Hello All,
I got so caught up in reading everyone's blogs that I now have 30 min to type. I xt yesterday and ran this morning. Saw that white van again. It stopped at the side of the road as I approached but then continued on past me. My extremely bright yellow shirt might have intimidated him, kind of like the animals in the wild when they flare out their exhuberant colors to deter would-be agressors.
I was unsure of what to write, so I'll just tell you the first thing on my mind. Someone in this library is either eating lasagna or just smells like it. Either way I am starving. It stems from the PMS, I'm sure. I eat anything and everything if I am not careful. But if any of you want to get my attention...food! That's all it takes. Free food. I'm easy. If men smelled like food, fuhgedaboutit. I sometimes dab a little worchestshire behind my ears when I go on a blind date.... just kidding.
Anyway, I've been told to get off the computer. More next time.
Let them eat cake!!
Monday, February 28, 2005
Thursday, February 24, 2005
Whistle while you run.
Good Evening,
Hope all of you had a productive day. I was invited to go drinking this evening with the girls from work, but I opted to come to the library and blog a little. When I returned my book and videos the clerk told me I had a $6 fine for the videos being late... shoulda went drinking. Anyway, with puppy-dog eyes she let me on the computer. I should buy her a cake.
I finally was able to run this morning. Couldn't run the hills because the hamstrings were still tight, but I walked up the hills. It is pretty quiet in the neighborhood behind my apartments. I usually run around 5 or 5:30 in the a.m. (I'm a morning person.) It's dark and serene with a lot of hills. I had planned only to run the straight-a-ways this morning, but I had to go over at least the first hill in the community. There are usually a few cars of early-birds going to work. At the bottom of the hill I could hear a vehicle approaching from behind. I neared a side street and slowed down noticing the engine's growl slow - meaning it was going to turn on the aforementioned side street. The driver pulled up parallel to the street with signal light on and waited. I was annoyed at first that now I had to speed up on an incline, until I noticed it was a white Econoline van. Very similar to the kind in all the early 80's movies where the kidnappers pull-up, open the sliding door and snatch an unsuspecting kid or woman. I jogged past and the car made it's turn. I assumed that the person was a worker going to one of the new houses being built a few streets down. I ran on, turning right into the new community when I noticed headlights behind me. I immediately thought, 'what would WonderWoman do'? As luck would have it, logic stepped in and suggested that if the van pulls-up to quickly do a 180 and run like there was free food at a 75% sale. The lights disappeared and I continued, just thankful I didn't have to speed up. Rounding the corner, I could hear a diesel engine in the distance. At the end of the long road a large truck outlined with red light pulling a metal trailer came into view. I suddenly remembered my co-worker telling me about a show she saw on the History Channel about Butchers and how there is a traveling butcher in a truck that pulls his trailer behind him. By now I know what you're thinking. Am I carrying mace, a tazer gun... no. But I do have a whistle. Yes. Because if something happens, I am waking the WHOLE neighbor hood up to be my witness. The way I figure it, they'll be so mad, they'll have to find out what it was that disturbed their slumber. Needlesstosay, it was only a construction worker going to one of the new homes.
Overall the run was great. Only two panic attacks this time and no stray dogs. I can't wait when I start running twice as long. In the mean time I am going to have to find a longer route with flat terrain, these hills are wearing me out.
Hope all of you had a productive day. I was invited to go drinking this evening with the girls from work, but I opted to come to the library and blog a little. When I returned my book and videos the clerk told me I had a $6 fine for the videos being late... shoulda went drinking. Anyway, with puppy-dog eyes she let me on the computer. I should buy her a cake.
I finally was able to run this morning. Couldn't run the hills because the hamstrings were still tight, but I walked up the hills. It is pretty quiet in the neighborhood behind my apartments. I usually run around 5 or 5:30 in the a.m. (I'm a morning person.) It's dark and serene with a lot of hills. I had planned only to run the straight-a-ways this morning, but I had to go over at least the first hill in the community. There are usually a few cars of early-birds going to work. At the bottom of the hill I could hear a vehicle approaching from behind. I neared a side street and slowed down noticing the engine's growl slow - meaning it was going to turn on the aforementioned side street. The driver pulled up parallel to the street with signal light on and waited. I was annoyed at first that now I had to speed up on an incline, until I noticed it was a white Econoline van. Very similar to the kind in all the early 80's movies where the kidnappers pull-up, open the sliding door and snatch an unsuspecting kid or woman. I jogged past and the car made it's turn. I assumed that the person was a worker going to one of the new houses being built a few streets down. I ran on, turning right into the new community when I noticed headlights behind me. I immediately thought, 'what would WonderWoman do'? As luck would have it, logic stepped in and suggested that if the van pulls-up to quickly do a 180 and run like there was free food at a 75% sale. The lights disappeared and I continued, just thankful I didn't have to speed up. Rounding the corner, I could hear a diesel engine in the distance. At the end of the long road a large truck outlined with red light pulling a metal trailer came into view. I suddenly remembered my co-worker telling me about a show she saw on the History Channel about Butchers and how there is a traveling butcher in a truck that pulls his trailer behind him. By now I know what you're thinking. Am I carrying mace, a tazer gun... no. But I do have a whistle. Yes. Because if something happens, I am waking the WHOLE neighbor hood up to be my witness. The way I figure it, they'll be so mad, they'll have to find out what it was that disturbed their slumber. Needlesstosay, it was only a construction worker going to one of the new homes.
Overall the run was great. Only two panic attacks this time and no stray dogs. I can't wait when I start running twice as long. In the mean time I am going to have to find a longer route with flat terrain, these hills are wearing me out.
Tuesday, February 22, 2005
AB-ROLLER K.O.'s Terrorism.
Hello everyone!
I must admit, I have been anxious to blog since my last. This is getting slightly addictive.
Anyway, I managed to exercise a little during my Drill last weekend. The military is an interesting beast. Currently, the Navy Reserve is trying to downsize approximately 8,000 reservists. Why? I couldn't tell you. Brilliantly, they have decided the best way to do this is by finally implementing one of their rules that has been overlooked for quite some time now. This rule falls under the physical fitness standards. Specifically, any person failing a physical fitness test three times in a four year period will be discharged from the Navy. (This includes if they miss these tests three times in a row due to a medical inability.) And so, we are left to face the mind boggling question, "Should I stay or should I go?" Let me start from the beginning.
Each of us were born with traits that we aquired from either parent. Being born of a Japanese Mother and an African American Father, during the gestation period...it's pretty much a toss up.
My Mother was a petite 4' 11" woman. My Father is a stout 5' 8". And I know you're thinking, I should fall comfortably in the middle. Well, the lower half of me is my stocky Father and the upper is my Petite mother. Quizzically I am not the only one like this, which reaffirms my childhood belief that everyone was a little mixed up like me. I am the quintessential Pear-shape. Fastforward 30 years.
The Navy's Physical Readiness Test, PRT, consists of push-ups, crunches, and a mile and a half run. All of which I can complete just fine. The catch is if you are over the weight standard for your height - 5' 5"/30 yrs old/=160; you must be tape measured to see if you're in body fat standards. No problem...for a jalapeno on a stick! Women are tape measured around the neck, smallest part of the waist and around the widest circumference of the hips. So unless I swallow a bowling ball, remove a rib and perform do-it-yourself lipo, I'm perfect for the downsizing - no pun intended.
Whew! I said all that to say... the Lieutenant that leads our Fitness Enhancement Program, FEP, is like a Jack Russell with ADHD that lifts weights and in dire need valium. She's 5' 2" and all muscle. She led our cross-training day. We did cardio, then moved to the floor mats. It was then that your evil twin began to emerge. (She might be schizophrenic too.) She excitedly displays her AB-ROLLER. For those of you who don't know what this is, it is a small wheel with handle bars on each side. You crouch down on your knees and you roll forward extending your body forward as far as you can go, and then back. Each one of us must do as many as we can, twice. Despite the chilled blank stares, she begins. Whoever invented this torture device would be proud of this little fireball of a Lieutenant. She rolled forward, rolled to the left, rolled to the right, all the while talking! After watching the first few crumble as victims to the pain, it was my turn. I...rolled...forward...about two feet...and stopped. How in the world do I get back! Summoning every muscle I had to act, I managed to return to the starting postion. (Should I be activated and called to go to Iraq, I'd go and do my duty. Should I have to fight and fire my weapon, I'd do so to the utmost of my ability. Should I get captured, I'd endure the interrogating and torture. But if the enemy so much as brought out an AB-ROLLER and forced me to do it while questioning me, I have to say; I'd tell them everything!)
Needless to say today is day two of no running but I can now bend forward and touch my toes!
In summary, Pear shaped women are best not in the military. Having been born of mixed descent, I speak from experience, everyone is just as mixed up as me. And lastly, if America wants to win the war on terrorism, they should invest in the AB-ROLLER.
I must admit, I have been anxious to blog since my last. This is getting slightly addictive.
Anyway, I managed to exercise a little during my Drill last weekend. The military is an interesting beast. Currently, the Navy Reserve is trying to downsize approximately 8,000 reservists. Why? I couldn't tell you. Brilliantly, they have decided the best way to do this is by finally implementing one of their rules that has been overlooked for quite some time now. This rule falls under the physical fitness standards. Specifically, any person failing a physical fitness test three times in a four year period will be discharged from the Navy. (This includes if they miss these tests three times in a row due to a medical inability.) And so, we are left to face the mind boggling question, "Should I stay or should I go?" Let me start from the beginning.
Each of us were born with traits that we aquired from either parent. Being born of a Japanese Mother and an African American Father, during the gestation period...it's pretty much a toss up.
My Mother was a petite 4' 11" woman. My Father is a stout 5' 8". And I know you're thinking, I should fall comfortably in the middle. Well, the lower half of me is my stocky Father and the upper is my Petite mother. Quizzically I am not the only one like this, which reaffirms my childhood belief that everyone was a little mixed up like me. I am the quintessential Pear-shape. Fastforward 30 years.
The Navy's Physical Readiness Test, PRT, consists of push-ups, crunches, and a mile and a half run. All of which I can complete just fine. The catch is if you are over the weight standard for your height - 5' 5"/30 yrs old/=160; you must be tape measured to see if you're in body fat standards. No problem...for a jalapeno on a stick! Women are tape measured around the neck, smallest part of the waist and around the widest circumference of the hips. So unless I swallow a bowling ball, remove a rib and perform do-it-yourself lipo, I'm perfect for the downsizing - no pun intended.
Whew! I said all that to say... the Lieutenant that leads our Fitness Enhancement Program, FEP, is like a Jack Russell with ADHD that lifts weights and in dire need valium. She's 5' 2" and all muscle. She led our cross-training day. We did cardio, then moved to the floor mats. It was then that your evil twin began to emerge. (She might be schizophrenic too.) She excitedly displays her AB-ROLLER. For those of you who don't know what this is, it is a small wheel with handle bars on each side. You crouch down on your knees and you roll forward extending your body forward as far as you can go, and then back. Each one of us must do as many as we can, twice. Despite the chilled blank stares, she begins. Whoever invented this torture device would be proud of this little fireball of a Lieutenant. She rolled forward, rolled to the left, rolled to the right, all the while talking! After watching the first few crumble as victims to the pain, it was my turn. I...rolled...forward...about two feet...and stopped. How in the world do I get back! Summoning every muscle I had to act, I managed to return to the starting postion. (Should I be activated and called to go to Iraq, I'd go and do my duty. Should I have to fight and fire my weapon, I'd do so to the utmost of my ability. Should I get captured, I'd endure the interrogating and torture. But if the enemy so much as brought out an AB-ROLLER and forced me to do it while questioning me, I have to say; I'd tell them everything!)
Needless to say today is day two of no running but I can now bend forward and touch my toes!
In summary, Pear shaped women are best not in the military. Having been born of mixed descent, I speak from experience, everyone is just as mixed up as me. And lastly, if America wants to win the war on terrorism, they should invest in the AB-ROLLER.
Wednesday, February 16, 2005
Negative thoughts, be damned!
Hello and Happy Hump-day, as they say at work.
First off, thank you Dock and Alice for your words of wisdom and advice. I really do appreciate it. And now, on with the show.
I have come to believe that each week in our lives, if not individual days, provides a lesson to be learned. Sometimes quite blatant- like everything at work has gone wrong and you wish you could just scream. Or they can be rather oblique, never being noticed until days,weeks or months later. So I do my best every week to try and recognize a specific theme that has entered my daily routine. (Sometimes they arrive indirectly via someone else's complaint.)
This week's lesson, Holding on to unnecessary baggage. I think we all do this, I know I do. In some ways, this baggage can be like a a safety net. A young woman I know is in a drama-filled relationship. They're still together, but it is not the first time the same problem has occurred. I wanted to help with kind words, but the first thought I had was, "Am I holding on to something I probably could do without?" I think for me, I am holding on to much of the negativity in my past. The mistakes I made, the less traveled roads the resulted in a cul-de-sac or dead end. It's a double-edged sword because without those moments, I would never have learned, but at the same time, I find it hard to forgive myself and let go. But I am trying. A few years ago, I wouldn't have joined this group because I wouldn't have been able to carry all my luggage. I've managed to dwindle it down to a tote and carry-on. I am working my way to a fanny pack.
So, negative thoughts, be damned! It's positivity from here on out. I will improve and I will finish that marathon.
Unfortunately I won't see you this weekend. I have drill with my Reserve unit, but I'll see all of you next weekend. Take care and wog for me a little!
Michelle
First off, thank you Dock and Alice for your words of wisdom and advice. I really do appreciate it. And now, on with the show.
I have come to believe that each week in our lives, if not individual days, provides a lesson to be learned. Sometimes quite blatant- like everything at work has gone wrong and you wish you could just scream. Or they can be rather oblique, never being noticed until days,weeks or months later. So I do my best every week to try and recognize a specific theme that has entered my daily routine. (Sometimes they arrive indirectly via someone else's complaint.)
This week's lesson, Holding on to unnecessary baggage. I think we all do this, I know I do. In some ways, this baggage can be like a a safety net. A young woman I know is in a drama-filled relationship. They're still together, but it is not the first time the same problem has occurred. I wanted to help with kind words, but the first thought I had was, "Am I holding on to something I probably could do without?" I think for me, I am holding on to much of the negativity in my past. The mistakes I made, the less traveled roads the resulted in a cul-de-sac or dead end. It's a double-edged sword because without those moments, I would never have learned, but at the same time, I find it hard to forgive myself and let go. But I am trying. A few years ago, I wouldn't have joined this group because I wouldn't have been able to carry all my luggage. I've managed to dwindle it down to a tote and carry-on. I am working my way to a fanny pack.
So, negative thoughts, be damned! It's positivity from here on out. I will improve and I will finish that marathon.
Unfortunately I won't see you this weekend. I have drill with my Reserve unit, but I'll see all of you next weekend. Take care and wog for me a little!
Michelle
Monday, February 14, 2005
Happy Valentine's Day all!
After having run my first 5k on Saturday and making myself run the levy at the YMCA afterward, I noticed a difference. All that time, I had been running the same route forward and backward, but always within the same time frame. Unknowingly, I managed to push myself over that hurdle of surpassing the average 30 minutes run to the next level. I ran this morning for 45 mins at a slow pace, but was not so winded in the beginning and finally reached that 'second wind' I had been waiting for on all the previous runs. (I guess it helps if you run long enough to merit a second wind muchless break wind.)
I have also stopped trying to coax my friends into participating in any kind of activity whatsoever. I know I have all of you to do this adventure with, but it just would have been nice to have a close buddy to share in the experience. Oh well... (one has half of a foot due to a childhood bout with cancer, so I can understand her less than enthusiastic behavior.) Mind you, these friends are rather new friends - less than a year has been invested in the relationships. I am the kind of person that is always trying to improve in some form or fashion. To move forward rather than stay in the same rut over and over again. Having said that, I want to ask anyone of you who are reading this, a question. If any of you have experienced having friends who are not interested in 'moving forward', how do you handle moving forward without them and still keep them by your side?
I look forward to all of your insightful advice and candid honesty.
Michelle
After having run my first 5k on Saturday and making myself run the levy at the YMCA afterward, I noticed a difference. All that time, I had been running the same route forward and backward, but always within the same time frame. Unknowingly, I managed to push myself over that hurdle of surpassing the average 30 minutes run to the next level. I ran this morning for 45 mins at a slow pace, but was not so winded in the beginning and finally reached that 'second wind' I had been waiting for on all the previous runs. (I guess it helps if you run long enough to merit a second wind muchless break wind.)
I have also stopped trying to coax my friends into participating in any kind of activity whatsoever. I know I have all of you to do this adventure with, but it just would have been nice to have a close buddy to share in the experience. Oh well... (one has half of a foot due to a childhood bout with cancer, so I can understand her less than enthusiastic behavior.) Mind you, these friends are rather new friends - less than a year has been invested in the relationships. I am the kind of person that is always trying to improve in some form or fashion. To move forward rather than stay in the same rut over and over again. Having said that, I want to ask anyone of you who are reading this, a question. If any of you have experienced having friends who are not interested in 'moving forward', how do you handle moving forward without them and still keep them by your side?
I look forward to all of your insightful advice and candid honesty.
Michelle
Saturday, February 12, 2005
Do you feel me now?...
This morning I was eager to run my first 5K run/walk race, not that I would be racing. I found the campus of St. Andrew's quite easily, but felt awkward the whole time. I had gotten my packet and number and went to my car. There were a lot more people than I had expected and I kept noticing their runner apparell. In my rolled-up-at-the-knee workout pants, and Pepsi sweater, I felt like I had a spotlight on me though I knew better. There were a few that looked like me, vaguely lost but dressed for a purpose. I approached two of them and asked them if the race would begin here. Politely they pointed to the bright yellow placard with the words 'Starting line' emblazoned on the front. Luckily this was not the first time I've had one of those moments, so I held up pretty well. The announcer bellowed in his bullhorn,"25 minutes." Damn! Now I had 25 minutes to ponder. It was a good thing I didn't know the course or I would have psyched myself out. I saw people bringing their dogs on the run. I am use to seeing Labs and other such larger dogs on runs, but someone brought their very rotund hound dog. He was the size of both my thighs put together. One would think that he wasn't very agile or fast but his legs had to be strong to hold him up and since he was so low to the ground, aerodynamically, he probably could take me on the home stretch.
When the race started, they called for all the runners first. I had a moment to consider whether I should just fall back into the walking group, but my ego won out and I stepped forward with the runners. A woman looking somewhat angry was walking toward me. Out of habit I turned three-quarters away from her to avoid direct acknowledgement, but she headed straight for me, staring me down. I side-stepped. She wisped past still holding her stare on me. I let her pass without a word, but an unenthusiastic smile. Two seconds later, she wisps past me again back to where she had originally come from. Immediately I wondered if this was her M.O.. Did she frequent 5K races just to pick someone out of the crowd to stare them down in hopes of intimidating them to a loss or slower time. Is there one of these at every race? I was slightly unnerved.
The race began on a slight upgrade. My ankle had a sudden twinge of pain, but I ignored it. (I hadn't told my body that I was running in the race.) I was winded at the half-mile point because to the mole hill we started on. I quickly did a function check on all extremities. My feet went numb or I tied my laces too tight. Ignored that too. I suddenly realized that everyone had passed me. No worries, I had resigned my slowness to that of an old car that needed to warm up before getting up to speed. That was until I heard a faint jingling sound behind me. Is that a dog leash I hear? My heart sank. The aerodynamically blessed hound dog was catching up to me! And so early in the race. The jingling kept teasing me, getting closer, then backing away. I thought of farting to keep him at bay, but I thought better of it since it might make he and his owner mad and both would pass me. At about the mile marker, the jingling reached me. I took a deep breath and turned to meet the best canine. To my surprise it was chocolate lab. I felt so relieved. I could deal with a lab beating me. But then I realized the owner had the leash wrapped around her waist! The dog was pulling her! Note to self: get a dog for the marathon.
Then to add insult to injury, two men who looked to be in their 60's passed me. I know what you're thinking, but they were part of the 5k walkers group. Do you feel me now?
All throughout the course, volunteers directed and cheered with their cars parked a few feet away playing music. The music up to the two mile marker was upbeat and inspiring, until Mile Marker 2. The voluteer greeted me with a smile, verbally coaxing me along when I recognized the tune in his truck. "With or without youuuu" blared from the speakers. I wondered if it was subliminal or a sign. As if God were saying "Everyone is going to finish with or without you. Which would you rather it be?" It was at that point that I learned that it was never about how fast I ran the race, how I had dressed for it, or if a dog beat me. (Well, maybe a little on the dog thing...) But what matter most was that I finished, finished what I had started.
Two and a half miles, the home stretch. The volunteer at that corner was very cheerful. I could hear him way before I got to him. I made it a point to give them a smile or headnod in thanks. Just as I approached him, he and the Policeman guarding the intersection shouted," Way to go! Five-fifteen! Way to go! Five-fifteen. How cruel. The guy at the 2 mile marker told me 22 minutes and this guy thinks he can cheer me up by telling me a false time! But wait, he doesn't have a watch. Oh! He had been calling out the number I had fastened to my chest. I never even payed attention to what number I was.
By now I have reached the home stretch. A lady that had started out ahead of me, and whom I had passed earlier in the race had now reached her second wind and began passing me. I turned and smiled, but she looked more tired than me and never acknowledged me. She had quite a cheering section that started a quarter-mile from the finish line. I kept telling myself, "just finish". Then I saw the time clock in the distance. My ego came back to life. "Don't let that woman beat you!" "Everyone is watching!" With a spurt of ego-energy, I raced past her, revoking that kind smile I had given her before and replacing with an 'eat-my-dust' sprint. I guess I let my competitive nature get the best of me, but it became clear to me what made this all worthwhile.... free cookies!
When the race started, they called for all the runners first. I had a moment to consider whether I should just fall back into the walking group, but my ego won out and I stepped forward with the runners. A woman looking somewhat angry was walking toward me. Out of habit I turned three-quarters away from her to avoid direct acknowledgement, but she headed straight for me, staring me down. I side-stepped. She wisped past still holding her stare on me. I let her pass without a word, but an unenthusiastic smile. Two seconds later, she wisps past me again back to where she had originally come from. Immediately I wondered if this was her M.O.. Did she frequent 5K races just to pick someone out of the crowd to stare them down in hopes of intimidating them to a loss or slower time. Is there one of these at every race? I was slightly unnerved.
The race began on a slight upgrade. My ankle had a sudden twinge of pain, but I ignored it. (I hadn't told my body that I was running in the race.) I was winded at the half-mile point because to the mole hill we started on. I quickly did a function check on all extremities. My feet went numb or I tied my laces too tight. Ignored that too. I suddenly realized that everyone had passed me. No worries, I had resigned my slowness to that of an old car that needed to warm up before getting up to speed. That was until I heard a faint jingling sound behind me. Is that a dog leash I hear? My heart sank. The aerodynamically blessed hound dog was catching up to me! And so early in the race. The jingling kept teasing me, getting closer, then backing away. I thought of farting to keep him at bay, but I thought better of it since it might make he and his owner mad and both would pass me. At about the mile marker, the jingling reached me. I took a deep breath and turned to meet the best canine. To my surprise it was chocolate lab. I felt so relieved. I could deal with a lab beating me. But then I realized the owner had the leash wrapped around her waist! The dog was pulling her! Note to self: get a dog for the marathon.
Then to add insult to injury, two men who looked to be in their 60's passed me. I know what you're thinking, but they were part of the 5k walkers group. Do you feel me now?
All throughout the course, volunteers directed and cheered with their cars parked a few feet away playing music. The music up to the two mile marker was upbeat and inspiring, until Mile Marker 2. The voluteer greeted me with a smile, verbally coaxing me along when I recognized the tune in his truck. "With or without youuuu" blared from the speakers. I wondered if it was subliminal or a sign. As if God were saying "Everyone is going to finish with or without you. Which would you rather it be?" It was at that point that I learned that it was never about how fast I ran the race, how I had dressed for it, or if a dog beat me. (Well, maybe a little on the dog thing...) But what matter most was that I finished, finished what I had started.
Two and a half miles, the home stretch. The volunteer at that corner was very cheerful. I could hear him way before I got to him. I made it a point to give them a smile or headnod in thanks. Just as I approached him, he and the Policeman guarding the intersection shouted," Way to go! Five-fifteen! Way to go! Five-fifteen. How cruel. The guy at the 2 mile marker told me 22 minutes and this guy thinks he can cheer me up by telling me a false time! But wait, he doesn't have a watch. Oh! He had been calling out the number I had fastened to my chest. I never even payed attention to what number I was.
By now I have reached the home stretch. A lady that had started out ahead of me, and whom I had passed earlier in the race had now reached her second wind and began passing me. I turned and smiled, but she looked more tired than me and never acknowledged me. She had quite a cheering section that started a quarter-mile from the finish line. I kept telling myself, "just finish". Then I saw the time clock in the distance. My ego came back to life. "Don't let that woman beat you!" "Everyone is watching!" With a spurt of ego-energy, I raced past her, revoking that kind smile I had given her before and replacing with an 'eat-my-dust' sprint. I guess I let my competitive nature get the best of me, but it became clear to me what made this all worthwhile.... free cookies!
Wednesday, February 09, 2005
Hey! I'm Blogging!
Hello everyone! I'm finally blogging!
After two weeks of trying to figure what my password was - I thought I had changed it from the default- I found that I had been putting in the wrong user name the whole time. (I have my moments) I'm so excited, I don't know where to begin.
Many of you don't know me or of me. I am the quiet young lady with the dark hair and glasses. I decided to participate because I have briefly entertained the idea of running a marathon like most who have ever seen one on T.V., especially when Oprah did it. I turned 30 last December and I didn't FEEL 30, despite everyone telling me that my body will soon start aching and it's all down hill from there. I immediately felt defiant. I didn't want to settle for what others told me I should be and feel - like they do. Plus, I couldn't remember the last time I finished something I started. I was determined, from here-on-out, to make my life memorable. To leave some kind of a legacy that not only put a smile on my face when I'm on my deathbed, but inspired or even sparked a notion in someone's mind to try and be a little better than they were yesterday. I know I sound overdramatic, but that is just how I feel.
I started doing the weight training on Sunday. Today is my rest day. I probably won't do anything too strenuous the rest of the week because I signed up to do the 5K run/walk in Ridgeland this Saturday. I only plan on finishing, but I am eager to get out there. I may be late for Saturday's meeting, but I'll be there.
Earlier this week I learned that I am a 'social eater'. I do well to stick to a healthier diet on my own, but when I get my co-workers around, I'm like a moth to fire. So as long as I have meals planned out and made, I'm okay. But I do crave carb-heavy foods in the evening. I eat a spinach salad to abate the initial hunger and preoccupy myself as much as I can. If it gets too bad, I'll eat a baked potato - light pepper, salt,basil and olive oil. It's not too bad.
Since I don't have a computer at home ,(I'm at the library), this may be my only blog for the week. So I'll end this blog for now. I pray I see all of you this weekend. Take care!
After two weeks of trying to figure what my password was - I thought I had changed it from the default- I found that I had been putting in the wrong user name the whole time. (I have my moments) I'm so excited, I don't know where to begin.
Many of you don't know me or of me. I am the quiet young lady with the dark hair and glasses. I decided to participate because I have briefly entertained the idea of running a marathon like most who have ever seen one on T.V., especially when Oprah did it. I turned 30 last December and I didn't FEEL 30, despite everyone telling me that my body will soon start aching and it's all down hill from there. I immediately felt defiant. I didn't want to settle for what others told me I should be and feel - like they do. Plus, I couldn't remember the last time I finished something I started. I was determined, from here-on-out, to make my life memorable. To leave some kind of a legacy that not only put a smile on my face when I'm on my deathbed, but inspired or even sparked a notion in someone's mind to try and be a little better than they were yesterday. I know I sound overdramatic, but that is just how I feel.
I started doing the weight training on Sunday. Today is my rest day. I probably won't do anything too strenuous the rest of the week because I signed up to do the 5K run/walk in Ridgeland this Saturday. I only plan on finishing, but I am eager to get out there. I may be late for Saturday's meeting, but I'll be there.
Earlier this week I learned that I am a 'social eater'. I do well to stick to a healthier diet on my own, but when I get my co-workers around, I'm like a moth to fire. So as long as I have meals planned out and made, I'm okay. But I do crave carb-heavy foods in the evening. I eat a spinach salad to abate the initial hunger and preoccupy myself as much as I can. If it gets too bad, I'll eat a baked potato - light pepper, salt,basil and olive oil. It's not too bad.
Since I don't have a computer at home ,(I'm at the library), this may be my only blog for the week. So I'll end this blog for now. I pray I see all of you this weekend. Take care!
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
