Category Archives: Uncategorized

i was going to say something meaningful for my 200th post …

October 2, 2007UncategorizedweirdnessLauren @ mostly i run

But … uh … I got distracted by something that made me giggle in the Home Depot garden department:

“Contains Liquified Worm Poop”

I know, I know. I’ve let my inner 10-year-old out again!

But couldn’t they have used a different word? I would provide a list of synonyms, but it’s bad enough that the search engines are going to pick up “worm poop!”

Obviously, it’s sort of fertilizer … but all I see is a bottle of liquified worm poop! (If you’re interested in reading about how good worm poop is for your plants, you can read more about this product!)

Anyway, yeah, this is my 200th post, and I’ve just set a new low for myself.

And now, the phenomenon that introduced me to blogging in the first place is nearing the start of it’s second year. I’m planning a redesign for NaBloPoMo, though if finish early, I’ll probably post before November 1. I’m excited about it!

But don’t expect any change in format. My potty humor is here to stay!

this afternoon, i saw rilo kiley perform in a cave

September 26, 2007Uncategorizedshow and tellLauren @ mostly i run

Well no, not an actual cave, but the basement faux-caverns at Bohemian Caverns, a jazz club in Washington, DC that’s been around since the 1920s.

Our local radio station hosted a “Private Artist Showcase,” where tickets could not be bought; they had to be won. I’ve always had terrible luck being the 10th caller … but they also had entries via e-mail (hooray!).

I found out I won a pair of tickets yesterday, and took an extended lunch to travel into DC for this 30-minute performance.

After sweltering in the sun for 45 minutes (er, they told us to arrive by 1:30 for a 2pm show, but they didn’t let us in until 2:05), we descended the staircase.

There the band sat with an acoustic set-up, playing “Silver Lining” off their latest release, Under the Blacklight.

All of the songs they played are off the new album, which I don’t know very well yet. I did recognize all of the songs. The title track (which they did play), is my favorite on the album so far.

Even if you’re not familiar with the band, you probably heard “Portions For Foxes” off More Adventurous in movie trailers and TV shows when the album was new.

While I’m enjoying it, I haven’t learned to love the new album yet the same as their previous catalog — definitely check out Execution of All Things and Take Offs and Landings first if you’re interested in hearing more.

Their albums are available over at amazon.com, hop on over and listen to some clips.

Also check out frontwoman (and former child star) Jenny Lewis’ a solo album, released last year.

We got to chat with Jenny briefly after the show and get some CD covers signed, but she wouldn’t pose for a photo. Oh well. I got a couple more during the show — not great, it was dark!

know your target audience

September 25, 2007Uncategorizedfurry babiesLauren @ mostly i run

A few years ago, my cat Joey somehow wound up on a marketing list.

I’m thinking an offer I signed up for (samples of cat treats or something) may have generated messed-up data, substituting my pet’s name for mine when the company sold their data.

While Joey is a normal name for a person … I suppose it could be a coincidence. But, it is using the correct last name. I have to think the mail is for my cat.

There may have been a few newspaper subscription offers, but usually it’s for DIRECTV. They come pretty regularly, actually.

Today, Joey received an offer for Variety.

This isn’t just a regular subscription offer. Joey has been given a special professional courtesy discount.

Er, Joey … is there something you’re not telling us? What is your profession?

Certainly you can’t afford a yearly magazine subscription that is $225 after your 37% professional discount?

Can you read?

Joey

in honor of today’s holiday

September 19, 2007UncategorizedLauren @ mostly i run

You know, International Talk Like A Pirate Day, I give you a busty wench hanging from a tree:

Coincidentally, my next (and final) post from Virginia Beach was going to be about Pirate’s Paradise mini-golf. My husband and I played this course on our last night at the beach.

There were random pirates throughout the course. The lady above greeted us at the first hole.

Now, I’m not a very good mini-golfer, and I don’t stand a chance against my husband, but it’s fun anyway.

I actually started out well, making some good long putts. And then I fell apart. This course was a bit more challenging than it appeared.

This is a river that runs into a series of ponds:

My pink golf ball went for a little ride through this river after bouncing off a rock. It was rescued by the couple ahead of us before hitting the second pond!

Later on, it decided it would go for another dip in here:

I was able to rescue this one myself. They stationed nets at all of the water hazards.

I’m not sure what the final score was, but I don’t think we really need to know that!

In other pirate news … without planning it, I’m wearing my parrot shoes today!

so i haven’t even finished writing about virginia beach …

September 18, 2007Uncategorizedrunning amuckLauren @ mostly i run

And I’ve got another race to report!

Well actually, I never really reported on the VA Beach race. Just the events surrounding the race.

So let’s rewind back to Sept 2.

Once again, it was a fun race. Bands every mile, and cheer squads in between.

It’s both a good thing and a bad thing to be familiar with the course (this year was my third year running the Virginia Beach Rock and Roll Half Marathon).

We know where the hills are (really just one overpass that you cross twice). We know that it gets kinda boring and potentially hot on the Army base (or whatever that is we run through).

We also know that after we get to the boardwalk, we’re almost done!

My ½ marathon PR (personal record) is on this course in 2005. I finished in 2:13.

In 2006, it was HOT and HUMID. I ended up finishing nine minutes slower. At least I could run into the ocean to cool off afterwards!

This year, I wasn’t expecting anything great. This would be my longest run since the marathon, and I didn’t think I’d gotten my speed and endurance back up for straight running. We ran/walked the marathon, and I took liberal walk breaks in all of my long training runs since then.

We were fortunate that the weather was much better than last year, but I still finished one minute slower than 2006.

Oh well … at least I wasn’t sore. It seems my body remembers long distances!

Fast forward to this weekend, Sept 16.

I went to Philadelphia with a few of my running friends to run the Philadelphia Distance Festival, another ½ marathon. While this race is not a “Rock ‘N’ Roll” race, it is associated with the same series. They also have bands every mile on the course. Unfortunately no cheer squads, though – boo! We could have used them!

Two weeks has made a huge difference in the weather. It was downright chilly before the race began, but it was perfect for running. The sun was out, there was a cool breeze, and the course was fairly flat.

I did not beat my PR, but came close at 2:16. I am thrilled with this. I can still run a ½ at a decent pace!

And I will get another medal for doing both races!