I am totally obsessed with maps.

I've always loved them. But impending travel to Europe makes this obsession even worse.

Pizza. One of the four major food groups. (Or it should be.)

When you are in the mood for a pizza pie, go to a place with a name like "Fat Lorenzo's." The pizza totally lives up to the name of the restaurant.

Should I find it scary that I ate more of our pizza than my 7 1/2-month pregnant friend? (Like twice as much - 1/2 the pizza.) Or should I just take it as a sign of a healthy metabolism?

Quote of the Moment

"Doctors purge the body, preachers the conscience, lawyers the purse." -German proverb

You Know You're a Rower If...

...

You don't have any nails, but you can use your callouses to scratch that pesky itch instead.

(Rowing) Quote of the Moment

"Rowing is such a fine sport. Everyone goes backward, and the leader can see his opponents as they struggle in vain." -Bradley Lewis, Assault on Lake Casitas

29 Hours in the Life of LinnEy

Saturday, August 16, 2008

7a-9:15a, Row at Boat Club

10:12a-10:29a, Quick Run through Target, most wonderful store, for Fastest Baby Gift Registry Shopping Ever on Record

11a-2:30p, Baby Shower for Niece
*Homemade Bunny Baby Booties and Matching Mittens = Success!

3p, Pick Up Weber Mini Grill from Parental Units' House

3:30-3:50p, Quick Run through Grocery Store to Buy Things to Put on Grill

4:30p-5p, Meet up with Friends

5p-6:30p, Attempt to Tailgate with Friends; Discover Lot for Tailgating is Already Full; Decide to Eat Nearly Entire Bag of Potato Chips by Myself; Feel Slightly Ill, but Saved Room for Cotton Candy

6:30p-?p, Attend Saint Paul Saints Game; Get Wet from Random Rain Shower from the Only Cloud in Entire State of Minnesota on Saturday; Eat Cotton Candy and Weird BBQ-flavored Sunflower Seeds

?p-11p, Go Back to Friend's House to Grill the Food We Did Not Get to Tailgate With, Eat More Potato Chips along with Grilled Meat and Corn on the Cob

11:30p-2:39a, Sleep

Sunday, August 17, 2008

2:39a, Wake Up and Drive to Saint Paul

3a-5:15a, Watch Olympic Rowing Finals Live at Boat Club with Other Crazy People Who Were Awake in the Middle of the Night to Cheer on Saint Paul Rowers in the Men's 8+ that Wins Bronze

5:30a-6:45a, Sleep

6:49a, Make Coffee, Most Blessed Beverage Ever

7a, Drive to Red Wing

8:20a-11a, Hike the Bluffs at Frontenac State Park for More Hiking Training

11a-noon, Eat Breakfast in Red Wing



(Rest of Sunday: Crash. And watch more Olympics coverage, of course.)

Rowing Quote of the Moment

"The PhD was about having a lighter balance in life to the rowing side. But then I think to myself: how can you call homicide lighter?" -Katherine Grainger, who is aiming to become the first British woman rower to win Olympic gold, all while studying for a PhD in homicide to "ease the pressure."

In the words of a fellow rower: I have an Olympics Hangover

Today our rowing practice was awesome. Mainly because we didn't have any. On my way to the club at 5 this morning, I noticed it was rather foggy out. And then crossing the Wabasha Street Bridge, you couldn't see 20 feet in front of you. So it was too dangerous to row. And then our coach let us off the hook, and we didn't even erg! Instead, our team went out for breakfast. Sitting around talking and laughing while eating bacon, eggs and pancakes is my kinda practice.

I'm also glad we didn't row because I'm still tired. In the words of one of my teammates: I have an Olympics hangover, and need more sleep. But all the good events start late! So I'm inevitably staying up late to watch them...

And I got my car back! The first time. I still have to have the damage to my bumper and taillight repaired next week, but this time I got new tires and new bearings and everything runs smoothly now. It's sad when you start to prepare for winter driving in Minnesota when it's still August.

Do they have Olympics Anonymous support groups?

Hello, my name is Linnea, and I'm an addict. I'm addicted to the Olympics, and I don't think I'll be over my addiction until the Games are done. In the meantime, I ignore "little" things like friends and blogging whilst I enjoy watching people with a lot more talent and athletic ability and discipline do things that look easy, but I know are much, much harder than these people make them seem.

I skimp on sleep in order to keep up with work and rowing so that I can maintain a semblance of normalcy. But the sleep thing is bound to catch up with me, and soon, I will be an über crab, and people will start to notice. It's a risk I'm willing to take to watch more gold medals be awarded, preferably to Americans.

I can quit: I promise!

Well, I'll quit until the Winter Games next come 'round...

Government Inspector

No, that's not my new job. It's the play I went to see at the Guthrie on Sunday with my cousin, Rachel. Not nearly as funny as Midsummer Night's Dream, but it had its moments, and some very witty one-liners. My favorite, I think, was when Marya Antonovna, the mayor's daughter, is rebuffing the advances of Ivan Alexandreyevich Hlestakov, the "inspector" and says something along the lines of, "Let me put it this way: if you didn't exist, I wouldn't dream you up."

I am tired of being rear-ended by idiots.

I am especially annoyed by the idiot from this morning: I was nearly backed all the way out of my parking space, and if he had bothered to look behind him before backing out, he might have noticed there was, oh, a CAR there, right where he was headed. MY car!

Also, talk about dumbo: I stopped my car before he hit it and laid on the horn, and that didn't even phase him. He just kept backing up, right into me. WHO ARE THESE IDIOTS? How can you not notice someone laying on the horn immediately behind you? I hope his insurance company raises his rates. He deserves it.

Good Things, and the Not-So-Good Things

Things I like: Free Coffee on your Birthday

Things I dislike: Barges wandering around with you on the river, making it hard to row - on your birthday, no less! Don't they know it's your birthday?

Things I like: Great friends who sing "Happy Birthday" to you in the locker room shower (so you can't escape it)

Things I dislike: You can't escape "Happy Birthday" when you're in the locker room showers

Things I like: Rowing my single

Things I dislike: Coach making you do a hard practice on your birthday (Doesn't he know it's your birthday?)

Things I like: Crunches, or maybe even pushups

Things I dislike: Coach scheduling jumpies on your birthday (instead of the crunches, or even the 6 pushups you'd much rather do)

Things I like: Chocolate cupcakes with pink frosting (and lots of frosting!)

Things I dislike: brussels sprouts

Things I like: No one makes you eat brussels sprouts on your birthday (or zucchini, either)

Things I dislike: you can't eat chocolate cake and doughnuts all day and expect to feel very well

Things I like: No one bats an eye if you want to leave work early on your birthday

Things I dislike: People scheduling afternoon meetings at work on your birthday, so that you can't leave early


*Update*
Also good things that I like: kind friends & family who send you very nice birthday greetings. Thanks, everyone.