List of things:

I want to accomplish:
1. Write a book.
2. Have a photograph published in a magazine.
3. Go on a world tour.
4. Have children that make me proud.
5. Create a playlist to my life.
6. Feel accomplished.

I am afraid of:
1. My mind when I am alone.
2. Unlocked doors at night.
3. Never being able to break away.
4. Lightening that touches the ground.
5. Broken glass.
6. Being forgotten.

That make me happy:
1. Genuine laughs.
2. Walking to chill music.
3. Hats.
4. Elephants.
5. Crying at the end of a good book.
6. Te belief that you're out there.

That make me think:
1. Pictures with no captions.
2. Classical music.
3. Being in a coffee shop, with a black dark roast coffee and a good book.
4. You.
5. Ocean by John Butler Trio.
6. The different shades of blue.

Long time, no blog.

I wanted to get back to this blog for a while, because I began running (WHAT?) yeah, I know. But as you can see, I never did get back to it. But since today was a great run day for me, I decided to start it back up. I am currently on week 6 of my 9 week couch-to-5k program, and well today I had to run one mile then walk 3 minutes then run another mile. I decided that I haven't timed my mile this whole time I've been doing this program in fear that it would discourage me that I was not making progress, or something of that sort. But today I felt good, and I decided that I would time my mile today. So I got to the track at the Oval, and walked one lap, then got the the numbers and took off. I told myself that I wouldn't look at my stopwatch on my ipod because I was afraid I would psych myself out. Instead, I jammed to my newly discovered love of house music to run to (best stuff ever to run to) and it wasn't until the last lap that I was getting antsy. I just really wanted to look down to my stopwatch... I kept telling myself "what if I just change the song and happen to see the time, thats not the same as looking... right?" But I remembered that it was one last loop, I could do it. I could bear the end time whatever it was. 11 minutes, 10:30, 10, whatever it was I would face it. After all my goal was to keep an 11 minute mile pace for my 5k race. Which I thought was a do-able goal, since most programs are saying that a 12 minute mile was a great pace for newly runners, which I am. Well anyways, here I am running the last curve... the end in sight... nerves kicking in... and well next thing I know the numbers are under my feet. I finished a mile! 6 weeks ago I would laugh in your face if you asked me to run a mile without dying. Well,  looked at my stopwatch to stop the time.. and.... 9:38:92 minutes!!!!!! HOLY HELL!

Couple things that went on in my mind at that moment:
1. Fuck, I only ran 3 laps, didn't I. (But no I did do the 4 total.)
2. I have to call my dad!
3. Seriously, what if my stop watch paused.
4. Oh My God, I could actually do this 5k race!
5. I JUST RAN A FREAKING 9:38 MINUTE MILE!
6. I haven't done that since the summer after my surgery!

After I finished, I went to the water fountain, typical, then started my last mile (or 10 minutes actually... so it was also over a mile). But this one I jogged on the path around the Oval.

All I can say now is that I can't wait to run Friday... 2.5 miles. I can totally own that! and then it is only 31 days until my race!! Im starting to like this whole running thing.

-Alli

Earthquake in Maryland.

http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/dyfi/events/us/2010yua6/us/index.html

The world's alarm clock?


At around 5:04am Montgomery and Howard County had a 3.7 earthquake. It woke me up, as well as Mom, Norman and Maui. Then about 5 or 6 minutes later, Ricky called me asking if I thought it was an earthquake. It only shook for about 10 seconds, and it felt more like a really bad thunderstorm or a series of 18 wheelers going through the neighborhood. Apparently people in York, PA could feel a little shake as well, but not as much as Gatherburg (where the center was).

Listening to the news, and people calling, everyone thought it was something just going on in their neighborhood, or something wrong with their own home. But then, the realized (like I did) that it must have been an earthquake.

I still can't believe that it just happened, and it was pretty scary, but a neat experience to have experienced and to actually remember it this time.



-Alli

Thunderstorms

At 12:40 in the morning, the rain and thunder woke me up, after I had only been asleep for an hour. It is pouring outside, and all I can think of is "God I hope my car windows are up." I see the lightning flash and slowly count on my hands "one...two...three...four...five...six...sev/BOOM." I have never been very good with thunderstorms. They make me feel unsafe. But for some reason, I feel pretty safe tonight. I have my new Pandora playlist for Mumford and Sons playing, and I had just finished painting a cute little cartoon of two elephants infront of the Colosseum in Rome for a friend of mine, and I can see Maui's (my cat) tail from underneath my bed. She is in hiding as well, I am assuming. The rain is so loud, it is over powering my music. Pretty crazy!

Thank God for all this rain though. Maryland sure does need it, after all we are "in a drought" and some counties are now on a water restraints. Well, in my opinion I think this week of rain will do it. I hope this just doesn't drown my cherry tomato plants! 

Those plants have gotten to be about 7 feet tall, and are starting to grow some tomatoes! I shall add pictures when its not down pouring outside, and I can go around to them. Mmm I can almost taste them in my mouth. Oh how I love cherry tomatoes!

Anywho... the count "one...two...three...fou/BOOM" Jees, its coming closer. I have a feeling this is going to be one sleepless night! 

Keep safe loveys.

-Alli

The Rogues

My uncle loves going to the Renaissance Festival in Maryland, and he usually goes for one reason, the celtic band The Rogues. They are a combination of sounds, bagpipes, violin, piano, guitar, drum, etc. Some of their songs have lyrics, and some are just them totally rocking out! My uncle and his entourage for his birthday, went from show to show for one whole day at the festival. I believe we went to 4 shows. Each one completely awesome! (and it didn't hurt that the bagpiper was totally cute!) 

But anyways, what I am getting at right now, is that this band, is starting to become one of those bands that I go to when I really need to be picked up. Or I just want to listen to some awesome/different music that instantly puts a smile on my face. Some music that really I am into this summer. I find myself rocking out to the bagpipes and drums in my car as I drive into Baltimore for work! 

There is something about the sound of bagpipes that really hit me, they are so intriguing and fascinating to me, and any man that can play the bagpipes... wow! [hello instant attraction props.] haha. 

So my advice, go on to YouTube and look up The Rogues.

Here are some links::

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lbo9nMUMCn8&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cNB_T1F3Umo&feature=related

Once you fall in love with them, go on to itunes and get their album: American Highlander! 

http://www.therogues.com/fr_home.cfm - Their Homepage!!!

And here are some pictures from the MD RenFest 2009. 

My friend Kate and I with the violinist, and the cute bagpiper! =]

Hi cute bagpiper, whats your name?? 

And thats all for now! Please let me know what you think about them!!

-Alli

Mac and Cheese and Apple Juice

Not the best combo!

Although a marathon of some awesome movies, make up for the really bad combination of flavors. 

-Alli

Two recent photographs.

No one puts baby in a corner. 

It's the little things in life that matter. 

-Alli