Showing posts with label weight. Show all posts
Showing posts with label weight. Show all posts

Tuesday, July 28, 2015

Training for Tuesday #2

Yes, another link-up.  Meh, my blog, don't care.  I find motivation where I can.  You're welcome.

I'm trying to focus on my workouts and make them a priority in my life.  I have several races on the schedule for the rest of 2015 (and hopefully early 2016) and I need to get on properly training.  But a bigger motivation is that since October 2014 (when I moved to SC), I've watched the scale steadily rise while my pants got progressively tighter...  It was time for a change and Teh Blog and Gentle Readers are an invisible force that hold me accountable for my actions (which blows my mind almost as much as it probably blew yours).  I'm also sharing these goals with you so I can SEE what I'm preparing for, which helps me soooo much!

alyssagoesbang

Upcoming events:
16 August 2015: Ramblin' Rose Triathalon in Winston-Salem, NC
20 September 2015: Navy-Air Force Half Marathon in Washington, D.C.
14 November 2015: Sweet Tea Half in Summerville, SC
18-21 February 2016: Glass Slipper Challenge weekend + 5k in Orlando, FL (Disney World)
02 April 2016: Cooper River Bridge Run in Charleston, SC


July's Goals:

-Seriously, get a bike.
-Seriously, do some laps at the pool. (Complete fail)
-Keep runnin'.
-Don't get hurt/die of heat stroke.
-Keep the scale dropping not rising.
-Possibly try out the Air Force Base (AFB from here on out) gym/pool since it will be closer than the base gym I was going to pre-move.
-Depending on the AFB gym situation/my inconvenience, possibly join Planet Fitness since there is one near the outlets, which would be on my way home.  The kicker would be if they have classes.  I really miss workout classes.

4 out of 7 isn't sooo bad.

Accomplishments:

I actually got Monty (the new bicycle (I can't just say bike because Mike Wazowski)) the day before the last TT post went live, but I wasn't going to change my entire draft when I could just share it in a sweaty sunday post or tell you about it now.  Anyways, I've ridden it all of ONCE, because excuses.  And also because the one time I did ride it for .75 miles, the seat hurt my ass in an unbelievable way and the tires were going flat.  Beginner's luck?

I have NOT been in the pool.  If I'm completely honest, I probably won't get in a pool until the tri.  This is probably a VERY, VERY bad idea.  The last time I swam was April 2014.  From what Tracy has warned me about though, it could be a good thing, because if I'm not practiced, I'll be slower, which could be helpful since pool swimming means swimming in the same lane with other people...  From swimming in high school, that shit sucks.  We'll see what happens.

I moved back to doing PM runs.  90+% humidity in the AM was killing me.  Feeling like I'm unable to get a full breath was slowing me down significantly.  I've also gotten a sub-10 minute pace on a few runs and that makes me unbearably proud.  Because I've been training/running, going to the gym wasn't as high on my list as it had been.  I was going to the gym before because runs were optional.  That is no longer the case.  I'm on a training plan through the end of February and even after that I'll probably stick with some minimal miles since the Bridge Run is the beginning of April.  Granted 6 miles won't be a drop in the bucket compared to 20+ miles in one weekend, but it's always painful to start again after a break.

This means that I didn't bother to join a gym or go by the AFB gym.  Also, traffic is a beast from work to the base, so it's really not worth the frustration to go to base, when I could just pay the $10 a month and go to Planet Fitness on the way home or drop more dollars and find another gym to go to for classes if I still really want it.

Finally, the scale has continued to drop.  If you read my last Sweaty Sunday post, you know that I'm down almost 10 lbs since I moved to the new house!!!  Part of it is a serious change in eating habits (I no longer feel obligated to eat a huge dinner since I'm on my own), part of it is longer runs.  I'm happy nonetheless.  5-10 more pounds and I'll be a happy camper.


I also made my RunKeeper data public, so now I can be stalked in yet another way.  I did make the maps private though, because.. well.. I don't want to be THAT kind of stalked.  So if you're a RunKeeper user, be my friend!

August's Goals:

~Acquire new running shoes (uggggghhhh)
~Triathlon!!!
~Continue training for the 1/2 marathon
~Ride Monty
     ~Put Monty's new seat cushion on and pump up his tires with my handy dandy air pump.
~Make a hotel reservation in Winston-Salem for Teh MD Adult Roomie and I... (I swear I'll get this done, if you're reading this.. I did at least make the Disney reservation (and picked our our Magic Band colors)!!)
~Don't die in the heat
~Maybe run the bridge if I can motivate myself to get there.  If a stranger suggested that as a first date, I'd be all over it!







Linking up with Alyssa and Tracy!

Friday, April 3, 2015

Five on Friday #48

UNO


Shin splints and headaches and uncomfortable shoes and not running are making me nervous.  I'd really like to do well on the 10-miler on the 18th, but I feel like I've gotten setback in my training schedule (which I had intended to follow since 9+ miles is particularly hard on me) and I'm not happy about it.

Granted, I'm sure headaches were yet another way of my body telling me NOT to run to only make my shin splints worse (among other things, hello girl time, bleh) and my way of being able to predict the weather.  I had planned on running yesterday after work, but I came home early with the same headache that was the cause of me going home early on Wednesday.  Lucky for me, I can work from home so I didn't have to make the decision to be miserable at work or take sick time, because I would have just been miserable at work.

I'm planning on a run this evening no matter what.  I NEED to do at least 7 miles.  Then next week I'm hoping to have a few "short" (3-5 miles) runs and a 8-9 mile long run.  Then I'm planning on taking it easy the week of the 10 miler.  Just one or two "short" runs early in the week, then the 10 miler on Saturday.

I noticed when we were running the bridge at the 11 min/mile pace, my shins weren't hurting as bad as they did when I ran on Monday at my 10-10:30 min/mile pace.  I'm not sure if it's the shoes or if I need inserts or wtf is going on, but feeling pain with each step I make is absolutely unbearable.

Another reason I'd like to get back into the running game is because those pounds that the scale told me were gone.. are back...  Partially because it was fat week and partially because I was running so I had been previously burning those calories.  Additionally, running makes me want to eat healthier to fuel my body better.  I can tell a difference when I eat fried, fatty foods vs when I eat veggies and lean meats.



DOS

I have a not secret obsession with 3/4 sleeve shirts.  Additionally, buying clearance clothes from Target.com and having them shipped to my house is kinda like that StitchFix thing.. except cheaper (ish) with just shirts, without having to pay someone to tell me things that would look good on me..  All the shirts didn't look good on me, but that means dollas saved when I return them to the store!  Oddly enough, I ended up liking more of the shirts than I thought I would, so I'm not sure if that's a win (for me) or lose (for my dollas).  Fortunately, everything was on clearance, so I don't feel AS guilty.

The guilt comes in when I add the $$ I spent at Loft with Teh MD Adult Roomie...  Oops.  YAY ALL THE SHIRTS!!!



TRES*

The Bridge Run photos were finally posted!  I didn't go out of my way to photobomb anyone this time, it was just too cold.  Also, as someone who has a minimal level of skill in photography, why in the hell are they charging $15 for a digital print.  No.  Just no.  I'll just screenshot that bad boy girl and deal with the watermark.  You can charge me under $5 and I will probably buy the photo, but it's obvious that you're trying to make a profit off a $15 digital print that you didn't have to really show any skill to take the photo other than a super fast shutter finger to get all the people.  There were over 35,000 runners.  Even if only 100 of those runners bought a single print, you still overly paid for all the photographers you had to hire for the event.  Let's be generous and say they started shooting at 6, but probably not since it was dark.  Let's say the event ended at noon, since there was still activities going on in the park.  Additionally, there was a children's run the day before and people love photos of their kids, so lets just add another 100 photos from those parents buying those photos.  That's $3,000 right there.  I don't know how many photographers were hired to shoot for the event, but let's say 15 for the start line (they were standing on scaffolding over the start line and I was running and couldn't count and they were mixed in with the local media who were airing the start waves), 2 for the finish line photos (who we saw), plus 13 other randoms to wander around.

That's about $100 per person for 6 hours or almost $17 an hour.  I KNOW for certain that more than 200 people are going to buy photographs.  There was also an option to pay $60 and get copies of every photo you were tagged in.  Uhh, no.  There was 1 photograph out of 25 that was actually a decent photo of Teh MD Roomie and I that I would have considered paying for.  I didn't even appear in half of the photos that I was tagged in.

/endrant
On to the photos!






QUATRO

I finally recieved my PostSecret book this week in the mail and I'm pretty sure Mr. Scrooge is addicted.  But he likes to discuss them and have a reaction to each one as he read them, which is cool if I'm not reading them too.  I like to have quiet, introspective time when I read PS.  He likes to comment about how horrible or fucked up things are.  I've threatened to make him read a different PS book as me if he is going to be so verbal, lol.  I do appreciate the fact that Mr. Scrooge likes reading PS.  Teh Bear never "got it" and he would tell me he didn't understand why I would read them.  /rolleyes

Now if I could just get Mr. Scrooge to tell me secrets, I'd be golden.  I don't think he was a fan of the secret I told him last night.  I almost stopped myself, but then finished it: I've considered walking away several times because of our significant differences in "they way we deal with things." 



CINCO

We ALLLLLMOST subscribed to Netflix last night.  ALMOST.  Then Mr. Scrooge got to the part where you put in your credit card info and he was like, what about my free month?  I explained they charge after the free month.  At which point he decided that his wallet was too far away and went back to Amazon Prime, then eventually back to the TV, where we started watching The Lego Movie, which I really want to finish, because I thought the first 20 minutes was hilarious, but I was tired.





*If you're a photographer and want to put me in my place, feel free.  I still hold that $15 for a digital print is ridiculous and yes I know how wide spread they can go.  Plop a watermark on it somewhere, charge me $5, and call it a day.


Happy Friday, Gentle Readers.
Linking up with these ladies since it's FFFFRRRRRRIIIIIIDDDDAAAAYYYY!!!!!!!!!

Wednesday, March 25, 2015

Confessions {3/25}

-Since I've openly admitted that I start this post as a draft immediately after hitting publish on the current week, I need to admit that I opened calendar to see what the date was for the upcoming Wednesday because adding 18+7 was too hard.  #liberalartsmajorsrock #mathsucks


-I was hesitant to add another linkup to my on-going linkup list, butttt I felt like my overuse of hashtags here meant that I could jump on the #hashtaghumpday wagon without too many waves being created.  #sorrynotsorry #linkupsfordays


-This happened:
Me: Hey we have that Groupon for the Brazilian steakhouse.  When do you wanna go?
Mr. Scrooge: Thursday.
Me: Uhh, ok.  Why Thursday?
mS: It's supposed to rain.
Me: Ok then.
#Soundlogic, I guess.


-TL;DR: A lady holding Phil's leash forgot she was holding him and just walked off and I didn't even yell at her.  Read on to understand why that even matters:

When we went to the greyhound event at the Brewery a few weekends ago, a lady with the Charleston group offered to hold Phil for me since I had all 3 dogs while Mr. Scrooge went to order beer or do something, whatevs, NBD.  I let her hold Phil since he's the best.  I asked her a few times if she wanted me to take him back and she each time she said she was fine.  During this time, Mr. Scrooge had returned and taken Meri or Xero and I eventually ended up with both of them again when he went to pee or something, IDK, I'm not his event tracker.

I just so happened to look towards Phil and realized at that moment that the lady was getting up and walking away and HAD DROPPED MY SIGHTHOUND'S LEASH.  She didn't hand it back to me and say she was leaving, no.. it was like she completely forgot that she was holding him and just got up and walked away.  She had said she came to the events without her greyhounds since they weren't good with crowds so she could volunteer when someone needed and extra hand.  WHAT?!?!  Then how do you just let him go?

Every greyhound/sighthound person is strongly ingrained with a sense of use the slip-knot, don't let them off-leash in areas that aren't enclosed, blah blah blah.  If you're a sighthound owner who doesn't follow these rules, please don't tell me because I will harshly judge you.  Fortunately for all (mostly for that woman), it was Phil and he didn't even notice she was gone, but I sure did and grabbed his leash up quickly because when that Old Man wants to he, can move with a swiftness.  I didn't say anything to her, but it was quite difficult to hold my tongue.  I mean, really?!

If you are completely lost as to what just happened, let me give you some background.  Sighthounds aren't like normal dogs which can use their strong sense of smell to return from where they came.  They are able to see crazy good though, which is why they are used for hunting.  As for US Greyhounds (so Phil), because they are trained to chase "prey" (which is actually just a stuffy, but is easily mistaken by the dogs for fuzzy critters outside (to include bunnies, squirrels, cats, etc)), they can be interested in something that a human can't even see and take off.  Due to the speed of the greyhound, there's very little possibility of catching them once they are off and there is a minimal possibility if they get lost that they will be able to find their way back.  Thus rules like using a slipknot around your wrist when the dog is on the leash and not being leash-less in unenclosed spaces are the gospel.  Period, ever.  There have been a few times that Phil has escaped out the front door when we were in MD and my heart stopped.  I'm lucky that Phil doesn't like to be far from me, but if a cat had been in the same vicinity, he would have eaten a cat before coming back to me and then who knows what else he would have done.  It's just too risky.  /stepping off sighthound soapbox. #sighthoundproblems


-Greyhounds in Gettysburg is coming!  I don't even feel close to ready. #probablyshouldstopprocrastinating


-Sometimes, I catch myself holding my boob if I am sitting at my desk with my arm laying on my desk, across by body.  My hand naturally falls open and my boob naturally fits in it... It's kinda weird and I hope that my coworkers don't judge me. #bigboobproblems

-I get a wee bit of joy from the fact that I'm no longer the "largest" female at Company.  Not that I'm fat and I don't think she is either, but she wears a lot of layers, but I won't deny the fact that I compare myself to the other women. #ijudgemyself

-I brought Phil to work with me yesterday.  I let him get in Yurtle before I was completely ready to go and he stayed in the car even after hearing the treats bag rustle.  He was SERIOUS about leaving the house.  When Meri noticed Phil was in the car, she joined him, and it broke my heart to usher her back in the house. #mydogsaremykids

 -When the New Lady walked in yesterday and saw Phil standing at my desk, she kinda froze like he was being aggressive towards her (not even close).  Not really caring much, I asked her if she was afraid of dogs.  She said, "No, just big dogs.  I've only really dealt with small dogs."  I'm not really sure if my face conveyed my annoyance, but I tried to keep it contained.  I informed her that Phil wasn't going to hurt her and he was probably going to sleep all day.  Which he did.  #dontbedramatic


-After working out at the gym for over a month and watching the scale not budge at all, I started running to prepare for my 10K this coming Saturday and I've watched the scale drop about 5lbs in the last few weeks.  Running, I hate/love you. #runningsucks

-I didn't believe in "having a case of the Mondays" until this week.


-I'm not really good at rest days from running.  They make me feel lazy.

-I invited myself to Wing Tuesday with some of my coworkers next week because I'm tired of being left out of all the activities.  BOOM #awomaninchargeissexy #imnottryingtoimpressanyone


-Do these hashtags have to be commonly used or is making up my own completely acceptable?  #dontcare #idowhatiwant



-Having gotten back into running, I really miss living near DC where there are a million and a half options for races.  In SC there's maybe 2 options to run a race where you can get a medal, because if it doesn't have a medal for 10K+, I'm not interested.  #runningsnob
Runs I'm interested in for 2015:
~Tarheel 10 Miler (Seriously though, someone run this with me!  I really wanna run this on completely decked out in NC State gear because #UNCsucks)
~Firecracker 10k
~Stubborn Girl 10k
~Firebreak 10k
~Carowinds Run and Ride 10k


-That said, I registered for this virtual running thing, Meet Me on Mars 2015.  I mean, I'm going to be running anyways.  Might as well support something while I'm doing it and get a generic medal, riiiight?  Right.

-In addition to that, I also signed up for the Live Long and Prosper Memorial.  Essentially once you sign up for the Mars one, you get discounts for the other runs they put on.  Hopefully my money is actually going to charity and it's not a scam, but whatevs. #irunformedals


-Let's summarize those last 4 confessions: I spent the entire day making sure Phil didn't do anything inappropriate at the office and looking for runs to participate in.  All.day.long.  I feel guilt for not having work to do.  Seriously.  #ilikeworking


-I saw my first SC truck with a scrotum dangling from the trailer hitch.  I frowned deeply.  Then I noticed the "Navy Dad" sticker on the back window and I judged. #fakescrotumsareinappropriate


-I've had these bad dreams this week regarding sexy things.  In one of them, Mr. Scrooge got jizz on my new running shoes, but I was more upset about the fact that I didn't get no satisfaction and went to the bathroom and cried.  Reminder: this was all a dream.  #dreamsareweird


-For the last few weeks, I've been fighting the urge to stop at Hardees (or Carl Jr's, if you're from those places) to get a breakfast sammich.  But I tell myself no because I have oatmeal at work and all the calories and the extra time it would take.. but I can feel my resolve fading.  #fattyatheart

-The absolute worst thing when you're pissed off and yelling/screaming at someone is the self-actualization that you wouldn't be yelling if you weren't high on a PMS fueled hormone surge.  Nonetheless, I was still in the right about the thing I was yelling about, even if my presentation was wrong.  In my defense though, I'd already tried the calm/reasonable, "that shit pisses me off, stop doing it" conversation and it obviously didn't get me anywhere if that shit was still happening.  #livingwithaboytestsmypatience


-I'd forget half of my confessions if I didn't send myself texts (via audio input) while I am driving to remind myself of all my car thoughts.  #drivingthoughts

-Some mornings, I experience irrational rage at the "nice" people who want to let everyone and their brother in front of them during my work commute.  I don't care that they are trying to go the same way as us.  Traffic was actually moving when you STOPPED to let that person out.  No.  It's slightly different if we're already stopped and you let them pull out, but if you STOP flowing traffic to let someone out, I want to rear end you and I don't feel a little bit sorry if I cut you off when I pass you because you're going under the speed limit.  #thatswhatshesaid #bitchplease






#Hashtaghumpday @ Life with LoloMaking Melissa

Wednesday, February 25, 2015

Confessions {2/25}

-I'm pretty sure I'm going to keep Spotify Premium.  Mostly based on the fact that I can search an artist and listen to all their albums on shuffle... and the Deep Focus playlist helps me get so much work accomplished... and because several Gentle Readers told me that it's worth it.

-That said, listening to Imagine Dragons on shuffle has brought me great joy.


-I get acne when I'm stressed.  I can pinpoint events that spawn certain zits.

-If it's going to be less than 38°F, it should be snowing out.  I don't care how far south I am.

-I'm unbearably jealous of everyone who got snow days and fluffy white stuff, but I swear to Buddha if I had to see another FB status about everyone getting their workout from shoveling snow, I was going to shake a baby.  I fully supported the person who just admitted they would have paid someone to shovel their driveway.  Seriously though, why don't I just move to Canada and become a hermit? (Wolverine reference, anyone?)


-Mr. Scrooge said somethingrecently about me "going back to DC" and then had to add on that he meant visiting Teh MD Roomies.  I found it highly suspicious and awkward.  I'm letting it go (but only after I tell someone (you, my Gentle Reader) about it).

-I clean out my hair brush every time I use it.  I hate hair.

-I hate how most of my original posts have missing images because I was adding images to Teh Blog through URLs.  The problem with that is photos go missing and my photos don't show up.  Le sigh... and I'm too lazy to go back through those old posts and fix that shiznit.  Oh well.  #bloggerproblems

-I think stress may be the highest contributing factor to my weight gain/lack of weight loss.  Despite working out 3+ times a week, I'm seeing weight GAIN instead of loss and it's not like I'm doing any weight lifting to bulk up.  Also, I've recently consumed a shit ton of starch, which makes me wonder what would happen if I went gluten free.  Thanks for that brain-seed, Kathy...  :(  I wasn't really eating much starch last year around this time.  I stuck to veggies and a meat.  I used to be a HUGE pasta fan and now I'm not really interested in pasta/rice/potatoes.  It doesn't make me feel fuller, it's just something else on my plate to eat, which leads to over-eating... which could also be another culprit of the gain since I tend to eat when I'm stressed.  FML.


-Teh Dad and Teh Stepmom are coming to visit this weekend and I have no idea how to entertain them since there's really nothing to do in Charleston besides eat, which I know you've seen me rant about over and over.  Update: I scoured Groupon and LivingSocial and found tickets for indoor go-karts and bought 4.  HA, Saturday entertainment complete.  They also requested to go to the market downtown, so we'll do brunch (eating, of course) and then hit up the market and maybe the battery depending on the weather. 

-I've already suggested to Teh MD Adult Roomie that we should do go-karts when they come to visit.  3 solid reasons: 1- HELLO GO-KARTS!  2- Practice for Teh MD Teenage Roomie's driving skills.  3- Said practice for Teh MD Teenage Roomie means more practice without having to involve Caroline (Teh MD Adult Roomie's car).. and after curbing Yurtle preeetttty hard that one time (seriously, never living that down, me for letting her drive or her for hitting the curb so hard), some practice wouldn't hurt.


-One of my least favorite parts about the work computer (Mac) is that the oils from my fingers/lotion from my hands gets on the keys and then it goes on the screen and the keys get slippery and it's kinda gross and I feel like I need some Clorox wipes to get the oil off.  This is awful because my knux are super ashy and need lotion, but when I put it on it feels so icky on the keyboard. #firstworldproblems

-The gym is doing renovations and they are currently on the weight room phase which means I don't have to walk through the bro-smell every day when I'm leaving/entering the gym.  It's awesome.  That said, WHERE ARE ALL THESE PEOPLE COMING FROM TAKING MY MACHINES AND SHIT!?!  (I have a hankering feeling that they announced the PRT (physical readiness test) is in 10 weeks or close so all these nuke babies feel the need to start getting their workout on.  Meh.)

-I had to use a different style of elliptical last week when all the other bitches had taken the ones that I usually use..  You member... the ones that incorrectly calculate my calories?  Yeah those shitty ones.  Whatever.  Anyways, I use a different one and holy shit my ass hurts so bad.  And my back and all my pieces.  I'm thinking it's more of a stair-stepper elliptical than the other elliptical.  The best/worst part of it?  It felt like I was workin' hard AND it calculated my calories more accurately than the other machines I was using, so I'll probably keep using it.  When I put my workout into Runkeeper and the calorie count was 1 calorie off, I was impressed.  With a longer workout there was more of a distortion (machine low, RK high), so I just averaged and called it a day.  But really, all my pieces hurt so bad I had to sleep with the heating pad.


-I can't wait to work from home on the 3rd so I don't feel guilty about how little work I actually do sometimes, although my boss informed me that once we get funds for our next project, I won't be bored anymore and I should enjoy the downtime while I have it.... meaning he's totally seen me on FB 95% of the day.


-I want to be friends with the 3 other women I work with, but women are vicious and they aren't letting me into their group yet.  I'm sure it just takes some time, but seriously... I just want to be friends!  (no really, I need to make more friends here.)  Ok, or maybe I'm just standoffish and I'm difficult to get to know?

-We have a receptionist that sits at the front door and since our office is a suite in a building, to get to the bathroom or cafe, you walk by her.  It's always awkward for me to walk past her without saying anything, but I feel like if I sat at the door, I wouldn't want people always speaking to me.  I just want to be friends!!!


-I was super pumped about not having to sitting through 2 days of meetings this week when we start this new project... then my boss forwarded me an email last Friday from the government rep asking for someone to take minutes at the meeting and didn't Company just hire a tech writer?  FML.  These meetings are going to be soooo painful since I have to actually pay attention to take notes.  PS. I still love my job.

-To the asshat who drove on the median (which was as wide as his Camry, it reminded me of someone driving on the sidewalk), I hope you get a flat tire from road debris for being an asshole.

-You know you're officially an adult when you eat dinner before 5:30, go to bed before 9pm, and make the choice to leave earlier in the mornings so you don't have to deal with rush hour traffic.  Not only does this mean I get to leave work earlier, it means that my commute takes 20 minutes instead of 30.  WIN.


-Yep, I'm making up for last week's lack of confessions this week... apparently.

-I want to run a Disney 1/2 Marathon or 10K.  Really I want to do the 10K, but there's the Glass Slipper Challenge which is the 10K and the Half in one weekend and it might be horrible, buttttt ALL THE MEDALS!!  And of course I would do the princess runs.  DUH.  But there's also the coast to coast challenge where you do a DW run and a DL run in the same year and you get a medal for that.  I have a problem.  But seriously, anyone wanna do the Glass Slipper Challenge with me 18-21 February 2016??????  Seriously.


-The new PostSecret app only being available on the Apple Store infuriates me.  I would almost be willing to pay $8 for the app... oh but they don't have for Suzy2.5.  No Megan dollas for you PostSecret..






Making Melissa

Wednesday, November 5, 2014

Hello? Is this thing on?

This is going to be a random brain dumping post, so hold on for a wild ride read.

Teh Ginger told me when he was editing my resume that 2 spaces after a period is antiquated.  Is that true?  If so, I don't care.  I still hold to my 2 spaces after a period unless I'm writing a paper for a class and I've went over the page limit and I need to tighten it up some.  I'm not a little bit sorry.  And yes I said go OVER the page limit.  It's a common problem I have.

I went to Target orientation to Thursday.  It was strange to me to FEEL overqualified for a job.  I was handling it pretty well until I saw that they scheduled me for 24 hours in a 2 week period.  Then I did the math.  $8.50 an hour (yes, that's what I'm getting paid and yes I'm slightly ashamed) for 24 hours = $204 for 2 weeks.. and that's NOT deducting taxes.  So lets just roughly estimate $175ish for 2 weeks.  There might have been tears when I figured that out.


Additionally, going back to a place that I worked at in college and earning almost minimum wage again has been a difficult pill to swallow.  Some of the people who hold leadership positions at this Target graduated from college THIS year.  As in gradated college with their Bachelor's in 2014.  I graduated college in 2007, did 6 years in the Navy, and started on my M.A. and I'm working part-time for minimum wage under someone that graduated THIS YEAR.  My soul is crushed.  Additionally, listening to the HR manager tell us how much better her life was once she left the floor and got into management didn't help the situation... AT ALL.

To all those people who told me how easy it would be for me to find a job with my security clearance and my job history and already having my B.A.... What were you talking about?!?!?!  What am I doing wrong?  Am I just being impatient?  Do I not have enough faith that things will work out?

I know that with the house and the move, everything fell into place at, what felt like, the last possible minute.  I was hoping to start work on October 20th, so that last possible minute would have been a few days before that.  Is this some type of joke where God's "last possible minute" is November 9th?  Because if that's the case fine, I just need a little heads up so I can fuel a little more patience and put these breakdowns on the back burner.

On the other hand, working at Target means I get to keep my blue hair.  Since it was my first day of work, I wore it in a very "professional" sock bun, per Teh Worldwide Jesus Lover's suggestion.  She doesn't understand just how uncool sock buns are, but that's because she was never in the military.  Additionally, I don't use a sock, I use the As-Seen-On-TV Bun Maker thingy.  It's pretty sweet because it weighs so much LESS than an actual sock, which I have used before... ouch.


My first official day of work was Monday and it was more disappointing than I expected.
The Target that I work at seems to be a shit-show.  If I had been a customer walking into that store when it opened and saw what I saw, I'd have walked out and never went back.  There were all kinds of shopping carts all over the stores with merchandise to still be put out.  That first day, I worked in clothes, or what Target refers to as Softlines.  There were clothes on wrong racks, unfolded clothes all over the tables, men's clothes in the women's section, women's clothes in the kid's sections, gaping holes where merchandise should have been in women's socks/underwear.  It was bad.  Then after we'd finally finished putting the clothes away wherever we could find a place (even if it didn't go there), we moved over to HBA (health and beauty aids, so your cosmetics, hygiene products, etc).  I almost lost it when I couldn't put product out because the wrong product was in it's spot.. because the wrong product was in the wrong product's spot.  After rearranging 3 different types of shaving creams and several different types of deodorant, I was done.

There was another new girl who was working with me and she and I had been told that it was someone else's job to zone (i.e. fix what wasn't in the correct places), so we shouldn't worry about it.  Wait, what?  I shouldn't worry about the fact that I can't put this product out because something else is in the wrong spot?  I can't even.  By the time I left, I was hangry and frustrated.

Additionally, I find it ridiuclous that we were schedule 0630-1030, but they were planning on asking us if we wanted to stay for longer.  Why not just write the schedule for as long as you wanted us to stay?  I can make plans to be at work for as long as you schedule me for.. if I am schedule to work that time.  If I'm not scheduled, then what?  This Target is unbearably frustrating to me.  I don't remember this kind of scenario at the Target in Cary.

Anyone wanna hire me for a "real life" job in the Charleston area?

The afternoon after my first day of work, I posted on FB asking if anyone knew of companies in Charleston that were hiring or had any contacts they could pass my resume onto since networking is the best way to get a job.  I had a few people who offered to pass on my resume and then I had people say shit like, "You should have moved to DC," or "I could help if you were in my location."  Not helpful.  Seriously?  Why would anyone say that?  I'm not moving to DC, I moved to SC for a reason, and yes it was a risk, but I still have faith that it will work out better than I planned... or at least I have a blind faith that it will hope out better than I planned.

I went through motorcycle safety class last weekend and I loved riding a motorcycle.  Now, we didn't go faster than 20mph, and I think that driving on the highway would terrify the bejesus out of me, but maybe one day when I can afford more than the $10 water bill I might be able to afford a motorcycle.  Hahahhaha... /sadface.

I missed my linkup Monday with Britt and Emmy and I feel a little bad about it, but I've just been wiped out.  Between feeling pretty worthless about this job situation and having the determination to even walk into Target and then dealing with things on the homefront, it's just been a difficult time.  We've finally reached a month of living together and rather than just sit back and let things bother me, I've been speaking up about it, so that way it's not assumed I'm ok with things.  Additionally, I didn't really have much of a weekend to review.

Friday was Halloween and I had nothing to do (except for meet Mr. Mystery for lunch and then we went to the Ducati motorcycle shop to size a helmet and jacket for me) until class that started at 5 and was supposed to end at 9.  We got out early at 7:30, which was nice.  I didn't get home till 8 since I had to pick up some candy on the way home since we ran out.  I heard that Meri and Phil were a hit though, even if Mr. Mystery didn't put their costumes on them.

Me: Thing 2
Phil: Drunk Mexican
Meri: Princess Leia

Saturday I was in class all day and when I came home from class, we went to Mellow Mushroom for dinner since we had both been thinking about it earlier in the day.  Sunday was class again all day, then after I got out of class, I met Mr. Mystery at his boss's house to watch foosball.  Around 6, we finally left and came home to feed the dogs, then we went back out for dinner at a mexican place around the corner.

Did I mention I've gained about 10 lbs since I arrived in SC?  All this eating out and not running is absolutely killing me (literally cause fat kills you? get it?  get it?!).  I'm not complaining, but I really need to self-motivate more and get off my ass.  Working out makes for a happier Teh Megan, overall, not just in a yay-my-pants-fit-again-thank-God-because-I-work-at-Target-and-can't-afford-to-buy-more type way.

In Charleston, people rarely go over the speed limit.  Sometimes, people don't even go THE speed limit.  But these bitches are HAPPY to run red lights.  Been sitting at the red light too long and there's no oncoming traffic?  Oh, nbd, just gonna make my turn now, but I just drove down the road doing 35 in a 45mph zone, don't mind me.  #RAGE!

I was shopping at Bi-Lo so Mr. Mystery could get credit towards his gas.  But when I had to pay $2 more for the same beer that I didn't get a Publix, I told him I was done with Bi-Lo.  #sorrynotsorry Also, why wasn't I using the gas credit????  I'm not the one with the motorcycle.  Then again, apparently, the motorcycle requires premium gas.  Whatevs.

I'm so stressed about all.the.things that my hair is coming out.  All this expensive blue hair, just falling out of my head.  /weep.

I have been spending significantly less time on the computer since I got to SC.  Mr. Mystery isn't as technologically superior dependent as me, so I try not to be on the computer all the time when he is home, unless I'm applying for jobs or talking to people or he's playing video games.  This has been detrimental to my blogging... along with my pretty busy schedule last weekend.

We were actually asleep before 9:30 Sunday night, which I only know because I had missed texts from Teh MD Adult Roomie and Teh Sister around that time that I didn't see until I woke up late (i.e. 10 minutes before I was supposed to leave for Target) on Monday morning.  Going to bed that early meant no time for blogging, even though I gave the computer a longing look when I turned off the lights and went into the bedroom, that counts for something, right?

At 2:20 on Tuesday afternoon I started drinking because all of these things, plus dealing with the phone insurance company set me over the edge.  I'm just over it all right now and while I wish this was all PMS invoked drama, it's not even close to PMS time.  Le sigh.

When you're at the bottom, you can only go up from there right?  Riiiiight??????
(Let's just say that was a rhetorical question or that you said "yes" so I don't have a breakdown.)

I started reading The Help the other day and I love it.  I don't know anything about the book, other than it is supposed to be really good and that's not the reason that I love it.  I love it because I can read and comprehend southern dialect and it feels like home in my brain.  As much as I fight the country, reading the southern dialect makes me incredibly happy.  The Help keeps making me think of Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry (I just remembered that title randomly because earlier when I was trying to think of it, I couldn't remember to save my life, take that brain!) that we read in 7th grade English.  Mostly because they are set around the same time and talk about segregation.  Granted I'm only 20 pages into The Help, so I'm sure there will be more to rave about later, but seriously, southern talk makes my brain happy.

I finally put Meri and Phil's jammies on them.  Then I took them out in public on a walk.  We got so many compliments.  Then we ran into a group of boys who were 6-10 years old and 2 of the boys were walking their dogs.  The dogs proceeded to drag them down the street in an attempt to get to us.  I huffed it down the street and around the corner so Meri would refocus and so their dogs wouldn't catch us.  Instead of going down a different street, they followed us and I wanted to slaughter a group of children.  Also, what parents thinks letting their 6-8 year old walk their dog is a good idea?  It's not.  Your 80 pound kid can't control your 80 pound dog.  I know you want both the kid and the dog out of the house, but that's not a solution.  EVER.  I wasn't worried that either dog was going to attack us, they just seemed overly interested and the boys were unable to control the dogs like an adult would have been able to.  It wasn't the kid's fault.  It wasn't the dog's fault.  People make me rage.

I bought Beautiful Katamari for the Xbox 360 since that's what Mr. Mystery has (and since Teh Bear took the PS3 I bought for Christmas with him, yay for unlabled, ambiguous Cmas presents) and I'm still not the best at Katamari.  It doesn't help that with the 360 controller, the joysticks aren't on the same horizontal plane.  I figure with practice I'll get better.  I also purchased Viva Pinata, and Marvel Ultimate Alliance, which came with Forza 2, a racing game.  The purpose of buying all these games was twofold.  1.  They all have a multiplayer function so Mr. Mystery and I could play together.  2.  I was "celebrating" getting the job at Target.

Please note that very rarely do I say I went to work.  I just say I went to Target.  I'm hoping that I won't be working there for very long.  Dear Work Gods, please please please please pleaseeeeeeee bestow a delightful full-time job upon me.  Plskthx.  -Desperate Teh Megan


Wednesday, May 28, 2014

Humpday Confessions #6

When Tuesday is actually Monday, my brain gets all confused.  Only a few more days left till the weekend!!  Thank Allah.

Vodka and Soda
(link)

Confessions:

-Listening to ESPN channels for 1.5 hours when the school kids arrive at my house in the afternoon makes me want to choke a baby.  (Dear Roomie, I know I could tell him to turn it off.)  Teh MD Adult Roomie has told me that I can tell him to turn it off, but the reality is, it wouldn't matter if it was ESPN or TNT or CBS or Oxygen or TBS, the noise would still annoy the shit out of me.  I don't mind when he can't find the sound system remote and the TV is on with no sound, that works for me.  It's just the obnoxious voice of that one girl who has been told to have that obnoxious "I'm a hot girl and I know about sports" personality or the sound of idiot sports players who shouldn't be given a microphone because they could barely pass 10th grade English and they have no idea what they are talking about and essentially end up rewording the question and making it a sentence or better yet, someone asks them about the game and they're like, "Well, I just look for openings and work with my team."  Yes, of course that's what you did.  You are on a sports TEAM.  And then the replays.  OMG the replays.  All.the.freakin.replays.  Because there's a million cameras around the court/field and we need to get a replay from each and every one with all the different angles, because seeing that ridiculous "victory dance" or touchdown or hole in one once just isn't enough.

Ok, maybe the fact that it's ESPN makes me especially prickly.

My face when someone defends ESPN.

-There's a guy at work with "ESPN" tattooed on his arm.  I judge the shit out of that guy.

This is my "You can't be serious" face.

-I may have gotten drunk one night last weekend and wrote a email full o' feelz before finally going to bed but had the sense to wait until I was sober to send it (cause Drunk Megan was drunk and Sober Megan is... smart-er...ish.y) and then didn't get the response I was wanting/expecting (please see above photo for my reaction).  1 more chance, but good game.  Boys are stupid.

-When they weighed me for my endoscopy consult, they didn't subtract any pounds for the fact that I was in uniform.  I was a bit irritated at that, because even the Navy takes off 8 pounds when you step on the scale in full uniform.  Those boots are heavy.  I've been working my ass off (literally), so seeing her put down something that I know was incorrect was irritating.


-Sandra Oh leaving Grey's and the episode with Burke makes me want to go back and rewatch seasons 1-3, which were the best seasons that ever aired.  Once the writer's strike happened during season 4, the show lost a LOT, IMO.

-I got my separation package from PSD yesterday which thrilled my stone cold heart.  As I was going through some Navy papers trying to find some of the requested information, I found the OCS package I was working on when I was stationed in VA Beach.  I'm not sure if it was a missed opportunity or if it worked out exactly as it should have.  I guess I'll never know.  The only thing I needed was interviews and to put the package together.  Oh well.

-I'd really like to save some money.  But I'd really like to buy ALL.THE.THINGS!!!  Phil needs more supplements (he gets more pills than I do each day), I've been eyeballin' some new t-shirts (and in my defense, it is finally summertime), I ruined my comforter a few weeks ago because it was too big for the washing machine... just stuff.  Stuff I can do without, but still.  ALL.THE.THINGS!!!


-I remembered to do this post after seeing Kathy's post yesterday.  YAY for memory jogs.

-When Kathy mentioned that she was considering ending the linkup, I wasn't too surprised.  It's my blogging lot in life that when I really like a link-up and I'm actively participating (and I've actually found other bloggers that I like reading, YAY!), the host decides to end it.  It's a rough life I lead.  Hopefully she's been talked into NOT ending the linkup, but still.  Not surprised, but plenty of sads were had.

-The extreme temperate difference between the upstairs and downstairs of my house irritates the shit out of me.  I was soooo miserable the other night because it was so hot.  I even had the fan on and the covers off and I just couldn't get comfortable.  I know its even hotter in the other bedrooms, so I was feeling particularly bad for Teh Roomies.

-I get 0 joys from starving the dogs until 5-6pm, as they think that any movement of any 2-legger or any sound in the kitchen/dining room is to facilitate feeding time after 2:30pm, and it's kind of obnoxious.  But I get all the joys from Meri not waking me up at 0300 because she's hungry.  She even slept until 6am this past weekend.  Ecstatic doesn't accurately convey my feelings.

(source)

-I'm going to Golden Corral for lunch today with Teh Australia Travel Buddy and his wife.  Golden Corral just opened up a few weeks ago, so I've not been to this one, nor have I been in probably a decade.  I'm sure its guaranteed to be an entertaining experience for everyone.

(source)


Wednesday, April 30, 2014

Humpday Confessions #3

Halfway there... I can do this, I can do this..

Vodka and Soda


Confessions:

-Having an official button for this link up makes me way happy, good job Kerry and YAY Kathy!

-When did Easter become Christmas?  I've seen Easter baskets that are like the loot some kids/people receive at Christmas.  We always got candy and a Disney movie.  That candy included Teh Dad's favorites so that way he had candy too.  I think the Disney movie was more for the VHS collection than a gift for us, but it sure worked out nice for my parents.  Adulthood seems to be giving me an entirely different perspective on my childhood.

-Not having a fenced in yard for all of vacation made me more humble and more grateful for our little "poop spot."  I'm also thankful for extremely beautiful weather during vacation which meant I didn't have to walk around in the rain every.single.time I took the beasts out.

-Remember when I said I was getting this gun:


Yeah, that's not what the shop ordered and I ended up with the Standard Mark III which looks like a WW2 pistol and well, it was a disaster Gentle Readers.  I didn't cry over it, but I was pretty pissed off.  The situation kinda worked itself out, but that doesn't stop me from being really pissed at the situation where the lady at the shop ordered the wrong freakin' gun and didn't even apologize or try to make her mistake right.  So yeah, if you're in Western NC, don't shop at Bear Creek Guns... for me.  I'm not a gun connoisseur, so there are probably better guns out there, but IDK.  I shot this one and I loved it.  I could shoot the 22/45 and LOVE it, but I haven't shot it to know.  If I'm not looking at actual different guns to associate them with a name, I have no idea what you're talking about.  People take it for granted when I say I'm buying a gun that I'm gun-smart about all guns...  I'm so not.  I just want something to shoot things with.  I'm going to have to watch a youtube video to learn to clean the gun.  So yeah.

-Despite my intentions to go to sleep early or take a nap, I've failed at this.  This is obviously a repeating problem in my life.  I didn't really get to sleep in while on vacation either, well the one time I did it came with the payoff of cleaning up poop.  I did get to nap a few times, but not having Teh Cloud (my bed) to sleep in made it less satisfying.

-I eat small portions at lunch and large portions at dinner.  I know it should probably be the other way around, but since I workout after I eat lunch, its just better for everyone this way. 

-Since the end of February, I've lost a significant amount of weight and apparently people are noticing, which I have gathered from the extremely obvious staring at the gym and comments from coworkers.  One of the best, yet most infuriating things about being me is that I don't notice physical characteristics of myself or anyone else.  Unless you point out to me that you had 6" cut off your hair or you got your ears pierced, etc, I won't notice.  Unless its about your teeth.  I always notice teeth.  It's a thing, I can't help it.  What this means is that I don't see a change in my body.  I can feel it because I can wear smaller shirts and need smaller pants and I see the numbers on the scale falling (and rising).  It's strange to be this oblivious.

-Working for the first 2 hours of the morning helped pass the time quickly, but now I'm bored again.  Why is it I don't get paid to nap again?  The rainy weather outside only serves to make me more sleepy.

-Meri has consistently pooped where she isn't supposed to (in the house, in Yurtle, etc) since we left for vacation.  I'm not even sure what to do with her anymore, but I am 100% over cleaning up poop every freakin' morning because she refuses to go poop at last out and decides that 0230 is a more appropriate time to let it go.  I'M OVER IT, MERI, YOU WILL SLEEP IN YOUR CRATE IF YOU DON'T GET YOUR SHIT STRAIGHT (pun intended).  Le sigh.  Too bad she can't read this so she could understand my distain for her right now.  She did kinda make up for it last night when I got back from praise team practice by sitting on my lap with me and being still for at least 5 minutes of pettins.  It's the small things.

We were TEN minutes from home of a 10 hour journey (she had TWO opportunities to go business during the trip) when she did this.  At this point I cried..  over poop.  I just couldn't handle it anymore since yelling at her wasn't doing either of us any good.

-I've been listening to the country love songs Spotify channel.  I judge myself while loving being crooned at in a southern accent.  Ok, really its not the accent, its the words, but damn this girl can match that accent so good when singing along!  I don't even know who I am anymore.

Friday, February 21, 2014

Five on Friday #14

UNO


Galgos del Sol has posted several photos of Sam this week.  I love it.  That beard!  Those ears!  She's so fluffy!!!!  Also, I'm worried that Samwise isn't going to be a good fit for a name for her.  Currently, she is called Cadbury, but I'm wanting to stick to something Hobbit/LOTR/JRR Tolkien related since we already have Philbo Baggins. 

Currently tied for 2nd place is Pippin and Merry.  I also want the name to be kinda girly... cause she's.. a girl.  We'll see.




DOS


The only thing that motivated me to get out of bed this morning was that it is Friday.  Truly.  We've got a new schedule at work where I arrive at work at 0600, but I get to leave after lunch, so I'm defintely not complaining.  It's just a difficult adjustment for someone who usually doesn't go to bed until 9:30 and often doesn't get to sleep until 11pm. 

TRES


It might be a 3-day weekend depending on how well VX-1 did on their inspection (that I know absolutely nothing about).  In other VX-1 news, I might be getting trained on another imagery processing program.  It sounds really nerdy, but I'm all like IMAGERRRYYY!?!?!?!  U HAZ?  I WANTS!!!!!!  Oh, real job, how I miss you.  Is it December yet?

QUATRO

I was thinking last night about how I used to write funny posts.  Or at least I was told people thought they were funny.  I should get back to that.  Maybe that means I need more things to rant about?  Like how hard it is to get up at 5am when the bed is just so much more delightful than anything ever. 

CINCO

Weightloss is hard.  Seriously.  Teh Bear told me that I should stop stepping on the scale.  I told him I didn't have a choice, I HAVE to.  I HAVE to meet the standard or else.  He says to just workout and not worry about it.. yeah, I love my lemon oreos too much.  I wish I could get on a workout plan and stick to it, which is really my problem.  I was doing really good during the summer when I had no excuse to NOT go run, but now its too cold or its raining or I need to bring Phil (who only serves to slow me down and make me look ridiculous).  I have a million and a half excuses and yesterday's was that a nap was just so much better and my entire upper chest hurts (including under my boobs which is the worst).  Today I don't have an excuse.  I WILL go to the gym and hit the elliptical and weight machines and/or go on a run, weather depending.  I can do it.  I just need the motivation, and since the fall, I just don't haz it.

Pinterest motivation:

 






Linking up with these ladies since it's FRRRIIIIIDAY:

THE GOOD LIFE BLOG
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