Anna Be.

Image by ¡Viva la Cynthia! via Flickr A bit of background: this summer I started my first semester toward a master's in library information science from the University of North Texas . The two classes I'm taking -- Intro to Information Professions and Intro to Information Organization -- start with several days of lecture, and the rest of the semester is totally online. So I left for Denton (near Dallas) last Wednesday. I really had no idea what to expect, but I took a stack of magazines and books a foot high because I'd be reading a lot, right? Nope, didn't crack a single one. For five days, I was in lectures from 8 to 5. Then I was back at Image via Wikipedia the hotel trying to grasp the Everest of assignments I'm expected to do in the next month and a half. It was like we were all dumped at the start line of a marathon, expected to sprint to the end and then, btw, you can train for all this after we're done. I spent first 10 miles going, omgwtf????...

Image via Wikipedia two upcoming themes for Somerset Studios: aubergine and Alice in Wonderland.

Image via Wikipedia I am so addicted to food, I am panicking at the thought of not eating anything but fruit today! So far I've had juice, cherries, cantaloupe and apricots. It's making me grouchy, but I haven't cracked yet. Still, I'm wishing Nick would not be supportive of this challenge and would instead take me out for a steak and fries. mmm.

Image by Carol Moshier via Flickr After two hell weeks at work and lots of junky food during the off hours, it's time to clean up my act. I thought it would be a good idea to start the summer with a 9-day detox. It starts tomorrow with all fruit for a day, then all fruits and vegetables for a day. Then the next seven days, only fruits, vegetables, whole grains, seeds, nuts and fish. Also, exercise and yoga everyday, plus some hydrotherapy and massage. I'll try to write about it the whole way through to keep on track. Also, we are starting tonight and watching all of Lost straight through from the beginning.

Image via Wikipedia Right now, Nick is 30 minutes into an all-day test, a major career-defining moment (no pressure, babe.) This stinking test, which is the brass ring at the near-end of a 6-year carousel ride, has eclipsed everything for months. When he doesn't have to study for hours a day, I might get to see what my husband's hobbies are. That's why after it's over today, we are going to Austin to celebrate for a few days (celebrate the test being over and Nick's 32nd birthday.) But now, I have to get ready for work.

Image by Getty Images via Daylife Earlier this year, I held a contest challenging students to read (and write about) books on the Modern Library 100 Best Novels list. The sad truth is I've only read about 10 of these books myself. Today I was inspired to change that. Does anyone else want to give it a try? I also want to read more from the nonfiction list . This is also a fantastic list . If anyone wants to informally read from these lists and talk about the books, I will create an online book club! But not where we pick one book and everyone has to read it. Totally informal, just reading what you feel like and talking about it.

Let me tell you about the last two 5ks I did before yesterday. They were in November 2008 and 2007, both at my husband's workplace, a gorgeous wooded compound not far from where we live. Both times I ached and hobbled all the way to the end with very little running. Both times I had frequent moments of cursing myself for thinking I could do anything so fit or active. And at the heart of it I felt ashamed for being so weak. The physical pain and emotional insecurity made them unenjoyable, made me unable to even feel proud when they were over. I just felt frustrated that I couldn't do better. I didn't know until yesterday's Race for the Cure was over how much better it would be. I wanted to run. And when it was over I wanted to run some more. (Not at that moment, but you know, in the future.) That desire to run in the future will be important for that little ol' half-marathon in November, see? Right now my desire is to run twice a week and weight train four ...