Recovery and Protests

So Wednesday afternoon I decided go to out for a little run. After I passed the sign that says "Welcome to Silver Spring, MD" I decided I should probably turn around and head home. By the time I hobbled back home I'd run almost 14 miles, granted I have to admit that I walked the last mile or two because I was so dehydrated and my knees were screaming in pain from the abuse I'd just put them through. So I spent the rest of Wednesday, and all of Thursday trying to recover to the point where I could walk again and not be in pain. Last night and today I managed to walk again without limping in pain.

Then this morning I realized I live way too close to the Chinese embassy. There was another "Free Tibet" protest going on just down the street from my apartment. This one much louder than any previous protests. So of course I got curious and went down and watched the protest for a little while. It would just be nice to think that what these people are doing will actually make a difference somewhere. But they found a way to get their message out, and they're using it. Good for them, and I'll just deal with a little less sleep from time to time. I do have to say it was rather humorous to see the uniformed secret service officers guarding the front doors to the embassy. Which you'll see below in one of the pictures I snapped.

I sure am glad I got that turkey leg

Yesterday "Beef Stew" aka SGT Cole and I went to 6 Flags for the beginning of October Fright Fest. If it weren't for the fact that it gets cold and signals the start of fall and winter, I would love October. Halloween is always such a fun holiday and time of year.
Well I think between the hours of 1pm and 10pm we rode EVERY major ride/roller coaster in that park! Such a great day, I have to admit that most of the rollercoasters there don't hold a candle to the ones at Kings Dominion down by Richmond. But, I really can't remember waiting in line for anything for more than 10-15 minutes. Especially after the sun went down and the two BIG rollercoasters re-opened after being closed for "repairs" all day. Yes, that made me a little nervous, but after standing back and watching it run a couple of times and seeing everyone get off the ride just as alive as they were when they boarded it helped alleviate my fears. I do have to say that I still have no fear of heights and no fear of the dark, but for goodness sake, combine those two and I'm a little scardey-cat. Of course that didn't stop me from hopping on a couple of the largest coasters after a little prodding from Beef Stew.
Oh yea... uumm... we got STUCK halfway up the incline of the "bat-wing." After about 5 minutes of just sitting there trying not to freak out we finally heard a park employee hiking up the stairs to explain to us that some ABSOLUTE FRACKING MORON had hopped the fence and was running around on the ground underneath the rollercoaster so they had to stop us for the safety of the idiot. *sigh*
Oh well, either way it was such a great day. Definitely gotta hang out witih Beef Stew more often.

Mom minus 60

This is my mother, 60 pounds lighter. I'm glad she sent this, I was beginning to worry that the next time I get home I wouldn't be able to recognize her. In this picture alone my mom looks so much better than the last time I saw her, I'm just so happy she's making such good progress. Who knows, maybe one of these days I'll be able to get her to go out on a run with me!

In other news I have the "enlisted person of the quarter" board to go to tomorrow. I went to one last week, which proved to me how much I hate those situations. Sitting and trying to remember army regulations and forms and all kinds of other stuff in front of E7's, E8's and E9's is intimidating. I don't know what it is... I don't have any problem talking in front of large groups of people, but put me in front of those four people and all my saliva decides to go on vacation, I start to sweat like crazy, and I can't remember how to form a proper sentence. *bangs head on wall*