Saturday, April 12, 2014

6 Random Things To Bore You

1. The weirdest thing happened to me in the middle of the night. I wonder if this has happened to you before.

Out of nowhere, my calf seized up. Like the worst charley horse you have ever had in your life. I immediately started writhing around moaning and sweating. I was glad I wasn’t on a first date. Then, just like that, it subsided. The next morning I was sore. What the hell? (btw, did you know that the phrase charley horse originated from a horse named charley who got leg cramps? True story. This is not to be confused with charley horsing. Two very different things).

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Re-enactment (or I am constipated)

2. Last night the kids wanted to order pizza. I am sick of pizza, at least of the cheese variety, which is what everyone around here wants. So, I went out on a limb and ordered this bad boy. This is my newest favorite from Blackjack. You’ve got to try it (cracker crust is the best IMHO).

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3. I am a library geek. I love the library. I love everything about it (except that one time I borrowed a book that had tons of dry boogers in the pages – WTF people? I thought readers were above that). I will never live down the fact that I know my library card number by heart. I would give it to you, but then I would have to kill you.

Anyway, I always want to put really popular books on hold and there is always a long wait. So, I decided the way to get around that was to reserve the large print editions because not as many people want them (genius!). I don’t mind reading large print. In fact, then I don’t have to wear these.

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I have been wanting to read Goldfinch for forever. I reserved it in large print because otherwise I would have to wait in line behind 100 people. It came in and I went to get it. This is the hugest book I have ever seen. Reading this book will help me to multi-task reading and strength training. (Did I tell you it’s 1,296 pages?)

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4. Yesterday was 80 degrees and I rode in my shorts and short sleeves. Tomorrow this happens. Spring can be a dick.

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5.  I took a ride today – a loop from Longmont down to Boulder and back. There were 5 million other cyclists out. At a few points I got passed, once by a peloton, once by two women. I know it’s stupid, but I hate that people can’t just say a casual hello as they blow past you. I mean it’s not as if we have to have a long conversation about our poop cycles, charley horses or Santa Fe pizzas, but we are all human beings out there – why pretend someone is invisible?

6. Sometimes when I’m eating lunch I watch The Doctors because that is all that is on. The other day they were talking about the book, The Doctor’s Diet. I am not a fan of diets whatsoever because I think they don’t work (just eat well and move is my philosophy). But, I did like this one recipe for Anytime Vegetable Soup. It’s called “anytime” because it has so few calories you can just eat however much you want anytime. I LOVE vegetable soup – it always feels healthy to me and calms my stomach, so was happy to find a recipe for one that is so very simple:

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That’s all I’ve got for today.

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Are you charley-horse prone? Nope. This was my first.

Favorite pizza? I told you. For some reason I am a HUGE fan of green chilis on my pizza.

Best book you’ve read this month? I am reading a book called Probation that I really like. I would start Goldfinch but I can’t pick it up because I am too weak.

SUAR

58 comments:

  1. My mom taught me if you squeeze the dent under your nose as hard as you can at the first sign of a charley horse, it is accupressure and can greatly shorten the length/intensity of a CH. It seems to work.

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    1. Woah, really?? Going to try. If nothing else maybe it will take my mind off of the CH.

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    2. The hardest part is training yourself to do it, as opposed to writhing in pain when one hits.

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  2. I read The Goldfinch. I read it on my Kindle though so no strength workout. I will reserve comments until you are done. I just read The Husband's Secret, and The Secret Keeper. Not because of loving secrets.
    I like goat cheese, sundried tomato snd pesto pizza.
    I have gotten charley horses before, but not recently.

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    1. I read Husband's Secret. Just okay I thought.

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    2. I liked What Alice Forgot much better.

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    3. I still need to read that one.

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    4. I think "Husband's Secret" sounds very implausible. All married people know that husbands don't have any secrets. The husbands that think they do either haven't been married long or haven't pissed off their wife yet.

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  3. Charley Horse - I am an expert. I thought I had some freak diet deficiency. I was getting the knock down drag out sore muscle for a day charley horses AT LEAST TWICE A WEEK. My husband was on the edge of telling me to get my own bedroom. I pretty much wanted to die, bought stock in bananas and potatoes, was taking magnesium plus homeopathic charley horse remedies, was always super hydrated and found out they were caused by varicose veins. I got my veins lasered (said in Dr. Evil voice, "the laser, mini me") and no more charley horses. I got nothing on the pizza. I just read Midnight Riot which is written by a guy who has also written Dr. Who episodes. If British wizard constables are your thing it's awesome.

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  4. I get nighttime charley horses when I stretch my feet/legs in my sleep. When it comes on, it feels like all the air is getting squeezed out of my muscles and makes me scream. I have learned to try and relax my breathing and gently flex my feet when I feel it coming on. They make me sore for DAYS when it happens. Pretty much sucks. I haven't had one in a while though because our dog now likes to sleep on my legs and keeps me from stretching in my sleep.

    Favorite pizza - Margherita

    Too busy and tired marathon training to read a book this month!

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  5. If I get enough sleep and stay reasonably hydrated and don't drink too much alcohol and let my body recover after workouts, I don't get charley horses. If I slack on any two of those things simultaneously--boom!--angry calf cramps. And yes, it took me YEARS to figure that out. That said, I'm sure everybody's angry calves work a little differently.

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  6. I had a similar charley horse once. The pain the next day was so odd, like DOMS without the workout.

    I'm digging feta on pizza right now. Less greasy and stringy, adds nice flavor. Great with spinach & diced tomatoes.

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  7. I have my library card number memorized, too. Good to know I'm not the only one. I am reading a book called Lake Como. It's a light, easy read. I haven't been in the mood to read anything deep lately.

    Favorite pizza is "sweet swine" aka ham and pineapple.

    And no charley horses, but I do get foot cramps occasionally. Those are nasty!

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    1. I get those too when I swim...after about 30 minutes, I push off the wall weird and my foot cramps and then I almost drown because I can't kick.

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  8. I used to get Charley horses all the time when I played tennis! I didn't usually wake up sore though, as much as it hurts they say if you can slowly put pressure on your leg and then walk it off it helps it go away faster.

    I love BBQ pizza!

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  9. Wow charley horses are no fun! I've been running for about 5 months now and occasionally get mini ones for a second or two then stops. The kids and I love the library. The last book I read from there was A New Earth - Eckhart Tolle. Basically any pizza at this point will do! : )

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  10. when I was preggo, I got them all the time..so painful...now I find I get them when my hormones are out of whack...aka..that time of the month

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  11. Oh man...just when I think you can't get any more awesome, you tell me you love libraries and books. I'm a librarian...best job in the world...I'm surrounded by books and the people watching is superb.

    I read mostly children's and YA since I'm a children's librarian. The last grown-up book I read was Orange is the New Black. I loved the book as much as the show.

    I got charley horses when I was pregnant, but not since.

    I like beef and lots of black olives on my pizza. And definitely cracker crust!

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  12. Ho-lee shit. I'm not yet 30 (yet [yet]) and I get Large Print popular books all the time. I'm not even ashamed anymore.

    Good luck with the weather tonight, I heard we're due for 8 inches here in Laramie. Yay. I'd rather dodge ice/snow at the park than all the random poo that spring has apparently dumped on the paved areas in town.

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  13. I really am looking to get a good running book to get lost in! And that would traumatize me if I got a book with boogers in it. I JUST HAD A CHARLEY horse the other night in my calf!!! I woke up in the middle of the night moaning and sweating as well! It seemed like forever for it to go away! I don't normally have them…maybe I didn't drink enough water.

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  14. I'm reading an excellent ghost story/murder mystery/thriller called "I Remember You" by Yrsa Sigurrsidottir (I love Scandinavian crime fiction!).
    I've never had a charley horse, but I'm running my first half marathon tomorrow and now I'm afraid I've jinxed myself and will get one.
    Not a huge fan of pizza, but if I have to have it, I like meatballs, banana peppers, & onions.

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  15. Charley horses are THE WORST! I started getting them frequently for a while and I paid closer attention to my salt intake and that seemed to help.

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  16. I get them sometimes at night if I'm a little dehydrated, hurts like hell!!

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  17. I've never gotten a charley horse, but I get cramps in my foot.
    LOL that book is huge! It looks like a dictionary

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  18. I had a charley horse the other night, too - not fun. I also hate the cramps in my feet that make them look deformed - other people get those, right?!

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  19. Spring is a dick!! You aren't kidding. We're getting snow on Monday.

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  20. Ugh the Charley Horse in the middle of the night has definitely happened to me...along with being sore the next day!! It's like wtf did I run up a hill in my sleep? So weird.

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  21. The calf thing has totally happened to me in the middle of the night before, usually when I'm at the peak of my marathon training. It freaks the hell out of my boyfriend! I keep my calf sleeves on my bedside table, and just put them on and down a glass of water real quick, and that seems to do the trick.

    Spring is the worst. Today we had thunder, lightning, crazy hail, then 80 degrees, sunshine, and crazy wind. You can't make this stuff up.

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  22. My turn has come up for The Goldfinch on the wait list at the library, only took 2 months, but haven't plunged in yet.

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  23. Noooo, don't tell the secret of reserving large-print books! I have bypassed many wait-lists using this method. I too read The Goldfinch in large print. My kids were very impressed.

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  24. I thought everyone knew their library card number by heart!

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  25. I know my library card number by heart too! In fact, sometimes when I'm online shopping, I have to stop and think about which number is my credit card and which is my library card. #bookgeekhazard. Can't stand the large print versions tho.

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  26. Runners are just better people than bikers. Bikers have huge egos. I think it has something to do with the fact that they literally have something shoved up their ass. :)

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  27. My new favorite toppings are avocado and spinach.
    Books I'm reading are the Outlander series. Hefty books, too, but on kindle, you don't notice. Romance, history and time travel.

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  28. I get the random charlie horse at night.... very random... like once every 3 years maybe? They are the worst. You gotta just stand up and start walking, that's the only way to get them to go away.

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  29. I got my first wicked bitch of a calf cramp when I was pregnant. Over four years later, and I still have to be careful first thing in the morning when the 'stretch instinct' kicks. When it seizes up, it is scream-into-my-pillow painful! My arches cramp up like that from time to time, too. Most recently when I was just trying to put a pair of sandals on. I yelled at my foot, "STOP CRAMPING. DON'T YOU F-ING CRAMP UP RIGHT NOW!"

    I hope you yell at your body parts, too. That would make me feel more normal :)

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  30. I had somehow (can't imagine how) come to the impression that constipation was the least of your concerns in life. No cramps in a long time. Muscle soreness, yes. I'll take that.

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  31. My favorite pizza is with garlic, mushrooms, olives, and artichoke hearts. I picked up one of those after my half marathon yesterday. Yum. I'm just finishing up Let the Devil Sleep by John Verdon. I've enjoyed all three of his books.

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  32. I'm a librarian. We love power users! LOVE the book suggestions. Read on!

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  33. My favorite pizza is my completely homemade pizza with sausage and pepperoni. I might be biased, but it is wayyy better than any other pizza I've had. Homemade crust, sauce, and sausage! Yum!

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  34. I just finished Reconstructing Amelia which was a very addictive read with some serious surprises towards the end...I couldn't put it down despite the fact that it was pretty disturbing to read as a mom of two girls.

    I read The Goldfinch this winter and wanted to love it, but sadly never did (though it did give me a great arm/wrist workout every night). Donna Tartt's The Secret History is one of my favorite novels and I do think The Goldfinch is just as well crafted, but the story depressed me more than it compelled me for some reason. You'll have to let us know what you think!

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  35. I got Charley Horse's around the 7th month of each of my pregnancies....they are awful! I am reading 'Divergent' right now, my 12 year old daughter is on the second book and I took her to the movie, which I really liked. I don't know that I have a favorite pizza, but that one looks awesome! Thin crust variety are my preference :)

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  36. No calf cramps since my pregnacies, I know my library card number by heart too, I love my library and I am shameless because sometimes I would ask for the books in print and on digital version for the tablet whatever arrives first I'll cancel the other I read the Goldfinch last month and I just finish game of thrones book 1, love it. About the pizza I love the meat lovers what can I say I'm a carnivore

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  37. My dad used to wake up screaming from charley horses. Now we drinks quinine tonic water and lots of Emergen-C, and that seems to help. I have the same issue, and I know it's almost always due to dehydration.

    My mom LOVED The Goldfinch - she read it for book club. I'm going to tackle it this summer.

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  38. In situation when some one have leg or feet cramps be sure about this which really helps a lot.
    Avoid or limit the exercises that strain your muscles and cause cramps.
    It is important to stretch or warm up before participating in sports and exercising
    Be sure to drink enough liquid to avoid dehydration
    Ensure that your body receives the necessary supply of nutrients and minerals
    Increase calcium and potassium intake naturally by eating foods such as milk, bananas, and orange juice.

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  39. Am I charley-horse prone? No...Favorite pizza? pepperoni Freschetta. Best book I've read this month? Angela's Ashes...LOVED The Goldfinch and it does work well as a free weight.

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  40. coincidentally I this popped up on my research feed... as I get cramps due to the fact that I am a sprinter (an old one)
    http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0094910

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  41. wow! crazy! that same exact thing happened to me with the calf cramp a few weeks ago. i could actually feel a baseball size lump in my calf throbbing (weird!) and then it stopped. the next day i was sore also and limping a little..... favorite pizza? i'm not a red sauce fan. love a good white pizza.... fontina, prosciutto, arugula and parmesan... or gorgonzola and figs... mmmmmm!

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  42. I love the library. My son in law is an archivist for one of our local libraries and my daughter is a writer so I'm double blessed. I've always checked out large print books. I read on the treadmill and they are a little easier in a low light situation when you're running. Now that I have my Nook I don't do it as much but I do love the option.

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  43. Am I the only one who knows about the miracle cramp cure of pickle juice???? Not kidding! Drink 1/4 cup (2 ounces) and it will stop a cramp dead in its tracks. Great for endurance athletes!
    read on: http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/06/09/phys-ed-can-pickle-juice-stop-muscle-cramps/?_php=true&_type=blogs&_r=0

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  44. No charley horses since pregnancy, thank god. Occasional foot cramp, but that's about it...

    I am always on the lookout for my next favorite book. Unfortunately have read a few clunkers lately. Actually have several on my kindle right now that are half finished- I'm at the point in my life where my time is worth too much to me to waste it reading a book that's not great. The last book I read that I truly loved was The Fault in Our Stars (John Green). It's a YA book, which I don't usually get into, but it was very, very good.

    Pizza is my all-time favorite food. You can put anything on a pizza and it will be good. I love teriyaki chicken and pineapple.

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    1. Funny, I am reading the Fault in Our Stars right now. Really love so far.

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  45. Charlie horses are the worst! I got them several times a week with both pregnancies. I swear someone stuck a razor blade in my calf that was trying to break out. So so painful.

    I had some delicious prosciutto, pear and arugula pizza at Modmarket the other day. Sounds weird, so amazing.

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  46. Just finished Me Before You by JoJo Moyes, was so good I got another book by her - The Last Letter from your Lover, it's great so far!

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  47. I woke up with a charlie horse a few weeks ago and it hurt so bad that when I got up to go to the bathroom, I passed out from the pain. It was horrible!

    I'm not a pizza person but had a Buffalo Chicken from Mellow Mushroom and it was the best pizza I'd ever had.

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  48. I am also a huge library nerd. My husband has learned you do not speak to me when I'm reading. He has figured out to tell me he needs to talk to me when I get to a stopping point. That has saved our marriage. :) I'm currently in the midst of reading Three by Ted Dekker.

    Favorite pizza would be Hawaiian. Mmmm. Always thought pineapple on pizza was crazy...till I tried it. That Santa Fe pizza looks pretty amazing too.

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  49. Just finished Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks. Very good, but not as tear-inducing as a lot of his others.

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