What day is it?

Hello. Magically, it seems to have become February. And not just February, we’re now onto the 2nd week of February. WHERE DID ALL THE TIME GO??!?! Wasn’t it just New Years????? I no longer have 6 but 5 months to prep for this so-called wedding??? NOT EVEN 5 MONTHS – 4.5!!!

I quit.

Actually, it’s not so bad. Sure, there are issues, like vendors trying to rob you blind. Or those small details that pop-up, like septic tank capacity or lack thereof. Yeah, no biggie. But I got the invites printed today! HORAY. Now, to put them together. Then mail them out. Then find someone to actually marry us. And get the license signed. And schedule a dress fitting. Oh, but before I can do that, I need to get shoes. And schedule a hair appointment. And finish paying off vendors. And and and… I guess there’s still quite a bit to do before the big day! What will I do with my life once it’s over? Oh, I can think of SO many things…

So, I guess you’ve noticed there haven’t been many pictures. There is a reason for that. Primarily, it’s how much time it takes to process, download and then upload each picture. It’s a bit of a process. That and I’m sure you are all just dying to see all the pictures of the different bowling alleys we’ve been in because, yes, we are alley rats. Not seriously, but we spend more time at bowling alleys than at clubs or parties. In fact, if it’s 10, it’s a good bet we’re probably asleep. JB actually put himself to bed a 8:30 last night. As in Friday. As in, hello, I thought you just turned 25, not 75.

I am still trying to learn how to use my new camera. Exposure, F-stops, and a combination thereof are still much confusing for me. Someday I will learn, I’m sure of it.

And now, I myself must retire. And yes, I know it’s 9pm. On a Saturday. Plus, the old man is requesting a glass of water. I’m sure he wants it for his teeth, the old fart. :)

I DID IT

I. am. awesome.

Ok, so maybe that’s a little full of myself, but I am EXTREMELY proud of my accomplishment. I know JB, being the almost tennis PRO that he is, doesn’t really see this as a big deal, but I went to the gym EVER DAY this week. Three days of weight/resistance training and two days of running/elliptical. WOW. I am SO out of shape and while I would love to say that it gets easier each time, it does not. In fact, it’s still just as hard each time. Am I slightly embarrassed that I struggle doing lateral lifts with 5 lb weights? Sure. BUT I DO IT ANYWAYS. The trainers even complimented me on an awesome first week of training. Go me! One of them even remember my name… yet I’ve never been introduced to him. I think, now that I have a routine, it will be easier for me to keep going. It helps that I have an unusual work schedule.

My day goes as follows:

5:30am – alarm goes off

5:30-5:45am – finally drag self out of bed

5:45-6:05am – shower and process for the morning

6:05-6:30am – putter, get dressed, pack gym clothes (and running shoes if it’s a cardio day) and lunch. Usually, I’m pretty good with setting aside a container of leftovers from dinner the night before, so it’s just a matter of grabbing what’s available.

6:30-7am – Drive to work

7am-4pm – Work

Meals: Breakfast: Almost always oatmeal (current fav is apples and cinnamon when toast is unavailable)
Lunch: Leftovers
Snack @ 3pm: Apple or Banana with some peanut butter, maybe pistachios

4pm-5pm – Workout

5-5:30pm – drive home/shower

5:30-6:00pm – make food of some kind

6-9pm – various evening activities: TV, internet, designing

9-10pm – BED

Lather. Rinse. Repeat.

In the past I would just have lunch to eat for the whole day before dinner, however the trainer who set me up with my routine made a big point that I should have a small snack at least an hour before exercising. Now that I’ve been burning more calories, I’ve found that even with the oatmeal in the morning, I am STARVING by lunch. I’d been very good about eating some type of fruit before workouts, but today I forgot to bring my apple. It really hit home when I was packing up how light-headed I was after today’s routine; apparently that little bit of fuel makes a big difference!

Things I still need to work on: water consumption. While I have been firm in not drinking any soda of any kind (go me!) I don’t drink NEARLY enough water. This really needs to change. We bought JB this big water container for his tennis matches, however he hasn’t been using it as much during the winter (no real risk of heat stroke in the winter!) I think I may commandeer it from him during the week. :)

One of those days

Today is one of those days. You know what I mean. Everyone gets on your nerves. The smallest things annoy you, the bigger things can get you enraged. Today is one of those days where you have to REALLY work to keep your attitude in check, to try REALLY hard not to say F this, and walk out of work. Today is one of those days when you really gotta dig down deep to keep from being rude, snarly or nasty. Today, you’re just itching for a fight – to scream at someone. I am looking forward to (hopfully) running it off today, but I think it might be more cathardic to take up boxing… but then I’d probably get mad when I’d hurt my hands doing so.

Garbage.

Good Samaraten & Belated Birthday Wishes

So, this past Friday was JB’s birthday. I had meant to put up a cake and everything, but I am a bad fiance and never got around to it. We did have a little fun, though. Went bowling again. I have discovered that while my new shoes seem to always increase my mad bowling skillz, black light is their kryptonite. Maybe it was the bowling alley, maybe it was the flashing lights right above our lane, maybe it was because it was super dark. Either way, as soon as the black lights came on, my game was over. Garbage.

Since this was Friday, I set up the TV to record the Hope For Haiti telethon. JB and I made a donation to the Red Cross this week and once it goes through, JB will submit it to his employer which does donation matching. It’s not a lot, but it is something. I’m watching the telethon now and I find myself wishing I had been smarter and had a medical degree. Then maybe I could go do something. I had the same thoughts when Katrina happened, but I’m sure I would be in the way and no help whatsoever. So we did our small part, and I guess that’s the best we can do.

Newton’s Challenge Update

OK, so that whole running 4 days a week? Yeah, that didn’t happen. BUT, I did exercise for at least 2 days each week since I started, plus I’ve been progressively getting better – after I stopped trying to break myself.

See, I bought these lovely new shoes and though, “of course, now I can run like the wind and prance effortlessly! I’ll start small, maybe 3 miles, and by February I’ll be running 5Ks!”

HA. So wrong.

I started my first week trying to run. I figured I’d run outside, doing laps around the complex. Did I mention it was 30 degrees out? Oh, and that as special running shoes, they’re designed to be light and aerodynamic? Meaning made mostly of mesh? Basically, it felt like I was running barefoot. Outside. In below freezing temperatures. And I could only do it for about 5-10 minutes before I thought I was going to faint.

Yeah, I thought it was pretty smart too.

I was able to pull this off for three days until SURPRISE, SURPRISE! I get hit with a nasty cold. I mean bad. But I figured I’d give myself a couple days of rest and then get back to it – I’d heard exercising with a cold (as long as it’s above your chest) can actually help you get better.

Week 2, I’m off traveling for business. Luckily the hotel had a gym! I used it. Once. I was there for 3 days. I could say that it was because I was busy every night… but that’s really not the case. At this point, JB starts to offer to go running with me, you know, so we can race. He wants to know how many times he can lap me around the complex. He is astounded when I admit that I can only run for about 10 minutes at a time before collapsing. Surely, I should be running at least two miles by now???

Week 3, my knees start to hurt. So I start to freak out. Why did I buy these expensive shoes, if I’m still going to get knee pain?!?!? I spend Monday during my lunch break doing research. Start to freak out more reading about arthritis pain. I happen to click on a link called “Couch to 5K Training.” Funny thing – all the experts say, if you haven’t ran or exercised in a while, it’s imperative that you don’t just try to run long distances. You do intervals of walking and running, otherwise you could seriously injur yourself, like your KNEES.

OK. Freak out starts to subside. Do more research. Discover that the most progressive training schedules have you alternative running with strength training and don’t have you running 3 miles until 3 MONTHS into training. Alright, now I don’t feel so bad.

So today, I went to the gym at work. Yes, my work has a gym. No, I don’t usually like to use it, but I think I’m going to become a gym rat now. While they don’t have personal trainers for employees (only executives) they will set up and exercise routine for you and show you how to do them and use the machines.

I am smitten. I am so confident in myself, that I’m actually going to join JB in playing tennis next Fall. True, I haven’t really hit a tennis ball in a few years and my last lesson was when I was 8, but JB insists that he can teach me. We’ll see how long that goes before I’m practicing my unsportsmanlike behavior and chucking my racket at him.

Now, I am starving and ready for dinner!!!

Oh yes, and I can proudly say that I have not had a single carbonated beverage yet!

LATE!

Do you ever have that dream where you’re late for something? For me, it’s always late for work, and not just a little late, like LATE. Almost noon time late, and I go into work at 7AM each day. I had one of those last night, waking me pretty much on the hour, every hour from 1AM until I got up.

Don’t you just hate those???

Political Thoughts

Ok. First off, for clarification, I am not a political guru. I don’t spend hours combing the newspapers or the blogs trying to find the “lies” or the “agendas” of our government. I’m not the most knowledgable about who said what and what happened when, but I’d like to think that I’m somewhat informed. If you don’t want to hear about my gripes with the world at large, please feel free to just ignore this post.

Victory! … and Defeat

Friday saw us duking it out with the Gators, Justice and BD, in an epic three game bowling match. We also used this opportunity to break in our new bowling equipment.

Check out my new kicks:

These were my secret weapon. I was ON FIRE!!!! PUN INTENDED!

(To be continued…)

More to come

So, I was able to make it to bowling last night. I also brought my fancy new camera and took pictures! I love it, but am still figuring out how to work it! I’ll finally have all the pictures downloaded then from Christmas. More to come!!!

Power Failure

Newton’s Challenge – N/A for today. Why? Because I am still sick. And it says not to over do it when you’re just starting out. And I think if I tried to lift anything or run, I would probably collapse walking to the gym, so I think it’s best if I just stay put and recoup for tomorrow which is BOWLING NIGHT!

One of my presents from JB’s parents were a pair of new bowling shoes. They are teh awesome. They have flames. Pink flames. You really can’t go wrong with flaming bowling shoes. Hmm. That doesn’t sound quite right, but whatever. We’re taking on the Gators, who we haven’t seen since they went with us to the Howl-o-Scream. Hopefully, I’ll be healthy enough to chuck a round, 9 lb weight, also known as a bowling ball.

Also, as if things couldn’t get worse… I believe my heated blanket is dead. I KNOW! What am I going to do???

Anyways, that all for tonight. Didn’t get a work out, but a break is supposed to be good.