note to self: start even earlier
The quote of the day:
"The shoe companies get their dream match-up: Brazil, the Nike team, and Adidas gets France."
-- NPR, All Things Considered, on the upcoming finals in the World Cup.
Running news:
10.4 miles.
- dress
- put on sunscreen
- drink a large glass of water
- stretch
- read e-mail
Okay, I could do without one of those...but I really think drinking water helps. (ba-da-bing)
I set out and the first 5 miles were pretty good, because it was still relatively cool out. The traffic going over the hill into LA was already horrendous, something I didn't remember seeing before--maybe it lightens up after 7. I passed someone, and that provided me with enough spring in my step to speed me up for a mile or so. I maintained a pretty good pace for those 5 miles, and I thought to myself, "Self, we could just stop when we get home."
No, I had put the water out on the porch, I had psyched myself up for 10 miles--it would be 10 miles, dammit.
The second 5 miles was not nearly as good. I slowed down a lot. It got a lot hotter. After about 3.5 miles I took a walking break. I thought, I should get a heart rate monitor so that I know when my heart rate has dipped below the acceptable range--otherwise I'm ruining a pretty good workout.
I ran most of the way, however, and when I dragged myself in the front door I could feel those 10 miles. I did a more serious program of stretching than I've done recently, because I knew if I didn't I would get wound-up like a rubber-band operated toy.
Just in case you were wondering: some journalists are doing their job, but with the way things are going, the companies will win out.
I read this article before I made my oatmeal this morning, and I hesitated before cutting up a banana to stir in. I went ahead and put the banana into the oatmeal; I'm not proud.
So, Darin and I have an upcoming trip planned, and said trip was just complex enough that, because we left it until the very last moment, we knew we needed an expert on the case. A travel agent.
Conveniently, I did know of one travel agent. I sent Lucy mail and said, Here's what we're doing, I'd like you to do the magic incantations and make it so, if this is too weird feel free to tell me so.
She said no, it wasn't too weird, she'd be happy to do it...after all, she was already handling Ceej's version of the same trip. In addition, Lucy would be making the pilgrimage as well. It made me wonder who else would be going.
Let me put it this way: if Baltimore is on the losing end of a first strike in August, there's going to be a serious dent in on-line journaling.
Anyhow.
I called Lucy at her office and she has the sweetest phone voice. Must have really made her a star on those phone sex lines she used to work. She took all the information I gave her, translated it into English, and managed to book a trip for me. Checked all the possible flight combinations! Found us a hotel! Factored in getting to LAX at impossible hours!
Doing this sort of thing by the web is not, after all, always the best solution. Finding the people via the web...now, that's a good idea.
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