Most Wonderful Time of the Year

I forced myself out of bed at dark thirty on Tuesday morning for a run.  Forced because it was 63 degrees at 5 am and I was pretty sure it was the last one of those we were going to get.  My suspicions were confirmed by Tuesday night. After a day of rain showers, it felt like December and the chill has continued throughout the week.

So there I am, running along so thankful for a warm morning, yet simultaneously dreading the impending cold weather.  And I can feel it - the bad attitude coming about winter running.  I haven't had to break out my Lulu Alpine tights yet and I can't say I'm looking forward to that.  The layering, the gloves the ear warmers.

I turn the corner from 31st to O Street and there she is, the best Christmas decoration  in the history of ever, perfectly illuminating the bay window of a gorgeous Georgetown row home, ever so "frag-ee-lay."

That's all it took to snap me out of my bad attitude and remind myself that it's "the most wonderful time of the year!"  So bring it winter - I'm ready for you, as long as you're served with a side of the holidays.

A Bubbly Friday to You!

Via {this is glamorous}

Hope you have a festive December weekend!

Radio City Fantasy

I'm hopping aboard a train today so I can sob uncontrollably at Radio City Music Hall. I'm going to see the always fabulous Rockettes in the Christmas Spectacular. And no matter how many times I see this show, it leaves me teary. every. single. time. 

And that's NOT because the show is anything but fantastically merry and bright. I mean, we're talking toy soldier piles and thousands upon thousands of dancing Santas. You can't ask for much more seasonal flare than that.

But you see, the reason watching the Rockettes has an adverse effect on me is, well, I'm one of the millions of girls that was ABSOLUTELY convinced she was destined to become one some day. So a few years ago, I did what any gal with a lofty bucket list would do (which also included running a marathon btw)... I auditioned. 

Check out :36 & :37 from this video. There was once a full video that, much to my embarrassment and the entertainment of my NY-based colleagues, was on the NY Daily News with full-frontals of yours truly. It truly captured how awkward the entire experience was for me, but alas, I can no longer find it on the Internet.

First of all, let me clear up any misconceptions you may have about the lovely ladies of Radio City Music Hall. While they may wear lots of sequins and elaborate headpieces and kick around in high heels, those ladies are RIPPED. You honestly can't tell when you're watching them on stage or in the Thanksgiving parade, but when you see them up close, you feel like David to their Goliath. They have more upper body strength than I ever would have dreamed could fit in a leotard and their thighs are pure steel. Not to mention, there is the whole height requirement thing for Rockettes (which I barely fit), so they tower over you with their bright smiles and cheery attitude.

As for my Rockette audition experience, well... let's just say I'm sitting in an office right now instead of stretching for the matinee. Even so, it was one of my best memories. The nerve wracking process of preparing for an audition in New York is unbelievably exhilarating, and I would do it again in a heartbeat. I can't claim that I really trained (I hadn't taken a dance class in years) or had any REAL hopes of trading out my business casual for sequined leotards, but... well a gal can still dream... hence the tears.

Happy Holidays!

I don't want a medal. I want a scooter.

I rather enjoyed stand-up comic/marathon runner Liz Miele's account of running (badly) from this year's MCM Weekend. Sadly, I can particularly relate to the fear of being last - and even more so to the whole "I run; therefore, I eat" concept. 

"Let me feel like a winner!"