Well, I did it. I finished the Buffalo Half Marathon in 2:09. That's two minutes, nine seconds. Ha ha ha...! It was a great time for the most part and I can't wait to do another one. I spent most of the race in the middle/back which I like because I think the people are cooler, less into getting an amazing race time and just taking it "easy." We had some good times around mile 7 quoting some Dane Cook with some random couple, and around mile 5 talking to some girls who were wearing grass skirts and coconut bras over their running clothes. I hit a big wall around mile 9 (meaning I had the strong desire to STOP) and again during the last stretch. I got really excited when I saw that mile 12 marker, which I think made me run faster, which was not a very good idea. I was pretty much feeling like it was never going to end until we got to Franklin St. and some random man yelled to us "TWO BLOCKS LEFT!" That just sounded so insanely short that I got a second (third? fourth?) wind and I made it to the end!

I must say that I feel totally exhausted and sore. And if I feel this bad, I can't even imagine how marathon runners must feel afterwards. I'll find out someday but for now I'm just going to sit back, enjoy a delicious dinner, and probably go to bed around 8. I'm sooo glad I don't have school tomorrow.

As usual, a few pics of the (very early) morning...

Me and Nicole in front of Hyatt (pre-race, about 6:30 am)


Me, Nicole and (e:jessbob) at the starting line between Chippewa and W. Tupper on Franklin. (The marathon runners started at the same place but on Pearl St.)


And they're off! I'm over in the left hand side of the pic waving my arms around at my dad.


I DID IT!!!! (This is back at my house because I didn't have a place to leave my camera during the race)


Celebrating the moment with my two favorites


Me and my medal that I'm still wearing and plan to wear for at least two more days. I'm on the phone with (e:mike) who said to me "Wow, did you beat everyone? I'm driving and there's still tons of runners!" (I wish, but he was talking about the full marathoners)


A close-up shot of my medal, my newest favorite accessory.

Come out and cheer on me and (e:Jessbob) in the Buffalo Half Marathon tomorrow morning!!!!!

(e:Anne) and I are most likely getting the apartment that we looked at last weekend!!!! We just heard from the landlord that they liked our application and thought we were a perfect fit! We just have to get him a letter from my bank, a deposit, and it's ours!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I just sent this email out to a bunch of people from my family and some friends and stuff, and I wanted to post it here too. I'm so excited for this, and I would be happy and honored if some (e:strip) folks were there!...

As some of you know, I have spent the last year or so selecting and preparing a great deal of music with the intention of giving a second recital. (I enjoyed my first one too much to not do another one!) I have really enjoyed all of the work and time that I have spent putting together a program, and I'm writing in hopes that you will be able to join me when it FINALLY happens! The recital (yet to be titled) will take place on Friday, June 8 at 7:00 pm, at Blessed Sacrament Church in downtown Buffalo. Selections include music by Henry Purcell, Clara Schumann, Benjamin Britten, Erik Satie, Harold Arlen, Irving Berlin and Meredith Wilson, as well as a newly-arranged set of American folk songs.

I will have some more information as the date approaches (it will be here before I know it!), but I wanted to let you all know a little bit in advance!

Again, I hope that you can join me and enjoy the evening as much as I plan to!

-- Mary Kate

Ok I HATE when people honk at me when I don't move INSTANTLY after a light turns green. I've been honked after ONE SECOND of sitting at an intersection. It really makes me crazy. I of course take the mature approach of driving extremely slowly once I start, which almost always makes them whip around me and probably flip me off. I also sometimes throw my hands up and scream at them through my rearview mirror. I love when they yell back. We have silent hand waving screaming fights.

I just had to say this because it is probably one of my least favorite things EVERRRRRRRRRRRRRR.

My pic finally says 300+! YESSSS!

Have a good weekend to look forward to...

Buffalo Choral Arts concert at UB tomorrow night
Possibly going out for ice cream afterwards?
Sidenote, last night after rehearsal I went to Mighty with a few other kids from the Chorus. And when I say kids I really do mean kids...one of them is still in high school and the others are just finishing their first year of college. So I feel like an old fart. Like seriously sometimes I feel way older than them, but I also I just generally act older than I am sometimes. It was fun though, I haven't done that in awhile. I love Mighty.

Anyway then Saturday morning, (e:Anne) and I are checking out an apartment on Richmond!!!!!! I'm so excited. I also want to get to 24 though to check out the big garage sale!

(e:Mike) and I are also planning our favorite ritual of the Eastern Hills on Saturday too.

And then Sunday I have another concert in the afternoon.
I LOOOOOOOVE fun weekends.

Next weekend is the half marathon...good Lord...I'm reeeeeally not ready...oops!

After this weekend, I have 17 school days of teaching left, and with 3 field trips, it's really like 14. That's CRAAAAAZY, and just when I feel like I'm starting to get the hang of it...

Oh well, as much as I love teaching, I also love not teaching. Hooray summers! :)

I am always in the worst mood on Tuesdays. I can't stand ANY kid coming up and talking to me, even if it's the nicest kid. It's like I just REALLY don't want to be bothered by anyone. I thought that's how Mondays were supposed to be.

I can't believe I have less than a month of school left. This makes me HAPPYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!1

First of all, congratulations to (e:Anne) for graduating today!!!!

I have pics on my camera from various events, and they are here for your viewing pleasure.

(e:Mike) worshipping at (e:Anne) 's place of employment



From last night...(e:Mike) and I hit up various bars on Allen Street in superspeed mode...Frizzy's, Staple, Gabriel's Gate, Coulter Bay, and Cathode...yet we were at Jim's by 2, and home by 3....we were truly on a mission!

Here we are at Cathode


I always take pictures of myself when I'm intoxicated


I'm pretty sure I ripped these off the ceiling. Go Sabres...!!!


Whoopsies I spilled beer on (e:Mike) 's crotch!


He bounced back.


Now from today, (e:Anne) 's graduation!

My pics of inside Alumni Arena didn't turn out so great, but here's a couple of the inside and all the empty chairs before the graduates processed in.




This is a sign made of cupcakes. It was awesome! I'm really curious as to how they did it. How did they get the middle ones lined up?



Outside the CFA afterwards






And (e:Anne) 's one request for our graduation festivities...

...a carrot cake from Muscoreil's.

Mmmmm




Hope you enjoyed. It's not really Monday tomorrow, is it....?!?!

I don't miss my ex-boyfriend or anything at all about our "relationship", with just one exception.

I miss the Adirondacks.

I was looking at (e:fellyconnelly) 's pictures of the Hudson Valley and even though that's not the same area, it looks just like the Adirondacks and surrounding areas.

My ex's family has a house in a small town out there. I just loved being there....kayaking, backpacking, looking at the stars, sitting by the fire...

I don't want to miss it, but I do. I really need to find people who will do that stuff with me. I don't want that part of my life to be gone forever.

This website doesn't work on my old Dell. When I try logging in, it goes to a "The Internet cannot connect to this website" or whatever page. I can't update or comment on any journals. It makes me sad.

Looks like I'll be flying solo for an apartment this summer. Seems like so much work to make appointments and look at the apartments and yadda yadda...is it worth the effort...ok it definitely is.

Uhhhh...peace out, you nappy-headed hos. (that is referring to each estripper, not just (e:lilho) and (e:hodown) ;) )

The weekends go by soooo fast.

I'm down to about 28 days of teaching left. That's craaaazy. I can't believe my first year is already almost over. I'm looking forward to next year though.

Whenever I go home on Friday, I'm feeling so gung-ho about getting so much work done for school over the weekend. Then Friday night rolls around and I usually end up hanging out at Target or going out with (e:Mike) and the gang. Then of course Saturday I sleep in a little, have a delicious breakfast, clean up some stuff, do some shopping, maybe go out to dinner, and then go catch a movie or go out again. And Sunday I have church, and then I teach lessons, and I have to run, and then do our family dinner. Who can be expected to squeeze in schoolwork on such a full, exhausting schedule?

Plus, who can be expected to do work on a day like today, beautiful weather, the Sabres game...

I ran 10 miles today - my second time running that far, and this time I went faster than last time. It was actually sort of, dare I say, easy? I mean I needed to stretch and I'm a little sore in my right hip, but mentally it was a breeze. I'm very ready for this half marathon I think. :)

Ummmm, what else...yesterday I ran by Cozumel and was amazed by the number of people there! I then went home and told my mom all about it, and she kindly reminded me what yesterday's date was...DUH!!!!!!

(e:Anne) and I came to the conclusion that we both have literally no idea where the Rainbow Rink is. And my mom started to tell us but we both sort of didn't want her to tell us because we enjoy the mystery. I blocked it out and I hope (e:Anne) did too.

Can't wait to hear some more about (e:Mike) 's slapping a cowboy experience, too.

Running is the best cure for depression, I think. Well, exercise in general. It just makes you feel so good. I admit, without (e:Mike) and (e:Jill) here this weekend, I felt a bit lonely and that drew up some sad feelings last night and this morning, but I've felt so much better since I went running. Running personally helps me put things into perspective and realize that most things aren't that big of a deal and that certain things have or have not happened for very good reasons. So I think before people take drugs or some other treatment for depression, they should try adding some exercise to their lives. I know it wouldn't cure everyone but it would definitely help. So if you're feeling down, go for a walk, or a run, or ride a bike, or dance...even if what you were sad about doesn't change, the way you think about it will, at least for awhile.

And finally, (e:Anne) and I went to the historic Riviera Theater on Friday to catch a production of The Sound of Music. It was just as entertaining as we had hoped. If you aren't lucky enough to have gone to the Riviera Theater for a production, you must. You are in for a real....treat...


GO SABRES!!!!!!!!!!!! (What will Buffalo be like when the Sabres win the cup?? That's another entry for another day...)