Love in the Time of Cholera

I started this book on my cruise in December and I finished it on my most recent cruise. My favorite line from the book: wisdom comes to us when it can no longer do us any good. It's an interesting thought.

"I didn't have a camera by my side this time"

And it is probably a good thing the carnage from last night was not documented. I dropped my car off at the dealership last night for service. I had plans to go to dinner near the dealership with two friends, but the wait was 70 minutes. Umm, thanks but no thanks. We had dinner at an old standby. And within walking distance of the bar where we were going to meet another one of my friends. I had 3 Jack and Dianes with dinner. I "paid" for 6 at the other bar. I say "paid" because I know the bartender "took care" of us last night. Umm, why can't he take care of me right now because I feel like poo???? Umm, so if you are keeping track that would be at least 9 drinks and I am sure some of them might have been doubles (a little scary). He made us shots for "free" and I am sure he didn't charge us for all of our drinks. Oh, and I made my dinner reservation for graduation night for my parents and about 5 of my friends. Now I just need to order my graduation announcements.

So I had grand plans for the day. I was going to clean my room. I was going to do homework. I was going to attempt to run/walk outside. I was generally going to be productive. Has any of the happened? No. I woke up at 10:30 AM and thought I was late for work. Umm, it is Saturday and I don't have to work. Thank God I realized this before I called my boss about to apologize for being late. Now I am waiting for a call from the dealership letting me know what is wrong with my car and how much it will cost. I think I am going to go back to bed. Happy Saturday!

Making a Conscious Effort

Today I am making a conscious effort to make healthy choices. Yesterday was by no means great. After the morning fiasco, I had a lunch of BBQ with potato salad, baked beans, cornbread, cookies, and a brownie. I did make it to the gym for 60 minutes on the arc trainer and 22 minutes on the treadmill. I also played dodgeball later last night. Dinner was my yummy chicken salad and a string cheese.

This morning I had my oatmeal and packed my lunch and gym clothes. I also just had 20 pistachios for a morning snack. Now I just need to make it through the rest of the day making a conscious effort to be healthy.

Happy Friday!

Confession Time

I have not stopped snacking since last night. I had about 7 100 cal packs after dinner when I should have just gone to bed. 7 x 100 = 700 calories. Ugh. This morning I ate my oatmeal and all of the sudden I really wanted a spoonful of peanut butter. I didn't need it, I just wanted it. Then when I got to work I bought a lemon poppyseed muffin. Why? I am not really sure. I washed that down with 2 100 calorie packs. Uh, yeah. WTF? What is my problem? Why can't I control what I eat? I think I might have a few reasons, stress being the major one.

I came into work this morning and my boss let me know that my car is leaking something and it isn't water. So I called the dealership to make an appointment to get it checked out on Saturday. Yeah! Spending money when I am trying to save money!

I am actively searching for a new job. And I am looking in 2 different areas: Non-profit and event services. So that means 2 different resumes and of course different cover letters for each job. Plus, I am not in the city I want to get a job in. So I have been working on networking. Sending e-mails to friends and family asking if they know people in the field or if they can point me in the direction of someone who can help. I updated my linked in profile (who knows if potential employers even look at that). I applied for 1 job in Seattle that I would love and am perfectly qualified for and would be a move up. There is another job that is open, but it would be a horizontal move.

My course work is by no means hard or harder then any other semester, but it is very time consuming. Lots of meetings and I am just getting worn out. I made an A- on the paper I wrote the morning it was due.

Oh and I really want to go home to WV for a few days. I would prefer not to drive though. I want a flight for under $200. I just miss my mom.

Oh and I didn't give anything up for lent. I feel like poo. I usually always do. My entrepreneurship professor who I greatly admire isn't giving thing up, but instead he is incorporating things back into his life to do on a more regular basis like attending mass on the way to work, taking early morning walks with his wife and dogs, and praying in the morning. I think this is a great idea.

Yeah so I have got a lot on my mind.

How Could I Forget???

This is for all the music lovers out there. Soulive is back!!!!!!!!!!!! They have ditched that Toussaint guy and are back to the trio format. They are amazing and seeing them on the cruise was a special treat.

Complete cruise update coming soon.

A Good Day

Luckily I survived the tornadoes and they did not hit where I live. Other parts of the state have not been so lucky. The university I work for is pulling together to help Union University which suffered major damage.

My eating went pretty well today. I had a black bean burger sandwich on wheat bread with lots of veggies. It was good, but I think they fried the patty. Next time I will go with my standard tomato and avocado sandwich. I splurged and also had potato chips. They are just so yummy. They are crinkle cut kettle chips with salt and pepper. Yum!

I made it to the gym after work today too. 25 minutes of weights. 60 minutes on the arc trainer. 21 minutes on the treadmill. I came home and made myself a yummy chicken salad with crasains, pickles,onions, salt and pepper, dijonaise. I crunched up a small bag of apple chips. I served it over romaine lettuce.

Here are a few things that made me smile today: remember that the doorman at the hotel in Miami told me I "take to" Jessica Biel and getting my sandwich card double punched today at lunch. He doesn't do that for my co-workers. I think he might have a slight crush on me or something like that.

I was looking through one of my friend's pictures from the cruise. And I am really starting to notice that I see myself completely different then I appear. Or at least it feels that way. I feel like have rolls, stomach flab, and thunder thighs. While I still have some of this, I think my mind makes it out to be much worse then it is. The picture that made me realize this was one she took and I didn't know. I was relaxing in a lounge chair. I remember that moment feeling self-conscious about the way I looked even with a t-shirt on. But in the picture I looked normal. Now if only I can feel the way I really do look.

Getting Back on Track

I have realized that I thrive on schedules and routines. Planning is a huge part of my success. I just need to work on planning away from the comfort of home. So I ate horribly bad Thursday-Monday. My stomach feels like all the fat magically went there and it sort of feels like my skin is stretching. It's a really odd sensation, but it helps me realize I need to get my act together any time it happens.

Today I ate my breakfast of oatmeal and crasains. I had my mid-morning snack of pistachios. I went to the gym during lunch and walked on the treadmill for 65 minutes. I came back to my desk and ate my black eyed pea and barley soup and a granola bar. This is huge. I realized my vacation is over and now it is time to return to normalcy. Sure, I could beat myself up over the numerous self serve ice cream cones I had or the huge breakfasts I ate or all of the drinks consumed with tropical colored umbrellas, but I am not. I did it and I am moving on. And you know what? I enjoyed every minute of it! I will not be weighing myself until Monday the 11th. While I wish I could participate in the scale free February, I know that will not work for me. If I have learned anything, it is that forcing myself to do things I am just not comfortable with is not going to help me in the long run. Like running. No matter how hard I try, I don't enjoy it. I need accountability and weighing in once a week helps me do that.

My cruise pictures can be found here. As more pictures are added I will let you all know. I had a blast and I am pretty lucky I was able to go :)

I am Back!

I am back and obviously that means John Mayer did not fall in love with me. Oh well. I still had a blast! :)

Here are a few quick things before bed:

-I ate SO bad the entire weekend. My stomach was not happy, yet I kept shoving food in my face. WTF?

-I wore a bikini in PUBLIC! First on the beach during my kayaking/snorkeling adventure and then ON THE BOAT. So I still have love handles and my thighs are huge, but I did it!

-I had such a good time.

-A lot of the bands stayed on the same floor as I did.

-I love John Mayer even though he needs to change up his set lists.

-If they do it next year, I am going back and so is my mom :)

-Tomorrow is a new day!

Here is one of my favorite pictures from the weekend with my best friend Jenny: