Blood and Running

I gave blood yesterday afternoon for the first time in my life. Thanks to Amanda for sticking with during the process and being supportive in helping me conquer my huge fear of needles. Props also to the nurse for making the process smooth and nearly painless. The needle sticking was easy going and it flowed fast and easy. It really means a lot to me to be able to give blood to help out people in need. I feel like I've really done something to make a difference, kinda like when I volunteered for mission building projects; it's a great feeling.

However, let me just say that running 5 miles today with the blood donation yesterday is much more difficult than it was last year when I was 2 days hungover. I figured the run would be a piece of cake after my 180 mile Pelotonia this summer and then the non-hungover system, but I was wrong. I felt completely out of energy by the time I'd even gotten done with the first mile and a half, and by 2 miles, I was nearly dead. I love to push my body to extremes, but today I couldn't do a thing. My body was shot, but after a solid breakfast, I'm already quick on the recovery for some family football and turkey this afternoon.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Jane Goodall

I just wanted to take a minute to say that I was watching a recorded talk by Jane Goodall, including a question and answer session afterwards as I relaxed this afternoon after a 5-mile Turkey Trot this morning.

I continue to be impressed with Jane, both because of her amazing work with conservation and chimpanzee behavior, but also in her practicality, her devotion to nature conservation and the well-being of the underprivileged, and her honesty.

Interesting things I learned about Jane from her Oct. 11th talk included: her favorite drink is whiskey, when asked about her plans in the next 50 years she said "me dying", and she brews her coffee with a boiling coil and stocking hose.

I will never forget growing up watching her National Geographic specials and she has done so many great things to benefit understanding of animals and the behavioral sciences. Good luck in your future endeavors, Jane Goodall.

Yum, centipedes....

This fellow or one of his relatives was just walking across the grad office floor until I spotted him. I probably shouldn't have mentioned it because as soon as I did the girls went running for a shoe to finish his poor excuse of an existence. Good thing we still don't believe insects are sentient, right?

(insert aghast face of animal rights movement leftist, sorry but I didn't have that image on stock)

Anyways, the poor fellow met his timely end and another guy was drafted to throw him in the trash. Frankly, with the timing of killing him by a girl's desk just as she walked in for the morning was perfect. I had trouble stopping laughing. If it speaks to how bored I am this morning as I enter data, that is the most entertaining thing that has happened all morning.

Amanda and I started running yesterday morning. It's really nice to have a jogging companion because I like to run without music just as much as I like to run with it, but I like having company to support me in my efforts even more. I feel just a little bit less stupid out running with her and trust me, I feel pretty stupid out running in public. Biking is a form of exercise that comes naturally for me. Running has never come naturally to me and I look absolutely half as stupid as I used to when I run but I think that's only because I'm fatter so that my body can't do all the weird contortions it did in mid-stride like it used to. Nevertheless, running is my new thing until the Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot as I try to drop another 10ish pounds from my current weight of 225 - 230.