One of the problems Kris and I have with working out together is that he's faster, stronger and, let's admit it, far more motivated than I am. Track workouts generally work well for us, since he can run extra sets or just rest longer while I'm finishing up. Longer distance runs haven't worked as well, since both of us essentially run by ourselves, and meetup at the end.

Kris has been training to run the 10k part of his relay team's Wildflower Triathlon this weekend, and has been running some good distances. He's tapered this week, and asked if I wanted to use my new scooter and keep up with him as he runs. We talked about whether or not it would work, and decided to give it a try. I've been to his work only a few times since he's worked there, so it would also be a good chance to see the campus.

We ended up doing three loops around the campus. I, for the most part, kept up with Kris, except when I didn't. I came in too hot on one hairpin turn and ended up in the dirt, but still standing, at one point. I also had problems on the back side with the head wind in the parking lot being so bad I could have walked faster than I scooted.

In all, the experiment was a fine success. Especially when I started pew-pew-pewing the cars that tried to cut us off.

"For someone who doesn't like to have her picture taken, you sure take a lot of pictures."

I had decided this morning that given the lack of interest I had yesterday at the design conference and the overwhelming pressure I was receiving last night to be in the office, I would do well to resign myself to writing off the conference as a learning experience (Lesson learned? Never, ever go to a conference alone again) and earn money today.

I also decided to skip lunch and work the extra two hours lunch might take. I quickly learned the folly of my decision when I realized I had left my lunch at home, so off to lunch I went, half an hour after I had arrived at work.

As we were walking into the restaurant, Doyle was humored by my camera out, and commented about all of my picture taking, while showing me how he really felt about it.

Lunch was at a brewery, where we met up with a former co-worker, who had just found a new job (lots of cheers!). For the most part, I like brewery food, but today I was especially excited about having fish and chips, which I have been, strangely enough, craving for a while now. Might have been because it's been a month since I had some last.

To prove Doyle wrong, I took a picture of myself after lunch, catching Michael just before he started panicking about where he left his sunglasses.

Um.... on my face?

On the way out the door, one of the guys noticed a Lamborghini parked across the street. As we paused to chat a few more minutes with the ex-coworker, we watched the car. We speculated about its owner, laughing and suggesting it belonged to the old guy who just exited the donut shop the car was parked in front.

To our shock, horror, amazement and delight, the car DID belong to the old guy. Several elder jokes later, we all hoped the old guy would just peel out of the lot. He didn't, but if he had, he would have been all of our hero and inspiration.

I went up to San Francisco today to attend the design conference Voices that Matter. This is one of those conferences that months ago I decided to attend for the networking opportunities with designers. I also expected to have my theme site launched by then, so as to have something to show to all of these people, an outlet for their creative work.

Unfortunately, short term issues overwhelmed my long term plans and goals, so I expected to feel out of place at the conference (developer, not a designer), to be by myself (not going with a coworker or friend), to fight tiredness (problems sleeping as of late), and to be stresed (project delivery for today).

It wasn't a good start.

Worse, I made the mistake of going to the programming sessions for the first session I attended. Let me just say this: Designers think a LOT differently than developers. Holy moly, do they think differently.

I suspect a lot of what I do, I take for granted. I hope that doesn't come back to bite me.

I recovered nicely, however, afer the fsrt session, and started attending sessions wehre I didn't know what the pseaker was talking about, session where I personally couldn't have given the talk and done a good job, with no preparation. I had a much

As of this moment, however, I've deicded not to go to another conference by myself. It just isn't worth it. Having had such a great time with jessica in Washingto, having someone to hang out with and talk and see stuff and do stuff, I have to say going to these events by myself sucks. A lot.

Kris' first cousin once removed, Zoe, came to visit us tonight. Being only a few months old, she kindly brought along her parents, Kris' cousin MikeP and cousin-in-law Rachelle. Are they now my cousins-in-law, too? Am I legally any relation to Rachelle? Because that would be cool, if I am. She, and, really, MikeP, are the kind of people you WANT to know, WANT to call friends.

At dinner, MikeP and Kris caught up on the family gossip. Rachelle chimed in a lot during the conversation, which made me realize just how distant I am from Kris' family. He doesn't really do much to change that, he himself not really engaged in his family's lives. I had to think I'm not really engaged with my family's lives, either, with the exception of my Mom and Dad. Even the brothers' day to day happenings I need to hear through one of them.

Good lord, why don't my brothers blog? It would make life so much easier for me.

Zoe was pretty much a charmer. I mean, just look at how happy Kris is to hold her:

No really, he's happy. He just needed a little girl to motiviate him. I asked what he thought about having one, you know, just for fun, to fit in with the rest of our friends, given they ALL HAVE KIDS NOW. Of course, his answer was "nah," but Rachelle picked up on my question immediately.

"She's given lots of people Baby Fever. Better watch out."

Better yet, just hand her back, lest she poops.

Went with Keebler on a hike today. We went up to Coal Wind again, it being a good hike for the dogs, as well as kids. I swear Charlotte is cuter every time I see her. I suspect it's the big brown eyes and the curly blone hair that does it. She's going to be a serious heart breaker when she grows up.

She was quite the trooper, too, running up some of the hills and even walking up one backward for an extra workout.

For the record, I never want to take Kris' dogs on a walk ever again. Gah, those dogs are so freaking ANNOYING. I'm so done with trying to herd them in the correct direction.

On a different note, I met Briscoe, Keebler's new black lab. They rescued him from the pound. He seems to be a fabulous dog.

I didn't think the hike was particularly tiresome or hard, but the dogs did,

Now, here's an example of just how badly I overschedule my life. Just as we were finishing up our hike, I received a text message from David about a HackerDojo space that was open for viewing. Having gone to the last one, and being only one of two people there, and knowing that at least David and Brian were going, I didn't think I needed to go. However, since David asked me to go in his message, I felt it necessary to go. So off I went to meet to agent who was showing the space.

With two dogs in the car.

Unable to find parking in the shade.

I took the dogs with me, and they toured a cavernous 10000 ft2 space with me. The space was awesome, but so unfinished I worried about the safety of the place. Still, I have to admit, taking two beagles on a real estate expedition is kinda fun.

Not that I'm going to walk those dogs ever again.