its like back to school

This week, I decided to treat my life like it was back to school time. First day of the new semester, first day of classes. And though I didn't actually have a summer vacation to return from, I did have a student starting this week, so it kind of is the first day of a new semester.

Just like back to school, when you had a million things going on: get in, get all your stuff moved into the dorm, go to the book store and get all your books and supplies, catch up with all your friends, and vow to stay on top of all your classes. I got a million things going on. I'm planning an informal reunion with some college friends, a work outing at the Life is Good concert, and a big girlfriend trip in October. I have three more sprint tri's before the end of the season (I'm hoping Hurricane Earl doesn't cancell this weekend's) and a half marathon in October. I have two work projects and a new student.

But during back to school, nobody is overwhelmed at the prospect of all the work. Everyone is excited and eager to get started and optomistic about the outcome. Which is what I decided to be.

So I'm attacking all the projects with an optomistic attitude. I'm striving for a PR in the half marathon inspired by this girl and this guy I've jumped whole heartedly into a dieting and exercise overhaul. (no more skipping a workout to sit at home and eat ice cream for me!)

September is usually a good month. I know it will be this year!

I'm back

So I've been slacking off a bit during the summer. For a number of reasons. Mainly that work gets so busy in the summer and summer is so short: time is precious. I thought that sitting at the computer was probably not the best use of my time when it was so nice out.

But also because I was going through one of those "non-sharing" phases. Do you know what I'm talking about? When you feel like your feelings are YOURS and you don't want anyone else to know them. When you get very protective and selfish about your thoughts, feelings, time, activities.

I often get this way about running. I oscillate between wanting to join up with a running group and then feeling like running is MY time to think and be alone. Sometimes I don't want to share my running time with anyone else.

This summer, I kind of felt that way about blogging. I just wanted my thoughts in my head and nowhere else.

But lately, I've been feeling rather cranky and moody. My thoughts swimming around my head have been rather mean-spirited, toward both myself and others. I think a lot of this can be attributed to eating poorly and drinking too much. But perhaps also because those thoughts have been kept locked in my head.

When I first started blogging, I did so to get those relentless mean post break-up thoughts out of my head. And I do think it helped. A lot.

SO now, while I am in a deep blue funk, and before I drop down into something more than a funk, I'm returning to the blogging world. And eating better.

I got lots to share. See ya tomorrow!

ONE BIG AUGUST GOAL

I can't believe it's August. AUGUST! Where the heck did all the time go? And -- I posted twice in July. I spent so much time at work in July and summer is so short and the weather is so summery... I just didn't feel that the best use of my limited time would be in front of the computer, you know?

I did fairly well with the July goals, and did most everything that involved being outdoors but not a couple that involved being inside (like the DVD classes). And was doing the Artist Way thing like I did last year, just not doing any posts on them.

In light of the above, I have come up with ONE goal for August. One big giant, glorious, ingenious goal for August:

MAKE AS MANY MISTAKES AS I POSSIBLY CAN IN ONE MONTH!!

May seem like an anti goal. But for a perfectionist, over organizing, perpetual list making, gets too caught up in being the absolute best I can possibly be person like myself, this is a giant step forward. Time to throw preperation and lists to the wind.

I'm going to make as many mistakes as is humanly possible.

Anyone care to join me?

weekly writing assignment

Once again, I've been flaking on posting and borrowed some motivation from none other than the amazing Mama Kat and her Weekly Writing Assignment.

The prompt: write about a joke that did not go over well

Several years ago, I was talking with my boyfriend and I told him that I had heard on the news that Mr. Rogers had died. (remember Mr. Rogers? I loved his show. He was awesome!)

Our conversation went something like this:

Me: "Hey, did you hear that Mr. Rogers died?"

Him: "Yeah. I heard."

Me: "And he died on your birthday."

Him: "I know. That sucks."

Me: "You know what that means, don't you?"

Him: "No. What?"

Me: "It means that you killed Mr. Rogers."

Him: "What? Why would you say something like that? That's the meanest thing anyone's ever said to me!"

Me: "It was a joke. I thought it would be funny. It was much funnier in my head than out my mouth. I don't REALLY think you killed Mr. Rogers."

Him: "Well, it wasn't funny. It wasn't funny at all. I can't believe you said that to me."

Me: "Ok. I'm sorry. Let's just forget about it."

Him: "I can't just forget that Mr. Rogers died. I knew Mr. Rogers! I used to mow his lawn when I was in high school."

Me: "You KNEW Mr. Rogers? That is awesome! You are soo lucky that you got to meet Mr. Rogers!"

Him: "Don't change the subject. You said I killed Mr. Rogers. He was one of the nicest people I ever met and you said I killed him!"

Me: "I didn't really mean it. I just thought it would be funny. Which it clearly wasn't"

Him: "I can't talk to you right now. In fact, I can't be with you right now. I'm going home and I'll call you later."

He didn't talk to me for 3 days.

OOPS.

(I still kinda think it's funny, though)

July Goals

July is wonderful. I'm in love with July. I could roll around in July for the rest of eternity. So, when I was thinking about goals for July, I was thinking of play.

Playtime goals for July:

1) I think its time again for a "get rid of one thing a day" for a month

2) Finish DVD classes.

3) Six...(6) Books from the bookshelf.

4) Work out hard and totally get the back and leg in racing shape

5) Four more Snail Mail letters to friends

6) Pull out the "Project Box" and knock out Four of them

7) Have a Rollicking Good Time at our annual Summer Bash

8) Get Plans Solidified and Booked for my October trip (more on that later)

9) Girls Nite OUt

10) Journal Every Day this month

June goal wrap up

Well, June was fantastic and lookie here...we are already 3 days into July with no post! That's actually a good thing! Today, I am using down time between the daytime beach and the nighttime bonfire on the beach to get caught up with some things around the love loft, including blog posts.

So I'm looking back at the June goals, and for the first time in I don't know how many months, I'm feeling calm, not frantic and behind-in-life. No, I didn't accomplish every goal, but instead, I feel like I accomplished something better. I feel much more in-tune. I feel like the goals weren't something to check off a list, but more like a guide-meter as to where I need to work more and where I need to slow down. (I guess changing the name from "goals" to "opportunities" worked some kind of magic, afterall)

June's Opportunites:

1) Cutting out animal products: I didn't completely cut out, but I certainly cut down. My meals were, for the most part, much more planned and less random. The thing I found out most, this month, is that my problems wasn't so much WHAT I was eating as WHEN I was eating. I've finally embraced the fact that it's necessary for me to eat lunch AND dinner at work (sometimes breakfast, too) Oftentimes, I don't leave until 8:00 pm. And I've been trying to get through the work day without eating a whole lot, then go to the gym, then eat dinner at, like, 9:30 pm. Not good. And interestingly, as I've been bringing MORE food to work and eating more during the day, the weight came off more easily (4 pounds down in June) Plus, working out has been MUCH more pleasant. Yay me.

2) DVD Classes done: No. Not even close. But I do have a week off in July. So I could dedicate one hour per day to the DVD classes in July and get those done.

3) Start the Artist's Way Again: Yes. and yes again. I started it, and then 3 weeks in, found an online community that was starting it on June 28. So I stopped for a week and started over again on June 28th. Which is good, because I kind of enjoyed doing the posts about TAW last year and just didn't get into it this time around, but I will again now that I started over. (anyone follow that?)

4) Decaffeinate: Like goal #1, I didn't cut out completely, but I cut down significantly. ANd I found that as I ate more, I needed less caffeine in the pm. ANd that I pretty much used caffeine to deal with stress (which is really kind of ass-backward). But thinking before I drink a diet Coke and dealing with what's stressing me rather than sucking down my liquid heroin in a can has helped me to cut back a lot. Just not on the days I'm still at work at 8 pm.

5) Swim One Mile in Pond, 50 Mile Bike Ride, 15 Mile Run: Another discovery: there's a big difference between healed for every day things and healed for athletics. So even though I'm not getting back pain and radiating pain down my leg every day anymore, I AM getting knee pain after 35 miles on the bike, and after 8 miles running. So I'm designating July as a high level rehab month. Lots of focus on core, back stabilizaion, and leg strengthening. I really need it.

6) Journal Every Day this MOnth: success!

7) PR in sprint tri: I completed a sprint tri. Did not PR, though. (see #5)

8) Go hiking: No hiking. Lots of kayaking, though.

9) Girl's Nite Out: success!!

10) 4 more snail mail letters: success.

So overall, a pretty good month. I'm super-excited for July. The weather is spectacular!!

Back later with July Opportunities!

helpful advice

HELPFUL ADVICE FROM MY 8 YEAR OLD NIECE:

Did you know that if you wear more than 17 silly bandz, your circulation will get cut off and you could lose your arm?

That's why I wear 16 on each arm.