Books

I finished reading Watchers by Dean Koontz.  I actually enjoyed it quite a bit...a bit odd, but definitely better than what I'm reading now.  I've heard great things about Nelson DeMille, but I'm struggling to get through Wild Fire.  It's about an American plan to nuke two cities in the U.S. so that we can nuke Islamic countries.  So far it's just been a bunch of talking about the plan and not much action.  I hope it picks up soon.  And even if it doesn't, I'll still trudge through it because I'm the type to read a book start to finish no matter how much I hate it.

Shockingly, (because I typically read only one book at a time) I'm also reading The Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey.  I really hope I find some spark of genius in there.  I didn't know it at the time I bought it, but it seems this book is more about coming out of credit card debt.  Which doesn't really help us because my husband is about to pay off his last credit card.  So the only debt we'll have is our mortgage and student loans.  I'm only three chapters in, so maybe later on I'll be more happy with it.  So far it's just been three chapters of him touting his plan.  I suppose that's what you sign up for when you buy a book based on a plan.

Run #2 Not So Complete

So I promised my coworker & friend (she's super cool, so I'll consider her a friend) a while ago that I would go to Zumba with her today.  I didn't think about this until this morning when it dawned on me that today is supposed to be a mile run.  Had I prepared accordingly I could've run this morning.  This evening is out of the question since I'm working on my thesis.  Let's just let that set in...working on my thesis.

Back to my story.  I go in to work this morning and I tell her sorry, gotta bail on you today.  And she says oh no no, I'm not letting you off the hook that easily.  So she tells me, do Zumba today, run tomorrow, walk Friday, and then run Saturday.  The original plan was to run today, rest Thursday, run Friday, then walk Saturday.  She was pretty convincing, so I did Zumba today.

And the reason for this post.  It is so much fun.  I know you probably hear that over and over, but really, it is.  Although, I could see it not being very much fun if you don't have a good group that likes to be silly.  And I'm not so sure it would be as much fun doing it in your living room either.

Moral of the story:  try Zumba at your local wellness facility.

Day 1 Complete

I am going to run a 5k.  Always wanted to, never have.  My wonderful brother created a training plan for me.  I started this plan today.  Run 1 mile. 

I am not a runner.  I have not run since...since...more than a year ago. 

I "ran" a mile today.  I don't know what my pace was, but I did it.  I almost passed out after I finished my final lap, but I did it.

I am proud.

I shall run 1 mile again on Wednesday.

I wish headaches didn't exist.

I've always wanted to make every recipe in a cookbook, so watching Julie & Julia 'inspired' me.  I just looked through my cookbooks & realized I don't really have a cookbook that's conducive to that.  I have a Paula Deen cookbook (signed by her btw), but my first thought (& why ultimately decided against using that one) was that my husband and I would surely gain 50 lbs by the time I was half way through it. 

After careful thought & consideration, I decided on "Blondes Have More Fun...Cooking" that I purchased for pennies at our local bookstore.  I flipped open to the first recipe under "Main Dishes" and find: Jack's Fat Hen & Yellow Rice.  "Boil cut up hen in salted water with chopped onion, celery, garlic, and bay leaf.  Cook until chicken is tender."  At this point I conclude this won't be happening because: HOW THE HECK DO YOU KNOW WHEN THE CHICKEN IS TENDER?!  Maybe it's just me, but I need time frames people!  I need rules!  Regulations!  Temperatures!  I think I'm going to reconsider this every recipe thing.

Just in case you were wondering, my New Year's resolution is to floss every night.  I missed last night, so I guess I'll have to floss twice tonight.  ;oD

On sad news, I go back to work tomorrow.  Actually, it's not that sad now that I think about it.  It means I can work out again & get some much needed socialization.  I have been in such a funk lately!

On really sad (& weird) news I was reading an article this morning on the front page of the Asheville Citizen Times about a guy who shot himself in Georgia after being confronted by police after he shot and killed his (ex?)wife & hurt her sister outside of a motel in Cherokee.  I quickly realized this guy was the same guy I worked with at a different hotel in Cherokee.  He didn't seem like a terrible guy but I definitely wasn't surprised with this news.  Makes me cringe with the thought that I went out to his truck once to see his cat.  I know, that's weird, but it made perfect sense at the time.

Alright, this headache has gotten to be more than I can bear.  Talk atcha later--and good luck with those resolutions!!

Hello 2011!

I've been MIA for a while...not sure whether I just haven't had much to say or I'm burnt out on technological life.  Both perhaps?

My sister had to yell at me to play my turn on Words with Friends.  Not sure what my deal with that was...I think it was because I was consumed with playing the best words possible & winning.  Needless to say, it took tons of time & therefore became not very much fun.  Now I'm just playing whatever word comes to mind (most of the time) and I'm enjoying it again.  Yay!

My husband bought me a to-do list app for my phone the other day.  It's call Epic Win & I think it was designed with me in mind.  They describe it as a role-playing game where you level up, collect loot, etc. as you complete the tasks on your to-do list.  Totally cheesy & totally me.

The house is pristine right now.  Bed made, dishes done, office clean, chili cooking, rolls rising...is it because of my new app?  I'm placing my bet on the thesis I don't want to face.  Moving on.

We watched Julie & Julia on our Netflix Instant Queue today.  I have to admit, I'd love to do that (just the working through a cookbook bit--not the blogging about it bit) but it'd have to be from a cupcake cookbook or something like that.  :o)

Two people asked me over break if I'd consider becoming a veterinarian.  I used to think I wanted to go that direction but after working at a vet clinic and hearing over and over how difficult it is to get into vet school, I decided against it.  Recently I've struggled with "my path".  As I've grown older I've come to realize, I'm smart, I can do it.  I haven't had much confidence in my capabilities up until now.  I'm contemplating looking into the programs at NCSU after I graduate.  I glanced at their website a couple of days ago & was surprised at how many options they provide.  My thoughts on this are:  What's the harm in trying?  I don't want to go through life thinking, "What if...?"  I'd also love the prestige...I'm sorry, but I don't want to be doing the grunt work of an administrative assistant my whole life.  I've spend the majority of my life in school, why not take a break?  If I've truly found where I need to/should be, it'll be fine. 

What am I passionate about?  What makes me happy?  My dogs.  Animals.  Doing wonderful things for all creatures, great and small.     

Hello world!

Not quite sure what's going on with me right now.  I hardly ever go online when I'm at home now.  Is it because my desk is a mess and I can barely find my laptop let alone turn it on?  Is it because it gets dark so early now that I eat dinner & immediately feel like it's time to go to bed?

I have 301 unread blog posts in my feed.

I go onto Words with Friends once every few days.

I check my emails, ABCNews, & facebook religiously on my phone & that's about the extent of my Interwebs perusal.  After a month (at least) of telling me to look for flights, I'm finally taking my dad's suggestion & will book it tonight.  I better go do that before I get online exhaustion & shut down before it actually gets booked. 

Now as far as finding my credit card goes...not sure how long that will take...