Notes to My 14 Year Old Self

(Or, "We Need a Hot Tub Time Machine!")

Hey Tweeps! If you could go back to age 14, what would you change about the way you lived your life? What would you do the same?

I love my little sister. If you're reading my blog, you probably already know that. But really, she's the most awesome kid I know. Some reasons why I like her: She's crazy smart, witty, and goofy. She's way more mature than I was at that age. She's thoughtful, insightful, and deep. She still likes hugs, even though she can't do that cool running/ jumping thing anymore that she did when she was 3. I also like her because right now, she's half my age. I'm old enough that I've always felt I had a part raising her, but I'm not so much older than her that I'm like a parent. Best of both worlds.

But I digress. Sometimes I feel at a loss to give her decent advice that doesn't just sound like I know better than her. But I also don't want her to make all the same mistakes I did when I was younger. Some mistakes are good. Some are inevitable. And some experiences you just can't quite call yourself a well rounded without. Which is what prompted the above question. Perhaps collective wisdom can help a younger generation to make some good decisions, and avoid the bad ones. Or not. So here goes, in no particular order. Identities have been removed to protect the guilty. Feel free to add your own in the comments.

• I wouldn't smoke cigarettes, and I'd apply to better colleges. And I'd tell my best friend when his girlfriend cheated on him.
• I would have focused more on my writing. I would have tried out for softball and forensics.
• I also would've have spent so much money on vhs tapes and dvd's.
• I would've joined the track team, not dated my loser boyfriend, and spent more time on schoolwork.
• Stop wasting money on Depeche Mode singles.
• Enjoy next summer. It will be the last three months of your life with no responsibilities whatsoever.
• Think about what you want out of college. Don't just roll with whatever comes to you.
• I wouldn't have dated that one girl (instead her friend)... majored in accounting... ummm... yeah, that's it.
• I would have spent more time on schoolwork, gone to a better college; with a softball team. And I would have travelled more
• I still would have been involved in things (music, clubs, sports). I'd change the female cattyness and be nicer to certian people.
• Gotten a better internship in college, tried to talk to my dad about his drinking. Saved more and learned about good food sooner.
• I wouldn't change the friendships I made or moving away from home.
• I wish I has realized I only get one chance to impress at school
• Never be afraid to tell someone how I feel
• never get caught up in the dangers of debt!

And my thoughts:

• When Kara said, "Hey! Let's join cross country!" I would have agreed.
• When Kara said, "Hey, Let's be cheerleaders!" I would have said no way.
• I would have dated fewer guys, especially when I was 14.
• I probably would still have dated that one guy who we all love. He was a good guy, even though we messed with each other's heads.
• I would have read more good books, and worked on my writing when I had teachers around to help me
• I would have tried harder to advance myself in math. My life could be drastically different if I had pursued a math track.
• I would have asked someone for fashion advice.

Resolution Time Part II

For 2010:

I would still like not to get burned, but I would also like not to be afraid or bitter regarding situations in which I may get burned or have in the past

I need to open an IRA or something

I need to run a few half marathons so I feel like a runner again

Spill less, whine less, hug more.

Eat organic, at least partly

Balance grad school, work, social life, and maybe even a love life

Enjoy all of my many blessings in life, and play the hand I'm dealt.

Resolution Time

So here's all of my failed resolutions of years past. A little depressing.

2006

Don't get burned in 2006. - FAIL

2007
Take more pictures and get better at using the stinking camera. - FAIL
Don't get burned. Yes, this was my failed resolution of 2006, but we're trying again. It may mean I'll need to stay away from hot stoves, or crappy guys, or both, but I'm hoping the benefits will be worth going against my instincts. - FAIL
Hug more, put foot in mouth less. - FAIL

2008
Whine less
Stay aware of the world around me, by reading one campaign and one international politics article per day, and one education book or journal per month. - FAIL
Run better, by finding new long runs, i.e. in Kettle Moraine South, and by achieving a 2:10:00 in the Lake Country Half marathon, and by training for and running the Madison marathon. - FAIL
Be a better friend, by writing letters to missionaries 2 times per month, sending birthday cards or emails to a list of 20 people, responding to emails within 2 days, and reviving 2 specific friendships. - FAIL
Super Secret Fifth Goal - FAIL

2009
run a 5K, 10K, half marathon - check on 2/3
pay off debt - FAIL
call my brother once a month - FAIL
email my grandma once a month - FAIL
do the 5C3 challenge - FAIL
memorize a book of the bible (1 John or Philippians) - FAIL
Go 2 weeks without biting my nails, then quit for good. – FAIL (though I did go a month or two at a time)

18 months in the making

Last Saturday I finished my final long run before the race. I think it went well. I used a route I haven't seen in awhile (Apparently through a bad neighborhood, though I didn't know it at the time. Sorry Dad). It was very windy, which meant that my out leg was a wee bit easier than the return leg. However, all told, I maintained my pace throughout the run, and when I finally calculated the actual distance, it was a little over 10 miles, at just under a 12 minute mile. This makes me pretty happy. I know, however, that anything can change in a week. I could end up in pain, or it could be exceptionally windy or hilly, or anything, so I won't be disappointed if I can't maintain that same pace.

My goal for this race is to finish safely, without any new injuries, and without being the last one across the line. I don't want to set a time goal, because I don't want to be focused on the time. All I really use my watch for these days is to time my walk breaks (see below). This has been successful, as I have been enjoying the run itself, without the fierce inner competition that got my injured in the first place. That said, I would love to finish in under 3 hours. My first half was 2:14, and my second was 2:01. This will be nothing like those races.

My energy has been great, once I realized that I need to eat later at night before my long run. I've been using 2 gel packs, about every 4 miles or so, with Gatorade in between. I have had some difficulty squeezing in all of my training runs during the week, sometimes skipping an easy run or a tempo. I worried that this might affect me, but I've been happy so far. I really think my strategy in this race will be based on under training. No injuries for me! the only complaints I have so far are some sore hips and knees, mostly in the last few miles. I think this is probably due to the cold, as it's been coming on in the past few weeks. There is no soreness the next day, which tells me I probably don't have an important injury, just joints that are sensitive to the cold.

I'm using a walk run strategy recommended by many sports physicians, including Jeff Galloway. I have found that if I begin my run slowly, by walking often, then building up to longer endurance, I don't lose my steam as fast. I have actually improved my speed this way, as I am able to run faster when I'm running, and also ease impact stress on my shins. My race day goal is to begin with a 4:1 run: walk, then increase my running until I'm running a full mile before a walk break. This actually seems to help my hips and knees, as they tend to hurt like crazy if I walk at the end. this strategy will take self control at the beginning, as I get very caught up in race day adrenaline.

One mental struggle I had when I first came back into training was that I didn't feel like a runner anymore. I felt overweight, tired, and in pain. Every 2 mile run was torture. But I would walk or drive on a route that I used to love, and those feelings of joy and peace of the run woudl come back to me. I longed for that. Saturday on my 10 miler, I felt that peace again. I felt like I was running, and not just pretending. I was a little sad when I got back to my starting place (Even though at that point I was longing for advil), and I just generally enjoyed myself the whole time. I am very excited to be running this race. I haven't run a race since May of 2008. I set the goal for myself in spring, that I wanted to run a half. I didn't run the Labor Day race I wanted to, but I am eventually fulfilling that goal.

It's a beautiful da out today, and I feel confident and prepared. A little nervous, but I can't wait for that finisher's medal and free lasagna dinner at the end. Next goal? We'll see.

Homebrew Journal Vol 1

I should have done this from the beginning. I don't remember any of the stats on my first independent homebrew experiment, except that I started it sometime in August, and that it contained Whole Foods Organic cider, and Pick N Save organic cranberry. I think I used Safeale05 yeast, and added 1# white candi sugar. So now I will right that wrong by recording all of my endeavors from the beginning. This will mostly be for me, unless you happen to care.

10/10/09 5 gal Apricot Cream Ale. Safeale 05. OG: At this point, I don't think I feel like using the hydrometer. Don't think I will.

10/10/09 1 gal Grape Wino Wine. Old Orchard red grape juice. Safeale 04 (edit - Dumped this one all over the kitchen floor. Won't be making the wino wine.)

10/10/09 1 gal Pomegranate Apple Cranberry Raspberry Sunshine

10/10/09 1 gal Apple Pomegranate Funtastic