My longest run yet...

I’m training to run the marathon. Sometimes it occurs to me that I’m crazy, even though I know a million others have done it and do it regularly. I’m not that much of a runner, so I don’t what I was smoking/drinking/inserting into my veins me when I signed up. But, I did. And this weekend, I had my longest run yet—10 miles. I seriously wasn’t sure I’d make it, but I had an encouraging friend who kept pushing w/words like “just focus on one thing and don’t think about running” or “that’s one thing you’ll have to do in the marathon—run through your pain—just run through it”. Knowing that she wanted to finish too kept me going. Thanks girl! So, if I was struggling with 10 miles, how will I manage 26.2 miles, you ask? I’ll let you know when I figure that one out! I know one thing for sure, I’ll need an MP3 player. If you feel like buying me a generous gift for no reason other than you love me for existing, please get me an MP3 player.

NYC

Only 58 hours and 57 minutes 'til I'm there!! Not that I'm counting or anything...

Moral Dilemma

I am fundraising for this organization called the Fairygodmother Foundation. They grant wishes to terminally ill adults with less than one year to live. I am working on one particular case where a dying mom wants new bedroom furniture for her two teenage sons. Well, I sent out a mass email to a bunch of friends & family soliciting their funds. This brought up issues w/someone close to me, who told me she did not believe in this cause. I told her she should not feel obligated to contribute if she did not believe in the cause—I would not be offended personally. The other day when I was visiting w/her & her family, her husband gave me a check for the same cause. I questioned it, did not get a response and assumed he did not want to discuss it. I felt uncomfortable taking the check, but accepted it not knowing exactly how to handle the situation, but decided to discuss it w/her. I did and found that indeed they had not discussed the matter, as she did not realize he was included in the mass email I sent out. Quite honestly, I had also forgotten he was included in the email. So, now I’m torn—do I keep the check knowing that I need all the help I could get in my fundraising efforts? Or, do I return it knowing one of the two don’t fully believe in the cause? Anyone have any thoughts???

If you would like to make a donation, please make checks out to Fairygodmother Foundation (with "Angelica's Wish" in the memo line) and send them to me. Don't have my address? Contact me and I will give it to you.

My gripe about UPS and other random thoughts

It sucks. They’ll send your package to a different address, but not to a different UPS location, so I can’t pick it up from a UPS location close to me. Instead I have to drive an hour out of my way to pick it up because they determine the pick-up location by the zip code. An hour out of my zip code is not logical.
My cousin made me this awesome running c.d. and every time I run with it, I wanna run faster and longer. Hope it keeps me running for those 20 or so miles!!!
My friend has this really awesome blog: http://mycubehasthreesides.blogspot.com/ I can only dream of mine being so cool…
I’m going to NYC next week to visit Jewell and meet up with Azer. Cannot wait! Only 7 more days to go…
I’m on a trail mix kick…but am often reprimanded for not having M&Ms in the mix.
My car is still healthy.
I’m still reading Madame Bovary, along with Running Your First Marathon and One Hundred Years of Solitude and some magazines. I wonder why it’s taking me so long to finish Madame Bovary.

Faithless?

I woke up Monday morning to NBC news, like I do every morning. And the headline story was about the traffic jam being caused under the Fullerton underpass by a water stain. But, it’s not just any water stain, I tell you. It’s one that apparently resembles the Virgin Mary. So, people are stopping and looking at this water stain. And, last night people were even having a candle vigil by the water stain!! I’ve seen the water stain on the news and maybe I’m lacking faith, but I don’t see the resemblance at all. C’mon people, are we so desperate for faith that we need to seek it out in a water stain? I say we find spirituality in better places than a water stain—but, hey, that’s just me.

The Weekend

It was jam-packed. Friday night I went to this awesome light/animation show to music compiled by Moby at the Adler Planetarium. If you’re ever looking for something interesting and different to do in the city, this is it. And the Chicago skyline in the summertime is incredibly beautiful. I cannot wait for it to warm up so that I can enjoy warm, long, romantic strolls by the lake…it was not warm enough this time. The highlight of the weekend was a day of shopping w/the sis and the baby, who was only too happy to see Arshiya Aunti! She started laughing the minute I said hi to her. I tell you, I cannot get enough of that smiling face. Saturday night I went out with another boy. And, they are still up to no good. Had an incredible time, laughing, walking and talking ‘til forever. The next day he called to say, “You’re an amazing person, but I’m really picky.” Thanks but no thanks. Okay, I appreciate the honesty but was a phone call really necessary after just one date—the verdict is still out on that… If I’m an amazing person, why stress that he’s picky—isn’t it kind of like saying, “Oh, you got your hair cut!” without a follow-up? Boys, boys, boys…they continue baffle me. It also got me thinking about how my year’s not off to such a good start as far as some people are concerned—two people I was interested in told me they’re not so interested even though their actions would indicate otherwise and one friend told me she no longer wants to be my friend (after 8 years with no explanation!!). While I’m okay with these people’s decisions, I have came to the conclusion that I need to be more selective in whom I trust. And, though another friend’s wise words echo in my head, “Confidence is sexy, arrogance is not,” I have to say, let the selectiveness begin! Really, though, I’m not as bitter as I sound. I’m just losing faith in people…maybe I should go visit the water stain Virgin Mary…

Birthday, biodatas and other fun stuff

I'm finally coming to terms with being 33. The birthday celebration lasted 5 days--starting w/Plush on Friday night where several friends joined me for drinks, then Saturday some of my favorite nieces & my sis took me to lunch and another friend took me to dinner. Sunday I ran the Shamrock Shuffle! It's only 4.96 miles, but I did it in 56 minutes and enjoyed all 56 minutes. This is one fun run, with bands playing along the way and people cheering you on. Afterwards my friend & I went to Starbucks for a well-deserved extra hot, extra chai, chai-latte. Then off I went to celebrate my newest niece's 1st birthday!!! A whole year lived. Wow. She's 32 years younger than me. WOW!!! On Monday, that actual day of my birth, a friend treated me to more Starbucks and others took me to dinner at a new sushi place and I had what could possibly be the best sushi ever. Tuesday was the dinner w/the p's. My mom's so cute--she made my favorites and got me a cake and the whole bit. She does thing when I leave--she stands in the doorway until I pull out and drive away. I love it. It always makes me feel warm & fuzzy inside.

So, since I've survived yet another year of life, and remain unattached (here's to being single!!), I decided to spend this Saturday at a very holy speed-dating event at the local mosque. Well, okay, so it wasn't entirely holy and the mosque was not so local and it's not the normal speed-dating kind of thing. One of the requirements of attending this event was submitting a biodata. If you're desi, then no explanation is required, but some of you are not, so here it goes. It's like a resume except with different kind of information. It informs your potential mate of critical information like: name, age, occupation (sometimes income), parents' names & occupations, brothers', grandparents', uncles' names and occupations. Your residential status, in case your potential is seeking a U.S. citizenship. And, of course the most important thing you need to know about your potential mate: your height. I mean, how could you even consider marrying someone w/out knowing his/her height, right? I was lucky enough to be late to the event and was seated at a semi-normal table. At least a couple of guys had some social skills and the ability to converse and even crack a joke or two. It seemed though some guys were quite focused on the task at hand. As one guy put it, "I don't want to talk politics. I'm here for one reason and that's to find a wife." I know, I sound completely evil. Much to my surprise, the event actually ended up being fun. Now I can't say all of these events are horrible. Does that mean I'll have to keep going until I find that un-fun one again? I'm sure it won't be long. Or until I'm 35, since that's the cut-off. No, it was not a complete waste of my Saturday, after all I did get to spend some quality time w/one of my favorite girls, I discovered a relative is "cooler" than I ever thought and I got free advice on my car. And, of course, I met a couple of potentials...

So, on to the other fun stuff:
Last night I went to this Morroccan musician who played sufi trance music at this place called the Hot House. It was very cool. The music was just incredibly moving. Many people were inspired to start dancing (I was not one of them, but it has nothing to do with the music). The Hot House has such a great mix of people and I really enjoyed hanging out in such an international scene.

My car's in the shop again. I hope it lives. Please say a little prayer for it.

I worked at C&B today, after so long. And once again I left there feeling happy and energized. What is it about that place???