Monthly Archives: June 2007

Big holes are very difficult to dig in North Carolina clay soil, but it pays off. Note the beautiful flowering vines I planted on either side of our hammock/trellis thing.

Wafting on the Eno: Durham folks, if you haven’t done this yet, you are seriously missing out. RiverDave has been doing this for 18 years now. He is 20% guide, 80% prophet. It’s not a tour, it’s a way of life. Check it out!

Random: Crystal really loves this first place poem.

My friend Peg sent these. So funny, I had to reprint them. I like #8.

1. Do not walk behind me, for I may not lead. Do not walk ahead of me, for I may not follow. Do not walk beside me either. Just pretty much leave me the hell alone.
2. The journey of a thousand miles begins with a broken fan belt and leaky tire.
3. It is always darkest before dawn. So if you’re going to steal your neighbor’s newspaper, that’s the time to do it.
4. Don’t be irreplaceable. If you can’t be replaced, you can’t be promoted.
5. Always remember that you’re unique. Just like everyone else.
6. Never test the depth of the water with both feet.
7. If you think nobody cares if you’re alive, try missing a couple of car payments.
8. Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way, when you criticize them, you’re a mile away and you have their shoes.
9. If at first you don’t succeed, skydiving is not for you.
10. Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach him how to fish, and he will sit in a boat and drink beer all day.
11. If you lend someone $20 and never see that person again, it was probably worth it.
12. If you tell the truth, you don’t have to remember anything.
13. Some days you’re the bug; some days you’re the windshield.
14. Everyone seems normal until you get to know them.
15. The quickest way to double your money is to fold it in half and put it back in your pocket.
16. A closed mouth gathers no foot.
17. Duct tape is like ‘The Force’. It has a light side and a dark side, and it binds the universe together.
18. There are two theories to arguing with women. Neither one works.
19. Generally speaking, you aren’t learning much when your lips are moving.
20. Experience is something you don’t get until just after you need it.
21. Never miss a good chance to shut up.
22. Never, under any circumstances, take a sleeping pill and laxative on the same night.

Ran six miles this morning with the gang. Then had a very unexpected, crazy and awesome experience as a chili judge, which Jason describes so well. The hot, hot sun and all that chili left me feeling woozy and very tired. So it was home for a nap and shower, and then I picked up Julia to go to the Durham Rising celebration in downtown. We had such a great time sampling food, checking out all the new businesses, running into all the Durham ‘regulars’, general people-watching, dancing to the Stylistics and watching the light show on the side of the NC Mutual building. There were unbelievable numbers of people out tonight for the festivities. I love the extraordinary diversity of our town and the feeling of love and community I get at events like this.

Great news, everyone: LocoPops has a brand new location at the main downtown square, across from the “Oprah building”.

Lindy Hop class was so fun this evening. All the new moves we’re learning are great, and I’m a big fan of the music. I’m fairly sure I was meant to be a famous dancer, but somehow life got in the way. If I ever have a daughter (or son, for that matter) who wants to dance, I will try to encourage and support her instead of being a barrier.

P.S. – Still racking up those 43 things…

We have not been getting much sleep this week, thanks to Veronica Mars, girl detective. So freakin’ addictive!

Clinton and I did finally switch our alarm clock’s wake-up song from the Ramones’ “Rock ‘n Roll Radio” (we have woken up to the Ramones every day for almost two years!!) to Marvin Gaye’s “It Takes Two”. Hah! It takes two to get out of bed! It’s a much less stressful song, though.

Crystal the rockstar! Biked to work again today. Thank goodness the weather is cool – temperatures in the mid 60s and overcast this morning. After work, Julia, Eric and Buddy the dog came over for pasta and a crazy game of Shadows over Camelot. The Knights of the Round Table were victorious!

Early tomorrow morning I’ll go running in beautiful Duke Forest with the Fartlekers. Our group has (finally) decided on the marathon we’ll run this year: St. Jude Memphis Marathon on December 1.

Tomorrow after running, I’ll head over to Durham Farmer’s Market (the best market in the world – you guessed it!) for an empanada treat. Also, fresh North Carolina blackberries are back in season!

Then at 10:00 AM, I’ll do a walking tour of downtown (leaves from the Farmer’s Market) called “Durham and the Civil Rights Legacy”, before shopping for a new pair of running shoes. I have a punch card at the Athlete’s Foot (Buy 5, get the 6 ^th pair 50% off), and this will be my 6^th pair!

Tomorrow (Saturday) night is “Nightclub ERUUF – Gala 2007″ at our church. Clinton and I have reservations at an Italian restaurant and then it’s off to this black tie affair with jazz music, drinks and dancing!

Happy weekend, everyone!

In great news, I just accepted a new position at FHI. Starting next Monday, June 18^th, I’ll be working in clinical research operations for a major 5-country HIV-prevention study. I’m excited about all the learning opportunities and the chance to work on such an important trial. There will also be a great deal of travel in my future, coming in 2008.

Last weekend

Clinton and I had a great date last Friday night at the Rockfish Grill (cedar plank salmon –oooh, delicious!) and then a really sweet and funny movie called Knocked Up. Silly, but highly recommended.

Last Saturday I went running and then, of course, made a trip to the Durham Farmer’s Market (the best market in the world) for salad supplies (three kinds of lettuce, snap peas, carrots, bell peppers, tomatoes, and cucumbers!). Also had some fresh raspberry mint iced tea and a five cheese empanada.

That afternoon we took Charlie and our gigantic salad to north Raleigh for a Dog Party at the beautiful countryside home of one of Clinton’s co-workers – skylights, huge fireplace, a marble-tiled Jacuzzi room, and access to a beautiful stream. Charlie got a big kick out of the latter. The party’s nine dogs ranged from a tiny and hilarious Boston terrier named Gerry, a mellow Dachshund named Francis and a silvery Weimaraner named Hitch.

Sunday morning we had so much leftover salad that we decided to be “salad fairies” and drop the leafy loot at our sleepy friends’ houses on our way to church. Liz and Remy opened their door while Clinton tried to hang the salad on their doorknob. No better luck at the next place: we actually seemed to have woken Autumn and Jason up.

Last week I started a 6-week Lindy Hop class series at the Triangle Dance Studio with my new friends Rachel, Jen and Mark. The teachers are a little eccentric, but very experienced. We’re learning a lot and enjoying the music. Now if I can just get Clinton to practice with me”¦

Calling all dogs

In dog news: we have not been having too much luck with getting a brother or sister for Charlie. Seems that every (post-Daisy) dog we’ve wanted to adopt so far, including Jeepers and Kipper, gets adopted just when we’re filling out the applications. We realize that’s good for the dogs, of course! Or, they haven’t worked out (including Noodles and Sierra) for other reasons”¦ We’ve decided to work on getting a doggy door installed before we try to adopt again. Temperatures are really extreme in our area and are too hot in the summer for two active, large breed dogs without access to a climate-controlled environment.

Until we get the doggy door (within the next two weeks), if you hear of a cool, adoptable dog, please let us know. We don’t have too many criteria. He or she must be playful and enjoy swimming, weigh 45 lbs or more and be between 1 and 5 years old. We prefer not to adopt good looking dogs like golden retrievers because there are so many other dogs which aren’t as “adoptable”. We’ll enjoy any scruffy-looking mutt who needs a home, regardless of color or breed.

This past weekend

On Friday, Julia and I biked to work and back, despite the humidity and super-high temperatures. This workout was a great end to a stressful week. We celebrated with a beer and veggie burger at Tyler’s Taproom.

The 5K Race for the Cure on Saturday had a record turnout of 22,000 participants and 30,000 spectators! By some strange miracle I found the best parking spot that morning. (This never happens to me!) My pacee Vivian did a great job, and together we finished the race with no troubles – running and happy. I didn’t even mind too much that I missed out on the Durham Farmer’s Market that day.

I convinced Clinton to go on a 24-mile bike ride out in Hillsborough on Sunday with all my running buddies. The course was very hilly but beautiful – rolling countryside and farmland. We gave ourselves “biking names” and also named our bikes. I’m “Narwhal: the Crystal Ice”, and I ride the Gray Hill Destroyer. By the end of the ride, we were extremely hot and sweaty, but happy. Ended the ride with a huge picnic, thanks to my running buddy Pat and her twin daughters. Then enjoyed homemade strawberry ice cream in rocking chairs on the porch at Maple View Farms with Pat’s seven grandchildren!

My coworker Vivian loaned us Season 1 of Veronica Mars, to which Clinton and I are now severely addicted. We watched a total of 13 episodes over the weekend. (Yeah, we know we’re sick.)

Wishing everyone a good week!