I'm Here, I'm Here!

Ok, so tonight I just finished my second week of the 5 week term. I only have one class, but it meets twice a week and it is KICKING my butt. This class is not conducive at al to my typical wait until the last two weeks of class and do my work strategy. I have been doing HW for what seems like the past 4 days/nights. It's a negotiations class and I have to prepare pre-negotiation documents as well as post analysis, PLUS additional assignments. We negotiate every class. I am learning a lot, but it is intense. In other school related news, I am working on a business plan for a social entrepreneurship project creating a low income, green house for South Africa.

So kickball season ended last week, we lost in the first round :(

I have been keeping myself busy hanging out with friends.

I saw the Smashing Pumpkins on Sunday night. It was awesome. I did however drink a little too much beer.

My eating has been awful. I haven't really had trouble with portion control, I just haven't been picking the best things. Like I have had 2 HUGE lemon poppy-seed muffins this week.

I have made it to the gym Monday (twice), Tuesday, and today. I also had my final fitness assessment on Monday. Over the 8 weeks I have lost 6 lbs, a few inches off my waist, and improved my flexibility! I just need to stick with it now! I think the motivation that my pants I bought last year fit again is great motivation!

I have got a busy weekend of HW, dinners with friends, hanging out with my little, and gym time. 2.5 day work week and then I am heading home to WV for Thanksgiving!

Am I ever going to be ok?

Sometimes I feel like I have my life together and other times I feel like I have no clue what I am doing. I just had a good cry while I was on the phone with my dad dealing with some jealousy issues and uncertainty about my future. Yeah, it's rough and maybe I am just being overly dramatic. And then I proceeded to eat an almost full snack size bag of snickers. Why do I do this? Why do I soothe myself with food? Will it ever stop? Will I ever be in control?

I can't get over the fact that I want to plan my entire life. Or at least outline it. Outlines change, they are not permanent, but at least they provide some guidance.

I want to be successful, I want to be giving, I want stability, and I want to enjoy my life. Yet I feel like I can't control anything.


Some possible options for the future:
Quit my job and move
Volunteer/work in South Africa
Launch my website
Move somewhere besides Nashville
Work for a non-profit (if I could get a job at one I would want, I am not sure I am even qualified)

I know I am having some post trip depression blues right now, but to be quite honest I have been feeling like this for a little while now.

Tired

I am so tired right now. I went to bed last night around 9:30ish. I had a wonderful dinner with Nikki and Chris who were in town for the (canceled) Smashing Pumpkins show. After a previous full day of travel I was tired by the end of the night. I wish I could have stayed up later and gone to a bar with them.

I didn't go in to work at all today. I told my boss I might swing by, but in the end I had no desire to go and just decided to take the day for myself. I did more laundry, cleaned up the kitchen, went to the gym, went grocery shopping, and caught up with a few friends. However, I did not sleep well last night and had two of the most awful charlie horses. I am meeting friends for dinner in about in hour and I will probably go to bed shortly after I get home.

I am working on organizing my trip photos. I have only uploaded one which was taken a the top of Table Mountain. Sorry for the squinty eyes.

I'm Back From the Rainbow Nation!

I had the most amazing time in South Africa. I need to get back.

It took 31 hours door to door from Cape Town to Nashville on the return home. I can now say that I have been drunk, sobered up, and hung over all on one flight. Oh and I chatted up the guy who checked me in and scored the exit row baby for the Cape Town to Dulles flight. I had so much leg room that when my legs were extended they didn't even touch the seat in front of me. My ankles however are SO swollen.

I got in around 10 AM and put in a load of laundry and then went to the gym for over an hour and a half. I ate so much food and drank so much wine and beer that my body has been in total shock this past week.

I am in the process of uploading and organizing my pictures and of course I will let you all know when they are uploaded.

I am also in the process of catching up on all my blog reading. I have missed you all!

After this trip I have realized I really do love traveling and have done quite a bit. Just looking through my passport there are only about 3 pages with no stamps on them.

So my question to all of you, (lurkers included!) tell me what your favorite vaction/travel destination is or where you would love to go. I am looking for suggestions for my 2008 trip(s) :)