Rebecca A. Foster

I spent a 12-hour shift at a local firehouse as part of my EMT-B clinicals. This schedule is posted on their bulletin board. Sunday's task still makes me chuckle. (Click pic to enlarge. And no beer in the firehouse, btw, also a joke.) Although, logically, wouldn't #1 need to be on the schedule only once?? (btw, it is not any warmer on the East Coast than out West. Drat. And if you're wondering why I am inside instead of out wandering about: back sore from the long plane ride. And if my spine doesn't straighten out on it's own, will have to do therapy, so trying to take it easy. Hope to get some good picture taking time in later this week, though.)

Three things: 1. Not having syphilis! I'm going on a trip overseas later this year and the country's visa requires you to prove you're syphilis-free. At the doc's, the nurse came in and asked me, "Did you want a pap smear while you're here?" Nope, I sure didn't. Nurse: "Oh, I just figured since we're already testing for syphilis..." trails off. I explained I don't REALLY think I have syphilis, it's for a visa. I'm sure she gets that all the time. Also, thanks a lot nurse! 2. Harold and Kumar! 3. Big trucks! I'm driving my dad's big black V8 engine truck while my car is in the shop. I can't park it worth beans but I feel like the Queen of Sheba driving it. I want to drive over the top of other cars. My Toyota will seem so small after this.

I am in love with whoever did this. Street art in the East Village, NYC, via Gawker, via somewhere else .

Murray Hill Inn is a 5 story walkup converted into a hotel on 30th St. and 3rd Ave, only a short walk from the 33rd and Lex 6 train subway station. I stayed here on my last trip to NYC, a great little place in a nice neighborhood if you don't mind not having a full-service hotel. And the best part, it was $130 a night weeknights and $170 weekends. If you have priced hotels in Manhattan, you know this is a bargain. The room was small and no proper closet, but very clean, with hardwood floors and a big marble bathroom. (You can pay less for a full size bed or shared bathroom.) The front desk people are super nice and they'll hold your luggage until 6 PM day of checkout. Seriously, this is where I'm staying every time I have to pay from now on. (And yes, I do have NYC on the brain. I leave Sunday. Not looking forward to the long plane ride with this hurt back, but I guess that is what drugs are for.) www.murrayhillinn.com

I bought this to carry my chapstick, lube, extra energy gels and car key during the marathon. Instead of hooking it onto my waistband, I clipped inside the center of my sports bra. I thought it was more comfortable near my center of gravity than on my hip. It worked great, I highly recommend it. (The only downside is it soaked up sweat sitting next to my skin, but it's washable.) As far as the marathon, I didn't have any injuries or illness, not even a blister. I wear Brooks shoes and Nike wicking socks and they served me well. I ran in a running skirt, rather than shorts, and I recommend that as well, more comfortable in my opinion. I hit the wall around mile 25 and walked a half a mile, but then picked up and ran the last 1/2 mile. I really wanted to cross the finish line running. I took a 1 minute walking break every mile or so throughout.

"By heaven, I do love, and it hath taught me to rhyme, and to be melancholy." Love's Labour Lost , IV.III.332 My problem: boring is worse than bad. I consistently fall for guys whose intentions are not kind, but also not boring. In my dating life, I'm a sad girl with a lot of fun stories. At least I have melancholy to remember them by. Still working on the rhyming. And you know what? I have a kind heart and perhaps naive intentions, but manage to not bore myself. I'd love to meet a guy like that. Also, I love Lortab.

Saturday, April 19th, my first full marathon. This is why I'm doing it. And because I want to know if I can. But mostly for my dad.