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December 11, 2007

the grinch stole it

I need an intervention.

Not like an Amy Winehouse intervention, although if you are reading this Amy, get some help.

Nope, I need an intervention to start me running again. Like really running. Not these token runs I've been putting in each week. These token runs that I do, not because I miss running or want to go, no, these runs are done by guilt. Gulit generated runs. The guilt isn't even that great. It's single digit mile guilt.

Not that long ago I was able to run everyday. Every single fringing day. I did that. How? I seriously wonder how I did that!

At first, this little hiatus, was a well earned rest after a long training season. Then a few extra weeks to rest an injury. Now, well now it has simply become a new decadent way of life that I have adapted to incredibly easily.

I keep thinking I'll wake up and crave running. Be desperate for a fix, that runners high.

It's not happening.

I need some motivation.

Posted by Ali at 12:54 PM | Comments (16)

December 3, 2007

cars are really not my thing ...

I got my car back late yesterday afternoon. I have never been so stressed. It took three attempts to get up the half clear half slush hill.

Then I wake up this morning to another winter storm. There are bus cancellations and cars in ditches. I drove my car at 5 miles an hour to work. I really can't handle this sort of stress in my life, it will prematurely age me.

So I call a garage that my friend recommended to get a quote on new tires.

"Hi, I would like a price on 4 new tires."

"Sure. Winter or all season?"

"All season."

"What type of tires do you have?"

"Oh-uhm .. Honda Civic tires."

"I need to know the size and make"

"Of the car or the tires?"

"The tires."

"There are different sizes?"

quite a long pause followed simply by "Yes."

"I'll go find out and call you back."

----- trek down to carpark ---

Write down every detail written on tire. They are Firestone. Which makes me think of the Bachelor. I decide on the way back to the office not to mention to the 'tire quote guy' that they are The Bachelor tires. From the little interaction we have had, we really haven't clicked, and don't feel like he gets me.

"Hi, it's me again, about the Honda tires"

"Hi" ... see, no I missed you, how ya doing ... nothing

"They are firestone tires" I surpress a laugh ... bachelor tires bachelor tires

"Do you want something different?"

"Yes, I don't think I like these." I have come to despise these tires in a very short time, plus he was my least favourite bachelor.

"Would you like somthing good?" I think he is beginning to get me.

"Yes, I want good tires."

I give him the codes and size, he gives me a very reasonable quote. I book my car in to get 4 new good tires tomorrow.

Then I walk across the hall to tell 'the male' in our office, we only have one, and guys love car stories. After I relay my story complete with hand gestures and funny voices, he says

"What type did you get?"

"Oh" it never dawned on me to ask "Uhm, new and good."

He shakes his head. "They are going to put your old tires back on your car."

Posted by Ali at 11:55 AM | Comments (8)

December 2, 2007

abandon

Have you ever seen the Truman Show?

The Jim Carrey movie, where he is a character in a reality show, except, he doesn't know it's a show. Sometimes, I get a sense, a feeling, that perhaps that's what is going on with me. I even look around to spot the cameras.

Of course if this was true, then you would all be part of it as well. You could be watching me on your TV typing this sentence ... just incase, I apologise, this sweatshirt is really really comfort and I don't go out in public in it and I am getting my hair done next week.

We had our first winter storm last night. Compared to other storms, this one was tame. There was only 3-4 inches of snow and a thin layer of ice on top of it. When I went to bed last night, my gut said not to run. If Mother Nature is sending you a storm as a sign you should take it. Enjoy a morning at home.

You should always listen to your gut.

I woke up at 6.30am, wide awake. On a morning that I was planning to sleep in and indulge in a large pot of coffee, I am awake early enough to run. Damn it. Why does that happen? I can't get up for work during the week, but today I am bouncing around. So I get up and look out. The snow and wind have stopped. Everywhere is covered in a thick blanket of winter wonderlandness. It looks inviting. Peaceful.

My gut was still saying go back to bed, but my conscience riddled with guilt from my self-induced running hiatus got dressed and headed out.

You should listen to your gut.

The roads were somewhat clear. A little slippery in spots, but we made it to the park. The park is located at the bottom of a really steep hill. The sort of hill that wins everytime when you do a hill workout. As soon as we got to the bottom I thought "I (my car) will never get back up that". Why this thought didn't transpire before I came down the hill, I don't know, obviously that's the way the script was written.

Fast foward. I'm done my short run, unenjoyable I might add. Should of listened to my gut. Got into the car and headed up the hill. I made it almost a 1/4 way up before I was wheel spinning and rolling backwards. I tried again. I tried from a different angle. I tried in different gears.

Then a gentleman, who looked like santa (this is where I start to think I'm on a TV show, it's December and a santa look-a-like just happens to show up?) walks over to help. He tells me to get a good run at it, keep it in second and power up the hill. Santa makes it sound easy. I do as he says. I make it almost a third of the way up.

Santa exited stage left, he had a small part. I try a couple more times. Then a suspiciously dodgy looking guy comes over, cigarette hanging out of mouth. He tells me to put it in third and put my foot down. Somehow all these 'people' know I am driving a stick shift ... suspicious? I try his advice. I make it halfway up. I think I have it, I try again. Nope. The hill gets slightly steeper at the halfway point.

I go back to the bottom. A runner I know is coming in. I pull up beside him, do my best distressed wow is me helpless female bit, which wasn't difficult considering that is exactly how I felt. I asked him to drive it up. He tried once, twice, three times. Then he parked the car and walked around it.

"Do you have front wheel drive?"

I have a silver honda civic with cd player. That sentence contains all the information I know about my car.

He has another look at my car.

"It's your tires. They are worn down."

Just like me. Just. Like. Me

There is talk of tow trucks, rides home and CAA, I decide to leave it there, teach it a lesson. I'll come get it when everything melts. Which lucky should be this afternoon, it's supposed to warm up and rain.

I guess I am getting new tires. I'm thinking this is product placement.

Posted by Ali at 12:37 PM | Comments (6)

December 1, 2007

this city

I call home is affectionately called the Forest City, due to the vast number of high rise apartment buildings, just kidding, it's because of all our trees. We have lots. Seriously if you need a tree, come visit. We can't get enough of them. We even commission artists to make brightly coloured metal ones and plant them throughout the downtown. The metal trees have made the public fiesty, not everyone likes them. I do.

You know what else this city doesn't like?

Krispy Kreme and Hooters.

They opened, and then they closed. I was shocked at Krispy. I thought it would be a huge success. People used to bring in boxes of glazed and sell them to raise money. I don't know if it was the donuts or the picture of the sick child, but those things went it minutes. Krispy must of thought it was the donuts. Cause they moved into town. The big red light shone bright. But the donut shop across the street had 20 cars in the drive thru. The big red light went out.

Then Hooters moved in. If you stand on my balcony you can see the big bright orange sign. Property value soared. I contemplated getting a part-time job. But the big bright orange sign has been taken down.

I never went into hooters, but the seedy plaza bar on the other side of the street is still open, so it must of been pretty bad!

Posted by Ali at 9:37 PM | Comments (3)