The time is getting short, and training is getting all messy. Help?

Here's the deal: I have 5 more long runs between me and the race. They go in this order: 20, 12, 20, 12, 8. But, I only have four reliable weekends 'til the race. I've already done 17 and 18, so the 20s will be manageable. Which one should I cut? I'd like to aim for 20, 20, 12, 8. Would it be better to do two "easy" weeks, then a 20, then the taper? (I did 13 today, will miss next week, and then have 4 weekends 'til the race.)

Suggestions?

Oh, and my friend just finished in 3:50 at the National Marathon. She's sad she missed bq. I'm hoping to finish less than an hour slower than her! We all have our goals, eh? :-)

I'm looking for padded/underwire bras from Isadora Paccini, size 40C.
(No other brands: I have one from this brand that fits me more perfectly than any of my other bras, and I'd like to get my hands on more of them.)

I'm not sure where they were originally sold, but I found several bras from the brand at AJ Wright. (I don't know if you have those near you, but...maybe?)



I will pay via Paypal if you can hook me up. :)

Why on earth is it so difficult to find a sun hat for a baby boy?? I've been to Walmart, Target, and Old Navy with no luck. I found one in a boutique for $24 - uhh, no thanks. Walmart had girls hats but none for boys. I know it's only March, but it's already 90 degrees here!

Sorry, just venting. ~.~ I found some online of course, but it won't get here in time for my mom's beach birthday party.

So I live not too far from this book fair that goes on during the spring to fall months.  And this fair has super super SUPER cheap books.  So today I went with friends and I came out with six books (three in hardback) for Twenty-Five dollars!!!!  The best part?  They're not used.  These are 100% unread, still have that great smell, new books.

( Follow the cut to the awesome books that I got! )


Also, for all those that live in Virginia and want to partake in the cheap book goodness, gobookfair.com.  It tells you the location, how to get there and the dates they're open from.  They're only open a few weeks at a time from the months of March to December but, if you're anywhere near the location, it's completely worth the drive.  There is a HUGE selection (as you see from the variety I picked up) and I don't think there's a book over six dollars in the entire place.  Enjoy!

Sorry, I've never been a mother of an 18 month old before. Now, I've never practiced CIO (unless going to the bathroom when I first hear him counts, and then only going to him if he's still upset by the time I've done that), and have been a fan of NCSS. I should probably look into purchasing their toddler edition.

I've inadvertently trained him on some bad habits. Recently, he's been waking up thirsty or being really thirsty immediately upon being put to bed. We only give him water at night after he's had his teeth brushed. And I thought I might let him go to sleep with a spill-proof sippy cup of water. But he doesn't want it. He wants a non-spill-proof regular cup with a straw. Maybe because it comes out faster? And then it gets his sheets and blankets all wet. And he will not settle down unless this is what he gets. I've been advised not to give it to him, and to simply let him cry, but this doesn't seem like the best thing to me.

The other challenge, for some reason, is he doesn't want to sleep in his crib, but prefers to be in my lap (or my husband's lap) in the rocking chair. If he'd be willing to sleep with me in my bed, it would be okay, but he's having none of that! But it's not possible to sleep in the rocking chair, and it's really not cool for him to be the only one to get any sleep.

I'm going crazy here. He's always been a good sleeper. I know this will pass, but, well, any advice from more experienced parents in the meantime while I tear my hair out?

What's great? Paranormal/urban fantasy!

What's also great? Detective fiction!

What's super-special awesome? Paranormal detective fiction!

BY THEIR POWERS COMBINED! ...it's my new favorite genre.

So of course I've busted through Jim Butcher's excellent Dresden Files series, and am eagerly awaiting the arrival of book 12, "Changes," on April 6. The Dresden Files, if you're curious and haven't encountered the books, are about a (mostly) white hat-wearing wizard named Harry Dresden who's every bit as funny as he is powerful. And he has a dog, and together they fight crime! Sort of. Usually. When he's not fighting vampires, demons, werewolves and occasionally the servants of Satan. This series is fantastic and melds both light and darker tones effortlessly. Read it. Reaaad it. Also he has a Faery godmother who's tried to turn him into a dog. Don't ask.

Anyway, then I slipped sideways into the "Mean Streets" anthology and discovered Thomas E. Sniegoski's Remy Chandler series. Remy Chandler is actually Remiel, a Seraphim who ended up with PTSD after the war between God and Lucifer (Remy fought on God's side, btw) and chose to live as a human, hiding his powers behind a human mask. He even got married and had a couple of dogs, successively named Hammett and Marlowe. (The author is such a Chandler fanboy and makes no bones about it, Remy knowingly chose the name Chandler for himself because of his appreciation for the mystery writer). But of course, when you're an angel-hiding-as-a-human, and working as a private investigator, you're going to get caught up in some pretty weird shizz.

Aaaand then following the "angel" trend, I stumbled on Mary Stanton's "Beaufort and Company" mystery series. Young, pretty lawyer with a temper inherits her mysterious uncle's Georgia law practice in Savannah and ends up getting much more than she bargained for when she moves into the office at 66 Angelus Street. This is very much a "cozy" mystery backed up with the theme of Bree Winston-Beaufort playing defense lawyer to the souls of people condemned to Hell. Even so, some of the moments when all kinds of nasty things start going after Bree -- a painting come to life, and ghosts of murderers that are buried in her office backyard, among less pleasant things -- are pretty tense and gave me a few genuine shivers.


So now, I'm here to ask for help, gentle readers. PARANORMAL DETECTIVE FICTION. The good stuff. I need recommendations. For some reason I'm still on an "angel" tear. I prefer books with "good guys" or at least sympathetic antiheroes as the protagonist. Otherwise I am open to nearly anything! REC ME, BABY, ohplease. <3

But please, no fzucking vampires unless they're bad guys. I have not read Twilight and have no desire to read Anita Blake or the Southern Vampire series. I like my vampires bloodsucking, evil and preferably twitching on a spike.

Love you foreeeever.

How important are fancy running socks?


I am asking because the blister on my arc is making me weigh the pros and cons of chopping my foot off.

 After my last race I realized that I was really not all conditioned to hills.  The route I usually run is pretty flat.  I was thinking of changing up my long run routes to include streets with inclines but I'm not sure if that's the right thing to do or not.  How do you all approach hills?  Do you run them as a separate work out?  Is it a bad idea to add hills to my long run day?  Right now my long runs aren't very long but I'm training for my first 10K in May and so I'll at least be to 6 miles by then and then I'll start my half training.  My two runs during the week aren't really going to change, I meet with a friend before work twice a week so doing hills on those days isn't going to happen.  Should I run hills on a cross training day?  Thanks for giving this novice some advice.  I want to train right, no more injuries.

Hi all,

Which books would you recommend by author Lawrence Block? His Wikipedia page is very detailed and I don't know where to start.

He has a Matthew Scudder series, Bernie Rhodenbarr series, Evan Tanner series, Chip Harrison series, a Keller series, and a Paul Kavanagh series -- not to mention his stand-alone novels!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lawrence_Block

Thanks for any suggestions!

I am wearing a dress right now that is about one size too small. There is no room in the seams to let it out, and I juuuuuust managed to zip it up. Boy are my boobs smashed!

Here is my question. Now that I have it on, is there any way to encourage it to stretch? It's a stiff poly/cotton blend, slightly denim-y feeling.

Would wetting it be a good idea?

Thank you!

To all you experienced craftgrrls out there who have done craft shows and fairs: can I ask your advice? I've never done it before, so like... I am so terrified! I love making stuff, and I just have so much stuff I've made; I don't wear it all and I've given a lot away and still have quite a bit, so I've been thinking maybe I should do some craft fairs and try at least making more material or supply funds, because this hobby can be rather expensive.

I don't know, for instance, how much stuff is enough to make a good presentation? Is it complicated to get all the tax papers and such? Should I worry that my stuff doesn't look all the same style? What sorts of things shouldn't I do/have at my table? Should I be concerned about things like... well, that a lot of my wire jewelry is made from craft wire and not precious metals, for instance?

Anyway, here's what I've been working on.

My first pair of earrings:



I have some pictures of my second pair of earrings, my third bracelet, and some keychains under the cut.

( Follow the rabbit?... )

Thank you for looking, hope you enjoy! And happy crafting. :D

I just saw this on a post in ONTD so you are all welcome to attack me or tell me to erase if its been posted before.

Did you know/hear about Eddie Izzard's mega marathon? 43marathons in like 50days? He did it to raise money for Sport Relief.

Theres an article with the first episode linked here:

http://community.livejournal.com/ohnotheydidnt/45143345.html#cutid1

The rest of the episodes/experience is at the youtube that has been sourced in the article.

Totally inspired.

Alexia Macoon, once again, has a few problems on her hands: supernaturals are losing their abilities all around London, ghost are being exorcised, and she can’t seem to keep her clothes on when her husband is around. The latter is, inarguably, the result of her new status as Lady Maccon, wife to Lord Conall Maccon, Earl of Woolsey and Alpha of the biggest wolf pack in England. The others are matters that must inevitably be explored in Gail Carriger’s second Parasol Protectorate book, Changeless.

When Alexa finds herself in a dreary and damp old castle in Scotland, with her dim, but sweet best friend and one of her impossible sisters, it’s more than just a social call. It’s a miracle her retinue managed to make the journey at all; what does one pack for a dirigible ride and will the food be up to Alexia’s rather generous, but hardly forgiving standards? What she meets upon arrival with hatboxes, suitcases, and brightly colored ladies flouncing about the Scottish Highlands in their English best, are the in-laws and an ancient Egyptian mummy. Neither are predisposed to the common courtesies, but Alexia is up to the challenge.

( Read the rest of the review & enter to win a copy--US Residents only)

Alexia Macoon, once again, has a few problems on her hands: supernaturals are losing their abilities all around London, ghost are being exorcised, and she can’t seem to keep her clothes on when her husband is around. The latter is, inarguably, the result of her new status as Lady Maccon, wife to Lord Conall Maccon, Earl of Woolsey and Alpha of the biggest wolf pack in England. The others are matters that must inevitably be explored in Gail Carriger’s second Parasol Protectorate book, Changeless.

When Alexa finds herself in a dreary and damp old castle in Scotland, with her dim, but sweet best friend and one of her impossible sisters, it’s more than just a social call. It’s a miracle her retinue managed to make the journey at all; what does one pack for a dirigible ride and will the food be up to Alexia’s rather generous, but hardly forgiving standards? What she meets upon arrival with hatboxes, suitcases, and brightly colored ladies flouncing about the Scottish Highlands in their English best, are the in-laws and an ancient Egyptian mummy. Neither are predisposed to the common courtesies, but Alexia is up to the challenge.

( Read the rest of the review & enter to win a copy--US Residents only)

So, I'm probably nuts, but I'm considering starting to potty train my 15 month old. He knows when he has to poop and will go get a diaper and bring it to whomever and say, "Poop!" when he's done.
I work in a Montessori school in their infant/toddler room, so I know (one way) to go about starting this and plan on looking through tags and such for more information, but I was wondering if anyone had any tips. Am I totally crazy? 

So, I haven't yet been accepted to the breastfeeding community and I am curious to hear from anyone who expressed milk for their kids beyond 12 months. I work 30 hours a week right now, and express 7 or 8 ounces while I'm at work during one 20 min break and then after I officially end work. I will start working 40 hours a week in July, when my daughter will be exactly 12 months old. I hope to breastfeed her until she is 2 + (or self-weaned), but all the information about expressing I have found seems geared towards moms of younger babies. Would I be looking at expressing roughly the same amount of milk or should I try to arrange one more break/pumping session with my boss? We are having a meeting about the schedules next week, and my boss is very flexible and will allow me to take breaks as long as I am working the same amount as everyone else. I just need to have it be official so I will have support and backup during the breaktimes.

I know my kid's need for milk will decrease over the course of the year, and that every child is different and has different needs, but about how much milk did your 12 month old take per day? What were your experiences expressing for an older baby?

TIA

I ran the National Half-Marathon this morning, finishing in a time of 1:32:15. (The course is here) This is a PR of a minute from my time at this race last year, but well off of my original goal from December of sub-1:30. But, I’m happy with the race. I feel that I ran the race intelligently and was mentally resilient when faced with tough questions. I gave everything that I had to give – it’s just a fact that I lost a ton of fitness due to injury-related layoff this winter, and haven’t yet gained it all back. I also felt a bit rusty, and unaccustomed to race effort, which makes sense when you consider that I haven’t raced since mid-December. So, I smile, mark the new PR, and look forward to my next race. :) ( Read more... )

I like my natural hair color and I henna only for gray coverage. Up until now I have mixed my own henna/indigo and applied it to the roots with a ziplock bag with the corner cut out. It's not as big a hassle as a whole head treatment, but it's ALMOST as bad... it still requires mixing, applying, covering, lots of weight on my head, a big mess, waiting and washing out tons of grit later.

I don't know how other long-hairs find this, but since the root area of my hair is usually pulled taut, the roots are visible within a week after a fresh henna treatment, and for me, that's a line straight up the center of my head with no hope of hiding it. I found a MUCH faster, simpler way to deal with the touch of gray in between whole head root treatments.

(There is a Lush store in the mall I work in- and to be frank, I usually walk on the other size of the hall to avoid it because the smell of soap is nauseatingly overpowering. I was with a friend though who was stopping in and so I poked around for a few minutes. I have to say, I have never been in a place where the smell bothered me as much. I'd rather stand next to a septic tank being pumped than be in this place.  Yuck!)

Still though, I was intrigued by the henna in blocks. They make a pre-mixed shade that is dark auburn/reddish brown and it looks like a giant chocolate bar!  Well, maybe like a bunch of Chunky bars stuck together. This gave me an idea. Instead of doing as the clerk instructed-  (chop or grate it and mix it boiling water), I did this:

I pulled my hair back the way I wear it most days. I put a bit of water on to boil in a shallow pan and I gloved one hand. Then I took the hot water to a trivet near my work-area. I broke the block on the score marks and took one square and dipped the corner in the hot water for a second or two. It softened and reconstituted the henna just along that edge. Then I stroked the wet edge into the part of my hair like using chalk or pastels. It was like magic, lol. The application was smooth and thorough. I touched up around my ears, and temples too. I found that I had to keep the edge moist and warm or bits of it crumbled- but that was easy enough to finesse on the spot.

I left it a few hours.. I didn't even cover it. The coverage was perfect... and the application was so easy that I can do it at a moment's notice. I only used the exact amount I needed and the remainder went back in the sealed bag with zero waste. I'm probably not the first person to use it this way, but I'm so excited about it that I had to share!

(x-posted to hennaforhair  and the_niamh_elite )