Today started off wonderfully with little Auberita coming to our house and the opportunity to see her before I left for work.
Work was very productive. I was entering orders like crazy and I even stood up to one of my clients that has been a bully these last few weeks.
After work, one of the YSA regional reps needed help with getting all of the food for the Halloween dance tomorrow night, so I decided to help. We spent a couple of hours at the store, then headed for the church. We then began the process of washing and cutting all of the fruits and vegetables. After we finished, I headed to religion class for 1 1/2 hours.
By the time I finally left the church dressed for the gym it was 9:45pm. I was not very confident in myself that I would actually make it to the gym tonight. I purposely went the local route instead of going on the Toll road, so I would have to stop at the gym. Once there, I ran 11 minute mile and then got on the bike for 10 minutes and then back on the treadmill for 9 more minutes to get my full half hour of cardio.
It's now 11:37pm and I will be at the gym by 6am to start my regime of 30 minutes cardio, 30 minutes with my trainer. This exercise thing is extremely addictive. I'm so happy I'm finally succeeding at working out consistently.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Running...Running and more Running
This was an early morning with the trainer, who pushed me even further in my strength training. Then I went and did my run for 30 minutes. At first, I was dreading it, but by about the 10 minute mark, I was set in my pace and ready to roll.
Since I have been consistently running for 2 full weeks, I've dropped 3 lbs and I can see a difference in my size. I love seeing the results . November 7th will be my 2 month full body measure with the trainer. It truly makes a difference when you measure each month and then focus on areas that need improvement.
I have found my love for running. I'm excited for the upcoming Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving morning and some intense training to do a half marathon next summer.
Since I have been consistently running for 2 full weeks, I've dropped 3 lbs and I can see a difference in my size. I love seeing the results . November 7th will be my 2 month full body measure with the trainer. It truly makes a difference when you measure each month and then focus on areas that need improvement.
I have found my love for running. I'm excited for the upcoming Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving morning and some intense training to do a half marathon next summer.
Saturday, October 25, 2008
5K TRIAL RUN
This morning when I woke up, I doddled for a little bit dreading running a 5k this morning. Finally, I convinced myself and got dressed for the run.
Running is such a mental thing for me when I'm running for distance. I use some of my educational background on how the brain works and use chunking of 5 minute intervals to coach myself to the end. It seems to be working, because I coached myself to the end of the 5K and finished in 37:37! For being my first time ever running that distance, I felt it was ok. Now I have plenty of time to improve upon that time.
Running has become my new therapy. I was going to wait until Thanksgiving to run a 5K, but since I can already run the distance, I'm going to find some local races to run in the next couple of weeks.
Running is such a mental thing for me when I'm running for distance. I use some of my educational background on how the brain works and use chunking of 5 minute intervals to coach myself to the end. It seems to be working, because I coached myself to the end of the 5K and finished in 37:37! For being my first time ever running that distance, I felt it was ok. Now I have plenty of time to improve upon that time.
Running has become my new therapy. I was going to wait until Thanksgiving to run a 5K, but since I can already run the distance, I'm going to find some local races to run in the next couple of weeks.
Friday, October 24, 2008
Courtside Bulls Game
It was about 2:30 this afternoon when I looked at my Blackberry and saw my blinking red light inferring I had a message of some sort. There was a phone number that I wasn't familiar with, so I listened to the message. It was an old friend that I hadn't spoken to in about 2 years and I was being offered free court side tickets to the Bulls game this evening with 2 extra tickets to be used by whomever I wanted. Who could pass up that opportunity? I surely couldn't...
I quickly started getting in contact with people and soon had 2 other extremely willing individuals.
We all met up at around 6:45pm and headed into the city. When we arrived at the United Center we found parking across the street and walked straight into our seats. I've never sat that close in my entire life. You could see the perspiration on the players as they ran up and down the court. We were leading by about 20 points after the first half, but the Wisconsin Bucks quickly tied up the ball game, which resulted in overtime. Fortunately, the Bulls came back to win!
What a fabulous once in a lifetime opportunity! I'm grateful I was able to take advantage of it.
I quickly started getting in contact with people and soon had 2 other extremely willing individuals.
We all met up at around 6:45pm and headed into the city. When we arrived at the United Center we found parking across the street and walked straight into our seats. I've never sat that close in my entire life. You could see the perspiration on the players as they ran up and down the court. We were leading by about 20 points after the first half, but the Wisconsin Bucks quickly tied up the ball game, which resulted in overtime. Fortunately, the Bulls came back to win!
What a fabulous once in a lifetime opportunity! I'm grateful I was able to take advantage of it.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Long Day
Today wasn't very exciting, I don't even think I have a story to tell, but I'm trying to keep up my writing, so maybe something will turn out of nothing.
Last evening I asked my Dad some questions about me. The most poignant part of the conversation was when he told me that, " I'm too hard on myself."
Ever since I was a little girl, I have felt that I need to be the best at everything that I do. For those of you who know me, understand my extreme competitive nature. When I don't quite succeed at what I'm trying to accomplish in my life, I feel as though I have failed and that I must overcome whatever obstacle or challenge is infront of me. Today has been a great day of reflection as I fasted and prayed about where I'm at in my life. The conclusion, I'm doing pretty well and I need to keep doing what I'm doing and I'll be okay.
Last evening I asked my Dad some questions about me. The most poignant part of the conversation was when he told me that, " I'm too hard on myself."
Ever since I was a little girl, I have felt that I need to be the best at everything that I do. For those of you who know me, understand my extreme competitive nature. When I don't quite succeed at what I'm trying to accomplish in my life, I feel as though I have failed and that I must overcome whatever obstacle or challenge is infront of me. Today has been a great day of reflection as I fasted and prayed about where I'm at in my life. The conclusion, I'm doing pretty well and I need to keep doing what I'm doing and I'll be okay.
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Early Morning Exercise and Self Reflection
My days have been starting early this year and I've got the exercise bug. Today, I got up at 5:20 am and headed to the gym to meet my trainer. I just experienced buying my first pair of free weight gloves last night on my way home from the gym. I'm thankful that I bought them, because today was shoulders, biceps and triceps work. After signing in, my trainer tells me that we're going to the bench press. My first reaction was, "Are you kidding me? I haven't bench pressed since high school!!!" Fortunately, I've been working out for a couple of months and I bench pressed 60 lbs for 3 sets of 10. I know that's not a lot, but it's little by little.
These past few weeks as I have started training to run a 5k on Thanksgiving has taken me to mentally preparing before each run. Pace and distance have been my two concerns. Yesterday, I ran on the treadmill for 2.2 miles. I know it will be different when I'm out on the road running and conditions will be different. I'm going out Saturday to do my first test run around the neighborhood.
Thinking about life in general, we all need to think about pace and distance. I think too often, I don't pace myself and my goals. Training for running has given me a new insight to taking my time when new challenges and experiences are on the horizon. I often run away (figuratively speaking) whenever I get close to one of my goals, because I doubt that I really could fulfill it or am not worthy of the accomplishment.
I'm thankful for wonderful friends and family, who stand on the sidelines cheering me on and help me to meet and achieve my goals.
These past few weeks as I have started training to run a 5k on Thanksgiving has taken me to mentally preparing before each run. Pace and distance have been my two concerns. Yesterday, I ran on the treadmill for 2.2 miles. I know it will be different when I'm out on the road running and conditions will be different. I'm going out Saturday to do my first test run around the neighborhood.
Thinking about life in general, we all need to think about pace and distance. I think too often, I don't pace myself and my goals. Training for running has given me a new insight to taking my time when new challenges and experiences are on the horizon. I often run away (figuratively speaking) whenever I get close to one of my goals, because I doubt that I really could fulfill it or am not worthy of the accomplishment.
I'm thankful for wonderful friends and family, who stand on the sidelines cheering me on and help me to meet and achieve my goals.
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Rain, Kohl's, and No Bosses
Yesterday was quite the day. It was full of customer quotes, calls and entering orders. I didn't even recognize that it was raining until about 4:45. I was informed it had been pouring for a couple of hours.
After work I went to Kohl's because I needed some new running shoes, and it was still drizzling. As I entered through the double glass doors and wiped my heals and headed straight for the shoes. As I stepped across the waxy tile floor and put my heal down, I started to loose my balance and slid right into a rack of men's clothing and breaking a couple of blood vessels in my thumb. I quickly walked onto the carpet and made my way to the shoes, hoping that no one saw my little mishap. Even if they did, I don't know them, so it doesn't really matter.
This morning brought early morning meetings with the sales manager and sales supervisor. While in our meeting we were reminded that all of management will be out for the remainder of the week starting tomorrow. The sales manager told us that he is "quite the proponent of slacking a bit when the bosses are out, but that we are not to get caught." The room exploded into laughter. Some of the ideas that were tossed around were drinks with umbrellas, extended lunch hours and breaks, etc.
Having been in business world for over 5 years, it amazes me the productivity of some co-workers versus others, depending on how much management is around. My work ethic is to work as though every manager is present in the office every day. Hopefully this will eventually lead me into management.
After work I went to Kohl's because I needed some new running shoes, and it was still drizzling. As I entered through the double glass doors and wiped my heals and headed straight for the shoes. As I stepped across the waxy tile floor and put my heal down, I started to loose my balance and slid right into a rack of men's clothing and breaking a couple of blood vessels in my thumb. I quickly walked onto the carpet and made my way to the shoes, hoping that no one saw my little mishap. Even if they did, I don't know them, so it doesn't really matter.
This morning brought early morning meetings with the sales manager and sales supervisor. While in our meeting we were reminded that all of management will be out for the remainder of the week starting tomorrow. The sales manager told us that he is "quite the proponent of slacking a bit when the bosses are out, but that we are not to get caught." The room exploded into laughter. Some of the ideas that were tossed around were drinks with umbrellas, extended lunch hours and breaks, etc.
Having been in business world for over 5 years, it amazes me the productivity of some co-workers versus others, depending on how much management is around. My work ethic is to work as though every manager is present in the office every day. Hopefully this will eventually lead me into management.
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Add or Find a Husband
After church today the singles congregation had a seminar on how to get started on the new.familysearch.org website. Each person entered their personal information and after completely registered, would look up their pedigree chart. The first screen that appears is "Add or find a husband/wife", which in a group of singles was quite humorous to hear the reactions to the prompt.
One women mentioned that she had tried adding a husband or finding someone that she could marry. Another was hoping that there would be a search button next to it. The best comment of the day was the slogan, "Add or find a husband, Isn't it about.... time."
One women mentioned that she had tried adding a husband or finding someone that she could marry. Another was hoping that there would be a search button next to it. The best comment of the day was the slogan, "Add or find a husband, Isn't it about.... time."
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Old Maid
Ok, so for many years, people have told me that I should start a blog, but I've just never had an interest until today. I was driving down the highway to begin some retail therapy when the thought occurred to me that I really needed to blog about my experience in the morning.
It was a wonderful fall morning in Chicago, and I thought I was going to get a ton accomplished, until around 9:30am in the morning when my Aunt called. I ignored her call, because I wasn't ready to talk to anyone. Then my mother's cellphone began to ring. It was my Aunt. I promptly handed the phone to my mother, who quickly gave it back to me.
My aunt began recounting her train experience the other day and how she had met my husband. It's never good when that is the reason for the call. She tells me how sweet and wonderful he is and what he is majoring in. The icing on the cake was when she told me how he looked like my brother. Who wants to marry their brother? I politely said that I wasn't interested and thanks for trying. Then she said, " Come on you don't want to be an old maid."
That line has been said twice in the last two weeks from two of my relatives. My first thought was the picture of those little cards we used to play with as children where the old maid had white hair and grandma spectacles. Fortunately, I don't fit that criteria as an old maid. Then I realized that I have become a great concern to my family that I'm not married, nor is there a prospect and am fast approaching my 29th birthday. I feel as though I'm Loula from My Big Fat Greek Wedding, who's parents set her up with several "matches" and the entire family is concerned for her. Luckily, her story had a happy ending. May mine do the same
It was a wonderful fall morning in Chicago, and I thought I was going to get a ton accomplished, until around 9:30am in the morning when my Aunt called. I ignored her call, because I wasn't ready to talk to anyone. Then my mother's cellphone began to ring. It was my Aunt. I promptly handed the phone to my mother, who quickly gave it back to me.
My aunt began recounting her train experience the other day and how she had met my husband. It's never good when that is the reason for the call. She tells me how sweet and wonderful he is and what he is majoring in. The icing on the cake was when she told me how he looked like my brother. Who wants to marry their brother? I politely said that I wasn't interested and thanks for trying. Then she said, " Come on you don't want to be an old maid."
That line has been said twice in the last two weeks from two of my relatives. My first thought was the picture of those little cards we used to play with as children where the old maid had white hair and grandma spectacles. Fortunately, I don't fit that criteria as an old maid. Then I realized that I have become a great concern to my family that I'm not married, nor is there a prospect and am fast approaching my 29th birthday. I feel as though I'm Loula from My Big Fat Greek Wedding, who's parents set her up with several "matches" and the entire family is concerned for her. Luckily, her story had a happy ending. May mine do the same
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