OUCH!

sorry it's been so long...

i've been running outside a lot lately, usually 3 or so miles a day at wash park. it's nice because the track is gravel and has saved me a lot of knee pain. well, the past two days i ran on the treadmill at my apartment instead which has wreaked HAVOC on my knees (i forgot how brutal running on a surface with no "give" is.) not only did i run on the treadmill, but i ran a mile and a half more, and minute and a half faster miles...yeah. ouch. i have notice how toned i'm getting though, which is reason enough to keep running!

I'm trying to keep my messages shorter so you don't have so much to read lol. to sum up the past two weeks:
1. i'm still seeing cute french intern (no chemistry at all, but i love his background and culture)
2. my stalker gave up (i told him that all the times i said "no," NO is what a really meant)
3. the guy i met on myspace and i have a date tonight
4. i turned 21 (yay!!)
5. school is out for the summer...i have no idea what to do with myself...

What to do with your life? Welcome to my world.

Madelaine, It took me awhile to digest your long commentary and I am now finally blogging my comments. I know each generation has its fashion does and don't's and the tuck in your shirt rule of yesteryear doesn't make sense to you. I can appreciate that. I came from the generation and so did those before me that did tuck in our shirts so it seems like a very sensible thing to do -- and to me seems more attractive and put together. Since I've had six children, the untucked look has came in handy as my waistline expanded. But it was more of a cop out for me or an acceptance of the fact that I looked better with the untucked look. I aspire, however, to once again tuck in my shirts as a sign of slimming down and getting back to my former slender self.

To answer your question about whether I was ever confused about my life, the answer is yes and to this day, I am still confused about what to do about my life. When I was your age, I pursued studies that interested me but I never really had a passion about what career I would have. My personal relationships ended up dictating my direction and for that I am sorry. So, for example, I gave up my dream to go to medical school to accomodate plans to get married. And then I had you and that was that. I am very happy to see that you are determined to find your career and pursue it before entering into a permanent relationship. Along the way, I end up getting my education and working wonderful jobs but kept having children that steered my focus back to family and home. I have been able to pursue small dreams and passions but have had to devote most of my energy to my family. I don't regret that my life turned out this way but part of me still wishes I could pursue a career passion of mine. I even thought that maybe I could still do the medical school thing -- if they even accept people as old as me. But for today and this summer, I am pursuing my triathlons, my gardening, my volunteer work and my quest to keep my life in order.

What are you thinking about doing with your future? Mom

was this EVER in style?

I'm sorry, let me forewarn you that i'm about to have a slight rant.

alright, so we all know that the 70s, 80s, even 90s have all come and gone, but are now very apparently creeping back into the fashion world. hey, i'll admit it, half the time i'm probably dressing like you did mom when you were my age. maybe minus the gigantic permed hair and the high waisted pants, but regardless, "old school" is definately cool now...

one thing i don't understand, and may never understand, is the t-shirt tucked into jeans look. WHO CAME UP WITH THIS?! honestly. a tshirt? and jeans? neither one is dressy, nor will either one EVER be dressy, so why do people have the compulsion to tuck one into the other like they are instantly glamifying themselves? i don't see the logic...i mean, i can understand maybe, if a middle aged man with little to zero fashion sense was trying to pull this off, but anybody born after 1970 should probably not be commiting this fashion faux pas. example: i was walking around campus today and out of the corner of my eye noticed a poor, unfortunate soul who was obviously running very late for class. he was practically tripping over himself and his rolley back pack to get where he needed to be. as if this sense of urgency (and the rolley backpack) weren't enough, he had on high water jeans, white tube socks and white tennis shoes, a polo buttoned to the top that was tucked ever so meticulously into his jeans...WHY???? albeit a small one, i think one of my new life missions is to destroy this trend entirely...

so i think i told you i had a date with philippe the other night. not exactly a date...i went out to dinner with friends, then he came over afterwards, around 10pm. he brought a bottle of wine, which i have got to say is one of the coolest things about him...i don't think we've had a date yet where he hasn't brought wine. i don't mean to stereotype, but this whole french thing is really cool. so far so good...the more i get to know him, the more interested i'm becoming. it definately wasn't an instant thing. we're not "dating" persay (i wouldn't say anyway) but he has let the word slip on occasion. already though, i like him more than andrew, the very persistent youngin (who by the way invited me to go to mexico this weekend...he doesn't give up!), so i don't mind the "d" word. we only talked for an hour or so before he got an urgent call from his roomate (one of their old friends had just died...) and had to leave.

ok, just for curiosity's sake, mom were you EVER confused about what you wanted to do with your life? i mean, you always seem so secure in what you want, and so secure in the fact that you HATE that i don't. do you have this mentality because you went through a colossal phase of confusion like me, or simply because you don't understand what it's like to have your head in a million different places? i STILL can't decide what i want to do with my life...i wish i could have 10 or more different professions and just switch among them every year or so...

My Weekend Workout and the Garden

My weekend wasn't quite as exciting as yours was given that you're in the dating scene. My excitement revolved around getting my garden going with my partner Julie -- we woke bright and early on Sunday and worked all morning laying down soaker hoses and fabric, digging mounds for the pumpkin patch, raking in compost, and building rows of raised beds for our vegetables. Good "clean" fun. This photo is of the boys last year in garden. So cute.
Saturday morning I headed off to Cherry Creek Reservoir for a Transition Clinic with CWW. We worked on getting through T2 in the triathlon where you ride in on your bike, dismount, change shoes and start running. We did two whole loops -- 3 mile bike ride, 1 mile run around the track, 3 mile bike ride, 1 mile around the track. A nice little workout which I topped off with a stop at Jamba Juice. And you'll proud of me for downsizing my Berry Fulfilling to a 16 oz. Afterwards, I took a 1/2 walk to my new favorite playlist and then enjoyed a neighborhood barbeque hosted by the cute 6th grader next door. Dave graciously handled all four soccer games on the kids calendar to accomodate my gardening and workout plans.
So this week I'm back at the daily workout with plans to take off Friday to pick up Harrison in Gunnison. What you doing these days for your workout? Or are you just trying to survive finals this week? Any new diet tips for me? Mom

weekend recap...

My weekend was full, and very fun!! Friday night I went over to a girlfriend's house to hang out. We had a few friends over to have a few drinks and watch movies. Justin, my ex, came over to hang out to. It went really well, I'm so glad we've been able to stay good friends. He's really one of the best people I have ever known and it would be such a shame to lose that relationship...who knows, maybe in the future the timing will be right for us, but for now I'm just glad that we are able to stay friends. I didn't get to sleep until 5am as the sun was coming up...
Saturday I had to work a double at my restaurant. This means I went in from 12-3 for the lunch rush, then again from 4.30 to 9pm for the dinner rush. During my break I squeezed in lunch with a friend. After work I ran to the Bluebird theater to meet two other friends so we could see our coworker, kyle, and his band play a show. It was a lot of fun to go out and see some new bands. Because I'm not 21, the bouncer drew two big, black Xs on my hands; I couldn't help but laugh because in 3 short weeks I'll never have to be Xed again!!! I can't wait...
Today was very eventful. I woke up around 10am and worked on homework for a few hours. I had a date with cute French intern too. I was actually very surprised yesterday when he called me and asked for a second date...I hadn't felt much chemistry the first time. Fortunately, today went much better. We stopped at Whole Foods to get lunch, then went to Wash Park and set up our little picnic. It was all very picturesque; we had a blanket, books, a bottle of wine and plenty to talk about. We talked for a couple of hours before I had to dash off at 3 to run an errand before work at 5pm.
Hmm what else...oh I bought a desk today! I finally decided that after 3 months of living in my new apartment, it's about time to stop sitting on my floor with desktop on an upside down laundry basket...i totally lucked out. i found a perfect desk for $5 on craigslist.com. The only catch was i had to pick it up today or the guy selling it would give it to somebody else. so...given the stipulations, i had to quick run to home depot to borrow justin's truck, race to broomfield, load the desk, race back to denver, switch cars with justin again, and be at work by 5.

All in all, not too terribly exciting. This week will be a busy one, but only 2 more weeks until I'm done with school for the summer!!!

Myers Briggs Inventory

Madelaine, I've taken the same test several times so I recognize your results and you in them. What a perfect match -- especially you connecting with the cosmic whole. You were like that even as a baby -- connecting with every one in the room through smiles, coos and eye contact. You have always been able to feel the vibe of every one around you. And you reacted strongly if you felt a negative aura from someone. You've always tried for harmony in the relationships around (putting out the flames of conflict) you and helped steer everyone toward getting along and being happy. Also, the part about you changing your mind, trying new things and getting bored easily is so true. Your sincerity and interest in someone or something has always been evident but you do move on easily and quickly. Adaptibility was always a strong point of yours. My results were a little bit different especially the sensing part. I am more objective and don't get the vibe from people like you do. I am more of a doer -- more interested in accomplishments than the way people feel. As you know, I am more likely to trample on people'ss feeling on my way to getting things done. I am very good at implementing ideas and seeing a project through to the end. (although I have many I'd like to finish) I'll have to dig out my old files to see exactly what four categories I fall into. I think it was ENTJ or something like that. More later.

i took this personality test today...do you think it sounds like me? i think it's eerily dead on...

Extraverted iNtuitive Feeling Perceiving
by Marina Margaret Heiss

Profile: ENFP
Revision: 3.0
Date of Revision: 25 Feb 2005

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[The following comes partially from the archetype, but mostly from my own dealings with ENFPs.]

General: ENFPs are both "idea"-people and "people"-people, who see everyone and everything as part of an often bizarre cosmic whole. They want to both help (at least, their own definition of "help") and be liked and admired by other people, on bo th an individual and a humanitarian level. They are interested in new ideas on principle, but ultimately discard most of them for one reason or another.

Social/Personal Relationships: ENFPs have a great deal of zany charm, which can ingratiate them to the more stodgy types in spite of their unconventionality. They are outgoing, fun, and genuinely like people. As SOs/mates they are warm, affectionate (l ots of PDA), and disconcertingly spontaneous. However, attention span in relationships can be short; ENFPs are easily intrigued and distracted by new friends and acquaintances, forgetting about the older ones for long stretches at a time. Less mature ENFPs may need to feel they are the center of attention all the time, to reassure them that everyone thinks they're a wonderful and fascinating person.

ENFPs often have strong, if unconvential, convictions on various issues related to their Cosmic View. They usually try to use their social skills and contacts to persuade people gently of the rightness of these views; his sometimes results in their negle cting their nearest and dearest while flitting around trying to save the world.
Work Environment: ENFPs are pleasant, easygoing, and usually fun to work with. They come up with great ideas, and are a major asset in brainstorming sessions. Followthrough tends to be a problem, however; they tend to get bored quickly, especially if a newer, more interesting project comes along. They also tend to be procrastinators, both about meeting hard deadlines and about performing any small, uninteresting tasks that they've been assigned. ENFPs are at their most useful when working in a group w ith a J or two to take up the slack.

ENFPs hate bureaucracy, both in principle and in practice; they will always make a point of launching one of their crusades against some aspect of it