10.5

Pants, Tank, Sweater: Express
Shoes: Mudd (forget which store)
Necklace: Lia Sophia

I haven't worn pants in awhile so I decided to wear some. I thought they were too short when walking. I'd see my reflection. I picked the best pictures above so you couldn't really tell but I just don't like the pant leg hover that you can see in the far left picture.

I went into work on my telecommuting day for a specific meeting. I get to work and get word that I have to cancel it.  How sad. I could have been at home.  I had a lot of other stuff going on so it was good to be at work but still.  I had an extremely busy day even with a 90 minute meeting being cancelled so you would think I would have had tons of extra time.

At work, I burnt my thumb from a chafer when I was getting food.
I got home and had dinner with Dave.  He was upset that I had been ditching him all week for dinner and in the evenings.   I even skipped a workout.  I watched TV with him.  I ate the rest of my birthday cake too.  Dave went to sleep and I decided to watch 1 TV show with him.  I decided to watch Private Practice since I only had one episode of that.  I was going to watch 90210 but there were 2 and I didn't know if I wanted to stay up that late.  Well after Private Practice I watched both episodes of 90210 too. It was getting late but then I was still wide awake.  So then I watched both episodes of Gossip Girl too. It was 1:30 by this time. Then I read twitter on my phone when I got to bed because I still wasn't tired enough.  It only took 1 day for me to watch almost all my TV shows that I watch without Dave.

A Day's Worth of Twitter

01:15:59 PM - Every time I mow I think I need spikes (shoes with spikes) and each time I never get them. Today I skidded a good 2 ft downhill.
01:55:26 PM - Dave looks at my training plan and asks why I wrote rest beside lots of days where I was supposed to run lots of miles (I wore what I did.)
10:17:06 PM - I wish I knew where my wrap thing was so I could use it on my ankle.

You can find me as @smilincolleen on Twitter.

10.4 - Work, Run, Bar

Skirt: F21
Shirt: Express
Cardigan: Express
Shoes: Gabriella Rocha Dancy via Zappos
Necklace: Target

I ordered these shoes online. It was scary to decide what to order. They do let you return for free but I hate returning anything so I was debating what shoes I wanted for so long that the other choices ended up selling out of my size.  Pink worked well with wearing pink all month for Breast Cancer Awareness.     Next I need to replace my purple shoes, replacement black shoes, and some other bright color shoes.  I've wanted pink or a colored dress shoe for over a year so it takes me awhile to decide.

Is this skirt sapphire or is it cobalt blue or something else?

I was debating keeping these. I don't return things. The shoes have a leather smell.  I thought that might go away if they aren't in the box.  I wore them all day and think they still had a slight smell to them.  After the day was over I did notice a black scuff mark on the one shoe and some of the leather scuffed/scraped off right near the sole on the inside of the one shoe.  I hope they don't get worse after time too. For $75 they should last me awhile. I don't spend this much on shoes so I hope they last.

Immediately after work I met Jen for a run.  Then loaded my numbers and iced my knee. Poly hung out with me while I was doing this.  I showered then was out the door.  I met some friends at a bar.  Dave didn't want me to leave.  He tried to build up a wall between the bathroom that I was in and the rest of the house so that I couldn't get out.  I didn't let that stop me.

We went to the Bamboo Lounge (or Bamboo Bar) behind North Park Lounge.  I had never been there. I was going to leave at 10 but ended up staying until about 10:45.  What got me to remember to leave was when someone started smoking in the bar. Apparently this bar is one of the very few in the state that you can smoke at. I don't like being around smoke.

By the time I got home, Dave was already asleep. Poly joined me though.  She was exploring on the counter/sink.

My 2nd outfit of the day didn't have pink but I was only wearing it a couple hours.

A Day's Worth of Twitter

09:04:25 AM - about to go for a run. not sure how long I'll last because my ankle is bothering me from when I rolled it yesterday.
01:23:45 PM - i lost my little headband today during my run. It was in the last couple miles too.
01:56:30 PM - all my muscles are stiff but it all makes me happy. I completed my 16 mile run. and beat my goal time.
09:56:28 PM - Scrap and Run: 16 miles! (10.8.11) http://t.co/dNsroXy2 I got my confidence back

You can find me as @smilincolleen on Twitter.

16 miles! (10.8.11)

I ran 16 miles today. Well if you count my cooldown walk it was 16.17 miles.  I used my water belt for the first time.  I ran for 20 minutes and then did a run/walk with a 4:1 ratio until 15.5 miles and then ran the rest of it. While running, some passenger in a car took a photo of me using his phone.

I ran 5 miles and then swapped directions.  Less than a mile into the other direction, my knee started hurting. It got worse. I decided to go for 3 miles total and turn around. As soon as I turned around, my knee felt a lot better.  I ran 3 miles back to the start then continued and ran the 5 mile loop going the way that I started.

This is my 2nd longest run ever but my longest run that wasn't a race. The longest run:walk that I did. The most I swapped directions. The first time I ran with my water belt. The third time I ran and ate gummies along the way.

A Day's Worth of Twitter

10:34:17 PM - Friday=in bed already.

You can find me as @smilincolleen on Twitter.

10.3 - Pink

The purple shoes made another appearance.  You would think they were comfortable or something.
Skirt: F21 (M $9.50)
Shirt: F21 (M $13.80)
Shoes: Macy's (Size 9. huge. Normally I wear a 9.5 or 10)
Necklace: Lia Sophia

I felt awesome in this outfit. It is also like pajamas.  The skirt length was also good.  My legs barely look like I have pantyhose on but I do.  I have been wearing a lot of brights lately. I feel like nobody that I see at work wears them.

If you want to join in click on the button below to go to Melissa's blog and sign up to participate too. You don't have to do it everyday the entire month.  At first I said I'd do it for about a week. Then Melissa tried to talk me into longer. So I said I'd do it 95% of the time. I figured I'd have some day or something that I had to wear something else. 

My pink shoes finally arrived. My first zappos order! I ordered a size 10 because all the reviews said they run 1 size small. I didn't believe it was an entire size but I figured that I wear a 9.5 9 times out of 10 and I wear a 10 the other time so I ordered a 10.  They are a tiny bit big. The straps help though.  I figured if my feet swell during the day with all my walking then they'd still be good so I didn't send them back.  They have a new leather smell though. I should air them out outside.   I had another style I was looking at getting. I had 3 colors in mind. All the colors were out of my size so then I went with only these.  Maybe next time I'll get new purple shoes or teal shoes.

After work, I went to dinner with a few people that were in town for a training.  So it was the second night in a row I didn't have dinner with Dave.  He was invited both times though. 

I had more cake. Still good. Wishing I had even more left.  I only took 2 pictures of Poly. 

I skipped a workout and watched TV. It gets dark too early. 

A Day's Worth of Twitter

12:37:58 AM - I keep watching TV. Eep. It is late.
01:32:57 AM - I stayed up too late. Watched private practice, 90210 x2, gossip girl x2 and not tired.
01:14:02 PM - @wrkngmomscloset I'm only 6 days in and already feeling stressed about what pink to wear.

You can find me as @smilincolleen on Twitter.

October Workout Goals - Partial Week

Since I like my weeks to go from Monday to Sunday, I have a partial week here at the beginning with Saturday and Sunday.  Here's my progress.

1. Perform yoga 2 times. (once every other week)
1. 0 times
2. Attend Body Pump 5 times. 
1. 0 times
3. Lift weights 2 times on my own.
1. 0 times
4. Complete 16 cardio workouts (running, classes at the gym, exercise bike, or elliptical)
1. 10/2 run
2. AHA walk (shouldn't count but I'll document it here and hope for 17 total at the end)
5. Do 10 ab workouts (chiseled core, P90x core ab ripperx, Body Pump, or on my own)
1. 10/2 - 5 minutes of abs on my own
6. Quantity: Run 12 times. (that is 2-3 times a week)  - Stretch goal is to run 15 times. 
1. 10/2
7. Distance: Run 87 total miles (18 mi, 20 mi, 22 mi, 25 mi, 2 mi - 2 mile because it is 4 weeks and then couple days) (My previous best in 1 month was 75 miles in March 2011) - stretch goal: I would love to have 100 miles (22, 24, 26, 28) just to have hit 100 in a month would feel like a great accomplishment
1. 11.5 miles (10/2)

Well the progress isn't looking too good but that is only for 2 days worth.

10.2

Sweater: NY&Co
Jeans: Express
Shoes: Famous Footwear
Necklace: Charlotte Russe

I didn't get dressed until I went out to dinner.

For Breast Cancer Awareness, I wore my pink necklace when I got dressed for real.  I wore my pink striped athletic capris when I ran.

I woke up and did some stuff on the computer. I wanted to run but it was too rainy and the weather said in a few hours it would stop raining.  The weather lied. I ate cake for breakfast. Then I went out for a run. I drove to North Park and left then went to the gym and ran on the treadmill. This was all during the Steeler game. I did an ab workout while I was there too.  Then I got home, typed a tiny bit of data, showered, and headed to dinner to meet Felix. He's down from Windsor, CT for work. Dave could go with us but he didn't want to. (Then he claims I ditch him for meals)

Then after I got home, I had more cake, and watched TV.

Actually running didn't take up too much time but getting dressed for an outside cold run then driving somewhere then driving somewhere else then driving home made it out like the run basically took all day. I need to mentally prepare myself for not doing morning runs and running in the warmest part of the day coming up.

A Day's Worth of Twitter

12:10:14 AM - I keep thinking twitter to my blog is broken then I realize I forget to tweet so I have no tweets for it to summarize.
04:29:38 PM - I burnt my finger a half hour ago. It still hurts.
07:05:50 PM - I moved 3 car lengths in 9 minutes
09:53:16 PM - http://t.co/qhsllwhp
10:20:24 PM - Multiple people have called my pink shirt purple. I hope it is really pink. Same shirt as October 1 http://t.co/aSAPqZ49

You can find me as @smilincolleen on Twitter.

Run 10.4.11 - 4.58 mi

I went running after work with Jen. I really didn't feel like running.  I have been so busy that I thought I could use the time for other things.  I did want to get a run in though.  After we got there, I learned Jen didn't feel like running either. Good thing we were meeting.  I felt good to complete the run though.  We ran intervals the entire time. Well intervals of run:walk.  We ran long at the end to hit 4.5 miles then we walked slowly the last little bit to lower our heart rates.

The first time we ran walk, we ran 10 minutes straight first.  The second time we ran 18 minutes straight first.  This time we did the run walk the entire time. Our times were awfully similar and best and worst splits were awfully similar. 

Running this time was more difficult was because all the leaves were very slippery.

I need to run with people more often. Analyzing data is so fun.

Our first and last walks were the slowest.

For convenience look at the stats from the last 2 times.  Compare mile 1.  This time we walked 2 entire minutes the first mile and our time was only 4 seconds slower than last time.  All of this amazes me.

The only time I can count on Poly wanting to sit on my lap no matter what is after a run. I'm all sweaty and gross and I sit down at my computer to load my Garmin data before a shower and then she is there cuddling with me.  Most other times of the day I have to beg her to hang out with me.  I try to hold her and she pulls away. She just wants Dave to hold her. He holds her and she rubs her face against his. I hold her and she pushes off with her feet trying to get away.

9.24 - Quick Eating

I took my camera and tripod with me but then didn't end up taking pictures. It was dark when I got home so indoor pictures it was.  Dave took these for me too.

Jacket: NY&Co.
Shirt: F21
Jeans: Express
Shoes: Famous Footwear
Necklace: Lia Sophipa
Earrings: Target

I woke up and had many things to do. Before I knew it, it was late.

I went and got my drivers license picture.  That took awhile. The last Saturday of the month is too busy.  Then I went to the South Side to pick up my race packet. Then it was to the Haufbrahaus to meet my parents.  I got the Hot Brown. I love it. It doesn't seem like something I'd like.  It's a potato pancake with turkey, ham, melted cheese, and bacon on top.  I was the first one done.  This has only happened one other time before. I did remember from past experience if you eat too slow the cheese solidifies and it isn't nearly as good.

After we ate, I went to go do some shopping at South Side Works. I went into H&M and saw the line was 30 people so I just walked out and left.  I went to the mall on the way home. I got tons of good deals.

I made probably 30 wrong turns trying to get to the South Side. I only made 1 wrong turn while leaving.

After 3 hours or so at the mall, I headed to Wendy's because Dave wanted food.  His grilled chicken took over 30 minutes. It was not a fun Wendy's trip.  After I got home, we watched TV and ate.  Then I had to get ready for my race.  My nervousness didn't start until late because I was so busy all day.  I hate how races get me so nervous. I don't know why. Well I guess I half know why. I have certain goal times and everyone says you will do better at races than at training runs so then I really want to meet my goal times but I know from experience I don't and then I get all stressed about it and wonder if I will meet them this time. Also driving to races and arriving early enough is stressful too.

9.23

Cardigan: Kohl's
Dress: Athleta
Shoes: Macy's
Necklace: Charlotte Russe

This dress shrunk 1-2 inches the first time I washed it.  I wish it was a little longer.

Dave and I went to Panera for lunch. I got soup and a bagel.

I had ice cream as a snack after dinner. Before bed I realized the lid was on the counter. Well when throwing it away, I made a big mess. Some of the frost in the lid melted. It went all over the place.

I finally did some stuff with getting my files back that were on my computer before I reimaged it. Not everything went as smoothly as planned.

9.22

Shirt and Cardigan: NY&Co
Skirt: Express
Shoes: Mudd (but forget which store.)
Necklace: Sears
Belt: Target

The belt is pink. The shirt is purple.  The necklace is both pink and purple. The colors don't look the best in the photo but I swear they really did seem like they went.  I've only had this shirt a few weeks but I'm not thinking I like it as much as I did when I bought it.

Dave was still sick.  I was bored with just trying to figure out what to eat for one person so I picked up Siba on the way home.  I got lasagna. It wasn't as good as eating it there.   I watched TV all evening.  Most of the shows are starting back up and I finally had a lot of TV to watch. Since I haven't had a lot lately, I felt like watching a few hours straight was a good move.

9.29 - 2 birds, 1 stone

Shoes: Nine West from Famous Footwear (Size 10)
Skirt: The Limited
Cardigan: The Limited
Shirt: Express
Necklace: Lia Sophia

I was going to swap out the belt for a different one but figured the first time I wore it, I would wear the belt that came with it as a baseline.  Next time I'll wear the skirt with a different shirt and vice versa. I'll get more creative.

Dave and I went to a Hibachi Steakhouse for dinner then I went back to work.

I worked for a bit and then went to the gym.  I had more work to do but needed to workout.  I didn't want to miss a workout but also had work that had to get done.  Instead of running 8 miles, I did a few things.  I started by running for 15 minutes. Then I used the elliptical for 60 minutes while reading RCAs for work.  It is hard to read for that long and workout but I did it. I went slower than normal to be able to read the entire time.  Then I went and ran some more. I wanted to run 8 so I tried to do a total of 8 with running and elliptical.  I did a little more in 90 minutes.  I killed 2 birds with one stone getting a workout in and also getting the stuff read for work.  I didn't get to run as much as I wanted but it was a start.  I would have ran outside a little first before the elliptical but it was just a couple minutes before dark when I left work to head to change my clothes so I didn't want to runin the dark for it all.

I didn't get home until after 9.  It was quite a long and exhausting day.

A Day's Worth of Twitter

12:02:05 AM - Oh boy I'm at least 2 weeks behind where I want to be with my running. Well more but 2 weeks behind where I've been in the past.
10:59:23 PM - I am only 4 days behind on blogging... go me. I skipped my workout today... not go me.
11:50:07 PM - Poly probably feels neglected. I only took TWO pictures of her today!

You can find me as @smilincolleen on Twitter.

10.1 - Breast Cancer Awareness

Sweater and Jeans: Express
Shoes: Famous Footwear
Necklace (shown below): Lia Sophia

It was cold outside in the rain. Apparently cold = ribs poke out in pictures

So I haven't mentioned it here but I'm wearing pink throughout the month of October for Breast Cancer Awareness. I didn't think I had much pink but with jewelry though I could make it work, then I bought a bunch of new pink stuff without realizing it so I should be able to make it through the entire month. (Note I'm a little behind on blogging so some outfits won't have pink because they are from September.) Are you doing anything for breast cancer awareness or to support breast cancer research?  Last year I did a 5k walk for breast cancer awareness but this year since I did the American Heart Association Walk, I did not decide to do both. It is hard enough to fund-raise for 1 thing at a time. Two would be impossible. You can still donate to me for the AHA walk. Right now Dave raised more than me... I need to beat him. 

If you want to join in click on the button below to go to Melissa's blog and sign up to participate too. You don't have to do it everyday the entire month.

I have been having a ton of trouble with my remote lately so outfit photos are taking 2 minutes instead of 1. It is rather annoying. They might even be taking 3 minutes before I give up and use the timer on my camera. The bad part with that is that I don't have a focus when I use that.

In the morning, we did the American Heart Association Walk.  I wore my red coat for that (my pink sweater is underneath but you could see the sleeves exposed).

It was such awful weather for it. It was 40 degrees and raining.

Dave and I went to Target after to buy a new remote battery. I learned that wasn't the problem later though :(  Then we went to Loafer's. We had never been there before.  They had sandwiches and soup plus different fresh breads.  They should have had a peer checker look at the signs they had on the walls by all the times.

After that my parents came over to celebrate my birthday. My mom made me the cake I requested. She was worried the first one didn't turn out right so she made me a second one too.  Man was it good.

Poly got confused and thought she was in her one red bag but she was only under it.  Later she was in her 2nd red bag.

We hung out a little while then went to dinner. We went to Atria's.

While my mom was over, I made her look at my 2 new skirts and tell me some stuff that matched it. She didn't come upstairs but I brought a few options down and she helped me. I took pictures of the combinations so I didn't forget.  Then 10 minutes later I couldn't remember what she said so I referred to the pictures.  At least my memory is good enough to know that I forget everything.   I have a lot more clothes that I didn't bring down but I'll probably give these outfits a try first. (Except maybe the bottom right one because I don't really like how the color of that shirt looks on me. It just feels too blah and similar to my skin color.

Poly wanted to sit in the blue bag on the floor. It was full of Propels so she stood there and gave a little cry. I took all the Propel out and she jumped right in the bag.  She got comfortable and slept there for hours.

Poly hung out with us all then hung out with me later.

9.21 - Telecommuting

I telecommuted and thus never got dressed. I didn't get any pictures of me.  I had water multiple times and Poly got her paws in it each time. One time I got new and within seconds she was on my desk sticking her paws in it.

Dave was still sick so I didn't do anything fancy with food. I was getting pretty bored with what I had been eating. The tuna on toast was good.

After work I ran and then went to body pump. I didn't get to eat dinner until after 8 PM.  I wish it didn't take almost 20 minutes to drive to Steph's gym.

9.17

Jeans & Sweater: Express
Shoes: Famous Footwear
Belt: American Eagle Outfitters
Necklace: Lia Sophia

My computer was giving me all kinds of trouble. I wanted Dave's help but he didn't want to sit with me so I shared my desktop via skype but he couldn't hear me. I didn't have a microphone so he let me borrow his headphones.  I looked pretty nerdy.

I didn't do much. I went to body pump at 9am. I ran later in the day.  I mowed even later in the day.

A Day's Worth of Twitter

12:45:15 AM - I was debating running a 10k tomorrow but I don't want to run a race when the real feel is 35 degrees on October 2. October should be warmer
12:56:58 AM - I've wanted to go into bed for over an hour but Poly is too cute on my arm/desk that I don't want to disturb her. Sigh.
09:30:28 AM - There are no 3 hour gaps without rain today. I guess I'll have to run in a cold rain. Sigh.
11:08:08 AM - Breakfast was going to be cereal. But decided to eat cake instead http://t.co/h3KqQpnb
11:48:22 AM - I forget what I'm supposed to wear for a 35 degree run.
01:45:57 PM - 5/32 done with my run. Not good progress.
02:30:20 PM - Oh man. These steelers.
04:01:44 PM - Well that workout is ending only 23/32 complete. Ugh. Knee pain.
09:06:45 PM - Meal 1 today: cake, meal 2: steak meal from outback, meal 3: cake. I'm healthy

You can find me as @smilincolleen on Twitter.

Run 10.2.11

Today I had good intentions to run 16 miles. I kept checking the weather to try to find a window that there was a break without rain. I also checked the weather to find time that it felt a little warmer than 33 degrees.

I got all bundled up after figuring that I wouldn't find a time without rain. I couldn't find my headband so I just wore my hat. I drove all the way to North Park. I drove past my normal parking lot to one further just to see who all was there running.  They all looked hardcore. By all I just mean all 3 that I saw.  I thought I'm not hardcore enough to run in weather like this like these other guys.  I just thought how I'd end up all sick. It was still raining. It was 42 degrees and felt like 39.  I had on my water proof jacket but the rest of me would have gotten soaked.  I was just full of excuses. I sat there in the parking lot for 5 minutes. I texted a few people telling them how I wasn't hardcore enough to run. I was hoping one of them texted me back telling me to run and then I would have probably done it. Nobody did. I did only allot everyone 5 minutes or less. In my texts I mentioned how leaving would make for the worst blog post ever.  Lack of run = lack of post = sad times.

Then I drove to the gym and decided to run on a treadmill. I can never run far on a treadmill. I get too bored. I take breaks. I just can't handle them. I think my previous longest treadmill run was 4.5 miles.    I got to the gym and changed my clothes. I needed to get out of my 40 degree clothes and put on shots and a tank top.

I decided to do run/walk method and hoping that having to hit buttons every so often would break up the run and make me able to last longer than 4.5 miles.  I also watched the Steeler game.   I started slow on the runs... slower than I run outside when I run 5 miles straight through without run walk.

I ran .5 miles straight through, stretched, then did the run walk swapping.  I tried to always keep walking to 1 minute. A few times I was texting and missed the 1 minute mark so I did it for 2.  Once I was stopped on a break and thought I would just walk. I was writing some notes in my book.   I ran 2, 3, or 4 minutes at a time but mostly 3.   It was really hard starting around 6 miles. I couldn't believe I lasted that long on a treadmill though. My goal was 16 miles. I still had an eternity left.

My knee started hurting around mile 10.  It got bad at 11. Starting to run after a walking segment was rough.  I just walked it slowly until I got to a nice round number.

I ran at 6.6, 6.2 and 6.0 mph. The first half I was mainly on 6.6 and the second half mainly on 6.2 mph.  I walked on 4.0 mph until mile 8 then started going at 3.5 mph for my walking wondering if that would help me on my run.  It did not but I just kept walking at 3.5.

Mile 7 is my slowest mile and that's the mile that I walked for 4 minutes straight.

Therefore I did 23/32 of my run today. Sigh.  But that is still better than 0. It is over 70% complete which is better than last week.

After my run, I did some stretching and some exercises with the foam roller. Then I did a 5 minute ab workout. My knee is still bothering me. I should have iced it.  It is the same type of thing that happened in March. That got better with PT and taking it easy. But I will try the PT type stuff on my own without taking it easy.  Maybe I'll have to retire from running in 2 months.

9.15

Cardigan: NY&Co
Shirt: Ann Taylor Outlet
Pants: VS
Necklace: Charlotte Russe

I had numerous things for dinner. Included in that dinner was 2 pieces of pumpkin pie.

It it getting light later and later and I'm not liking it for my daily pictures.

9.28

I telecommuted.  I was extra busy. My phone rang nonstop. I even ran upstairs while answering a phone 3 times while I tried to eat lunch. I think I actually ate for all of 3 minutes.  I had numerous back to back meetings.  At 4pm I was going to go running to get an 8 mile run in. Instead I ate the rest of my lunch and worked. I finally went running around 5.  Then it was off to Body Pump.  Then Wendy's. Then home to watch TV.  My excitement of the day was ordering pink shoes from Zappos.com.  I can't wait until they come in.

A Day's Worth of Twitter

08:00:51 AM - I went to sleep using my blue afghan and woke up using it and the cream afghan. I apparently stole it from Dave in the night.
09:21:40 AM - Everyone is in hoodies and I am in my winter coat.
03:37:53 PM - I'm full from eating so much cake :)
11:24:33 PM - I'm only 5 days behind on blogging. I can't remember the last time I was this caught up.

You can find me as @smilincolleen on Twitter.

9.30 - Happy Birthday to Me

Cardigan and Skirt: Express
Shirt: Limited
Shoes: Nine West from Famous Footwear
Earrings: Target

Happy Birthday to me.

My birthday fell on a 9/80 day off. Boy was I excited.  Well then it turned out I had to go into work for a 4 hour meeting.  Not so bad. I figured I could leave at lunch.  My meeting in the morning went pretty well.

This morning I got a birthday card.  Then later that same person bought me a brownie.  They were from the same person.  It was extra special because she's not even a good friend. She is just a coworker. It makes me happy.  I actually wanted to take her out to lunch based on how hard she is working but she was MIA when I went to eat lunch. So I ate alone in my cube.  Since I'm never at work on the same Friday as Jen, I forgot she was around. She had other plans anyway.

Then I had additional work to do.
Then I ended up at work later than 95% of the people  Then after 11 hours, it got better.
Two friends offered to go out to dinner with me since I said Dave was full from lunch so no birthday dinner for me.  I picked Olive Garden.  There was a wait.   Nick said I had to eat 3 bowls of pasta.... so I did.  I actually got 4 because the waiter messed up one so I ate half the wrong one.  Nick coordinated them to bring me a cake. He was tricky. I even had a bowl after that.  The waiter laughed when I asked for my 4th bowl.  I guess I ate more than he or anyone thought.  I wasn't even full when I quit eating. I was just taking so long. I was done eating a good 20 minutes after everyone else.  I just quit so that I didn't make everyone else wait.

At dinner, Dave made me open my birthday present.  He got me a new camera.  How exciting.  He made claims of not getting me anything since I spent so much at the mall less than a week ago.

After dinner, Dave and I watched The X Factor.

I worked 53 hours so far this week. I still have more work to do. I didn't get done what my manager asked for yet. I have to do that this weekend.  My work week should have been 36 hours!