Focus *and* Try!

Ok - I've decided that my blog needs a focus, and, I've decided that my focus is going to be my training efforts. I could use the term "weight loss" but such a negative connotation comes to mind when I think of the word 'diet.' Not to mention, I am technically, in training. I will attempt to follow the same format on a mostly daily basis. This includes listing what I am currently training for, what my workouts have consisted of, and what I have eaten for that day. Also note, there will be a "self-confident" meter - this will rate my perception of myself for that day. It will range from 1 to 10, with a 1 being on the verge of me wishing to fall off the face of the Earth, and 10 being I couldn't be any happier to be myself and the rest of the world loves me too! I'm hoping this new format will not only keep me accountable, but maybe inspire others as well.

So, sit back, relax, and enjoy my new blog:


Training For: Springtime Tallahassee 5K

Cardio: 1.5 miles running, 5 miles biking
Weights: Shoulders - Overhead Press, Upright Row
Biceps - 7-up curls, Preacher Curls
Triceps - Triceps Extension, Triceps Press
Calories burned*: 350

Food: Breakfast - FiberOne Yogurt (80)
Lunch - Panera Bread Caesar Salad w/ whole grain baguette (650)
Dinner - Beef Stroganoff w/ whole wheat noodles (400)
Total Food: 1130

Self Confidence: 7

So, I had a good morning today. I finished my lab assignment, got bored in class, left class, picked up lunch (see, I hadn't been grocery shopping this week yet, which is usually a Sunday chore) went back to work. I ate my lunch, and started cleaning up my work computer. I'm getting a new "box" this week. I've had the same computer since I've started at my current job, and, in all honesty I'm pretty happy with it. But, me being somewhat of a computer nerd due to my background in CIS is never going to turn down the opportunity to get the next bigger and better thing. While doing so, I came across some "must keep" mp3s that were hanging out in the My Music folder - this is a big no-no! So, being the smart gal I felt myself to be, whipped out my flash drive......oh....wait....where is my flash drive?? I had it in class...I disconnected it and put it in my bag.....or, so I remember.....but now its gone. Never found it.

At least I remembered my sports bra today.

Today was my first day at the gym this week (because yesterday I forgot to pack a sports bra!). I was only semi-motivated to go. Mainly because, I had to go grocery shopping. And, I hate grocery shopping on weekdays. It cuts into my "me" time, which, is a rare commodity (ah, just wait till I have kids! That my friends is another post all in itself). Usually, my schedule is:

work: 7-4:30
gym: 4:30-5:30
me time: 5:30 - 8ish (sometimes 7:30)
dinner w/Steve: 8-8:30
8:30-10: Miscellaneous time with Steve

Anyway, lately Steve's been so busy at work, he hasn't had time to hit the gym on a regular basis, so, my schedule looks more like:

work: 7-4:30
gym: 4:30-5:30
me time: 5:30 - 6:30
dinner w/Steve: 6:30-7
7-10: Miscellaneous time with Steve

Now, don't get me wrong, I love my husband and I love doing things with him, but, I really really enjoy my 2 hour of 'me time' everyday. It has been cut to an hour, sometimes 30 minutes. I use this time to unwind, prep dinner, maybe blast my ipod and pretend I'm good at singing, practicing my violin/piano. But, today, grocery shopping cut into my 'me time.'

Anyway, I keep forgetting I'm trying to focus on my training efforts. The gym was good. I'd like to have gotten a little more cardio in, but, seeing as how I had to grocery shop, spending more time at the gym was not an option. My knees felt so-so today. Some of you may know, I've struggled with sports & crappy joints pretty much since my shoulder popped during swim practice in 8th grade. My mom calls them "lax" joints - in layman's terms - I have more 'space' around my joints than I should, therefore, they move around when they shouldn't, making them sore, painful, and quite annoying! I've been diagnosed with supraspinatus tendinitis, patellae tendinitis, chronic rhomboid strain (due to my supraspinatus tendinitis), and most recently, chondromalacia. If you don't know what those are, google them. Basically, the competition gods are against me. Which, if you know me for any period of time you will soon learn I am highly competitive and I HATE losing. And, I especially hate to lose because of some stupid reason like "I can't train because my knee hurts" Ugh, that is the worst. Now, I am not so stubborn that I won't follow doctor's orders, but, I am stubborn enough to where once I start feeling good, you better believe I'm back in the game. I'm sure when I'm 40 and have the knees of a 75yr old I'll regret it, but, I won't regret competing in my first triathlon at 30 years old, that's for sure!

One of my guilty pleasures

I'll admit it - I can be a nerd at times. And, one of my nerdy qualities other than things such as sudoku and crosswords are brain teasers and puzzles.

Awhile back (probably more than a year ago) my coworker came across this website called "Clue Chaser" - if you want to check it out, you can do so by clicking here. Anyway, ever since we've been collaborating on the different games and puzzles found within. Recently, the designer has published a 3-part clue hunting series, each which build upon each other. Just like a good soap opera, you do have to wait until next week to see the conclusion - only in this case, the "next week" being figurative for "when the next puzzles get published."

Anyway, the 3rd and final series is being published sometime in February. If you're into these kinds of things and are nerdy like me, maybe you'll like it. I will warn you, these are not easy puzzles. The games themselves can take days to weeks to solve - but I think that's part of the fun. Check out the teaser videos for the third and final portion of the current game, and if they seem interesting enough, go to the site and check out some of the sample puzzles, or work your way through games 1 and 2.

This is MY year!

So, I figure since its the new year, its time to address my "resolutions" or so-called "goals" for the new year:

1. Finish my Master's **cop out goal - there is no way I won't be doing this - I figure its good to start out small
   
   
2. Improve my 5K time and finish under 30 minutes (and then some) **I'm already working on this
   
   
3. Travel outside of the US **while a semi-cop out, Canada and Mexico will count - so long as the visit is considered part of a vacation - my real goal is Jamaica, and possibly Japan to visit my brother.
   
   
4. Get back to my "Pre-Florida" weight **The South has taken a toll on my health since moving here, and taught me bad eating habits. You can love through food, but, please, make it healthy food!!!
   
   
5. Prove to the world (or at least my friends) that 30 is the new 20 - except I can drink (legally!) **For those of you who don't know, I turn 30 this year, and I plan to enjoy every last second of it - and you all better come to the super sweet bomb-diggity party I expect Steve to throw me (someone might want to let him know about that)
   
   
6. Become more well-read **This was a resolution I had last year, but school got caught in the way, so I only have 5 months of that excuse this year, I need to read more - makes me smarter and more interesting!
   
   
7. Spend more time in my music **Again, for those of you who don't know, I play violin, piano and guitar - well, I'm still semi-learning piano and guitar, so I need to brush up on those skills, and then re-harness my super sweet violin skills, maybe play at church a few times for fun and practice my quintet music regularly! No, Rock Band and/or Guitar Hero will NOT count!
   
   
8. Get ahead in my career (kind of goes along with goal #1) **In essence, find a job that respects my education and my experience. This includes interviewing in potential new locations such as Chicago, Boston, DC, and Upstate NY.
   
   
9. Participate in a triathalon **I write 'participate' vs. 'compete' because, I may or may not already have lined up a team sprint triathalon - if however, one of the gals can't make it, then, I plan to do it myself - in total! Of course, I'll rock the swimming portion, do great on the biking, then, pray I don't die on the running portion (why does it have to be LAST?)
   

Anyway, I'm sure I'll add to this list, and as time passes by I will get to cross things off, but until them, this is where I am.

Hippie No Ear to Everyone!

So, how's it goin'?

Its been awhile since I've written anything.  I'm not the type of person to blog on a regular basis, though, I do go through phases.  Generally, if I don't write anything, its mainly because I'm lazy, or, nothing really exciting has happened lately.  Which, I guess is a good thing because that means life is DRAMA-FREE, which is always something to celebrate. 

 

I am however super excited that its the holiday season.  I think November/December is my favorite time of the year.  While, I absolutely LOVE Halloween and October in general, nothing is more satisfying that decorating my house for Christmas.  I've always had good memories of Christmas ever since I was a little whipper snapper and got to be in the Christmas pagents and stuff.  Not to mention, Christmas and Easter were always the two times of the year my mom would make me a super fancy dress to wear to church.  We always went to the Christmas/Easter Eve services, so it was almost like going out to a formal event as a 10 or 11 year old.  In fact, here is a photo of one of the many many dresses my mom made me.  I think I was 12.  I still love royal blue to this day, (and, it was not surprisingly the color of my bridesmaid dresses). 

 

**Side Note: I am posting this blog from work.  Therefore, photo will be scanned and blog will be updated at a later date.  Until then, enjoy this fascinating description of my blue dress:

 

It was long, and royal blue (as previously stated).  I think it was some sort of silky/satin material.  It had the great long poofy bubble sleeves, typical to the late 80s, early 90s.  It was mostly plain in the front with the exception of a lace "V" secion on the front of my (then non-existent) chest.  The back, however, had a huge bow above my butt, and under my butt were 3-4 tiers of lacy ruffles!!

 

While I don't get quite as jazzed up for church at this day and age, there is always the Mainline Christmas formal to look forward to. And, I have yet to find a royal blue dress to wear to this event, though, I its not from lack of trying.  I pretty much love bright colors in general.  Probably why half of our house is either painted red or filled with red furniture.  Our guest bedroom is aqua blue, and, at some point our office will be "Green and Gold" - cheesy enough it will be our "CSU Room," but its mostly to spite all our Seminole fan friends, and to emphasize that CSU is NOT in Boulder, nor are we the Buffalos!!  Seriously, I'm going to start responding to that question with "Is FSU in Gainesville?" or, "FSU...they're the Gators right?"  Yes, it *is* that insulting.

 

Anywhoo....the real reason I'm writing anything is because I'm deathly bored at work.  No surprise there.  Only one more semester until I officially have a graduate degree and can hopefully find a better job where people with higher education actually move UP in the world, instead of ass-kissers and idiots who don't use proper grammar during formal meetings.  While its probably not the ideal time to be looking for a job, hopefully someone out there will realize that intelligence AND experience is worth a damn!

 

 

 

 

Golden Key and Dishwashers

    Two interesting things have been going on lately.  I'll do the typical "bad news first" - our dishwasher broke.  It hasn't worked since late September.  Luckily, we have a home warranty from when we bought our house.  So, we call, set up an appointment for Tuesday October 7th (anytime between 2 and 4pm - to which they didn't even show up till 4:30pm). Supposedly, we need a new water pump, so they said they'd order it, and it would arrive in a few days, and the next week things would be taken care of...as in, by Tuesday the next week.  The technician even told me they would call by that Thursday to schedule the appointment.  Well, the follow up appointment the next week was never made.  So, I was patient and waited a full week, called, and apparently the part hadn't come in yet, but was due Wednesday the *next* week (October 22nd).  So, frustrated, I accepted that, and made an appointment for them to come out on that day and install the new part.  Well, the 22nd rolls around and around 8am the repair office called me saying that a technician was out sick with strep throat. Fantastic.  I was sligtly miffed, becasue at this point we were going on 2-3 weeks without a dishwasher (ah, our dependence on technology) - but, what could I do - get mad because someone was sick?  Anyway, we rescheduled for Saturday the 25th.  I made sure to have them call us before they came over just in case we were out of the house.  Well, Saturday rolls around, and we stayed home cleaning house all morning.  No call, and no one showed.  Around 4:30 - we got tired of waiting, and, went to Momo's for a late lunch/early dinner.  I call back Monday morning explaining how no one showed up or called, and, she said that the technician said that they knocked on the door, and no one answered...?!?  Why, it is quite possible that they did show up *right* at 4:30 - I was still ticked since I explicitly asked them to call me before they came over.  So, once again, we rescheduled for Wednesday the 29th (yesterday) for the "last call" appointment - meaning, they would be there by 4pm since that's when their office closed.  Well, yesterday they called me at 1:30 asking if I was at home and available.  I told them no, because I was at work, and couldn't take time off until my originally scheduled 4pm appointment.  They acted confused, and just said "ok" and then we hung up.  Well, I left work around 3:30 to be sure that I'm home well before 4pm in case they try to pull a fast one on me and get there early.  So, I hang out.  5:30pm rolls around and no one has shown up.  So, I call the office - and of course its closed, so I left a long message explaining that I've been waiting an hour and a half, no one has shown up, they called earlier asking if I was available and I said no, but they implied they were still going to show up that afternoon.  So, the office gal calls me back this morning giving me new information.  Apparently, someone left the office at 4pm, and told her that they were headed to our house to install the part on our dishwasher.  Now she knows they didn't show - and, its starting to sound as if the incident last Saturday with "no one answered the door" is turing out to be bogus.  So, we're trying again tomorrow, and she said if she had to ride out there herself with the guy to be sure he gets there, she will!

 

    Now, for the "good news" - about a month ago I received an invitation to join the "Golden Key International Honour Society."  I was invited because my performance in grad school put me in the top 15% of my class (to which, I am proud to admit I currently hold a 4.0 more than halfway through my graduate studies).  So, I toyed with the idea for awhile, debating since, I knew I couldn't entirely commit to campus organazations since I'm a full-time employee and a part-time student.  But, I decided to go ahead and join because, its not everyday someone recognizes your academic excellence.  Well, last night was the induction ceremony.  Nothing super crazy or fancy, but, it was really cool to be there and see all these super smart people, and get to meet some distiniguished faculty members too.  Not to mention, I got this sweet certificate (that funny enough looks almost like a diploma or degree) that I want to frame and put in my office.  Its already on my resume, and I found out that the Federal Government will bump you up a pay grade level just for having Golden Key on your resume.  I wonder if I could talk the State into doing the same (haha - fat chance).  Either way, I'm generally fairly modest about my performance in school - mainly because I find my coursework fairly easy due to the fact I have 5 years of experience in my field, but, I decided that it's ok to be proud of my accomplishments whether or not I think they were "easy" - because, when I think about it, there are people in my classes that scored a D or worse on our first exams, so, not everything comes easily to everyone.  Now - if I can just keep my GPA up and make it to graduation with a 4.0, *that* would be sweet!

Its Been Awhile...

And, a lot has happened since my last blog, but, I just haven't found the time or energy to sit down and type it all out.  Here is a condensed version:

 

Cat slashed my face

Finished the floors (still need to touch up)

Finished the guest bedroom (still needs decor)

My mom came for a visit

She bought us a grill & patio set (I'll post photos later)

Celebrated Cinco de Mayo/Friend's birthday

 

Sorry for the lack of details...I'll work on posting more frequently as events arise.  We're going back to CO for a baptism (we're going to be godparents!) so I'll blog about our trip when we get back for sure. :)

Gotta love animals!

Our cats are so funny!