My Hero

Currently, my friend Alisha, is my hero. I hope she doesn’t mind me putting her in the spotlight here…but she is awesome. I’m a bad friend because I can’t remember the exact number…but she has lost anywhere from 60-80 lbs. Can you imagine!? Every time I see her I just remind her that she is like this shrinking woman. She’s smaller every time we hang out. She really inspires me to just stay motivated. If I want it, I can have it…I just have to do it.

She’s told me that her secret is just smaller portions, healthier food, and exercise (Zumba to be precise). Sounds easy right? I don’t know how many times now I’ve seen her turn down foods like cake and buttered popcorn. And she’s always carrying around some kind of snack or drink with her like water and grapes.
So yesterday, with this new job possibility in mind and inspiration from Alisha, I got back on the treadmill and ran/walked a mile. Then I did a few other more specific exercises. Yeah, I’ve been slacking. But exercising felt good…really good. Today I’m eating lunch with an awesome friend (Aryn!) at Sweet Tomato…so I’m not worried about temptation because they have the most awesome salad bar ever!

I’m not going to think about the whole dieting thing too hard because I always sabotage myself.  I’m just going to take it day by day and think about all the wonderful feelings I will feel should I reach my goal and be a better me by next summer. Wish me motivation!

Jake Jake

My Puppy isn't such a puppy anymore. He's getting big and heavy. Potty training is going okay but he still has accidents for no reason just after we have taken him outside. He doesn't pee in the crate anymore so I know he can hold it but sometimes I guess he just doesn't want to. Mostly I'm concerned about his want to bite everything. Not a mean bite...just a playful I want to chew on everything in my path including your hands kind of bite. I know he's a puppy but does it ever stop? Will he eventually just let me pet him and love him without trying to gnaw on one of my fingers? Tell me there is hope. I try to teach him not to bite me or the kids but it doesn't seem to be working. Should I try a muzzle?

He's still pretty cute though right? haha.

Holy Tomato

Remember my tomato post from awhile back? I said that I would be happy if only one tomato grew out of my two plants. I wish I hadn’t said that, because that’s exactly what happened. They looked so healthy and all the flowers budded but only one tomato came from the whole bunch.

Next year will be better. I’m going to plant a whole garden in the back yard so my plants will have better soil and more room. I ate my little tomato and it tasted awesome. 

WARNING-Boring Work Post Here

It’s a good Monday. Take that first sentence in. I don’t say it often enough. I had my very first mid-year review at my new company today and found the guts to say to my manager that I would like to take a new position as an underwriter-trainee starting next summer (should it be offered next year and should they accept me). The training program lasts for one full year and then you’re transferred into an underwriter position. I’m so glad they take that much time to really teach you about your new position. I’m a great student and the idea of getting to do a type of “school” over again is exciting to me. Yeah I’m a nerd.

Anyway…he said that it would be okay for me to do that. He didn’t say that I need to stay in my position any longer or that I needed to learn more where I am now before I moved in a new direction. No. He just said that it was fine with him and that I should move in any direction I feel is best.

Let me just say…phew. Glad that is over! It’s hard for me say anything that might even possibly cause conflict. But I’ve been thinking about it long enough and if I’m going to stay here and I don’t want my current job to be my forever job then I have to make a change as soon as they will let me. So I did. Yay me! Everything else was okie dokie too. I have a great boss…who I’m afraid of losing actually…and he only had great things to say about me. There was no… “So what do YOU think your weaknesses are?” kind of talk.

So I think the next 9-10 months of my life will be about learning and transformation. If I’m going to do something and I’ve got this much time to prepare for it then I’m going to do it right. I’m currently job shadowing and taking online classes related to underwriting. This kind of position will help me to see a different side of insurance and be more in contact with our customers. I look forward to coming out of my shell a little and getting to know some different people. Also, insurance underwriting is more about the marking side of things and I look forward to being more creative. I’ll get to work with new customers when they want us as their carrier and not when they have experienced a loss the way I do now.

Okay okay… enough boring work talk. So tell me. Is it summer 2012 yet?

I Love Space

Feeling like your problems are huge today? Well here is something to think about:

"ANTARES IS THE 15 TH BRIGHTEST STAR IN THE SKY.
 
IT IS MORE THAN 1000 LIGHT YEARS AWAY.

NOW, HOW BIG ARE YOU?

AND HOW BIG ARE THE THINGS THAT UPSET YOU TODAY?

                           KEEP LIFE IN PERSPECTIVE.  

                   TAKE THINGS ONE THING AT A TIME.  

                          DON’T FORGET TO BREATHE.

   AND DON’T SWEAT THE SMALL STUFF!"

Gleek Fun

So the Glee 3D concert movie was awesome. Just like I knew it would be.

GLEE!

I would just like to say that I LOVE Glee. When I first heard about this “musical” of a show…I thought it was pish-posh. A bunch of teenagers dancing around and singing on TV…what kind of geek wants to watch that? But we are not geeks! We are Gleeks!

Glee isn’t a nerdy show. It’s a fun and entertaining drama and it carries on in much the way a soap-opera does. At first it’s hard to get over the fact that they are teenagers but the story lines are mature, inspiring, funny, and very relatable. I can not count the times I’ve cried. After you get to know the characters, and appreciate them individually…it’s just easy to love…much like any thing else in life we refuse to try.

Tonight I’m going to the premier of the Glee 3D Concert Movie with two other fellow Gleeks. I paid way too much money for my ticket and it’s on a school night…um I mean work night…but I don’t care! I’m going to be irresponsible and stay out late. What do you say about that?

So to those of you who think you wouldn’t like Glee…I think you should try recording the third season on your DVR when it comes out. If you’re kind of like me…in any way…you won’t be disappointed. I will post pics of our Glee adventure soon!