I was eating dinner with Em at her house tonight and before our meal she handed me a box of dark chocolates and she told me to take a sample. She came back about ten minutes later and asked me which ONE I selected. I gave her a shocked look. Um...she just gave a sugar addict a box of chocolates and she seriously expected me to eat only one. W.
I told her the three I sampled were delightful but perhaps it was time for her to move the box across the room. Really one. Who eats only one chocolate? That is right...a CRAZY person. Or a person who doesn't really like chocolate and I relegate them back to category one. Crazy!!!
January 27, 2011
January 25, 2011
Why isn't there one job that is Perfect?
I have been at my new job for two and a half weeks and it is going great. I like the company and the way they run their operations. I like my job, specifically, that it is so engaging and utilizes my brain a good part of the day. As a matter of fact I was working so diligently today I was very happy to switch to a more repetitive task to have a break this afternoon.
However, even when things are going good there is bound to be something bad. The commute. It is K-I-L-L-I-N-G me! It takes me in excess of an hour and a half to get to work each day. I leave my house at 7:15 and I often arrive about 8:45. Seriously, that is obnoxious. I kept brushing it off as slow due to the snow but I am beginning to realize that this is normal and how it is always going to be. Sigh!
A couple good (evil) friends gave me a suggestion today. It was simple...leave for work earlier. Specifically at 6:30. They tried to be helpful and explained that it is no big deal to leave so early and I would get used to it after a short time. AHHHHHH...it is a BFD. Um..do you know me. If you do, you know how much I detest getting up early in the morning. Ug...except that they have a point. I want to whine and they have a point. If I get to work earlier I could leave earlier. That sounds attractive. Sort of?
The ironic part of this story is that I have been having some hard core daydreams about riding my bike to work in the spring. I have already devised a way to make it work. I know what time I need to leave my house, um...5:30am and where to shower before work and where I can leave my bike during the day. It sounds good on paper. But...seriously...5:30am. Crazy talk. Except that it is attractive crazy talk when it is about biking.
The other thing I don't really like about my new job is lunchtime. You are probably wondering what could be wrong with lunchtime and the answer is too many people. In an effort to save money and watch my daily calories I have been bringing my lunch to work every day. While I eat lunch I like to ready my book and look at my phone and catch up on the days correspondence. That just isn't possible in the lunch room. It is a small room with only two tables that seat about eight people. Each day there are at least four other people in the room and it isn't possible to ignore them. Today I was at a table by myself and a group of people came in and insisted that I join them. I did and I enjoyed their company but I just have no time to myself there. I find myself desiring more alone time when I am at work.
I know if I went out to eat each day I would be able to do as I please but I also know I would end up eating way too many calories or in an effort to be careful, I would leave the restaurant still hungry. Neither option is very desirable. I just do not know what to do. I know the right answer is to still bring my lunch and also to be friendly to my fellow co-workers but **whining to come** can't they just leave me alone for a while. I think I find it so stressful because everyone is so new to me. It takes so much more effort to socialize with new people that it does with friends.
On the upside there is a park across the street from my office so when it is warm out I could go outside and sit there but that is many months away. Plus, it may be a hangout for the homeless??? Other than being rude, and I really want to avoid that behavior, I don't know what else to do. Any suggestions?
However, even when things are going good there is bound to be something bad. The commute. It is K-I-L-L-I-N-G me! It takes me in excess of an hour and a half to get to work each day. I leave my house at 7:15 and I often arrive about 8:45. Seriously, that is obnoxious. I kept brushing it off as slow due to the snow but I am beginning to realize that this is normal and how it is always going to be. Sigh!
A couple good (evil) friends gave me a suggestion today. It was simple...leave for work earlier. Specifically at 6:30. They tried to be helpful and explained that it is no big deal to leave so early and I would get used to it after a short time. AHHHHHH...it is a BFD. Um..do you know me. If you do, you know how much I detest getting up early in the morning. Ug...except that they have a point. I want to whine and they have a point. If I get to work earlier I could leave earlier. That sounds attractive. Sort of?
The ironic part of this story is that I have been having some hard core daydreams about riding my bike to work in the spring. I have already devised a way to make it work. I know what time I need to leave my house, um...5:30am and where to shower before work and where I can leave my bike during the day. It sounds good on paper. But...seriously...5:30am. Crazy talk. Except that it is attractive crazy talk when it is about biking.
The other thing I don't really like about my new job is lunchtime. You are probably wondering what could be wrong with lunchtime and the answer is too many people. In an effort to save money and watch my daily calories I have been bringing my lunch to work every day. While I eat lunch I like to ready my book and look at my phone and catch up on the days correspondence. That just isn't possible in the lunch room. It is a small room with only two tables that seat about eight people. Each day there are at least four other people in the room and it isn't possible to ignore them. Today I was at a table by myself and a group of people came in and insisted that I join them. I did and I enjoyed their company but I just have no time to myself there. I find myself desiring more alone time when I am at work.
I know if I went out to eat each day I would be able to do as I please but I also know I would end up eating way too many calories or in an effort to be careful, I would leave the restaurant still hungry. Neither option is very desirable. I just do not know what to do. I know the right answer is to still bring my lunch and also to be friendly to my fellow co-workers but **whining to come** can't they just leave me alone for a while. I think I find it so stressful because everyone is so new to me. It takes so much more effort to socialize with new people that it does with friends.
On the upside there is a park across the street from my office so when it is warm out I could go outside and sit there but that is many months away. Plus, it may be a hangout for the homeless??? Other than being rude, and I really want to avoid that behavior, I don't know what else to do. Any suggestions?
January 17, 2011
New Goals Part B
Brother Lou had a great idea last night and I thought I would share it. He suggested that for every pound I lose I take $10 in cash and squirrel it away in an envelope to save for my new bike purchase. I explained to him that it is adorable that he thinks my new bike is only going to cost $550 but is is still a great idea and I think I am going to implement it.
So every Tuesday when I weigh in I will track my progress and put aside $10 in cash for that weeks loss. It will be nice to see the money growing and know the great reward I will have at the end.
So every Tuesday when I weigh in I will track my progress and put aside $10 in cash for that weeks loss. It will be nice to see the money growing and know the great reward I will have at the end.
January 16, 2011
New Goals
I know this is a theme in my life and in my blog but I like to have goals. I find if I make my goals measurable and obtainable I work hard to bring them to fruition. Last year I had three biking related goals and I easily obtained each of them. I think the biking goals are easy for me to obtain because I really enjoy biking and it is something in which I like to work hard. Other goals not so much. Oftentimes money and spending goals are easily forgotten and I am often too afraid to make weight loss goals. Not today.
This brings me to my current goal. Losing weight. This has always been my nemesis. I had some success in this area last year but ever since November I have lost my momentum. I can't stop eating everything in sight and it totally negates every ounce of effort I put into working out. So I want that to change and I have found a very attractive carrot to waive in front of my face. A SHINY NEW ROAD BIKE!
I have been lusting after one since August and I have refrained from moving forward and making that purchase for a variety of reasons. Last week I was reading a cycling magazine and it brought that desire to the forefront of my mind. I WANT one. I immediately thought I should make a weight loss goal related to the purchase of this new bike. I feel like biking is so motivating for me that mixing the two might help me move away from my current slump and push me to be more serious about my eating.
I want to weight less than 200lbs. Two years ago I would have said "NEVER" and that number is totally unobtainable. With the success I have had this year I now realize that weight is within my grasp. I will need to loose 55lbs in order to obtain that goal. Ok...if you can do basic math you now know how much I weigh. Eeek...did I really just write that??
So if you know me and are my friend I would appreciate any support/encouragement and help you are able to provide. I am currently using myfitnesspal.com to track my daily food intake and they say I should be eating 1510 calories per day. I need to stay within that range. If you are interested in providing me encouragement and/or tough love let me know and I will send you an invite to be my "friend" on the website and you will be able to see what I eat every day. If you are interested I will do the same for you. Ask GH and Ems..I can me mean;)
I haven't set a time frame for this goal because I don't mind the "slow and steady" mindset in this area. Over the summer I was averaging 7lbs per month and that is where I would like to be again. At that rate it will take me eight months to reach my goal. Hm...September. So the road bike will be for the following year. Done.
This brings me to my current goal. Losing weight. This has always been my nemesis. I had some success in this area last year but ever since November I have lost my momentum. I can't stop eating everything in sight and it totally negates every ounce of effort I put into working out. So I want that to change and I have found a very attractive carrot to waive in front of my face. A SHINY NEW ROAD BIKE!
 |
| Isn't this Green Trek pretty. |
I want to weight less than 200lbs. Two years ago I would have said "NEVER" and that number is totally unobtainable. With the success I have had this year I now realize that weight is within my grasp. I will need to loose 55lbs in order to obtain that goal. Ok...if you can do basic math you now know how much I weigh. Eeek...did I really just write that??
So if you know me and are my friend I would appreciate any support/encouragement and help you are able to provide. I am currently using myfitnesspal.com to track my daily food intake and they say I should be eating 1510 calories per day. I need to stay within that range. If you are interested in providing me encouragement and/or tough love let me know and I will send you an invite to be my "friend" on the website and you will be able to see what I eat every day. If you are interested I will do the same for you. Ask GH and Ems..I can me mean;)
I haven't set a time frame for this goal because I don't mind the "slow and steady" mindset in this area. Over the summer I was averaging 7lbs per month and that is where I would like to be again. At that rate it will take me eight months to reach my goal. Hm...September. So the road bike will be for the following year. Done.
January 10, 2011
New Job
Friday was the last day at my old job. It is funny the plethora of emotions I had about leaving that job. It started two weeks ago when I accepted the new job and I had to turn in my notice. It was easy to write my letter of resignation but it wasn't so easy to give it to my boss. I had it sitting on my desk staring at me and I just couldn't make myself get up and give it to my boss. I was overwrought. My brother called me and told me to just do it! It was easy enough to ignore him. Ems kept writing me texts to do it. They started out encouraging and then they began to get stern. She even tried to bribe me to no avail. She then must of told Z that her tactics were not working because he began to send me some encouraging emails. I tried to suck it up but I was paralyzed in fear. Finally, about 11:30 I worked up the courage to walk into my bosses office but he had already left for lunch. Damn!
I hate disappointing people and I think that was why I was afraid. I knew by leaving it would royally screw my boss as he recently had two other key people leave in his small department of 6. I also knew he wouldn't say anything horrible to me as he is a good person but I was still afraid. Finally at 2pm I walked into his office and handed over my letter. All I said was, "You are not going to like this.". He read over the letter and my fears came to fruition. His face said it all. He was terribly upset and shocked. It made me feel horrible and sad. I spent nine hours a day for the last four years at that job and it was coming to a close.
As the days came and went the sadness lifted and it was replaced by excitement. A new chapter in my life was about to begin. I am going to go to a new job tomorrow and know nothing. It is a scary prospect. I don't know what it will be like and I will have no routine. I am used to my morning routine. I arrive to work at 8:30ish and prepare my morning Cherry Coke Zero and eat my breakfast. I would then read my email and checked my bank balance. This will not happen tomorrow morning.
The good news is that I am not nervous. I know this will be a time where I will need to expect the unexpected. I am looking forward to this new adventure. I hope I will meet some great new people and make some new friends.
I hate disappointing people and I think that was why I was afraid. I knew by leaving it would royally screw my boss as he recently had two other key people leave in his small department of 6. I also knew he wouldn't say anything horrible to me as he is a good person but I was still afraid. Finally at 2pm I walked into his office and handed over my letter. All I said was, "You are not going to like this.". He read over the letter and my fears came to fruition. His face said it all. He was terribly upset and shocked. It made me feel horrible and sad. I spent nine hours a day for the last four years at that job and it was coming to a close.
As the days came and went the sadness lifted and it was replaced by excitement. A new chapter in my life was about to begin. I am going to go to a new job tomorrow and know nothing. It is a scary prospect. I don't know what it will be like and I will have no routine. I am used to my morning routine. I arrive to work at 8:30ish and prepare my morning Cherry Coke Zero and eat my breakfast. I would then read my email and checked my bank balance. This will not happen tomorrow morning.
The good news is that I am not nervous. I know this will be a time where I will need to expect the unexpected. I am looking forward to this new adventure. I hope I will meet some great new people and make some new friends.
January 2, 2011
Happiness in 2010
I thought it would be fun to share some of my favorite things about 2010.
1. Biking
Wow...biking was AWESOME IN 2010. I did things I never dreamed of doing. Attending my first organized ride was scary. I was afraid that I wouldn't fit in, and I didn't, but that didn't matter. It was totally awesome and I was hooked. I attended several events throughout the summer and I finished out the year with the Great Pumpkin Metric. It was 66 miles of grueling uphill roads in hurricane force winds and the only reason I finished was because my head said I would. I know that will be the key to a successful biking future, mental toughness. BTW...I biked just under 2000 miles in 2010 and I hope to blow that out of the water in 2011. I am already dreaming of ways I can ride my bike to work for my new job downtown.
2. Books
I love reading and have since I was a teenager. I read 29 books last year and these are a few of my favorites:a. The Windup Girl by Paolo Bacigalupi
It won the 2010 Hugo award.b. Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert Heinlein
c. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson
3. Music
There were so many new to me bands in 2010 that it was hard to choose a favorite. But when I looked at my iTunes history I saw that I listened to these two albums over and over again I knew they were at the top of my list. I love discovering new music and different artists that appeal to me. Thanks to iTunes for making it so easy...errr helping me spend so much money;)a. The Noyelle Beat by Standard Fare
b. My Dinosaur Life by Motion City Soundtrack
4. Friends
They were an important part of what made me happy last year. Having good times and memories are what makes life worth living. I am glad to have cultivated friendships with so many wonderful and special people. I hope they feel the same about me.
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