to celebrate our first wedding anniversary, jared and i decided to take a trip to san diego. we chose san diego for several reasons. #1) we had $300 american airlines vouchers from when we gave up our seats for our honeymoon last year, and the only direct flight for <$300 from denver on american airlines was to los angeles. #2) we wanted to go somewhere warm and we have good friends in san diego.
it was a good decision. however, it turns out that jared and i cannot travel anywhere without scores of drama related to the trip. like when we went to napa for a friends wedding and experienced the following:
*a flat tire
*a broken GPS which resulted in calling the hotel for directions from san francisco and trying to get there in rush hour
*a fall that led to a *very* swollen and sprained ankle
*a cell phone left in the rental car on the way home
although so many things went wrong, that trip to napa was very fun and we had a blast!
this trip was similar.
it started out thursday night. our flight was at 7:30. jared got home from work and we left to take the dogs to our friends around 4:45. then we had to drop off jareds homework assignment and we headed to the airport around 5:30. we hit very heavy traffic and when we got to the parking lot, we were in a hurry to get on the shuttle. i left my phone in the car and they had to send another shuttle to bring it to me. by the time i get my phone, we had about 1 hour until our flight left. we head to security, but that security checkpoint is closed. we have to go to the one clear on the other side of the airport, which of course has a long line. it takes us 35 minutes to get through security. we rush to the gate and have a few minutes to spare before they start boarding. phew.
right before take off, i turn to jared and ask "you locked the door, right?". he couldn't answer me.. normally, i would have just assumed that everything was fine, but for SOME REASON i decided to text my friend stacey who lives close to us and have her go double check. we were taking off, but i had this urge to text her right then and not when we got to LA. once we landed, i had a text from her "call me when you land, it's important".
i called her and found out that our front door was WIDE OPEN. apparently, in the rush to get out of the house and round the dogs up into the car, jared had forgotten to go back and SHUT THE DOOR. i had a pit in my stomach as i asked her if everything had looked ok. to my relief, she said that it didn't look like we had been robbed and she turned on a light and deadbolted the door for us. thank god for friends like her.
after landing in LA and going through a seemingly endless amount of shuttles, we finally get to the rental car place. then after missing a turn and driving through south central LA, we finally get to our hotel, which was paid for with hotel points. it was nice and we crashed.
the next day was fairly uneventful, disaster wise. we enjoyed a nice drive down the pacific coast highway, chilled on a beach for an hour or so, and finally made it down to our friends house in san diego.
saturday, our friends took us sightseeing in la jolla. we were at the la jolla cove, walking on the rocks and looking at the tide pools. my first mistake was that i was wearing my chucks, which don't have a lot of traction, so even though i was being super careful, i stepped on a slimy patch on the rock and lost my balance. everything went into slow motion. my butt hit the rock and i thought i was safe.. but then i slowly slid backwards into the tide pool. i knew it was coming and there was nothing i could do except moan "nooooooooo!" as i was going in. this was quite entertaining for jared and my friends, as you can imagine. i got up, soaking wet, and had no choice but to see the humor in the situation and laugh with everyone else.
saturday night we checked into our super fancy hotel (our splurge because the rest of the trip was so cheap). it didn't disappoint. if you are ever in san diego and want to drop $300 a night on a hotel, i highly recommend the Hotel Solamar in the gaslamp district. we got one of the spa rooms and it was amazing. for dinner we decided that we wanted to take advantage of being near the water and nothing sounded better than a big bucket of crab legs. the hotel clerk recommend this place called the crab hut, about 6 blocks from our hotel. while walking there, my sandals that i hadn't properly broken in yet for the summer, start cutting me so bad that i can barely walk. i had to stop in the cvs and buy the only pair of flip flops that didn't rub on the cuts - and they were men's. we get to the crab hut, but we can't get in, because there has been a shooting next door at the marriot and everything is taped off with crime scene tape.
so we get directions to another seafood place, which is about 8 blocks in the opposite direction. this place turns out to be more of a fast food fish place where everything is fried. not really our idea of a nice romantic anniversary dinner. we then remember that jared's mom suggested a place called "Anthony's Fish Grotto", which is right on the water. she raved about it and said it was the best seafood she's ever had. we look it up on google and it has a good rating, so we decide to check it out. we should have paid more attention to the look the hotel front desk clerk gave us when we mentioned it.
we drive to anthony's and walk inside. the whole way there i was reading some of the reviews on yelp and it sounded like the atmosphere was not going to be quite what we were looking for. it was going to be another blue parrot*. when we're going to our table, jared was focused on the great view of the water from the restaurant. i was focused on the crowded, noisy dining room filled with tourists, families, and fried food - and the decor that hasn't been updated since 1984. we sit down, and look at the menu. NOTHING looks good and the prices seem pretty expensive for atmosphere and type of food. we order water and look at the menu some more. i look up at jared with pleading eyes.. and i ask him if we can leave. we hightail it out of there, even though by this time it's 8pm and we are starving and tired.
we head back to our hotel and walk to this place we had noticed earlier. it was called lou & mickey's and it was a steakhouse/seafood place with a great atmosphere and prices similar to what we would have paid at anthony's. this ends up to be a very good decision. we have a private table and are able to enjoy a very nice meal and good conversation, which is how a 1st anniversary dinner should be.
it is now sunday and i'm typing this while jared is still sleeping. today is our last day - our flight is at 8:30 tonight. we plan to spend the rest of the morning in san diego and then drive up to LA and check out hollywood and some tourist things before we leave. hopefully it will be fun, but uneventful.. although knowing us, i'm sure something funny will happen that will give us another good story.. which is pretty much the way things always go with our relationship and marriage. and i don't think i'd have it any other way.
*when jared and i first started dating, he would RAVE about this italian restaurant called the blue parrot. he took me there on a date, and i was less than impressed. the atmosphere was like a cafeteria in a nursing home and the food wasn't that good (although it wasn't horrible). it was then when jared started understanding the importance of ambiance and atmosphere when dining out for a special occasion.
about me
- kt
- Denver, Colorado, United States
- i'm 33. i live with my husband, baby daughter 2 dogs and 1 kitty. i'm a chemical engineer with an MBA and work in technical sales. i tend to bite off more than i *think* i can chew and end up with a full bulging mouth for awhile before i can finally swallow. i thrive in chaos, but strive for order.
Showing posts with label life. Show all posts
Showing posts with label life. Show all posts
5.15.2011
2.02.2011
today was a good day
i haven't had the opportunity to utter those words much over the last year or so. i feel like there's been this black cloud following me around a bit. but today, 3 little things happened to give me a little hope and make me realize that it will be sunny again someday.
1) this morning i finally broke my plateau and was down 1/2 pound. that equals 10.5 lbs since Jan 1. i was getting discouraged because jared was losing so much more, but 10 pounds in a month is still pretty good. if i can keep this up, i'll be at my goal weight in 3 months.
2) i found out that i made my sales quota for january - this is the first time since i started with the company that this has happened. january and february are notoriously slow and i am usually behind until about april. this will help us tremendously with our finances this month.
3) jared and i started the fertility testing process. i had my bloodwork taken this week and the doctor just called me and said that everything is normal. of course, there still could be other issues with me (scarring, etc), but getting one unknown out of the way is a relief. jared goes in for his tests on sunday, so we're crossing our fingers that he has lots of strong swimmers.
it's always nice to have some of the stress in our lives alleviated.
1) this morning i finally broke my plateau and was down 1/2 pound. that equals 10.5 lbs since Jan 1. i was getting discouraged because jared was losing so much more, but 10 pounds in a month is still pretty good. if i can keep this up, i'll be at my goal weight in 3 months.
2) i found out that i made my sales quota for january - this is the first time since i started with the company that this has happened. january and february are notoriously slow and i am usually behind until about april. this will help us tremendously with our finances this month.
3) jared and i started the fertility testing process. i had my bloodwork taken this week and the doctor just called me and said that everything is normal. of course, there still could be other issues with me (scarring, etc), but getting one unknown out of the way is a relief. jared goes in for his tests on sunday, so we're crossing our fingers that he has lots of strong swimmers.
it's always nice to have some of the stress in our lives alleviated.
1.16.2011
day 16 and be careful what you wish for
today is day 16 of phase 1 of the 17 day diet. i am so happy that we've stuck with it this long! i've been stalled at a 7lb loss for about a week, which is frustrating, but 7 lbs is still really good! it's doing a number on our social life though. we ran into some friends at the daniel tosh* show last night and felt like losers because we didn't want to go out with them after the show. going to a bar when you can't drink or eat anything is so hard that it's not even worth it. i'm not sure our friends understand.
we have 2 more days of this detox phase and then we can start adding in red meat, pork, shellfish, starchy veg, and some whole grains. i can't wait to have a steak and baked potato. i'm hoping that this will break my plateau. during this phase, we can also start working out more. i absolutely HATE HATE HATE running, but i have this sneaking suspicion that it might be the only exercise that will really work for me.. since i've tried everything else. i heard about this program called couch to 5 k, which is an app and helps you with the interval training. you start with running at 90 second intervals (which honestly, i'm not sure i can even do yet) alternating with 120 second walking intervals and then go from there. i think you can even put in customized music, but i'm not sure if that is a feature on the blackberry app version. i'm researching it today.
remember the other day when i was complaining that jared hadn't found a job yet? well, after 1 week of seriously looking, he found one! it's only $10/hr and he's driving a forklift all day, but it works with his schedule and he's qualified to do it. when he went in to fill out the application, it was obvious that although there were a lot of people applying, the competition wasn't that stiff. he has a professional demeanor and appearance, and so when he stuck around to talk to the owner about the position (for 45 minutes), i knew that he would get the job. sure enough, the guy called him the next day and he starts tomorrow.
i am a little sad because he will be working from 7am-3:30pm M-F and then he has to leave for class at 5:30 and gets home around 10. that is a LONG day. but he is willing to do it, which makes me happy. he's always been a hard worker when procrastination is not an option. i think it will give him some much needed time management skills. and i've been wanting to cancel our cable for awhile (it's just not worth $75/month to me - especially with netflix and hulu - there are so many other things i need to do besides zoning out to some stupid show).
it's really going to suck not seeing him though. i know we were spending too much time together, but this just seems like the other extreme! it's only temporary though, so i know we'll get through it.
*how can someone be so insulting and so HOT at the same time? mmmm.. i heart him!
we have 2 more days of this detox phase and then we can start adding in red meat, pork, shellfish, starchy veg, and some whole grains. i can't wait to have a steak and baked potato. i'm hoping that this will break my plateau. during this phase, we can also start working out more. i absolutely HATE HATE HATE running, but i have this sneaking suspicion that it might be the only exercise that will really work for me.. since i've tried everything else. i heard about this program called couch to 5 k, which is an app and helps you with the interval training. you start with running at 90 second intervals (which honestly, i'm not sure i can even do yet) alternating with 120 second walking intervals and then go from there. i think you can even put in customized music, but i'm not sure if that is a feature on the blackberry app version. i'm researching it today.
remember the other day when i was complaining that jared hadn't found a job yet? well, after 1 week of seriously looking, he found one! it's only $10/hr and he's driving a forklift all day, but it works with his schedule and he's qualified to do it. when he went in to fill out the application, it was obvious that although there were a lot of people applying, the competition wasn't that stiff. he has a professional demeanor and appearance, and so when he stuck around to talk to the owner about the position (for 45 minutes), i knew that he would get the job. sure enough, the guy called him the next day and he starts tomorrow.
i am a little sad because he will be working from 7am-3:30pm M-F and then he has to leave for class at 5:30 and gets home around 10. that is a LONG day. but he is willing to do it, which makes me happy. he's always been a hard worker when procrastination is not an option. i think it will give him some much needed time management skills. and i've been wanting to cancel our cable for awhile (it's just not worth $75/month to me - especially with netflix and hulu - there are so many other things i need to do besides zoning out to some stupid show).
it's really going to suck not seeing him though. i know we were spending too much time together, but this just seems like the other extreme! it's only temporary though, so i know we'll get through it.
*how can someone be so insulting and so HOT at the same time? mmmm.. i heart him!
1.15.2011
an analogy
for me and jared, trying to have a baby is a lot like trying to sell a house.
selling a house
when you first put your house on the market, you think you're going to sell it right away. it's for sale, you have showings, OF COURSE it will sell.
trying to conceive
when you decide to have a baby, you think you'll get pregnant right away. you're having unprotected sex, OF COURSE you'll get pregnant.
selling a house
the first month goes by and you've had several showings each week, but no offfers. that's ok, sometimes it takes a little while.
trying to conceive
the first month goes by and you've had sex several times each week, but no baby. that's ok, sometimes it takes a little while.
selling a house
three months go by and you don't have an offer. even though you have showings and those showings are perfect. you clean really well and stage the house perfectly. you burn scented candles. you leave a bowl of candy out for your potential buyers. you leave soothing classical music playing during the showing. you start to get a little worried.
trying to conceive
three months go by and you aren't pregnant. even though you have sex when you're ovulating. you abstain from alcohol and take prenatal vitamins and your husband wears loose boxers. you start to get a little worried.
selling a house
five months go by and you start researching "how long is an average house on the market". you read a lot of things that calm you and terrify you at the same time. you realize that some people sell the first week of being on the market, and for others it takes years. you keep doing what you think is right, but you become obsessed. it's all you and your husband talk about.
trying to conceive
five months go by and you start researching "how long does it take the average couple to get pregnant". you read a lot of things that calm you and terrify you at the same time. you realize that some people will get pregnant the first week of trying, and for others it takes years. you keep doing what you think is right, but you become obsessed. it's all you and your husband talk about.
selling a house
several more months go by and you start wondering what else you can do. you try not to get your hopes up for each showing but are still disappointed when you don't get an offer. you start getting irritated at well-meaning friends and family that keep telling you to "give it time, it will happen". then, OMG, you FINALLY get an offer and you're over the moon happy and you feel like all is right in the world. and it falls through.
trying to conceive
several more months go by and you start wondering what else you can do. you try not to get your hopes up every month but are still disappointed when you get your period. you start getting irritated at well-meaning friends and family that keep telling you to "give it time, it will happen". then, OMG, you FINALLY skip a period and you're over the moon happy and you feel like all is right in the world. and then it arrives a week late.
selling a house
more months go by and you start to get depressed. you wonder how you'll be able to live the life you dreamed of if you never sell the house. you are stressed about it and cannot relax, no matter how many well-intentioned people tell you to. you are annoyed with people who had no problem selling their house. you are especially annoyed with people who didn't even want to sell their house, yet someone offered to buy it. you wonder if you waited too long to sell you house and it will be impossible in this market. you go to your realtor and say "what is wrong with my house? is it fixable? is it unsellable?" you buy a statue of st. joseph and plant it in your yard and say a prayer because you figure it can't hurt.
trying to conceive
more months go by and you start to get depressed. you wonder how you'll be able to live the life you dreamed of if you never have children. you are stressed about it and cannot relax, no matter how many well-intentioned people tell you to. you are annoyed with people who had no problem getting pregnant. you are especially annoyed with people who didn't even want to become pregnant, and got knocked up accidentally. you wonder if you waited too long to try to have a baby and if it will be impossible because you are too old. you go to your doctor and say "what is wrong with us? is it fixable? are we infertile?" you buy a thermometer and chart your basal body temperature because you figure it can't hurt.
selling a house
just when you've resigned yourself to the fact that maybe you weren't meant to sell your house right now and you start to think that you can stay in that house for a little while longer, you get a frantic call from your realtor who tells you that the most perfect first time homebuyers LOVE LOVE LOVE your house and they are heading back to the office RIGHT NOW to make an offer. you close and move out and well after the fact you think to yourself "i can't believe i was so worried.. of COURSE we would sell the house! i can't believe we were so impatient.. these things take time."
trying to conceive
and this is where i can't continue the analogy.. because we are still not pregnant. but this is what i really hope will finally happen to us - and when we look back on everything, we'll wish we hadn't stressed ourselves out so much because these things totally take time. we still have 4 more months before we hit the year mark and will be considered for having fertility problems. i'm hoping we don't make it to that point.. but if we do we'll figure it out then.
selling a house
when you first put your house on the market, you think you're going to sell it right away. it's for sale, you have showings, OF COURSE it will sell.
trying to conceive
when you decide to have a baby, you think you'll get pregnant right away. you're having unprotected sex, OF COURSE you'll get pregnant.
selling a house
the first month goes by and you've had several showings each week, but no offfers. that's ok, sometimes it takes a little while.
trying to conceive
the first month goes by and you've had sex several times each week, but no baby. that's ok, sometimes it takes a little while.
selling a house
three months go by and you don't have an offer. even though you have showings and those showings are perfect. you clean really well and stage the house perfectly. you burn scented candles. you leave a bowl of candy out for your potential buyers. you leave soothing classical music playing during the showing. you start to get a little worried.
trying to conceive
three months go by and you aren't pregnant. even though you have sex when you're ovulating. you abstain from alcohol and take prenatal vitamins and your husband wears loose boxers. you start to get a little worried.
selling a house
five months go by and you start researching "how long is an average house on the market". you read a lot of things that calm you and terrify you at the same time. you realize that some people sell the first week of being on the market, and for others it takes years. you keep doing what you think is right, but you become obsessed. it's all you and your husband talk about.
trying to conceive
five months go by and you start researching "how long does it take the average couple to get pregnant". you read a lot of things that calm you and terrify you at the same time. you realize that some people will get pregnant the first week of trying, and for others it takes years. you keep doing what you think is right, but you become obsessed. it's all you and your husband talk about.
selling a house
several more months go by and you start wondering what else you can do. you try not to get your hopes up for each showing but are still disappointed when you don't get an offer. you start getting irritated at well-meaning friends and family that keep telling you to "give it time, it will happen". then, OMG, you FINALLY get an offer and you're over the moon happy and you feel like all is right in the world. and it falls through.
trying to conceive
several more months go by and you start wondering what else you can do. you try not to get your hopes up every month but are still disappointed when you get your period. you start getting irritated at well-meaning friends and family that keep telling you to "give it time, it will happen". then, OMG, you FINALLY skip a period and you're over the moon happy and you feel like all is right in the world. and then it arrives a week late.
selling a house
more months go by and you start to get depressed. you wonder how you'll be able to live the life you dreamed of if you never sell the house. you are stressed about it and cannot relax, no matter how many well-intentioned people tell you to. you are annoyed with people who had no problem selling their house. you are especially annoyed with people who didn't even want to sell their house, yet someone offered to buy it. you wonder if you waited too long to sell you house and it will be impossible in this market. you go to your realtor and say "what is wrong with my house? is it fixable? is it unsellable?" you buy a statue of st. joseph and plant it in your yard and say a prayer because you figure it can't hurt.
trying to conceive
more months go by and you start to get depressed. you wonder how you'll be able to live the life you dreamed of if you never have children. you are stressed about it and cannot relax, no matter how many well-intentioned people tell you to. you are annoyed with people who had no problem getting pregnant. you are especially annoyed with people who didn't even want to become pregnant, and got knocked up accidentally. you wonder if you waited too long to try to have a baby and if it will be impossible because you are too old. you go to your doctor and say "what is wrong with us? is it fixable? are we infertile?" you buy a thermometer and chart your basal body temperature because you figure it can't hurt.
selling a house
just when you've resigned yourself to the fact that maybe you weren't meant to sell your house right now and you start to think that you can stay in that house for a little while longer, you get a frantic call from your realtor who tells you that the most perfect first time homebuyers LOVE LOVE LOVE your house and they are heading back to the office RIGHT NOW to make an offer. you close and move out and well after the fact you think to yourself "i can't believe i was so worried.. of COURSE we would sell the house! i can't believe we were so impatient.. these things take time."
trying to conceive
and this is where i can't continue the analogy.. because we are still not pregnant. but this is what i really hope will finally happen to us - and when we look back on everything, we'll wish we hadn't stressed ourselves out so much because these things totally take time. we still have 4 more months before we hit the year mark and will be considered for having fertility problems. i'm hoping we don't make it to that point.. but if we do we'll figure it out then.
1.10.2011
back to class!
tonight is j's first night back in class after the christmas break. i'm excited and guilty about being excited at the same time.
it's not that i like him being gone every evening, i just really like having my alone time, which i have been getting less and less of since j quit his job. now that we're both home all day (and all night when he doesn't have class), it's a little much. i think some apart time is good for the marriage. i need a chance to miss him.
right now he's at a job interview. finally. this is a little sore spot for me as well because he quit his job in september, was supposed to take ONE month off and then start looking for something part time while he was in school. that one month turned into four months. FOUR MONTHS of one income = super stressful. as most of you know, i do not handle having an unemployed partner well - mostly because my ex was on and off of work for years. it scares me. j isn't lazy or entitled like my ex, but it still worries me that this will become a pattern.
j is a hard worker, but he is also a procrastinator. which means that i have tonag encourage him to search for a job. which only makes me irritated, especially when i'm also nagging encouraging him to finish up the projects around the house.
i just hate feeling like i have to do everything - make the money, pay the bills, manage the household, plan our social life.. and be the taskmaster for everything. it gets tiring. i know that he will help me if i ask him to, but sometimes that creates even more work because i have to figure out what i can have him do and then ask him to do it. it is so much nicer when he realizes something needs to be done and just does it.* and no women ever wants to feel like she's anencourager nag.
i know this isn't something unique to our marriage. how do the rest of you balance the work load?
*like when he makes the bed, does the dishes, cleans the litter box, takes out the trash, all of which he is getting good at doing without asking, but there was still a time when i HAD to ask...
it's not that i like him being gone every evening, i just really like having my alone time, which i have been getting less and less of since j quit his job. now that we're both home all day (and all night when he doesn't have class), it's a little much. i think some apart time is good for the marriage. i need a chance to miss him.
right now he's at a job interview. finally. this is a little sore spot for me as well because he quit his job in september, was supposed to take ONE month off and then start looking for something part time while he was in school. that one month turned into four months. FOUR MONTHS of one income = super stressful. as most of you know, i do not handle having an unemployed partner well - mostly because my ex was on and off of work for years. it scares me. j isn't lazy or entitled like my ex, but it still worries me that this will become a pattern.
j is a hard worker, but he is also a procrastinator. which means that i have to
i just hate feeling like i have to do everything - make the money, pay the bills, manage the household, plan our social life.. and be the taskmaster for everything. it gets tiring. i know that he will help me if i ask him to, but sometimes that creates even more work because i have to figure out what i can have him do and then ask him to do it. it is so much nicer when he realizes something needs to be done and just does it.* and no women ever wants to feel like she's an
i know this isn't something unique to our marriage. how do the rest of you balance the work load?
*like when he makes the bed, does the dishes, cleans the litter box, takes out the trash, all of which he is getting good at doing without asking, but there was still a time when i HAD to ask...
1.09.2011
17 days is a long time/nostalgia
j and i have been very successful in the 17 day diet thus far. i've lost 7 pounds and j has lost 12 pounds. we haven't cheated either, which is an amazing feat in itself. we are on day 9 and feel like this first phase will never end. it's not that we're hungry, it's that we're BORED. we can't use food as entertainment like we used to do and that makes me a little cranky. of course, using food for entertainment is probably why we're on this diet in the first place, which makes me crankier.
however, this is the easiest diet that i have ever been on and i believe it's solely because j is doing it with me. amazing how much that makes a difference.
when i first started blogging, SIX years ago, it was kind of the new trend. i followed a lot of other blogs that were just starting out and i enjoyed "connecting" with so many strangers who seemed to be paralleling my life. then i got my new job where i worked from home (and didn't have to pretend to work all day) and facebook became the new trend and i stopped blogging regularly and reading others blogs.
for some reason this weekend, i decided to catch up with some of my old favorites. and by "catch up", i mean, "read the past 4 years of archives in chronological order on She Just Walks Around With It." right now i'm in the middle of 2006 and it's weird how reading through these posts is causing me to remember where i was in my life when i read them the first time. i have always felt a weird connection to the author of that blog, kristy. we seemed to be going through the same things at the same time and have a similar way of expressing ourselves. we were both single girls living in a city, trying to lose weight, drinking wine, going on crazy dates. and then we got married and our lives changed and now she has a baby and one on the way and that's what i'm working towards as well. and it just kind of hit me how crazy it is that SO much can happen in such a relatively short time and where does that time go? and although i am so happy with my life, i got very nostalgic about that time when i was single and just..waiting for the rest of my life to happen.
i really feel like these last 2 years have gone by in an absolute blur. and i've had some major changes, but i feel like i'm stuck in some sort of weird limbo that i won't get out of anytime soon. like there are still a few things i need to do before my "new life" really starts.. and right now i'm stuck between the past and the future and not really able to enjoy being in the present. and i know that when i read this 3 years from now and all of the things i'm currently obsessed with have finally happened, i'll wonder why i didn't allow myself to just enjoy this in-between time and LIVE MY LIFE.
so that's what i'm going to try to do in 2011. live in the present and not worry so much about the future, because when the future finally happens, i'll wish that i had taken advantage of my life as it is right now.
however, this is the easiest diet that i have ever been on and i believe it's solely because j is doing it with me. amazing how much that makes a difference.
when i first started blogging, SIX years ago, it was kind of the new trend. i followed a lot of other blogs that were just starting out and i enjoyed "connecting" with so many strangers who seemed to be paralleling my life. then i got my new job where i worked from home (and didn't have to pretend to work all day) and facebook became the new trend and i stopped blogging regularly and reading others blogs.
for some reason this weekend, i decided to catch up with some of my old favorites. and by "catch up", i mean, "read the past 4 years of archives in chronological order on She Just Walks Around With It." right now i'm in the middle of 2006 and it's weird how reading through these posts is causing me to remember where i was in my life when i read them the first time. i have always felt a weird connection to the author of that blog, kristy. we seemed to be going through the same things at the same time and have a similar way of expressing ourselves. we were both single girls living in a city, trying to lose weight, drinking wine, going on crazy dates. and then we got married and our lives changed and now she has a baby and one on the way and that's what i'm working towards as well. and it just kind of hit me how crazy it is that SO much can happen in such a relatively short time and where does that time go? and although i am so happy with my life, i got very nostalgic about that time when i was single and just..waiting for the rest of my life to happen.
i really feel like these last 2 years have gone by in an absolute blur. and i've had some major changes, but i feel like i'm stuck in some sort of weird limbo that i won't get out of anytime soon. like there are still a few things i need to do before my "new life" really starts.. and right now i'm stuck between the past and the future and not really able to enjoy being in the present. and i know that when i read this 3 years from now and all of the things i'm currently obsessed with have finally happened, i'll wonder why i didn't allow myself to just enjoy this in-between time and LIVE MY LIFE.
so that's what i'm going to try to do in 2011. live in the present and not worry so much about the future, because when the future finally happens, i'll wish that i had taken advantage of my life as it is right now.
12.09.2010
giving back
around the holidays i start to get the bug to do some volunteer work. i wish that i was a better person and it was a year round thing that i could commit too, but i'm not quite there yet.
i used to volunteer a lot. in highschool i was active in all the community service clubs and regularly worked at soup kitchens and did canned food drives and rang bells for the salvation army. i also headed up the ecology club and we did cleanups and recycling drives. then in college, my sorority did work with alzheimers patients and habitat for humanity among other things.
once i was on my own, it was difficult to find these opportunities. and i had a lot less time.
but i really started to miss the feeling of giving back. sending a check to feed a homeless family for thanksgiving every year just didn't really cut it for me. i'm the type of person that would rather give my time than my money. i've found that this is fairly difficult to do.
last year i was searching for volunteer opportunities in denver and was discouraged with all the hoops i had to jump though - applications and references? commit to a minimum of 10 hours per week? where were the "i have some free time this saturday and can help you out - what do you need?" events?
i understand the reasoning behind the background checks and minimum hours, i really do. i just wonder how many people they are turning away who want to help.
this year, i found this fantastic site - volunteer match. so far, I have wrapped presents and helped with a few adoption events at the lifeline puppy rescue. this weekend j and i will be putting together food baskets for seniors and then helping again at the puppy rescue.
it's nice to have something rewarding to do with my time, and lord knows we could use the karma right now.
i used to volunteer a lot. in highschool i was active in all the community service clubs and regularly worked at soup kitchens and did canned food drives and rang bells for the salvation army. i also headed up the ecology club and we did cleanups and recycling drives. then in college, my sorority did work with alzheimers patients and habitat for humanity among other things.
once i was on my own, it was difficult to find these opportunities. and i had a lot less time.
but i really started to miss the feeling of giving back. sending a check to feed a homeless family for thanksgiving every year just didn't really cut it for me. i'm the type of person that would rather give my time than my money. i've found that this is fairly difficult to do.
last year i was searching for volunteer opportunities in denver and was discouraged with all the hoops i had to jump though - applications and references? commit to a minimum of 10 hours per week? where were the "i have some free time this saturday and can help you out - what do you need?" events?
i understand the reasoning behind the background checks and minimum hours, i really do. i just wonder how many people they are turning away who want to help.
this year, i found this fantastic site - volunteer match. so far, I have wrapped presents and helped with a few adoption events at the lifeline puppy rescue. this weekend j and i will be putting together food baskets for seniors and then helping again at the puppy rescue.
it's nice to have something rewarding to do with my time, and lord knows we could use the karma right now.
12.06.2010
omg i suck
it's been a YEAR since my last post? sorry... this year has been so full of changes and revelations and stress that i think the thought of writing about it (after discussing it with pretty much anyone who would listen) just seemed overwhelming. but now i realize that instead of talking to *some* people about things, i really should just be writing them down so that i can get it out without subjecting people to listening to my issues. at least i know that you can just skim the post or skip it if you're not interested!
so.. what has been going on that is so overwhelming, you ask? where do i begin..? wedding. houses. jobs. family drama. friend drama. money. self esteem.
wedding.
j and i were married on 5/14/10! the wedding overall was good (at least people told me they had a good time), although of course it didn't go quite the way i planned. i'm sure i'll go into more details later - but here's a quick summary. it snowed and had to be moved inside. some people created a lot of drama over silly things and it stressed me out. there were family issues (apparently not attending my wedding is a way to get back at my mom for something she didn't even do). i didn't feel comfortable in my dress. BUT, when it was all said and done, i married the love of my life and that's all that matters.
houses.
at this time last year, we had 3 houses and one of them was vacant. the vacant one was also trashed and there was no way we could rent it out in it's current condition. our only solution was to sell the house we were living in. my first house. the house i loved and still have a strong attachment to. we put it on the market in october and after 7 months, 80+ showings, and an offer that fell through, we finally found a buyer. the day after we returned from our honeymoon (barbados!), we closed and the cutest couple ever took possession of our house. i was so happy that they were my buyers because they are exactly the type of people i wanted living in my house. we then moved into the quitman house, which is the one we rent to college kids (it was vacant for the summer) and started fixing up the fenton house (the one that was trashed). lost yet? it was insane. we lived in 3 houses within a 3 month time span. i don't recommend it.
so... long story short, we spent all the money we made on the house we sold to put in new windows, appliances, floors, doors, trim, fixtures, etc into the fenton house. which is now our home. which i am trying to make the best of even though i would never ever have chosen to live in this house. it is such a big stress of our lives and one that virtually none of our friends can understand. right now everything in the house is functional, but not finished. and it drives me BATTY!
jobs.
my job is actually going fantastically. after not making my goal last year and losing out on a bunch of $$, i am ahead of my goal this year. which is extremely helpful because j quit his job in september to go back to school. it a decision that both of us are on board with and one that had to be made. he's getting his BS in construction management, so i know that it will be very beneficial to our future. it's just another financial stressor that we have to deal with in order to set us up for success. being the main breadwinner though... that's a lot of pressure.
drama.
i don't really want to get into the friend or family drama on this blog because i don't want to add fuel to the fire should these people read this. let's just say that i am focusing on surrounding myself with individuals that act as positive forces in my life and am disassociating with those who i think are bringing negative energy into my life.
money.
one income. too much debt. 2 mortgages. it all piles up and we're having to make some serious choices. we are cutting back the extras like crazy and it's really hard on my ego to have to admit that even though i make decent money and have an engineering degree and my MBA, i still am not on par financially with my peers due to choices i made, some which were beyond my control. hopefully my frugal forays will be entertaining and useful to you all when i blog about them later.
and lastly...self esteem.
i have always struggled with my weight.. but even though i've always been a little chubby, i've been comfortable enough in my skin to not let it be too much of an issue. that has changed. i have gained so much weight since the wedding that not only do my clothes not fit, but i don't even recognize myself anymore in pictures. it's bad. i don't feel like i went crazy with the fast food or anything (because that's really not my style).. it's just the little things that ad up. having to eat out because we don't have a kitchen in the house we're fixing up. not exercising because i have to tile a floor. being stressed in general. the past 2 months we've been eating really healthy and i've been getting back into an exercise routine, but the scale hasn't budged. it hasn't gone *up* anymore, which is a good thing, but it hasn't gone down either. my normal habits at the gym just won't cut it anymore. the motivation is *almost* there and this will be something that i will try to blog about more so it keeps me accountable.
so there you go. my 2010 summary.
my goal for the rest of 2010 is to post at LEAST every other day in december so that i can get back into blogging. it's good for me.
1.15.2008
a new me
so my dear friend seth has decided to take it upon himself to be my personal trainer. which is AWESOME. we've been meeting at the gym every morning and doing the workouts that he planned for me. i'm not too concerned that they're from men's health - i'm just glad that i have someone holding me accountable for working out!
it's nice. i like working out. especially with a friend. i've always gone to the gym, but i think that i haven't really been working out to my full potential. these work outs are pushing me and i'm hoping that i'll actually see results. i'm so sore now that i can barely get out of my chair!
i have a ton of motivation this time. not only is my brothers wedding in 6 months, but in the past few weeks i have heard from 2 friends that guys they know have told them that i would be really hot if i lost a few pounds. it was hard for me to hear, but also necessary and motivating. one of those things that i always knew but never wanted to acknowledge that other people knew as well.
so that's been consuming a lot of my time. i've also been watching a lot of movies lately since they're free from the library and i don't have cable. oh, and i've decided not to say anything to my friend. the more i think about it, the more i feel like it would be a bad idea. i think i know the answer and i don't want to risk anything. being friends is good for me right now. i have other things to concentrate on.
it's nice. i like working out. especially with a friend. i've always gone to the gym, but i think that i haven't really been working out to my full potential. these work outs are pushing me and i'm hoping that i'll actually see results. i'm so sore now that i can barely get out of my chair!
i have a ton of motivation this time. not only is my brothers wedding in 6 months, but in the past few weeks i have heard from 2 friends that guys they know have told them that i would be really hot if i lost a few pounds. it was hard for me to hear, but also necessary and motivating. one of those things that i always knew but never wanted to acknowledge that other people knew as well.
so that's been consuming a lot of my time. i've also been watching a lot of movies lately since they're free from the library and i don't have cable. oh, and i've decided not to say anything to my friend. the more i think about it, the more i feel like it would be a bad idea. i think i know the answer and i don't want to risk anything. being friends is good for me right now. i have other things to concentrate on.
12.10.2007
i always have the best intentions
i'm trying to get a kick start on my new years resolutions, which include going to the gym 5 days a week. i used to do it and loved it. i thought once i started working from home, it would be easier to go to the gym because i could, you know, go any time i wanted.
today i had a dentist appointment at 9 am. the dentist is really close to my gym. so last night i had the plan of getting up early and going to the gym before the dentist. i ended up waking up late, so that didn't happen.
and here is how the rest of my thought pattern went:
ok, i'll go to the gym after the dentist. but i can't wear my gym clothes to the dentist.. it's in cherry creek. they'll think i'm a slob. maybe i can take my clothes with me and change into them there. but i don't know where my gym bag is and i don't have any other cute bags to tote them in. plus i can't remember the combination to my lock. crap. if i go after the dentist i won't be home all morning. it will take from 9-10 at the dentist, then i won't probably be ready to work out until 10:30. an hour workout and it's 11:30 already. and i'll probably want to stop at target since it's right next door. but what is my clients call this morning and i'm not available?
and then the skinny bitch voice inside of me (who i've been trying to make appear more often) said "GET YOUR FAT ASS TO THE GYM AND STOP MAKING EXCUSES!".
so i packed my gym clothes in my messenger bag and set off to the dentist with the full intent of working out afterwards.
when i was checking out at the dentist, i got a call from my best friend that lives in california. we've known each other since we were 5. she said "hey... what are you doing today?" and told me that she was stuck at DIA for the day. she was supposed to have a 30 minute layover, but her flight out was cancelled and she's in denver until tomorrow morning. so of course i skipped the gym to go pick her up from the airport.
so i always seem to start out with the best intentions and then life happens.
tomorrow, i WILL make it to the gym!
today i had a dentist appointment at 9 am. the dentist is really close to my gym. so last night i had the plan of getting up early and going to the gym before the dentist. i ended up waking up late, so that didn't happen.
and here is how the rest of my thought pattern went:
ok, i'll go to the gym after the dentist. but i can't wear my gym clothes to the dentist.. it's in cherry creek. they'll think i'm a slob. maybe i can take my clothes with me and change into them there. but i don't know where my gym bag is and i don't have any other cute bags to tote them in. plus i can't remember the combination to my lock. crap. if i go after the dentist i won't be home all morning. it will take from 9-10 at the dentist, then i won't probably be ready to work out until 10:30. an hour workout and it's 11:30 already. and i'll probably want to stop at target since it's right next door. but what is my clients call this morning and i'm not available?
and then the skinny bitch voice inside of me (who i've been trying to make appear more often) said "GET YOUR FAT ASS TO THE GYM AND STOP MAKING EXCUSES!".
so i packed my gym clothes in my messenger bag and set off to the dentist with the full intent of working out afterwards.
when i was checking out at the dentist, i got a call from my best friend that lives in california. we've known each other since we were 5. she said "hey... what are you doing today?" and told me that she was stuck at DIA for the day. she was supposed to have a 30 minute layover, but her flight out was cancelled and she's in denver until tomorrow morning. so of course i skipped the gym to go pick her up from the airport.
so i always seem to start out with the best intentions and then life happens.
tomorrow, i WILL make it to the gym!
2.13.2007
is it happy hour yet?
my day. up down up down.
8am conference call with boss to explain why my clients aren't sending in samples. "because there is 2' of snow on the ground" not a good enough answer. ugh.
received email from client who i've been trying to meet with. meeting set for friday. whoo hoo!
drive to 11:30 meeting. hit every red light. see a parking spot and have someone steel it right as i'm turning around. finally find other parking spot. freeze while walking to meeting. brrr.
talk to potential client at meeting and get formal meeting set up for when i return. yay!
freeze while walking back to car. find $30 ticket on car. ticket is for not having a front license plate. didn't know that was a law in colorado. fuck.
think i'm going to be late for meeting with client, but am on time. hurrah!
call fed ex at 4:10 to have them pick up sample from my house. am told that my cut off time has changed from 4:30 to 4pm. have to drive samples to fed ex location. grrrrr..
discover dog ate tv remote and left it in backyard. sigh.
8am conference call with boss to explain why my clients aren't sending in samples. "because there is 2' of snow on the ground" not a good enough answer. ugh.
received email from client who i've been trying to meet with. meeting set for friday. whoo hoo!
drive to 11:30 meeting. hit every red light. see a parking spot and have someone steel it right as i'm turning around. finally find other parking spot. freeze while walking to meeting. brrr.
talk to potential client at meeting and get formal meeting set up for when i return. yay!
freeze while walking back to car. find $30 ticket on car. ticket is for not having a front license plate. didn't know that was a law in colorado. fuck.
think i'm going to be late for meeting with client, but am on time. hurrah!
call fed ex at 4:10 to have them pick up sample from my house. am told that my cut off time has changed from 4:30 to 4pm. have to drive samples to fed ex location. grrrrr..
discover dog ate tv remote and left it in backyard. sigh.
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