Top Gearhead

I am totally addicted to the show called Top Gear. Bill and I discovered it on BBC America on Monday nights at 8:00 pm. One would think that this sort of show would not capture my attention, but it has.

Yes, the show is about cars. During the course of an hour, they will review cars, but it is so much more. There are 3 presenters, James May, Richard Hammond, and Jeremy Clarkson, who are absolutely hilarious. They love cars, but they also love to poke fun at one another and laugh. We frequently find ourselves laughing, too.

On last week's episode, Hammond and May challenged Clarkson to a race from London to Oslo. Hammond and May were to take a plane to Newcastle, then an overnight ferry to Norway. From the dock, they were to take another boat to Oslo. Clarkson had to drive a Mercedes super car through 8 countries (about 17 hours!). Who would win?

They pull crazy stunts like this one all the time. Hammond and May were shown drinking and dancing in the ferry while Clarkson was driving in the dark. All odds said the ferry would win, but the car actually took the title.

There is also a mystery driver named The Stig who races the cars on the test track. Sometimes, British celebrities show up as well to test drive a car. I have seen Dame Helen Mirren and Simon Cowell.

You never know what you will see on this crazy show. The British are so cool, too. I love listening to them talk. "This coupe has a small boot, but can go from naught to sixty in 3 seconds."

Check your local listings.

Oh, what a strange morning!

I was awakened this morning at 5:30 am by the sound of heaving. I know that sound very well. I jumped out of bed, raced to the bathroom trying not to hurt myself, grabbed the water bowl and dumped the contents in the tub, turned around, and got it under Lily's mouth about a second too late. Oh well. I figure at this point, with the amount of bile on the carpet, my whole rug will be cleaned soon. At least she didn't do it at 2:30 in the morning.

After relaxing for about 20 minutes after the great vomit dash, I got up and prepared for my run. It was a good run. I felt good and I was doing well. On the way home, I have something strange happen. I was running down the trail at a slight hill. There was a black woman walking in front of me heading the same direction. Another black woman came from the opposite direction. She saw me, them turned to run the other way. She looked back and saw that I was still coming, so she ran some more. Both ladies then stopped at a wide space in the trail, and waited for me to pass. As I ran by, the second woman looked at me and shouted "stop stalking the black women." I laughed and kept running. It was a joke...right?

Nodding Off

I am so bored right now, I am trying not to fall asleep. I have been trying to keep myself awake with chocolate kisses - that can't possibly be good. Thank goodness I can leave here in 20 minutes.

I Hate a Cheering Crowd

It is now less than 2 weeks to my first half marathon. I am pumped for it. I feel like I have trained enough. I know I will make the distance, but my new concern is the time. I would like to finish the race in under 3 hours, but I don't think it will happen.

I received my race packet in the mail the other day. My projected finish time is 3 hours, 14 minutes. I think that will be pretty close. I would like to trim 14 minutes off that time, but I seem to be training right in that range. Maybe the crowds and the music will push me along.

I had a horrible thought when I finished my run this morning. All of my friends will be done by the time I finish. That means that potentially they could all be at the finish line cheering for me to come in. I would hate that so much! I hated being cheered by a crowd. I am always slow, and in the last crowd at a race. When people cheer for me, I feel like I am some sort of Special Olympian trying to finish the race. I don't need to be cheered, I suck and I know it. Please don't make me feel any worse than I already do. Please do not draw any attention to me. Please do not make me feel lacking when you have been done for an hour.

If you are going to the race with me (and you know who you are), please be quiet. I'll see you at the end.

Bill is sporting a mohawk

Yes, my husband has a mohawk.

Wednesday night, Bill, Terry and I are sitting at the Sauce, drinking a few beers, and talking about our upcoming trip to Virginia for the half marathon. Terry mentions that Bill should get a mohawk for the race so he can look tough for the competition. The concept is not tough for Terry - he has sported a mohawk or two in his lifetime.

After a few laughs, I told Bill there was no way he would do it. Of course, my comments make it a challenge to my husband. Was I daring him to cut a mohawk on his head? He thought it was a good time for it since he is at home. I told him that the second he did it, he would get a call for a job interview.

So, we got home and changed for the evening. I was washing my face when I see Bill dig out the shaver and take one clean swipe down his skull. There was nothing I could do - I had to finish it up for him and at least make it look neat.

And, yes, he got a phone call from a potential employer on Thursday. The interview should be next week.

It's Beer Wednesday!!

Bill and I are going to The Flying Saucer tonight. We have been to the Sauce many times, but this feels special. I guess it feels so good because we have not been doing it regularly.

Ever since the pups arrived, I don't like to be out multiple times a week. I feel like it is unfair to them if we are gone all the time. Also, they are pretty darn cool, so I like to be around them as much as possible.

It feels like Bill and I are actually grown-ups going out for the evening. I can't wait to get my hands on a nice cold beer. It will be so sweet. I really need to work on my plate - I don't even remember how many I have to go, but I think it is about 30. I will be so glad to kick back and relax with our good friends in our place. I just hope it is as good as I remember.

I Love...

I love a good pedicure. There is nothing like it. You get to soak your feet in a warm water jacuzzi while sitting in a massage chair. Then, you get your feet cleaned, scrubbed, massaged, and painted. Every time I get one, I feel like a million bucks afterwards.

I can paint my own toenails, but it never looks as good as a real pedicure. I got one last night. I figured that I deserved it after my 16+ mile run on Saturday. I did complete what I needed to run, though my Garmin was malfunctioning. I am not sure exactly how far I ran or my time, but I know I did at least 16 miles.

Bill deserves a pedicure, too. He ran about 11 miles on Saturday, then participated in the UNC Wellness Super Sprint Triathlon for the second year in a row. Despite the rain, he did very well. He improved all of his times over last year except for T2. We expect it took longer since his shoes were soaked through and hard to get on. I was very proud of him. He would NEVER actually get a pedicure, but he does deserve something nice for all of his hard work.

I think after the half marathon (19 days away!), I may have to get another pedicure. I may need a facial, too.

The Weekend Ahead

Boy, oh, boy, do we have a busy weekend ahead!

Tomorrow morning, I will be running my longest distance ever - 16 miles! I am nervous, but I have been training for this day. I think I will be just fine. I learned a lot last week after suffering from heat exhaustion. I got a little light headed and stopped sweating right after 10 miles last weekend. I will be better prepared tomorrow. I have been hydrating for the past 2 days, and I will be filling my water bottles at every stop tomorrow morning. Bill is also running. He expects to do 10-12 miles.

After the run, Bill may go to a car show. I will likely stay home. If I can move, I should really clean our house because it has been a long time since it has been done. I have not been carrying my weight at home and I need to get some stuff done.

At 4pm, we take the pups to their training class. After class we need to go pick up the packet for Bill's race on Sunday. He is running less mileage Saturday to conserve energy for a triathlon. He will be participating the the UNC Super Sprint for the second year in a row.

So, after Bill's triumphant race on Sunday, we may go to Raleigh to enjoy the beer knurd brunch at The Flying Saucer. We have not been there for a few weeks, and we thought it would be a fun way to get the girls out to socialize. There is a nice deck at The Sauce, and dogs are frequent guests there.

Sunday night we have the concert - Journey, Heart, and Cheap Trick. It should be a great night of music.

So much to do in just 2 short days. Not to worry, we should be able to sleep on the 17th!!

The Dark Knight

Bill and I finally went to see the new Batman movie last night. We were supposed to see it in IMAX, but the show was sold out when we arrived. We went instead to a regular theater and caught the 8:00PM showing.

Maybe it was the driving from one theater to the other or the late time, or maybe it was just the anticipation, but the movie was not all that great in our opinion. I think both of us were a little disappointed. I guess we expected to be blow away by the movie that is breaking box office records and earning half a billion dollars. We just thought it was too long.

Sure, I thought Heath Ledger did a great job as The Joker. He had that quiet, controlled insanity that is very chilling. He had the laugh and mannerisms down, and he was definitely cruel. He was impressive. Other parts just failed for me. The female lead was a weakness yet again. What's the deal with Harvey Dent's face? It he was burned that badly, shouldn't his eye be damaged as well?

I don't know. It could have been too much hype. Any little problem is blown out of proportion when you are so looking forward to something. It just makes is all the worse when it doesn't live up to your expectations.

Poopzilla and The Goat

As of today, we have been living together for 3 weeks. The girls are doing very well, and they are definitely learning the rules and schedule of the house. As we get to know our pups better, we are able to give them nicknames.

Misty is now nicknamed Poopzilla. You may be able to guess why. The first time we walked her, we were surprised how much she can eliminate at one time. It is a small mound coming from a dog who is not that big, hence the moniker Poopzilla.

Lily is known as The Goat. Sometimes walking this dog is like walking a goat. She has a tendency to graze. She has also gone through a number of toys - even the ones for heavy chewers. If we gave her a tin can (which we would not do), I have no doubt she could eat it right up. Thank goodness she does not eat furniture or shoes.

Sounds like it would make a good book or cartoon - The Continuing Adventures of Poopzilla and The Goat. Stay tuned.