Wednesday, March 21, 2007

Things I like and don't get enough of

(This is not a reproach, just a fact I'm lamenting)

  • Fried yucca
  • Friends who burn CDs for me (Listening to Lily Allen right now - Nice! glad to be introduced to her)
  • Days when I feel good, like today (The last time was in November)
  • Movie adaptations of books I love (Just saw Masterpiece Theatre's new version of Jane Eyre - the second half of it in bits and pieces on youtube, but still muy excellente. A shoutout to MileyxJake4Ever, whoever you are. You have a lot of time on your hands, and I thank thee.)
  • Time to be idle

Saturday, March 17, 2007

A general malaise

Complaints:
1) My head hurts, but not enough to take a Tylenol.
2) I've been tired for days. I've tried sleeping, but it only helps a little bit.
3) I worry about the future.
4) I have no one who I can just call up and make go see a movie with me.
5) I ate a fattening breakfast this morning, and now I regret it.
6) My new haircut is not cooperating.
7) I haven't done my taxes yet.

On the bright side:
1) I'm going to Japan on Thursday for a school spring break trip.
2) I plan to eat a lot of good food, and soak away my troubles in a hot spring.
3) It's sunny out.
4) I have some friends who care about me.
5) I know what I'm doing after graduation.
6) I finished classes/exams early and so I have 2 weeks off instead of just one.
7) I'm really stretching here. Hence, the general malaise.

Monday, March 05, 2007

Scenes from the LA Marathon

People huddle for warmth near the starting line... lines at the portable toilets are 20 deep a half-hour before the starting time... a tree's branches become decorated with discarded clothing as runners file by... the stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame streak by in a blur... a barefoot runner with black soles... a man walking under a bridge holds up a sign to runners that says, "Have you found Jesus yet?" ... one man yells to another, who is wearing a T-shirt honoring a comrade killed in Iraq, "Lt. so-and-so, Hooyah!" ... two burly biker types perched on a flatbed truck blast Guns N' Roses from giant speakers ... people sit in folding chairs on their front lawns... the sun beats down on the runners... people line the streets holding signs with their friends' or relatives' names... handsome police officers guard an intersection... a Korean kid raps atop one of the entertainment stages... a runner is stricken with a leg cramp and others try to help, one of them lightly kicking the bottom of his heel... the ground is strewn with flattened cups and banana peels... the welcome cold spray of someone's front-yard hose... little kids hold out cups of water or their hands for high-fives... bystanders read your bib and cheer you on by name... another mile marker passes overhead... someone consoles a teenager who has stopped running and is crying... the crowd has thinned out... some runners stop to stretch their legs on the side of the road... the welcome faces of friends, looking so fresh and encouraging, not at all how you feel... a cheering station volunteer forces a packet of Gu into your hand, and it turns out you really did need it... some cloud cover provides relief from the heat... a perfect view of downtown stretches out ahead... the crowds begin to thicken in the final miles of the race...a news photographer kneels on a street corner, waiting for a good shot... a homeless man yells encouraging words... "You're almost there!" someone else shouts... the Mile 26 banner is straight ahead... the finish is a yellow blurry line too far off in the distance... runners try to smile as they force their legs across the 26.2 mark... volunteers yelling "Congratulations" practically tackle runners to remove computer chips from sneakers... medals are draped around people's necks and plastic blankets are handed out... runners grab at the hundreds of bottles of water set up on tables... paramedics cart away a wiry, ashen-faced runner... people spread blankets out and fall to the ground... some scarf down fruit, bagels, nuts... others make their way on wobbly legs to reunite with their families

Sunday, March 04, 2007

5:00:43

The best part of today, in addition to finishing the marathon, was the wonderful support I received from friends who came to watch the race and sent e-mails and text messages. I didn't know it would matter so much, but it did. Also a special thanks to Sonia, my triathlete friend who stopped by to run miles 19-22 with me and kept me going through that tough stretch, when I was very tempted to give in to the urge to walk.

I want to say more, but right now I'm not good for much but sleeping. My bed beckons.

Hurray for runners!

Thursday, March 01, 2007

Clichés, and Eating salt before the marathon

Words are like fashion or music. If you hear or see something too often, it becomes passé or very "last year," like pointy shoes or a Gwen Stefani song after a few weeks on the radio. (On a side note, I'm not making fun of people with pointy shoes. I have a pair, acquired too late, and I've only been able to wear them once and I'm quite sad.)

But back to words. Phrases that are so overused that they become shells of their former selves. When someone uses a cliché, you know what he or she means to say, but you don't give it much weight because the words knock against your ear without really getting inside, to make an impact.

That said, I think clichés still have their value. When a phrase becomes commonly used, it's a good form of communication because people instantly know what you are talking about. There's no ambiguity. Like when my running group met last weekend to go over our game plan (another cliché!) for Sunday's marathon, we decided that although we'd been training as a team, on the day of the marathon it would be "every man for himself." That's a big-time cliché, but it's also an efficient way of conveying the idea.

And sometimes, clichés just say it better than anything else. Like this morning, I was thinking about whether I'm more or less marketable because I don't have any great skill, like finance. I went back and forth and then, to cheer myself up, I thought: "The world is my oyster." Now, I know that phrase is pretty worn. But I liked it anyway and it made me feel better.

On another note, there are 3 days left until the marathon. We've been advised get enough sleep and increase our salt intake. I love both salt and sleep, so ... Aye aye, captain! I'm on it. You don't have to tell me twice.*

*These are all clichés. I don't really talk like that.