Five Things

Alright, I'll play. I've been tagged into disclosing 5 unknown things about myself. I suppose I have to tag 5 people but I don't know if I know that many people who would respond on this blogger thing...so perhaps I will use some of my non-blogging peoples. So if you're reading this (and I know you are) you better respond :) Stickboy, J.B., Jeffy, B-Horn, Jennie.

1. I am hypoglycemic. If my blood sugar drops so do I. It can get ugly - most of you who know me know I need to constantly have some sort of caloric intake at all times especially when I work out. Only the select few have seen my at my worst - it's not pretty.

2. I am addicted to exercise. I need the endorphin rush. It can come in the form of a run, bike, hike, swim, kayak, ski, play w/ doggies, climb - whatever. I need it! If I don't get out and do it on a regular basis I slip into a catatonic mental state which is almost as unattractive as hypoglycemic shock. This is the reason for me not having knee surgery yet. The thought of not being able to get my endorphin rush on a regular basis scares the crap out of me.

3. I danced ballet for 10 years. That's right the Ice Princess was a ballerina - if any of you ever make fun of me for it I will kick your posterior! If it weren't for that I would be the biggest klutz in the world. It was fun and it gave me what little flexibility, grace and balance I have to this day.

4. I really enjoy being alone. As social as I am and as much as I love my friends/fam/people around me - I equally love my solitude. My favourite times are hikes deep in the woods with Sergei (the only "person" I love to have around me even when I want to be alone).

5. I have an irrational fear of rats. Yes rats....just typing it in gives me the creeps. I once locked myself in my work truck and wouldn't make a delivery because a rat was outside of my truck. I even called my dispatchers - who got a great laugh out of it. I freaked out to the point where I thought the rat would try and open the door to the truck then subsequently try to climb in through the vents when it discovered the doors were locked. Yes, it's that bad.

So there it is in writing - I suppose I feel cleansed by putting it out there. Do with it what you will, but remember...don't make fun of the Ice Princess Ballerina!!!

Christmas Memoirs

I am back from my travels to Philadelphia, Sellersville, Bethlehem and Buffalo (yes, Buffalo). My travels over the holiday were filled with an excess of amazing food, meeting (lots) of new people, seeing "old" people, a new church experience, an old church experience, singing, music, sports, a motorcycle ride, running, great new towns, site seeing in old cities, parks, walks, talks, a movie and spiced wine...Yikes. To say it was overwhelming would be an understatement - to say it was just great would be a verbal injustice. I can not put into words what an amazing time I had.

The five days flew by so fast, my head was spinning and still is with all the activity. There was so much to absorb and process. At the end of each day I thought for certain I would collapse with exhaustion but instead my head kept going (and going) and as a result my sleep cycle suffered - so yesterday on my drive back, the fight to remain awake was only successfully achieved by the continuation of my mind running at an unimaginable speed. The past five days spinning and spinning. It was a good five hour period filled with reflective thoughts, defragmentation of my brain and lots of NPR. Only to get home to my crazy, cabin-fever filled animals...time to run. I don't know where I mustered up the energy but Sonia and I went on a great run (Sergei, poor guy, is getting to old for ass-kicking runs :( More time to think as we were gone for an hour - my knee woke me last night from the pain - good times. Then it was off to Buffalo for a hockey game and more family/friend time. I am exhausted mentally and physically. Emotionally I feel incredible - I just wish I could show it - but my body just hurts. Let me sleep and I will be back to my hyper-ridiculous self by New Year's Eve - promise!

Holiday Cheer

I am venturing to Parts Unknown, PA for Christmas therefore I will be out of blogging commission for the next 5 days...so I just wanted to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Fantastic Festivus, Killer Kwanzaa or whatever you do during those days off!

Eat, drink, and be merry - 'cause that's what I am planning on doing. Sock's going down to NYC to party with the ladies...and I see he has begun his festivities a bit early - go on with your bad self, Sock!

Stuck In My Head

"Don’t see elysium
Don’t see no fiery hell
Just the lights up bright baby
In the bay hotel
Next we're coming in
Like an ocean roar
Won’t you take my hand darling
On that old dancefloor..."

Brotherly Love

This is off of my brother's website...and his quote:

"My sister,'Big Red', is the founder and president of this franchise. Just ask her liver!"

Nice one, Alex!

Sock in London

"Learning to drive on the "Other Side" was a tedious task that often left him frustrated and driving to a pub."

Love and Snow

It has been snowing here for several days straight. For me it is heaven - at least heaven the way I would imagine it to be. To me there is nothing more beautiful than the world encased in the perfect brilliance of a snowfall. Running through the park the other day was affirmation of that belief. Not another soul was in this 900 acre oasis that day. In a way being alone in the park was amazing, but somehow in another way it kind of saddened me. Why are more people not loving this? Oh yeah it's because I live in Rottenchester. Hmmmm.

So the problem with this city (there are many - bear with me as I am about to focus only on one) is that most of the people here don't enjoy the climate. There's a loaded statement - the climate here pretty much sucks most of the year. It's too hot in the summer (that's why God invented kayaks and the Lake!), it's too cold and rainy in the spring and fall (best inventions ever = Goretex and Wellies), and it's way too cold and snows too much in the winter (OMG that's why we ski, snowshoe, run in the snow, have sheep shearling....AAARRRGGGGG).

So as I was shoveling my driveway - for the 5th time in two days - not that I need it shoveled as my bad ass Subaru can go pretty much into ~4' of snow (after 4' I def need to shovel) - those were the thoughts running through my head. Yes I will agree that Rochester is a far cry from a perfect city. I always said that if there was a 12,000 ft. mountain set right next to Lake Ontario I would never even consider leaving - but there isn't so I do. I just get so annoyed when people bitch about the snow and the cold and the rain and the....Fucking MOVE! Don't heat up my chill! For now I am stuck in this purgatory and all you guys are stuck in it with me...so make the best of it and stop wrecking my temporary glimpses of heaven!