The best kind of mail

I changed my blog header! I've been wanting to put some more current photos up for a long time. Nothing lights a fire under me to do those sorts of tasks than having much more important things to do, like writing a paper for grad school. By avoiding grad work I become all sorts of productive.

Sometimes this happens - the home computer doesn't have MS word,
the work computer doesn't connect to the wireless, and it all results in me looking really special.

I got a lot of good comments (for me, a lot is like 6) on my freak out post about how I can't handle the pressure of Daily Mile.  The gist seemed to be that I need to chill the heck out, a lot of people get too obsessed over numbers and end up just running for time/ignoring their pace, and I'd be wise to do the same. So I decided to relax on the MUST WEAR THE GARMIN AT ALL TIMES thing. Last Friday, I ran six miles with Lily, beginning my "no Garmin unless I feel like it" plan. It was very liberating. 

This weekend, I didn't wear anything except exercise clothes and pajamas, which makes it a roaring success in my book. Other than the grad work part, because I'm really lazy and prefer not to have to do any thinking in my down time.

Saturday morning I was supposed to do a swim/bike/run with the tri club, but something was wrong with the water that would make our skin melt off, according to the doctors/lawyers/scientists/people who don't teach elementary school and are really smart. So it was a 14 mile bike ride followed by a 5K with Lily and Jackie.

Sunday it was hot as balls, the type of day where walking to your car results in being bathed in sweat. I love both biking and running, but here's an example of a time when biking is vastly superior to running. While running sounded miserable, biking provided a nice breeze and was still do-able, and enjoyable. Mike and I rode just under 28 hilly miles.

Monday morning I did my first post-half ironman swim with Jackie at her fancy gym (she gave me a day pass). I printed a 2,500 yard masters swim workout for us. Not surprisingly, since I hadn't swam for nearly a month, I was a bit rusty. I'd really like to improve before my next tri, so I really need to stick to more regular, faster swims. Later on that afternoon, I procrastinated further on my writing by doing a half hour on the elliptical and reading Runner's World.

Going back in time to my wonderful weekend now - when I got home Friday night, I discovered that Emily had taken me seriously when I said that I expected birthday gifts, as you all should. Hers is going to be hard to top though.

I was way too excited to center this picture.

Please use my thumb for reference, and observe the circumference/height of that cookie.

We all know getting mail that isn't bills is super exciting, even better when you open a package to find something edible, even better when it's gigantic cookies from an amazing NYC bakery. I ate my first one Saturday night, and it was so huge that it gave me a horrible belly ache that lasted for the entire time we were watching Avatar. (Yes, that movie came out like ten years ago and we are just getting around to it, because that's how busy and popular we are). BTW, that movie is like 3 hours long, and about 2 hours too long in our opinion.

Sunday night I learned from my mistakes and ate the second cookie, but the pain was worth it.

On my way home from swimming, I did see a birthday present that could possibly top the cookies.

Just imagine if I invited you over for my birthday party and I had this set up.

When it comes to unpleasant tasks, are you a procrastinator like me, or do you just bang it out and move on with your life?