Good fun from The Black Ghosts

More photo fun on a summer Saturday. I entertained myself with the titles… mouse over for the title tag to appear, in case you want to see if you’re similarly entertained.

Tonight, I (mostly) ran my first 5K (well, 3.5 miles so 5.63 kilometers) as part of the JP Morgan Chase Corporate Challenge. I signed up with my company and was one of 15,000 people from various companies who completed the course through Central Park.

I had to slow down to a walk more often than I would’ve liked since my allergies were bothering me and my throat was burning. I now have a nice cough and post-nasal drip to show for it, though. Still, I managed to finish 3.5 miles in just under 47 minutes, meaning that I’m doing a 13-minute mile when I split it between walking and running.

Afterward, a bunch of us went over to a pub to get some food and drinks. We got there about 8:10. They didn’t start serving us food until 9:40, at which time I had to leave to get to the subway (at 77nd and Lex) and take the 6 down to Astor Place (down by my old NYU stomping grounds) to get to the 9th Street PATH and take that back to NJ to get back to my car in Hoboken before the parking garage closed at 11. I got my car at 10:48.

So, until I had some of this peanut butter and jelly sandwich 3 minutes ago, I hadn’t eaten real food (Gatorade and a Special K bar don’t count) since lunch at noon, and had done a 5K in between. I have no appetite, but I ate half of the sandwich so that I don’t wake up in the middle of the night with hunger pains (it’s happened before when I told myself it was too late to eat dinner and skipped it after a day of physical exertion).

I’m glad that I did it, because I proved to myself that I could. But I’m angry that I couldn’t run the whole time because of my allergies. This just means I’ll be working to prove that on the treadmill - which won’t be hard because the treadmill is not asphalt, it doesn’t have hills, it’s not humid and covered in 15,000 other runners, and I can watch TV while I’m at it and not pay attention to how far I’ve gone or how fast I’m going.

Yes, it was good to do, but everything hurts (despite my stretching) and I am not feeling as tired or clear-headed as I thought I would in the aftermath. But that’s my problem, isn’t it?

I don’t feel as though I have much to write about right now. And I don’t have any new pictures to post.

I could mention how much I enjoy my new cell phone.

I could mention that I went climbing tonight and seemed to be getting back into my groove and that my back will certainly hurt tomorrow.

I could mention that I signed up for my company’s corporate challenge walk/run taking place on Thursday and that while I am having second thoughts, I think a 3.5 mile run is quite manageable and I will do it.

I could mention that I’m very stressed and tired and have been getting headaches every day for the last four days.

I could mention how happy I was when a friend complimented me on the photos I’ve been posting lately.

I could mention the books I read this weekend - there were several - and talk about the new one I’m really enjoying.

I could whine about my currently re-emerging headache.

However, I don’t really want to write about any of these at length. I’m tired and know that I won’t sleep for a bit yet since my mind is speeding and awake. It’s partially due to the soda I had at dinner because my headache was so bad, I resorted to caffeine to help me over the hump.

Ah well. As Miss Scarlett said, “After all… tomorrow is another day.”

There were thunderstorms today.

The camera was steady - you’re seeing the wind whipping the leaves as it builds up before the downpour.

It’s raining. I’m tired. So here are some photos from today. I suppose at least one of them could be considered mild food porn.

Image 1: The choke portions and detritus from artichokes I decided to grill. I think these discards are aesthetically pleasing in terms of color and texture. Yay for a camera that can handle macro shots.

Image 2: Kielbasa and portabella mushrooms (with balsamic vinegar) on the grill.

Image 3: A delicious Gala apple I had for dessert. It looks like something that would charm Snow White, doesn’t it?

This weekend, I could (and should, for work reasons) attend the Renegade Craft Fair in Brooklyn. However, this is Father’s Day weekend. And the weekend we’ll be celebrating my mother’s birthday.

I haven’t really had a full weekend to myself in months and months. There are desperate amounts of cleaning to do, as well as running and other forms of exercise, and a car to be washed. Errands of that sort. Three Netflix movies to watch.

I’d also like to sleep in for a change.

This is what I would like.

And I am, for once, sort of glad I don’t live in Japan.

My name is Eva and I endorse this film.

It’s just good.

And the soundtrack features Cee-Lo (of Gnarls Barkley superfame, recently) and Jack Black covering “Kung Fu Fighting.” FUN.

My hands = so raw. Ow. I’m just peeling off little circles of skin from my palms and fingers.

I guess that’s what happens when you go climbing two nights in a row after not climbing for two weeks… and then most recently, two weeks before that. My hands got too soft. I need to regrow those protective calluses*. There’s pain, but it is (as they say) a good pain that means I DID something.

Various parts of NJ are without power as a result of last night’s heat-aided thunderstorms. I am not in one of those parts, but I had no train service today since they were busy cleaning debris from the tracks of my train line. Hopefully, they’ll be all done with that by tomorrow, because it really hurts to drive in now - in terms of gas prices and the price of parking.

I need some water and I need some sleep. In that order. Stat.

* I double-checked the spelling because I wasn’t sure if this should be a “-us” or “-ous.” Apparently, the “-ous” is for emotional hardening only.

It’s another photo post. Well, just another photo from yesterday I didn’t put up then. But I have an excuse. I went rock-climbing tonight for a couple of hours and tore my hands up pretty good. And I have a headache from the stormy weather and humidity and ick. And I’m mildly stressed and beginning to forget things and am strongly considering purchasing a book on organization (in terms of work, not cleaning the house or anything). But the headache is bad and the light from the monitor hurts my eyes, so enjoy the soothing verdant shade of these leaves.