AFC 5k

I almost didn't make it to this 5k today. This past week has been an flurry of work activities, going back to home town for jury duty, awesome evening run with high school friend and then on Thursday night, I fell prey to a stomach flu bug. Friday and Saturday was spent void of any normal activity and stranded amongst the couch, bed or by the porcelain god. Not fun to say the least.

Lucky for me, Mother dearest came to the rescue with her collection of herbs (she is a certified acupuncturist/herb doctor). She whipped up a stew of herbal Chinese medicine and made me drink every last drop (blech...if you think they smell bad, it tastes even worse!) starting Friday and ending the last dose on Sat evening. Surprisingly, this morning I woke up feeling pretty darn good (i.e. I can move!) and went on my merry way (thanks Mom!).

Thanks to friend HL, she was able to pick up my bib for me earlier so all I had to do was to pick her up with sister at the un-godly hour of 5:50am and cart all of us to the starting line. Sister had the task of taking pictures of HL and I while we were off running, so she stayed behind once the race started.

The race felt like it was finished before it even began. According to my Garmin, my stats were below:

I wonder what was exactly my official time.

Regardless, I'm pretty proud of myself for finishing this race and now I have a bib to hang up on the wall! As for pictures...Sister failed for both HL and I, she didn't make out either one of us. *sigh*

Though, I think I did manage to guilt trip her and convince to do her first 5k come Nov. *evil grin*

My eyes still sting a little from sweat and sunscreen, and my legs are still buzzing with a post run sore, but I don't think I've felt this content with a run for a while. That and I'm starting to flirt with the idea of a half for Jan. 2012. Man, this runner's high is dangerous.

p.s. Why is it that after EVERY single steep incline on the route today, there were a hoard of photographers? Don't they know I look like CRAP after running up a hill? 0_o I dread the pictures already.......

Sunday afternoon

A wonderful Sunday afternoon spent. Although I wasn't able to go to the one restaurant that I've been hoping to try, everything else along with my company made up for it.

A large portion of my life recently has been filling up holes and scrambling to get by while trying to restore some semblance of order. This weekend couldn't have come fast enough. So though I reek of sunscreen and my skin feels slightly sticky from the sun, I am content; for that I am thankful.

Getting Intouch with The Chef Inside

Potato skins with basil, oregano, pepper and cheese.

Penne Pasta, with apple sausage + mushroom with a dash of mint

It was a night of comfort food. YUM.
I totally should cook more often

Perfect Evening

At the risk of jinxing this perfect evening, I will announce to the world that I finally have a moment of rest and peace. Though my moving is not completely done, I am glad to say that I finished most of the move (with the assistance of the parental units) and now I am comfortably sitting at my NEW desk (former dinning table) in my NEW room contemplating how life is treating me recently.

For dinner, I had guava juice with 1 slice of CPK pizza with a bit of chicken and was able to sit down to watch TV--this my friends, was simply heaven. To be able to eat at a time that is regular, to not have to think on a schedule term and what other duties I have to do afterwards was awesome.

It is quite a weird feeling. I have been constantly stressed to the limit recently and yet at this moment of peace and relaxation, I can only feel how grateful I am to be here and be able to do the things I am doing. My battle uphill is far from over...in fact it has only started. But for now, I will be grateful for this rest and make the best of it for soon I, like Sisyphus will have to face reality again and continue our job.

I guess faced with the daily stress that I have, it is really the simple pleasures that make my day.

Simply Content

It is amazing the things one discovers at 3 am in the morning.

Currently accompanying me whilst I write my 15 page self reflection paper:

Current Crush's picture

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Zelda - my baby ipod

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Happy Allie <3