For some reason I really enjoy looking back through the archives of my blog to see what I was doing a year ago in any given month, or even looking farther back.  What was different? What is still the same?  Take a look at June 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004 and 2003 and let me know if you see any patterns, other than the fact that I seem to talk about food a hell of a lot . . .

That was some serious thunder last night at around 2:30 a.m. — so strong that I felt the building shake a little.  And it seems that there's plenty more where that came from, as the rain is still pouring down and the sky is still rumbling.  Time for the red galoshes.

Will someone please explain why it is that I prefer to set my alarm much earlier than I have to get up so that I have the option of hitting the snooze alarm repeatedly rather than set it for the time I actually have to get up, which would give me 30 – 45 minutes more sleep each night.  Also wondering why there seem to be helicopters circling above my apartment this morning . . .

After my painful experience with the last pair of new running shoes I tried out, I traded them in for the Nike Zoom Structure Triax+ 12 (hell of a name).  I'm happy to report that today's 5+ mile test run felt pretty good.  We'll see if everything feels okay tomorrow, and if so, will try them again for Tuesday night's group run, which is rumored to be the hardest one on our team training calendar. 

After the run, I spent the rest of the day picnicking, napping, reading and relaxing in my backyard (a.k.a. Washington Square Park).  Not bad at all.  And now, early to bed and early to rise tomorrow (they tell me it's supposed to be good for me or something).

Sorry about the gloom and doom around here, kids, but that's just the way things are right now. And although that's not likely to change for a while, I'll do my best to keep it off the internets, at the very least.  I generally don't get very personal on the blog, and I've been a little too close for comfort these days, so my apologies.

Here's the part where I plaster on the smile, stick affirmations on the bathroom mirror, and try not to behave like the biggest cliché known to mankind.  But first, here's more of me behaving like the biggest cliché known to mankind, and doing some positive thinking:

I still trust my instincts.  I stand up for what I want and believe, even when it is hard for me.  I have a job, which is not as common as it used to be.  One that I really like and that I worked very hard to get.  Actually two jobs I really like. I have an upcoming triathlon to train for and focus on, which will further enhance my fitness and general well being, and I will beat last year's time.  I have set large goals for myself and have achieved them.  I have biked one hundred and twenty six miles in one day.  I sang the national anthem in front of over 5000 people and didn't mess up the words (that time).  My apartment is slowly (very slowly) starting to look like a grown-up lives in it.  I'm a pretty good cook, most of the time.  I have a hot pair of leopard print shoes that never fail to get a compliment and generally perk me up when I wear them.  I also generally get compliments, often from strangers, when I sing at karaoke.  I am in good health (and I don't take that for granted these days). I am generally good at keeping people in my life and I develop strong professional relationships.  I have a supportive and loving family.  I'll be biking through Bordeaux at the end of June.  Did I mention how amazing my friends are?

That's about all I have in me at the moment.