I  have finished Tyrannosaur Canyon. However, I am mentally digesting before reviewing.

In the mean time…

Okay, 5 weeks out to the Las Vegas Marathon. I’m back on schedule for training (I did 18+ miles yesterday) after missing two long runs because of a very busy October 15 (extended personal tax returns due) and a very disappointing long run last weekend. This weekend I discovered I have a friend in electrolyte drinks:)

However, I’m getting totally nervous. I want to finish in under 5 hours. If I finish in over 5 hours, I don’t really care - I just want to finish. But I’m just starting to get paranoid about hydration, carrying my own water (since I don’t like gatorade), getting tired, etc…

I just have to re-convince myself that all I have to do is finish, right?

Still nervous.

I’m finally getting back to the book reviews.

I just finished “So Sexy So Soon: The New Sexualized Childhood and What Parents Can Do to Protect Their Kids”, by Diane E. Levin and Jean Kilbourne. I’ve been a big fan of Jean Kilbourne since college, having read all her other books regarding advertising, the media, society, and our views of ourselves as human beings.

“So Sexy So Soon” does it’s job in explaining the difference between sex, sexuality, and sexualization, and how the current consumer culture is forming the youngest generations to focus on the sexy without explaining sexuality. As most Jean Kilbourne books do, it hits the nail on the head several times in regard to the issues. However, I feel this book is missing something. The examples were so transparent, so obvious in their portrayal of the crisis that is created when young children are continually bombarded with images of sex without guidance for interpretation that I feel the authors didn’t go deep enough. They didn’t find the more underlying and deceptive methods of advertising that we wouldn’t normally recognize as a problem, something I usually find so intriguing in Kilbourne’s analysis.

Perhaps this is an influence from the other author, Levin, who I have not previously read. If it is, however, I am happy with what I see as her other big influence in the book - a very open and careful guide of how to deal with the situation of sexualization of children - both your own and others. What to do next, other than be aware of the problem, is something that is lacking a bit in Kilbourne’s past writings. This book is certainly not lacking in options of what to do next. Because of this, I feel it will be used as classroom reading in more than just women’s studies classes. It will apply especially to educators and classes involving childhood development.

As a side note, most of the examples used in the book were found on the East Coast, perhaps a few on the West Coast. One thing I pointedly remember from my human sexuality class is that differentiation between the sexes and sexuality are more drastic, more outwardly visible and identifiable on the coasts of the United States. It would be interesting for Kilbourne and Levin to look at the middle of the country - Appalachia, the Mid-West, and the non-coastal West to find what might or not be working as a counter to commercialization and sexualization of childhood in these areas.

Coming up next: “Tyrannosaur Canyon” by Douglas Preston

Saw The Dark Knight last night finally. Wow. Heath Ledger really was as good as everyone said he was.

Of course, in this, saw the preview for the next Terminator movie. Having just Netflixed the first three, I was…horrified that they’re making another.

After The Dark Knight, Chris and I discussed the equally horrifying news that Cher is in talks to play Catwoman…(http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/celebritynews/2612613/Cher-%20to-play-Catwoman-in-next-Batman-film.html). Seriously. No. There are so many other women out there who….are hot. And who could play Catwoman. Most importantly, Summer Glau. Now that’s a movie I’d see without delay.

Updates:

Plans for the year:
Run a marathon  - training started; debating on Las Vegas vs Tucson Marathon - they are on the same day
Finish school
Finish all my unfinished crocheting and knitting projects  - some has been done; more has not
Redo my entire yard and fence  - started; menacing trees are gone, and I’ve done some planting. I just don’t have money to do the fence, though. That’s the biggest problem with this one.
Finish painting the inside of my house - oh dear…this one looms over me.

Other goals:
Lose weight and get in shape
Cook at home more; eat out less
Reduce credit card debt - oh geez…I wish!
Watch TV less; read more - this should come with the being done with school. In fact, I’ve read a book and started another since finishing school less than a week ago!
Keep my office cleaner

I would also like to feel stable enough (and have a good enough yard) to get a dog. - This will wait, pending a fence. There are external factors (i.e., a friend may come to live with us next year, and she has a dog) which could postpone this for a few years.

Thoughts? I’ve certainly finished a few things, and a few things will be much easier to finish now that the big item (finish school) is completed.

So,I have a new toy. This is my first post from my iPhone. And it is good.

Tomorrow I leave for a vacation. While there are many plans and goals for said vacation, I am most excited to be able to stop whatever I’m doing whenever I want and go for a run.

And after a very busy day and a disappointing packing night (a rarity for me), I am going to bed with the intention of getting up and going to the gym before we must leave for the airport.

My body likes running.

My mind does, too.

I like that.

Hmm. Should I do a small update?

School started Monday. Chris and I must keep reminding ourselves that there are only two classes. That’s right. We’ll be done by the end of August. Free. Freedom. I must contain my excitement, or I’ll burst. This first class is a marketing class - meaning, painfully vomit-inducing with marketing and business buzz-words. At least the last class is an accounting class - and one for which I probably am well-prepared.

My 10-year high school reunion has been planned for August. Chris’ has been planned for the same weekend, but he seems to have no interest in going back for it. That’s okay. He can come to mine.

I did the Salt Lake City half-marathon a few weeks ago. I hadn’t trained, so I ran about half, walked about half. It was very exciting to do another one, though. I have been running pretty well since then. And it’s finally (just now) stopped snowing and started getting warm, so I’ll be able to run outside on the weekends.

I’ve packed the next half year with races. I’m kind of turning into a junkie - I don’t know whether I have to cure myself of this because races cost money, or if I should embrace it because signing up for races will ensure I train for them. But, here’s a basic outline of my plan:

Late May - 5K

mid-June - Wasatch Back Relay

July 4 - Annual 4th of July Run

July 19 - half-marathon

July 26 - 10K? Maybe. It’s called the “Toughest 10K”, which, for some reason, is appealing to me.

August 23 - half-marathon

Oct 5 - Portland marathon (for which, supposedly, my mom and sister are going to train to walk).

I’m pretty excited about this. Most of the races (except the Portland) are close (within 4 hours).

In a continuing quest to be healthy and in-shape, I’ve started a food log. Is it going to help? Who knows. Will I forget about it in a few days? Probably.

Ah yes. The house. The house will (hopefully) get power washed this weekend. I’m working (it’s turned into a long project) on painting the hallway. We have also gotten closer to figuring out the front porch railing.

So, I started this at the beginning of the year, and for some reason, didn’t post it.

Plans for the year:
Run a marathon
Finish school
Finish all my unfinished crocheting and knitting projects
Redo my entire yard and fence
Finish painting the inside of my house

Other goals:
Lose weight and get in shape
Cook at home more; eat out less
Reduce credit card debt (a house will eat your credit card soul!)
Watch TV less; read more
Keep my office cleaner

I would also like to feel stable enough (and have a good enough yard) to get a dog.

There you go.

What has been done since then?

I have not signed up for a marathon. Yet. I have signed up to do the Wasatch Back Relay, which is a 178 mile race run by 12 runners in 3 legs each.

I bought a CNG bi-fuel truck. I wanted a truck; this one has cheap and clean fuel.

I have finished a couple unfinished crocheting and knitting projects.

Cooking at home/eating out less has definitely been done. It’s hard during tax season, but has been successful anyway.

I have at least attempted to register for my last two classes; this will be attempted again on Monday.

Regardless of the fact that I believe a modern artist has ruined that song…

I think I want a running skirt.

But I’m just not sure. Is it too girly? running isn’t really girly. At least, I don’t feel girly when I’m running. I feel strong. But a skirt can be strong, right?

“Do’s and Don’ts with babies”