Fat Tuesday

I can't believe it is Fat Tuesday. Tomorrow is Ash Wednesday which means another Lenten season has arrived. I have so much to look forward to: the fasting, the no meat Fridays and confession.

For the pas couple of weeks, I have been thinking about what to give up. Many years ago I gave up pop and never went back to it. In November/December 2008 I bought a six pack of orange Crush. It was delicious and the best part is it didn't have caffeine. But that sweet sampling hasn't made me go back and start drinking pop. Which is good for me. Water, milk, and Gatorade are the my everyday preferred drinks.

This year I will give up the vending machine at work. I usually give this up every year. Everyday I bring my own food from home. The times that the vending machine is my best friend is when we are all out of snacks in-between grocery shopping. I hope to make it through the six weeks of Lent without coming to work empty handed. If I do, the vending machine will be whispering sweet nothings in my ear.

The other thing I plan to give up is chips. But not entirely. Sometimes after work I come home and grab a snack before lunch. Most of the time it is cheese or chips. So to break that habit, I have a catch. The only time I can eat chips during Lent is when I eat a sandwich. If I'm eating a sandwich, I eat less chips because the sandwich fills me up.

Weekend update

Saturday evening my husband and I ventured to the local mall. We walked around and looked at the new spring clothes. I only saw a couple of things that I wanted to buy, polo shirts. I will buy them soon and add them to my closet, which is looking like a rainbow right now. All of the polo's are arranged by color according to the rainbow.

While in a store a man walked by us and he was talking on a cellphone. I overheard him say that he "was sad and lonely." About twenty minutes later, I saw the same guy still on his cellphone walk by us in a different store on the opposite side of the mall.

After the mall, we went to the grocery store to pick up a few items. As we wheeled our cart into the alcohol aisle, we smelled something really bad. I pushed the cart ahead, stopped at the Smirnoff, picked up a six pack and the awful smell got worse. That is when we saw a family in the aisle. Someone in that family had some awful body odor. It was nasty. My husband and I took a breath and we held it as we walked passed the smelly person.

While checking out and I saw the guy from the mall. The cell phone guy. He was still on his phone talking, coming towards the checkout. Its like he followed us all evening.

My husband and I wanted pizza for dinner. He didn't know the phone number for the place, so we went to the service counter to look in a phone book. After he found the number we were leaving when we passed the smelly family once again. It wasn't hard to miss because they were smelling up the joint. I can't image what that car ride home must have been like.

An hour before running Sunday, I had some chips and dip. It was a small snack to get me through my 5 mile run. My run went well and I finished a bit tired. After running I did some ab exercises. I noticed during abs, my stomach starting hurting. I finished my abs and decided I should go upstairs to the bathroom quick. For the next couple of hours I was throwing up or sitting on the toilet. It wasn't good. I didn't attempt to eat any food because I don't think I could have kept it down. I had a popsicle and water the rest of the night. I even went to bed early at 8:30 p.m.

This morning I felt fine. I ate breakfast and had no problems. I don't think I will be eating that dip anytime soon.

Ready for spring

All of the snow in the yard has melted. The area has had multiple days of 40 degrees and sunshine. And it will be ruined Saturday with the snow that the county is supposed to receive. I'll be so happy when it is time to finally put the shovels away for the season. I'm tired of shoveling the sidewalk, porch and back deck. Spring can't get here fast enough.

A look at what is coming my way Saturday morning:

Issued by The National Weather Service
Detroit, MI 3:33 am EST, Fri., Feb. 20, 2009

A WINTER STORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM SATURDAY MORNING THROUGH SATURDAY EVENING.

SNOW IS EXPECTED TO MOVE INTO THE AREA SATURDAY MORNING AND BECOME HEAVY AT TIMES BY EARLY AFTERNOON. THE SNOW WILL DIMINISH BY LATE SATURDAY EVENING. TOTAL SNOWFALL ACCUMULATIONS OF 4 TO 8 INCHES ARE EXPECTED.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
A WINTER STORM WATCH MEANS THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR SIGNIFICANT SNOW ACCUMULATIONS THAT MAY IMPACT TRAVEL. CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE LATEST FORECASTS.

Notice - Adrian, MI

The Letter Q - Adrian, MI

While out shooting last Friday, I noticed this letter sticking to an old furniture store sign pole. It was a great find. I wish more letters were randomly scattered all over town.

Books read in 2009

America's Queen, Sarah Bradford
Deadhouse: Life in a Coroner's Office, John Temple
Marilyn's Last Words, Matthew Smith
Corpse: Nature, Forensics and the Struggle to Pinpoint Time of Death, Jessica Snyder Sachs
Rage and Glory: The Volatile Life and Career of George C. Scott, David Sheward
Sinatra in Hollywood, Tom Santopietro
How Not to Die: Surprising Lessons on Living Longer, Safer, and Healthier from America's Favorite Medical Examiner, Jan Garavaglia, M.D.
Pieces of My Heart: A Life, Robert J. Wagner & Scott Eyman
The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald
Here's the Story: Surviving Marcia Brady and Finding My True Voice, Maureen McCormick
Marilyn Monroe: Private and Undisclosed, Michelle Morgan

Currently Reading: Jackie Ethel Joan: Women of Camelot, J. Randy Taraborrelli
Up Next: Library trip or books I ordered from Amazon. Whichever come first

Detail - Adrian, MI

Weekend update

My husband and I both worked on Valentine's Day, we had our dinner on Thursday. We went to Evans Street Station in Tecumseh. Both of us ordered the center cut strip loan. It was fabulous, as was the entire meal and service. Probably the next time we will return to the restaurant is for my birthday.

My husband and I exchanged Valentine gifts on Saturday afternoon. I got him a gift card to Lowe's and he surprised me with a sweatshirt and t-shirt from the University I graduated from. Both the items I received were brown. They really goes well with my hair.

While eating lunch, my husband said that one of his co-workers was wondering why his plate got ran by the city police Friday morning. He said that he wasn't out, so it was my plate that did. The police ran my license plate. I guess I was acting suspicious. I was driving slow looking for graffiti and taking photos at a school that closed in the '90s. After leaving the school, I went a couple of miles down the street to fill up my car with gasoline. As I parked my car at a nozzle, I noticed a city police car driving slowly on the other side of the pump and the officer looking at me as got out of my car. At the time I thought it was weird. Now I understand why he did it.

I decided to try to run at my normal pace on the treadmill Sunday. I ran 4 miles and I was beat. I haven't run that fast in a while and it tired me out. My heel felt OK after the run and I did ice it. When I run again tomorrow I hope I can run at my normal treadmill pace again. Cutting back on running is really hard for me to do. I can't wait until my plantar fasciitis goes away and then I can really get back to normal. And also run on more then flat surfaces.

Freight car - Adrian, MI

Books read in 2009

America's Queen, Sarah Bradford
Deadhouse: Life in a Coroner's Office, John Temple
Marilyn's Last Words, Matthew Smith
Corpse: Nature, Forensics and the Struggle to Pinpoint Time of Death, Jessica Snyder Sachs
Rage and Glory: The Volatile Life and Career of George C. Scott, David Sheward
Sinatra in Hollywood, Tom Santopietro
How Not to Die: Surprising Lessons on Living Longer, Safer, and Healthier from America's Favorite Medical Examiner, Jan Garavaglia, M.D.
Pieces of My Heart: A Life, Robert J. Wagner & Scott Eyman
The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald
Here's the Story: Surviving Marcia Brady and Finding My True Voice, Maureen McCormick

Currently Reading: Marilyn Monroe: Private and Undisclosed, Michelle Morgan
Up Next: Library trip

Love. Graffiti style - Sand Creek, MI

Zim - Adrian, MI

Closed factory - Adrian, MI

Electric Meter - Adrian, MI

I went to the dance studio to photograph a class last week. Waited for 10 minutes and no one showed up. I assumed the class was switched to a later time so I walked out the front door and left. I walked through an alley, at night, to get back to my car. The two lights in the alley lit up this electric meter covered with ice, so I needed to stop and take a photo.

Foot Update

I visited the foot doctor this morning. My foot is on its way to recovery.

I was told to keep stretching, icing and taking my prescription. Before leaving, my foot was wrapped again. I need to keep the wrap on for another three days. I see many Ziploc and garbage bags in my future.

I asked the doctor how I should continue to run. He said if my foot is feeling good I can keep my mileage at 75%. I think for a now I'll keep my mileage low then maybe at the end of the week, keep it up a bit and run over 4 miles.

Books read in 2009

I've read three books in a span of five days and I have enjoyed them all. I read The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald in high school. I can say that I probably didn't like it back then. But the second time around, I did like it. Maybe it was because I wasn't forced to read it. Now I'll put the movie with Robert Redford on my Netflix queue.

America's Queen, Sarah Bradford
Deadhouse: Life in a Coroner's Office, John Temple
Marilyn's Last Words, Matthew Smith
Corpse: Nature, Forensics and the Struggle to Pinpoint Time of Death, Jessica Snyder Sachs
Rage and Glory: The Volatile Life and Career of George C. Scott, David Sheward
Sinatra in Hollywood, Tom Santopietro
How Not to Die: Surprising Lessons on Living Longer, Safer, and Healthier from America's Favorite Medical Examiner, Jan Garavaglia, M.D.
Pieces of My Heart: A Life, Robert J. Wagner & Scott Eyman
The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald

Currently Reading: Here's the Story: Surviving Marcia Brady and Finding My True Voice, Maureen McCormick
Up Next: Marilyn Monroe: Private and Undisclosed, Michelle Morgan

Foot doctor visit

Tuesday morning I make a return visit to the foot doctor. I'm icing my heel, stretching and taking a prescription for my inflammation due to plantar fasciitis. When I see him, I hope he will tell me I can get back to my regular training. But I feel he might say to keep my running at 50%. I will let you know the outcome tomorrow.

Books read in 2009

America's Queen, Sarah Bradford
Deadhouse: Life in a Coroner's Office, John Temple
Marilyn's Last Words, Matthew Smith
Corpse: Nature, Forensics and the Struggle to Pinpoint Time of Death, Jessica Snyder Sachs
Rage and Glory: The Volatile Life and Career of George C. Scott, David Sheward
Sinatra in Hollywood, Tom Santopietro
How Not to Die: Surprising Lessons on Living Longer, Safer, and Healthier from America's Favorite Medical Examiner, Jan Garavaglia, M.D.
Pieces of My Heart: A Life, Robert J. Wagner & Scott Eyman

Currently Reading: The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald
Up Next: Here's the Story: Surviving Marcia Brady and Finding My True Voice, Maureen McCormick

Miles run in 2009

It is torture to for me to cut my mileage by 50%. If you don't know, I have plantar fasciitis and my foot doctor told me to take it easy. I know it is good for me. My foot and heel are feeling so much better. It is so nice to be able to wake up in the morning and walk down the stairs without foot pain. Let me stress, its just so nice to walk without foot pain. I hope next week, my doctor will let me go back to my normal mileage. Please!

Later today I will be taking off my foot wrap. It is been a wonderful three days with that on my foot. Really it has helped, but it is a pain when trying to take a shower. I figured out a good way to keep the foot wrap dry in the shower. First put a Ziploc bag on your foot. Zip it up as far as it can go, then tightly duct tape it near the top of the bag. Always duct tape near the top of the bag. Next put a garbage bag on over the Ziploc bag and tightly duct tape it at the mid-calf level. Lastly, get another garbage bag and put it over the other bags. Again tightly duct tape this one as high as it can go. My last bag was right below my knee. It is an easy way of keeping a foot wrap/cast dry. Taking off the bags were a breeze. The duct tape came off quickly on my shaved legs.

2004: 34.5
2005: 47
2006: 44
2007: 40
2008: 98
2009: 100

WS - Adrian, MI

Another photo from my 2006 series.

Books read in 2009

America's Queen, Sarah Bradford
Deadhouse: Life in a Coroner's Office, John Temple
Marilyn's Last Words, Matthew Smith
Corpse: Nature, Forensics and the Struggle to Pinpoint Time of Death, Jessica Snyder Sachs
Rage and Glory: The Volatile Life and Career of George C. Scott, David Sheward
Sinatra in Hollywood, Tom Santopietro

Currently Reading: How Not to Die: Surprising Lessons on Living Longer, Safer, and Healthier from America's Favorite Medical Examiner, Jan Garavaglia, M.D.
Up Next: Library trip

So about my foot

I went to the foot doctor today. He told me I have plantar fasciitis. I received a prescription and was told to stretch many times during the day and continue to ice my heel. I asked if I could still run. The doctor told me to cut my running back by 50%.

Before I left, one of the assistants massaged my heel with some equipment and wrapped my foot. She told me that I needed to wear the wrap for three days and I couldn't get it wet. After running, I took a shower with two garbage bags over my the bottom half of my left leg held on by duct tape. It was awful. I knew what it felt like with people who have casts.

BK - Adrian, MI

This photo is from a series I did back in 2006. It is from a train engine that was scrapped for metal. Who knew back then I would love graffiti? When weather gets warmer I plan to go play by the railroad tracks to take new photos of graffiti on train cars.

Waiting for the music to start - Adrian, MI

Heel update

As I was walking downstairs Monday morning, my heel felt good. The pain disappeared. It was the best my heel felt in two weeks since the problem started. On Tuesday it was different. The pain returned. Wednesday, the pain was a bit worse. Sitting at my desk at work, my heel was throbbing. I know that isn't good. I called a podiatrist when I got home. I was hoping I could get an appointment for this week. I didn't. My appointment is for next Tuesday. I'm praying that it won't be something awful that requires me to take a break from running. I admit I'm addicted to running. It is something that I need to do.

Too tired to write anything

I'm tired from shoveling snow. So here is a photo that I took last week. Enjoy!

Books read in 2009

America's Queen, Sarah Bradford
Deadhouse: Life in a Coroner's Office, John Temple
Marilyn's Last Words, Matthew Smith
Corpse: Nature, Forensics and the Struggle to Pinpoint Time of Death, Jessica Snyder Sachs
Rage and Glory: The Volatile Life and Career of George C. Scott, David Sheward

Currently Reading: Sinatra in Hollywood, Tom Santopietro
Up Next: How Not to Die: Surprising Lessons on Living Longer, Safer, and Healthier from America's Favorite Medical Examiner, Jan Garavaglia, M.D.

Weekend update

I photographed something fun Friday night. It was a college men's volleyball game. It is the first men's team in the area and it was their first home game. The two teams were Michigan State University at Siena Heights University. It was cool to see a small NAIA university play a huge Division I club team. Siena defeated MSU 3-1. I really enjoyed the game. The speed of the game was fast and the hitting was unbelievable. Siena has a great player from Colombia. His jump serve is awesome and he is a great setter. The game I'm looking forward to seeing is when University of Michigan's A Team visits Siena on February 9.

My husband and I went to Toledo, Ohio Saturday night to see Revolutionary Road. I really enjoyed the movie. My husband not so much. He fell asleep twice and was on the verge of snoring. I had to tap him to get him to stop. This movie is not for everyone. There is no happy ending.

I've been to a lot of movies in my life. I have to say the people around us in the theatre with me were the rudest people ever. People talked throughout the entire movie. The two older ladies sitting in the row ahead of me. The married couple sitting next to my husband who smelled like alcohol. And the big group behind me. I would have to say the group behind me was pretty bad. One girl kept announcing what was going to happen and she let her cell phone ring and ring. The couple sitting beside my husband arrived to the theatre 10 minutes after the movie started. They laughed and talked the entire time. The old ladies in front of me didn't even try to whisper. They talked loudly. Maybe this is why I don't go to the theatre that much. I would rather watch a movie at my house where it is quiet. Nobody is talking and kicking the back of my seat.

Revolutionary Road

The movie I have been waiting to see since December 26, 2008 is Revolutionary Road starring Kate and Leo. The movie opened nationwide on January 23, but not in my town. My husband, who is awesome and will be coming with me, and I will be driving to Toledo, Ohio tonight to see it. Finally! I enjoyed the book so much, I hope the movie will be that great as well.

Sleep problems

When I was a child I could fall asleep instantly. Now that I'm almost 30, not so instantly.

My work schedule is hard on me. I wake up at 4 a.m. Monday through Friday. On those nights, I need to be in bed by 9 p.m. Usually that doesn't happen. Lately, I have been going to bed later because games run late, my work is taking longer at the office and I eat dinner when I get home. Earlier this week, I tried to go to sleep at 9:30 p.m. I tossed, turned and couldn't get to sleep. I looked at my alarm clock, it read 10:42 p.m. I think I finally got to sleep way after midnight.

I noticed I was tossing, turning, and not being able to sleep quite frequently in 2008 and already in 2009. Does anyone have a suggestion for a good over-the-counter sleep aid? I would really like something that won't make me miss my alarm at 4 a.m. and something that I won't become addicted to. Please help me get a better night's rest.

Books read in 2009

America's Queen, Sarah Bradford
Deadhouse: Life in a Coroner's Office, John Temple
Marilyn's Last Words, Matthew Smith
Corpse: Nature, Forensics and the Struggle to Pinpoint Time of Death, Jessica Snyder Sachs

Currently Reading: Rage and Glory: The Volatile Life and Career of George C. Scott, David Sheward
Up Next: Sinatra in Hollywood, Tom Santopietro

House projects

Another household project is underway. It has been going on for over a week now. Back in November, the ceiling tiles in the dining room started to bow. My husband came home on a dinner break and saw the sagging ceiling. He decided to pull the sagging tiles down. The next morning when I walked into the dining room, I saw the missing ceiling tiles. While I was standing there, a couple of ceiling tiles fell to the floor. Later that week, my husband pulled down all of the ceiling tiles.

Before Christmas my husband called some contractors to get estimates on the ceiling. They were really high, so he decided to redo the ceiling himself. Last week, he put up three sheets of the drywall with a lift and hammered away. Then came the joint compound. Then the sanding and the dust it caused. White powder from the sanding got all over the furniture, chairs and floor. Yesterday he sanded the entire ceiling to get it ready to paint. The room was onced again covered with white dust. I walked through the room and left white footprints everywhere.

Last night, he put the first coat of primer on. He hopes to put the second on today, but I don't think he will have time before going to work. This whole process is taking quite a while and he doing it himself. Saving money in the process. I told him the ceiling looked really good. But I can't wait until the room is done. I don't enjoy the walking around the maze that is my dining room. I want to be able to walk into the dining room and enter another room without bumping into furniture.

I'm really going to freak on the next big house project. My husband will be redoing the bathroom in the coming months. He has to gut the entire room. He said it will take some time to do, maybe five days if it all goes well. If it all goes well?! Five days without a shower in the house! I can't live without a shower. I think I see a hotel room in my future.

Books read in 2009

America's Queen, Sarah Bradford
Deadhouse: Life in a Coroner's Office, John Temple
Marilyn's Last Words, Matthew Smith

Currently Reading: Corpse: Nature, Forensics and the Struggle to Pinpoint Time of Death, Jessica Snyder Sachs
Up Next: Rage and Glory: The Volatile Life and Career of George C. Scott, David Sheward

MIles run in 2009

Sunday's five mile run felt good. My heel is still tender but I'm icing it twice a day and doing stretches. I need to find some really good insoles to help cushion my heel. The ones I have now are good, but a few years old.

2004: 20.2
2005: 24
2006: 23
2007: 26
2008: 42
2009: 52

Pure Country

I watched the movie Pure Country this morning. At the end of the movie, George Strait's character Dusty sings I Cross My Heart. That was the first song my husband and I danced to as man and wife. Every time I hear the song, it takes me back to September 15, 2001.

Random things

Ever since I wore boots to work on Monday, my left heel is hurting. Another runner suggested to me on dailymile that it could be plantar fasciitis. I hope its not, but I do I have a couple of the symptoms. If the pain is still around next week, I plan on visiting a foot doctor. To help my heel, I iced it this morning and did some stretching. Before going to my photo assignment tonight, I will put insoles or gel heels into my shoes to help ease the pain while shooting.

I was reading Marilyn's Last Words by Matthew Smith before my photo assignment started last night. Someone I knew was standing behind and saw that I was reading a book. I was at a start of a new chapter and they saw the heading. They repeated the heading then asked what I was reading. I showed them the front of the book and they proceeded to roll their eyes. It really irritated me. Every time that I'm reading or listing to on my iPod before an assignment people have to know what it is. Why do they need to know? If I want people to know, I will tell them.

Currently it is 4 degrees with a wind chill of -11. I'm really looking forward to this weekend and next week. Temperatures will be in the 20s. That will really feel like a heat wave.

Underneath the tracks - New York City, NY

Books read in 2009

America's Queen, Sarah Bradford
Deadhouse: Life in a Coroner's Office, John Temple

Currently Reading: Marilyn's Last Words, Matthew Smith
Up Next: Corpse: Nature, Forensics and the Struggle to Pinpoint Time of Death, Jessica Snyder Sachs

So excited

I just did something that makes me very happy .... I paid off my car loan.

The car is now mine. I own it. No more car payments! The day I will really celebrate is when I pay off my student loan.

Weekend update

The county was hit with snow Friday night through Saturday evening. Around here we got 8-10 inches of snow. Saturday morning I went out to shovel the sidewalk and the entry to our driveway. The snow was wet and heavy and not too much fun to shovel. Sunday, the area received about a inch of snow. I went back out this morning to shovel, again.

I'm tired of snow already and its only January. More snow will be falling again this week. It seems like we can't catch a break. For tonight, accumulations of 1 to 2 inches are likely. We get get a break from the snow Tuesday. Even though there won't be falling snow, we get blowing and drifting snow and lows that are going to be -2 to -8 below. The snow returns Wednesday with accumulations of 3 to 5 inches. I would like to know where all of this snow is supposed to go? I'm running out of room in my front yard like everyone else is.

Besides shoveling, I did go see Gran Torino with my husband Saturday. I really enjoyed the movie. I thought it was a drama, but we laughed through the entire movie. Clint's character says some really un-PC things. But as an actor and director, Clint Eastwood can do no wrong.

After the movie we went to dinner at a restaurant. All week I have been craving nachos. After I ordered them, I was told by our server that they changed the way they do nachos. OK. I didn't think it would be that big of a change. First of all they now serve it with spicy chili instead of straight beef. As part of the chili, beans were included. I'm not a big fan of chili beans. I picked most of them out because they are mixed in with the chili. There was no way to order them without the beans. Boo. Second, the drippy, runny cheese is gone. Shredded cheese is now sprinkled on top and melted under a burner. I liked how they were the way before. I will never get nachos there again. Maybe I'll start going to Taco Bell. They still use the runny cheese.

Books read in 2009

America's Queen, Sarah Bradford

Currrently Reading: Deadhouse: Life in a Coroner's Office, John Temple
Up Next: Marilyn's Last Words, Matthew Smith

Bummer

On December 30, I ordered a sweater and polo shirt online. I received an email from the company a day later with the tracking code. A couple of days later, the tracking information was updated and my clothes were to arrive at my house Monday, January 5.

Monday morning I checked the tracker and it said my package was out for delivery. Monday afternoon a package was delivered to my door. It was one of two packages that was supposed to be arrive on January 5. Before leaving for a game that evening, I got online and checked my tracker. It said my package was "Out for Delivery". I wanted to call the company and find out if it was still on one of the trucks, but I didn't have time becuse I needed to go to work.

The next day I checked the tracking information. It had changed overnight. Now it read... "INCORRECT ROUTING AT FACILITY / THE PACKAGE WAS MISSORTED AT THE HUB. IT HAS BEEN REROUTED TO THE CORRECT DESTINATION SITE." Bummer. According to the tracking information my package has had quite a journey so far. It has been scanned in numerous states: Kansas, Illinois and Texas. Hopefully in a couple of days it will say Ohio and Michigan.

Giggle - Adrian, MI

Senior Performance Lyrical - Adrian, MI

One of my favorite photos that I took of this class. All of the focus is on the dancer behind the teacher.

New Year goals

I have only a few goals for the new year. They basically are the same ones from 2008.

1. Run over 1000 miles - I ran 960.2 miles in 2008. If I didn't decrease my mileage after my half marathon in October, I would have reached it this year.

2. Eat more at home - My husband and I continued to do a good job of eating at home more last year. We saved money by eating lunch and dinner at home. We do eat out on occasion. Usually it is on a Friday night or Saturday night. I would also like to cook more. I know how to make easy stuff like sandwiches, soap, spaghetti, meatloaf and chili. I would like to make steaks or something like that for my husband. He usually makes those meals.

3. Shoot photos more - This has been a resolution for two years in a row. I did a good job of shooting more personal photos in 2008. In September, I went back to shoot at my favorite dance company. Since then I try to make it there once a week. Besides shooting ballet/dance, I want to get back to shooting my other loves: cemeteries, cemetery statues, decaying structures/industry and graffiti.

4. Continue reading - I finished 2008 with 43 books read. My plan is to finish reading over 40 books again.

Miles run in 2008 - Final Count

On New Year's Eve, I ran four miles. My legs were very tired from my 5 mile run on Tuesday. I felt like it was in slow motion during my entire run. I think those were the longest 40 minutes of my life.

My first run of 2009 was nice and slow. I wanted my legs to recover a bit before taking on a 4 or 5 mile run later this afternoon.

Total miles run for the year:
2004: 318.6
2005: 350.8
2006: 470
2007: 573.7
2008: 960.2

Moives watched in 2008 - Final Count

Final Count: 88

Favorite Movies: Arsenic and Old Lace (1944); Charade (1963); Dial M for Murder (1954); Gaslight (1944); Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953); Roman Holiday (1953); Sex and The City: The Movie (2008); The Changeling (1980) and The Shootist (1976)

Favorite Documentary: Marilyn Monroe: The Final Days (2001)

Least Favorite Movie: Atonement (2007)

So bad that it was laughable: The Corpse Vanishes (1942)

Movie I watched for famous quote: Soylent Green (1973)

• All About Eve (1950)
• Anatomy of a Murder (1959)
• Arsenic and Old Lace (1944)
• Atonement (2007)
• Becoming Jane (2007)
• Bonnie and Clyde (1967)
• Bus Stop (1956)
• Casablanca (1942)
• Charade (1963)
• Citizen Kane (1941)
• Dial M for Murder (1954)
• Dirty Harry (1971)
• Don't Bother to Knock (1952)
• Elizabeth I (2005) HBO Films
• Gaslight (1944)
• Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953)
• Gia (1998) HBO Films
• Goodbye Again (1961)
• Gosford Park (2001)
• Grace Kelly: American Princess (1995)
• Gypsy (1962)
• High Noon (1952)
• High Society (1956)
• His Girl Friday (1940)
• How to Marry a Millionarie (1953)
• I Spit on Your Grave (1978)
• In Cold Blood (1967)
• Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008)
• Indiscreet (1958)
• JFK: The Case for Conspiracy (1993)
• Keeping Mum (2005)
• Lolita (1962)
• Marie Antoinette (2006)
• Marilyn Monroe: The Final Days (2001)
• Marnie (1964)
• Michael Clayton (2007)
• Mommie Dearest (1981)
• Mr. Bean's Holiday (2007)
• Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939)
• Nixon (1995)
• No Country for Old Men (2007)
• On the Beach (1959)
• Once Upon a Honeymoon (1942)
• Operation Petticoat (1959)
• Possessed (1947)
• Rear Window (1954)
• Rebel Without a Cause (1955)
• Rio Grande (1950)
• Roman Holiday (1953)
• Rope (1948)
• Rosemary's Baby (1968)
• Sex and the City: The Movie (2008)
• Shadow of a Doubt (1943)
• Some Like It Hot (1959)
• Sorry, Wrong Number (1948)
• Soylent Green (1973)
• Suzy (1936)
• The Awful Truth (1937)
• The Beast of the City (1932)
• The Birds (1963)
• The Bishop's Wife (1947)
• The Bunker (1981) TV
• The Caretakers (1963)
• The Changeling (1980)
• The Corpse Vanishes (1942)
• The Country Girl (1954)
• The Elephant Man (1980)
• The Final Countdown (1980)
• The Ghost and Mrs. Muir (1947)
• The Killers (1946)
• The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956)
• The Men Who Killed Kennedy (1988)
• The Misfits (1961)
• The Nun's Story (1959)
• The Public Enemy (1931)
• The Rainmaker (1956)
• The Remains of the Day (1993)
• The Rookie (1990)
• The Shootist (1976)
• The Spiral Staircase (1945)
• The Tender Trap (1955)
• Topaz (1969)
• Torn Curtain (1966)
• True Grit (1969)
• Truman (1995) HBO Films
• Wait Until Dark (1967)
• Where Eagles Dare (1968)
• Without Limits (1998)

Books read in 2008 - Final Count

Final Count: 43

Favorite Books of the Year: Revolutionary Road, Richard Yates; The Search for Amelia Earhart, Fred Goerner; Duke: A Love Story, Pat Stacy and Thing of Beauty: The Tragedy of Supermodel Gia, Stephen Fried

Least Favorite Book of the Year: The Fatal Friendship: Marie Antoinette, Count Fersen and the Flight to Varennes, Stanley Loomis


A Simple Act of Murder: November 22, 1963, Mark Fuhrman
Brothers: The Hidden History of the Kennedy Years, David Talbot
Sons and Brothers: The Days of Jack and Bobby Kennedy, Richard D. Mahoney
Marilyn Monroe: The Biography, Donald Spoto
True Grace: The Life and Times of an American Princess, Wendy Leigh
Final Disclosure, David W. Belin
John Wayne: My Life with the Duke, Pilar Wayne
Bombshell: The Life and Death of Jean Harlow, David Stenn
The Lost Life of Eva Braun, Angela Lambert
Harlow: An Intimate Biography, Irving Shulman
His Way, Kitty Kelley
Natalie, Lana Wood
Rita Hayworth, John Kobal
The Fatal Friendship: Marie Antoinette, Count Fersen and the Flight to Varennes, Stanley Loomis
The Other Boleyn Girl, Philippa Gregory
John Wayne: The Man Behind the Myth, Michael Munn
Robert Kennedy: His Life, Evan Thomas
Grace of Monaco, Steven Englund
Nemesis, Peter Evans
A Royal Duty, Paul Burrell
The Search for Amelia Earhart, Fred Goerner
Seinfeld: The Making of an American Icon, Jerry Oppenheimer
The Day John Died, Christopher Andersen
As Time Goes By: The Life of Ingrid Bergman, Laurence Leamer
Diana's Boys, Christopher Andersen
The Family, Kitty Kelley
Jackie after Jack, Christopher Andersen
Truman, David McCullough
Thing of Beauty: The Tragedy of Supermodel Gia, Stephen Fried
Moose: A Memoir of Fat Camp, Stephanie Klein
Tallulah!: The Life and Times of a Leading Lady, Joel Lobenthal
All Too Human, Edward Kline
Princess Grace, Gwen Robyns
Audrey Hepburn, Barry Paris
Postmortem: How Medical Examiners Explain Suspicious Deaths, Stefan Timmermans
Revolutionary Road, Richard Yates
Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, Gregory Maguire
Joan Crawford, Bob Thomas
Duke: A Love Story, Pat Stacy
The Murder of Bob Crane, Robert Graysmith
Daughter of the Sky: The Story of Amelia Earhart, Paul L. Briand, Jr.
Mockingbird: A Portrait of Harper Lee, Charles J. Shields
Dissecting Death, Frederick Zugibe, M.D., Ph. D.

End of the year questions

1. What did you do in 2008 that you’d never done before?
Ran the Detroit Free Press/Flagstar Half Marathon

2. Did you keep your New Year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Yes. I missed the mark on one. I ran over 600 miles, my husband and I ate at home more and I shot more personal photos. The only one I didn't make was reading over 45 books.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
My sister Debbie

4. Did anyone close to you die?
Yes. My grandmother and a family friend.

5. What countries did you visit?
The United States. I'm hoping someday I will make it to Italy.

6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?
I would like a little bit more money.

7. What dates from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
September. My last bride picked up their order and October 19. I finished my first half marathon.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? Completing a half marathon.

9. What was your biggest failure?
Its not really a failure, but a disappointment. But it was my decision to end my wedding photography career.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
I twisted my left ankle very bad while running on vacation in New Jersey. My ankle will never be the same.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
My Nikon D300

12. Whose behavior merited celebration? Don't know.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Supporters of a local politician.

14. Where did most of your money go?
Car payment, student loan, gas and house payments.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Going on vacation twice this year. Using my Nikon D300 for the first time.

16. What song will always remind you of 2008?
Womanizer

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder? Happier.
b) thinner or fatter? The same.
c) richer or poorer? About the same.

18. What do you wish you’d done more of? Shoot photos for myself.
19. What do you wish you’d done less of? complain

20. How did you spend Christmas?
First, I opened presents with my husband, then went to my mom's house then to my husband's parents house. It was a long day.

21. Did you fall in love in 2008?
No. Still in love.

22. What was your favorite TV program?
Dexter, Mad Men & Top Chef

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
We are not supposed to hate.

24. What was the best book you read?
I have too many to choose from but I did enjoy Revolutionary Road by Richard Yates.

25. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Jordin Sparks and Jennifer Hudson

26. What did you want and get?
Dexter Season 2 and books on my list.

27. What did you want and not get?
Mad Men Season 1 and a point and shoot digital camera, so I don't have to lug my huge Nikon D300 everywhere.

28. What was your favorite film of this year?
Sex and the City: The Movie

29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 29 and I ate dinner with my husband at Evans Street Station in Tecumseh.

30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
More money.

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?
Aeropostale and running clothes.

32. What kept you sane?
My husband and photographing things that I like.

33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
I did read a bunch of books about Grace Kelly, Princess Grace of Monaco.

34. What political issue stirred you the most?
People who sue to get their way after a ballot issue is voted down.

35. Who do you miss?
My dad and my friends that have moved away.

36. Who was the best new person you met?
Caitlyn

37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008. Enjoy life everyday.

38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year. How did we get here? - Paramore

Movies

Besides Sex and the City: The Movie, the only other movie that I wanted to see this year is Revolutionary Road. The date the movie opened was December 26, 2008. Unfortunately, that movie isn't playing anywhere near me. I checked listings for Ann Arbor and Toledo, nothing. I emailed the corporate office for the movie theater in my town about the release of the movie. They replied back that they weren't sure if it was going to be released here. I guess I will have to wait for it on Netflix. BOO!



Now I'm hoping that this movie, Gran Torino, will be released in town January 2009. But I doubt it will. Probably another one that I will have to wait for on Netflix.

Miles run in 2008

Sunday afternoon I ran 3 miles on the treadmill. My legs haven't been feeling too fresh these past couple of weeks, so a run without tired legs was nice. After running, I did two sets of abs, bench and triceps with free weights. Once I put the weights down, I didn't feel too good. I walked upstairs to the bathroom and got in position to throw up. I took a couple of deep breaths and felt better, so no throwing up.

Only two more days of running in 2008 for me, Tuesday and Wednesday. I would say 2008 has been a great year for me running wise. I think I ran more this year then I did in all of my years combined in junior high and high school track. I hope 2009 will be a great running year. Here's to running more 5Ks, 10Ks and another half marathon!

2004: 310.6
2005: 347.8
2006: 467
2007: 565.7
2008: 951.2

Books read in 2008

A Simple Act of Murder: November 22, 1963, Mark Fuhrman
Brothers: The Hidden History of the Kennedy Years, David Talbot
Sons and Brothers: The Days of Jack and Bobby Kennedy, Richard D. Mahoney
Marilyn Monroe: The Biography, Donald Spoto
True Grace: The Life and Times of an American Princess, Wendy Leigh
Final Disclosure, David W. Belin
John Wayne: My Life with the Duke, Pilar Wayne
Bombshell: The Life and Death of Jean Harlow, David Stenn
The Lost Life of Eva Braun, Angela Lambert
Harlow: An Intimate Biography, Irving Shulman
His Way, Kitty Kelley
Natalie, Lana Wood
Rita Hayworth, John Kobal
The Fatal Friendship: Marie Antoinette, Count Fersen and the Flight to Varennes, Stanley Loomis
The Other Boleyn Girl, Philippa Gregory
John Wayne: The Man Behind the Myth, Michael Munn
Robert Kennedy: His Life, Evan Thomas
Grace of Monaco, Steven Englund
Nemesis, Peter Evans
A Royal Duty, Paul Burrell
The Search for Amelia Earhart, Fred Goerner
Seinfeld: The Making of an American Icon, Jerry Oppenheimer
The Day John Died, Christopher Andersen
As Time Goes By: The Life of Ingrid Bergman, Laurence Leamer
Diana's Boys, Christopher Andersen
The Family, Kitty Kelley
Jackie after Jack, Christopher Andersen
Truman, David McCullough
Thing of Beauty: The Tragedy of Supermodel Gia, Stephen Fried
Moose: A Memoir of Fat Camp, Stephanie Klein
Tallulah!: The Life and Times of a Leading Lady, Joel Lobenthal
All Too Human, Edward Kline
Princess Grace, Gwen Robyns
Audrey Hepburn, Barry Paris
Postmortem: How Medical Examiners Explain Suspicious Deaths, Stefan Timmermans
Revolutionary Road, Richard Yates
Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, Gregory Maguire
Joan Crawford, Bob Thomas
Duke: A Love Story, Pat Stacy
The Murder of Bob Crane, Robert Graysmith
Daughter of the Sky: The Story of Amelia Earhart, Paul L. Briand, Jr.
Mockingbird: A Portrait of Harper Lee, Charles J. Shields

Currently Reading: Dissecting Death, Frederick Zugibe, M.D., Ph. D.
Up Next: America's Queen, Sarah Bradford

Jingle Bell run results

I didn't run in an official Jingle Bell run, but I did run 3.1 miles on Christmas morning. My time on the treadmill was 30:28.

Merry Christmas

I hope you have a wonderful Christmas.

My husband and I standing on the corner of Prince Street in New York City.

So much already done

On my day off, I woke up at 4:30 am. Usually I get up at 4 am, so that is sleeping in to me. I got up and started my day. The area had freezing rain overnight so I salted the sidewalks and the back deck. Gathered my husband's and families gifts and wrapped them. And to top it off, did a nice 3 slow miles on the treadmill. All of this before 9 am.

Later this afternoon I will be taking a nap, making queso dip, going to Christmas mass, being the altar server that carries incense and eating dinner with my family later tonight. It will be a busy, but fun day.

Jingle Bell run

Yesterday I posted this:

Anyone want to join me in a Jingle Bell run? I usually run five days a week thanks to my treadmill. This week I will be running on Christmas Eve and Christmas. Join me by running a 5k (3.1 miles) on either on Christmas Eve or Christmas and share your results. You can post your results on my blog or your own. We all may not be running in the same spot, but we will all be running together.

Time off

This morning at 10:30 am, I was finished with my work week. I used a couple of vacation days for tomorrow and Friday and I don't have to go back until Monday morning. I'm looking forward to my five days off.

Random things

This morning at work, the water was shut off. One of the pipes burst in the back, so it needed to be shut off to fixed. That meant no water in the building for over two hours. When the announcement that the water was going to be turned off, I had been drinking water for 2.5 hours. I now had to wait a while to use the restroom. We were all told that it would be a while before the water was turned back on. Around 9:30 am, the water was turned back on. I can tell you those weren't the best hours of my work day.

Around the same time that someone discovered that a pipe burst, someone else noticed that a window in the back was wide open. The people who work back there said that the window was shut when they left the night before. Somehow it opened and let all of the cold air in. It was colder then normal in the office today due to the temperature only being in the single digits

I watched The Bishop's Wife with Cary Grant over the weekend. The movie is set around Christmas time, so it is winter and presumably cold outside. Julia, played by Loretta Young, puts her young daughter Debby to bed and walks over to the window to open it up. Hello! It is winter. I don't care if people back then thought that fresh air was good for you. Freakin' close the window. You're letting all of the heat out of the house.

Anyone want to join me in a Jingle Bell run? I usually run five days a week thanks to my treadmill. This week, I will be running on Christmas Eve and Christmas. Join me by running a 5k (3.1 miles) on either on Christmas Eve or Christmas and share your results. You can post your results on my blog or your own. We all may not be running in the same spot, but we will all be running together.

The appetizer that I will be making on Christmas Eve is the Velveeta Ulitmate Queso Dip. I went to four stores looking for the RO*TEL Diced Tomatoes & Green Chilies. I was about ready to give up at the fourth store, when I looked up and finally saw a can. It was like a miracle.

Velveeta Ultimate Queso Dip
Ingredients:
1 lb. (16 oz.) Velveeta Pasteurized Prepared Cheese Product, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
1 can (10 oz.) RO*TEL Diced Tomatoes & Green Chilies, undrained

Instructions:
Mix ingredients in microwaveable bowl. Microwave on High 5 min. or until Velveeta is completely melted, stirring after 3 min.
Serve with assorted cut-up fresh vegetables, Wheat Thins Crackers or tortilla chips.

Makes 3 cups or 24 servings, 2 Tbsp. each.

Snow....

I just spent an hour and a half shoveling my sidewalk, back deck and entryway to my driveway. The snow is deep, wet and very heavy. My hat, coat and the bottom of my pants are soaked.

Once I got my entryway cleared of snow, I pulled my car into the driveway. Now its stuck. My Grand Prix is so low to the ground that snow is touching the bottom of my car. I grabbed the shovel to clear snow away from my car, but its no use. I have to wait for my husband to get up to help push my car free.

I was going to shovel the entire driveway, but my arms are killing me. My husband has a F150 so I'm going to make him matte down the snow with his tires. It shouldn't take him long.

At least there is some good news. According to weather.com the snow is done for the day. There could be a chance for flurries later. Flurries are no big deal.

What is coming later tonight

I'm not excited about this:

Issued by The National Weather Service
Detroit, MI 4:31 am EST, Thu., Dec. 18, 2008

... WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 11 PM THIS EVENING TO 4 PM EST FRIDAY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN DETROIT/PONTIAC HAS ISSUED A WINTER STORM WARNING FOR HEAVY SNOW MIXING WITH SLEET... WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 11 PM THIS EVENING TO 4 PM EST FRIDAY. THE WINTER STORM WATCH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT.

SNOW WILL SPREAD NORTH INTO THE STATE BEFORE MIDNIGHT TONIGHT AND WILL BECOME HEAVY AT TIMES. SNOW MAY MIX WITH SLEET LATE TONIGHT BEFORE CHANGING BACK TO ALL SNOW ON FRIDAY. STORM TOTAL ACCUMULATIONS OF 4 TO 8 INCHES ARE EXPECTED BY EARLY FRIDAY AFTERNOON BEFORE SNOW TAPERS OFF. MINOR ICING WILL ALSO BE POSSIBLE DUE TO THE SLEET.

Snow mixing with sleet? Total snow accumulations of 4 to 8 inches? No thanks. I just shoveled my entryway into my driveway Thursday. Now I have to shovel more snow, including the entire driveway and the area around our vehicles and kill my back in the process. Thanks Mother nature.

Books read in 2008

A Simple Act of Murder: November 22, 1963, Mark Fuhrman
Brothers: The Hidden History of the Kennedy Years, David Talbot
Sons and Brothers: The Days of Jack and Bobby Kennedy, Richard D. Mahoney
Marilyn Monroe: The Biography, Donald Spoto
True Grace: The Life and Times of an American Princess, Wendy Leigh
Final Disclosure, David W. Belin
John Wayne: My Life with the Duke, Pilar Wayne
Bombshell: The Life and Death of Jean Harlow, David Stenn
The Lost Life of Eva Braun, Angela Lambert
Harlow: An Intimate Biography, Irving Shulman
His Way, Kitty Kelley
Natalie, Lana Wood
Rita Hayworth, John Kobal
The Fatal Friendship: Marie Antoinette, Count Fersen and the Flight to Varennes, Stanley Loomis
The Other Boleyn Girl, Philippa Gregory
John Wayne: The Man Behind the Myth, Michael Munn
Robert Kennedy: His Life, Evan Thomas
Grace of Monaco, Steven Englund
Nemesis, Peter Evans
A Royal Duty, Paul Burrell
The Search for Amelia Earhart, Fred Goerner
Seinfeld: The Making of an American Icon, Jerry Oppenheimer
The Day John Died, Christopher Andersen
As Time Goes By: The Life of Ingrid Bergman, Laurence Leamer
Diana's Boys, Christopher Andersen
The Family, Kitty Kelley
Jackie after Jack, Christopher Andersen
Truman, David McCullough
Thing of Beauty: The Tragedy of Supermodel Gia, Stephen Fried
Moose: A Memoir of Fat Camp, Stephanie Klein
Tallulah!: The Life and Times of a Leading Lady, Joel Lobenthal
All Too Human, Edward Kline
Princess Grace, Gwen Robyns
Audrey Hepburn, Barry Paris
Postmortem: How Medical Examiners Explain Suspicious Deaths, Stefan Timmermans
Revolutionary Road, Richard Yates
Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, Gregory Maguire
Joan Crawford, Bob Thomas
Duke: A Love Story, Pat Stacy
The Murder of Bob Crane, Robert Graysmith
Daughter of the Sky: The Story of Amelia Earhart, Paul L. Briand, Jr.

Currently Reading: Mockingbird: A Portrait of Harper Lee, Charles J. Shields
Up Next: Library trip

Appetizer choices

On Christmas Eve, my husband and I are hosting a dinner for my side of the family. My husband makes the dinner. I usually make the appetizers. I thought about making a cheese ball again. But my husband said nobody really ate it at Thanksgiving. That was alright. I was a great snack for the next two weeks.

While at the store yesterday, we were coming up with ideas for appetizers. I looked at quiche, pinwheels and mozzarella sticks. Nothing was really jumping out at me. Before we left the store, we decided to buy something next week.

Buying something is OK. But I usually like to make something. I found a couple of recipes this morning for dip that I could make. I think dip would make a nice snack before a big dinner. I have two recipes. I need to decide which one I would like to make.

Broccoli and Cheese Dip
(half this recipe for 6 people or less)

4 oz. cream cheese
16 oz. sour cream
8 oz. mayo
1 hidden valley ranch packet
1 1⁄2 cups broccoli tips
8 oz. fancy yellow cheese

Mix and chill overnight. Serve with crackers.

VELVEETA Ultimate Queso Dip

Ingredients:
1 lb. (16 oz.) VELVEETA Pasteurized Prepared Cheese Product, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
1 can (10 oz.) RO*TEL Diced Tomatoes & Green Chilies, undrained

Instructions:
Mix ingredients in microwaveable bowl. Microwave on HIGH 5 min. or until VELVEETA is completely melted, stirring after 3 min.

Serve with assorted cut-up fresh vegetables, WHEAT THINS Crackers or tortilla chips.

Makes 3 cups or 24 servings, 2 Tbsp. each.

Bright lights - New York City, NY

Freaky!

All of this happened within 30 seconds.

I was stopped at an intersection waiting at a red light. When I pulled up to stop, I saw a woman standing on the corner. I didn't know if she wanted to use the crosswalk, so I made sure to park behind it. The woman ran across the street the other way, while traffic had the green light. Once she was on the other side, she decided to run back across the street. She didn't wait for the light to change from green to red, she just went. Oncoming traffic had to jam on their brakes to avoid hitting her. Once she was back on the corner near me, I saw her walking up to my car. I thought for a second to roll down my window to ask if she needed help, but I decided not to. She walked up to my car, lifted up the door handle and tried to open the door. I was shocked. I started yelling, "Don't open my door!" At that point the light changed to green and I accelerated away from her. As I was driving away, I looked in the rear view mirror and saw she tried to get into the car behind me. They also continued on without stopping. As soon as I got to the next stoplight, I took out my cell phone and called the police. I told them that a woman just tried to open my door at a stoplight. They said they received a couple of calls about that. I described the woman. She had blonde hair, glasses and was wearing a white sweater and blue jeans. She fit the description. They said someone was on the way.

I found out about the woman later. She thought sharpshooters were after her with the orders "Shoot to kill." Okay.....

I'm so glad that my car doors automatically lock when I put my car into drive.

Books read in 2008

I finished the Murder of Bob Crane by Robert Graysmith in a couple of days. When I selected the book from the library, I have never heard of Bob Crane. On the cover of the book, it said Crane was a Hogan's Heroes star. Hogan's Heroes is a show I have never personally watched. My husband does enjoy it. I found the book was a good read. The book covered most of his life. His early radio career, his marriages, children, Hogan's Heroes, the last couple of days of his life and after his death. Crane's friend, John Carpenter was arrested for his murder. The book ended just before Carpenter's trial started. Since I didn't know the outcome of the trial, I had to look it up. Carpenter was acquitted due to a lack of convincing evidence. The murder still remains unsolved. While Googling Bob Crane, I found a couple of websites that had posted photos from the crime scene. I, of coursed viewed the photos. If you view the photos, just to let you know they are graphic.

A Simple Act of Murder: November 22, 1963, Mark Fuhrman
Brothers: The Hidden History of the Kennedy Years, David Talbot
Sons and Brothers: The Days of Jack and Bobby Kennedy, Richard D. Mahoney
Marilyn Monroe: The Biography, Donald Spoto
True Grace: The Life and Times of an American Princess, Wendy Leigh
Final Disclosure, David W. Belin
John Wayne: My Life with the Duke, Pilar Wayne
Bombshell: The Life and Death of Jean Harlow, David Stenn
The Lost Life of Eva Braun, Angela Lambert
Harlow: An Intimate Biography, Irving Shulman
His Way, Kitty Kelley
Natalie, Lana Wood
Rita Hayworth, John Kobal
The Fatal Friendship: Marie Antoinette, Count Fersen and the Flight to Varennes, Stanley Loomis
The Other Boleyn Girl, Philippa Gregory
John Wayne: The Man Behind the Myth, Michael Munn
Robert Kennedy: His Life, Evan Thomas
Grace of Monaco, Steven Englund
Nemesis, Peter Evans
A Royal Duty, Paul Burrell
The Search for Amelia Earhart, Fred Goerner
Seinfeld: The Making of an American Icon, Jerry Oppenheimer
The Day John Died, Christopher Andersen
As Time Goes By: The Life of Ingrid Bergman, Laurence Leamer
Diana's Boys, Christopher Andersen
The Family, Kitty Kelley
Jackie after Jack, Christopher Andersen
Truman, David McCullough
Thing of Beauty: The Tragedy of Supermodel Gia, Stephen Fried
Moose: A Memoir of Fat Camp, Stephanie Klein
Tallulah!: The Life and Times of a Leading Lady, Joel Lobenthal
All Too Human, Edward Kline
Princess Grace, Gwen Robyns
Audrey Hepburn, Barry Paris
Postmortem: How Medical Examiners Explain Suspicious Deaths, Stefan Timmermans
Revolutionary Road, Richard Yates
Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, Gregory Maguire
Joan Crawford, Bob Thomas
Duke: A Love Story, Pat Stacy
The Murder of Bob Crane, Robert Graysmith

Currently Reading: Daughter of the Sky: The Story of Amelia Earhart, Paul L. Briand, Jr.
Up Next: Mockingbird: A Portrait of Harper Lee, Charles J. Shields

Empire State Building - New York City, NY

Miles run in 2008

I was happy when I reached 900 miles run for the year Sunday. I don't think I have ever run this much, even when I ran track in junior high and high school. If I didn't ease my mileage after the half marathon, I could have maybe reached 1000 miles. Oh well. There is always next year.

Last week I bought a new pair of shoes. I bought the Mizuno Wave Rider 11. It is the same brand I have been buying for a couple of years. When I ran with them the first time Sunday, it felt like I was running on air. The shoes are very light and comfortable. And that is why I keep going back to them.

2004: 288.6
2005: 324.8
2006: 445.0
2007: 534.6
2008: 906.1

Books read in 2008

A Simple Act of Murder: November 22, 1963, Mark Fuhrman
Brothers: The Hidden History of the Kennedy Years, David Talbot
Sons and Brothers: The Days of Jack and Bobby Kennedy, Richard D. Mahoney
Marilyn Monroe: The Biography, Donald Spoto
True Grace: The Life and Times of an American Princess, Wendy Leigh
Final Disclosure, David W. Belin
John Wayne: My Life with the Duke, Pilar Wayne
Bombshell: The Life and Death of Jean Harlow, David Stenn
The Lost Life of Eva Braun, Angela Lambert
Harlow: An Intimate Biography, Irving Shulman
His Way, Kitty Kelley
Natalie, Lana Wood
Rita Hayworth, John Kobal
The Fatal Friendship: Marie Antoinette, Count Fersen and the Flight to Varennes, Stanley Loomis
The Other Boleyn Girl, Philippa Gregory
John Wayne: The Man Behind the Myth, Michael Munn
Robert Kennedy: His Life, Evan Thomas
Grace of Monaco, Steven Englund
Nemesis, Peter Evans
A Royal Duty, Paul Burrell
The Search for Amelia Earhart, Fred Goerner
Seinfeld: The Making of an American Icon, Jerry Oppenheimer
The Day John Died, Christopher Andersen
As Time Goes By: The Life of Ingrid Bergman, Laurence Leamer
Diana's Boys, Christopher Andersen
The Family, Kitty Kelley
Jackie after Jack, Christopher Andersen
Truman, David McCullough
Thing of Beauty: The Tragedy of Supermodel Gia, Stephen Fried
Moose: A Memoir of Fat Camp, Stephanie Klein
Tallulah!: The Life and Times of a Leading Lady, Joel Lobenthal
All Too Human, Edward Kline
Princess Grace, Gwen Robyns
Audrey Hepburn, Barry Paris
Postmortem: How Medical Examiners Explain Suspicious Deaths, Stefan Timmermans
Revolutionary Road, Richard Yates
Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, Gregory Maguire
Joan Crawford, Bob Thomas
Duke: A Love Story, Pat Stacy

Currently Reading: The Murder of Bob Crane, Robert Graysmith
Up Next: Daughter of the Sky: The Story of Amelia Earhart, Paul L. Briand, Jr.

Books read in 2008

A Simple Act of Murder: November 22, 1963, Mark Fuhrman
Brothers: The Hidden History of the Kennedy Years, David Talbot
Sons and Brothers: The Days of Jack and Bobby Kennedy, Richard D. Mahoney
Marilyn Monroe: The Biography, Donald Spoto
True Grace: The Life and Times of an American Princess, Wendy Leigh
Final Disclosure, David W. Belin
John Wayne: My Life with the Duke, Pilar Wayne
Bombshell: The Life and Death of Jean Harlow, David Stenn
The Lost Life of Eva Braun, Angela Lambert
Harlow: An Intimate Biography, Irving Shulman
His Way, Kitty Kelley
Natalie, Lana Wood
Rita Hayworth, John Kobal
The Fatal Friendship: Marie Antoinette, Count Fersen and the Flight to Varennes, Stanley Loomis
The Other Boleyn Girl, Philippa Gregory
John Wayne: The Man Behind the Myth, Michael Munn
Robert Kennedy: His Life, Evan Thomas
Grace of Monaco, Steven Englund
Nemesis, Peter Evans
A Royal Duty, Paul Burrell
The Search for Amelia Earhart, Fred Goerner
Seinfeld: The Making of an American Icon, Jerry Oppenheimer
The Day John Died, Christopher Andersen
As Time Goes By: The Life of Ingrid Bergman, Laurence Leamer
Diana's Boys, Christopher Andersen
The Family, Kitty Kelley
Jackie after Jack, Christopher Andersen
Truman, David McCullough
Thing of Beauty: The Tragedy of Supermodel Gia, Stephen Fried
Moose: A Memoir of Fat Camp, Stephanie Klein
Tallulah!: The Life and Times of a Leading Lady, Joel Lobenthal
All Too Human, Edward Kline
Princess Grace, Gwen Robyns
Audrey Hepburn, Barry Paris
Postmortem: How Medical Examiners Explain Suspicious Deaths, Stefan Timmermans
Revolutionary Road, Richard Yates
Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, Gregory Maguire
Joan Crawford, Bob Thomas

Currently Reading: Duke: A Love Story, Pat Stacy
Up Next: The Murder of Bob Crane, Robert Graysmith

Manhattan - Brooklyn, NY

End of the line - Brooklyn, NY

Wasted time

An assignment that should have taken an hour to an hour and a half tops, took a little bit longer. It took over two hours. That is not including the drive time in winter weather. Total time was three and a half hours. I did have plans for later in the evening, but I ended up not doing them because the assignment was so long. The person in charge of setting up the event was even getting annoyed that everything was taking so long. He said to me, "I hope you didn't have anywhere to be."