These past couple of months have flown by. So much has happened, which I plan to update in another post. But I wanted to just take a minute to address the school shooting which took place just a few miles from where I live in Connecticut.
Initially, I didn't realize the extent of what happened at Sandy Hook Elementary, but as the reports began to flow in, so did the tears. To think 26 people were killed, 20 of which were children, just makes no sense. I suppose I'll never know why people make the choices they do, but I still wonder what goes through someone's head to commit such a heinous act of violence.
Those that know me, know I am from Littleton, Colorado. A town synonymous with it's own act of violence. While I did not attend Columbine High School, I knew many who did and had my own connections to what occurred there so many years ago. And despite thirteen years, that day is etched in my mind with the utmost clarity.
As I watched the news and stories began pouring out of Sandy Hook, flashes of April 20, 1999 came back to me. I remember everything about that day, the tears, the screams, the questions, the fear. Our school was in a lock down and helicopters were soaring overhead. I remember finally being let out of school and my mom not being able to get to me because of roadblocks. I took the bus home and literally ran the entire way to my house, just wanting to hug my parents. In speaking with my mom and dad last Friday, they told me that without a doubt, they knew how some of the Sandy Hook parents felt, wondering where their child was, or if they were ok. My dad still has a difficult time talking about what happened with Columbine. He was on a business trip and knew I was planning on touring Columbine as a possible high school to attend. He wasn't sure where I was and couldn't get in touch with me (I didn't have a cell phone at the time and all the phone lines were tied up). All he could do was pray he said.
Columbine left an indelible mark. I was forever changed by that day and I have carried it with me all these years. Though I don't talk about it much these days, when shootings like the one in Newtown happen, it's hard not to think about Columbine. Sadly, it seems to be the shooting all other shootings are compared to. But now, I fear Sandy Hook has become the new benchmark.
My heart breaks for all those impacted by the shootings in Newtown. Just like Littleton, it was a small town, tight-knit, and I know it will be forever changed by the tremendous loss of life. I pray for the families of those who lost loved ones, especially the children. I don't have children and can never think to know what it might be like to lose a child in such a violent way, but my heart aches for their loss. All I can say is, Heaven has 20 little angels watching over us.
As Christmas quickly approaches, I can't help but think of all those families who will have unwrapped gifts under the tree, an empty seat at the dinner table. I can only pray they find the strength to soldier on in the midst of their grief and that they find comfort in knowing that there are good people in the world, good people who do care and love and hope. I know I plan to try that much harder to spread some joy and good in the lives of those around me in honor of those who were taken all too soon.
The wounds left behind last Friday may never heal, but I hope as a country, we can come together and open our eyes to the violence and tragedy we continue to endure. At some point, we have to say enough is enough. We can't continue to allow this type of hatred to pervade our schools, our malls, our communities. I do believe we are a great country, capable of great things. But we've lost our way. I can only pray we find it soon.
As John Lennon wrote, "Imagine all the people, living life in peace." Wouldn't that be something?
Thursday, December 20, 2012
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
Trouble Walking? Me? No! I'm just...CrossFitting
So tonight is my third CrossFit class this week and fourth total. A few things I've learned this week:
1. Somewhere between fifth grade and today, I forgot how to jump rope. This skill simply evaporated from my repertoire and I look like an absolute fool even attempting it. I trip over the rope, get the rope caught in my pony tail, miss a foot and tangle myself in the rope. It's sad, just sad. My solution is to buy a jump rope this weekend and practice.
2. I never knew what sore meant until now (well really until my marathon). I can remember being sore, or what I thought was sore after training, but this is a new level. My legs are so sore, I can barely sit down and stand back up. The stairs become a tremendous feat, hell even walking is difficult. Every time I roll over in my sleep, I wake up from the severe pain and effort it takes to move even the slightest bit. My body hurts!
3. I used to think squats with dumbbells were a pain...that was until I started doing over head squats and wall balls. Now, I'd give anything to squat with a 12lb dumbbell.
4. Thank God I trained for two years - the skills I learned are certainly coming in handy. While there's no doubt I feel like the new kid on the block at CrossFit, at least have some sense of what I'm doing...sort of.
Tonight we're doing upside down push ups (yeah right), pull ups (I'll be doing a modified version), box jumps (again, they'll probably have me to a modified version), toe to bars (ha, yeah right) and MORE squats. We'll see how it goes. I'm enjoying the challenge and the discipline and accountability I have by going back to some form of training - it helps to keep me on track. I'm also trying the paleo diet, although very modified and only every other day. I do miss carbs . . . I'd like a bagel.
What gives me hope, is that if I keep it up, hopefully in six months, on my 27th birthday, I'll feel a sense of real accomplishment seeing all these expected changes in my body. And hopefully I'll be a ripped beast!
Here's hoping I can walk tomorrow!
1. Somewhere between fifth grade and today, I forgot how to jump rope. This skill simply evaporated from my repertoire and I look like an absolute fool even attempting it. I trip over the rope, get the rope caught in my pony tail, miss a foot and tangle myself in the rope. It's sad, just sad. My solution is to buy a jump rope this weekend and practice.
2. I never knew what sore meant until now (well really until my marathon). I can remember being sore, or what I thought was sore after training, but this is a new level. My legs are so sore, I can barely sit down and stand back up. The stairs become a tremendous feat, hell even walking is difficult. Every time I roll over in my sleep, I wake up from the severe pain and effort it takes to move even the slightest bit. My body hurts!
3. I used to think squats with dumbbells were a pain...that was until I started doing over head squats and wall balls. Now, I'd give anything to squat with a 12lb dumbbell.
4. Thank God I trained for two years - the skills I learned are certainly coming in handy. While there's no doubt I feel like the new kid on the block at CrossFit, at least have some sense of what I'm doing...sort of.
Tonight we're doing upside down push ups (yeah right), pull ups (I'll be doing a modified version), box jumps (again, they'll probably have me to a modified version), toe to bars (ha, yeah right) and MORE squats. We'll see how it goes. I'm enjoying the challenge and the discipline and accountability I have by going back to some form of training - it helps to keep me on track. I'm also trying the paleo diet, although very modified and only every other day. I do miss carbs . . . I'd like a bagel.
What gives me hope, is that if I keep it up, hopefully in six months, on my 27th birthday, I'll feel a sense of real accomplishment seeing all these expected changes in my body. And hopefully I'll be a ripped beast!
Here's hoping I can walk tomorrow!
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
CrossFitting!
I finally took the leap and attended my first CrossFit class at the CrossFit Danbury box yesterday. As I've mentioned in previous posts, I worked with a personal trainer for about two years and ended up losing close to 40 pounds, which I gained in college (forget the Freshman Fifteen, it's the Freshman Forty!). Working with my trainer Amanda, I substantially increased my strength, endurance, everything. But since I've moved, I've been looking for something to replace that training. Not to mention, for the past four months I've been mainly focusing on my running...and since the marathon, I'm ready for a change of pace.
Thanks to a new colleague who joined my office a few weeks ago and my friend Brian's encouragement, I finally went to my first "beginners" class yesterday. Before diving in, I had all these scary thoughts about what I was getting myself into. All I could think of were all the intense, beast-like photos I had seen of friends lifting insane amounts of weight. I was nervous I'd embarrass myself or not be able to keep up.
Thankfully, all that personal training came in handy. I was able to keep up, despite some of my lingering marathon issues, and felt relatively strong throughout. I think we came on a day with a fairly easy WOD (Workout of the Day), as my friend Brian promises me it's going to be much more intense, but I've decided to commit to going three days a week, starting next week. Brian assures me I'll be a ripped beast in six months, so here's hoping!
Honestly, it was amazing how supportive and encouraging everyone was. These were people I had never met in my life, telling me I was doing a good job and helping me to make sure I was doing the exercises correctly - definitely a change of pace from the typical gym. There is also a level of competitiveness, which for anyone who knows me, knows I love. I think this could end up being really good for me, although I promised Karen (Brian's wife) I won't get too obsessed - we'll see!
I'm looking forward to continuing with it. Not sure if I'll adopt the paleo diet that comes along with CrossFit, but I am pretty confident I'll reach my goal weight through this program, as long as I stick to it. And maybe even make some new friends...which we all know I need to do since I moved.
Here's the WOD I completed yesterday:
1. STRENGTH/ SKILL WORK
5X5
PRESS
REST 60 SECS
5 STRICT C2B PULLUPS
REST 60 SECONDS
2. WOD
4 RFT
400M RUN
12 PP 95/65
So here are my main CrossFit goals:
1. Get to my goal weight
2. Do a pull up
3. Do a full push up (chest to the ground - as of now, I can do a very small one and totally kick butt on the girl version!)
So if all predictions are accurate, by April, I should be a ripped beast. Here goes nothing!
Thanks to a new colleague who joined my office a few weeks ago and my friend Brian's encouragement, I finally went to my first "beginners" class yesterday. Before diving in, I had all these scary thoughts about what I was getting myself into. All I could think of were all the intense, beast-like photos I had seen of friends lifting insane amounts of weight. I was nervous I'd embarrass myself or not be able to keep up.
Thankfully, all that personal training came in handy. I was able to keep up, despite some of my lingering marathon issues, and felt relatively strong throughout. I think we came on a day with a fairly easy WOD (Workout of the Day), as my friend Brian promises me it's going to be much more intense, but I've decided to commit to going three days a week, starting next week. Brian assures me I'll be a ripped beast in six months, so here's hoping!
Honestly, it was amazing how supportive and encouraging everyone was. These were people I had never met in my life, telling me I was doing a good job and helping me to make sure I was doing the exercises correctly - definitely a change of pace from the typical gym. There is also a level of competitiveness, which for anyone who knows me, knows I love. I think this could end up being really good for me, although I promised Karen (Brian's wife) I won't get too obsessed - we'll see!
I'm looking forward to continuing with it. Not sure if I'll adopt the paleo diet that comes along with CrossFit, but I am pretty confident I'll reach my goal weight through this program, as long as I stick to it. And maybe even make some new friends...which we all know I need to do since I moved.
Here's the WOD I completed yesterday:
1. STRENGTH/ SKILL WORK
5X5
PRESS
REST 60 SECS
5 STRICT C2B PULLUPS
REST 60 SECONDS
2. WOD
4 RFT
400M RUN
12 PP 95/65
So here are my main CrossFit goals:
1. Get to my goal weight
2. Do a pull up
3. Do a full push up (chest to the ground - as of now, I can do a very small one and totally kick butt on the girl version!)
So if all predictions are accurate, by April, I should be a ripped beast. Here goes nothing!
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
26.2
Gosh, who would have thought a marathon would have taken so much out of me, physically, mentally, and emotionally. With that said, I'm happy to report that I completed the marathon! That's right, this body took me a whole 26.2 miles and I crossed the finish line.
And here's all the gory details: The Saturday a week before my marathon, I went on a quick, three-mile taper run...not even a mile into the run, I hit a piece of uneven ground and as luck would have it, I sprained my ankle. After screaming a couple of expletives, pain and disappointment induced of course, I hobbled back to my parents' house. After making my way to the chair and icing my ankle, I just burst into tears. I had trained so long and so far for this marathon and a week before, I sprain my ankle. Go figure.
The following Monday, I hopped on a plane to Orlando for a big work event, with my ankle wrapped tightly, still painful and still swollen. I got through the week, although on very limited sleep and not without some major travel disruptions (including a cancelled flight, waiting on the tarmac for an hour, another six hour delay, lost luggage, etc.). My ankle was still black and blue and still swollen, but I had put in so much effort and just couldn't let this injury sideline me.
So the race began...I felt alright, although my quads were super tight. Around mile nine, I re-twisted my ankle, which was painful. I kept running. At mile twelve, my ankle gave out again. I kept running. By mile 16 or so, I was hobbling/jogging, but I kept going. Around mile 22 I had a mini breakdown, wondering if the race would ever end. I started to tear up. I asked God to just help me through it, and as if he knew I needed it, a song that means so much to me, "Be Still," by The Fray started playing on my iPod. At that point, I just knew I had to keep going...and keep going I did. It took me six hours...should have taken me a little less than five, but with the ankle, I was just happy to cross the finish line. My friends and brother cheered me on the entire way - meeting me at every check point with their homemade signs, screaming for me to keep going, and even breaking out into song at one point - Journey's "Don't Stop Believin'." I couldn't have done it without them.
After the race, I could barely walk. My brother had to half carry me to the car and throughout the next few days I can honestly say, I have never been so sore in my life. I couldn't stand up or sit down without incredible pain in my legs. Even as I slept, whenever I turned over, my body would scream with pain. A week and half out though, I'm starting to feel better, although I still have some hip pain and oddly enough, my feet still hurt a bit in the mornings. My ankle is still swollen, although the black and blue has subsided. I'm still debating if it's worth heading to the doctor, because my gut is telling me I might have a stress fracture. I'm testing it out tonight at the gym, for the first time in a week.
Although my plan was to run one marathon and then stick with half-marathons and shorter, I'm not so sure that's the case. I really want know what I'm really made of and knowing my time should have been so much better, I think I'll starting training again come the spring. I can honestly say I'm not looking forward to the sores all over my back, the endless long distance runs, the gu chomps and gels...but there's nothing that compares to crossing the finish line knowing you just ran 26.2 miles - no one can ever take that away from you, no matter what the time was, no matter the circumstance...I proudly display my 26.2 sticker on my car, despite it all.
Until the next race . . .
And here's all the gory details: The Saturday a week before my marathon, I went on a quick, three-mile taper run...not even a mile into the run, I hit a piece of uneven ground and as luck would have it, I sprained my ankle. After screaming a couple of expletives, pain and disappointment induced of course, I hobbled back to my parents' house. After making my way to the chair and icing my ankle, I just burst into tears. I had trained so long and so far for this marathon and a week before, I sprain my ankle. Go figure.
The following Monday, I hopped on a plane to Orlando for a big work event, with my ankle wrapped tightly, still painful and still swollen. I got through the week, although on very limited sleep and not without some major travel disruptions (including a cancelled flight, waiting on the tarmac for an hour, another six hour delay, lost luggage, etc.). My ankle was still black and blue and still swollen, but I had put in so much effort and just couldn't let this injury sideline me.
So the race began...I felt alright, although my quads were super tight. Around mile nine, I re-twisted my ankle, which was painful. I kept running. At mile twelve, my ankle gave out again. I kept running. By mile 16 or so, I was hobbling/jogging, but I kept going. Around mile 22 I had a mini breakdown, wondering if the race would ever end. I started to tear up. I asked God to just help me through it, and as if he knew I needed it, a song that means so much to me, "Be Still," by The Fray started playing on my iPod. At that point, I just knew I had to keep going...and keep going I did. It took me six hours...should have taken me a little less than five, but with the ankle, I was just happy to cross the finish line. My friends and brother cheered me on the entire way - meeting me at every check point with their homemade signs, screaming for me to keep going, and even breaking out into song at one point - Journey's "Don't Stop Believin'." I couldn't have done it without them.
After the race, I could barely walk. My brother had to half carry me to the car and throughout the next few days I can honestly say, I have never been so sore in my life. I couldn't stand up or sit down without incredible pain in my legs. Even as I slept, whenever I turned over, my body would scream with pain. A week and half out though, I'm starting to feel better, although I still have some hip pain and oddly enough, my feet still hurt a bit in the mornings. My ankle is still swollen, although the black and blue has subsided. I'm still debating if it's worth heading to the doctor, because my gut is telling me I might have a stress fracture. I'm testing it out tonight at the gym, for the first time in a week.
Although my plan was to run one marathon and then stick with half-marathons and shorter, I'm not so sure that's the case. I really want know what I'm really made of and knowing my time should have been so much better, I think I'll starting training again come the spring. I can honestly say I'm not looking forward to the sores all over my back, the endless long distance runs, the gu chomps and gels...but there's nothing that compares to crossing the finish line knowing you just ran 26.2 miles - no one can ever take that away from you, no matter what the time was, no matter the circumstance...I proudly display my 26.2 sticker on my car, despite it all.
Until the next race . . .
Monday, August 6, 2012
Bye Bails
It took me a week to get my emotions together to write this blog entry. Last Monday my parents called me and insisted I call them back as soon as I got to my apartment after work. Of course I knew something happened. My thoughts started racing - who could it be? Something happened to someone I loved...and then it hit me, it was Bailey. Sure enough, when I finally reached my apartment, through the tears already welling in my eyes, I asked my parents, "Is it Bailey?" All they had to say was yes and I knew what had happened to our 12 year old yellow lab.
I'll be honest, I have never been so emotional over an animal in my entire life. And I guess to some extent, Bailey wasn't just an animal, she was a member of our family. I remember when we went to pick her up, somewhere near Evergreen, Colorado. My brother and I didn't know we were getting a puppy, but I remember how thrilled we were when we realized it. The breeder brought the dogs in, a line of five or six yellow lab puppies. Then came a straggler, a puppy walking in a bit slower than the rest. She stopped, looked at us and proceeded to pee on the floor. We knew then we had found our dog.
We named her Bailey, after the first town we ate breakfast in in Colorado. Little did we know, Bailey is a pretty common dog's name. But every time someone told us they had a dog named Bailey, my dad would always say, "Yeah, but I bet they're not named after Bailey, Colorado," and sure enough, they never were.
Bailey was an amazing dog. She wasn't "anyone's" dog really, but loved each of us equally...although I won't lie, I think she was partial to my Dad and me. When I left for college, the first semester I was gone, Bailey took all her toys and piled them up outside my door . . . if that's not a sign, I don't know what is.
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I have the fondest of memories of my puppy. From our long runs, to eventually our long walks. I remember playing fetch with her and letting her sleep in my bed (against my dad's protests). She used to sleep literally like a person, with her head on the pillow, taking up the majority of the bed. I remember how crazy she'd get after the bear would pay us a visit and I remember how much she loved just laying outside in the garage watching people walk by. She never ran away, never bit anyone, and would never take a treat until you told her it was ok. She loved it when I spilled ice in the kitchen, because she'd get to lick it up and she couldn't stand my mom cleaning her ears. She gave high fives and kisses and would immediately run for her bed when you told her it was time to go "night night." She was simply the best dog we've ever had.
I went home last weekend and my mom told me Bailey had been bit by a bee. Her ear was swollen with fluid and I spent most of Saturday researching how to make it better. We gave her benadryl, I tried to get her to let me ice her ear, which wasn't easy. Mom and dad planned to take her to the vet the following Monday to see if they could drain the fluid. But it was more than just a bee sting. Bailey's allergies were worse than ever, her paws were swollen and chewed and it looked like she was developing a tumor on her paw. She had an extremely difficult time climbing the stairs and would often wait at the base of the stairs for hours until someone forced her to make the trek. She was getting old and while none of us thought she'd go this soon, we all knew it was coming. The vet said she was in a lot of pain and he felt it was time. My mom made the decision and that was it, our beloved Bailey Bails was gone.
The first few days were difficult, I cried even thinking about her. The days have begun to get better, but even as I write this post, tears are welling in my eyes. Bailey was part of our family for nearly half my life...wherever we went, Bailey went. Whenever I came home, before I even said hello to my parents, I yelled out for Bails. It's still unbelievable to me that she's no longer here. I think part of me feels like she's just at the kennel and Mom and Dad haven't gone to pick her up yet...but I know better.
I know my puppy-girl is in a better place, she's not suffering anymore, she's at peace, but it still hurts. I still miss her. We were truly blessed to have such an amazing dog. I'm thankful she loved us as much as we loved her and deep down I know she's up in Heaven playing with her stuffed "babies" without a care in the world.
Take care old girl, be good, we love and miss you Bails.
I'll be honest, I have never been so emotional over an animal in my entire life. And I guess to some extent, Bailey wasn't just an animal, she was a member of our family. I remember when we went to pick her up, somewhere near Evergreen, Colorado. My brother and I didn't know we were getting a puppy, but I remember how thrilled we were when we realized it. The breeder brought the dogs in, a line of five or six yellow lab puppies. Then came a straggler, a puppy walking in a bit slower than the rest. She stopped, looked at us and proceeded to pee on the floor. We knew then we had found our dog.
We named her Bailey, after the first town we ate breakfast in in Colorado. Little did we know, Bailey is a pretty common dog's name. But every time someone told us they had a dog named Bailey, my dad would always say, "Yeah, but I bet they're not named after Bailey, Colorado," and sure enough, they never were.
Bailey was an amazing dog. She wasn't "anyone's" dog really, but loved each of us equally...although I won't lie, I think she was partial to my Dad and me. When I left for college, the first semester I was gone, Bailey took all her toys and piled them up outside my door . . . if that's not a sign, I don't know what is.
.JPG)
I have the fondest of memories of my puppy. From our long runs, to eventually our long walks. I remember playing fetch with her and letting her sleep in my bed (against my dad's protests). She used to sleep literally like a person, with her head on the pillow, taking up the majority of the bed. I remember how crazy she'd get after the bear would pay us a visit and I remember how much she loved just laying outside in the garage watching people walk by. She never ran away, never bit anyone, and would never take a treat until you told her it was ok. She loved it when I spilled ice in the kitchen, because she'd get to lick it up and she couldn't stand my mom cleaning her ears. She gave high fives and kisses and would immediately run for her bed when you told her it was time to go "night night." She was simply the best dog we've ever had.I went home last weekend and my mom told me Bailey had been bit by a bee. Her ear was swollen with fluid and I spent most of Saturday researching how to make it better. We gave her benadryl, I tried to get her to let me ice her ear, which wasn't easy. Mom and dad planned to take her to the vet the following Monday to see if they could drain the fluid. But it was more than just a bee sting. Bailey's allergies were worse than ever, her paws were swollen and chewed and it looked like she was developing a tumor on her paw. She had an extremely difficult time climbing the stairs and would often wait at the base of the stairs for hours until someone forced her to make the trek. She was getting old and while none of us thought she'd go this soon, we all knew it was coming. The vet said she was in a lot of pain and he felt it was time. My mom made the decision and that was it, our beloved Bailey Bails was gone.
The first few days were difficult, I cried even thinking about her. The days have begun to get better, but even as I write this post, tears are welling in my eyes. Bailey was part of our family for nearly half my life...wherever we went, Bailey went. Whenever I came home, before I even said hello to my parents, I yelled out for Bails. It's still unbelievable to me that she's no longer here. I think part of me feels like she's just at the kennel and Mom and Dad haven't gone to pick her up yet...but I know better.
I know my puppy-girl is in a better place, she's not suffering anymore, she's at peace, but it still hurts. I still miss her. We were truly blessed to have such an amazing dog. I'm thankful she loved us as much as we loved her and deep down I know she's up in Heaven playing with her stuffed "babies" without a care in the world.
Take care old girl, be good, we love and miss you Bails.
Monday, July 23, 2012
Another Fateful Day
I spent my weekend in Delaware celebrating my two best friends' birthdays. It was a great weekend at the beach, laughing, eating, and simply having fun together.
The weekend was kicked off with the Dark Knight Rises on Friday evening. We bought our tickets weeks ago, but little did I know what would occur between then and now. As most everyone in the country knows, during a midnight showing of the Dark Knight, a gunman entered an Aurora, Colorado movie theater and unleashed havoc in the form of bullets, killing 12 and wounding dozens more on Friday morning.
When I woke up Friday morning, I saw the news articles plastered all over Facebook and on the internet. My initial thought was, "Oh no, not again." And as I continued to read those articles, without fail, almost every one included a paragraph about Littleton, Colorado, a mere 20 miles away.
Fourteen years ago, if I mentioned I was from Littleton, people would hardly react - they'd simply ask where that was and if I liked it there. But as of April 20, 1999, that changed. Now when I say I'm from Littleton, people pause and say, "Ohh," as if they're not sure how to continue the conversation. It's something I've unfortunately grown used to over the years.
As the news reports continued regarding the Aurora shooting, without fail, the ultimate comparison was made. Broadcasters proclaimed, "This is the state's largest shooting since Columbine," as if it's some sort of achievement to outdo what Dylan and Eric did so many years ago.
But I'd be lying if I said I didn't have my own flashbacks to that day. With the news of this shooting came a flood of memories; my classmates crying in gym class as they told me what happened, the school lock-down, the helicopters swarming overhead, not being able to reach my parents because all the phone lines were jammed, running a dead sprint home so I could hug my mom, huddling around the television trying to find out all the details, my dad trying to reach us from Texas, learning of the friends we had lost and those injured, paying our respects at Clement Park, our church Pastor burying Dylan and the aftermath that came, and the constant analyzing of what we could have done better, what we missed, what didn't we see? And the realization that at the end of the day, "We Are All Columbine."
I have a lot of mixed emotions when it comes to this latest shooting. Anger, sadness, disbelief. My heart goes out to all those wounded, killed, and affected by this heinous act. And my heart breaks for a state that has been rifled with extreme loss, from Columbine to this year's devastating wild fires to the Aurora shooting.
As I watch the news unfold, I wonder what life will be like for my future children. After Columbine, my school experience was drastically different in many ways, not to mention my own life and personal views on school violence and bullying. And one has to wonder, will going to the movies become an altered experience now too? Will my children be able to live in a world without metal detectors and heightened security? It's doubtful as the very places we're supposed to be safe, continue to become outright danger zones.
And so now, the comparisons will continue. The media will try to "dissect" the brain of a mass murderer - Why did he do it? Did he have a rough childhood? Was he mentally unstable? What signs did we miss? How can we prevent this from happening again? To be honest, I don't care. The fact is, he chose to murder innocent lives and at the end of the day those are the people who matter. Let's talk about them and the impact they had. This man, he doesn't deserve to even be mentioned, let alone given his 15 minutes of fame in the media spotlight.
Because the truth is, no one will ever really know why he chose to act this way. At the end of the day, no one will be able to understand what drove this madman to inflict such pain and violence on a theater of innocent move goers, just as I will never understand why Dylan and Eric chose to unleash their own pain and misery on their classmates and my friends on that fateful day in April 1999.
The fact remains, these are trying and dangerous times. I only pray there's a light at the end of the tunnel and this senseless violence stops. Until then, I'll keep all those victims in my heart, mind, and prayers.
Stay strong Colorado. Stay strong.
The weekend was kicked off with the Dark Knight Rises on Friday evening. We bought our tickets weeks ago, but little did I know what would occur between then and now. As most everyone in the country knows, during a midnight showing of the Dark Knight, a gunman entered an Aurora, Colorado movie theater and unleashed havoc in the form of bullets, killing 12 and wounding dozens more on Friday morning.
When I woke up Friday morning, I saw the news articles plastered all over Facebook and on the internet. My initial thought was, "Oh no, not again." And as I continued to read those articles, without fail, almost every one included a paragraph about Littleton, Colorado, a mere 20 miles away.
Fourteen years ago, if I mentioned I was from Littleton, people would hardly react - they'd simply ask where that was and if I liked it there. But as of April 20, 1999, that changed. Now when I say I'm from Littleton, people pause and say, "Ohh," as if they're not sure how to continue the conversation. It's something I've unfortunately grown used to over the years.
As the news reports continued regarding the Aurora shooting, without fail, the ultimate comparison was made. Broadcasters proclaimed, "This is the state's largest shooting since Columbine," as if it's some sort of achievement to outdo what Dylan and Eric did so many years ago.
But I'd be lying if I said I didn't have my own flashbacks to that day. With the news of this shooting came a flood of memories; my classmates crying in gym class as they told me what happened, the school lock-down, the helicopters swarming overhead, not being able to reach my parents because all the phone lines were jammed, running a dead sprint home so I could hug my mom, huddling around the television trying to find out all the details, my dad trying to reach us from Texas, learning of the friends we had lost and those injured, paying our respects at Clement Park, our church Pastor burying Dylan and the aftermath that came, and the constant analyzing of what we could have done better, what we missed, what didn't we see? And the realization that at the end of the day, "We Are All Columbine."
I have a lot of mixed emotions when it comes to this latest shooting. Anger, sadness, disbelief. My heart goes out to all those wounded, killed, and affected by this heinous act. And my heart breaks for a state that has been rifled with extreme loss, from Columbine to this year's devastating wild fires to the Aurora shooting.
As I watch the news unfold, I wonder what life will be like for my future children. After Columbine, my school experience was drastically different in many ways, not to mention my own life and personal views on school violence and bullying. And one has to wonder, will going to the movies become an altered experience now too? Will my children be able to live in a world without metal detectors and heightened security? It's doubtful as the very places we're supposed to be safe, continue to become outright danger zones.
And so now, the comparisons will continue. The media will try to "dissect" the brain of a mass murderer - Why did he do it? Did he have a rough childhood? Was he mentally unstable? What signs did we miss? How can we prevent this from happening again? To be honest, I don't care. The fact is, he chose to murder innocent lives and at the end of the day those are the people who matter. Let's talk about them and the impact they had. This man, he doesn't deserve to even be mentioned, let alone given his 15 minutes of fame in the media spotlight.
Because the truth is, no one will ever really know why he chose to act this way. At the end of the day, no one will be able to understand what drove this madman to inflict such pain and violence on a theater of innocent move goers, just as I will never understand why Dylan and Eric chose to unleash their own pain and misery on their classmates and my friends on that fateful day in April 1999. The fact remains, these are trying and dangerous times. I only pray there's a light at the end of the tunnel and this senseless violence stops. Until then, I'll keep all those victims in my heart, mind, and prayers.
Stay strong Colorado. Stay strong.
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
The Countdown Begins
So in just 73 short days, I'm competing in this little thing called a marathon. When I signed up for the race back in February, it seemed like I had all this time to train and prepare, but with just over two months left, that doesn't seem to be the case anymore.
I was sticking to a running schedule and then went on my work trip for three weeks, which definitely stalled some of my training. But I'm happy to say I started a new 16-week schedule once I returned and have stuck to it for the past month. I'm up for a ten mile run on Friday and will brave 11 miles in the Arizona heat next week, while I'm on vacation with my parents.
I would be a total liar if I said I wasn't scared to compete in this marathon. Let me tell you now, I am terrified and in all honesty have no idea how I'm going to finish it. Don't get me wrong, I have confidence in my abilities and every time I complete a long run, it's never as bad as I thought it would be, but let's get real people, 26.2 miles is a friggen long way to go.
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I keep thinking about how I felt after my half marathon last summer. When I hit mile 12, I was "seeing Jesus" as they say and verbally praying aloud for God to help me finish the race. When I crossed the finish line, I remember my cousin grabbing me and yelling for one of the race officials to give my my medal. I remember her putting the medal over my neck and me just saying, "Cheryl, I hurt. I hurt a lot." My knee was swollen and not feeling too hot because of my overly tight IT band and I ended up working with my trainer for a few months after the half, just to get my IT band back to normal. I remember going to bed that night, after the half marathon, oddly enough on an air mattress (I was staying with my cousin, so real bed space was limited). I remember being in so much pain that when I went to readjust or move in my sleep, I woke up with the searing pain of aching muscles.
And thus I admit to you, I am terrified to run this marathon.
So what's my plan for the next 73 days? Well, I'm definitely sticking to the schedule. When I trained for my half, I kind of made up my own schedule and I think maybe ended up adding too much mileage each week. This will not be the case for the marathon.
I'm going to run the Lynchburg half for a second time in August, about a month before my marathon, so that should gauge how well I'll do. I'm also going to be joining the local Crossfit here in Danbury after my vacation, which should help with overall fitness and maybe help me shed a few more pounds before the race.
I'm also purchasing my very own foam roller, which I've been putting off for far too long. This means I'll be a stretching, foam rolling machine up until the big race.
And finally, I plan to overhaul my diet over the next two months, to really focus on consuming food as fuel and not simply because I like it. Although I lost 40 pounds over the past two years, I've been lazy and allowing myself one too many indulgences. Yes, I've kept the weight off, but I haven't lost anything either, and that has to change. But it's really less about the weight and more about giving my body the energy it needs to friggen run 26.2 miles. This means more veggies, more fruit, more high protein and less low fat mini cupcakes (yes they do exist), cups of cereal before bed (hate that I've reverted to that nasty habit again), and carb binges.
The good thing about all of this is that I committed, I paid the money, I'm running the race. Whether I run, walk, or crawl to the finish line, I will complete it. I don't care how long it takes me, because this is one of those moments in life, where it's all about the journey.
Let the countdown begin . . .
I was sticking to a running schedule and then went on my work trip for three weeks, which definitely stalled some of my training. But I'm happy to say I started a new 16-week schedule once I returned and have stuck to it for the past month. I'm up for a ten mile run on Friday and will brave 11 miles in the Arizona heat next week, while I'm on vacation with my parents.
I would be a total liar if I said I wasn't scared to compete in this marathon. Let me tell you now, I am terrified and in all honesty have no idea how I'm going to finish it. Don't get me wrong, I have confidence in my abilities and every time I complete a long run, it's never as bad as I thought it would be, but let's get real people, 26.2 miles is a friggen long way to go.
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I keep thinking about how I felt after my half marathon last summer. When I hit mile 12, I was "seeing Jesus" as they say and verbally praying aloud for God to help me finish the race. When I crossed the finish line, I remember my cousin grabbing me and yelling for one of the race officials to give my my medal. I remember her putting the medal over my neck and me just saying, "Cheryl, I hurt. I hurt a lot." My knee was swollen and not feeling too hot because of my overly tight IT band and I ended up working with my trainer for a few months after the half, just to get my IT band back to normal. I remember going to bed that night, after the half marathon, oddly enough on an air mattress (I was staying with my cousin, so real bed space was limited). I remember being in so much pain that when I went to readjust or move in my sleep, I woke up with the searing pain of aching muscles.And thus I admit to you, I am terrified to run this marathon.
So what's my plan for the next 73 days? Well, I'm definitely sticking to the schedule. When I trained for my half, I kind of made up my own schedule and I think maybe ended up adding too much mileage each week. This will not be the case for the marathon.
I'm going to run the Lynchburg half for a second time in August, about a month before my marathon, so that should gauge how well I'll do. I'm also going to be joining the local Crossfit here in Danbury after my vacation, which should help with overall fitness and maybe help me shed a few more pounds before the race.
I'm also purchasing my very own foam roller, which I've been putting off for far too long. This means I'll be a stretching, foam rolling machine up until the big race.
And finally, I plan to overhaul my diet over the next two months, to really focus on consuming food as fuel and not simply because I like it. Although I lost 40 pounds over the past two years, I've been lazy and allowing myself one too many indulgences. Yes, I've kept the weight off, but I haven't lost anything either, and that has to change. But it's really less about the weight and more about giving my body the energy it needs to friggen run 26.2 miles. This means more veggies, more fruit, more high protein and less low fat mini cupcakes (yes they do exist), cups of cereal before bed (hate that I've reverted to that nasty habit again), and carb binges.
The good thing about all of this is that I committed, I paid the money, I'm running the race. Whether I run, walk, or crawl to the finish line, I will complete it. I don't care how long it takes me, because this is one of those moments in life, where it's all about the journey.
Let the countdown begin . . .
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
The Reality of Miss Advised . . .
So it's that awkward part of summer in TV-land - the period where all the great shows have wrapped and the late summer shows have yet to begin. It's what I like to call reality-TV Hell. While I never got into Jersey Shore and always thought when you'd turn the TV off after having watched that show you were significantly less intelligent then when you turned it on, I have to admit, I have a pretty long list of reality TV taking up precious DVR space. My list of guilty pleasures includes: the Real Housewives (Jersey, New York, and Ocean County), the Bachelorette (she's totally visiting Prague next week!), Sister Wives (seriously, I can't get enough of them), Tia & Tamera, Kendra on Top, and as of 24 hours ago Miss Advised, a new show on Bravo.
I watched Miss Advised for the first time last night, the premier episode. The show, which is produced by Ashley Tisdale believe it or not, is about three relationship experts living in NYC, San Fran, and L.A. Each one has their own take on relationships and even has their own rules, but as luck and reality would have it, they have trouble actually following their rules.
As I watched the show, I was amazed at how horribly inexperienced my dating life seems to be. I mean don't get me wrong, I have some pretty good dating horror stories (yes, I'm talking about you Mr. Know It All, who said because I was smart, educated, had a good job, and understood business, it was hard to believe I was a woman), but these ladies seem to find a guy around every corner, have a date every night, and blog to tell about it the next day. It's clear these ladies didn't just move to Danbury, Connecticut, because let me tell you, the dating scene isn't exactly booming here. I digress!
I'll admit, I definitely saw some of myself in two of the ladies - Amy Laurent, a NYC matchmaker meets up with her ex-boyfriend who's in town for the NYC marathon. After meeting him for dinner she realizes maybe she's isn't quite as over him as she thought. Yeah, been there, done that. And Julia Allison who goes on a date with a guy with personality potential, but not so much looks. She even asks him to help her move boxes into her new apartment, only to let him know that evening that she really just wants to be friends - oh yes, been there too. Julia even has a 75-point checklist for what she wants in a future husband - don't we all?
I'm not really sure why I let this suck me in last night - I sometimes wonder why these dating shows exist at all...yes it's a guilty pleasure and I'm sure it's supposed to inspire women to take their dating life by the ... well you know, and find that perfect guy. Or maybe it's supposed to demonstrate the pitfalls of other ladies dating escapades, just so we can feel better about our less than lackluster dating lives. I'm not really sure, but at the end of the episode, I think it made me feel worse about the whole dating scene. I'd love to see a reality show that wasn't focused on women trying to snag a guy - is it really that horrible for a career-focused woman to be single? Is it really that awful to not have a boyfriend? Sure, sometimes it feels like it, but mostly I believe women should embrace singlehood - get to know themselves first, understand what really makes then happy, before they start following someone else's rules for hunting down Mr. Right. Just my two cents!
I watched Miss Advised for the first time last night, the premier episode. The show, which is produced by Ashley Tisdale believe it or not, is about three relationship experts living in NYC, San Fran, and L.A. Each one has their own take on relationships and even has their own rules, but as luck and reality would have it, they have trouble actually following their rules.
As I watched the show, I was amazed at how horribly inexperienced my dating life seems to be. I mean don't get me wrong, I have some pretty good dating horror stories (yes, I'm talking about you Mr. Know It All, who said because I was smart, educated, had a good job, and understood business, it was hard to believe I was a woman), but these ladies seem to find a guy around every corner, have a date every night, and blog to tell about it the next day. It's clear these ladies didn't just move to Danbury, Connecticut, because let me tell you, the dating scene isn't exactly booming here. I digress!
I'll admit, I definitely saw some of myself in two of the ladies - Amy Laurent, a NYC matchmaker meets up with her ex-boyfriend who's in town for the NYC marathon. After meeting him for dinner she realizes maybe she's isn't quite as over him as she thought. Yeah, been there, done that. And Julia Allison who goes on a date with a guy with personality potential, but not so much looks. She even asks him to help her move boxes into her new apartment, only to let him know that evening that she really just wants to be friends - oh yes, been there too. Julia even has a 75-point checklist for what she wants in a future husband - don't we all?
I'm not really sure why I let this suck me in last night - I sometimes wonder why these dating shows exist at all...yes it's a guilty pleasure and I'm sure it's supposed to inspire women to take their dating life by the ... well you know, and find that perfect guy. Or maybe it's supposed to demonstrate the pitfalls of other ladies dating escapades, just so we can feel better about our less than lackluster dating lives. I'm not really sure, but at the end of the episode, I think it made me feel worse about the whole dating scene. I'd love to see a reality show that wasn't focused on women trying to snag a guy - is it really that horrible for a career-focused woman to be single? Is it really that awful to not have a boyfriend? Sure, sometimes it feels like it, but mostly I believe women should embrace singlehood - get to know themselves first, understand what really makes then happy, before they start following someone else's rules for hunting down Mr. Right. Just my two cents!
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Back on U.S. Soil
Well, I made it to Europe and back! My attempts at super packing were successful and I was under the weight limits every time. Had a wonderful trip, really learned a lot and met so many new people. Although I had a wonderful time, more than two weeks away from home can be a bit taxing at the end. I have to say, when I left Spain that last day, I was ready to go home.
Some of my trip highlights:
1. This trip solidified my belief that taking this new job was one hundred percent the right decision. Throughout my time away, I met people from more than 20 different countries and really enjoyed the folks I worked with. Overall, the amount of drama I encountered was minimal and honestly, a breath of fresh air. It feels good to know I took a giant leap of faith and it paid off. To those who supported me and continue to do so, thank you. To those who didn't or continue to contribute negativity, you don't matter and honestly, never really did.
2. I met some amazing co-workers from Texas and Canada. We had a great time out to dinner in Poland and even found time to partake in some karaoke at the event finale, which resulted in an impromptu, "Hold On" karaoke session on our bus back to the hotel. Great people. Looking forward to some upcoming trips to Toronto and Austin and reconnecting in Russia.
3. Prague was simply breathtaking. Everywhere I looked there was a postcard photo opportunity in the making. Although the city was awfully crowded (due to a beer festival and hockey season), I can finally cross "See Prague" off my list of to-dos. Such a beautiful city.
4. I didn't have much time in Spain, but I had the opportunity to go into the city for a really fantastic dinner. I randomly chose the venue, La Capilla de La Bolsa, which happened to be the home of the former Madrid Stock Exchange and a church with ties to the Knight's Templar. I was nervous, since it was a random Google selection, but in the end, it paid off and everyone was thrilled with my choice. The interior of the restaurant was phenomenal and there were opera singers who put on a performance every fifteen minutes. I also had my first taste of lobster paella, which was to die for. And we enjoyed some sangria, which was nothing like I've ever had here in the U.S. Despite this amazing meal, I managed to lose almost four pounds over the course of the two weeks!
Overall it was a great trip. I plan to blog more in-depth about it later, but wanted to give a quick blog update. Now it's back to the real world . . . marathon training, etc. But I have some incredible memories to last me a lifetime.
Already looking forward to Russa, et. al. next year!
Some of my trip highlights:
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| View of Prague |
2. I met some amazing co-workers from Texas and Canada. We had a great time out to dinner in Poland and even found time to partake in some karaoke at the event finale, which resulted in an impromptu, "Hold On" karaoke session on our bus back to the hotel. Great people. Looking forward to some upcoming trips to Toronto and Austin and reconnecting in Russia.
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| Inside of the restaurant |
4. I didn't have much time in Spain, but I had the opportunity to go into the city for a really fantastic dinner. I randomly chose the venue, La Capilla de La Bolsa, which happened to be the home of the former Madrid Stock Exchange and a church with ties to the Knight's Templar. I was nervous, since it was a random Google selection, but in the end, it paid off and everyone was thrilled with my choice. The interior of the restaurant was phenomenal and there were opera singers who put on a performance every fifteen minutes. I also had my first taste of lobster paella, which was to die for. And we enjoyed some sangria, which was nothing like I've ever had here in the U.S. Despite this amazing meal, I managed to lose almost four pounds over the course of the two weeks!
Overall it was a great trip. I plan to blog more in-depth about it later, but wanted to give a quick blog update. Now it's back to the real world . . . marathon training, etc. But I have some incredible memories to last me a lifetime.
Already looking forward to Russa, et. al. next year!
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
An Update on the Packing Saga
As I mentioned in my last post, I'm making a real valiant effort to be a savvy packer for my trip abroad in a mere 11 days. Here's an update on my successes/failures thus far:
1. I bought new luggage and actually got a great deal on it too. Quick sidebar: I went to Macy's, where they had a 50% off luggage sale. I ended up going for a Calvin Klein set (three pieces, big, medium, small). Together with a 25% friends and family coupon, a slew of giftcards (Thanks CS, LS, & TC), I ended up snagging more than $700 worth of luggage for only . . . get ready for it . . . $200! I consider this a success, not just because of the awesome deal, but because I know have a matching set of luggage and a good sized check-in piece, plus a great little carry-on. Ok, it's not really a success, but I'm still excited about my new luggage . . . and wow, I'm excited about luggage.
2. I took a trip to the local Christmas Tree Shop which is essentially Mecca for all things travel-sized. I snagged some great little finds, like the perfect sized bottle of body wash. Simple pleasures my friends. I also had a great 20% off coupon, so that didn't hurt.
3. I've slowly started to make a pile of things I need to pack - My goal is to do a test run next week.
4. I've tested out how much lotion, contact solution, etc. I REALLY need for two weeks and am now taking about a third of what I normally take on a trip. This has to make a difference, right?
5. I've almost convinced myself that it's impossible to bring my scale with me. When I told my best friend Lindsay about this, she said, "wow Amanda, that's so weird." So I guess I really shouldn't do it, but I'm still on the hunt for a light weight-travel scale. Should one exist, it's mine.
6. I suppose this is somewhat of a failure - One of my coworkers asked me to play tennis in Madrid...which is awesome, but now requires me to pack my tennis racket. I suppose I could not be a tennis snob and rent a racket in Spain, but I feel like I should bring my own. This could put a real wrench in my packing - we shall see.
Just a quick update. Still can't believe I have 11 days left to make it all work!
1. I bought new luggage and actually got a great deal on it too. Quick sidebar: I went to Macy's, where they had a 50% off luggage sale. I ended up going for a Calvin Klein set (three pieces, big, medium, small). Together with a 25% friends and family coupon, a slew of giftcards (Thanks CS, LS, & TC), I ended up snagging more than $700 worth of luggage for only . . . get ready for it . . . $200! I consider this a success, not just because of the awesome deal, but because I know have a matching set of luggage and a good sized check-in piece, plus a great little carry-on. Ok, it's not really a success, but I'm still excited about my new luggage . . . and wow, I'm excited about luggage.
2. I took a trip to the local Christmas Tree Shop which is essentially Mecca for all things travel-sized. I snagged some great little finds, like the perfect sized bottle of body wash. Simple pleasures my friends. I also had a great 20% off coupon, so that didn't hurt.
3. I've slowly started to make a pile of things I need to pack - My goal is to do a test run next week.
4. I've tested out how much lotion, contact solution, etc. I REALLY need for two weeks and am now taking about a third of what I normally take on a trip. This has to make a difference, right?
5. I've almost convinced myself that it's impossible to bring my scale with me. When I told my best friend Lindsay about this, she said, "wow Amanda, that's so weird." So I guess I really shouldn't do it, but I'm still on the hunt for a light weight-travel scale. Should one exist, it's mine.
6. I suppose this is somewhat of a failure - One of my coworkers asked me to play tennis in Madrid...which is awesome, but now requires me to pack my tennis racket. I suppose I could not be a tennis snob and rent a racket in Spain, but I feel like I should bring my own. This could put a real wrench in my packing - we shall see.
Just a quick update. Still can't believe I have 11 days left to make it all work!
Thursday, April 26, 2012
Staying Healthy while Staying Abroad
In just a few short weeks, I'm off for an extended work trip abroad. I'll be spending about a week in Warsaw, Poland, a few days in Prague, and four days in Madrid, Spain. While I'm certainly excited and happy for the opportunity to travel, I'm a little nervous about two things: 1 - How will I manage to pack all that I need for two weeks in one suitcase and one carry-on and still make the airline weight restrictions? 2 - How will I stay on track with my marathon training and eat healthy? Big problems, right? Yeah, I know, they're fairly minor, but still important, especially to a PR, clothes/shoes-loving, woman!
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Let's tackle the suitcase issue first. I've already started making a list of things I need to buy and things I want to pack. I think I've come to the realization that I will need to do some laundry in the hotel sink, and I'm alright with that. But let's be honest, I'm totally one of those girls who brings eight pairs of shoes and too many "just-in-case" outfits. It's going to be tough. I just don't want to get into another situation like I did in China, where my bag was too heavy and in broken English I was told I needed to pay $500 U.S. dollars - Nightmare of a story for another blog post. Anyways, my goal is to be extremely practical about my packing - I said, it's my "goal." I also need to some how leave extra space for all the gifts I need to bring back. This will be a real challenge folks. I plan to document my packing extravaganza and offer some tips as I go along. So wish me luck!
As for my training schedule and eating, that's another story. I know the hotels I'm staying in are equipped with gyms, so that's a start. Working out isn't really going to be a huge issue, I seem to make time for it on work trips. Sometimes though, the fatigue and time differences make me lazy, so I'm going to need to fight the urge to sleep. My shorter runs won't be too bad, but I have a seven and ten mile run to complete while I'm away - that's going to be one boring treadmill workout. Here's hoping I stick to it!
Now eating is a totally different beast. I'm a little compulsive when it comes to weighing myself, so I usually bring a scale with me. Yes, I pack a scale in my suitcase. I'm not sure I'm going to have the space for it this time around, although I refuse to give up and am on the hunt for a lightweight travel scale, if such a thing exists. Worst case, I'll see if the hotel has one. I'm also bringing a lot of my own food, which also contributes to the packing issue. I plan to bring low fat English muffins, a small container of peanut butter, oatmeal packets, some craisins, cheerios, 100 calorie snack packs, and I'm sure that's not all. Part of the reason I bring my own food is strictly health reasons (i.e. calories), but the other reason is due to food allergies - It's not easy being lactose intolerant abroad! I'll also continue food journaling, which should help keep me on track. When all else fails, order the salad.
If you have any tips on packing or keeping a healthy lifestyle while abroad, please do share! I'll keep you all posted on my attempts!
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Let's tackle the suitcase issue first. I've already started making a list of things I need to buy and things I want to pack. I think I've come to the realization that I will need to do some laundry in the hotel sink, and I'm alright with that. But let's be honest, I'm totally one of those girls who brings eight pairs of shoes and too many "just-in-case" outfits. It's going to be tough. I just don't want to get into another situation like I did in China, where my bag was too heavy and in broken English I was told I needed to pay $500 U.S. dollars - Nightmare of a story for another blog post. Anyways, my goal is to be extremely practical about my packing - I said, it's my "goal." I also need to some how leave extra space for all the gifts I need to bring back. This will be a real challenge folks. I plan to document my packing extravaganza and offer some tips as I go along. So wish me luck!As for my training schedule and eating, that's another story. I know the hotels I'm staying in are equipped with gyms, so that's a start. Working out isn't really going to be a huge issue, I seem to make time for it on work trips. Sometimes though, the fatigue and time differences make me lazy, so I'm going to need to fight the urge to sleep. My shorter runs won't be too bad, but I have a seven and ten mile run to complete while I'm away - that's going to be one boring treadmill workout. Here's hoping I stick to it!
Now eating is a totally different beast. I'm a little compulsive when it comes to weighing myself, so I usually bring a scale with me. Yes, I pack a scale in my suitcase. I'm not sure I'm going to have the space for it this time around, although I refuse to give up and am on the hunt for a lightweight travel scale, if such a thing exists. Worst case, I'll see if the hotel has one. I'm also bringing a lot of my own food, which also contributes to the packing issue. I plan to bring low fat English muffins, a small container of peanut butter, oatmeal packets, some craisins, cheerios, 100 calorie snack packs, and I'm sure that's not all. Part of the reason I bring my own food is strictly health reasons (i.e. calories), but the other reason is due to food allergies - It's not easy being lactose intolerant abroad! I'll also continue food journaling, which should help keep me on track. When all else fails, order the salad.
If you have any tips on packing or keeping a healthy lifestyle while abroad, please do share! I'll keep you all posted on my attempts!
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Baking for a Cause - Monkey Bread!
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So in an effort to be a good person, who gives back to the community, I frequently volunteer (when I can and when I'm at home) with my parents' Lions Club. Truth be told, I'm actually a member, and one of the youngest at that. Twice a year, the Lions have a breakfast and bake sale for the community to raise funds for scholarships for local seniors. For the past few years, I have been put in charge of the bake sale, mainly because no one else wants to run it and also because I'm the only one who's been able to make a significant profit. I enjoy it though - mainly because my mom and I bake up a storm the day before and I get to give back by doing what I love, engaging my inner-Betty Crocker.The next breakfast is in two weeks and once again I'll be reprising my role as bake sale leader. I try to come up with new items to bake. In November, I made mini cheesecakes and they flew off the racks. Some of the staples that tend to sell really well include: Tandy cake (peanut butter/chocolate/vanilla cake), blueberry cake, apple turnovers (I make them every year), apple pie, and cookies. With a couple weeks to go, I'm making my list of items to bake this year, which includes: mini strawberry cheesecakes, peanut butter cookies, apple pie, AND mini monkey bread muffins!
I tested the mini monkey bread muffins last night and thought I'd share the recipe with you all - it's incredibly simple, and incredibly delicious. I riffed off a recipe I found at Pinch of Yum. I had to get rid of some rapidly aging bananas and this recipe included them in the monkey bread. So here's how you do it:
Ingredients:
1 package of Pillsbury Grands Biscuits
1/2 cup of Splenda or other sugar substitute (my attempt to make these healthy)
1 teaspoon (or more if desired) of cinnamon
1-2 bananas (if you desire)
1/2 of butter for topping (optional)
2-3 tablespoons of brown sugar (optional)
Directions:
Break the biscuits up into clumps of varying sizes - I got between four and six pieces out of each biscuit. Although the recipe I found suggests putting the sugar/cinnamon in a ziplock back and adding the dough to coat, I found this to actually not work very well. So, I'd suggest putting the cinnamon/sugar in a bowl and rolling the pieces, a few at a time, in the mixture. Coat a muffin pan with nonstick spray and add in the pieces of dough. If you want to add banana, just cut up into piece and coat with the sugar/cinnamon mixture and add with the dough. Pop them in the oven for twenty minutes at 350 degrees and there you have it.
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I think you can probably get between nine and eleven mini monkey bread muffins out of eight biscuits, which is between 150 and 124 calories a muffin- the average monkey bread made with real sugar is about 400 calories a serving. If you want, you can melt butter (or in my case Smart Balance) and brown sugar (my case Splenda Brown sugar) and add to the top of each muffin, before baking, for a more gooey texture. This will add a few calories of course.I think these taste pretty good - If you use real sugar, they might be a little gooey-er, but of course more calories - your choice! I only allowed myself to eat two - one with bananas, one without and froze the rest - I think they'll be a nice treat one morning after a quick spin in the microwave.
I think I may just have to add these to the bake sale table after all! I think I could get $2 a piece out of each one!
Enjoy!
Monday, April 9, 2012
Easter Preparations
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For the first time in my life, I felt like such an adult, preparing for their arrival. From furiously cleaning my apartment, to buying bagels and cold cuts at the grocery store, to making dinner reservations, I meticulously made sure everything was perfect for my parents. I guess in some ways, I wanted them to see just how grown up I've become and know they taught their daughter well.
The weekend was really wonderful and I guess what I realized was all the preparations didn't really matter. What was really important was just being able to spend a great weekend with family. I won't lie though, it did make me feel pretty good when my parents called after they arrived home on Sunday night and said, "We had an absolutely wonderful time and can't wait to come again!" Mission accomplished - I am officially a qualified and successful hostess - and my parents are so proud! But I won't lie, once they left to head home, I passed out on the couch. Being a hostess is exhausting!
Happy Easter everyone!
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Growing up is hard to do
I graduated college in 2008 and have been a member of the working world ever since. I'm on my third apartment, by myself, and am less than a month away from the big 2-6, which means I've already lived through the first half of my twenties. With that being said, I thought I'd make a list of some of the habits I should probably start breaking, or perhaps the ones I should pick up, because after all, I really am an adult and should probably start picking up some adult-like habits. Don't get me wrong, I'm as mature as you can get, but there are a few college-habits I just haven't been able to break. Here we go:
1. Start eating dinner at my kitchen table, instead of my couch - I bought a very pretty pub-style table when I moved to my new apartment, because I thought as an "adult" I should have a real kitchen table. Despite dropping a significant amount of dough on the table, I still migrate to the couch for all my meals...I guess it wasn't so bad when at my last apartment, I didn't really have a kitchen table, but used the coffee table instead. I haven't yet purchased a new coffee table for this apartment, so I literally use a pillow as my table. Yes, I know...it's a terrible habit, one I'm convinced to cease come April 11th.
2. Start using actual recipes when cooking - I like to cook, but I'm often lazy, so I make the same things, regularly. I throw some spices (usually salt, pepper, garlic powder, maybe some other seasoning) on either chicken or fish and call it a day. I'd like to spice up my cuisine and add to my cooking repertoire, so my goal is to start actually making some of those fabulous recipes I'm always reading about.
3. Buy a pajama set - I've never been a huge pajama set kind of girl. When I was little, I wore an over-sized t-shirt to bed. As I grew up, I started wearing shorts and a tank top...and still do. I find there to be something "adult-like" about having an actual matching set of pajamas.
4. Have a landline phone - Yes, I know it's how we millennials operate - we only have a cell phone, no attached to the wall, need to charge, cordless phone. BUT, with that being said, my new apartment doesn't have the best cell service, and it's really not very adult like to constantly have dropped calls (especially when you're on the phone with work). So, I've decided to call good ol' Comcast and upgrade my double play to a triple.
5. Ween myself off Ranch dressing - Ever since I was little, I needed to have a side of ranch for my chicken, fries, steak, potatoes, really anything. Although I use the low fat version (which is just soo much better), I think this is one habit I should can. But, I won't give up my ketchup, that's just too American.
6. Buy curtains - Ok, so I'm a little embarrassed to admit this, but when it comes to my bedroom (my living room is pretty awesomely decorated), I'm more concerned with blocking out the intrusive morning sun, than I am about style...and I have resorted to using dark sheets and blankets as curtains. So not adult like. My goal by April 11th, is to invest in some black-out curtains - I mean really, how un-adult can you get with a snowman blanket as your curtain?
So these are just a few of my goals. I'm sure I'll come up with others, but for now, here goes nothing . . . I may just be an adult with real adult habits by the time I turn 26 after all.
1. Start eating dinner at my kitchen table, instead of my couch - I bought a very pretty pub-style table when I moved to my new apartment, because I thought as an "adult" I should have a real kitchen table. Despite dropping a significant amount of dough on the table, I still migrate to the couch for all my meals...I guess it wasn't so bad when at my last apartment, I didn't really have a kitchen table, but used the coffee table instead. I haven't yet purchased a new coffee table for this apartment, so I literally use a pillow as my table. Yes, I know...it's a terrible habit, one I'm convinced to cease come April 11th.
2. Start using actual recipes when cooking - I like to cook, but I'm often lazy, so I make the same things, regularly. I throw some spices (usually salt, pepper, garlic powder, maybe some other seasoning) on either chicken or fish and call it a day. I'd like to spice up my cuisine and add to my cooking repertoire, so my goal is to start actually making some of those fabulous recipes I'm always reading about.
3. Buy a pajama set - I've never been a huge pajama set kind of girl. When I was little, I wore an over-sized t-shirt to bed. As I grew up, I started wearing shorts and a tank top...and still do. I find there to be something "adult-like" about having an actual matching set of pajamas.
4. Have a landline phone - Yes, I know it's how we millennials operate - we only have a cell phone, no attached to the wall, need to charge, cordless phone. BUT, with that being said, my new apartment doesn't have the best cell service, and it's really not very adult like to constantly have dropped calls (especially when you're on the phone with work). So, I've decided to call good ol' Comcast and upgrade my double play to a triple.
5. Ween myself off Ranch dressing - Ever since I was little, I needed to have a side of ranch for my chicken, fries, steak, potatoes, really anything. Although I use the low fat version (which is just soo much better), I think this is one habit I should can. But, I won't give up my ketchup, that's just too American.
6. Buy curtains - Ok, so I'm a little embarrassed to admit this, but when it comes to my bedroom (my living room is pretty awesomely decorated), I'm more concerned with blocking out the intrusive morning sun, than I am about style...and I have resorted to using dark sheets and blankets as curtains. So not adult like. My goal by April 11th, is to invest in some black-out curtains - I mean really, how un-adult can you get with a snowman blanket as your curtain?
So these are just a few of my goals. I'm sure I'll come up with others, but for now, here goes nothing . . . I may just be an adult with real adult habits by the time I turn 26 after all.
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
How many breakfasts can a breakfast fan eat?
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Here's the article for your reading pleasure.
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
The Pains of Moving
One month ago, I made the move to Connecticut from Philadelphia to start my new job, with a company I adore. While I knew moving would present some of the usual challenges, packing, literally moving, I've had some other battles to deal with.
Ironically, this was one of the easiest moves I've ever had when it comes to the actual moving of boxes. I hired movers, who literally packed me up in three hours and had the trailer unloaded in two. Between the packing, unpacking, and driving time, I was in my new apartment in less than eight hours. Seamless! Well, or so it seems.
Despite my frustration with Comcast, I didn't have much of a choice in Connecticut, so I signed up with them again. Since I didn't have time to drop the boxes off in Philadelphia, I mailed the cable boxes back in the Comcast-provided USPS boxes, along with their pre-printed shipping labels. I dropped the boxes off about a week after I moved and figured I was done, nothing left to worry about. Think again. I started to get call after call from Comcast informing me that I had yet to return my boxes. At first I figured they just hadn't received them yet, but after a week and then a letter informing me that Comcast was not only charging me $520 for the unreturned cable boxes, but also reporting me to a collections agency, I realized this was not the case. I made a call to Comcast's customer service department, which transferred me three different times to different call centers between Connecticut, Boston, and finally Philadelphia. I explained my case to the representative who said she'd issue a ticket and investigate the case. A little while later, I get a call and the representative says, "I understand you're having trouble receiving service in your Connecticut apartment?" Umm...what?
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Being a lover of social media and absolutely refusing to pay Comcast $520 for boxes I promptly returned, I took to the twitter airwaves and sent a tweet to Comcast's customer service handle letting them know I was frustrated and very unhappy. Wouldn't you know, within an hour I received a new call from an Executive, with a direct line who assured me she'd help me out, even though she had no record of my boxes being returned, nor did she have any record of USPS boxes ever being mailed to me. Interesting. After multiple calls back and forth, I finally spoke with a representative on Friday, who let me know that she had no idea where the boxes were, but since I'd been such a good customer, she was going to remove the boxes from my account and wait for it . . . issue me a $108 credit. It's amazing what social media can do.
I've also had issues with the post office - delivering my packages to the wrong apartment number and some never arriving at all. I issued a complaint via their website, but wouldn't you know, the Post Office never got back to me. Bank of America also sent my new debit card to the wrong address and thanks to Twitter, within a few days I had a new card. Macy's is my latest issue. I opened their credit card over the phone after I moved, only because I wanted the $100 discount on my new, beautiful couch. Literally, the only reason I opened this card was for the discount. When my bill comes, no discount. Nothing. After calling Macy's they indicate they have no record of me purchasing the couch on the same day as when I opened the card. Really? Thank goodness I'm in PR and have learned that you always keep a paper trail - I faxed my receipt over to Macy's this morning and wouldn't you know, after lunch, a $100 credit appeared on my account.
Long story short - keep a record of everything and when all else fails, utilize the tools you have to create change, i.e. complaining via Twitter is a great solution, especially as companies seek to maintain their positive brand images in a consumer-controlled environment.
Ironically, this was one of the easiest moves I've ever had when it comes to the actual moving of boxes. I hired movers, who literally packed me up in three hours and had the trailer unloaded in two. Between the packing, unpacking, and driving time, I was in my new apartment in less than eight hours. Seamless! Well, or so it seems.
Despite my frustration with Comcast, I didn't have much of a choice in Connecticut, so I signed up with them again. Since I didn't have time to drop the boxes off in Philadelphia, I mailed the cable boxes back in the Comcast-provided USPS boxes, along with their pre-printed shipping labels. I dropped the boxes off about a week after I moved and figured I was done, nothing left to worry about. Think again. I started to get call after call from Comcast informing me that I had yet to return my boxes. At first I figured they just hadn't received them yet, but after a week and then a letter informing me that Comcast was not only charging me $520 for the unreturned cable boxes, but also reporting me to a collections agency, I realized this was not the case. I made a call to Comcast's customer service department, which transferred me three different times to different call centers between Connecticut, Boston, and finally Philadelphia. I explained my case to the representative who said she'd issue a ticket and investigate the case. A little while later, I get a call and the representative says, "I understand you're having trouble receiving service in your Connecticut apartment?" Umm...what?
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Being a lover of social media and absolutely refusing to pay Comcast $520 for boxes I promptly returned, I took to the twitter airwaves and sent a tweet to Comcast's customer service handle letting them know I was frustrated and very unhappy. Wouldn't you know, within an hour I received a new call from an Executive, with a direct line who assured me she'd help me out, even though she had no record of my boxes being returned, nor did she have any record of USPS boxes ever being mailed to me. Interesting. After multiple calls back and forth, I finally spoke with a representative on Friday, who let me know that she had no idea where the boxes were, but since I'd been such a good customer, she was going to remove the boxes from my account and wait for it . . . issue me a $108 credit. It's amazing what social media can do.I've also had issues with the post office - delivering my packages to the wrong apartment number and some never arriving at all. I issued a complaint via their website, but wouldn't you know, the Post Office never got back to me. Bank of America also sent my new debit card to the wrong address and thanks to Twitter, within a few days I had a new card. Macy's is my latest issue. I opened their credit card over the phone after I moved, only because I wanted the $100 discount on my new, beautiful couch. Literally, the only reason I opened this card was for the discount. When my bill comes, no discount. Nothing. After calling Macy's they indicate they have no record of me purchasing the couch on the same day as when I opened the card. Really? Thank goodness I'm in PR and have learned that you always keep a paper trail - I faxed my receipt over to Macy's this morning and wouldn't you know, after lunch, a $100 credit appeared on my account.
Long story short - keep a record of everything and when all else fails, utilize the tools you have to create change, i.e. complaining via Twitter is a great solution, especially as companies seek to maintain their positive brand images in a consumer-controlled environment.
Monday, February 27, 2012
A Pineapple in China
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| Duck Head. Yes, that's a bill, feet are below |
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My co-worker, who is from China, loves pineapple, but he had never had pineapple upside down cake. Although this is my father's favorite cake and my mother has always made it for him, every year, I never did it myself. So, here is a little photo story of my first-ever, and yes successful, pineapple upside down cake:
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I don't usually use boxed mix, but I like that Duncan Hines has a specific "pineapple" mix for this sort of cake. In addition, I try to find ways to make the mix healthier. For instance, I substitute apple sauce for vegetable oil and I use egg whites or egg beaters in replace of real eggs.
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I had to make the glaze first - Again, here I substituted Smart Balance butter, for real butter or margarine. I also used the Splenda Brown Sugar mix - Be careful. The recipe calls for a cup of brown sugar, and I almost made the mistake of assuming Splenda Brown Sugar measures cup for cup like brown sugar - it does not!
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Did my best to make a pretty design...I was nervous about the Splenda Brown Sugar at this point because the glaze was lighter than I remember it being when my mother uses regular brown sugar - but all was well.
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It took about an hour to bake and smelled really delicious. A this point I was nervous, because you have to flip the cake right after you take it out of the oven . . .
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And now, at 25 years old, I can say I have baked a successful pineapple upside down cake! Enjoy.
Friday, February 24, 2012
Oh, hello Winter!
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| View from my office |
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Pinterest has sparked my interest
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For the past few months, all I've been hearing is how much everyone loves Pinterest. As someone who thinks they're on the up and up when it comes to social media (yes, I check-in on Foursquare everywhere I go, I tweet throughout the day, and am constantly reading through my Facebook news feed), I figured I should check this new phenomenon out. After requesting an invite last week, I was finally granted access to the world of Pinterest. I have to be honest, I'm not entirely sure what all the hype is about, but then again, maybe I just haven't given it enough time to really sink in. I've begun "pinning" as they say and have created a few boards which highlight my main interests, baking, boys, and apartment finds. I do admit, it is pretty exciting when you see that someone has liked or re-pinned one of your pins - Sort of validates that what I find to be cool or pretty, in fact really is! I currently have one follower, my colleague from across the room. I also have managed to already figure out how to pin from my phone, and helped my colleague pin from her iPad. I suppose, given some time, this will turn into my latest social media obsession - I'm already trying to find ways to incorporate this into some of my work...I do think Pinterest could have some interesting implications for brands. Apparently, according to Entrepreneur.com, "Pinterest is becoming the next big thing in social media for business." So my friends, happy pinning! And should you be interested in my pins, feel free to follow me! Just please disregard the old photo, haven't quite figured out how to refresh it . . .
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Why, hello there!
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