Gross Things #2

I live on a somewhat busy street that goes up and then down a big hill. It's a house-lined, urban street, so there are always lots of cars parked along the road.

I have noticed something intriguing and, yes, gross, for awhile when driving along my street. I don't remember when I first noticed it, but it has since become a fairly reliable sighting whenever I pass by.

Four or five blocks away from my house on the other side of the street, a maroon, full-sized Cadillac sits in front of a two-story house. It's a rather unremarkable vehicle; it is neither new nor old, neither dirty nor clean. Nondescript...

Except for the bag of dog poop that is habitually sitting on the trunk.

One must ask oneself: Why is that dog poop there? (I didn't actually realize that it was dog poop until I started paying attention. As a matter of fact, it might not actually be dog poop, but I'm pretty sure it's some kind of poop. It's the right size and shape.) Who put the dog poop there? (It is often in different-colored bags, so I know that it's not a single bag of dog poop that simply gets tossed off and then put back on.)

The car doesn't just sit there, either. There are times when the car is not there, so it gets driven. I actually saw the guy who drives the car, too, just tonight. He's a middle-aged dude, fairly nondescript (not unlike his car). Strangely, though, I passed him as he arrived at his spot, and I went home, screwed around for fifteen, twenty minutes, and then headed out again... and he was still sitting in his car when I went by. Perhaps waiting for the dog poop perpetrator?? The world may never know.

I'm shrinking...

Well, it's May 10th, and that can only mean one thing: time for me to get weighed and measured at Curves. I had some anxiety going in because I've been eating poorly lately; the stress of the last few weeks of school has really gotten to me, and my constant friend Food has been, well, my constant friend. There were also several days that I missed workouts, and with all the rain, I haven't spent as much time outside as usual. (Wow... those are sounding a lot like excuses, aren't they??)

The news was good overall, though. I stayed the same or lost minimal amounts in most areas. My weight, for example, has stayed the same. The major triumph was the loss of three inches in my thighs. Not three inches combined, either. Three inches each, and besides my gut, they're my "problem" area. Not too shabby, eh? Now, if it'll only start being a little nicer out so I can do some hiking (and continue to firm up!!)...

Gross Things #1

It seems that I have been witness to many gross things lately. Dear reader, I have decided to share one of these things with you now, mostly because it's fun.

The other day I went to UMD to their Annual Massive Bookstore Sale of Insanity (I don't remember the real name) with my mother. My aunt was working there, so it was a regular family affair. Now, they don't have the sale stuff in the bookstore. Oh no, it's down in the basement ("bargain" basement, if you will), essentially in an area roped off from the hallway. People were bustling around, as people do during finals week, and there were lots of folk at the sale. (They were doing book buyback just down the hall; sell your trig book, buy a bargain sweatshirt.)

I'm not really into college apparel, especially apparel from a college I've never gone to, so I didn't get anything, but my mother did. She was standing in line, and my aunt and I were chatting it up off to the side, when all of a sudden, as if compelled by a force beyond sight or sound, both my aunt and I looked up. (Here's where the gross part happens, if you need to cover your ears.)

There, about fifteen feet away from us, was a woman walking rapidly down the hallway. She was a middle-aged woman with a nice older-lady haircut, glasses, and a nice older-lady outfit. She looked real put-together, except for the whole vomiting thing. I knew she was trying to make it to the bathroom, but it was way too late. She was puking, but she kept walking. She tried to catch it with one hand, but of course you can't catch puke with one hand (as any drunken kid at a frat house could tell you), so trying to catch the puke only resulted in the puke spurting out from between her fingers, creating the classic projectile vomiting action. She just kept walking, and when finally out of sight, my aunt said, "She must be sick."

I said, "Yep." I hadn't even started my day yet, really. You'd better believe I still have that image in my head.

My favorite thing in Rochester, MN

Yes, it's the Seneca corn water tower. I had to find this image on a website because I didn't have a camera with me... but it always makes me smile.

(Image found at: www.nibbod.com/megan/roadtrip09.html)

The Grand Portage Trail

A couple of weekends ago, I had the pleasure of going tramping around the woods. I’ve never considered myself much of an outdoorsperson (allergies have often precluded my participation in outdoor frolic), though my regular doses of Claritin along with my recent foray into healthy living has caused me to spend more time Out There.

So, on Sunday I went out to the Grand Portage Trail, which winds its way down through the woods to the St. Louis River and into Jay Cooke State Park. The Grand Portage Trail was used by fur traders hundreds of years ago, so there’s the cool historical aspect of it, but there’s also the sheer beauty of the trail, the woods, and the river itself that makes the trip worthwhile.



The trek we took was four miles long. We winded through the woods and down to a small creek before emerging at a road crossing. Beyond that was the St. Louis River, which spread out before me under the sun, teal and turquoise and green, flashing and flowing over the rocks. On the distant shore, pine trees blanketed the steep hill. Sitting on a flat rock and letting the sounds around me calm my brain, I realized why people need to spend time outside.

The hike back was, admittedly, difficult. All of the winding downhill at the start ended in having to wind uphill, and yes, I was exhausted. My throat burned and my legs ached, but after I got back to the car and I was driving away with the windows down, I knew I’d be back… and it also helped to have a cute guy along for the ride.