Ms. Taylor Says

So while I've been home, I've been driving my dad's car. He graciously lets me drive his lovely vehicle since I flew home, and calling Razorback Cab isn't really a good option. As I drive his delightful mid-sized SUV, I think to myself, "Self, this is a really nice car. It is so nice to drive this lovely vehicle." Then the pleasant feeling changes to the following realization, "Self, your career choice guarantees you will never drive such a nice automobile." Then I take a moment, attempt to be a gracious and charitable person, channel the last cheesy teacher bumpersticker I saw, and say to myself, "That's okay. You do it for the children." And with that note, I am off to bed.

I have recently discovered the long lengths I will go to for a chance to run down hill.  Yep--that's right.  I am sure a more experienced runner would appreciated the value of uphill, but I'm not there yet.  I am starting to learn my environment which means I am learning where the good hills are and how to get the downhill without having to run up the full-force hill.  I'm sure someday I'll take on the challenge of running up.  But that day is not today.  Today I am just putting in the miles. :)  Even if those miles are in search of more downhills.   Sunday I am running my first 10k.  I survived my first 5-miler; it just seemed like the next thing to do.  It also means that I can try to qualify for the National Marathon in March.  Wish me luck.  This will be the first time I've actually had to run fast...in my whole life... So here's wishing you a lovely holiday season full of family, good food, and (down)hills.

I'm off to Trot in the Turkey Trot.  This will be my first race--which is sad since I've been "running" on and off since college.  It really should be fun, but right now I'm just really nervous.  I'm not even sure why.  If I hate it, I can just walk.  Oh well--now I have to go walk to the start line (how awesome is that?).  See you when I am no longer a racing virgin.  Yippee!

So, I've never been tagged before.  I am supposed to post my fourth picture in the fourth photo file on my computer.   So here you go: I took this at Youth Writer's Camp 2 years ago.  I loved that camp.  I was really involved in the Middle Tennessee Writing Project for 3 years, and this camp is one of the main things I did.  Every summer I spent two weeks helping young writers between the ages of 11-16 to really work on their craft.  More than anything, we just gave them a place to work, time to write, and peers to give feedback.  I learned so much from watching these young writers invest in their own writing.  I always came away with new ideas and a renewed passion for working on my own projects.  PS-- A cat is currently curled up on my lap.  If you know me, you know that I am NOT a cat person.  But this little one just might win me over.  My friend Megan is making a pit stop in my apartment on her journey from NYC back to Nashville.  While here, her sweet cat is making friend...

Therefore, lack of water is your enemy.  This is something I was vividly reminded of while doing fartleks tonight. (Yeah, I know.  It totally sounds like a name middle school boys would call each other.)  As I was running my guts out, my lovely workout came to a screeching halt when my body finally realized I didn't really give it enough water to do what I was asking of it.  As my stomach started to cramp, I realized how little water I had consumed today.  So, lesson learned--I will make sure to put more water in before running it all out.  

or at least the debut of my skirt.  So tonight I was spending some quality time with Tim Gunn. (That guy cracks me up--I am currently working on mastering his voice!)  As I'm watching him tear apart and rebuild a woman's wardrobe, I notice he is taking her to my beloved Banana Republic.  (I worked there for 6 months last year.)  I was so excited because I kept seeing clothes I had spent plenty of time with.  And then the coolest thing happened--the girl was wearing my skirt (not actually mine of course--but I had to bust out an "I own that!") on the fashion show "runway."  For a brief moment I felt like a fashion genius.  This feeling will fade tomorrow morning when I stare at my closet while trying to decide what to wear to school (this decision may be heavily influenced by which items require the least amount of ironing...and will be drastically limited by the fact that I can't pick up my dry cleaning until after school tomorrow).

Two posts in one day--clearly I do not have enough to do! Or I'm just really excited about having a functioning computer.  So the pumpkin chocolate chip cookies were a success (if I do say so myself).  I've never cooked/baked with pumpkin before (at least not that I remember), but I will definitely have to spend more time working with fall foods.  I think I would really like to try to be more seasonal in my cooking--taking advantage of the fruits/veggies that naturally grow during each season; it seems like a fun challenge to take advantage of what's out there at the moment.  We'll see how that works.  In the meantime, I have a whole other can of pumpkin to play with!  I am leaving you with a few attempts at taking artsy picks of my Veteran's Day accomplishment.  Unfortunately cookies are not very photogenic.  Bummer!