PUFFINSPUFFINSANDMOREPUFFINS!!!

OK, check this out!

I came home Tuesday night and found a bunch of junk laying out on the lawn in front of my building. I went in and there was paper all over the stairs and hallway. Somebody went crazy in my apartment building! They ripped all the signs off the walls, tore up people’s outgoing mail (I knew there was a reason I brought my mail to work), and pried open all the mailboxes. The mailboxes were sitting open like they are when the mailman visits. There was no mail inside, so I figured it must have been stolen. The weirdest thing, though, is that the crazyperson had removed all the stickers with our names and apartment numbers from the mailboxes. That had to take some time, for someone who was obviously having a fit of retarded rage.

Caretaker-girl Laura didn’t answer her door, so I called the apartment company and they knew about it, but not what had happened. I called the post office to see if they’d delivered the mail and it had been stolen, or if they just didn’t drop it off because the mailboxes had been tampered-with. They assigned me case number CV25306300 (that’s ‘C, V as in VICtory!’), which was helpful or something. I later decided since I had an Amazon package there that had been delivered USPS and was untouched, the mailman probably got there after the building-destruction tantrum had occurred, and just didn’t deliver the mail.

In the morning, everything was cleaned up and we had labels again. I now have my mail, and hope that if someone did steal my T-Mobile bill, they at least do me the courtesy of paying it.

Later that night, Wendy had to escape her house, so we went to Gameworks. There was hardly anybody there, so we reveled in zombie-shooting (I was really more excited than I should’ve been the other day when I discovered they now had House of the Dead IV) and DDR. I have never played so much DDR in my life. I was exhausted. And I’ve been working on the standard level now, which means I lose about half the time. I’m getting good at the songs I know, but man. I have no clue how anybody plays on the hard level. It’s insane.

Last night was PUFFIN CLASS. As I have graduated from Puffin University, I can now call myself the world’s foremost expert on puffins. At least, I know more about puffins than anyone I know excepting Chris, who was also at class and therefore has equal puffin knowledge (but has not declared himself a certified puffinologist as I have).

The teacher asked us why we had come to puffin class. My primary reason is ‘I’ll do anything ridiculous’, but I couldn’t really say that. I said something about it being a unique opportunity, and also that hopefully I might see them in Alaska. I think she bought it. We talked about puffin biology and habits for half an hour, then we viewed a Puffin Powerpoint, and then we got to go visit the puffins in the zoo! Since it was already past their bedtime, they woke them up by turning on the lights. There were 6 lazy puffins and one show-off puffin. I loved him. He walked around and preened and dove in the water. He even swam backwards for us. I tried to get photos of him, but he moved a lot.

We also saw sleepy penguins. OMGCUTE.

I went to the Y afterwards, because I’ve determined that 7-8pm is my best workout time. Unfortunately, I hardly ever go then, because I’m usually busy. So I did the elliptical for 30 minutes, then the treadmill for 25. I was walking at 4mph on a steep slope, and realized the girl next to me was jogging at the same pace as I was walking. So of course I had to try it, even though I hate running, as you know. Yet I constantly have to prove to myself that I can do it.

Running’s not enjoyable to me, even though almost every other kind of exercise is. My problem, of course, is that I race. I don’t pace myself, and then I’m about to have a stroke because my heartrate skyrockets. On the treadmill, I could force myself to go slow and not get out of breath. It was good for about a mile, until my calf started cramping. Since I can’t imagine that 45 minutes isn’t sufficient warmup time, it was probably dehydration. Anyway. One thing I noticed in the mirror that bugs the shit out of me now? When I run, I kick my heels out to the side behind me. When I walk, my feet go straight back. What the hell is that all about? It’s weird.

The Y just posted a brand new challenge, and I am a fan. It’s something about having to go to nine group fitness classes in February, and they have to be from three different categories. Like, I could do kickboxing and mat pilates and that weightlifting class. I don’t even know what the prize is, but that doesn’t matter. Competition against oneself? Count me in.

Which reminds me!! THE KNITTING OLYMPICS! I have to choose a project. A bunch of us are doing this.

OK, the post office just called to tell me that my mail wasn’t stolen. The crazyperson was nice enough to lose it before the mailman arrived.

I will end with a fundraising update! We’ve already raised more than half of what we did for the cookie event, and it’s only been three days. Don’t forget, you have until February 1st to order, and you’ll have truffles in time for Valentine’s Day. We will bring them to you if you live in the Twin Cities, or ship them if you don’t. Order now!!

10-4, good buddies. Over and out.
Jenni