One Tiny Grain of Sand

Be Thankful #24

2011-11-24T13:27:00.000-05:00

Watching my niece have all sorts of fun playing with my smartphone: she played the birdie game, the camera game and one of her favorites, the flashlight game

From 2011

Be Thankful #23

2011-11-23T12:30:00.001-05:00

From One Tiny Grain of Sand

Freshly made bread! I'm planning on making at least one batch of homemade french bread (but will more than likely double the recipe) for Thanksgiving tomorrow. Can't wait! I love the process of working with the dough and the smell of the yeast as the bread is baking. I'm not sure if I'll be able to wait until tomorrow to have any!

Be Thankful #22

2011-11-22T23:30:00.000-05:00

I am thankful for being able to create things. I was inspired by Wee Little Stitches to create a pixelated version of Captain America. I was able to draw up a version on paper and then turned it into a small cross stitch pattern- all before the boyfriend got home from bowling. Of course, I want to tweek my pattern a bit but I enjoyed the process so much!

Be Thankful #21

2011-11-21T20:30:00.000-05:00

Finally being able to coordinate my schedule with my Mikey. Its been too long since we had a trip to BN, some dinner and random meandering through Target.

Be Thankful #20

2011-11-20T19:04:00.001-05:00

Lazy Sundays spent in my pjs, watching football on the couch with the boyfriend and the kitty, while finishing up a handmade Christmas present.
Yes please, can I have another. :D

From Cats & Curie

Be Thankful #19

2011-11-19T18:13:00.001-05:00

Running for 20 min straight with no problems. *bliss* I can't wait to get back to more running. Its been a struggle between what I want to do and what I can do. I keep thinking that signing up for a Thanksgiving 5k sounds like a great idea, but haven't felt that my body is up to it yet. I'm working on it. I do want to get another half in soon, not sure if it will be next year- but I do want to do it!

Be Thankful #18

2011-11-18T17:38:00.001-05:00

From Cats & Curie

I'm not sure if words can full describe all that the this picture shows. So thankful to have both of them in my life and that they get along.

Be Thankful #17

2011-11-17T12:55:00.001-05:00

During my conversation with my physical therapist yesterday, he mentioned something that makes so much sense with all the symptoms/issues that I've been having. He told me that I was very hamstring dominant. I spent some time with the Googles and came across many convincing articles that helped make this click for me. Most importantly, there was one image found on this page, that sealed it for me. My PT had me lay down on my stomach and lift each leg. I really have to work to get my glut to activate to do this simple lift.
I really am hoping that this is what has been causing me problems with my running for waaaaaaaaaaaaaay too long! I've been told everything from not enough flexibility in my hip flexors, to piriformis syndrome, to possibly a torn hip labrum, but hearing that it might just be a simple muscle imbalance- *sigh* With this knowledge, I hope to really get things back on track so I can run another half! :D

Be Thankful #16

2011-11-16T12:53:00.000-05:00

I'm thankful for the unexpected places you can find humor in life. I was able to get my physical therapist to check out my hip/leg yesterday. He did some adjusted and cracked a few bones in the process. Of course this caused me to grin because I love a good back/knuckle/joint crack, his response, "I bet you didn't know that you were a crack addict"

Be Thankful #15

2011-11-15T22:00:00.001-05:00

Getting my wonderful boyfriend to stop and pick up dinner so I wouldn't have to cook tonight. I've been dealing with some weird nerve pain in both my neck and hip- had the neck checked out this morning and have been pretty sore after the treatment. The hip is tomorrow- should be lots of fun!

Be Thankful #14

2011-11-14T14:02:00.001-05:00

Happily handing over my cells for one last experiment before Thanksgiving :)

Be Thankful #13

2011-11-13T17:00:00.000-05:00

Using the skills that I learned from my mom to work on a homemade Christmas Present (and sharing enough genetic material with her that I've already had to rip out several spots).

Be Thankful #12

2011-11-12T11:35:00.001-05:00

Getting to spend the evening playing with my niece. She's such a ball of energy, I'm surprised I was able to get any pictures of her standing still :D

From Collages

Be Thankful #10 and #11

2011-11-11T07:43:00.001-05:00

Grateful that I was able to take care of my work yesterday to allow me to enjoy Veterans day off with my family and a bit of outlet shopping :)

Be Thankful #9

2011-11-09T17:21:00.002-05:00

Being able to do 10 "real" push-ups in a row, plus 2 additional sets of 5

what I'm not as thankful for is the sore shoulders and arms that I have today :P

Be thankful #8

2011-11-08T17:16:00.001-05:00

Pumpkin coffee... Actually any pumpkin flavored item is good on my book but I forgot my coffee this morning and made up for it by stopping at Dunkin Donuts this evening.

posted from Bloggeroid

Be Grateful #7

2011-11-07T15:43:00.000-05:00

Waking up before the alarm to realize that even though I was awake- it wasn't time to get up yet. And after staying up late last night to watch the Ravens beat the Steelers, it was most welcome today.

Be Thankful #6

2011-11-06T16:08:00.001-05:00

Maple bacon + crumbled goat cheese + crisp red delicious apple = delicious

That is all :D

Be Thankful #5

2011-11-05T10:52:00.002-04:00

Sleeping in on a Sat morning, sandwiched between the boyfriend and a kitty.

Be Thankful #4

2011-11-04T19:35:00.000-04:00

For today- I'm focusing on the little things in life... right now I'm enjoying my freshly manicured nails

Be Thankful #3

2011-11-03T14:55:00.002-04:00

Getting a random email and totally falling in love with a gorgeous purse and then convincing yourself that your cats will give it to you as a Christmas present, when in reality you'll put it to use as soon as it arrives. :)

Be Thankful #2

2011-11-02T12:07:00.001-04:00

Continuing with the Be Thankful Challenge... I'm thankful for my little girl cat who manages to understand my moods and is able to comfort and calm me just by being close. The last few days have been rough emotionally, so coming home to find a kitty who just wanted to snuggle with me was wonderful! (I'm also overlooking the fact that she was probably cold and just looking for a warm body to warm her up ;)

From Cats & Curie

Be Thankful Challenge

2011-11-01T09:23:00.001-04:00

Inspired by Tina from Carrots 'n' Cake I'm going to take part in the "Be Thankful Challenge."What I'm thankful for today:

From Cats & Curie

I'm so glad that Mendel is in a happy place with his current amount of insulin, it makes me smile to see him curled up on the bed right as I leave for work. I'm glad that his little episode with hypoglycemia is past and that hes acting like his normal lovable dopey self.

Two weeks

2011-10-24T22:45:00.000-04:00

From My house!

It took 2 weeks of chaos to finally get to this finished product. So glad to have my house back in order!

Mendel

2011-09-22T22:07:00.001-04:00

My little diabetic kitty... So glad that he's finally feeling better. Its been a rough week trying to get his insulin regulated.

posted from Bloggeroid

Dar

2011-09-22T22:06:00.001-04:00

visual.ly

2011-09-21T10:16:00.002-04:00

I'm amused :)

Bubbles!

2011-09-11T16:22:00.001-04:00

Mendel

2011-07-05T21:05:00.001-04:00

Sometimes I'm jealous of my cats...

posted from Bloggeroid

My break from reality

2011-06-19T21:29:00.000-04:00

included some of this:

some of this (should have been more, but my pants are glad that we kept this to 2 visits)

some fun with my camera during walks on the beach

and waaaaaay too much of this

And amazingly enough, I got in 3 runs (totally almost 11 miles), many walks on the beach and a bit of yoga :D
All in all, a great break from reality

Testing .....

2011-06-03T22:00:00.001-04:00

This is just a test, in the case of a real emergency.....

Geek ....

2011-03-19T09:52:00.001-04:00

From 2011 Mar

Picked up the bathrobe for my Dad's birthday from ThinkGeek and couldn't resist getting a picture in it with my Star Trek Uniform on ;) I'm very sad that I have to give it back, I'm totally loving it! But bonus! Just saw on ThinkGeek's website that they now have the Scotty version as well.... *innocently whistles*

Year in Review: 2010

2010-12-31T12:19:00.002-05:00

Jan
January started with me moving into my new house :D and I also dealt with some injuries related to shoveling some snow (while wearing boots with heels! what was I thinking!) and some soreness from packing and moving. I got all settled in and my workouts were hampered by the move. Also discovered that I am not responsible with whipped cream ;)

From My house!

Besides the move, I did enjoy some fun times with friends- Meliss' annual Crappiest Gift Exchange and a belated Cookie Day with Mikey and company.

Miles run: 22 (sigh, how sad!)

Feb
I celebrated my thirtymumlemumble birthday and Maryland got hit with TONS of snow!

Needless to say, many of my runs were cancelled... I got used to this view instead

And there was plenty of work being done to the inside of my house, trying my best to turn it into a home :)

Miles run: 22

March
I received my delightful dining room table and celebrated both the table and my dad's birthday by preparing a large feast for the family.

From My house!

I also finished up the majority of the decorating in the house

I also battled what the doctors' originally thought was appendicitis... luckily the CAT scan came back clear and no surgery was needed, just rest and lots of antibiotics. Needless to say, my runs took a hit :(

Miles run: 32

April
April started off wonderfully with my college roommate's wedding :) I had my first opportunity to play bridesmaid :)

From Melissa and Mike's Wedding: 2010 Apr

Chris and I also celebrated our 6 month anniversary with dinner in Annapolis. :) And there was spending time with my niece over Easter.

Miles run: 29

May
Chris and I ran the Frederick Running Festival Twilight 5K, the day was hot and humid and I completed with a time of 32:52.64, a 10:36 min/mile pace. I was pleased but felt that I could have paced myself better throughout the race.

Chris and I also went to Disney (first time for me, second time for him). There was a lot of this
and not enough of this

We both quickly realized that we had both outgrown Disney but managed to do our best with the time that we had there

Miles run: 8 (*double sigh* but to be fair, there was a whole week spent STANDING in lines to go EVERYWHERE in Disney)

June
June was a bit more quiet, I bought a patio table for the backyard and kept hoping for the heat to die away so that I could use it.

From My house!

Miles Run: 32

July
Enjoyed some fireworks back in my hometown and enjoyed a lovely cookout with the parents. Chris and I went to see Star Wars in concert. And I also stole my parent's hammock and put it to good use in my yard

From Drop Box

Miles Run: 16

August
Went sailing on the Woodwind to celebrate my Great Aunt's Birthday and ended up SOAKED! I also discovered that I had a gecko living by my front door

Spent some time at the bowling alley with my favorite bowler

From Drop Box

And celebrated my mom's last day of federal employment :D

Miles Run: 22

Sept
I watched as Mike tested for his black belt

Went to a Several Species concert with Chris and his parents

Got a new roommate who loves to snuggle with my kitties

From 2010 Sept

Miles Run: 25

Oct
Celebrated Chris and I's one year anniversary with some delicious steak :D
Had my first experience with trick-or-treaters

Joined a new gym and started noticing some weird unresolved issues with my right hip and decided to mix up the treadmill runs with some cross training on both the elliptical and the stationary bike. Started lifting weights again to try and make myself stronger, esp. since I wasn't running as much. Also a bit rejuvenated/inspired by the new gym and found working out on the treadmill a bit more fun when theres a large "cardio theater" to enjoy ;)

Miles Run/Biked: 47
Weight Training Sessions: 6

Nov
FIRST INSTALLMENT OF HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS! Went to the midnight showing and managed to stay awake and survived the following day at work ;)
Spent Thanksgiving with Chris and his family in New Jersey

Miles Run/Biked: 53
Weight Training Sessions: 9

Dec
Celebrated Chris' 25th birthday with some dirt cupcakes

From 2010 Dec

My niece had her trache removed and there was a whirlwind trip to Wisconsin for my Grandmother's funeral.

And of course, lots of Christmas Fun!

Miles Run/Biked: 53
Weight Training Sessions: 5

Running Summary
Miles Ran/biked for 2010: 360
(Miles ran in 2009: 528)
(Miles ran in 2008: 305)
Weight Training Sessions: 22

Overall, I wish I had been able to run more this year. I seem to have a list of excuses thats a mile long. I know that I have some lingering issues with my right hip that have made things more difficult. I really want to work through that and get back to running more. I am definitely more satisfied after a good run than riding the bike at the gym. I need to work on creating a better base and then building up from there, maybe another half is in my future? I want there to be another one, but I also don't want to do further damage to my body in the process. To work on making this goal more achievable, I'm also going to follow the New Rules of Lifting for Women, weight lifting plan. The workouts in the book will help me focus on overall strength and conditioning while also losing fat and inches. :D

Macaroni Star

2010-12-22T15:14:00.000-05:00

It started with this star

From 2010 Dec

It was a simple craft project that I did back in 3rd grade. I thought that it was a very cute idea... among my family, I seem to be in the minority. There has been a yearly struggle between me and my dad about putting my poor little dear star on the Christmas tree. He thinks its hideous... I disagree and out of spite, I insist that it should go up near the top of the Christmas tree- trying to oust Dad's many Enterprise/Star Trek ornaments from their position as 2nd highest ornament (the angel on the top of the tree gets top billing). Its a fun struggle that we have carried on for several years.

This year, I finally put a real tree in my house and claimed some of my ornaments from my youth. My dad cheerfully suggested I take "my damned star" with me as well. I know how he has been mourning the loss of my silver star on his tree, so I decided to do something to fill that void in his heart and on his tree.... enter his new ornament

From 2010 Dec

Now with this one... he gets his Star Trek Enterprise... which by tradition HAS to go near the top of the tree and it has all that obnoxiousness that I loved so much with my silver star. I think its win win for both of us ;)

From 2010 Dec

Sept 2010

2010-09-22T17:47:00.002-04:00

Looks like my love and attention have competition...

I can definitely get used to the new view around the house :)

Black Belt Cupcakes

2010-09-22T17:44:00.002-04:00

From Mike's Black Belt Test

My favorite ninja turtle ;)

2010-09-22T17:38:00.003-04:00

Stripes and Suspenders Forever!

2010-07-21T20:47:00.001-04:00

So, shortly after TGI Fridays did away with their stripes and their flair, I told myself I wanted to display my suspenders. I put waaaaaay too much time and effort into collecting my flair to just toss it aside. I haven't worked at Friday's since I graduated, that was *mumbleseightmumbles* years ago. I finally have them in a shadow box and hanging on my wall! :D
Almost all of my flair had a reason or a back-story to it. Some I would trade customer's with, others would give to me. I'm a bit sad that my "not the brightest crayon in the box" button is missing. Was one of my favs! I have an angel on their for my mom, a USMC emblem for my dad. There was one that reminded me of my sister. I had flair from my roommates and other friends. Buttons and pins that I picked up while on vacation. It took almost 3 years to accumulate and reminds me of my time in college and turning 21. :)

more quizziness

2010-06-01T12:19:00.002-04:00

Was listening to the podcast, Stuff Mom Never Told You, and they were discussing the Enneagram Test. Curiousity got the better of me and had to take the quiz to see how I ranked.

Main type	Variant

Take Free Enneagram Personality Test
personality tests by similarminds.com

They also gave the results of the Jung Test and was amused to see that I still came up as ISTJ again

ISTJ - "Trustee". Decisiveness in practical affairs. Guardian of time- honored institutions. Dependable. 11.6% of total population.

Take Free Jung Personality Test
personality tests by similarminds.com

2009: Year in Review

2010-01-17T22:18:00.006-05:00

2009 was a year of big changes for me... many changes...

Jan 2009
Beginning the year off right with Meliss's Crappy Gift Exchange

From One Tiny Grain of Sand

Running: 29 miles, avg pace 13:12

Feb 2009
Meeting up with the crew from CompUSA

From One Tiny Grain of Sand

Some V'day love, at home with the Changs

From One Tiny Grain of Sand

Turn 30!!!

From One Tiny Grain of Sand

Running: 37 miles, avg pace 14:21

Mar 2009
Run the with Aurora in the Kelly St. Patrick's Day 5k. It was her first race and my second... still doesn't mean it was okay for her to beat me ;)

Running: 43 miles, avg pace 14:33

April 2009
SUPRRISE! John graduates!

From John's Surprise Graduation Party

I got a new camera with all sorts of fun features!

From Macro

Running: 30 miles, avg pace 15:06

May 2009
I ran the Twilight 5k as part of the Frederick Running Festival with Jilly and Stephanie. It was the first time that both of my parents got to see me race.

Found some 4 leaf clovers on my way to the gym...

I also managed to find some time to spend with my favorite boys at Cunningham State Park

And nothing beats spending a lovely spring day on the hammock with a book :)

From Drop Box

The rest of May wasn't the best month for me; Chris and I ended our romantic relationship and became roommates.
Running: 39 miles, avg pace 15:41

June 2009
My niece turns 1!

Aurora and I run the Baltimore Women's Classic 5K

I headed out to watch Mikey test for his next karate belt

Running: 44 miles, avg pace 13:54

July 2009
Happy 4th of July!

I begin the crazy notion that I can run a half marathon in the fall and join a running group. I say good-bye to sleeping in on Saturday mornings. I also make some time to try my hand at this whole dating thing.

I ventured downtown to check out Artscape and to see Cake.

From Artscape 2009

Running: 56 miles, avg pace 13:34

August 2009
I finally got serious about the whole "buying a house" plan that has been rattling around in my brain... also continue to enjoy the single life

From One Tiny Grain of Sand

Lunch for my 86 year old Aunt, I can only hope to do as well as her at her when (and if) I'm that old!

Enjoying another summer favorite.... garden fresh BLT :) YUM!

Running: 77 miles, avg pace 13:20

September 2009
Valerie and I take Zianne to the zoo for the day.

Zianne also gets her first taste of real food :D

Celebrate Meliss' last day in her 20s at the Melting Pot...and of course with cupcakes!

I got to see my first NFL game with Tonya, the Ravens vs. the Browns

From Ravens vs. Browns Sept 2009

I also put in a contract for a house- for better or worse, I had the contract withdrawn by the home owner.
Running: 76 miles, avg pace 12:51

October 2009
After training for the last 3 months, the day of my half marathon arrives! I complete the race and happily collected my medal :D Bonus points for getting my cousin back into running!

After talking for weeks, Chris and I go out on our first date at DuClaw (different Chris!). Who knew that Harry Potter and a Star Fleet Science Officer would hit it off so well ;)
And a wonderful lunch with good friends at Paper Moon Cafe

From Smiles

or that Clark Kent would get in on the action as well???

From Smiles

Made some time for some Halloween Fun- carved some pumpkins with Aurora and Kurt

Running: 44 miles, avg pace 12:51

November 2009
Find my house and put my bid in; bid is accepted and begin the countdown until closing!

Chris and I head to the Baltimore Aquarium for a day of fun

We also make it into DC to play the Natural History Museum. It turned out to be a snowy slushy day. And lets not forget taking the time to enjoy a large Blue Moon
We also make some time for some runs around Loch Raven and Honeygo, in addition to some post-Thanksgiving shopping with my parents.
My mom and I also did our annual baking; Pumpkin Rolls!

Running: 40 miles, avg pace 13:59

December 2009
In between all the holiday craziness, I finally close on my house and my contractor begins work!

From My house!

Celebrate Chris' birthday by making him a Dirt Cake. Chris and I head off to his company Christmas party and go to see the Tran-Siberian Orchestra play

I also decide to try my hand as a brunette

Christmas morning was spent with my parents, my sister and my niece.

From One Tiny Grain of Sand

And on the last day of the year, I finally get everything all packed up and moved out of the apartment to the house :) and am left utterly and completely exhausted and full of gratitude.
Running: 12 miles, avg pace 12:03
(I dealt with lots of obstacles with running in Dec, I hurt my back shoveling snow, we got a huge amount of snow one weekend and lets not forget the more important task of packing and moving!)

Running Summary: 2009 (2008)
Total Distance: 528 miles (305)
Avg pace 13:45 (16:20)

2009 Race Summary
(Jun 2008 Komen 5K, distance 3.1 miles, 41:24 (pace 13:06)
Mar 15, 2009 Kelly St. Patrick's Day 5K, distance 3.1 miles, 36:36 (pace 11:21)
May 2, 2009 Frederick Running Festival Twilight 5k, distance 3.1 miles, 36:43 (pace 11:41)
Jun 28, 2009 Baltimore Womens Classic, distance 3.1 miles, 33:56 (pace 10:57)
Oct. 10, 2009 Baltimore Half Marathon, distance 13.1 miles, 2:36:13 (pace 11:52)

Inches lost in the past year: 24.75 (~25 lbs)
Inches lost since Jan 06: 63.25 (~45 lbs)

Running goals... I'm planning on doing the Maryland Double this year: for me that would be running the Half Marathon in Frederick in May and then the Half in Baltimore in the fall. I want to run some other 5ks this year as well, with the hopes of breaking the 30 min mark!

Me and Zianne

2009-09-21T23:28:00.003-04:00

my new favorite picture... me and my niece

From September 2009

What have I gotten myself into.....

2009-09-17T16:07:00.004-04:00

The half marathon that I signed up for is just around the corner... I'm feeling good in my training but am slightly freaking out about the tour of Baltimore that I'm going to be taking. Its going to be quite the adventure! And a hilly one at that!!!

I know that I'm able to complete the mileage, I've done 13 miles in my training runs, I'm just getting a bit nervous (AND EXCITED!) about the race in general!

And most importantly... when I finish this race, I can have my Saturday mornings to sleep in again!

Purple Velvet?

2009-09-06T20:54:00.007-04:00

Went to the grocery store to pick up ingredients to make red velvet cupcakes; needed buttermilk and red food coloring. I get there and they are all out of buttermilk, am annoyed but know that I can make a substitute at home. I then head over to the baking isle to get the red food coloring- only there is NONE! The only thing I was able to find was neon colored gel food coloring. I settled on making purple velvet cupcakes for the bbq tomorrow. We shall see how they come out.

Recipe compliments of Joy The Baker

horoscope

2009-08-21T17:24:00.001-04:00

This amuses me greatly...

You could be filled with surprises today as you uncharacteristically rebel against authority for no apparent reason. Although others may not understand your motives, your radical behavior now doesn't seem so out of place to you. Issues that have been brewing for a while are currently untenable, lowering your threshold for misinformation. Don't apologize if you aren't willing to put up with someone's games any longer.

I heart authors who blog!

2009-08-10T22:21:00.006-04:00

So, way back in October of last year, when the Spore fever had hit me hard, I had read James Maxey's Dragon Age novels (well, the first 2) and got the idea that I should use Spore's Creature Creator to recreate the Dragons in Maxey's novel. (yes, I am that dork) After I had put all that work into it, I thought it only fair to contact Maxey and share them with him. To my delight, he posted the images to his blog.

So fast forward many months.... I picked up the last novel in the series over the weekend (after Mikey alerted me to the fact that it was out) and got around to starting it this afternoon. I flipped to the back and notice an acknowledgment section and... SURPRISE! I'm listed there for my contribution from way back when! See! PROOF! *happy dance*

So to sum up...I am well aware that this takes me to a whole other level of dorkiness...

1. for using a video game to recreate a character in a novel
2. for finding said author's blog and email and sending images to him
3. for finding aforementioned acknowledgment
4. for tweeting about it
5. for facebooking about it
6. for creating a full blog post about it to fill in all the other details...

;) yes, I know... DORK!

What a difference a year makes

2009-07-07T07:27:00.004-04:00

This past weekend I went running at Loch Raven Reservoir, I enjoyed the weather, the run went well and overall it was just amazing! The weather lately has been spectacular! warm but not hot and a lovely cool breeze. I remember thinking as I ran up the hill, "hmmm... I remember this being harder."

After I got home I checked my stats and found out how much I have improved in the last year. The last time I ran at Loch Raven was in Aug 08 and I went 5.1 miles in an hour and half (1:32), which averages out to an 18 min/mile (my mile splits were 14:18, 14:05, 15:58, 18:25, 26:59). This year, I went 5 miles in about an hour and ten (1:09), which averaged out to a 13:45 min/mile! (and that includes basically walking for the last mile! My mile splits were 12:59, 12:24, 12:49, 12:17 and 18:02) That blows my mind just a bit!

I'm loving that I'm seeing improvements in my running times and I can feel that the effort required to run had decreased! The 5 that I did on Sunday was an enjoyable experience, and I'm sure that enjoyed the 5 I did last August, I don't know if I can say that I recovered as quickly as I did or enjoyed it as much. This is giving me further encouragement to keep on with training for the half marathon for this fall. If I did 5 miles just fine this weekend, and I'm barely a month into training, I should be able to finish that half! :D

oh, and ps. I heart my garmin!

New Balance Baltimore Women's Classic 5K

2009-06-28T10:45:00.007-04:00

From June 2009

Just got done with the run this morning. The run went really well despite the fact that my garmin decided to freeze up on me and not work at all! How sad! I also managed to miss the first water station and with the heat- I really could have used it! I was also surprised to see that the hill that was on the course didn't bother me as much as it could have- Thank you hills around my parents' house! I also managed to do a headstand over looking the harbor ;) too bad I didn't have my camera to capture it!

Did I mention that I managed a NEW personal best!!! I managed to shave almost 2 min off from the last 5K!!! And... if you compare this run to my first 5K from last year... WOW!

Jun 08 41:24 min (13:06 min/mile pace)
Mar 08 36:36 min (11:21 min/mile pace)
May 08 36:43 min (11:41 min/mile pace)
Jun 09 33:56 min (10:57 min/mile pace)

I'm so happy, no ecstatic that I've improved so much in just one year! Its also giving me more fuel for really getting behind training for a half marathon this fall! I know I can do it! Especially when I've seen just how far I've come in just one year! I'm still not sure if a full marathon will be in my future, but I do know that there will be at least one half!

The roller coaster that has become my life...

2009-06-21T22:07:00.004-04:00

Grandma: You know, when I was nineteen, Grandpa took me on a roller coaster.
Gil: Oh?
Grandma: Up, down, up, down. Oh, what a ride!
Gil: What a great story.
Grandma: I always wanted to go again. You know, it was just so interesting to me that a ride could make me so frightened, so scared, so sick, so excited, and so thrilled all together! Some didn't like it. They went on the merry-go-round. That just goes around. Nothing. I like the roller coaster. You get more out of it.
-Parenthood

I think its safe to say that this quote describes my life right now. There have been many changes to the merry-go-round that was my life, the life that I thought that I was happy with and wanted. I was bumped off and have been rushed to the front of the line for the roller coaster. The past month have been full of ups and downs- it seems for every low, I've also had a high that equals it. Its been an interesting experience. Who knows where this will take me now.

Much thanks to my aunt for opening my eyes to this idea.

Kelly St. Patrick's Day Shamrock 5K

2009-03-16T07:51:00.004-04:00

Kelly St. Patrick's Day Shamrock 5K
Baltimore, MD Mar 15, 2009

Place Div/Tot Name S Ag Hometown Gun T Net T Pace
2764 549/696 Kim Raginski F 30 Baltimore MD 38:05 35:21 11:23

From Kelly St. Patrick's Day 5k 2009

A personal best for me! Too bad Aurora went and beat me on her first time out! All is well, I'm very happy with my time, I just wish that the weather had been a little nicer. The cold and damp doesn't do well after you've been sweating.

First spring like day....

2009-03-07T21:55:00.002-05:00

And Chris and I are enjoying Sim City 4 on his big tv... the sliding glass door is open so it totally counts for appreciating the warmer weather..... right???

Did I mention...

2009-02-15T23:18:00.002-05:00

That we also had angelfood cake with fresh berries for dessert! The cake compliments of my mom, the berries were supposed to be chocolate covered, but with angelfood around, how could I not do shortcake?

Happy Valentine's Day

2009-02-15T23:16:00.002-05:00

Chris and I skipped the crowds and the lines and went with our own candle light dinner at home... with PF Changs! Yummy food no lines, just a kitty trying to get our attention.

Chocolate Guiness cake

2009-01-23T22:17:00.002-05:00

Can't wait to cut into this!

Yay for dorkfest!

The ferrert and the snow

2009-01-19T22:12:00.002-05:00

We gathered up snow from our most recent snow, in the hopes that Curie would be amused. She wasn't. Seems she's not too fond of the cold. We made her an igloo and a snowman but it was the call of raisins that finally got her to enter the igloo.
Ferrets!

SNOW!!!!

2009-01-19T11:54:00.002-05:00

Yay for snow!

testing

2009-01-16T11:47:00.002-05:00

this is just a test

--

Joan Rivers - "Forty for you, sixty for me. And equal partners we will be."

time for new shoes?

2009-01-16T10:09:00.003-05:00

From One Tiny Grain of Sand

I think that its time for a new pair of running shoes...

2008: Year in Review

2009-01-04T23:28:00.009-05:00

Jan 2008
Enjoying the crappy gift stylings at Melissa's

Feb 2008
Happy V'Day!

Celebrate my 29th birthday!

Mar 2008
Start the C25K Training plan
Learn to love doing handstands!

Watch John and Chrissie tie the knot!

Apr 2008
Continue with the C25K running plan, learn that there is more to running than just the physical part. The emotional/mental part is just as important!

May 2008
Run/walk 24 miles, avg pace: 16.12 min/mi, fastest pace: 15.07 min/mi
Loose what little wisdom I have.... have my wisdom teeth removed.

Jun 2008
Run/walk 49 miles, avg pace: 16.32 min/mi, fastest pace: 13.06 min/mi
Run the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure!

Celebrate Chris' birthday!
My niece is born (lots of sisterly drama ensues)

Farewelll lunch for a coworker

Jul 2008
Run/walk 58 miles, avg pace: 17.47 min/mi, fastest pace: 14.41 min/mi
Enjoy a week in DE visiting Chris' mom and step-dad. I even manage to make my scheduled runs in while on vacation!

Aug 2008
Run/walk 40 miles, avg pace: 16.39 min/mi, fastest pace: 14.10 min/mi
Did a weeee bit of hiking with good friends

Sep 2008
Run/walk 41 miles, avg pace: 16.29 min/mi, fastest pace: 13.55 min/mi
Watch Chris' cousin tie the knot!

Go running in my neighborhood

Oct 2008
Run/walk 42 miles, avg pace: 16.12 min/mi, fastest pace: 13.54 min/mi

I get the joy and rapture of having a failed root canal repaired- if you have the choice between redoing the root canal and an Apicoectomy.... CHOOSE the root canal- avoid the apicoectomy!!! And whatever you do, DO NOT go home immediately after having it done and search youtube for videos of the procedure!

Watch Jade and Mike tie the knot!

Enjoying the weather with my spoiled brat

Happy Halloween! Chris and I work our fingers to the bone making his costume.

Nov 2008
Run/walk 25 miles, avg pace: 15.32 min/mi, fastest pace: 12.48 min/mi
my niece is released from the hospital, so of course that means even more sisterly drama...
I finally got out to exercise my right to vote for the first time

Getting excited about gas prices falling again...

Happy 8th Anniversary!

Cheers! Happy Thanksgiving

Dec 2008
Run/walk 25 miles, avg pace: 13.01 min/mi, fastest pace: 11.19 min/mi
Celebrate Christmas differently this year, with my parents spending Christmas Eve and Christmas Day at my apartment. I made them a delicious pork roast stuffed with garlic, cranberries and apricots. On the 26th, Chris and I treated our parents to take-out PF Changs at our place.
Visiting with my 6 month old niece and even more sisterly drama...

and getting TJ shitty for New Years!

Running Summary....
Total miles run (and some walking) from May 2008-Dec 2008: 305, approximately 83 hours
Inches lost in 2008: 13.75 (~10 lbs)(Total inches lost since 2006: 38.5)

You can easily see the change in distances when my running went inside- the treadmill just isn't as much fun as running outside! and also less extra walking after running! I can't wait till the sun cooperates and is out when long enough when I get home from work to run and walk properly! Also the numbers from May to the beginning of Nov are pretty accurate as they come from my Garmin, the rest of Nov and Dec are just jotted down from treadmill runs. (and thanks to SportTracks for the easy to analyze and tracking software for my runs!)

The above mileage doesn't even include the miles I clocked at the beginning of '08 before I started the C25K. I started the C25K on Mar 25, 2008 and ran my 5K race on Jun 7, 2008. I have to say that this is my most important accomplishment of the year. I have discovered a new found love in running that I thought that I'd never have. I even began this year with running 5k on my own (too bad it was on a treadmill and not outside). I am baffled and amazed at how wonderful running can be, I'm almost sad that its taken me this long to discover it!

Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure

2008-06-07T21:32:00.003-04:00

Today was the day of my 5K. Started at the ungodly hour of 5AM to get to DC before the race started at 8.

Had lots of water to help battle the HEAT and humidity that I knew we'd be facing. They were calling for 90 degree temps and I received many warnings about being well hydrated for the race (the cutest ones were from my dad!). I drank so much water that I barely made it through the metro ride to downtown!

We (me, mike, and both of our moms) got there in enough time to find the start line, stretch, and pose for some pics. I still can't believe how many people were there! The moms heard a report of 50 THOUSAND people! All I know is that as we ran past the start line the people were still coming! It was crazy! There was one part where we had to run up a gradual incline and I was shocked at the SEA of people that filled the streets!

The race went really well. It was nice to run on relatively flat terrain. My breathing was good, never really felt winded. I definately enjoyed the people watching (many good looking men without shirts- whats not to like!). This was also the first run without my ipod. I had it with me if I needed it but there was so much going on I didn't even bother. Details on my race can be found here, compliments of my kitties who love me oh so much!

I also had a few emotional moments at the start of the race. I got choked up a few times at all the survivors in their pink shirts running. I couldn't help but feel pride that my mom is a two time breast cancer survivor- an almost 18 year survivor. I really can't believe that it has been that long. And the first round that she had was bad- like 18/24 lymph nodes bad, bad enough that when she was diagnosed the second time the doctor looked at her with shock and surprise wanting to know how she survived it. She just looked up at him and was like, I didn't know that I had any other options.

5K Test Run

2008-06-03T21:33:00.002-04:00

My 5K is just days away and felt the need to prove to myself that, yes I can run 3.1 miles. May not be the best decision to make before a race but I did it! I ran the entire 3.1 miles without stopping and clocked in a time of 42:22. It averaged out to just under a 14 min/mile. That is slightly slower than my runs up to this point BUT its also almost a mile more than I'm used to doing. Overall I'm quite happy with myself. :D

Still working out the details on how to use my Garmin 405. I forgot to turn it off when we finished up today and it tracked me all the way home- amusing to say the least. I'm quite happy with it so far, just need to work on the practical applications of it. I have 3 different places where the data can be stored- two online sources (they are in the process of transferring systems) and one on my computer. I'm not quite sure which I like best. Still playing.

Living your yoga

2008-05-30T09:31:00.003-04:00

Yesterday I encountered two situations that could easily have ruined my day, not to mention my mood. I am shocked at how I responded to both.

Situation 1:
I stopped at the grocery store to get cash and also pick up a few items. I went to the self-checkout line and was in luck because the woman in front of me was just finishing up. I went through the process of keying in my club card and scanned my first item. And because the self-checkout lines are so anal about how they do things, you have to put it on the belt and WHOOOSH! down the belt it goes, hitting the large case of water from the women in front of me. She is in the end stages of bagging up her items and then proceeds blasts me with a bitter angry assault about how impatient I was and how I had no consideration for anyone else. I tried to make a comment about how I just had a few items- but was cut off as she continued to berate me. I went on to scan my other two items- both produce- that would have to be looked up in the system AND then weighed. The banana goes down the belt and the woman continues to spit nasty remarks at me about my impatience. I took a deep breathe and recognized that there was nothing I could do or say to change her attitude towards me. She was in a fowl bitter mood and I got in her way. Instead of letting this ruin my day, I just sat back and looked at the situation with amusement. I didn't let it bother me and was thinking of how others would react to the same situation (the first one that comes to my mind is my father. Some have described him as the emotional equivalent as a bull in a china shop. He means well, but he's also quick to fly off the handle.) I am amazed at myself for not judging, but just noticing. Accepting the things that I can not change.

Situation 2:
I got to the park early yesterday afternoon. While I was waiting for Mike to show up, I pulled my book out and read for a bit, stretched out in the grass by my car. Mike showed up, went to change and I became aware of a guy trying to teach another how to ride a motorcycle. Mike returns and we start our pre-run stretch. I hear the guy on the motorcycle teaching away and he lets the other guy on his bike. Next thing I hear is the man saying "look at what you did, you just caused a bunch of damage to that car." I look over and see the bike was dropped right next to my car. My first thought was that he bumped the side, but no worries, my Saturn has bounce resistant sides. The man asks who's car it was. I speak up and walk over to see the rear quarter panel bent and the bumper askew. The man starts apologizing and begins to dig his insurance information out. I look for pen and paper and am overcome by the sense of calm that I feel. I'm not upset, someone just hit my car and all I'm thinking is, bummer, there will be some inconvenience trying to get it fixed, is it time to start my run yet? I get his info, I can tell that he is upset that damage was done to my car and that his bike fell down- that he really would like to go off on the other person but is holding it all in and dealing with me in just a calm and polite manner. Again, another instance where I could get all worked up and start yelling and screaming- but what would I accomplish by doing that? Nothing. I continued to just go with the flow.

The guy got his bike up and drove home, mumbling how that was the end of the training session for today. Mike and I did our run, nothing fantastic- (arg, I stopped short of my 30 min goal due to a painful side stitch, but kept moving the entire time-ahimsa may be the right thing to do, but it sure can hit the ego). I called my parents to let them know and I was amused to hear that they were more worked up about it than I was. I tried to explain that I really wasn't upset and they seemed shocked by that, like how could I not be upset- someone just hit your car as you were standing right next to it.

The car for the most part is drivable- I just wouldn't take it on the highway. The wheel well is bent and rubs up against the tire to make a weird noise. The tires are pretty new so I don't want to chance ruining one so soon after getting it. I am "stuck" at home for now waiting by the phone. Oh poor me, a relaxing morning with a lazy breakfast AND my book! Oh the horror of it all! ;) I've made arrangements with work and am not worried about the cells, I have to go in tomorrow and can do what I need to do then.

I really am amazed at how yoga has infiltrated the rest of my life. Two trying situations yesterday and I didn't react to either one. Both were something I could not change and I just went with it. I really am only responsible for my actions ...

My actions are my only true belongings. I cannot escape the consequences of my actions. My actions are the ground upon which I stand.

I am learning to love that Remembrance that I picked up from Yoga Journal. It has helped me so much in trying to accept others around me. I know that whatever happens that I am truly responsible for myself and how I represent and present myself.

This yoga stuff is way deep ;)

Gold Star Day

2008-05-27T20:08:00.002-04:00

I totally earned that gold star today! Today is the first day of week 9- the last scheduled week of the Couch to 5K running program. In the 10 weeks that I've been running, I have only missed one scheduled run and that was because I was sick and dizzy and could barely walk. I have run in rain, run in the cold, run with a cold, run with an aching tooth, run right after having my wisdom teeth taken out ... but today was the hardest run. I had to run in the heat and humidity. The actual run part was fine. I had no problems with running for 30 min- (am up to just over 2 miles but not quite 2.5) I had issues with the heat! They were calling for an evening storm so the humidity just skyrocketed from there! YUCK! I'd rather run in the cold and rain ANY day! I may have to switch up my runs to the morning once summer kicks in full force. (yuck! I hate getting up early- but I think my hatred of running in hot is greater)

Only 11 more days to go until my 5K race. I'm really curious to see how I'll do on a relatively flat track and going for the full 3 miles!

Hitting a wall on week 7...

2008-05-16T16:43:00.004-04:00

I've been chugging along quite nicely with the C25K running program, that is- until this week. Went into the week actually looking forward to the 3-25 min long runs, esp since I now have my mother's day gift from my darling kitties (what? it totally counts! and sounds a lot better than me spending that much on myself on a new hobby ;)

I did my run on Tuesday with an aching tooth, trying to fight off a cold. News from the dentist said, yep, those wisdom teeth are coming out and I was loaded up with some pain meds. Boy, did I need them! The pain in my tooth/jaw just kept getting worse and with my immune system down that would be when the fight against the cold lost. I spent most of Wed and Thur in bed with various meds. That means I missed my first scheduled run in over 8 weeks!

The internal struggle with that one! I knew that I wouldn't be able to make it for a run with just the task of walking to my car was almost too much for my woozy head. I'll wait and see what more rest and time will do for me. I'm hoping that I can run- or try to run a bit tomorrow morning. The pain in my jaw has now blossomed into a lovely swollen chipmunk cheek. If the tradeoff for no pain is a chipmunk cheek- I think I'm okay with that- for now anyways. They yank my teeth on Monday and I'm hoping the recovery from it will be swift and I can get back to my training schedule.

I have officially signed up for the Komen Race for the Cure in DC. I'm trying hard to not think about how early I'll have to get up to get there on time. I'm still waiting to hear if my mom is planning on coming to watch. She is the reason for me picking that particular race to run in. She is a two time breast cancer survivor and am damn proud of it! Anyone willing to donate, please see below. I'm not usually the type of person to ask but am providing the info for those who want it.

Click Here to Donate

Week 4, Day 1

2008-04-22T22:57:00.003-04:00

So, I went into this run with mixed emotions. I was feeling very strong today and didn't notice any problems with my legs or knees. Everything seemed to be lining up for me today and I was really excited about running today..... and then, I started Robert's podcast for week 4 and he said the following:

We will then have 2 repetitions of the following: jog for 3 minutes, walk for 90 seconds, then jog for 5 minutes, and recover with a 2 1/2 minute walk. Then we will repeat the intervals jogging and walking for a total of about 18 minutes.

I almost shit a brick thinking that not only would I have to run for 5 min- that I would have to repeat it!!!! I also had flashbacks of the struggle that I had at the beginning of week 3 (the first time) and how I was only able to run the first 2 min of that last 3 min run.

I did the 5 min warmup and then started the first run. One word- wow. There was such an awesome combination of the weather, feeling my body responding so strongly, not feeling any pain in my knees or in my shins- I also caught a glimpse of my shadow and had a moment where I thought "that is a shadow of a runner."

I easily made it through that first 3 min, no problems, got to the 5 min and kept it slow and really amazed myself as I made it through that one no problem. My recoveries were quick, I was breathing good. Got into the next 3 min, again, no problems and was feeling good going into the last interval. I was running slow, with purpose and was anxious to know where I was time wise. As soon as he said, "ok, lets push it for one more mintue" I really kicked it up a notch and let loose for a few seconds (up a hill). I did eventually slow down because my sense of time doesn't always work so well when I'm distracted and I didn't want to completely wear myself out before time was up.

When time was up, I felt so proud and accomplished and for the first time since I've started- felt no pain or tenderness in my legs! NONE! I normally have a great desire to stretch out my shins after the cool down, but today... I just felt like I could keep going. Was so amazing and I easily got a glimpse of the runner that I feel that I am becoming!

End of week 3?

2008-04-19T08:36:00.003-04:00

Today is supposed to be the last scheduled run for Week 3, round two. I do have to say that the runs this week have been MUCH better than last weeks!!!! I finished the run on Thursday and almost had a "was that it?" feeling when the time was up. And that was running in almost 80 degree weather. It was so gorgeous out! And it looks like today will follow through with more of the same!

I've noticed more random muscles popping up through my shins. The knee hasn't been bothering me at all this week *quickly runs to find wood to knock on* I have noticed a little bit of tenderness in my ankle though. I'm observing it and trying not to aggravate it.

I'm definately proud that I've technically been doing this for 4 weeks and haven't missed a workout! I know that I haven't been covering the distances that the podcast and the training program would want me to, but I know that will come with time. I first want to get my body (okay, mind too) used to the idea of running for longer periods of time and then I can start working on distance and speed. :)

Week 3... continued

2008-04-15T22:13:00.002-04:00

The rest of week 3 runs did get better than the first one. I ran all of the required times, even if I so wanted to stop! I pushed myself and finished.

Today, I decided that it was in my best interest to repeat week 3. The run actually went really really well today. The first running interval felt good- really! No problems with the 3 min run- by the time I got around to the last run, I was feeling good and was running up the last hill. I think the muscle fatigue that I was feeling toward the end of the last run were because of that hill. I had a brief moment of "oh my god- can I be done now???" and then I pushed on and almost had that "second wind." I reluctantly stopped when the podcast said to. I could have run longer. But by far the biggest part about today's run was the confidence that I gained. My muscles felt stronger in my legs, no sore knee, the walking intervals felt better, was walking faster, just it all felt so much better than last week. This program really is teaching both the physical and mental parts of me to run.

I have been focusing more on the stretching. Its amazing how it seems to help. I've read many articles where people have questioned its benefits. I don't see how I could do this without stretching both before and after.

Now, if I could only convince myself to go ahead and buy the heart monitor/distance tracker gadget that I've been lusting over.....

Week 3: aka the week of hell

2008-04-10T20:20:00.003-04:00

wow- this week has been a killer! Its a short warm-up and then 2 intervals of the following, run for 90 seconds, walk for 90 seconds, run for 3 min, walk for 3 min. Its that second run for 3 min that gets me! My run on Tuesday I was only able to run for 2 of the 3 min. Today, I somehow managed to run for that entire time and boy was it rough! I'm still not quite sure how I managed to finish! Not as many issues with my knee. It seems to bug me only during the first part of my run and then seems to go away until we are walking up the hill at the end. I have noticed muscle soreness in my shins. I really am hoping that a lot of what I'm feeling is just my muscles slowly adjusting to my new activity. ;) I also think that there is a very large possibility that I will be repeating week 3 before moving onto week 4. Ahimsa... ahimsa...

Week 2: DONE!

2008-04-06T21:00:00.003-04:00

So yay! I finished week 2- just barely. Went to a different place for our run. Was good and bad. Most of it was flat but the run just wasn't as easy as it was on Thur. I'm not quite sure what the difference was- maybe its my knee? My recoveries between runs seemed on par with Thurs. run. And as promised, I got in plenty of water before the run, some food. I could have stretched a bit more than i should have.

looking back...
Tues run- horrible
Wed, did some walking ~2 miles
Thur run- awesome!
Fri- nothing and my knee was bugging me all day! Even walking on it felt off
Sat- got through the run, but not as easily as Thur- I'm thinking mainly due to my knee. I did take it easy and not run up or down any major hills, and we did an extra mile of walking at the end.

So, at what point do I decide that its time to see a professional? I've been icing my knee after runs and using icy/hot and heat pads before bed. There is a HUGE part of me that doesn't want to stop the training- I want to make it to the end of week 9. I want to be able to do this. I don't want to hear a doctor tell me to stop trying to run all together. *sigh*

Today, I haven't noticed anything major but its been quite a relaxing day. I didn't notice any pain with the stairs. Tomorrow will be yoga after work. It felt really good last week and I was amazed at how tight my muscles were. I'm also going to take it easy tomorrow and no stairs- possibly no walking up the huge hill in front of my building, that is if I can get away with it.

Star Trek Quiz

2008-04-06T10:27:00.001-04:00

Your results:
You are Spock

Spock		57%
Beverly Crusher		55%
An Expendable Character (Redshirt)		55%
Geordi LaForge		55%
Chekov		50%
Leonard McCoy (Bones)		50%
Jean-Luc Picard		45%
Deanna Troi		45%
Uhura		40%
Will Riker		40%
Mr. Scott		40%
Data		27%
Mr. Sulu		20%
James T. Kirk (Captain)		20%
Worf		15%

You are skilled in knowledge and logic.
You believe that the needs of the many
outweigh the needs of the few.

Click here to take the Star Trek Personality Test

C25K: Week 2, day 2

2008-04-03T19:46:00.005-04:00

WOW! I'm am amazed at what a difference there was between today's run and Tuesday's run. I felt like I barely finished on Tuesday and felt horrible. Today, I got my "second wind" during the last running interval and just ran. I was almost tempted to keep going. Did I mention that I'm completely insane and that we went running in the rain- the cold cold rain. That we were the only ones out there running the loop and that when we headed back to the car that there was freezing rain? And that I felt so accomplished afterwards!

I had some small glimpses of, "wow, I can be a runner." I talked with my dad and he laughed at the walk/run program and said that he used to do 3 miles backwards. He's funny. I hope that my endurance improves to the point where I can say something like that so confidently.

As for the knee- I noticed some pain during the first running interval but then I stood up straighter and the pain seemed to lessen. It really didn't bother me too much today. I did ice it down when I got home and will rub in some icy/hot before bed.

One more thing to remember for upcoming runs: Take full advantage of the walking portions to fully recover your breath. I did some dirga breaths- yogic 3 part breath- (or tried to with a runny wet nose and many lung fulls of cold cold wet air) that seemed to help bunches with my recovery time.

I'm definately feeling accomplished and proud. :)

C25K: Week 2

2008-04-01T21:14:00.002-04:00

Wow- that run kicked my butt! Who would have thought that 30 extra seconds would make such a difference!

The bad:
I especially liked the part where my lower legs forgot how to work and I almost tripped over my feet and almost went nose first into the path. That would have been lots of NOT fun!
Thinking I had had enough to drink today and then getting through the run all red faced and sweating and sooooo... thirsty!
Running in a long sleeve shirt. Thought that it would be cold and rainy this afternoon. silly weathermen!
Stopping a few seconds short of the 90 second running intervals.

The good:
My shins didn't hurt as much. Not sure if I can attribute that to yoga from yesterday or to more stretching before the run.
GORGEOUS weather: 74+, lots of sunshine, bright blue sky and big puffy white clouds.
The extra burst of energy that I got at the second to last interval that made me think that I can actually do this running stuff.
Two extra laps to fully cool down.
Lots of stretching before and after.
Not as much problems with my knee.

Lessons to remember....
WATER! WATER! WATER! I need to make sure that I get extra water on my running days, esp with warmer temps just around the corner.
Stretching = good
Bring more than just a long sleeve shirt and pants to run in.
oh, and icy-hot AFTER my muscles have cooled down, otherwise that shit BURNS!

Week 1: COMPLETE!

2008-03-29T12:18:00.003-04:00

I have finished the first week of the C25K training. I made all 3 training sessions and with the exception of Tuesday's run, there was an additional loop done at the park. YAY!

Today's run had me a little cautious of my knee. The first running interval I ran very gingerly and noticed a slight discomfort. As the run went on, I only really noticed it on the hills. Yes, my route has a little bit of hill work in it. I did take extra time to do a few sun salutes before I started and stretched out quite a bit after the cool down- but before the extra lap. At the moment I'm not feeling any pain in my knee but am doing my best to keep an eye on it to make sure that it doesn't get worse.

The weather was much cooler today than the rest of the week. I wish I had brought a pair of gloves to keep my fingers warm. My legs didn't seem to mind that I was in capris/long shorts (they end at my knees), that is- as long as I was running. The cool down at the end is when I noticed that the wind was blowing chilly air on me!

Next week:
Brisk five-minute warm-up walk. Then alternate 90 seconds of jogging and two minutes of walking for a total of 20 minutes. Followed by a cool down walk.

C25K: Week 1, Day 2

2008-03-28T09:50:00.003-04:00

I did my second run last night. There is still a little bit of a mental block with this whole "running venture." My brain is battling it out. One side says, who are you kidding? you aren't a runner or an athlete, what do you think you are doing? The other smaller voice is saying, well, maybe I could be a runner, you never know. During the last interval of running I let that smaller voice win out and just went all out. I loved the feeling of pushing off with more force with each step, not holding back trying to conserve, but really running- knees high and just going all out. That was awesome.

Mike and I did an extended cool down and did an extra lap at the park. I still had the weird feeling in my shins- its like they forget how to work the full range of motion but once I stretch them out everything is okay. The only part that kinda bothered me was a weird feeling behind my left knee cap. It feels like an air bubble that needs to pop. Unfortunately that has stayed with me, has also made walking up hills and stairs a challenge.

So, today is a complete rest day. My things are sore, my hips are tight and theres another run scheduled for tomorrow. I'm laughing at myself because I am looking forward to the challenge- I want to do this (even if it means some discomfort along the way).

C25K: Week 1, day 1

2008-03-25T18:53:00.002-04:00

I survived the first run!!! YEAH!!!! I thought that I wouldn't have the stamina for the running part, but that doesn't seem like it was a problem (for the first one anyways). The part that was giving me the most problems were my shins. I think its safe to say that no, I can't wear my walking shoes while running. By the end of the run my knees felt like jelly, mainly because I couldn't do the full range of motion of my shins. I hope that new shoes will help. I stretched out my shins and have to say there is no pain- just a little bit of muscles saying "HI! You haven't used us in FOREVER!!!" All is well.

Couch to what?

2008-03-24T14:10:00.004-04:00

I've decided to start a running program- wait did I just say that?! What am I thinking??!?! In all honesty, I really do want to get into running. I've always admired the people who could do long distance running. My dad said that he used to be a long distance runner, wonder how much of it was passed down in the genes? The longest I've ever run was probably close to a mile and a half and that was in high school (trying to ignore that that was over 10 years ago!).

I'm going to be following the Couch to 5K plan with the help of Robert Ullrey's Assisted Workout and Training Mixes for your iPod. I've looked at the program before but am super excited about having podcasts to listen to while running.

I'll be walking/jogging/running with my friend Mike- our first run is tomorrow. Crazily enough, I'm looking forward to it. I want to challenge myself to see if I can do it and want to have The Komen Race for the Cure as my goal. I can do this. (I hope) Even if I can't run, I KNOW that I can easily walk the race, but that doesn't help me with the running aspect.

Now, the true question- will I be able to resist buying things for this new hobby before I am officially on board? I have decent shoes, but they are more for walking... I'm going to wait a few weeks and see how the runs go. I'll use that as my guide for if I need other shoes. Second, I'd love to have some kind of heart rate monitor/pedometer thing-a-mob that collects data during these workouts and then puts them on my computer. This is something that I do NOT need, but kinda sorta want a lot.... but again, not cheap and I don't want to put the money out for something that will sit around. Trying so hard to be good.

Turning the world upside down

2008-03-06T21:25:00.003-05:00

Okay, so not really... but I am totally in love with headstand! About a month ago, Kandy encouraged us to give handstand a try... I've been hooked ever since. Theres a HUGE part of me that is so proud that I can actually do it. I had always been the un-adventurous type in regards to gymnastics. I use to freak out as my sister tried to do one handstand after another in the backyard. I was convinced that she would fall and break something.

It really is hard to describe the power and strength that one feels in headstand. I have progressed where I can pull my knees gracefully up so they sit over my hips and then overhead. I am able to hold myself for a few seconds without the support of the wall. I am still working on creating better balance and more strength. And I have become super curious about handstand now. I've made a few attempts to kick up at the wall- no success yet (that was even with Chris trying to hold my legs!) I'm not sure if my earlier fears are coming into play or if my upper body just isn't ready to support me yet. I was also able to "fly" in crow pose for a fraction of a second, so I hope its just the strength part that is holding me back. I need to do some more upper body strengthening- plow, down dog, more crow, dolphin dives...

It all comes down to this....

I LOVE HEADSTAND ... and can't wait to fully kick up into handstand to see if its just as amazing!

The Five Remembrances

2008-03-03T15:12:00.002-05:00

The Five Remembrances

I am of the nature to grow old. There is no way to escape growing old.

I am of the nature to have ill health. There is no way to escape ill health.

I am of the nature to die. There is no way to escape death.

All that is dear to me and everyone I love are of the nature to change. There is no way to escape being separated from them.

My actions are my only true belongings. I cannot escape the consequences of my actions. My actions are the ground upon which I stand.

From Yoga Journal's Yoga Mediation

Pick Your 2008 Candidate For President

2008-01-16T18:08:00.001-05:00

83% Hillary Clinton
82% John Edwards
81% Barack Obama
78% Joe Biden
78% Chris Dodd
71% Bill Richardson
67% Dennis Kucinich
65% Mike Gravel
54% Rudy Giuliani
44% John McCain
37% Mike Huckabee
37% Mitt Romney
32% Tom Tancredo
27% Fred Thompson
16% Ron Paul

2008 Presidential Candidate Matching Quiz

I agree the most with Clinton???? hmmm.... gotta go think about that one.

2007: year in review

2008-01-07T21:32:00.001-05:00

Inspired by Aurora's post, I decided to do the same....

Jan 2007

I dealt with one very sick kitty with a UTI and came to realize how much I love my little brat.
I get a gov't credit card... ooooo
GW LAN party- complete with sugar cookie characters....
Take possession of the quilt promised to me by my great aunt

Feb 2007
Celebrate Jade's 30th Birthday
My Grandfather passes away- mom almost scares the shit out of by starting off the phone call with "dad just died"
Turn 28, have a lovely birthday dinner with Chris, my parents and my great aunt Ruthie at this lovely seafood restaurant

March 2007
Celebrate my father's birthday
Meet up for happy hour with some old co-workers from Cognate
and yay me- 2 root canals, first step in getting my teeth back in order!

April 2007

Jamie and Pie get married- awesome location, beautiful non-traditional wedding, coolest spot for an outdoor wedding!
Luck out and find a wii... debate for almost 30 min and pick it up!

May 2007

Mother/Daughter Banquet
Mother's Day Shopping and Dinner date with me, mom, mike and his mom (dinner at Carrabbas)
Begin Serum Screen at work (yuck!)

June 2007

My cousin Ryan and Carrie finally tie the knot!
Chris' birthday
Enjoy some lovely book by the pool time
Dealing with my sister *sigh*
Get my balcony garden together

July 2007

Took my dad to see the latest Harry Potter Movie: Order of the Phoenix
Spent a lovely weekend with my parents complete with outside yoga, walk with Isabelle and berry picking- oh and lets not forget coconut cream pie!
Last HP book! (got it at 12AM Saturday- finished by Sunday! almost bit off Chris' hand when he tried to take the book away from me)
Vacation in Rehoboth- lots of doing nothing, rediscovered SimCity, spent some time on the boat, did some crabbing and seining, introduce Chris' mom and my parents to the wii

August 2007

GW LAN Party at Jamie and Pie's
Prep Chris for interview at Under Armour!
Chris cuts his goat-t

September 2007

Labor Day Party at Kevin's (love his backyard garden!)
Rally Day facepainting at Zion
Pick up newest addition to the family- ferret named Curie
Chris starts new job at Under Armour

October 2007

Chris and I move to new apartment (bye bye pool and gym, hello cheaper rent, more space and gorgeous oak tree in the back)
Dinner at the UN Part 2: Li's farewell dinner with current co-workers, enjoy some wonderful homemade sushi
Do some training at work with a delightful woman from U of Penn

November 2007

Discover that Uncle Johnny's cancer is back and this time in the brain. He's told that he could die in hours, days or could last months. Rush to see him and he promises to see me at Thanksgiving
Have a deep and profound meditation during yoga where I come to realize that there is no getting better for my uncle.
Thanksgiving dinner with TONS of people, great meal esp with my Uncle still around
Make pumpkin rolls with my mom- quickly becoming a yearly tradition

December 2007

Learn of CompUSAs closing and thankful that Chris got out of there when he did.
Decorated Christmas cookies with Mikey and his mom
Christmas is spent with my Uncle Johnny, his wife, his son and his girlfriend and her son, and my two great aunts. Can see how weak my uncle is, but glad to see him there enjoying an untraditional meal of lasagna. Entertaining to watch many generations playing on the wii (and wouldn't you know it, my 80+ great aunt kicked our butts at bowling! I don't know if I believe her claim that she's never gone bowling before!)
Disappointed by my sister's appearance at Christmas (does it count if she's there physically but not emotionally?)
Begin testing new building at work (more yuckies!)
New years spent at Jamie and Cheryl's with the wii.

Shakespeare Quote

2007-11-12T21:57:00.001-05:00

Ayesha97, ayesha97! Parting is such sweet sorrow
That I shall say ayesha97 till it be morrow.

Which work of Shakespeare was the original quote from?

I'm so amused that this quote came up- has always been the way me and my aunt say goodbye.

YJ Quiz

2007-09-11T22:13:00.002-04:00

I'm a Balanced Yogi!

A Balanced Yogi

You love your friends unconditionally and accept them for who they are no
matter what their yoga style preference, religious beliefs, or spending habits.
You focus on the good in people and would never try to change them. Almost
everyone feels comfortable in your presence. You live your yoga. You are an
inspiration to yoga students everywhere!

Take the Yoga Journal Yoga Snob Quiz!

Pellinor Series

2007-07-05T22:27:00.000-04:00

A few weeks ago I stopped in at the library and picked up the first book for Alison Croggon's Pellinor Series, The Naming. I have to say I was quite impressed. It has a lot of the fantasy elements that one finds in Lord of the Rings type books (only these have the amazing ability to not put me to sleep- I'm sorry, LOVED the idea of the books, just had trouble with Tolkien's writing). Its also amusing that the main character is a young girl who plays a main role in the battle between good and evil.

Imagine my surprise when I went back to the library and they had the second book in the series, The Riddle. I sped threw it and am still as hooked as I was on the first book. I did a quick search and found out that the 3rd is out.... IN AUSTRAILIA!!! It doesn't come out in the US until September. Talk about a total buzz kill. The only good side is that the next Harry Potter book comes out this month.

Definitely take the time to check out the Pellinor series if you start feeling some fantasy withdrawal after the final Harry Potter book. You won't be disappointed!

POWNCE!

2007-07-04T14:38:00.000-04:00

I'm so excited about this new site! Think of something like Twitter, and a little like digg.com, throw in a bit of myspace... and BAM!... its POWNCE! You can link up to interesting sites, put up updates/bulletins, small files/pictures and and and and.... so excited! My POWNCE!

I have a few more invites if anyone is interested.

Role of the witness

2007-07-02T22:26:00.000-04:00

Tonight at yoga, Kandy mentioned taking the role of the witness during our meditation. But its so hard to play the role of the witness when family is concerned.
How does one sit back and watch as someone they love continues to hurt those around them? I set my intention tonight to surrender, to surrender into the pose, into the mat, into accepting the things that I can not change. I wish this was easier.

I've written about my relationship with my sister in the past and it seems that things haven't improved. She recently sent me an email and I replied back and didn't tell her what she wanted to hear. Consequently, I haven't heard from her since. What did I write that she didn't want to hear? I asked her questions about her life. (paraphrasing below) Asking if she's still with the guy that our parents don't approve of (didn't use that wording either, just his name), if she was still at the same apartment, what she's doing for money since she said that she just lost yet another job, if she has a phone yet (she had to shut her cell phone off because of no money, her boyfriend that totaled her car has done anything to fix it or to get her a new car, if the rumors are true that she's engaged, and if she is, why hasn't she told me. That last one would be the one that hurts me the most. It was bad enough when she eloped on her 21st birthday without telling us until after the ceremony. I may have thrown in some digs that if she was engaged, why did her boyfriend buy her a huge ring instead of helping her to get a car? Because in my world, a car is more important.

Its hard to sit back and watch as she makes a series of bad choices. One of them is her decision to not continue to contact me or our parents (and don't get me started on her lack of recognition on Father's Day). I have to let go and accept what I can not change, its her life, she's the one who is responsible for her decisions and choices. But why is it so hard?

I spoke with my officemate the other day, hes an older gentleman with two college age children. He spoke with such joy at the relationship that his children have with each other. They are able to talk to one another and go to each other. I have to say I was jealous. I haven't had that kind of relationship with my sister since I was in high school. I miss it. We used to be so close. Its a shame that we haven't had a chance to get to know the adults that we have grown into. She doesn't know me or the world that I live in and I can say that I have no fuckin' clue about the world that she's living in.

The worst part is hearing the pain in my parents' voices when they talk about her. She's been hurting us for so long now, you'd think we would be used to it. (for those keeping track we're at the 8 year mark...) They want her to be a part of the family but because its been so long, we've all forgotten what her role in our family unit is. She was at Christmas this past year... wait, does it count if she shows up for less than an hour to collect the gifts that we had for her? Makes you feel used.

I wish there was an easy way to fix this. I feel that a lot of it has to be her decision. She has a lot of my father's qualities and one of them is stubbornness/pig-headness... Its not going to be easy. I just hate that it feels like my hands are tied.

07-01-07

2007-07-01T23:55:00.001-04:00

07-01-07
Originally uploaded by Ayesha97

Balcony-kitty-cool summer day... the only way it gets better is if I have a book in hand... and well, I finished that off this morning. This is how I spent my afternoon. Was catching up on Elsie's podcasts and enjoying the cool breezes and the warmth of my kitty. mmmmm.... so nice. I'm so easily pleased.

I've been loving the cooler weather that we've had the last few days. We got to open all the windows and let the breeze in. Soooo nice!
We also spent some time fixing up the balcony, bought some new plants (two banana plants) and moved Ralph outside. Its now like a mini tropical oasis outside. I love it! I'll have to post a picture soon.

I wish that I had been able to snag more herbs this spring. I only have oregano, basil and mint. I can't wait for my tomatoes to get ripe so that I can have crusty bread with fresh mozzarella cheese, fresh basil and garden fresh tomatoes! *drools*

Personal DNA

2007-06-20T20:29:00.001-04:00

I know, haven't posted in forever... thought I'd post this neat little quiz.

Dork

2007-01-20T00:37:00.000-05:00

I truly have my dorky moments at time... I would like to present exhibits A and B. Both made out of sugar cookie and icing... and all for a Guild Wars LAN party. *grin*

Animal Totem

2007-01-18T21:59:00.000-05:00

You scored as Eagle.

You are the Eagle. People respect you and for good reason. You are a creative person who likes to do things abstractly. You tend to be a healer, either with yourself or with others.

Fear of Elevators?

2007-01-17T20:57:00.000-05:00

Last week my group went out to lunch to celebrate the New Year (I know, we were a little late, but lab schedules can be hard to work around). We were able to walk to a nearby restaurant and had a lovely time. (quite amusing to teach a Japanese man about Greek food) On our way back I got into a discussion with my boss about the new building that we are supposed moving into. There have been many issues surrounding its construction and even if it will be suitable to do labwork in (evidently the building vibrates- very bad for microscopes!). My boss continued with how horrible the elevators are and that they have no break. I answered with, "soooo... don't take the elevator, take the stairs in the new building." He went on to explain and I responded the same way with "so you're saying take the stairs." Somehow this turned into, oh look, you don't like elevators! This was compounded by the fact that we were approaching our building and ready to go up to our 3rd floor offices. I went for the stairs while everyone else made a bee line for the elevators. This just seemed to prove my dislike of elevators to my boss. *eye roll*

Truth: When I started my new job I made a promise to myself that I wouldn't take the shuttle (well, unless it was RIGHT there- no waiting for it, and seriously its only been RIGHT there twice in the three months that I've been working there!) and that I wouldn't take the elevator up to my 3rd floor office. That actually goes waaaaaaaaaay back to a rule that I set for myself while in college. If I had to go up more than 3 floors I could take the elevator, less than 3 and I took the stairs. There is a part of me that wants to take the time to explain it, but then the other half of me says, why bother. I know that I'm making better choices for myself.

Its still baffling at how trying to make a healthy lifestyle choice is looked at as a fear/dislike of a modern convenience. I get some strange looks when I tell people that I don't take the shuttle to walk the third of a mile to my building. Yes, its a pain in the ass but so is waiting in the cold for a bus to show up. Why not create some body heat and get moving!

Dresden

2007-01-15T16:48:00.000-05:00

When I was a little girl, my great aunt Ruthie promised me a quilt as a wedding present. The past few years she's been trying to pass it off on me but I always told her that I wasn't married yet and that I had to wait. With the recent death of her husband her urgings to take my quilt have been ever more persistent. I finally agreed to take it this Christmas. She had me pick my quilt out years ago and I had forgotten how gorgeous it is. The pattern is called Dresden Plate and I'm told that blue quilts are worth more than any other color. She said that she made my quilt after going to a quilt museum and had to immediately run to the fabric store to recreate it. I really and truly forgot how pretty it is. Did I mention that she does the WHOLE thing by hand? There may be a few places where she'll drag out her machine (piecing the blocks together) but for the most part its hand pieced and hand quilted.

I'm so proud! *glee*

Happy Holidays!!!

2006-12-23T10:37:00.000-05:00

for more great comics be sure to check out Last Lemon/Vimrod

Santosha

2006-11-13T21:51:00.000-05:00

I left work this afternoon, disappointed that it was very rainy and blah out. My first thought was how I'd love to go straight home and curl up with a book and one of the cats- but knew that wasn't going to happen tonight. Monday's are yoga night. There's something about rolling out the mat that just made me smile. I did some spinal rocking and my energy level went through the roof! I was on and ready to go. The practice went well. I managed to go deeper into Savasana than I normally do (and there were some crazy cartoon like images racing through my brain and yet I felt separate from it- I can't fully describe it but I did catch myself with the "oh wow" everything just cleared out of my mind.. and dammit, I'm thinking again! At the end, our yogini brought our awareness to Santosha, or contentment. Thinking back, that is one of the few things that I did take the time to appreciate during my unemployment. I took the time to enjoy a cup of hot tea on the balcony with the cats. I got to experience the warm sunshine on my back and the lovely chill in the air that comes with fall. A few weeks ago, there was a community yard sale. I woke up early, took a look at everything and grabbed a cup of hot coffee and just took everything in. It was one of the first days of "true fall like weather." I had on a sweatshirt, my hair was being blown around with the chilly air and I had this warm cup of coffee in my hands. One of my neighbor saw me and commented on how happy and content I looked. There is something about the cool air in the fall that makes me happy. But its not only the change in the temperature, the leaves changing color, the fresh apples (the golden delicious with the sugar spots and that are so crisp and juicy!), squash, pumpkins, sleeping with the window open and cuddled under the covers. I love it all (but don't ask me to pick between the spring and the fall, I'm not sure I cold choose just one).
So, there was no real point to this post, just an acknowledgment of santosha in my life.

Update

2006-11-10T11:42:00.000-05:00

I've technically finished week two at the new job. Today is Veteran's Day and I have the great joy of having paid federal holidays, one of the perks of federal employment. *grin*

Things have been slow, theres a lot to learn and not as much guidance as I have had in the past. That part is taking a while to get used to. Everyone has been very helpful but am realizing that if I want something done and I don't know how to do it, I have to ask. No sitting around passively waiting for it to happen. I have to take an active role, this is a little out of character for me and is forcing me to step out of my comfort zone. Not that its a bad thing, just different from what I'm used to.

My group is quite diverse. As in, I'm one of three Americans. The remaining people are from Italy, Russia, Ukraine, France, China, and Japan. This is another first for me. I'm amazed with these people. To pick up and move from their home to another country and learn that language... thats huge. I'm not quite sure I'd be able to speak their language as well as they speak English. Although I feel horrible after a training session where I couldn't understand what one of the guys was saying. The guy from Russia was able to translate for me and finally figured out that the word was irregular. I think he felt just as bad as I did but for different reasons. Both of us were trying so hard- I think we left it on a positive note. I let him know that I have a great amount of respect that he's able to speak English as well as he does, and that I don't think I'd be able to speak his language or any others as well, he smiled and told me he'd teach me Japanese ;)

There will be quite a bit of adjustments to make once I'm actually working in the lab full time. I think my boss is expecting to lean on me for supplying the others. He has high expectations and lets you know about them upfront. But he quick with praise and has a great sense of humor. I can easily keep up with his humor, but I don't think the rest of the group is as quick to follow.

So overall, the new job is good. Theres is A LOT to learn but I don't think its anything that I won't be able to handle. I'm just glad to be working again. And they've thrown in a complimentary fitness plan... its called you get to park a good 5 min hike away from the building, and I say hike because the building sits on a small hill and the parking lot is on another, and thats also not taking into account the 3 flights of stairs up to my office! I know, its good for me. I'm doing my best NOT to use the elevator. Its only 3 flights up. I've also been doing small sun salutations in the morning. I need to get myself more motivated in the evening to do one of Elsie's classes. I'm planning on changing that today. :) all is well

Sun Shine

2006-11-10T11:35:00.000-05:00

Don't you wish that some days were this easy... lounging in the warm sun shine.

whoooooooo hoooooo!

2006-10-16T14:48:00.000-04:00

I GOT THE JOB!!!

I start on the 30th of October! More details to follow!

Yoga in action

2006-10-11T23:19:00.000-04:00

The past few weeks (working on two months now) have definately been some of the most challenging weeks- especially mentally and emotionally. This is the first time in my life where I have been without a steady income. All through college I had some type of job, be it babysitting or waiting tables. I haven't had this much free time since summers while going to school- and even then I did a lot of baby sitting and working for my dad. This is a strange feeling for me. I have to say that my yoga classes have been a huge help. I've had to make some hard decisions and taking that hour plus to set aside for just me and really tire myself out physically to see the real issue has been wonderful.

I was offered a job in my hometown, about an hour away from where I live now. I was offered this job while waiting to hear about another job- about 20 minutes away, but nothing was official and the job wasn't even posted. I struggled about what to do, weather to take the job an hour away, or to wait it out for the other closer job. The closer job had the potential of offering me more money and also better job security. The other job in my hometown offered me a great group of people to work with in an area of science that is just starting to take off. The work would be very interesting and I could easily see myself doing the work there. The only downside... that hour drive... one way. I used my pratice as a way to really listen to my body and my gut instincts. Deep down I know that I really wanted the closer job... I felt like such a heel turning down the other job offer. I keep trying to repeat to myself to trust myself. The worst thing that can happen is that I don't get it and have to keep searching. *sigh*

In the meantime... they have posted the job, my application is in. Now the fun begins. How paitent can I be? How much trust do I have in myself? What if they change their mind? All of these doubts have been floating around for the past week. Then Monday, we had our normal yoga class and I let some of that anxiety go. Its out of my hands, I've done what I can to set myself up for sucess, now I have to wait.
While playing around with my computer, I did come across some new podcasts, or wait, are we supposed to be calling them netcasts because of Apple? Either way, I came across Elsie's Live Yoga Classes. I have done her classes both Tues and Wed of this week. I have to say, she has succeeded in kicking my ass, but in a good way. As my college roommate would say, "my everything hurts." Her classes have such energy and are forcing me to take a closer look at my position while doing the postures. I swear I can feel the muscles in my arms getting tighter already. I've been loving her podcasts.

And I have to say that I have felt more okay with my unemployment this week than I have the whole time. I really think that praticing yoga has allowed me to just let go. My normal yoga teacher has us tense up every muscle in our bodies and hold it and then quickly let it all go. Thats what I feel right now, well... with better posture.

Yoga has always intrigued me in the past and for the past few years I have "dabbled" with it through dvds and such. Its only since the spring that I've actually attended classes on a regular basis. Our teacher, Kandy, is wonderful. She reminds me of an elf, complete with the pixie haircut. She just recently got her yoga teaching certificate and has been praticing her yoga skills on us. Our class varies from week to week, but has quite a few older people with special needs. Its wonderful. The greatest thing though, is seeing the transformation in my friend's mom. She has asked my friend, "do you feel different since we started doing yoga?" It truly is amazing what yoga can do and that it truly is the best gift that you can give yourself.

Void

2006-08-12T10:11:00.000-04:00

Thought that this seemed to fit with the situation.

Warrior II

2006-08-12T10:01:00.000-04:00

Warrior II
Originally uploaded by Ayesha97.

One of my favorite yoga poses... presented in my favorite color... and drawn very simply

Tiny Grain of Sand... in DNA form

2006-08-05T13:59:00.000-04:00

So the above image, is my blog. This comes from the guys at Baekdal. They have this neat webpage that will....

"take you website, analyze it, crunch it to little bits and spit it out as a graphic representation of a human DNA.The brightness of the lines is determined by the importance of the tags in terms of structure.

* H1 is brighter than H2, which is brighter than H3.
* TABLE is brighter than TR, which is brighter than TD tags.
* Images and flash elements appear as 70% white.
* New HTML tags like STRONG and EM is brighter than older ones like B and I
* UL, OL and DL is brighter than their LI, DT, DD
* DIV layout is brighter than table layout

Basically a semantically rich site will appear brighter than one with messy old-style code.

You can also determine the richness of text on a site. A site the focuses on (text) content is one where the DNA patterns is large (filling many containers), but contains a lot of empty spaces between the lines (empty space is the individual words). "

There are definately times where my inner dork shines through just a little brighter... Anything for a smile :)

Betrayed

2006-07-22T06:08:00.000-04:00

I think that is the word that best describes how I feel right now. I put so much trust into the company and really believed in what we were doing and now... its just gone.

And letting go right now is hard. All the things that once defined my life are now just all gone. Everything from what time I need to get up, driving in the stupid traffic of 95, listening to the early morning chatter of deciding what is for lunch. FUCK, its all gone and I don't want it to be. I don't want this to be happening.

One of my former coworkers said its like they ripped apart his family. And that really is the best way to describe it. We were a small close knit group. There were barely 20 of us and now there are 5 left. The one that I've spoken to extensively about this has said that they don't want to go back.

I remember sitting in the office while they were telling me, and I just kept waiting for him to crack a smile and let me know that he was joking. It never came. He kept searching my face for me to show emotion, but how can you show emotion when you keep waiting to hear the punch line.

I know that I'll bounce back from this, but this is a devestating blow. I really don't have anything to compare it too. Its worse than losing a boyfriend almost up there with a death of a family member. In a way it kind of is.

I'm allowing myself the rest of the weekend to wallow in sadness and self pity. But Monday morning, I'll be up and signing up for unemployment and contacting the "Outplacement service" that they are willing to pay for the first 30 days. And if need be, I'll be dropping in at my old stomping grounds to see if they could use another waitress.