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! :)