The grillout was phenomenal.  I had a little preview of what's to come in 10 days, 21 hours and 44 minutes (thanks countdown widget!) when I sprawled out on a deck chair, shoulders naked to the sun.  The only difference is, my sun-worshiping dog won't be lying across my lap then.  I swear, she's the dog version of me.  We both closed our eyes and stared at the sun, and let out a deep sigh. 

Sadly it only lasted 10 minutes because we had a ton of work to do.  We weeded, turned the ground and got the garden prepped for planting sometime this week when we have a free night.  It took 4 hours and burned 1200 calories.  Score!  I also grilled, portioned out and froze enough meat to last me 5 days.  Double score!  I'm looking forward to a week of not cooking.

I woke up at 5 today to drag my ass to the gym for a workout with the trainer.  I bumped it up to 2 a week so I can maximize my beach sexiness.  Buahaha!  In all seriousness, I just purchased the first bikini I've owned since I was 6 years old.  I have to do that thing justice.  In related news, I tried on my bathing suit from two years ago and it fit....better than it ever has before.  The top, the bottom and the cute little board shorts that go with it.  Whoo!

I've been tired and feeling gross all day, so I treated myself to a latte. 

I signed up for the 5K solo.  Bradley's not a runner and he seemed way too hesitant to wake up early and trek to the Bronx at the buttcrack of dawn on a Saturday.  He did agree to meet up with me after the race with coffee, a hot thermos of oatmeal, and the dog.  And then we're going to do another 5 mile walk down the island.  This time on the west side of Central Park. 

We also signed up for the NY AIDS walk on May 17th.  It's a 10K walk that starts in Central Park, and Jabba's allowed in that one ^_^  They have water bowls for dogs at each checkpoint.  We decided to go all out and set up a donation page and everything.  I'm working on it right now.  So I'll get right down to the begging:  if you'd like to make a tax-deductable contribution to an awesome cause, I'll post a friends-only link and you can take that to my fundraising page.  Check out a list of all the organizations that'll benefit from your donation.  And, as an added bonus, if you decide to donate, I'll send you a batch of my homemade biscotti.  That's how I roll, babies!

- Yesterday I woke up at 5am...
+ ...to get my sweat on.  I ran faster, longer and further than I have in the past 2 months that I've (re)started running.
+ My knees don't hurt.
- They probably will later today.

- I skipped the gym because my shoulders hurt from lifting yesterday.
+ The weekly workout with my trainer is worth every penny, even if it is causing me agita in the wallet department. 

- Some potheads moved a few doors down from us.  They're young, loud and stink up half the wing.
+ Someone — I'm guessing our lovely new neighbors — dropped a baggie in the hallway. Bradley spotted it, picked it up & pocketed it.  We had a good laugh at the fact that we're way past the days where we'd buy it, but definitely not past the days where we'd smoke it if it's free.
+ We plan on having a good, relaxing weekend at home.  (Insert giggles.)

+ I told my mom about my big tattoo.
- She was the opposite of thrilled, which is exactly what I accepted.
+ I told her to get over it.
+ And I think she actually did.

+ 7 weeks till we're on a beach in the Dominican Republic.
- 7 weeks till we're on a beach in the Dominican Republic.  (I don't give a shit how skinny you are — bathing suit shopping is traumatizing.)

When I try to cut down on my coffee, people die.  Because I kill them.  Because I am cranky.  And also I have a hard time thinking and / or writing coherently.  Because, you know, of the not having coffee thing.  Life is hard.

More things that suck about today:
5) I had to drag my ass out of bed today, which made me late to the gym which made me late to work which made me late to finally get a cup of coffee in my system.  See above about life being hard.
4) I'm wearing new shoes and they pinch.  They pinch right through the fucking bandaids. 
3) I'm not a nice person today.  I'm not talking to most coworkers just so I don't start some shit.
2) I'm coming down with a cold 3 days before we go away for a weekend.
1) My checking account is showing the effects of having two weekends with out-of-town guests.

Something that'll make me feel better later tonight:  I'm going to stomp my iPod standard issue headphones to itty bitty pieces.  I lost my awesome Sony in-ears and had to resort to using the bullshit ones that came with my shuffle.  Those things don't stay in when you're sitting still let alone bouncing up and down on a treadmill.  Don't get me started.