Mortaine’s Blog

So, happy 4th everyone. I decided not to wear red, white, or blue today, opting instead for black, orange, and yellow. Orange on my South Park Kenny socks, yellow on the T-shirt I got at the Heart & Sole 5K. Patriotism isn’t worn or hung on a flagpole.

Went out for a bit earlier today.Mostly just so I could get out and walk. Ran a few errands to the drug store, and to Abouche for coffee. I came home and finished a little cross-stitch mini-project– I x-stitched a Jeep for my FIL, and have put it in the cover of a photo album for his trip pics. Whee.
Watched a couple of war movies on cable. Operation Dumbo Drop (I have a thing for elephants), and Paradise Road.

Finished the laundry today. I even washed the sheets, which John had been complaining about. I think for the rest of the afternoon, I’ll write thank you notes and listen to Middlesex.

Hammer and Allegro have both been sacked out or following me around the house. I have the windows open, and it’s a warm day outside, with birds squawking and neighbors playing radios. Someone around here started their motorcycle with a great big bang– even startled the cat. And someone else had a few of the “safe but sane” crackers that aren’t legal in Scotts Valley– too dry (especially at our house– the hill looks ready to go up in flames at any second).

I’m loving the solitude,but will welcome John and Willy’s return tomorrow. A brief phone conversation and a couple of IRC chats aren’t enough to keep this extrovert energized.

The one drawback to the long runs is the chafing. My feet usually end up with blisters, albeit smallish ones. Today, however, I had the first-time experience of clothing chafe.

See, this happens a lot to men. So much so, they make a product to lubricate the body before a run; otherwise, a man’s t-shirt can rub his nipples raw and even bloody during a long event.

For women, at least women of my size, the chafing is usually at the upper thighs, and then if wearing loose shorts (lycra/bike shorts eliminate this problem– it’s why you often see women who have no business showing quite that much girth of their bums wearing bike shorts– the alternative is pain).

But for women,the sports bra, that perfection of invention, is supposed to offer sufficient protection that BodyGlide isn’t needed. And it does– for the nipples. Unfortunately today, the lower band of my bra chafed during my run. I didn’t notice until after I was done and I got back to the house, saw the bright red streak just under my bust. After my shower, gentle probing reveals that the skin is raised and kind of “raw”, similar to a pre-blister (and, in fact, identical to my feet). I put an ice pack on, but it’s still sore.

So, that’s my random TMI update for the evening. Oh, and I’m lonely and wish I could call someone on the phone, but my mom’s working all weekend and John’s out of cell range.

Teh sigh. I think I’ll go find something fun to do, a project to work on or finish for tonight. That would be good.