Leggings? Seriously?!
How ironic. When I was walking on the UIC campus on Thursday, every other girl I saw was wearing leggings. I thought, “Leggings are in? Seriously?!” I made a mental note to ask my sister (and promptly forgot).
Today, I was randomly flipping through the October issue of Glamour and saw this:
Glamour’s “We Love Leggings” article.
A 6-page article about leggings and how to wear them!
Whoa. I would not be caught dead in leggings. The closest thing I am getting to leggings is some too-tight yoga pants. And that’s not to say leggings aren’t cute or stylish. They sure are. I mean, celebs almost make it look like mere mortals can pull off the look:
Celebs in leggings.
I just know… that I cannot. But I appreciate all the women who can! Are you going to wear leggings this year? (poll below!)
[poll id=”5″]
The Prognosis
I visited the sports medicine doctor on Thursday. They examined my left shin and left heel. Their prognosis?
Because the shin pain is isolated to a single spot on my leg, they think I have a stress fracture, and want me to get an x-ray, and a bone density test if it does not show up on the x-ray. They told me to continue to ice it, gave me a stretch to do, and instructed me to NOT run, but to bike very easily or swim in the meantime. They specifically said NOT to use the elliptical machine, because it it their opinion that the elliptical causes you to move in ways that are unnatural.
They think I have a bit of plantar fasciitis in my left foot, and instructed me to ice it, and use a golf ball to massage the bottom of my foot. My heel hurts the most in the morning, and there are braces you can wear at night that keep your foot pulled upright so the muscle doesn’t relax, but I don’t want to spend the extra money on that right now.
Data shows concern as I ice my foot and heel.
So, I need to get the x-ray, and am going to try to fit it in my schedule for next week (after I make sure my insurance will cover it!). If I really do have a stress fracture, I won’t be able to run for about 6 weeks, so I need to figure out how to get some exercise in. I am looking for a cheap place to swim around my house, and can continue to use the office gym, as well as my own bike.
I will probably continue to write a weekly workout post on Sundays, because I enjoy keeping track of it, but you probably won’t see one tomorrow, because I’ve been fighting a cold this week and have only made it to the gym twice! And you didn’t see one last week because I ate my weight in french fries instead of working out.
So… how do I feel about all of this?
Well, when I was there, at the clinic, I felt pretty out of place. I am overweight now, and don’t really look like an athlete, and there I was, with all of these UIC college athletes, taking time away from their doctor. I felt like I didn’t belong. I almost felt like I didn’t deserve treatment – not from any way the doctors acted, but just from my own guilty feelings.
When I was explaining my running history to the resident doctor, and she asked what kind of training program I was following and if I increased my mileage too quickly, I told her I didn’t feel like I did. I felt comfortable. I felt like I had built the mileage. I felt really good! But when the doctor came in, he implied that my injuries were a cause of “too much too soon” or maybe of getting ahead of myself. Maybe they are… but I don’t feel like they are. I just feel kind of unlucky. And maybe unprepared, which IS my own fault. Instead of being smart and cautious then, I have to be smart and cautious now.
So, I guess I feel hopeful that the next time around things will go smoother. I will be smarter about cross-training, stretching, increasing my mileage, and listening to my body.
But I do feel really sad seeing people running in my neighborhood. And reading Runner’s World. But I am trying not to let it get to me.
Friday Question #78
If you could instantly learn to play any one musical instrument extremely well, which one would you choose?
I would choose the piano, so I can play fun songs like this (make sure to listen to the audio!). I hope to take piano lessons someday, before I get too old and lose all of my youth and vigor. I bet I would be good at it.
I played the violin for 9 years (from the 4th-12th grades of school), but right now, I can’t remember the last time I played it. I get urges to get it out and play from time to time. Steven has a cello… maybe we could join an orchestra (after practicing for awhile). Would that be dorky?*
*Not that it’s stopped me before.
Yammering away
Do you ever wish you could just stop someone in the middle of a sentence and say to them, “I DON’T CARE!”?
You know, to those people who are always yammering on about the same old crap to you? Or yammering on about some new crap, who knows. The point is, you are sick of hearing them go on… and on… and on…
Especially when they never listen to you to begin with.
Of course, I have people like this in my life that I am not really at liberty to talk about here. So I’ll ask all of you to tell me your best stories instead! Please rant away, if you’re in the mood…
Two Years!
Today is our two-year wedding anniversary! Happy anniversary Steveno!
Last week a college friend asked if I felt like my relationship with Steven was any different since we’ve been married. I think she was referring to the way we act around each other. And really, that isn’t any different. We’re still big goobers all the time.
But there were small subtle changes in how I feel. I feel more comfortable, secure and complete. Not comfortable in a “I can wear sweatpants now!” way, but comfortable in a “I have someone who’ll always love me for who I am” way. Not secure in a “I didn’t trust him before” way, but secure in a “We’ll always take care of each other, not matter what” way. Not complete in a sappy “You complete me!” way, but complete in a “I have partner in crime for life!” way.
There is something about knowing you always have someone else to count on that is really comforting and reassuring. It’s a good feeling.
Sappy sappy sappy!
Must-sees in DC?
I am traveling to Washington D.C. (for the first time!) soon for a work trip. I will be there a whole week, but will only have evenings free, and the Friday afternoon until Saturday afternoon that I am there.
Does anyone have any recommendations for “must-sees”* during my very short and limited trip? I have already contacted my senator to ask for tickets to visit the Capitol, and would like to go to the top of the Washington Monument, and perhaps visit the Holocaust Memorial Museum… but that’s it. Okay, that’s a lot.
But, Steven will be there too, and he doesn’t have to be in training all day, so you can give some recommendations for him (his brother is adamant that he visit the Air and Space Museum)!
Thanks!
*Or “must-dos,” but please keep in mind that I am not the partying type.
No reason to want a new wardrobe
I’ve been craving a new wardrobe lately. I think this is a fall thing. Yeah, it’s not “fall,” but we’re definitely having fall weather here. Plus, I am going to Washington D.C. soon for a work trip. I’ll be in a conference all week, and my logic is – “I NEED A NEW OUTFIT FOR EACH DAY!” Uh… these are people I have never met*. How would they know if my outfit was new or not?
The bummer is, I am on a total spending freeze and have been for a few months. I’m only spending money when it’s in gift card form.
But, that doesn’t mean I can’t look! Here are some of the tops that have caught my eye lately. They all seem to have a fun detail to them – which probably means they will be dated in a few years. Oh, and they all seem to be somewhat similar to clothes I have NOW – another reason I don’t need them!
From New York & Company:
Looks like the mustard color is still in style!
From Ann Taylor:
From Banana Republic:
(actually have a large gift card to here, but need to lose weight – their clothes are too expensive to buy in a bigger size – I’ve gotten burned that way before)
Actual Gift Card Buys:
And here are my actual gift card buys. The first one is from JCPenney. I got that top in that design (but in purple, not blue) and in black. The second two tops are from Kohl’s. I bought those with a pair of pants. I didn’t like the top at first, but then saw that the mannequin had it on with the flyaway cardigan, and it looks really cute together.
What are you lusting after these days?
*Except for the one coworker I am going with.
Data’s Friday Question #77 Follow-Up
Data has his own answer to today’s Friday Question. His favorite pillow is… my foot.
He cleans it almost daily, but doesn’t take it with him when he travels.
And he also wants to share his sleeping habits – he sometimes sleeps upside down:
Like those jelly rolls?
Friday Question #77
What kind of pillow do you like to use? How often do you get a new pillow? Do you bring a pillow when you travel?
Another strange question, right? Well, this came to mind because I have two people in my family who are very peculiar about pillows (hello Mom and Steven), but I will let them tell their own story.
I like soft pillows, but not so soft that your head sinks right through them to the mattress. I have been using this cheap-o memory foam contour pillow from Target for about four years now. I like to put a flat pillow underneath it, then let the front of the contour pillow slide off a little bit. The only time I’ve replaced it is when I came back from Rome, because it got stinky.
Data really likes this pillow too. If I leave him alone in the bedroom, I will come back to find lots of tiny teeth marks in it, and in my pillowcase. Thanks Data!
I always bring a pillow with me when I travel, unless I am going on an airplane (too inconvenient) or to my Aunt Sue’s house (because I really like her pillows).
Don’t touch my car
Does it make anyone else CRAZY when you walk up to your car* in a parking lot and find some random flier under the windshield wiper?
This drives me absolutely mad, but I’ve talked to a few people who it doesn’t seem to bother at all. Take my crazy mother for example. She actually said, “I like it when people put fliers on my car. It makes me feel special.” But then after I argued with her for a bit about it she said it would upset her if she had a new car like me (My mom is still driving some car she won in the 80s).
And someone else told me it doesn’t bother them – they just take it off and put it on the car next to theirs, hoping they will recycle it. (Who said this to me?! Please reveal yourself! I cannot remember!)
I think it bothers me so much because it is a HUGE waste of paper, and results in a lot of littering. AND, I am very VERY unlikely to use the services of someone if their method of advertisement is a flier on my CAR.
And, I don’t like the idea of anyone touching my car. The lot I park my car in to ride the train is in a pretty shady area. My old car got keyed there, and last year I arrived to find someone’s glass busted out of their car. I made sure to have special vandalism insurance on my new car. I am just waiting for the day I walk out to it and find something wrong with it.
Anyway, if there is someone out there who is not annoyed by finding fliers under their car windshield wiper, please feel free to argue with me! Or agree if it makes you crazy too!
*Or your theoretical car, if you don’t have one.
Hi! I’m Kim, a 40-something-year-old living in northeastern Illinois with my husband Steven, and our cats, Khaleesi, Apollo, Starbuck, and Eddard aka Ned. My current main hobbies are running, painting rocks, flying, reading, and eating. I follow a vegan lifestyle and work in an account management role. I write about a variety of topics and consider this a “life” blog – a place I can share anything that’s on my mind. Please visit the “About” page to get a better idea of who I am! 🙂
