Commitment Issues

Clearly I have them. Despite the long term boyfriend/husband and 23 year commitment to my education, I like to bounce around from idea to idea. I think it is born from my impatience (which we all know I have). I've sampled almost all the blog templates. I try to become vegetarian at least 4 times a year. I binge plant shop and then forget to water them until they die.

Even more...during my track career, I have competed in the long jump, high jump, 100, 200, 400, 500, 600, 800, 1K, 1600, mile, 3K, 3200, 5K, 8K, 10K, 12K, 8 miles, 15K, 10 miles, 20K, half marathon, 30K, and marathon. For those readers who aren't trackies, these events comprise almost all possible competitions. The upside of this commitment issue is that I've experienced tons of events, enjoyed a range of competition challenges, and tapped into different mental and physical systems. The downside of this commitment issue is that I haven't given myself a chance to shine in any particular distance. This season alone, I have competed in the 800 (half mile), 10 mile, and half-marathon, all with mediocre results. I started the season training for the 800 and ended training for distance events (due to foot problems on the track). The below picture is of me trying to race a half marathon on half mile conditioning.



This post isn't all about me. I promise. Brad has basketball fever. Scratch that. Brad has Michigan State basketball fever. Unfortunately, we live in an area that doesn't value MSU or UM basketball as much as our old stomping grounds... evidenced by the people at the pub where we were watching the first UM game who booed when Michigan won. After that incident, we watched the MSU games at home. I can deal with booing for UM hoops, but I have a bit more life balance when it comes to March Madness than Brad has with MSU hoops!

Since the last post, Brad and I have hit up a few local restaurants...a great Tapas bar, our favorite Japanese establishment, the pubs showing basketball, and a few other places. I've enjoyed some delicious Jewish food over the past 2 weeks, trying out new places with one of my Jewish girlfriends (who just had a baby this morning).

I have some great pictures to post of a few recent events - dinner with friends, St. Patty's day drinking with other friends, date night, etc... I'll have to grab them off Brad's computer. Stay tuned.

As for right now, I'm dissertating (verb for working on my dissertation) with a glass of red wine. Joey is sitting on top of a pile of data. Brad is out running with a friend. Samantha is under the bed. Everything is right with the world.

PS - Dad, I opened the Bo Schembechler wine today. I took some pics of the bottle (which I'll post). It is DELICIOUS!

Continuing the Chinese theme...

The day after the Chinese New Year party, Brad and I went on a many hour walk around the city. We found ourselves over at the Boston Commons, hungry and a little tired, so we headed over to P.F. Changs for lunch. As we listened to traditional Chinese music (AKA - late 90s US techno) and ate traditional Chinese dessert (strawberry cheesecake for Brad, s'mores sundae for Laura), we enjoyed the break from our walk. Immediately following our 4 course lunch (whew), we walked over to the harbor. The day was beautiful - mid 60 degree weather, happy faces everywhere, dogs and kids playing together, couples meandering around town lazily - and time moved very slowly. By the time we got home last night, about 7 hours after we left for our walk, Brad barely had time to fit in a run before the cold air swept in, carrying with it a combination of rain and snow. Today, on my way to work at the high school, I saw Jamaica Pond frozen over, felt the car reluctantly drag itself through deep puddles, and watched as commuters scurried back to their fast paced work week with their waterproof wellies and North Face coats.

On the bright side, the reappearance of winter weather has snapped me back to reality. This weekend gave me a taste of spring/summer, when work slows down and fun picks up. I can't afford that mindset right now - deep in the heart of my research. Today, I interviewed my first subject...very exciting! This week, during my "Spring Break" (in quotes because such a break really doesn't exist in grad school), I'll be dissertating and job hunting (yes, I verb-ified the dissertation process).

Happy Chinese New Year...

...a little late!

This weekend, Brad and I went to our first Chinese New Year party. We headed up the north shore with Kit and Tanyika on Saturday night to our friend's place in Beverly. I've posted a couple of pictures below...but the pictures really don't capture the coolness of this event. Chris, the hostess, set up a loooonnnnng table dotted with plates, flower petals, and chopsticks and surrounded by plush pillows. You can see Brad, Tanyika, Kit, and me in the far corner.