Well, I'm ready to tell the world. I'm pregnant! The baby is due January 22nd. We don't know the gender yet. Here's a baby pic from a week ago:

It's official. I'm totally a fan. I just checked out the Harvard commencement speech by J.K. Rowling last week. It was pretty good. Here's a blurb you might like:

"President Faust, members of the Harvard Corporation and the Board of Overseers, members of the faculty, proud parents, and, above all, graduates.

"The first thing I would like to say is ‘thank you.’ Not only has Harvard given me an extraordinary honour, but the weeks of fear and nausea I’ve experienced at the thought of giving this commencement address have made me lose weight. A win-win situation! Now all I have to do is take deep breaths, squint at the red banners and convince myself that I am at the world's largest Griffyndor reunion.

"Delivering a commencement address is a great responsibility; or so I thought until I cast my mind back to my own graduation. The commencement speaker that day was the distinguished British philosopher Baroness Mary Warnock. Reflecting on her speech has helped me enormously in writing this one, because it turns out that I can’t remember a single word she said. This liberating discovery enables me to proceed without any fear that I might inadvertently influence you to abandon promising careers in business, the law, or politics for the giddy delights of becoming a gay wizard."

If you want to be geeky and see the text and video, check out the Harvard link or on The Leaky Cauldron, a fansite. Yes, I'm a dork. And proud of it.

um... yummy...



Town Talk Diner's got 'em! And I think I'm in love.

I think it's very cool that she presented some awards for inmates at an Edinburgh prison. It was low-key, but very symbolic. I like this woman's politics and the way she is living with her wealth and public persona. So few people are aware of the prison industrial complex system. In case you wanna see the site, go here...if the link works.

I did the "Irish for a day" 5k and 10mi run. Actually, I only did the 5k. I am thrilled with my progress.

First race in November: 45 min 5 sec (14.54 min mile)
Race in January: 40 min 26 sec (13.04 min mile)
Race in March: 33 min 52 sec (10.92 min mile)

Yippee! I can't believe that practice is actually paying off!? Go figure. :) I did have to take a nice nap this afternoon, though. And now I'm ready to go back to sleep.

I went ice skating on Lake Powderhorn Sunday. Free skating rentals and free hot chocolate. I had such a great time. I brought Evidio with me and met up with Austin and his friend. I kept thinking how amazing it was that fish were alive under my feet. It struck me that I was somewhat graceful, managing to spin. I tried ice dancing but my partner and I kept almost knocking each other down. I did manage to fall down and it wasn't as scary as I thought it would be. I loved it so much that I skated for about an hour. That's a lot of exercise! I feel it, in a good way, in my core muscles and also in my thighs.

I love that park. I can't wait for the May Day celebration.

I need a new bike.

I love my fixed-gear bike, but general consensus is that I need a different bike for the hilly triathlon I'm doing in June.

But what do I need? I talked with Hurl, the guy who made my sweet fixed-gear bike, and he'll make me whatever I want, but he thinks this bike is a good one for me.

I don't know, though. Previously, my criteria was "pretty" and comfortable enough to ride for a couple of hours. Now I'll be getting special bike shoes (splat on the concrete!) and gears. Gears? I hate to admit it, but I don't know how to use gears the right way. But I'd rather have a sweet used little ditty - you know it's gonna look like hell when I'm done with it. I don't even really like to go fast because I get scared. Oh boy.

Any advice would be appreciated.

I've realized that I really need to learn some bike maintenance, so I signed up for a class through exco in April.

My 6am spin instructor says I should just go to Erik's and let them know what I need. I think I'm going into the hub to see their road bikes and shoes. Me on a road bike!? Well, I better get to it before the group triathlon training starts March 8th. Uh oh.

This makes me a


Now that I've been so productive, it's sleepy time to make sure I feel good in the morning.

Cold last week.

Sinus infection now.
I'm looking forward to health.

BTW, Jesika, the piercing professional at St. Sabrina's is incredible. She is my favorite, hands down, and I've had well over a dozen piercings. My triangle's now a 6 gauge. Hopefully, in a few months, it'll be a 4 gauge, and then who knows. My piercing does not have cooties. Just my head and chest.

The meme that's been going round and round:

1. What did you do in 2007 that you'd never done before?
• ran my first 5ks, started weight loss and fitness goals
• earned a lower middle-class income for a year straight
• fell in love with my custom-made fixed-gear bike
• proudly displayed my harry potter fan freak flag
• asthma under control
• ended my first het relationship

2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Yes. I paid off personal debts, saved for retirement and continued on my religious path. I have some pretty aggressive goals for 2008.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Chris gave birth to Theo! My sister gave birth to another daughter, although I haven't met either one of her kids.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
Thankfully, no.

5. What countries did you visit?
I just stayed in the States, but I visited California for the first time.

6. What would you like to have in 2008 that you lacked in 2007?
I'm satisfied with things I "had" and will do what I can to ensure they're here in the coming years.

7. What date from 2007 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
• 7/21 was my 31st birthday and the day the 7th harry potter book came out. I spent the day riding my bike, lounging on the beach, and relaxing with loved ones.
• 8/1 day the 35w bridge fell
• 11/22 was my first 5k

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Meeting fitness and financial goals

9. What was your biggest failure?
Hmm.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
I did spend half the year with a weird vomiting illness.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
My roomba, Peppermint Patty

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
My sister and I got in touch!

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
My (now, thankfully ex-) boyfriend and this country's executive leadership.

14. Where did most of your money go?
Actually, I know where my money went. That's a first!

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
My bike! Running!

16. What song will always remind you of 2007?
Wrock (wizard rock), specifically the Jingle Spells album and Flying Motorbike by the Weasel King

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
- happier or hardened? happier
- thinner or fatter? thinner
- richer or poorer? richer

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
I'm satisfied with the way I spent my time.

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
I'm satisfied with the way I spent my time.

20. How will you be spending Christmas?
I made a Noche Buena meal for some friends.

22. Did you fall in love in 2007?
Yes.

23. How many one-night stands?
:p

24. What was your favorite TV program?
Medium, Weeds, Scrubs

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Not really

26. What was the best book you read?
the 7th Harry Potter book! "Slow, Fat Triathlete"

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Wrock genre

28. What did you want and get?
Blessings

29. What did you want and not get?
Healing in my family

30. What was your favorite film of this year?
In the US, the movie goes by "Don't Tempt Me" but it goes by Sin Noticias de Dios in Spanish and No News From God in Europe

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I was a beach bum. I saw friends. I read the harry potter books. I rode my bike. I have some good loving.

32. What's one thing that would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
If I could've had more of my loved ones in my everyday life.

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2007?
Casual. Sexy heels.

34. What kept you sane?
Mis guías espirituales. My loved ones.

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Angelina Jolie and Christina Aguilera

36. What political issue stirred you the most?
I am appalled by my country's executive leadership.

37. Who did you miss?
Mica. Paul. My sister.

38. Who was the best new person you met?
Theo was the newest best person I met, Madrina

I've been having a lot of weird dreams. Just last night, I dreamt that the Transformers (yeah, the car bot things) were trying to colonize the world. Heh heh.

And I've logged 5k so far. It was so freakin' cold! 4 degrees fahrenheit along the Mississippi River, and supposedly it felt like -16F with wind chill. My asthma was a challenge but I finished it! The Reindeer Run was 45 minutes and 5 seconds and this one was 40 minutes, 26 seconds! I cut 4.5 minutes from my time! Once I start
this running clinic in a couple of weeks, I'll get a lot better. Capoeira will be starting then, too.

My goals for 2007 include 1. good health and spirit, 2. save 7 month's living expenses in short-term funds, 3. get in shape and my body looking great.




The joy is in the journey, right? I wore my now-traditional event headgear. No picture of me this time, but the "tiara" (okay, so it was paper, foil, and aluminum - it was still a tiara) is pictured above.

I get to see Chris and Theo (the baby) a lot, but I miss my other friends.

Apple people think something's wrong with my logic board. So she's going away for a week or so as of Wednesday. Hopefully a new logic board will make her all better. I'll miss her. But I'd least I've got Patty (my vacuum) to keep me and my fish company.

Happy travels little lady! I'll miss you.

This is what I did for Christmas. Click on the image for more details.

I went to a yoga class last night, just to shake things up a bit. Turns out this yoga instructor was a sub and she kicked our butts! I couldn't keep track of all the crazy poses she put us through. She had me balanced on my left foot, left hand above my head, my right hand grasping my right big toe, which is at a 90 degree angle to the floor. WTF? What was that? I didn't know my body could do that.

Bad news first. I recently dumped the guy I had been seeing, which means that my holiday plans with his family are now off. I really want to find something for Christmas Eve - ideally, I'd cook for friends, but nothing yet. I did sign up to do another 5k on Christmas day and yet another one on New Year's Day. I must find something fun for New Year's Eve. Otherwise, there's always Pi, my favorite night-time hangout since the Metro died. I do wish I wasn't feeling so lonely, but I'm sure it'll pass.


Good news: I got a roomba!!! Her name is Peppermint Patty. She's sage green and her personality reminds me of a grasshopper. She has made my apartment absolutely clean since the day of her arrival. I turn her on before I leave work and shazzam! the floors look beautiful after a long day at work. I love her. I tell her every day. I don't want to live without her ever again.

More good news. I've been working out pretty steadily and training for a sprint triathlon in June 2008. At the end of October, I decided to join Weight Watchers. Surprisingly (or maybe not so surprisingly), I'm starting to look really good and I'm feeling even better. According to my doctor's office, I've lost 18 pounds so far. At one point, I was a size 20-22, but I'm now a real size 16 (as opposed to an I-can-squish-my-tummy-in-and-fit-into-a-16). I am not starving myself. In fact, I'm eating more frequently and healthily than I can remember. I was worried that I was going to lose my ass, but the running, spinning, and pilates is actually giving me a little bit of a bubble butt. Thank you, higher powers!

I did it! I ran my first 5k today! Now time to cook some turkey.

Gentle romantic orchestral music, dominated by strings, playing in the background. Frustrated office worker's mouth moves soundlessly, in time to the melody of the violins.

The violas begin to take charge. Everything begins to slow down.

A crescendo in the cellos. A sledgehammer slowly rises above a laptop.

Tempo increases as the double basses begin to crescendo. The sledgehammer reaches the peak of its arc and freezes.

Violins begin to crescendo as the sledgehammer begins descent.

A beautiful orchestral swell at the moment of impact.

Quick decrescendo with as the pieces of laptop fly.

Strings retreat. Glockenspiel in time to the pieces as they bounce on the floor.

Silence.

This laptop has given me two days of headaches and has lost me hours of my work and my consultant's work - at least $800 in staff and consultant time to deal with this one particular issue.

I think it's healthy to have violent fantasies sometimes, don't you? It's the only thing I can do until we can wipe the machine and reinstall everything.

Irony

On the day my boss announces her wedding engagement, she sits me down to tell me the board of directors decided to not pass domestic partnership benefits for the staff. This happened despite the fact that there would be no additional cost to the organization.

[Insert potty mouth exclamation here.]

I ordered a custom-made item online from a small local business referred to me by a friend. This was at the end of August. They, of course, got their payment through visa. I've sent multiple emails and left phone messages about my item and have received no response. So I figure, it's been 60 days since I've ordered and I've given them the benefit of the doubt, but this is ridiculous. So I went to my credit union to seek help. Effing, 60 days was the statute of limitations for reporting this to my financial institution! WTF? I paid $60 for something I never received and I'm SOL. WTF! This is my credit union, too, not my old bank. I thought they might be more helpful. The guy at the credit union said he's personally going to follow-up with it and that it may take weeks, but I'm wondering if I shouldn't just go to small claims court over my money. $60 is a lot of money! I can't find info on statute of limitations for small claims court about my purchase. Effing bullocks stinker jerks! Okay, I feel better.

I just found out from a cashier at the Wedge. She said she read it in the paper. After 37 years, multiple plans for improvement, and countless volunteers, I guess she's closing. I'm sad that as a member, I didn't hear it directly from them first. They're closing their doors November 4th.


http://www.northcountrycoop.com/

I need an outlet for my fitness stuff, so I made a journal just for that: http://aileencita-triathlon.blogspot.com/

according to J.K. Rowling, author

Brilliant!

1. Before I walk out the door, I make sure I have my keys, id, and phone.
2. I can't seem to catch up on my filing at home and shredding.
3. The one surface that gets cluttered most quickly is my desk at home.
4. No matter what I do, I just can't seem to get pregnant. Sperm might help, though..
5. The most inspiring person I saw in the past few days is Theo, Chris and Bruce's baby. Blank slates are so amazingly beautiful.
6. My most recent guilty pleasure is a radio show called "Crap from the Past" on Friday evenings, KFAI.
7. My most recent obssession has lasted for years: the Harry Potter series.
8. I miss my sister, Paul, and local friends I haven't had the chance to catch up with in months.
9. Most recent good news I heard came from my friend Evidio, who told me he's about to start singing again!!!!
10. If I could be anywhere right now, I'd be sleeping on the balcony of an oceanside room in Miami.
11. The 3 most fascinating people I'd like to spend more time with are my godmother, Nena in California, and Paul.
12. I wish for good health, love, and spirit. I'll add that I wish to carry a baby to full term soon. I should've wished for more wishes..