Since I’ve been MIA from the blog world for a bit, and when I do show up, all I write are training recaps, I figured it was time to do a little catching up. Because originality is not my strong suit, I’m writing one of those Virtual Coffee Date posts that all the cool bloggers do. Maybe it will make me a cool blogger. You know, one with readers.

If we were having coffee and catching up, here’s what I’d tell you:

First, I’d tell you that yes, I am drinking tea instead of coffee, and no, it’s not really by choice. Coffee is one of the many things not allowed on this strict diet of mine. I miss it a lot. And then I’d tell you that no, the diet doesn’t seem to be working. I thought it was, and then… it wasn’t. I go back to the RD this week, and I think she’s going to send me back to a GI doc. If we were having coffee I’d tell you that I really don’t want to spend the money for that, and I’d go on a rant about the health care system. Since we’re virtually coffee-ing, though, I can better filter myself and spare you that rant.

If we were having coffee, I’d tell you that I loved visiting Fort Collins last week. Because…

And I’d probably tell you some stories from my college days. If you’ve been reading long, you’ve heard some of them, like this one, this one, and this one, so I’d tell some others, like the time my roommate and I were setting things in the apartment on fire for fun (we were weird… and really creative with how we procrastinated) and lit a packet of red pepper on fire… and all four of us roommates coughed for hours. And maybe I’d tell a few more that the Internet doesn’t get to know.

If we were having coffee, I’d tell you that our sprinkling system is being installed this week — or it’s supposed to be, but the weather hasn’t cooperated. That means that soon, we will have grass! I can’t wait.

If were having coffee, I’d show you this picture and tell you that this juxtaposition made me laugh out loud in Barnes and Noble.

Then, since we’d be looking through my phone anyway, I’d show you this picture:

My best friend (whom you’d already know about because of the college stories) had a baby. A really, really cute baby. I intend to spoil her for-ev-er.

If we were having coffee, I’d tell you that I’m not ready for the school year to end. You’d probably roll your eyes and not believe me, but it’s true. We’ve only got 4.5 weeks left, and I feel … incomplete about this year.

If we were having coffee, I’d ask if you’d read any good books lately. I’m working on two right now: Bad Feminist,

which makes me think and makes me want to write (that’s a good thing… now, to make the time for writing) and Remember Me Like This,

the story of a boy who was abducted and returned to his family after four years. It’s heart-wrenching, but I like it so far.

Even if we were having real life, face-to-face coffee, I’d tell you to make sure to read my blog next Wednesday, because I have a really cool giveaway coming up. It’s my first giveaway, and it’s a great one! (Hint: race registration and running clothes). I’m super excited!

If we were having coffee, of course I wouldn’t do all the talking. I’d ask you what’s new with you, too. So, tell me: if we were having coffee, what would you tell me?