New Years Resolution still living strong

My New Year's resolution of "updating Aleks" is still in effect. I've  watched more TV and've seen more movies this year than my entire college career.

The road ahead is still long though.

I was recently introduced to a show that I absolutely fell in love with on the first episode: Parks and Recreation.

It's a mockumentary about life in the Parks and Recreation Department in City Government. Everything about the show is great. The characters are hilarious, I find the situations more realistic than in other shows (like The Office) and I like how the intern dated a boy who had a boyfriend. Beautiful.

The show is on its third season, which won't air til January.

Despite my sadness of having to wait a few months for the show to return, I have plenty of other shows to watch in the meantime: Dexter and Mad Men, to start.

I also have a butt load of movies to watch, as was reminded by some tweeps yesterday in a discussion I really couldn't participate in since I had no idea what they were referring to. And by discussion, I meant to say I was the butt of their jokes. Which is fine. I have no shame!

Movies to watch: Star Wars, Back to The Future, Indiana Jones, Strange Brew, Fletch

Typography Project 1

My first project was simple and fun. It was the perfect project to ease us students into type.

We had to take our camera and find examples of type.

Gimme, gimme

Success: Completed my first 5K

Running in the Santa Monica 5K yesterday was fantasmagorical. I never thought running could be so much fun.

XX and I woke up at 5:20 am, got dressed and jumped in the car by 5:40. We ate our breakfast on the way down – I had one cliff bar and half a Gatorade, XX had two cliff bars and a full Gatorade.

I hate eating before working out, especially this early in the morning, but I forced it down since I knew I was going to need the energy.

After picking up our numbers (I was 106,), we ran a bit to stretch out and prepare for the race. We positioned ourselves near the front of the starting line, I gave XX a I'll-see-you-at-the-finish-line-kiss, and at the sound of the blow-horn, away we went!

The sound of all those feet running toward one goal was pretty badass. I pulled over to the side to let all the Speedy-Mc-Speedters pass my slow ass, which was fine. I figured some of these people would burn themselves out and I would eventually pass them.

My goal was to keep going no matter what. If my hip started to hurt, too bad. If a cramp decided to stab me in my side, too bad. If my shoulder were to spasm (as it often does), too bad.

I was pretty amazed at the amount of people who passed me. It kept going and going. I almost felt fat and bad about myself running so slow... but then I saw people walking and any negative thoughts were kicked to the curb. HA! I ain't walking, bitches!

I'm proud to say that I stayed the course and ran the entire 5K without stopping. I ran at a steady pace the entire time and only started to cramp up a bit during the last kilometer, in which I responded by speeding up.

Naturally, I felt accomplished when I crossed that finish line. I sort of sprinted toward the end. Apparently the announcer even said my name over the PA system, but I was in the zone and didn't hear him.

I ended up running the 3.12 miles in roughly 35 minutes.

Now I have a time to beat for the next one.

Afterward, my mom took XX and I out to breakfast at a poshy place called Canali Cafe. Having my mom come out and support us meant a lot.

I'm stoked, too, cause now I have a new found respect for running... and I want to continue doing it.

No chip, no time!

106 baby.

Giving my mom a wake-up call.

I did it!

Victory is mine

A couple of months ago I wrote about how my medical insurance was trying to charge me for getting some preventative care.

If you don't remember, you can refresh your memory here.

Basically, at first they charged me $400something. I complained and they said they made a mistake and they would fix it and resend the bill.

The second bill landed at $700something. Awesome!

The good news? I don't have to pay diddly.

I sent 2 letters to them asking for an explanation of each charge and why I was getting slammed with such a high bill for preventative care. I even photocopied my insurance card where it says "All preventative care is covered 100%" and sent that to them, too.

They didn't send me an explanation. They just sent me a letter saying "Patient responsibility: $0."

Victory is mine!

Checking off the list: Running a 5K

I'm running my first 5K tomorrow. I'm excited to cross it off my list of things to do (check out the link above). I'm not really nervous, even though maybe I should be since I haven't really been keeping up with my running schedule the last 2 weeks.

I ran a 5K yesterday and it was... painful.

My hip doesn't hurt anymore, but I got a cramp 0.3 miles into the run. I'm serious. I literally ran for 4 minutes and my side started to hurt.

NOT GOOD.

I managed to finish, but I had to stop every mile to give my side a break. I don't plan on doing that tomorrow though. If I get a cramp, I'm going to push through.

The goal is to finish.

Here is the map.

My mom is cute. She is going to come and support me and Nathan. My dad told me to come in first place.

I told him I'd bring him home a medal.

Jacked from Mr. Roger

"Understand me, I am one of those dangerous ones. I have never wanted to be rich. I have always wanted a great deal more. I have always wanted to remake the world, and that is a much more greedy, far-reaching ambition than cash."
~Dorothy Allison

Funny talking animals: Video mania