Oh Blessed Sleep!

After having a hard time sleeping Sunday night/Monday morning, I was pretty tired last night. I fell asleep rather early and went right into a deep sleep. A deep sleep until about 4 a.m. I was awakened with cramps. Yes, cramps - that lovely monthly reminder that I am indeed a woman. I had to get up and take 3 Motrin. About a half an hour later, I was finally able to rest again.

The alarm woke me at 6:05 for my morning run. Needless to say, I wasn't very happy about it. I left the house at about 6:40 for my 3 mile run. It was one of those runs where nothing is quite right. Your legs feel heavy, your mind cannot quiet, and your rhythm is not working. It feels as if a chain is coming out of your back and pulling you backwards for every step you move forward. I made it to almost 1.5 miles, and needed a break. I walked a few minutes, then continued to run the rest of the distance. It was a tough run, but I did it. I ran 11 miles last week, and I hope to repeat it this week. I had better get a good night's sleep tomorrow!

Hooray for Harry!

I finished Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows last night. I thought that it was just a wonderful ending to the series. Yes, the body count was high in the end, but I was OK with it. It was sad to see the demise of some of the characters - a few did really shock me. I thought JK Rowling did a wonderful job of bringing the story to a close. I cried during the epilogue. I lost a lot of sleep as well. I was too jacked on Harry Potter for a proper night's sleep. I hope I will be able to get some rest tonight. I have to say - I can't wait for the movie version of this book!!

Sweet/Not So Sweet

Sweet!

• My husband made me a special dinner last night. He went shooping at Whole Foods, and devised a menu which he printed up in Word. Last night, Cafe Morrison served: strawberry spinach salad, grilled shrimp, baked chicken stuffed with apple raisin herb dressing, Scandanavian potato salad, lemon tart, and strawberry & blackberry tart. There was also a selection of specialty beer. It was as good as it sounds.
• My company does a loss incentive bonus. It encourages all employees to work effeciently and mimimize waste. After your 6 month review, you are eligible. If your review is good, you will get a retroactive bonus for your share since the day you started. I found out yesterday that my bonus was put in with my July payroll. I was expecting maybe $100 - it is more than 1 month's salary!!! And the Nordstrom sale is still going on!
• I got my copy of Harry Potter #7 from the library.
• The air at work has been fixed.
• I ran a new distance this morning - 3.5 miles!! I ran the whole way and felt pretty good at the end.

Not So Sweet

• My car is in the shop. They can't figure out what is wrong with it. The "Failsafe Engine Mode" will click on every once in a while. The car loses about 50% of its power. It will reset if I pull over and shut off the motor. I hope it doesn't happen when I am on the highway.
• My friend used the words "heartbroken" and "bawling" in her review of HP #7. I don't want Ron or Hermoine to die! I'm scared!
• I still can't find a bathing suit that I like. I need a second one for Antigua, but I look horrible in all of them. What's the point of running 10 miles a week? I'll keep running anyway.

It's Getting Hot in Here

The air conditioner is broken in my office. I was fine this morning, but as we pass 2 pm, I have fears for the worst. It is so stuffy and warn right now - I am not looking forward to 3 hours from now!! At least I am wearing my beautiful new light top from Ann Taylor Loft. It is keeping me somewhat cool. I think I was cooler running on the treadmill at the gym Sunday.

Anniversary Sale

Today is one of the best days of the year - Nordstrom's Anniversary Sale!! You show not be surprised to know that I was in Nordstrom at 7:15 am this morning to enjoy the sale. I purchased 3 great pairs of shoes, a necklace, and some things for my dear husband. One of the sales people was telling me about another customer who said that her boss closes the office every year for the Friday of the Anniversary Sale. I asked which company it was - I would love to work for a boos who understands the importance of this event!!

Yes, we are going!

I got the approval, the tickets are booked, and we will be going to Antigua!!

We are very excited, but really trying not to talk/think about the trip. We don't want to jinx it. I know I have done it, and I guess most people do. You build up in your mind how much fun something will be. You think it will be so wonderful, then when it does not meet your expectations, you are just devastated. Suddenly, it is not that the trip was just OK; the trip was horrible or miserable. Every little thing seems to be out of proportion because it was not how you thought it would be. Instead of it was relaxing, it is it was boring! So, I am trying not to be excited. It is hard to do, and I am still 3 months away!

Vacation, Vacation - Can I have a vacation day?

Bill and I finally decided this weekend what we want our vacation to be. We picked a week in October to go to the Sandals Resort in Antigua. We have been thinking about it for quite some time, so it is nice to have things decided.

Bill has approval to take the week off from his job already. I requested vacation on Monday, which has never been a problem before with my supervisor. It is now late Tuesday, and I have heard nothing yet. I have airplane tickets to book! I need to start dreaming of tropical breezes, lush gardens, sparkling pools, and pina coladas!! Please, please give me approval before I burst!

New Babies!!

I am so excited to say that our dear friends, Lisa and Kevin Bonsor, are parents!! Their twin sons, Corbin Dean and Broderick (Brody) Pierce, were born yesterday at 12:14 and 12:15 pm. It has been a long struggle for Lisa and Kevin. Bill and I are so happy for them. Their wishes have finally come true in these two beautiful boys. I can't wait to see them in person!

My Aching Legs!

My legs are sore! I ran 3 miles this morning. Gotta get ready for the Carrboro 10K in October. It will be here fast. My legs ache, but in a good way.

2 1/2 Stars for Harry

We saw the new Harry Potter movie last night in a sneak preview. It was a tricky start - our theater had a fire alarm go off just before the movie began. We all had to evacuate the building until the fire department arrived to give us the all clear. Wouldn't you know it - it was raining at the time!

Anyway, after about 8 previews, our movie finally began. I will say that I liked the movie, but only because it is part of the Harry Potter series. I think it is probably my least favorite of the 5 movies so far. It was very dark, and many of the recurring characters had little to do. You barely saw Snape or Hagrid - the movie mostly focused on the good kids. Heck, Draco Malfoy was barely in it either. I think part of the problem is that the book is over 800 pages. To make a movie of about 2 hours and 15 minutes, they needed to cut to the bare bones of the story, the part that continues the story. From what I remember in book 5, there was a reporter named Rita Skeeter who made life tough for Harry. She was not even mentioned in this story. There was very little depth to the plot.

One good point-I had forgotten about the prophecy Harry heard. I no longer fear from Harry's life as we near the release of book 7 in 10 days. It seems that killing Harry would go against the prophecy unless Voldemort lives. I just can't see J.K. ending the saga that way. So, who dies? I don't know now, but I will soon!

MJ Update...

I saw my wonderful Marc Jacob shoes on Neiman Marcus Last Call today - they were over $100 more that I paid for the shoes. I got a nice warm, fuzzy feeling inside. I am wearing them right now. Wouldn't you know it - it is raining as we speak. Hope it stops for at least a little bit around 5:30 pm...

***I wish I knew why I cannot add titles to my posts today***

Bill and I did finally have our weekend of nothing. It was wonderful!! We slept in late, read books (The Prada Paradox was great!), watched movies (Music & Lyrics, Ghost Rider, Marie Antoinette), and relaxed!! I had a "Joyce" day on Sunday - that's a family phrase which means that I did not even get out of my pjs during the day.

Now, we are back in the swing of things and going out tonight. I am ridiculously (isn't Ridiculous the spell you use to defeat the Boggart?) the excited to say that we are going to see a sneak preview screening of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix tonight courtesy of Citi/Smith Barney. I am sure my stockbroker meant for it to be a family outing - something to take the kids to see. I am 35 years old and can't wait to see the new film! Yes, I am 35 on the list and the library to get book 7! Feel free to tell me who dies, though. I hate to cry, so I would rather know what is going to happen before I read it. I wish I knew who is going to die...

4 on the 4th

I did it!! I completed the 4 on the 4th four mile race in Carrboro yesterday morning. I finished the race in second to last place. The only person I beat was a 60ish year old man who had abdominal surgery last week and could not run. He walked the course. I finished in about 55:48 (I have not checked the official time) which was within my goal of 56 minutes.

Yes, I am a painfully slow runner. Yes, I was a little bummed being paced by the city truck that was picking up the cones after the race. Yes, I wish I was faster and could have beaten that one lady I ran behind the whole race. Yes, I took 3 walk breaks that were about 200 yards total. But, the point really is that I finished the race. Three months ago, I could not have run a 1/2 mile. Yesterday, I ran 4. It is something to build on, to train to get better. I have already signed up for the next training course in the fall. I have the Carrboro 10K in October, you know.

What did we do for the rest of the day? Read, sat around the house, and watched a movie. I didn't see a single firework, but it was a good 4th for me.

Wild and Horrible West Virginia

This past weekend was our annual trip to West Virginia to go whitewater rafting and camping. It was not exactly an idyllic weekend. Here are a few things that went wrong:

1. We were supposed to take Friday off. I did, but Bill was stuck at work with the big move. He was not able to take the day off nor did he get off early - he got off work about an hour late.

2. I went to take Sammy to the kennel for the weekend. No one made a reservation for her and the kennel was full.

3. It was pouring down rain at about 7:00 pm Friday evening when we were trying to pack the car.

4. We argued about whether to even go, but did decide to go. We arrived in WV at about 10 minutes to midnight.

5. The stupid, drunk idiots in the area next to our campground kept all of us up until about 4:30 am.

6. It started raining again. Sammy got to sleep in a tent (OK, that one is actually a good thing).

7. I fell out of the boat.

8. I fell out of the boat during the only rapid to have a photographer.

9. The entire falling was captured on film.

10. My "friend" Janet bought the picture with my leg pointed straight in the air as I tumbled around in the water. She thought it was a good picture.

There were points in between that were actually good - Our friends all pitched in to get our tent set up, our boat was the only one on our trip, we spent the weekend with Sammy who was wonderfully well behaved, and we sat around the campfire and drank beer most of Saturday night.

Still, I think I am retired from the whitewater adventures.