An all time low :)

This weekend- I hit an all time low.

First, a little background. After my cable got shut off last month, I decided to see how long I could go sans-TV. The weekdays have been totally fine, getting my news-watching in at the gym, and not really missing much else. The weekends are what is tough. If it was a bit warmer, I could entertain myself by living in NYC- going on long walks in new neighborhoods or sitting in the park reading and napping. But 15-20 degree days don't lend themselves to napping outside.

So I joined Netflix. Figuring it would help not only the weekend boredom, but also motivate me to get on the trainer a few times a week (this is pre-recall of said trainer). Netflix has also started a new 'Watch Instantly' feature since I was last a member. There are 100s of movies and TV series you can now watch instantly on your computer. Now, these are not the newest releases, or the best-rated movies, but there is plenty to choose from.

Now, back to my all time low. This weekend I watched 6 movies. Wait, wait, that is not the all time low. 3 of these movies were recent Heather Graham movies....Wait, you may ask, I didn't know Heather Graham had any recent movies???? Yes, that is because I assume all three went straight to DVD, never seeing the inside of an actual movie theater.

Friday night, I started a flick called 'Miss Conception'. It was awful. However, it was much, much better and actually quite funny when I got home after a few too many beers and finished it at 2am.

Saturday, I actually made some decent choices: Superbad to cure the hangover and The Other Boleyn Girl before bed. I also watched another at some point, but it was SO good I can't even remember what it was....

Then yesterday, more awful choices. Adrift in Manhattan, which was surprisingly not too horrible, and I didn't even KNOW Heather Graham was in it until she showed up on screen.

Then it was Grey Matters. This topped the all-time low. I am not sure why I kept watching. It was like a car accident- I just couldn't stop watching.

So over the course of my weekend, Heather Graham was:

1. A British 34-year old woman who finds out she has ONE more egg left and must find a baby-daddy in 3 days,
2. A grieving Manhattan ophthalmologist who is separated from her husband and beds a 20 year old,
3. A female who discovers she is a lesbian only after falling in love with her brother's new wife.


I have absolutely NOTHING else to redeem my weekend. I ran a 5k tempo instead of my half marathon. Nope...nada.

GREAT weekend :)

Just finished 14.6 miles in the snow.  Wasn't too bad until the last hour, when the snow really started coming down and was sticking to the road.  I decided to stick to the Park in case conditions got really bad, and it was probably a good decision.  

Ironically, my run got way better once the snow really started to come down, it took my mind off the miles and pace, and I couldn't wipe the silly grin off my face.  And it got even better when I realized the tennis court bathrooms were open, as I was about to cut my run a few miles short :)

Now my whole body is bright red and itchy.  No ice bath for this girl, I feel like I just took a 2 hour ice bath.

I returned home to a text from a friend inviting me to the EAGLES- GIANTS playoff game tomorrow!!!  Although I am a Redskins fan at heart, I love football and am so, so excited.  We are sitting in a box on the 50 yard line, so the free food, free beer, and warmth of the box makes it even better.

It is still snowing and they are calling for anywhere form 3-8' inches, depending who you listen to.  I'm off now to gather ingredients for a yummy Baked Ziti and wine night at my apartment with a few friends. 

Perhaps following by an 80s themed birthday party.

GREAT weekend :)

Ahhhhh....NYC

The past few days have been the type that constantly remind me how lucky and blessed I am to live in NYC. Granted, being away for the past 6 weeks also helps with those feelings, but this really was just one of those perfect NYC weekends.

I mistakenly decided to listen to the weather channel and planned not to bike on Saturday, as they were calling for cold and rain. I opted to not set the alarm, sleep in and try to finally get rid of my lingering jet-lag. I also spent a few hours getting my apartment back into a presentable state, unpacking the last suitcase and putting them away. Of course, when I woke up on Sat, it was AMAZING out, perfect, crisp spring weather that was just begging for a long, easy bike ride. But I had plans at 3pm, and it was too late to get out for a decent ride over the GWB, and I knew the park would be packed with people, so I had a nice few hours at the gym. I had already run 6 miles already in the week (pain free!), so I did a nice 35-minutes on the elliptical and 30 minutes of strength.

After the gym, I took a lazy stroll around my neighborhood, got a latte, and just enjoyed the weather, the people, NY in general. I felt like I couldn't take the silly grin off my face, but I was just SO happy. I met a friend at 3pm at the Guggenheim. There is an AMAZING exhibition right now of Chinese Modern Art by Cai Guo-Qiang. I am a huge fan of modern art and really enjoyed the exhibition as a whole.

The rest of the day was spent wandering around NYC, cooking a yummy dinner of smoked salmon pasta salad, drinking too much wine and watching basketball while playing Match Game at the local dive bar. Really, if that is not the perfect evening, I am not sure what is...

Woke up to grey skies on Sunday, so again, a long ride was out of the question, but I met a friend on the Res for a 3.1 mile run (my longest since Dec!). Although it is daunting how 'hard' an easy 3 mile run feels right now, it is just SO great to be out there again with the walkers, runners, bikers, and general masses in Central Park. I had a little groin pain, but I am sure that is due to the squats and strength training I did this week, but it's hard not to worry it's something more. There is a definite difference between 'hurt' pain and 'sore' pain that I really need to keep my body in tune with.

The rest of Sunday was filled with a friend's birthday brunch, two too many Bellinis, and a wonderful yet painful swim in the evening. We did 3200 yards, with some 100s on the 1:25, and even though it's going to take a few weeks to feel good again in the water, it was great. I actually don't feel like I lost too much of my swim fitness and I know it's easy to get back if I commit to being in the water 1-2 per week.

It really was just one of those weekends.