Superbowl Monday Sunday 7 2-5-12

I heard that the day after the Superbowl is one of the least productive work days of the year. Someone also told me they are considering making it a national holiday...which I wouldn't mind at all.

1. Did you watch the Superbowl? I have to say- the game was pretty boring. However, I think Madge ROCKED the halftime show.



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For 53 years old, she looks pretty amazing. And still knows how to captivate an audience! I got chills during 'Like A Prayer'. Great song.

2. In the beginning of the week, we had beautiful weather. 65 degrees for days in a row. I got to use my new moonroof.

3. Then on Friday night it got cold and the first major snow of the winter came.

It was wet and slushy, then froze (luckily after the roads were clear). Absolutely gorgeous. The kind of snow dusted everything we wished would have been here at Christmas.

4. Unfortunately, I didn't get to enjoy much of the nice weather. And fortunately, I got to avoid most of the crappy weather. Between my two jobs, last week I worked somewhere around 80 hours.

5. But I was able to squeeze in some time with friends and family! Last week I had lunch with my friend Jenny- dim sum at Kwong Tung on Ingersoll Avenue.

The rice cooked in bamboo leaves is my favorite!!

I also had breakfast with my aunt and Grandma at Smokey Row where I started my day with one of these.

So good. If you haven't tried one of their cinnamon rolls- you are missing out.

And I even squeezed in a little date night with my favorite person, T.

This is at my aunt's house- her dog just crawled up in his lap and got comfy.

We had dinner at Americana. They added some stuff to their menu since last time we were there. I had a mushroom, goat cheese and truffle honey panini.

I highly recommend it. I even saved half to heat up the next day and was still amazing.

Last but not least, I had a special visitor to the tax office.

She'll wear my hat now. And she likes to clap her mittens together. So. stinking. cute.

6. I did a little rearranging around the house this week too.

Now I have a reading nook, an eating nook and an office nook. Apparently, I like nooks.

7. This week T had a little health scare, but I'm happy to report he is healthy and well! On a related health note, I got back my life insurance blood results and my cholesterol has gone down 20 points since I quit eating meat. I think another testament that eating green is amazingly good for you. I feel blessed that both T and I are healthy and well.

Workouts

Monday- Resistance Training. Run 4 mi 36:48

Tuesday- Kickboxing

Wednesday- Hot Yoga (LOVED it- definitely going back)

Thursday- Run 4.03 mi 36:52

Friday- Resistance Training

Saturday- Run 2.4ish (early- before the snow started!)

Sunday- Ran inside on the treadmill. 5 miles HARD. Felt great. After working so much the release was just what I needed. Full 5 minute walk cool-down.

So that's it. A week full of work. And eating. Just like any other week!!

What did you do this week? Did you watch the Superbowl? Which commercial did you like best?

Sunday Seven 1/22/12

'Ello there!!
This week was sort of busy...and not that exciting.
Iowa winter is officially here which means more time inside staying warm instead of out and about finding things to write about...

1. I saw these page tabs on the Franklin Covey website and I think the Alaskan theme is so appropriate to how the weather was this week!

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2.This week has been cold, dreary and a little snowy.  I saw this quote on our work intrawebs this week and it made me miss the warm weather and the morning walks Roxy and I were enjoying.

“A vigorous five-mile walk will do more good for an unhappy but otherwise healthy adult than all the medicine and psychology in the world.” —Paul Dudley White

3. In fact, Roxy didn't get walked once this week. :( And it was her Birthday!

She turned 42 years old! (That's 6 in people years). I think she was okay with being curled up to nap on her little puppy bed.

4. I signed back up for the gym this week. I used to belong to Aspen, but let my membership lapse after I did GIM. I've been gym shopping so I could have access to a treadmill when it's too cold. They contacted me this week for a special deal for a M/W/F/Sun membership for $20/month. Seemed like a good deal to me!!! The very next day I went there to do my training run. It was windy and 13 below outside...no thank you.

5. My friend Holly sent this to me this week.

 It's really interesting (and true) I've been thinking a lot about my next career steps.

6. In fact, my 10th Anniversary at my employer was Friday. 10 years I've worked at the same place. That's longer than any relationship I've had and longer than any place I've lived at. Just got me thinking about what path I'm on and if this is what I want to do for the rest of my life. I know I've brought this up before...but I think I'm at a point to take some kind of action. More to come on that!!


7. I'm on week 3 of no drinking. And I can honestly say, at this point, I don't miss it. I haven't really been in many social settings where everyone is drinking and I'm not though (like a happy hour). I'm not worried though. When something does sound really good to me, I'll have it. But for now- I'm all good with my root beer.

*T made me this dinner of vegan chili and root beer. The chili did have a little beer in it but we discussed and determined all the alcohol gets cooked off. :)

Workouts this week:

Monday- Resistance Training. 3.11 mi in 28:41
Tuesday- Kickboxing
Wednesday- Resistance Training. Run -4 miles. 36:49 on the treadmill. This was a tempo run so I had to run 2 miles at 9:06. Running on a treadmill is so different. I feel like I go slower because I can't move up and down on speed at my own pace.
Thursday- Kickboxing
Friday- Resistance Training
Saturday- REST
Sunday- Run 8miles 1:13:30. I ran outside (because it was above negative! Yaaa!!) and worse some of those track dealies on my shoes- you know those rubber things you wrap around your shoes with spikes on them? They worked pretty good in the snow and slick areas. They are noisy though- it's like running in cleats. Felt good to get outside and breathe fresh air though!!

What have you been up to this week? How is the winter weather cramping your usual style?



Wednesday 9 9-14-11

Well I was a big blob of blah on Sunday so I'm making up for it with a couple extra this week:

1. Eating Plants. Well I'm on week #2 of being vegan. I've had 2 cheese encounters so far...one on purpose (who can avoid an Oreo ball?) and one unplanned (I didn't realize my falafel sandwich would have cheese on it) but other than that, I've been solid. I have noticed that I started eating more bread-y items lately in an effort to feel full...so I'm nipping that in the bud. The idea was to go plant-based and it takes more planning than I thought- but I still feel really good.

2. Small Group. Each fall my church has a 'semester' of small groups. Everyone signs up with a group of people that you get together with each week to talk through the sermons, life and do service projects together. It's a great way to get to know people and to grow as a Christian. Last week, I started meeting on Wednesday nights with a group of people and I am loving it!! The group is really...inspirational and real and honest. We met tonight for the second time and the conversation was so fitting....

3. In relation to #2, remember this day that I was having? Today I read these verses and they fit perfectly into my mind set:

'Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and that the Master you are serving is Christ.' - Colossians 3:23-24

It just sort of made me think about my job and why I work and what is the ultimate purpose. My job provides me a life that a lot of people don't even have an option to have. I might not be saving the world every day but I am still helping people. I guess what I'm saying is...It's still important and I am thankful for it.

4. And...recently a new opportunity has presented itself to me and I'm pretty excited about that...but trying not to get too excited.

5. Fall. It is officially fall. I had to wear a jacket today. I got to smell coffee brewing, the smell mixing with the smell of fresh morning and decaying leaves. It's the best.

6. Mondays. I can't believe the most hated day of all made my list. But sometimes you have a weekend where you just end up ready for a new start to the week. This week I was thankful that Monday-morning-back-to-work feeling.

7. Creative Duality. I wrote two random poems recently.

#1

I could live in that warm soft place with you
Where the darkness meets the light
And sleep meets the waking

My body curled up to the back of yours
A perfect S

Our breath hot and quiet in unison
The occasional sign as we sink closer together

I could live in that warm soft place with you
Where night meets day
And dreams meet reality

Our legs and feet tangled together
My arm wound tight around you bringing us close

The quiet morning hours

I could live in that warm soft place with you

#2

I'm here
Tethered tight to your heart
Watching you fly and flit so close

Never completely linked

I could waste away in this daydream with you

I hold tight

I see you suffocate
Reach beyond

Fly away my love

Your twin forever separated

Sort of different....right?? HA. Apparently I was in quite different moods the days I wrote these. But isn't all writing about love gained or dwindling? :)

8. I finally finished the last Harry Potter book. I'm so stoked that I made it all the way through them in about 6 weeks. I'm SO EXCITED about seeing the last movie too. Should be a great flick!!

9. My friend sent me this quote the other day and I think it's profound and important advice:

I've learned it is the weak who are cruel, and that gentleness is to be expected only from the strong.  -Leo Rosten

It reminds in some ways to not be selfish...it's easy to say 'that's not my problem' when dealing with others woes but only true caring and gentle people are those that reach out and provide strength and love to others.

So that was a random mix of stuff this week....what have you been up to?

One of Those Days

I’m having one of those days where I really, really, really didn’t want to be at work.
I don’t care about this job.
It does nothing to help the greater good.
I feel helpless here.

I made a vow. By the time I’m 30 I’m going to be doing something I want to do. and it won’t be here.
Even if that means living in some dumpy studio apartment living on canned veggies. :)

Who needs to work Mondays anyway?

I have today off of work. This is the second Tuesday in a row I took time off. I also had yesterday off. And the Monday before that. And I'll have next Monday off too.
To say that I'm really enjoying pretending to be a stay-at-home-writer-lady is an understatement.