Bill: *Cough, cough.* Um, I knew it was your birthday, Bill, and forgot to wish you a big Happy Birthday here on the weekly thread. Ooops. So,
HAPPY (BELATED) BIRTHDAY, BILL!
You can never have too much of a celebration, you know?!
Howard: I have no doubts that you'll finish strong and maybe set a couple of PRs with your Dopey weekend and other races. Side note: I saw that you did a 6/12 miler this weekend. Is that Goofy training or just coincidence? Know that I'll be here, and in Disney, to cheer you on (groupie status pending). Maybe I need to invest in a cowbell, huh? Speaking of which, can you or anyone else explain to me the whole cowbell thing?
Racey Tracy: WTG with this weekend's training--excellent as usual. And you did go out really late for you and the FL weather. You've got stamina, you do! And woo hoo for the DL 1/2 being a family meet with your Aunt, as well. I take it you don't like to fly? P.S. WTG ON YOUR 5 POUNDS WEIGHT LOSS!!

(It's worth the caps!)
Allyson: Got the itch for some WISH gear, huh? It IS addictive!
Mel: I love how you discovered goatherd just isn't a career option for you. And your storytelling was just perfect--I could see and hear it all in my head. Now I'm looking forward to Jeff's sound effects and the less minimalist version.
Leana: Yay for your 21 miler. I hope you had good thoughts during the run for yourself, as well as from us.

Now, about that ice cream place that is worth stopping a bike ride for....
Maura: Congrats on your marathon (biking or otherwise, 26.2 is a long way)!

And good news--you got your first clipped in fall over with, and without damage. No trauma then. And it sounds like it was a better time than the overcrowding the pool. I think I'd feel very claustrophic in the swim portion of a tri.
Forsooth, the Shakespeare reading was long but lusty. Well worth the 2 hours. My favorite phrase, used to describe a bracelet given to the heroine by her lover: "manacle of love."

Oh, and I didn't realize Meijer produced such decadent ice-cream flavors. Grand Hotel Cafe Latte/mascarpone.

That just may be a good substitute for my iced latte.
Karen: Welcome back. It's good to hear you're determined to get in gear for the Philly Distance Run. I hear that's going to be quite a party!

I hope your LTO created many pleasant memories, at least.
Aloha Jeff: Love the photo-essay. Made me hungry for, what else, Dole Whip! I was talking with DOOD about your month of 16 milers, 18 milers, etc. How did you come up with that strategy, if you don't mind me asking? Centered around races you want to do? (Excellent pace, btw.) Does whacking golf balls help one with working out aggression? Just wondering.
Terri: I hope you're feeling better. I'm going to channel Cecilia here (who gave me such great advice in the past) and ask you if you're sure it isn't dehydration in this weather. That causes my headaches, joint aches, etc. sometimes.
Craig: Jeff does taunt us sometimes, doesn't he?
Stephanie: Ice cream, pool? That sounds about as close to Jeff's paradise as I get. But a heat index of 114? Wow--how do you survive it? I think being outdoors even for a few minutes would make me wilt.
Jackie: A 10 miler-scavenger hunt sounds like loads of fun, and what a way to think about things other than hill work. (Are you doing EE?) You deserve a regular massage appointment, I think, as part of your recovery plan. And of course you know I'm curious about the ice-cream flavor of the day; I find mint chocolate chunk is much better than mint chocolate chip--better balance of flavors. Ice cream and ibuprofen.... And how did you like
Mamma Mia!?
Lisa: Great race day for you, and Beacon to Beach 10K sounds like a great race to do in general. The spectators sounds supportive and thoughtful. What's this I hear about ToT?

There's a race in October?
Stacie: Your Trek is a snazzy looking bike. And I think your inaugral bike-riding time is just fine--even though you will get faster. Next up, bike-riding shorts, accessories, and race-entry fees?
Carrie: There are just times when the laundry takes precedence over the running. There just are. DOOD doesn't think so, which is why I do the laundry, but I'm with you. This week, though, is back to training for you. (Followed by ice cream because 90 degrees is ho-ot--just follow Stephanie's strategy.)
Liz: Great story about your 5 miler and the deer. You just can't have those kinds of experiences on a TM. (At least not in real life. My hallucinations are my business.

) I do hope you get some happy scrapbooking time in this week--seems like a perfect plan for your taper.
MB Michelle: Congrats on shaving 5 seconds off your time. That's great!

(And for realizing the start too fast/end too slow thing, too.) You're going to take the castle by storm!
Kira: I'm so sorry to hear you're having a rough time with your current job and your future career. Like you said, the economy is affecting all sorts of industries and positions. I'm sending some PD to you in hopes that you feel better about your career and that you can make decisions that will help you through this period and your job transition, whenever that comes.

I do have to say, though, that it's nice knowing that your running is helping you deal with everything.

Here's to your first 7 miler and all the other firsts to come!
As for me: Spent yesterday, my rest day, getting lost with DOOD on a trail walk (7+ miles and 2 1/2 hours), taking a long nap in the afternoon, then going to an evening, outdoor performance of
Cymbeline. It's a long, sprawling Shakespeare play, and the production was part of Pgh's Robot 250 festival. I didn't quite get the connection between the play and the robot festival because as far as I could tell, there were no robots. Two printers, yes, a fog machine, and twinkling strands of Christmas lights, but no robots. Does a printer count as a robot?

I mean, some of the acting was pretty mechanical...maybe they were droids?

I think someone with a much stronger science background than I have should explain it to me.
In other trivial news, provided by Nielsen....You probably know that vanilla and chocolate are the favorite ice-cream flavors in America. Here, in order, are the next 7:
- Butter Pecan
- Mint Chocolate Chip (I assume chunk counts in this category
)
- Neapolitan
- Rocky Road
- Cookies & Cream
- Chocolate Chip
- Strawberry
And what's YOUR fave?