Driving update

Over the weekend I tried out something new - driving to AC Moore. On the surface, it was running an errand to buy yarn but the greater purpose was to get me to drive somewhere new. It's a 15 minute drive, one of the longer ones for me, and included highway driving and narrow road driving (both of which make me nervous). I did fine. Sweaty, but fine. Enough so that I even drove home - something I don't usually do but I figured if I was going to push myself then I should really do it.

Agricola

Happy owner of my own set of Agricola.

But I love chewing gum...!

So sad to learn that chewing gum is primarily made out of plastic.

:(

http://fakeplasticfish.com/2010/01/chewing-on-plastic-yum/

Brookline in a box

Tired of Comcast? Consider Google!

Want more choice and competition for Internet access? Let Google know that we want them to choose Alexandria for their Fiber for Communities pilot.

Google is planning to test ultra-high speed internet access networks in one or more trial locations across the country. According to Google, these networks will deliver Internet speeds more than 100 times faster than what most Americans have access to today.

Google is asking communities to submit responses to a Request for Information by March 26, to determine where to build the network. You can help by nominating Alexandria.

Learn how you can help bring Google to Alexandria!

Longest conversation with my brother since January

Nicole: hey marc

Marc: hey

Nicole: you're up early

Marc: yeah, I have to go to work soon

Nicole: email me back sometime then

Marc: ok

Nicole: ok. have a good day

Marc: thanks...you too

Gardening

The weather has been nice for the past few days so after work yesterday, Max and I headed to Home Depot to pick up a giant pallet of stuff from the garden center. When we got home, I planted some lilies of the valley while Max repotted one of our hostas. Then the two of us covered our front garden in a fresh layer of black mulch. Suddenly everything looks great! It's amazing what mulch can do. For now, it's a little bare with only the tiny green leaves of our chrysanthemums peeking up but we're expecting rain from Thursday through Monday so hopefully soon there will be more.

Tonight we tackle the back yard - including moving a giant juniper tree. THAT should be fun. But totally necessary. Luckily the hole is already partially dug (Sunday's effort) so maybe it won't take that long. My Dad gave me some chive heads to plant so those will go where the tree used to be, along with more mulch.

Allergies?

Is it allergy season already? It's only March! But I've been knock-me-over tired for the past two weeks... anyone else out there already feeling the effects of allergy season?

Mardi Gras Rock n' Roll Half Marathon

On Sunday, Max and Slav and I completed the Mardi Gras Rock n' Roll Half Marathon in New Orleans. Slav came in first, then Max and then me. I finished with a time of 2h48min. Longer than my first half but the circumstances were completely different.

It was 45 degrees when we started at 7am. I was wearing a long sleeve shirt and capri pants. Was I cold? Definitely! But I warmed up soon enough and the miles started rolling by. The three of us stayed together for a little while but I had a hard time keeping up with the boys and by the end they were well ahead of me. I managed to continue running without stopping until the 10 mile mark but after that I had to walk a little and run a little to keep on going. My legs just wouldn't cooperate. But my mind was strong and I managed to sprint into the finish. It was a good run, great scenery, and the weather was beautiful. Sunny and warm by the time I crossed the finish line, definitely the best day of the entire trip.