Tag: MLabout

A Change is Gonna Come…

It’s 3 weeks until my 30th birthday and I’ve finally had ENOUGH of feeling sad and out of control. I want to start off my 3rd decade on the right foot. 

I just finished Dr. Meg Jay’s “The Defining Decade” which is about making the most of your twentysomething years – I saw her TED talk in May which inspired me to buy her book. Based on how I spent my twentysomething years I’m ahead of the curve in some aspects and behind the curve on others. I’m taking stock of that all and I would like to start going to therapy again to help me through some of this. I went to therapy in high school and then years later after my dad died, but I haven’t gone since 2008. It’s time, there’s some stuff I need to work through and work on. I want to make the most of my thritysomething years and make the life I want a reality. 

I’m getting back on the insanity bandwagon after falling off while on vacation for 4th of July, despite making to day 50 of the program. I’m tired of not wanting to buy new clothes because I don’t like the size I am, and I’m tired of not feeling comfortable or confident in the clothes I do have. 

I know I can’t make drastic changes in a week, but I can set and goal and make plans to get there. 

I’m implenting some Year 30 resoultions

  • Buy 1 nice piece of clothing every pay period that can be a wardrobe staple (regardless of what size I am, I need to dress me NOW and I can always get things taken in)
  • Buy 1 quality make up product per month
  • Go on at least 1 date a month
  • Dress UP for work 1x a week (despite the fact it’s a rather casual environment, I miss having a reasons to dress up – once the semester starts I plan to dress up on Thursdays which is the day I will be teaching my class)
  • Say yes to at least 1 social engagment a month that I might otherwise opt out of
  • Go to church every Sunday that I can
  • BLOG MORE. I’M ALWAYS MY MOST HEALTHIEST AND HAPPIEST WHEN I’M BLOGGING. I hope to rebuild relationships with all my fellow writers and readers.

My weekend – In case you missed it!

My sister was town this weekend for Race for Hope! Saturday was a luncheon for David Cook (of American Idol season fame)’s team. My sister volunteered at the lunch and I attended, but I helped volunteer too since one of my friends now works for the cancer society that puts on the race. 

The lunch had ~240 people attend and Dave made time to meet and greet everyone. When it was finally my turn I had him sign my bib (he signed my LA marathon one too). I told him I ran LA with him and he asked about my time, he was impressed. He talked about how he hit has wall at mile 17 and walked the last 9. We chatted a bit about running and somehow I wasn’t tongue tied. Dave didn’t rush anyone and he seemed genuinely interested in talking to everyone. We got an awesome picture together (see above). I also talked to his manager about the marathon since she ran too. 

A bit later they gave Dave a break from signing and my sister was able to go up to him (the signing was in a separate area from where the lunch was) and tell him she has been there to volunteer and that she liked his new song. He shook her hand and asked her name, so he could thank her by name. My sister who is not easily impressed seemed pretty taken aback by Dave’s humble awesomeness.

Soon after this happened the team gathered for a picture, they have all the people in the lunchroom gather first, I made a comment outloud to the 10 or so of us in the side room (including Dave) that getting these women to gather for a picture was like herding cats. Well that CRACKED Dave up. He was like “herding cats! I’ve never heard that, that’s perfect.” I ended up only one person away from Dave in the team pic and as the group went back to their tables Dave laughed and said herding cats agains to himself. HE THINKS IM FUNNY. 

Dave was super gracious and even though the event was from 11:30-2:30pm, he stayed until 5 to make sure everyone who wanted to meet him got too. 

I actually had to head out of the luncheon with my sister around 3pm because we rented bikes to go out on the Mount Vernon Trail. I haven’t been in public on a bike in a decade. It was TERRIFYING. I screamed or screeched for most of the first 5 miles. Thankfully the 5 miles back I was more confident. But damn for a path I know well from running it, you could REALLY feel the hills on the bike. I really did enjoy the ride and reeeeeaaallly want a real bike. My sister said they rentals were crummy and I would have a better experience on a real bike. 

Sunday was the Race for Hope. Despite not doing any speedwork since February I came in at 28:51 (official time). I was pleased, I had hoped for a sub 30, but my PR is 26:28. I actually saw and passed Dave on the course. I ran beside him for a few yards and told him to eat my dust with a laugh. Race for Hope is such a well organized race, it was my first race ever and will always have a special place in my heart. Our team (well Dave’s team) was the top fundraiser with $85,000 and growing. 

It was such a special weekend that is makes the horrid insanity at work these days much for bearable. I’m actually working from home today because I needed a mental health break. 

If you ever want to join me at the Race for Hope 5K in DC – next year’s will be May 4th. It’s such a great race, great course, great cause and I’ve met great people through it. 

2nd home

It’s crazy to think outside of my hometown on Long Island, NY that Auburn, AL is the place I’ve lived the longest.

So excited to be back in the southland this weekend to see some very special friends and run a half marathon in the place where I first started my love affair with running!

My Weekend

This weekend was intense for MANY reasons:

  • Friday PM: Dinner and wine with a former friend to try and rebuild a friendship since she just moved to the area
  • Saturday AM: took 45 students on an overnight retreat 2 hours away with my very pregnant coworker.
  • Saturday PM: coworker’s water breaks at 9pm (thankfully her husband was staying in a hotel near by and was able to take her back home)
  • Sunday AM: Continue with student retreat including a high ropes course, head back home, get word that I’m an Auntie –  coworker had the baby (3 weeks early, but he’s perfect). 
  • Sunday PM: Go over to M’s (who I haven’t seen in weeks due to mainly my crazy schedule). He makes us a delicious Paleo dinner of Thai chicken lettuce wraps and cauliflower rice (he printed out recipes from a Paleo website – so adorable). We had a great movie, snuggle, smooch session.
  • Monday AM: get word that work has a delayed opening due to snow. 

Oh and I squeezed in a 4mi run and a 4.5mi run in this weekend.

2 weeks into Paleo and loving it, I’ve found making Paleo choices even when I’m eating out or during the retreat isn’t too hard.

I’ve been thinking about an hourglass tattoo for quite sometime.

Partially inspired by the Anna Nalick lyric from Breathe –  "Life’s like an hour glass glued to the table" and it also meshes nicely with my MeasuringLife concept – which as you may recall I’ve already had inked on my foot since ‘10

No sure when, and not sure where, but I’d love one. The first pic is especially awesome because it incorporates the infinity symbol. 

Sunday Funday

Today I went to brunch with some ladies that I went to college with – we were all RAs and OLs. There are a lot of people who I went to college with that live in the area so it was fun to get 4 of us together and to network a bit.

After brunch I went for a 4.5 mile walk with. My friend Sara, a walking date is fun, much better than just sitting and talking!