bluegrass festival

We managed to complete our festival experience with a giant funnel cake, split between Dave, Jill, and I.  I would have taken a picture... but it was gone in about 18 seconds.  I can't remember the last time I had a funnel cake.  Hot, fluffy, and completely blanketed in powdered sugar.  We did get a picture of the three of us watching a band (albeit a grainy/dark one!).

The last band we saw was amazing.  Dave and I completely fell in love with them: 18 South.  Check them out here.  I recommend listening to Late Night Ramble.  You know a group is really good when they almost sound better live than they do recorded.  And they sound really good recorded!

Today's events are mostly yet-to-be-planned.  We'll see how things shape up...

good morning!

New headphones!

And two new songs on the ipod: Right as Rain by Adele and California Gurls by Katy Perry.

Last night Dave and I finished painting the bedroom!  As soon as I get the drop cloths picked up I'll take some pictures.  It will be so nice to have one room finished!  Well, at least mostly finished... we might still need a lamp or something in there.

While I really do enjoy painting I'm glad we're finished for now.  My right hand is really sore from holding the paintbrush (I did trimming while Dave rolled) - signs I'm getting old.  I've broken my right wrist 3 times and I'm pretty sure I have some carpal tunnel or arthritis as a result - having to hold on to anything for too long (a paring knife, a paint brush, etc.) makes my hand sore and tight.  Ouch!

Be back later with pictures!

new music

I bought two new songs off itunes today: Eric Hutchinson's Rock and Roll and Shakira's Waka Waka (This Time for Africa).  I'm excited to put them on my running mix for tomorrow's long run!

Other current running song favorites?

Our God - Chris Tomlin
Hey Soul, Sister - Train
Replay - Iyaz
deja vu - Beyonce

I tend to just put them on repeat a lot.  My last long run I ran the entire time with my ipod in my pocket, but never got it out to listen.  I think I will tomorrow, especially with these new songs, but we'll see.

When I did my yassos on Wednesday I discovered only the left earbud of my headphones is working.  Whoops.

What song are you really digging right now?

playlist

Let's be honest, I'm scrounging for things to talk about today because I have neither pictures (camera is at home) or much for fodder (I'm sitting in a cubicle, waiting for someone to get back to me about a course).  I swam this morning.  It felt great.  I'm drinking water.  I'm hungry for lunch.  I had coffee.  I did have cinnamon banana oatmeal this morning.  It was delicious.  I love oats.

So I've been listening to music again lately and I was going to post my running music list... but the ipod is at home, so I can't quite do that.  Good news!  I'm going to attempt to remember the songs anyway!  Don't judge me for the music I listen to when I run...

A Little Bit of Riddim - Michael Franti and Spearhead
Tik Tok - Ke$ha
United States of Pop 2009 - DJ Earworm
Shut Up and Let Me Go - The Ting Tings
Telephone - Lady Gaga and Beyonce
You Belong With Me - Taylor Swift
Party in the U.S.A. - Miley Cyrus
Jump On It - Sir Mix-A-Lot
Disturbia - Rihanna
4 Minutes - Maddona, Justin Timberlake, and Timbaland
Waking Up In Vegas - Katy Perry
You Can't Stop The Beat - Hairspray
It Happens - Sugarland
So What - P!nk
Take Me or Leave Me - Rent
Hot N Cold - Katy Perry
Womanizer - Britney Spears
When I Grow Up - Pussycat Dolls

There's some other songs on there, too, but these are in the first half of the list and get listened to the most.  What song do you love to listen to when you run?  I'll get on a song kick and just push repeat for miles.  For awhile I would listen to 4 Minutes over and over and over again.  Right now I repeat A Little Bit of Riddim and Tik Tok at least a few times each before I move on to the other songs.

let's talk music

Ordinarily when I run I don't listen to music.  This started last fall when Dave and I both left the house at the same time for a run.  I told him to take the ipod and went music-less... and had a really great run.  The next day I left the ipod at home and had another great run.  And since then I've stopped using the ipod when I run.  Clarification: I don't use the ipod when I run outside.  Inside is a totally different story.  The treadmill is boring, the gym noises are boring, basically music is what keeps me going.  The music has to have a fast beat to keep me entertained and moving... content and actually quality of the song is less important.  Here's a few I've been digging lately!

• A Little Bit of Riddim - Michael Franti and Spearhead
• United States of Pop 2009 - DJ Earworm
• Tik Tok - Ke$ha
• Shut Up and Let Me Go - The Ting Tings
• Deja Vu - Beyonce
• Jump On It - Sir Mix-A-Lot
• Telephone - Lady Gaga and Beyonce
• Party in the USA - Miley Cyrus

What are your favorite songs to listen to?

swimmer kimmer

I got back in touch with my inner fish today:

(I love love love this new swim cap - it has an elastic band on the bottom and is SO much easier to put on than the stupid latex ones that snag your hair and are hard to wrangle.  And these new goggles are amazing - they don't fog or leak at all!)

I used to swim laps at the university every morning, but that ended in December '08 when I moved 2 hours north.  Since I still come down for work (I drive down on Monday morning, work, stay the night, work Tuesday, then go back home Tuesday evening), I decided to try swimming again on Tuesday mornings.  I should have started this way earlier.  It was so so good to be doing laps again, stretching out, and using my arms instead of my legs.

Yesterday I downloaded the song "United State of Pop 2009", by DJ Earworm.  I love it and can't wait to run to it!  For your own free download, click here!

Thanks for all the feedback about the new layout!  I'm really happy with it, and glad you all are, too!