Thursday, March 26, 2009

RuPaul's Drag Race

Carlos questions my show selections, I go from one extreme to the other. I like to keep it interesting, what can I say. I'm all about diversity!

The first season of RuPaul's (or as industry folks call her "Ms. Ru") Drag Race concluded. I was on the edge of my seat. I had seen the finalist compete week after week in various elimination challenges and wasn't sure what direction it would go.
The finalist were:
Bebe Zahara Benet
Bebe was very elegant and poised. She wore some of the freakiest outfits, leopard print pant suit paired with this lion mane wig, black cat suit with a big while hat and sparkly stuff dangling off her head. You had to see it, very impressive.
Nina Flowers
Nina was a sweetheart with a true drive and passion. She looks mean but she's so personable. If I ever go to Denver, I'm making a pit stop at her club.
Rebecca Glasscock
Rebecca was blah, she complained too much and was extremely unprofessional but I guess her looks got her far. This isn't a very flattering picture of her, I've seen her better.

And the winner is: Bebe Zahara Benet

Headed up North

Read Carlos' blog for an accurate account of our trip. This is my condensed version :D

We drove up to Santa Cruz to visit our friends Heather, Josh, & Thomas over the weekend. Couldn't have asked for better weather, it was brisk but clear! In order to get to Santa Cruz, we had to pass through various farming communities (Castroville, Capitola, Watsonville, etc.) and I can't tell you how excited I was. I felt at home, driving through the fields. I got to see some artichoke plants in full bloom and realized that my plant has a ways to go! I'd never been up to Santa Cruz, so it was refreshing to go somewhere new.

We spent some quality time with Heather & Thomas, caught up on some new reality tv shows, ate some delicious food, and on our way down we stopped at one of our favorite places - The Point Lobos State Reserve. It was an amazing short trip!

Friday, March 20, 2009

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Running Camp

So after 8 weeks, my running camp has concluded. It was bittersweet, I've grown close to those ladies and they sure do keep me on my toes. I'm on the fence as to signing up for another camp (primarily due cost). All we've been hearing in the news and everywhere else (for that matter) is the dire need to save. America needs to buckle down and save as much as possible. With the uncertainty of this economy, you just never know.

I've talked it over with Carlos and he told me that if I decide to sign up, the cost isn't that horrendous and that he knows I will maximize the 8 weeks. He brought up a good point, we could save in other ways. He's also noticed a definite improvement and confidence in my running ability. We'll see what it comes down too, we have a week off and start back up end of March.

Whatever happens, I hope to keep this crazy schedule with 4:40am walk up calls on Monday, Wednesday, Friday. I'm finding that working out in the morning and getting it out of the way leaves minimal room for flaking. Especially if people are counting on you to show up :D

Time Change

Not sure what the general consensus is but this year's "spring forward" is killing me. I haven't adjusted to the time change like other years. I'm finding it harder to hit the hay because I'm wide awake. I'm not exhausted like I should be when I go to sleep (which allows me to sleep soundly). I'm also having to wake up in darkness. It's so much harder to peel myself out of bed when it's pitch black.

So I've come the the conclusion, there is no way I'd ever be able to live in Alaska or Iceland where they have the freaky summer schedules (over 20 hour of sun then darkness for the rest of the year). So if you're planning on taking me - I can visit but I can't live there :D

*Even the dogs are having a hard time adjusting, Carlos goes in and opens up their crates - they come out to greet him with lots of hesitation and they crawl back in.....it's a sure sign, they're not ready to be up yet ;D

OC Chili Winter Race Series #2

Brief note: check me out on the official website for the OC Chili Winter Race Series http://www.bookthatevent.com/Trail_Run/Home.html, scroll to the very bottom and you'll see a picture. I'm the awkward runner on the left hand side wearing a long sleeve green shirt with black shorts. I appear to have stick straight legs, which I blame on the creek we were having to cross. Race #1 was done on a cold rainy day, I think I was trying to figure out a way to minimize getting my shoes wet. So much for that - I got soaked and as I continued on my merry way, I was making squish, squash noises. Luckily, I wasn't alone!

This past Saturday, Carlos and I did the second race in the series. Since we got rained out for the 1st race (that route was modified and we ran primarily on paved trails) this time around we ended up hitting the hills. Carlos as always wanted to start at the front of the pack, since my left knee was tender and my right foot was being itself - I decided to take it nice and slow. I ended up runing/walking with Tom & Heather - husband and wife team that are members of OC Trail Runners. We started out of the gates in a moderate running pace, we inch over to our first hill and end up having to wait 5-10 minutes. The trail that we're suppose to be on is a single track - one person trail. So everyone pretty much had to wait their turn to start the climb. We were all clustered in various parts of the trail for at least the first mile (steep up hill) on the moderately flat and down hills we would run.

We were doing pretty good time and around the 3rd mile marker I somehow lost Tom & Heather. So I made the executive decision to start running at a moderate pace. I got to the finish line at 1 hour 8 minutes (it was 4.88 mile trail). As I kicked up my legs towards to end to propel myself to a strong finish I noticed the photog and decided to pose .... here it goes, check me out: http://orderpicture.com/index.php3?client=byr_7608681798&event=OC_CHILE_WINTER_TRAIL_RUN_2_2009&password=&start_list=72&max=91&event_cat=002.opc and here's Carlos: http://orderpicture.com/index.php3?client=byr_7608681798&event=OC_CHILE_WINTER_TRAIL_RUN_2_2009&event_cat=002.opc&password= .

Side note: not sure about you all but when I run my nose tends to run profusely, I'm use to it so I usually carry a paper towel with me to manage the mucus. So as I'm approaching the finish line, looking like a rock star (in my mind). I make it in and by the time Carlos sees me (at least 6 people see me before he does) he gives me this weird look and tells me "you have a bugger on your cheek". All I could do was wipe it in a panic and laugh. ONLY ME :S

Thursday, March 5, 2009

What's wrong with these people????

I was reading the newpaper and there's so much craziness happening.

Rihanna "getting back" with Chris Brown. He was just charged with two felonies. I read the police report - he didn't just put her in her place. He was actually going to kill her. I forget the stat but I remember that vicitms of domestic abuse are more likely to be killed by their abusers than any random act of violence.
http://www.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/Music/03/05/chris.brown.charged/index.html

This moron in Mission Viejo stabbed a puppy with a sword (WTF????)
http://www.ktvl.com/articles/puppy_1189278___article.html/mission_year.html

Then I find out that this Britisth actor - Robert "Rob" Knox, the kid who played Marcus Belby on Harry Potter (you need to see his face to remember him - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rob_Knox) was killed and his killer was just convicted: http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/europe/03/04/uk.potter.star.murdered/index.html?iref=mpstoryview

Dysfunctional: RIO DE JANEIRO - A Roman Catholic archbishop says the abortion of twins carried by a 9-year-old girl who allegedly was raped by her stepfather means excommunication for the girl's mother and her doctors. Is he on CRACK????
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29531755/

And my last one for today: MESA, Ariz. - A 2-week-old Arizona girl has died after being attacked by the family's dog in their home. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29530295/

I hate to be focusing on bad stuff, maybe next time I'll take the extra time to focus on "feel good articles" :D