amazingadrian

Spring Break is almost over. You know it's pretty pathetic when the highlight of my Spring Break is Second Life's finally implementing WindLight as an official release. I spent my first day in the new viewer and it's absolutely breathtaking. The sky and the water effects especially. Second Life has been needing a graphics overhaul for a long while now, and if you have been put off to it because of it's drabness, now would be a good time to hop on board.

I spent most of my Spring Break doing nothing and working on homework. We had three tests and 4-5 chapters due over the break, so I couldn't slack off. That's fine, since it's mostly do-at-your-own-pace work, but those tests required reading looong chapters of absolutely boring drivel. It was a challenge staying awake while studying. So in-between study-induced sleeping and homework, that's how I spent the majority of my days.

I decided to forgo the Cooper River Bridge Run this year. Normally, it's about the only real workout I get, but my Mom and I decided not to go, since we had a lot of upcoming expenses this year. I'll be graduating soon, and I have the trip to Chicago to save up for. It makes me antsy waiting for so long to get that squared away, but I want to make absolutely sure I have enough money to put myself through the trip; it's non-refundable if I buy tickets and it turns out the actual stay will cost more than I can justifiably afford. I'm not too worried about it though.

Blah, I'm just frustrated. I can't even rent a movie since the rental place closed. I feel lonely and stuck. I want to run around. Today when I went to go to Walker Hall to see if they had my W2 form, I discovered I can't jump quite as high as I used to. Banged my ankle on the railing while vaulting over it. It worries me; I know I'm out of shape...I just don't know when I'll be able to get back into it. Especially if the school puts me into some code monkey job banging strings of code together on a keyboard.

I need to have a little more excitement for myself before the Break is done. Maybe I'll go splurge on some beer or something, and watch everyone's reaction when I publicly whip it out once they all return. That's always amusing.

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Link times:

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The Arthur Ravenell Bridge, that is. I was a participant in the 30th Annual Cooper River Bridge Run yesterday, in the walker's division. (No way in heck I could ever compete with those guys. The Kenyans win every year. Dude who one this year completed the 7 mile race in 28 minuites.) I actually walked 9 miles total that day, including distance walked to get to the starting point and distance walked after the race, putzing around downtown Charleston.

There were lots of people there again this year. It was definately harder for me this time than it was last time. I felt it going over the bridge, and I was definately achy near the end. I wasn't last time. Heck, my legs are still sore! I guess it goes to show how little I prepared for it this year...

We woke up at 4:00 in the morning for the race. Mom wanted to get up at 3 in the morning, but something happened and she overslept. After driving into downtown Charleston, we discovered that the road we needed to use to get to the parking garage was cordoned off, so we had to park at the Aquarium's garage. The police officer we asked for directions told us the one we were looking for was full anyways. (No creepy police officers this year either, yay!)

A short bus ride later, it was waiting outside until the race started. We waited outside the AIR kiteboarding store, across the street from Starbucks, and poked around inside it once they opened. After that, it was an hour waiting outside with the bugs (which were worse than last year) as the sun came up. Then we finally started walking!

Mom and I went non-stop this year across the bridge. Our times were 1:57:03 for the full 7 miles. Much to my surprise, Mom wanted to hang around for a bit after the race ended (usually she's one of those people who want to go somewhere and do something and then do nothing else; just go straight home. It drives me crazy sometimes.) so we went around the booths picking up health freebies. Afterwards, we ate at A.W. Shucks, a local oyster bar. (Would have gone to the Noisy Oyster, which we had cupons for, but they were full up. It would have been a 45 minuite wait.) The food was pretty good for seafood. I had a shrimp Po Boy sandwitch, and a sampler appetizer.

After that? Went back to an old friend's house and slept until 5. Good times.

I realised today that this has not been a good week for me, as far as my financial mindset goes.  I've been making poor decisions about how my money is spent all week.  Things like spending too much on junk food...Nothing major though, it just feels like I'm on the bad end of a horroscope or something.  I'm usually good about things like this, but it feels like I've been shopping more often than I should be lately.

Plus, I have a major spenditure coming up. I'll be going to the Cooper River Bridge Run in Charleston again this year.  Last year was the first time, and let me tell you, it was awesome.  I never thought I'd do something like that, as  while I'm all for staying in shape, I'm not very athaletically minded (at least as far as events go), but I went as a personal favor to my mother, because Dad didn't want to go. (If anyone needed to do it it was my Dad.  He's losing weight now, but at the time he was getting into the dangerous relams of poor weight, and was doing absolutely nothing about it.).  Anyhow, I'm glad I went.  Last year was the commemoration of the NEW BRIDGE!  It's supposed to be the tallest bridge in the state or something of the sort.  Got these really big concrete support spires that just look amazing!  It felt good to be part of an event with so many people there.  So I'm going again this year.  It's no con, but it's like the next best thing, plus it's good for my health.  And dammit, I really need to exercise more.

Went to the mall last night with Sign Language Club from school.  I was surprised at how much fun I had. Normally, I really don't when I socialize like that.  It makes me wonder If I really am getting better at relating to people, wich would be one of the goals I wanted to acheive by joining the internet communities that I have.  I could do with learning more signs to up my conversational skills with that class of folks who use the language.  I can actually understand more than I can sign at the moment; you learn to pick up context fairly quickly.  While I was there, I picked up some DVDs from the EB Games Bargain Bin.  Last time I got Resident Evil Deluxe Edition from a store such as this, they sold me the normal edition movie inside the deluxe edition box.  This time I made sure that I wasn't ripped off, so now I can exchange the other one for something else.  Since it was buy two get one free, I splurged a bit (which I probably shouldn't have, considering my job is still pending) and got UHF, which I've never seen before, and a DragonBall GT DVD, because, you know...I'm a sucker for it.