Wow. In the last eight weeks, I've run a total of 74 miles. (I love spreadsheets!) That's about 9.25 miles a week. It's also probably about 9.2 miles a week more than my average for the preceding five years. Today was awful, though. I ran the full Peachtree distance of 6.3 miles for the first time. It was warm, and very humid, and my pace was over 8 minute miles for the first time in four weeks - way over. There is nothing pleasant about running (yet) — the pleasant part is having run. And let me tell you, that feels darn good!

In other news, if you're a friend of mine and wondering whether I've dropped off the face of the earth, I apologize. I have been out of contact with just about everyone I should have been writing, calling, and spending time with. I promise to start chasing you down in the next couple of weeks, okay?

On Wednesday night, my friend Meredith gave me a book called The Doomsday Book by Connie Willis. Unfortunately, it was very good. I say unfortunately, because of the 16 hours of sleep I should have got between Wednesday and Thursday nights, 7 of them were stolen staying up reading.

The funny thing is, you don't even fully enjoy a book when it's two in the morning and you're exhausted. Maybe next year I'll work on my reading addiction. I've got other things to think about right now! Nevertheless, the book was excellent. Very sad, but the kind of story that sticks in your mind and causes you to come back and dwell on it later. Highly recommended. Science Fiction your mom would like — at least I'm pretty sure mine would. (hi mom!)

Tonight Meredith came over to hang out. She'd just got done with a conference at Grace Ministries, and was totally stoked about God. Very sweet. I'm starting to get my own stoke on again, which is cool — keep it coming, Lord!

Gotta go running sometime tomorrow. I've been putting it off. I ran last on Tuesday, and before that it was a whole week. The weather hasn't exactly been helpful — varying between overcast, drizzly, or pouring with only occasional gaps of sunshine — for the last month or so now.

Last night, I got home from work, changed, drove to the park, ran 5.4 miles (3 times around the park), raced home, showered, hopped on my bike, and rode to Piedmont Park to meet friends for 2001: A Space Oddysey at Screen on the Green

Unfortunately, it was a "school night" so by the time we'd waited for darkness, and watched a couple of previews, a couple of ads and a Daffy Duck cartoon, there was no way I was going to make it all the way through and still get to bed on time after biking home. I left just before HAL started going nuts.

I have to say, the first time I saw the movie, I felt like every scene was interminably boring. But this time, I just lay back and watched the story unfold on the big screen, enjoying the choreography and artistry. I thought it was absolutely stunning, and I was sorry I couldn't stay through the end.

Well, that's all for now — nothing too personal, but I wanted to start getting in the habit of updating my blog again!