A letter to the President....

Mr Obama -

I worked hard to get where I am and own the things I do. I am only 28 years old but was taught by good parents to do the right things and work hard. I pay my bills on time (most of them, as on time as I can get) but I am not perfect. I have learned lessons that most young people must learn in order to succeed. Because of my work ethic, my long hours, and my own drive and determination, I am what I am. I own my own house (well, some of it...the bank technically owns the rest), my college degree (you still own a small portion of that, too), my own car (well, crap, the bank here, too...but I at least own a damn tire by now or a seat..maybe the rearview mirror), my credit cards (I DEFINITELY own those...despite the bank's best intentions), my dogs (I'm willing to negotiate on who owns them, highest bidder?), I have a good job and I work hard hours at that job (present 15 minutes notwithstanding) in order to own the parts of the above things that I do.

I realize I'm ahead of the curve. I realize that I have been very fortunate. But what I also realize is that your plans and intentions threaten to punish me for my hard work. You want to take what's mine, what I've worked for and what my parents worked in long, hard hours to own themselves and you want to give that to someone else. You want to give that to someone who's not put forth nearly the hard work, or who's not been nearly as diligent. You want to reward the misfortune of others by negating the effort that went into my good fortune (which, is by no means a fortune, but could be called good luck). You want me to share with people that have done nothing to warrant sharing with. (Trust me, I'm an only child, I know I'm not great at sharing anyway, but I at least understand the concept..)

If we are a team, if we are all in this together, then we damn well should be putting in the same level of effort. To you, the thug out on the corner that supposedly deserves to be "bailed out" but who refuses to get, and keep, a paying job and me - who goes to work every weekday - are the same. To you, the lady that scams the government by living off of Food Stamps, Welfare and Public Housing while remaining unemployed is the same as my parents - who put in 30 years each at the Phone Company (who are still bastards) and busted their asses to retire and live their dream on the Gulf Coast and dabble in small business as they choose. I ask you, where was that lady on the weekends that my parents were answering phone calls from work at 8a on a Sunday morning and having to go to the office? And where is that worthless bastard when I'm putting off the things that I want to do because I have to wait on and send out the data for our conference call in the morning? Where is that guy when I'm walking out of the office at 7p? They're standing in front of you with their hands out, that's where they are. The rest of us have our heads down and are busting our ass to make ends meet. We don't want government handouts because the American Dream is to get it done on your own. I don't want to fall behind on my payments because that means I'm a failure.

You bail out banks repeatedly as they drown further and further in their own quagmires, you bail out people that got fired from their jobs (whether it was their own fault or not) and make the company that fired them pay the lion's share of their healthcare, you bail out the people that didn't read the papers or listen to the explanations of what they were buying in that 3,000 sq. ft. house with no money down, and you bail out the domestic auto industry that has failed to stand up to the unions ruining their bottom lines for years, and you reward those and other unions by making it easier to infiltrate businesses that have long tried to keep them out. I don't understand, Mr. Obama, how that should make me want to work hard, to succeed, to push harder to get out of this economic crisis. Your examples seem to be that if I do nothing, if I just let others work hard for me, then I too will get to share in their riches.

You see, that's just not how I was raised. And I don't think it's how you were raised either. Why else did your parents move to America? Why else have you pushed those around you to excel and persevere? Why else do you send your children to the exclusive Sidwell School? Why did you want to be President? Because you expect more than failure out of those around you. You expect your peers to work as hard as you do. And, Mr. Obama, you were raised with a better expectation of America.

I must say that even though I didn't support you, I had hope for you. In just the first month of your presidency, you have lowered my expectations of Americans and dashed my hope in you. If I didn't think my parents would be disappointed, I would quit paying my bills, quit excelling at my job and quit expecting so that I, too, could stand to be rewarded by your society. Sadly, I still expect more out of myself, even if you do not.

-AW


“You cannot legislate the poor into freedom by legislating the wealthy out of freedom. What one person receives without working for, another person must work for without receiving. The government cannot give to anybody anything that the government does not first take from somebody else. When half of the people get the idea that they do not have to work because the other half is going to take care of them, and when the other half gets the idea that it does no good to work because somebody else is going to get what they work for, that my dear friend, is about the end of any nation… You cannot multiply wealth by dividing it.”

Dr. Adrian Rogers, 1931-2005

This Morning's Run...

4.9 miles, 9:28 pace. Felt fairly good. Morning running could be a good thing. Knee was starting to ache towards the end..need to figure that out. Didn't think I went quite that far.

I'll be passed out on my desk by 3p.

Tuesday's Fish Time

This is as close as I can get to what it actually was.....

400 WU
6x100 on 2:00 (K,D,P,S x25)
4x100 IM on 2:00
4x100 choice on 1:45 (fr, bk, fr, bk)
4x100 fr on 1:45
4x100 ch on 1:30 (bk, fr, bk, fr)
4x100 fr on 1:30
4x100 ch on 1:45 (IM, fr, IM, fr)
2x100 fr on 1:45
200 CD
3800 TOTAL

Fairly easy feeling. Hard work on anything IM and the 1:30 bk. That's not a fun interval when I'm struggling with backstroke. Need to remember to finish breaststroke kick all the way - I'm wimping through the last push - wasting speed. Free stroke felt all discombobulated - water possibly in inner ear throwing outtawhack.

I get annoyed when others don't put in the same level of effort as me - I need to work on that. Some are there just to stay in shape, not get better.

Oh, and I spent almost 35 total minutes on the phone with the phone bastards. I finally hung up on the stupid hold music - I was 10 minutes late for a conference call I had started on the other line. Stupid. Must try again today.

PHONE BASTARDS

It makes me laugh that most of my "headlines" are negative. Not every statement is negative - I promise.

I want to go on record, officially, and say that I hate AT&T. Scratch that, I REALLY FUCKING hate AT&T. I have for a long, long time - since my parents worked for the company (in it's many iterations: Indiana Bell, SBC, Ameritech, whatever they want to call it this month...). I used to feel like they were stealing my parents. Most of the other kids' parents worked closer to home, or never had to be on call, or didn't have random people (Mr. Jolly...really?) calling the house at all hours. As an adult, I realize that's kind of irrational and maybe I just never noticed the other parents' obligations. Also, I can't really hate too much on my childhood, the company wasn't all bad to them, and I was very lucky growing up.

That said, I fucking hate them now. Hate. Despise. Vehemently oppose. Dread. Abhor. Yeah, all those...and more. Talking to their Voice-operated menu is stupid, waiting on the phone for 10 minutes to get to a human is stupid. They treat you like you're stupid, and they don't ever hesitate to screw you over as hard as possible. Service is awful, and their damn monopolistic attitude/endeavors control my cell phone too! I can't get away from the bastards, and one would think I have more than paid my dues!!! I can STILL tell you where most of the Bell/AT&T/what-the-hell-ever offices are in Nashville, Columbus, Bloomington and the random places in Indianapolis - and in most cases what they do there. I think their unofficial motto is: whatever costs more, serves less - sign 'em up for that!!! I think the last time I spoke to an American when I called a number associated with "the phone company" was when my parents worked there and I used to call and ask when they'd be home.

So...today they're driving my ire by, of course, not picking up the phone (10 minutes on hold now, after 3 fighting with the voice-operated shit) and charging me a higher rate than I could get if I were to get AT&T services/DSL through MY FRIGGIN CABLE COMPANY. (I have another bone to pick with the DISH bastards - but that's an entirely different bout of blood pressure medicine. I have to get 250 damn channels to be able to watch hockey and cycling? And most of that's in a foreign language, mushy chick tv and random music channels...here, let me bend over further for you.....) So seriously...the DISH people can set up my DSL service and don't need me to have a home phone, but AT&T you require me to have one??? Really...isn't that interesting?

I want to go live under a rock right now. A rock. A large rock with heat, my own bed, some carpet and the dogs, but a rock nonetheless, where I don't have to deal with an AT&T monopoly on my communications.

TWENTY THREE FUCKING MINUTES I'VE BEEN ON HOLD. THEN W/IN ANOTHER 3 WAS PLACED BACK ON HOLD WHILE WAITING FOR THE "DISCONNECT" PEOPLE.....ABSO-FREAKING-LUTELY INCONCEIVABLE. NO WONDER IT'S A FRIGGIN MONOPOLY - YOU CAN'T GET RID OF YOUR DAMN SERVICE IF YOU'VE GOT ANYTHING ELSE TO DO THAT DAY....MIND-BLOWING. FUCK-TARDS.

Overstuffed...

So I put in my time today...that's for sure. I suffered.

I ran 2:20 ON THE TREADMILL. At this point I have no idea how far I even went. I put in the time in my own very bland, very boring version of hell. I ran the first hour at 5.7mph, the second at 5.5. Still sticking to the slow and easy stuff, on pace with the plan. Wish I knew how far I went, but it was certainily long enough. I couldn't have run any further, and was pushing through some significant knee/foot pain to get that far. Bribery with aggressive music....the good news: I did good with drinking plenty of water. Didn't have a gel or anything to eat (mistake) or even a mixed sports drink (mistake) but I did drink plenty of water.

I'm a bit concerned with the way my knees are dealing with these long runs. My feet were giving me more of the trouble today...but now I have some of the knee pain creeping in. The yoga class last night was clearly the saving grace for the run today. All-in-all, long run is done for this week.

After the run I hobbled downstairs and got in the pool to loosen things up a bit. Put in 1,000yds. Got in the hot tub afterwards for some quality stretching. The pool helped me feel MUCH better. The hot tub almost killed me.

Started to feel like hell in the hot tub. went into the sauna for all of 2 minutes thinking I could use it to dry out a bit. It went downhill quickly. I basically threw my clothes on and got the hell out of dodge and to the couch ASAP. I was either going to puke or pass out. It was about that time I figured out - the only thing I had eaten all day was the cereal at 10a....Running for 2:20 @ 3:30p....that's not enough.

Lesson re-learned. Went to Old Country Buffet for dinner and definitely caught up calorically. Haven't eaten there in years - I normally avoid buffets now - but it was just nice to shovel in food for awhile. I'm still so freaking full.

It must be true...right?

So I'm sitting on the couch, getting ready (ok, so I'm trying to get motivated to get the energy to get off my butt) to go run at the gym - since I completely missed the opportunity to run outside. It's been 40 degrees this morning, but my lazy ass didn't get up and go outside. Now the clouds are here and it's supposed to start snow/raining within about 45 minutes or so. GRRRRRR.

So anyway, I'm sitting here with the tv on, waiting for breakfast to be happy with the concept of running. Teen Kids News is on tv - I know that's ridiculous....but whatever.

Apparently when mice fart a certain kind of fart, it lowers their blood pressure. Thought to possibly be the same in humans. While a brilliant study, I think this could mean I'll never be able to be in the same room with some of my more important friends ever again....in the sense of low blood pressure, I mean...of course.

http://www.livescience.com/health/081023-farts-blood-pressure.html

Maybe a quick nap before the run.....

Swimming...

400 WU
8x50 – Dr/Sw on 1:00
16x100 on 2:00 – VO2 Set. Fastest possible steady pace (slow 1:13, fast 1:09 – last one, most 1:11)
50EZ
12x50 K on 1:00
200 CD
1000 Sw Steady & Relaxed
4250 TOTAL

Holy crap...what a great swim. I'm tired as hell, don't get me wrong. Noah almost fell apart with a calf cramp. I actually felt like a swimmer during hte last 100 - a 1:09 - hot damn! The burn, the effort...worth it. Quality workout.

Things we should all think about....

What do you do when fear strikes? Do you hesitate? Does the energy and possible greatness that moment had to offer pass you by never to be seen again? Do you get pitched into an oblivion that was avoidable had you just fully engaged and taken the wheel out of fear's hands? Or do you dig with all your might and thrust yourself into life's moving wall of unpredictable waters?
-Mark Allen

I am in a foul mood...

And I'm not really sure why. I can rattle off a few reasons, but I'm not sure they're important. I'm just being snarky and scowling.

I match the weather.

I can be this tired on Tuesday?

It's like new ground here.....I kind of feel like I've been hit by a truck. It could just be today though....I've worked hard today, at work! One of those days where I stayed pretty focused (always a battle) and didn't get many projects done, but I plowed through a lot. I'm anxious for Dan to get home and would like to get through the rest of the meetings this week. Head down, plowing through.

Swim tonight was a bit grueling, but the time intervals were long enough that nothing really hut at all. Was supposed to be an "endurance" day, but I felt it a bit worthless. I think a lot of people see "endurance" and it gives them a free pass to schlep off. I get annoyed as hell when people slack off - we're all here doing the same thing, you can make the intervals if you just work a little bit, don't be lazy. But...I guess it's not that important, I get out of it what I put into it.

400 WU
200K on side
6x200 on 3:15 (was supposed to be 3:00) - Desc 1-3, 4-6
4x25 on :30 - H/Ez, Ez/H by 1/2
2x set:
(2x100 on 2:30 - 1-H, 2-EZ
2x50 on 1:30 - 1-H, 2-EZ)
5x200 on 3:30 - Neg Split, Desc 1-5
200 WD
3800 total

I got in the pool while everyone else was doing the 200K, I swam a random 100, then went back and did the "warm up" and Kick at the end to catch up.

I swapped clothing and ran a quick 3 upstairs. Just under 30 total, was running right around 9's. Walked about 1/2 afterward. Still some odd soreness from Sunday's run, my calves are sore and one of my sternum muscles is a bit whacked.

Da Do Run Run...

Almost 12mi once all was said and done on today's run in the cold. That's counting the warm-down walking laps in the parking lot. Right at 11.5 running. 2:05.33 total time on my watch. Still keeping with the run for 20/walk 2 thoughts....haven't done a long run in a couple of weeks, so I figured it would be a long day. Throwing in a bit of walking helps keep me moving a bit longer.

It was a bit chilly, around 37 when we started, so we did have some debate on how many layers would be right and hem-hawing around a bit. I went with the little compression shorts, the tights, the Zensah calf sleeves, a tight tank base up top and my thick long-sleeve Pearl top. At the last second I decided to throw on one of my light long-sleeves in the middle. (That quickly came off at our first walk break...spent the rest of the 2 hours tied around my waist.) Worked out really well, felt good most of the way...did lose the gloves pretty early, too.

Felt pretty decent as far as running goes, we went out fairly quickly - having to force ourselves to slow down a bit. Had a twinge in my left knee about 4mi in...not too sure what it was but it wasn't really bad. Towards the end I just started to fall apart, as normal. My left hip really started to bother me - I figure hip flexors - and my left knee was just ridiculous...maybe gastroc or something like that. It's only gotten worse since the run, going to ice a bit. Other than that, typically sore back just from the effort but not a bad run. Picked it up a bit in the last copule of miles - but mostly just survival.

Pleased with the run, held most of it around 10min/mi. Decent effort for this point. Hoping to stay on track for awhile now.

Yay

He called. He shouldn't have had to. But he did. I'm happy about that.

Thursday's Swim (on Thursday's typing!)

Whew! That one was tough! As a general rule, you can judge how hard a swim workout was by how long I keep sneezing after it. It's 10p, I was out of the water by 8:30...I inhaled quite a bit of chlorinated water.

I was late to practice so I had to squish in a tiny warmup and then jump right into the set. I did, like a good girl, go back and make up the yardage, then wound up swimming further than the practice called for! AND I even threw in some stroke/IM work. AND it even felt good! At the end!!! Not the prettiest stroke on some of the faster intervals, and had to just slosh around through the last set, but I got it done and I was paying attention...so I'll still take it.

Damn I'm really friggin tired though...headed to lalaland soon.

200 WU
4x100/1:40
50 EZ on 1:00
4x100/1:30
50 EZ on 1:00
4x100/1:20 (ouch-made them all w/around 5-7 sec - this was the end for everyone else...)
50EZ on 1:00
4x100/1:30
50 EZ on 1:00
4x100 on 1:40
50 EZ on 1:00
4x100 on 1:40
400 Swim
4x100 IM order (Dr/25,K/25,Sw/50)
100 IM (1:21)
300 WD
4050 Total

I just sneezed twice in a row....ugh. To Seymour for an epic meeting tomorrow AND THEN TO THE CIRQUE SHOW with the girls!!!! Weekend with pound puppies, a long run, a schlep swim (junk yards) and some quality sleep......heck yeah!

Mucho travel in the next few weeks. Right now we've got CA, TN, KY and 2 others in IN. We've yet to schedule OH, IL, MI, IN (which include another 8 locations). But I get to ski in Cali. A weekend away...much needed.

And just for the record....Screw Valentine's Day.

Tuesday's Swim (Thursday's typing)

Ladder - s/k. Hypox & Anaerobic. Solid splits.

400 WU
1x100/1:30-even pace
4x25/1:00-S,no breath
1x200/3:00-even pace
4x25/1:00-K u/w
1x300/4:30-even pace
4x25/1:00-s,0 breath
1x400/6:30-even
4x25/1:00-K u/w
1x400/6:30-neg split
4x25/1:00-s,0 breath
1x300/4:30-neg split
4x25/1:00-K u/w
1x200/3:00-neg split
4x25/1:00-S, 0 breath
1x100/1:30-neg split (1:13)
400 WD

3 mile run after w/Nila. Slow & easy.

Shorter than normal dist. day. Need to shorten turnover on 25. Worst cramp ever in calf during WD. Swimming felt solid form-wise, though some pain in the right elbow and left wrist during the first half was a bit odd. Will have to keep an eye on the elbow to see if I'm doing something weird during catch. Was turning fairly quick times, though, and feeling solid. Tired at the end but pushed out a GREAT last 100 - first 50 was mediocre to say the least, I was really counting on the negative split. To come in and see that it was a 1:13 at the end of a tough workout is something I can dig.

I've been thinking a lot about hearing someone say "Is there any way this will help us?" about the 25's with no breath at some point. Then the next day being told that the workout we did was the exact same as ISF's. I put faith (from time-to-time) that our workouts are logical and will be doing good. Noah is getting closer and closer and I'm pretty sure he could put the hurt on me in a LCY pool or anything under about 300 yds. He gets flipturns - I'm done. Our little group is pounding out much quicker shorter yardage, but I worry that we're not getting enough of the long stuff in. I know the shorter distances done fast do transfer to longer distances when we're swimming 3500 - 4k/practice. But we'll just say my jury is still out. I very much enjoy not having to think about it though, someone else telling me what to do in the pool is nice. There's a flipturn clinic tonight, it should be entertaining if I can keep Nila/Noah/Tanya in the pool for it.

I was well-rested for this workout though, since I hadn't worked out in about 4 days. Mental break from all the shit. Still struggling a bit from time-to-time with the relationship (or lack thereof) issue. I just want to skip past the uncomfortable-ness and the dressing up and the weird parts back to the sweatpants, morning-hair, burping part. I dig comfort and don't like it when there are pretenses. I would like to have my relationship back, flawed as it might be, because I feel like I'm missing a damn good friend who knew me better than most people. But growing isn't a bad thing, growing together is just preferable.

Uft...

There WAS a swim workout last night...and a run. Between the two of them they totally kicked my butt.

There was also THE worst leg cramp I have ever had. In my calf?! AFTER swimming all that way...first length of the warmdown. Hilarious.....I flopped around like I was drowning...had it been deep water I might've been. It's still tight/sore today....

I haven't posted the workout yet...more than a day later. Ridiculous. And I'm going to bed. Now.

Humbug.

I've officially started my "Screw Valentine's Day" attitude. So I respectfully request the avoidance of all things schmoopy during discussions between now and then... So.....screw valentine's day and the rest of you happy schmucks.

Ha...

Woke up with the intentions to run around 8:30 - 9. Got a bit sidetracked - it was windy as all hell (sustained 24mph winds) and I got hungry. Plus, MarioKart arrived yesterday.....an irresistable lure. Noah woke up shortly after me and the morning got sucked into playing MarioKart with people around the world. Had coffee bought for me (thanks Nila!) and volunteered at the Anderson Animal Care & Control for a few hours (Adoptathon next weekend - 50 adoption goal....go get a new kitty or puppy to love to Valentine's Day!). Went to shower/sanitize/disinfect/depoop and head to the Indianapolis Home Show. Grabbed Texas Roadhouse for dinner (red meat!) and we're back at home totally relaxing on the couches.

Slightly less pathetic than watching the dog show by myself - watching tv with the dogs and another human....UFC fighting. Prediction: asleep and in bed before midnight.

Fifty degrees at 8:45a....how awesome is that. Supposed to be almost as warm tomorrow - totally running outside. Stoked.

Hmmm

The struggles continue.
Reached out to apologize - with encouragement that fretting wasn't doing anyone (me) any good. Shit or get off the pot. So I did - well, I didn't have much choice...but I did it.

No phone call. Guess that's my answer and all the info I needed. Second chances really are the opportunity to screw things up the same way twice. I repeat - insanity is doing the same thing more than once and expecting different results....I thought I had it this time, thought we were good, gave my heart back. Now we accept hurting and get started healing. No sympathy needed. It's my own deal.

For rent: One used, slightly beaten up heart and soul. Good cook, even better eater. Somewhat athletic. Slightly depressed, but working on that. Buyer must enjoy dogs and compromise, be willing to put up with some insanity and the occasional pity party and be good with laughter. Must be willing to accept that I have 4 tattoos, Uggs and a really hard head. Perfect candidate has bottomless financial resources, voracious appetite for sushi and thick skin. Item has been returned a few times - newer models or missing features cites as reasons. No current market value listed.

IM-licious

Apparently there's some evil conspiracy plot to kill me. Almost all practice focused on stroke work? Whoosh - that's the energy leaving my body. Somewhat kidding, it felt good to just go do something and get it done. Did kind of feel all cattywompus through the IMs.

400 WU
4x200 on 4:00 (Dr, Sw, K, Pu/50)
5:00 swim for yd. (400 yd almost - held 1:15 pace until about 4:00, then just quit focusing)
4x (100 on 2:30 - IM Drill, 200 on 3:30 - IM)
4x (25 on :30 K FAST, 50 on 1:00 K)
8x75 on 1:20 (Desc. 1-4, 5-8)
500 WD
4200 YD total

Just another day...

It's full-blown winter and I have sunk down to that low place where I don't often find myself. Wallowing, pity parties and just a general listless depression pretty much describe where I'm at. Worse: I've been here for awhile, making a bunch of those around me miserable. Top it off: to a degree I've done this to myself. Icing on the cake: I'm having a tough time pulling out of it.

Before Silverman I tweaked my normal cycle to avoid having an even more unpleasant day in the middle of the desert - some things just don't belong in Special Needs bags. Ever since I've had things off-kilter with the when and the how. I've done this before and if I get back on track w/in a month things usually just work out in the end, maybe a rough month but nothing serious. It's now been since the end of October and I'm still not back on the regular cycle - which means that chemically my body is a mess. And it's finally caught up to me.

I'm emotionally a wreck. I'm normally good at fighting off the depression that nags at me from time-to-time. I keep lashing out at people and just generally being in a crap-tastic mood. Don't want to do anything and feel pretty sorry for myself most of the time. It's taken me longer to realize what's going on and why this time and I still can't seem to fight out of it.

Worst: I think I've ruined what was a good thing before I even realized what I was doing. I've pretty much been making Dan miserable for the past month or so - nagging & bitching & whining - I would've left me a long time ago. I've not been listening when we've been talking. And now I accomplished what I was unwittingly trying to - I've apparently chased him away.

Given the chance, now that I know what's going on, I want nothing more than to reach out and apologize and ask for help. I've been playing with fire and ignoring what I know the consequences of that are. I've been down this road before and it's never really pleasant. I'm equally certain that if I did talk to him he would understand, I just hope I get that chance.

Meanwhile I know what to do, keep pushing through and stay busy. For the next month or so I need to just keep my head above water, let things come back down to an even keel of normal. And when it does get bad (as it is tonight) to sometimes go with the flow and sleep or just stay quiet. Mostly, to just keep pushing through.

Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. Depression is a daily battle that sometimes you can get ahead of, but never really goes away. I don't want to call Dan - I want this all to have been a joke and he will have been enjoying his vacation and he'll call. I'm being a stubborn damn mule and I'm aware of that, too. I despise admitting I'm wrong, especially when it means admitting a weakness. In some instances, though, it's necessary.

Hello IT Bands...

So my IT bands and my PFs are NOT happy with me. Had some twinges on the shins while running also, but not too concerned about it. Mostly the little twinge pains of things warming up or getting tired.

10.5 miles on the treadmill...twice through it's cycle where it automatically shuts off after an hour...pure torture. 2 hours and just a few extra seconds. Clearly running slow....5.5mph for most of it (still faster than "the plan" wants me to run...but sheesh, I'm bored at this pace...it's like just keep running however long it takes until you want to put a pencil in your eye and things start to hurt...then you're about a mile from finishing...) Still taking walk breaks every 20 minutes, grab some water and relax a bit. Highest my HR was today was 160 at the end...so I was clerly rested and feeling relaxed.

So...it'll work for now. Long run done, way to open up Feb!

(And I've decided that if you weren't joking - you are an ass. If you were joking - I am the ass. Either way, my reactions to the entirety of this weekend and most of the people I have come across during it have been a bit irrational. So....if I've pissed you off, I'm sorry. If I haven't, just wait.)