The G Girls Do the Oregon Coast

Last week I had an extra day off due to the President's Day holiday so my little sister and I went to the Coast and, of course, to the Tillamook Cheese Factory. What doesn't say "Happy President's Day" like some cheddar and some ice cream?

Delicious Cheese...




...holding a baby jelly fish in a shell so we wouldn't get stung. It was dead and so we decided to touch it and see if we would get stung; we are fine, thank you...

And this is the seagull that almost killed my sister. No, really. She almost had a heart attack as it swooped out of the sky towards her head. All I heard was," Ahhhh (Expletive)!!!!". I almost died laughing.

All in all it was a very enjoyable day. I love my sister. And the Oregon Coast. And Cheese.

OH THE GLORY

I'm in LOVE with these things. I will eat them until I'm sick.

I ventured to Fred Meyer the other evening and found that they were rearranging their seasonal aisles and filling them with the most wondrous of things... Easter candy! I'm totally stocking up. This has made my week... I am such a sucker for Cadbury Creme eggs, and I especially love the mini versions. Why don't they carry them in stores year round? I would definitely buy them year round if I could. I may write a letter to the Cadbury folks to see if they can just send me a case of them and I'll freeze them. Hmm...

A Wave of Enthusiasm and Motivation

I met with a coworker last week and found it to be very motivating. It's amazing what a simple conversation with someone can do- it changed my whole outlook on so many things! Originally I met with this person to discuss job-related stuff and where I really want to go. (We are really encouraged to take on mentors and create relationships that will help us with our career paths at my current company.) Anyhow, so after talking with this person something inside me just clicked and I feel like I have enough time and energy to get everything I need and want to get done accomplished.

I went home that night and painted my nails... seems a little off topic, but totally not. I realized that after almost 2 weeks of not biting my nails, they were finally long enough to paint. I gave myself a little manicure as a reward. Nails were on my "To Do" list. One down. Now that they look nice, it'll be easy to stop myself from biting.

I also ate pretty healthily (besides the burger I ate yesterday on the way home from the beach, but I was too hungry to care and there weren't many things open on the coast at 7pm). It's a little easier every day. I'm not depriving, just limiting portions... and eating a TON of fresh fruits and veggies. Oranges are my new obsession.

Going to Yoga again tonight with my sister. Did at least one active thing each day over the weekend and am continuing that this week. I feel pretty good. Legs still hurt, but that's what the hot tub is for.

Decided to register as a full-time student for Spring term instead of part time. Luckily, they offer some of the classes I need online whereas last year they only offered regular classes. Since I'm not planning on quitting my job any time soon, online courses really help me out so I can actually be at home some nights. I think the only "regular" class I'm taking (that I physically have to show up for) is a music class. SWEET.

I'm really liking where I am right now for the most part. I'm glad that I was so easily motivated and am challenging myself to help give that motivation and support to my friends and family as they try to tackle their "To Do" lists.

... And It Continues...

I took a Yoga class at the gym last night. It was enjoyable and I think I'll start going to a few of them a week. I was amazed at how much better I felt after... all stretched out and loose instead of crampy and sore with my shoulders up to my earlobes. I guess it's a good way to ensure I get a good stretch in here and there between my runs.

Speaking of running... I've started to develop shin splints. NOT FUN. I had them in middle school when I ran track. All of a sudden this week they hurt so bad it feels like my shins are going to explode out of my legs... and when I wake up in the morning my shins are so sore it's hard to walk and I kind of hobble around. Goodbye ankle sprain, hello shin splints. So I've got to dig out the old shoe inserts and make sure that I do more stretching and more strengthening exercises for my feet and ankles.

Like I've said before, I'm getting old. Well, I feel like I'm getting old. I feel great after I work out or run, and then I wake up in the morning 25 years older and stiffer and sorer. I'm hoping this wears off as my body gets used to my new "healthy" habits.

Ok, I'm done complaining for the day. Running is getting easier and easier despite the sore spots later. I actually spaced out while I was running through the neighborhood the other day and realized that I didn't remember running as far as I did. I think this will be a useful tool for longer distances. If I can keep my mind occupied things go quite well. When I start dwelling on my pace and how much further I've got to go, I get weary and grumpy with myself. This is why I'm in love with my iPod. If I start feeling tired I find a energizing fun song and blast it.

I've also started reading some running magazines. They are quite helpful with the tips. It seems like almost all of them have some sort of Half Marathon training and guide this month. Sweet. I never pictured myself reading those sorts of things. I'm more of a Martha Stewart reader...

Crisis

I was having a conversation with a good friend the other day and it went a little something like this:

Me: So what's new?

Friend: Nothing... I just realized that I may never get married and after a good freak out, I'm ok with that. Have you ever thought about it? I mean, really thought about getting married?

Me: Of course. You know me, I pretty much have my life planned out and in a scrapbook just waiting for the physical pictures to put in there.

Friend: ... and how is that going for you? The scrapbook, I mean? How many pictures have you gotten in your "Life Plan" scrapbook?

Me: Hmmm... so, not many I guess. Oh well, it's a little bit on hold.

Friend: How long has that been on hold?

Me: Well, now that I think about it, since three or so years after high school graduation. Well, kind of. I have my mental checklist of what's I'm supposed to do and what I want to accomplish and I have added a couple of things and completed those, but the original big stuff is still waiting to be completed...

Friend: Hmm.

Me: Geez, that's depressing.

Friend: Yeah, that's why I'm ok with not getting married. I can take it off of my "check list". Takes the pressure off. I feel pretty good about it.

Me: I'm glad you feel good. I've gotta get going... I need to go have a quarter life crisis and eat a gallon of ice cream and then run it off out of guilt.

... I didn't go eat that much ice cream... just a bite, but as I'm starting to work on my list for 2009, I'm thinking I need to overhaul my original "Life To Do List" so I don't stress out too much, because if I leave it as it is now, I'm going to have a melt down.

Thank you, good friend, for inducing some premature hysteria in my life. I must have needed it?

To Do List

I was making lists today... sometimes I do that when I have extra time on my hands at work. I made a grocery list, a list of music I needed to download, and then I made a list of "To Do's" for this year. Here it is:

1. Run the 2009 Nike Hood to Coast relay.
2. Run the Helvetia Half Marathon.
3. Wear a bikini to the pool and look good in it.
4. Eat more organic and natural foods.
5. Stop wearing foundation and most make-up.
6. Drink less diet soda... or any soda and drink more water.
7. Stop biting and picking at my nails.


No, these are not "resolutions" nor are they "goals"; they are literally things I am going to do this year. I've already gotten started on all but the soda one-which is tough for me because I LOVE Coke Zero and Ginger Ale. As most of you already know, I've been running and training to get me ready for the races, which also helps with the bikini one (however once I get in shape enough for that I will have to purchase a bikini...). I've stopped wearing as much make-up as I normally do which was hard for the first few days because I felt so naked and strange (I am kind of overly aware of any skin problems on my face) but I got over it and now I just do powder to keep from being shiny and then eyeliner and mascara. Organic and natural foods are more expensive, but I think it's worth it. I bought a cute small water bottle that I can take anywhere with me, but I broke down today and bought a Coke Zero from the machine at work. I haven't bitten my nails since Saturday and have been using a nail conditioner and cuticle oil to start repairing the 23 years of damage I've done to them. I've started chewing a lot of gum.

Usually I overwhelm myself with my "To Do" lists and stress out until I drop a couple of them, but I really feel on top of things this year and I think I need to prove to myself that I can do all of them.

... and I realized today while sweating on the elliptical trainer that I CAN do them all, I was just in my own way before.

Owls, Hipsters and Toast

Those of you who have known me for a while know that I tend to collect some pretty random things. For instance, I collected anything with turtles on them and still do because when I was younger everyone just gave me turtle things... key chains, necklaces, earrings, etc. I just kind of turned it into a thing and started really liking them.

My mom, sister and I lived with my grandma for a while in New York when I was in first grade. Of course, being a grandma she decorated her house with things she has collected over the years and that means retro knick-knacks. She had a TON of owl things- pictures, statues, figurines, potholders, wall hangings, salt and pepper shakers. I really liked them and used to tell her that if she got tired of them, I would take them off of her hands (great 7 year old thinking, right?). It also helped that a lot of my favorite shows and movies featured owls (David and the Gnomes, Sword in the Stone, etc).

My owl obsession has stayed with me. Mostly it's been hard to find owl stuffs... until recently. I've been pretty psyched about the recent interest in retro owl doodads because it means I don't have to hunt so hard to find fun owl things, now I just have to sift through the tacky versus awesome stuff. I didn't think much of liking owls until last night.

I stopped at Powell's on my way home to buy a calendar since most other places only have High School Musical ones left or Sexy Firemen of 2009- none of which I want to post in my office. I found a National Geographic one that featured different species of owls for each month, so I was pretty stoked and grabbed it. It didn't really stand out as being an especially cool thing to buy since it was next to all the other National Geographic animal/bird/fish calendars (and there were about 20 different ones). So after finding a couple of other things I "needed" (wanted), I went to check out. I put my items on the counter and started digging in my purse for my wallet as the cashier was ringing it all up. The cashier then informed me that ,"Owls are the new Toast".

What? I just stood there for a second or two trying to wrap my mind around what he said, and what it meant. Again, WHAT? I handed him my debit card.

The cashier continued, "It's the new hipster thing to be into... you know? Like toast was a few years back... owls are the new toast."

I replied,"I didn't know that toast was something one could be into- it's a food, not an accessory. I think I missed that one".

Powell's guy said," Yeah, my friend and I were talking about it the other day. It's totally true. All these hip kids buying owl things now." He handed my debit card back and I entered my pin.

Me," Oh... Well, I'm not a hipster kid, I just lived with my grandma when i was little and her owl fancy rubbed off on me. I guess now that they are "in" it makes them easier to find which is fine with me. I can go home and eat toast whenever I want to, though." He handed me my bag and receipt.

On that note, I took my bag and walked, bewildered, to my car outside.

A.) When was toast a popular thing to be into? Who doesn't eat toast? WHAT??? How can a food item be "hip"? You eat it, it's good and it nourishes your body. Nothing "trendy" about that. Especially not simple TOAST.

B.) Did I ask you, Powell's guy, what your opinion about Owls happened to be or why you think owl things are easier to find? No.

C.) Do I look like some hipster kid that needs to be informed? No, I was wearing my business casual trouser jeans, a white t and a gray cable sweater with plain black mary-janes on my feet. Definitely not hipster. Definitely not looking for a lesson on hipster trends. I was not donning skinny jeans, furry boots, crazy layered shirts and sweaters with gelled sideswept hair that covers half of my face. Not even close.

D.) I must be getting old because that kid infuriated me and made me laugh really hard at the same time. Confusing.

Next time I'm going to pretend to not speak English.