you get the idea..

But through all of this disappointment and frustration I can't help but be thankful that I am okay. And thankful that my dad was with me when it happened. And that there were runners kind enough to stop running their own marathon and help me (looking back, I can't positively say I would have done the same thing, though I would like to think I would...). But I can't let myself associate running with disappointment, or even fear. I'm going to get this breathing thing sorted out. I'm going to get back to running. I'm going to run another marathon.

now here are some baby ducks that made me smile on that day:

welcome back blogger

i guess i'll take a break from reading the hunger games to post. though i'm still a little upset at Blogger for being down this morning and making me think that my most recent post was deleted and lost forever. ...i think that sense of hopelessness is just the hunger games speaking.

today was my last day at my internship. definitely felt mixed emotions. i am sad to be leaving it because of the people i've met, the experiences i was afforded, and the routine i developed. but at the same time, i'm ready and excited to move on in my life. i'm ready for summer, i'm ready for camp, i'm ready to see where the fall leads me... since it was my last day, i made cookies. more specifically - black and white cookies. only, being the supremely creative person that i am, i made them blue and white as those are the organization's colors. go me. i would have taken a better picture of them, except i lost all hope that blogger would ever return and by the time the site was up and functioning, they were gone.

so that's that. i leave bright and early tomorrow for pittsburgh with my dad. in the meantime, i'll be reading the hunger games by booklight until i pass out from excitement or the general tiredness that i get when i read. of course, reading by booklight is unnecessary. i could very well have the lights on and make it easier on my eyes. but if katniss has to suffer through the hunger games, i will suffer along with her! in solidarity! by not having enough light to read! (while i am well fed and hydrated in the comfort of my cushy bed, in an air conditioned house)

hungry for hunger..games

I just started reading The Hunger Games thanks to Lauren's extra copy. And by just started, I really mean just started. Page 24. Except I might as well be halfway through considering it's ALL I THINK ABOUT AND I WANT TO READ IT SO BADLY RIGHT NOW BUT I HAVE TO GO TO WORK SO I CAN'T AND IT WAS A BAD IDEA TO REALLY START READING IT AT 1030 AT NIGHT.

.........

I have no idea what's going to happen (though I can make some guesses..) but I hear people die left and right. How exciting! And the premice is just downright cool. It reminds me of the short story "The Most Dangerous Game" where a man hunted another man on his island. It'll probably be nothing like that. Either way, I don't think I've felt this way about a book since the 7th Harry Potter came out!

But there it sits.

And will sit.

And will taunt me.

In other news, with The Hunger Games currently filling every empty void in my brain, there is very little room to even think about that run I'm doing on Sunday. Marathon? What marathon? Hunger Games?? HUNGER GAMES!

nerves

With the Pittsburgh Marathon just around the corner, I'm getting more and more nervous every day. I know I shouldn't be too nervous... I've run those three 20-mile runs, I am physically prepared. But mentally unsure! Especially after waking up with a cough yesterday and a wheezing sound this morning. And a lack of sleep last night after a nightmare from watching 3 episodes of criminal minds in a row. But I'm sure it's just nerves. It's gotta be. I don't actually know how much of running is mental, but for me it often seems over half. But then I have days where I feel bad, but have great runs. Or days where I feel great and am really ready to run, but my legs tire after 2 miles, and being mentally tough doesn't save me. Maybe I just shouldn't over think it. And instead, focus on the seventh Harry Potter book that I'm listening to while I run for the fourth time.

yeah..

My friends, i love them

Fun is:

reuniting and reminiscing

a jukebox

skee ball

plastic horses glued to strings

inside jokes

the fastest 2 minutes in sports (i guess..it's really not that fun

but if it adds to my fun weekend, then sure)

new hobby?

i'm in the market for a new hobby...

....okay, not really.

i just want an excuse to take up crocheting.

because i need this:

i don't know if need even begins to describe my desire to have this. maybe if i started now, i could have it done by halloween. of course, the burger part would secretly be a veggie burger since i'm a vegetarian. that would also make it kosher....since that is a really important factor when considering halloween costumes...

yohndledore

That is me and Yohn (first name Nicole, last name Yohn, which would YOU rather go by!?!? think of all the puns - hasta manYOHNa...okay that's really the only one I can think of right now..). You might remember Yohn from the bottom of this post. We go way back. All the way back to June Orientation for Denison where we tried to finagle the exact same schedules. She got me to start playing rugby, I bribed her into being my roommate sophomore year, and we have been "besties" ever since. Well, miss neuroscience at UPenn was able to get away for a weekend and is coming into DC tomorrow!! We'll be watching the Kentucky Derby in style and visiting with other Denison friends. I couldn't be more excited. Plus, having her in town is also a good way for me to keep my mind off of the fact that the Pittsburgh Marathon is a week from Sunday. eeeyikes.

May the 4th..

be with you!

[favorite quote, favorite movie]

there's no place like home

while it goes without saying that i'd rather not

be home right now given the circumstances,

there are comforts of home that make things better.

free coffee & easy crosswords...

this little kitty..

...and when you stop petting her, this is what happens:

and ronnie, my food inspector...

[not. i don't let my cats touch my food ever since my brother told me i was going to die or get sick after one of our cats licked some cheese i was eating when i was younger]

and, of course, being with old friends...

insert depressing title here

I recently received some bad news about a close family friend; news like this never fails to remind me (or anyone, I'm sure) how short and unexpected life is. And unfair at times. So I will be heading home to Charleston, and reuniting with friends under unfortunate circumstances. Now go hug someone you love, and be thankful for the time you do have with them.