Racing for a Cure

You guys are fantastic.

I put out this plea last week -- along with some e-mail solicitations and notices in my work newsletter.

Thanks you to (and some people who probably don't read this blog) we've already raised $270 toward breast cancer research.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

If you haven't donated (or already have and want a repeat of that happy feeling), and would like to, click here.

I'm working out tonight to get ready for this run. What's been great is the amount of support I've gotten from everyone. From running and training tips, to people donating or stopping by my desk to tell me stories of the survivors in their lives. It's been great so far -- and I've only just begun!

The race is May 2 -- so keep the love coming!

Kill Yourself.

Know what irks the crap out of me?

When people leave their ringers on high at work. And let those jokers ring.

On my way into the building, I put my phone on vibrate or silence it altogether. I mean, I've left my ringer on BY ACCIDENT at work before and that joint has rung. But soon as I hear it, I scramble through my bag to find the bugger and immediately silence it or answer it.

Not so for these cats here.

One cat consistently keeps his ringer on. And it always seems to ring while he's on an interview. We're all in the newsroom, damn near on top of one another. When that joint rings, he just lets it ring. He's got one of those rings that sound like the transitional music from Saved By the Bell. You know what I'm talking about. (duduhduhduhdu-DUNDUN -daduhdundundunduhndun)

It bothers me. A lot.

And clearly it just happened again. Which is why I'm taking valuable time out of my day to write about this joker.

Prêt-à-Porter

So, I'm just going to say whatever.

I was all worried about what to wear to the Follies. In years past, I've been mostly classy, but not necessarily funky. Or really, even youthful.

This year was going to be my year to change all that. i was going to go out shopping and find a cool dress and funky accessories and look like the fly 25 year old that I am in my head.

Stuff keeps getting in the way.

For example, yesterday was Valentine's Day. It was 10 a.m. and I still had nothing to wear. I started thinking and remembered a dress I saw on someone's Facebook album. I needed something I could just come in and try on and buy immediately because I had rehearsal for the Follies at noon thirty until 4 and then I was going out with the BF at 5.

So I stopped by American Apparel. I was on a mission.

I looked through the spandex on the racks, looking for the picture that matched the one in my head. Then I saw it.

The colors at American Apparel never really wow me. They're either, I think, too bland or too outrageous. None of them seem necessarily rich. I like rich colors.

Anyway, so I try it on in black*. I figure you can't go wrong with black. The dress fits perfectly -- as perfect as any AA dress can fit, if you know what I mean. But it doesn't pack that punch that I'm looking for. I walk out onto the sales floor in the dress and my fantastic boots (that I just happened to be wearing that day) and looked at the other colors.

White. Mustard. Burgundy. Plum. Asphalt.

Mmm. Asphalt.

I take Asphalt and the white back into the dressing room with me. I finally get the dress over my head and pull it down over my hips. A smile creeps over my lips as I look into the mirror.

This is it.

I rush to the cashier and tell her to ring up asphalt -- and black, you really can't go wrong with black -- in a medium. I walk out with a small bag and a tinging ping of guilt (my job may have layoffs in the next week or so and I just spent $75 on two dresses, sigh).

After practice, I run home, shower, and throw the dress on. I pair it with camel colored patent leather heels I got from H&M and my go-to tan bag. I throw on some eyeshadow and pop open my new lipgloss from Cargo (freaking fantastic). A few spritzes of Jean Paul Gautier sample I got when I ordered the Cargo (I love Sephora!) and I'm out the door.

The evening goes well and the BF liked the dress. A lot. (sorry, I forgot to take pics, but trust, I was looking right.)

Anyway, so I said all that to say that instead of looking for a new dress, I'm going to wear the black AA dress I bought yesterday.

I'm thinking of buying some pumps (maybe red stilletoes or leopard print) and either a printed purse, or wearing my go to tan clutch to the Follies at the end of this month. I've already got my hair appointment to do the aforementioned hairstyle to my head (I don't need the stress of trying to get this right myself -- and really don't have a day to just play until the show is over).

So yeah. I'm saying whatever and instead of just searching for the perfect dress, I'm going to wear what I'm comfortable in. And I promise, I'll be sure to take pictures.


*the Web site doesn't have the exact dress, but the link is to the most similar one I could find. It's just like that, but with no ribbing.

I'm Running for Cancer!

Well, for a cure for cancer!

I'm running in the Revlon Run/Walk for Women -- a 5K race to fund cancer research this May in NYC. raiser My sister formed the team I'm running with -- The Conquerors -- as in : No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. (Romans 8:37)

I've always supported cancer awareness initiatives, from buying the breast cancer stamps to donating to other people involved in cancer awareness things.

My mother was diagnosed with breast cancer in the fall of 2000. It was my senior year and I remember watching as she went through a mastectomy and then chemotherapy. She was one of every seven women you meet that will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime. More than 182,000 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer, and 21,000 with ovarian cancer this year alone. Finding a cure for cancer in all it's forms is so important and events like the Revlon Run/Walk for Women is helping bring the world one step closer by helping fund important research.

But none of that research happens without you.

Whatever you're willing to give - a quarter, $5, $25 or more - will go toward financing research, education and prevention programs. Please consider supporting my team of the Revlon Run/Walk for Women by visiting this site and making a donation.

However big or however small, know that your donation will make a difference.

I could rock this, yes?

Her hair is a little longer than mine, but I may try this updo for the Follies:



I tried to do twists at an angle today and just got frustrated and gave up. This seems like it isn't that hard to do though. If I can pull it off -- I may not have to pay to get my hair done. ... Or, I could pay to have my stylist do it so it's extra fresh. We'll see.

It's getting kinda hectic

A few things, randomly:

• I just filed my taxes!
• I filed them so early because I wanted my return, but mostly because I needed to file my FASFA. I would have filed them sooner if I'd gotten all of my documents a little earlier.
  
• I'm scared out of my mind of applying to school.
• Oh yeah, I'm applying to school. There are two really cool Master's programs I'm applying for. One at Yale and another at Georgetown.
  
• I'd planned to apply for the 2010 school year, but the state of the economy and pending layoffs at my job made me want to, at least, apply so I'd be in the position to turn it down if necessary.
• I made this decision on Monday. One of the applications is due Feb. 15.
  
• Three other people in my department have to be laid off before I lose my job. The company wants to lose 500 positions throughout the entire company (across a number of newspapers)
  
• I'll be writing my essay this weekend.
• I'm not so much worried about getting accepted, but rather paying for it all.
  
• I'm debating what I want to do with my return -- pay down my credit card debt, pay some on my credit debt and put the rest into savings, or put it all into savings
• I've knocked off some of my goals for this year, well, at least one. I got to go see Raisin in the Sun yesterday -- for free -- because a friend of mine works at the theatre.
• I'd never seen Raisin in the Sun or read the play.
  
• I've bought "The Little Black and White book of Crosswords" -- it's a collection of NYTimes crosswords of increasing difficulty.
  
• I've yet to do one without looking -- at least once -- at the answers in the back.
  
• Blue Streak is on. Remember that? All I can think of is the Jay Z single with the CGI images of diamonds floating in the air.
• I can't be the only one who remembers that.
• Yes, I'm watching it now.
• I've been doing pretty well with trying new restaurants as well. I went to a sushi restaurant with my friend Brandie (yay, sushi!) in January. I've got my eye on this Mexican restaurant for this month. It'll be that unless something else interesting catches my eye.
• Mmm, I need to do my bible reading. My sister and I are reading the Bible in a year.
  
• I didn't do yesterday's reading, so I really need to catch up.
  
• I think I'll do that now.