Presents!

I feel terrible that I have taken two days off from running in a row. Normally, I try not to let this sort of thing happen, but it seemed like my body was sending warning signals my way. Hopefully, my sedentary behavior will pay off tomorrow with a pain-free arch during my morning run.

I got packages today, which always makes me super-happy. First, when I got home from my last linguistics class of the semester, I had a big box waiting outside the apartment door. It was my Christmas present from Ashley:

It's a doormat made to look like the finish line of a race. (A race on astro-turf, apparently.) This present means a lot to me because Ashley doesn't approve of running at all, ever, in any circumstances. Generally, when I discuss running with her, she reminds me that marathoners poop on themselves. So thanks, Ashley, for approving of my hobby enough to send me a related Christmas present! I didn't put it outside the apartment for fear of someone ganking it, but now, it's sitting right inside the door where we keep our running shoes! Perfect!

I went to the UPS center at 4:30 to pick up my second package. First, though, I had to wait in line while a couple brought in 67 identically-wrapped boxes of peanut brittle. Oh, the holidays. Anyway, this package was my pair of YakTrax to review, though our snow and ice is MIA at the moment. I'm still pretty amazed that anyone at all values my opinion and judgment since I obviously live in la-la land and fake-world (=grad school). In lieu of going for a run in these babies to try them out, I took pictures:

The package looks like a book.

I noted the French. It says "orteils", which means "toes".

I didn't have my shoes handy, so I pretended to be
Hannibal Lecter à la Silence of the Lambs instead.

They also sent free socks. The pink ones are for post-running relaxation. Yay!

Also, I studied for the Old French exam tonight with Dan and Rebecca and adequately frightened myself for Friday's inevitable brain massacre. Oh, goodness. Fortunately, Dan made tater tots, which made everything (even insane 12th century French poetry involving bird lime and molted birds of prey) much better.

Okay, I'm going to go to bed. Last day of class tomorrow, hurray!