On Not Fitting In
Welcome back to the work week, friends.
The fan in my kitchen has multiplied from one to two, meaning I can no longer hear my own thoughts over the sound of wind. No, Mom, it’s nothing like white noise.
And even with two fans blowing, I still managed to set off my fire alarm yesterday. Twice. Word to the wise, do not put your baking mat in the broiler.
To say I’m feeling slightly annoyed today would be an understatement, but I’ll try to hold it together long enough to talk about feeling like the odd one out.
You know, like when you admit to your table of 4th grade peers that you don’t know what Kiss FM is because you and your mom like to listen to “golden oldies” on Kool 105.
Or when you tell someone you don’t and never have liked the show Friends.
Or when you mention going on a 6-mile run before work and your co-workers stare at your like you’ve lost your mind.
Yeah, I guess I’m no stranger to the feeling of not fitting in.
I could be all “rah-rah, I’m unique!” but in all honesty, it can be really hard feeling like I’m the only person my age who cares about eating quality food (most of the time at least) or exercising.
Equally hard, is not coming off like a “food bitch” when someone asks me “should I go to Taco Bell or Wendy’s for dinner?” Neither?
Am I jealous that you’re eating Easy Mac and I brought homemade leftovers? Not really.
What do you mean you haven’t eaten today, it’s 4 PM!
And call it my own insecurity, but I feel slightly out of place when I’m the only one who brings a sack lunch to work.
Where are my fellow lunch packers??
Or when I’m not exactly thrilled to be handed a cup full of chocolate whipped cream and a spoon. Although chocolate whipped cream is kind of genius.
Or when I’m not daydreaming of eating a pretzel hot dog for dinner.
This is the part where I tell you I just wrote this post for an excuse to use my favorite comic ever.
I ❤ the hummus dinosaur.
Just kidding. But in all seriousness, I want to be able to relate to the people I work with, I just don’t know how 😦
How can I be truthful about my lifestyle without coming off as being above everyone who dreams of pretzel hotdogs?
And where can I have these “odd one out” photos framed and displayed in my apartment?
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Do you ever feel like you don’t fit in?
How do you deal with those feelings?
Race Recap: The 2011 Skirt Chaser 5K
Aka “the hardest race I’ve ever run.”
Joey seconds that.
When all is said and done run, I always feel good and am proud of myself for running a race, but I’m not going to lie, at the time, I hated the Skirt Chaser. And I pretty much wanted to die the entire time I was running. It.was.so.freaking.hot. 85 degrees at 3 PM is not ideal race conditions.
Even though it was a month later and a different course, this year was pretty much exactly like last year. It was hot, my mouth was as dry as a bone and 3.1 miles felt like 30.1 miles. Kill me.
**Note: Skirt Chaser 5K: a race in which the ladies get a 3-minute head start on the fellas. The winner has always been a female — fact! <— This year was no different.
And I could feel my lunch in my stomach the whole time.
And not in a good way.
Although it was delicious.
Wraps for the win!
It made me really nervous that there was one start time, and we absolutely couldn’t miss it.
I have issues with being on time for races…
But we made it there with plenty of time to pin bibs, drink some water, and use the “restroom.”
If only you knew how many times I’ve told Joey not to take horizontal pictures.
Seriously?
Don’t let those squinty eyes that smile fool you, I was so nervous for some reason.
Honestly, anxiety is something I’ve struggled with in the past and although it’s never been an issue at a race, I felt like it was for this one. Which makes me nervous for the half marathon next weekend :O Be gone with you, anxiety!
Despite the fact that I felt really nervous and hot, I pushed myself really hard and finished in 25:47!! That’s an 8:18 pace, which is incredible considering I usually run a 10-minute mile. If not longer…
The course was much better than last year (not nearly as hilly!), with a lot of out and backs so I could see how far behind Joey was. He caught up to me at the very end, but let me run through the finish line first. <—- That’s a good boyfriend 🙂
And then he assured me he was running so fast and that it was really hard for him to catch me. Lies = more boyfriend points.
And I managed not to pass out from heat, exhaustion and nerves.
I gladly let Joey drink my free beer.
And got really excited when I passed the Door to Door Organics tent and got a flyer on their CSA program.
Someone’s going to be getting a “bitty” box of organic produce very very soon!
Plus I just really like the word “bitty.”
Proof that I came in first:
Even though we technically had the same time.
Details, details.
All in all, I’m 99.89% sure I don’t ever want to run the Skirt Chaser again.
Unless they move it to 7 AM.
Or get Chipotle to sponsor it like they did last year.
Happy Sunday!
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Did you run any races this weekend?
Have any race horror stories?
Or what fun things were you doing instead of sweating your face off?
Fifteen Facts for Friday
I was going to write a post on feeling like “the odd one out,” but that seems a little heavy for Friday, doesn’t it?
Actually, anything even remotely whiny, complain-y or pessimistic-y (I know that’s not a word, what of it??) is too heavy for Friday.
So let’s do some fun facts instead.
Fact #1: I’m officially obsessed with Twitter.
I may or may not be tweeting as we speak.
Fact #2: I’ve actually had a Twitter account since 2008.
My journalism teacher, Fish (yeah, she went by Fish), was always talking about what she tweeted and it convinced me that I needed to be tweeting too. Until I signed up and had no idea what to do afterwards. I’ve been getting emails saying “So-and-so is now following you on Twitter” for years. And would always feel bad for So-and-so because he/she wasn’t going to be getting any action tweets from me.
Fact #3: Despite what you thought, wagons at the zoo are actually designed to tote expensive Coach purses around.
Fact #4: This fan is the bane of my existence.
Thank goodness I work all day today and don’t have to listen to the noise it’s creating.
Fact #5: Fact #4 was not a complaint.
My blog, my rules.
Fact #6: I love my mom.
Fact #7: The way to my heart is through gifts and alcoholic paraphernalia.
Fact #8: This is what happiness looks like.
Fact #9: I do not advise eating oats in a jar while driving.
Fact #10: I said I’d finish Atlas Shrugged by the end of September.
That means today. I have 169 pages left.
Could I read 169 pages in one day? Probably.
Do I want to? Hell to the no.
Fact #11: I find this a little too funny.
I think we all know which “free service,” they’re talking about.
Fact #12: I kinda sorta like working from 9-5.
I’ve did it yesterday and I’m doing it today. I feel like a real adult. Plus I’m actually home to do stuff at night. Like tweet make dinner.
Fact #13: I have no idea what the difference between these 3 colors is.
Fact #14: I coulda sworn I’d lost my favorite pair of sandals, until I found them in with Joey’s shoes.
I would have been annoyed, except I was just so excited to have my shoes back.
Fact #15: It’s Friday, go enjoy yourselves! 😀
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What are your weekend plans??
Lauren Loves Good Food 