Best time to Fly to Europe: Various webpages for future reference.

http://travel.nytimes.com/2012/04/15/travel/book-well-ahead-to-save-money-on-airfare.html?_r=0

http://www.farecompare.com/travel-advice/best-time-to-fly-to-europe-know-the-seasons-and-save/

http://www.farecompare.com/travel-advice/tips-from-air-travel-insiders/

http://www.farecompare.com/travel-advice/when-to-buy/

http://goeurope.about.com/od/europeantripplanning/a/europe_travel.htm

http://rickseaney.com/2009/06/09/fly-to-europe-for-less-than-a-cross-country-us-trip-yes/

3rd Phone Interview - Hiring Manager - Oct 4, 2012

30-45 minute phone conversation with the Hiring manager, no specifications.

Action: prepared for a behavioral type interview, including basics, like:

- Tell me about yourself.
- What do you do currently?
- Why are you leaving your current position?
- What specifically about this role interests you?

What actually happened.

Hiring manager asked 2-3 questions.

- Why do you want to leave your current position? (Was really asking if there's a legitimate reason for me choosing to leave, i.e. for opportunties/growth, etc... also is it consistent with what you've told everyone else)
- Noticed that I worked at the company previously, and asked how that segment of business related to other parts of the business)
- Why are you interested in this position? (Do you know what you applied for, and are you genuinely interested, or are you just applying just to apply?)
- Finally, do you have any questions about the position?

Results:

Hiring manager talked the entirety of the conversation, and only asked a few questions. Whenever possible, reiterated interest, seldom as those came. I was told the next steps in the hiring process in detail: who they were looking at, what the time frame was for bringing the candidates in for the in-person interview, and when to expect it to happen.

So far so good. Happy thoughts and prayers until after this week!

2nd Phone Interview with Talent Advisor (also HR) - Oct 1, 2012

15-20 minute conversation to further discuss job description, be prepared for behavioral type questions.

Update: HR greeted, and discussed the company, and the various groups this role would work closely with. Was only asked 2-3 questions:

- Why are you leaving your current position?
- Why do you want this position?
- Do you have any questions?

Action: Let HR speak as much as necessary, only discuss interest as it relates to position. Did not speak to fill in silence.

Results: Moved ahead to speak with hiring manager for 30-45 minutes over a third phone interview.

2nd Phone Interview - Tips, etc

Something to keep in mind: http://mgmt.talkingvillage.com/article.x/1570

Questions to ask: http://jobsearch.about.com/od/second-interviews/a/second-interview-questions-to-ask.htm

Possible questions: http://jobsearch.about.com/od/second-interviews/a/second-interview-questions.htm

Resources:

http://www.vinceprep.com/interviews/behavioral-interviews
http://www.quintcareers.com/sample_behavioral.html

http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2011/09/26/how-to-answer-behavorial-interview-questions

http://www.job-interview-wisdom.com/behavioral-interview-questions.html

2nd, 3rd...

http://www.theladders.com/career-advice/what-to-expect-second-third-interview

Phone Interview - 10-15 minutes

Tips, Helpful internet resources...

Start with "Hi, I'm ____", so interviewer does not have to waste time asking for you.

Q: Tell me about yourself
Q: Tell me about your current position
Q: Why are you interested in this position?
Q: Why are you interested in this company?
Q: Why do you want to leave your current company?
Q: What is your experience with Excel? From 1-10, rate; Beginner/Intermediate/Advanced...?
Q: What is the most complicated work you've done with Excel, explain?
Q: What is your salary range?
Q: Are you currently looking for other jobs? What is the time frame?

Great resources:

Link:
http://www.collegegrad.com/jobsearch/Mastering-the-Interview/Ten-Tough-Interview-Questions-and-Ten-Great-Answers/

http://www.cnn.com/2009/LIVING/worklife/03/04/cb.answering.tough.interview.questions/

http://www.theladders.com/career-advice/how-to-answer-tell-me-about-yourself-interview-question

http://www.recruiter.com/i/tell-me-about-yourself-tips-to-answer-this-tough-interview-question/

http://boomerjobtips.com/best-job-interview-thank-you-letter-format/

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/626/1/

Sept 14, 2012 - $0.02 on Birthdays

At the end of the day, does it ever really matter how many "happy birthday!"s were said to you? With social media, facebook particularly, your birthday is set on your profile, and a notification pops up for every one of your so-called "friends"... and generally about 1/4th of them will leave a "happy birthday, hope it's a good one" or some variation of that. Most of whom you probably have not talked to in the last six months, and you might get a few truly genuine well wishes, but if it weren't for facebook, would half of those people even have remembered that it was your birthday? Let alone have sent you a message with some personal pizzazz?

Even when I initially published this information, the birthday greetings were unoriginal and unextraordinary... I couldn't even tell you who said what to me. Social media has created this problem, and albeit I give it credit for making it easy to find old school friends, and "keeping in touch", but it's taken away the personal touches that were once found in handwritten letters, or greeting cards, without messages, at Christmas. It's now difficult for almost everyone to remember a birthday without first checking facebook. Let's not even get started with phone calls... now they're text messages, "Hello, mom. Is that you, I can't tell?"

I really only care for those few personal text messages from friends who remembered, without the little notification on the upper right corner of the website. Those few greetings mean more to me than having hundreds of "happy birthdays" from people who would not remember otherwise.

Sept 12, 2012 - HBDs!

It's been a whirlwind of traveling, birthdays, bachelorettes and engagements these last couple of months... and it's only just starting to slow down. It's my bff's birthday today, happy 30th to my boyfriend and besterest friend I can ever ask for! A few more weeks, and I can maybe start to save for other big things in life....

... knowing me though, I'll be flying by the seat of my pants (probably should learn to control this), and traveling somewhere else just because I can. In the last 6 weeks alone, I've been to Portland, OR/Washington State, Las Vegas, NV and San Diego, CA... all for pleasure. And if you were wondering, no, I decided not to take the trip to India next month. Maybe I'll be back in BC in the winter, I love it up there. It's like New York, minus the congestion.

Jul 11, 2012 - "Phenomenal..."

I never miss my boyfriend's hockey games, not even when I'm sick. And sitting in an ice rink has not been a preference to remedy major headaches... but I go just the same.

Last night was no different, exhausted as I was. His housemate decided to join, so thirty minutes before the game, his housemate and I decided to grab a few more drinks at the bar around the corner... just the two of us. Two shots of Jameson. We really didn't need it to talk, or fill an awkward silence, frankly, he's just a real easy guy to get along with, and conversation is substantial, so finding something of relevance to talk about is easy.

Anyway, we get to talking about his relationship, and eventually he comments on mine with his good friend.

"... you guys are like a phenomenal couple. Seriously.... like really good together."

"... of all the girls he's dated, not that he's dated a lot, his other girlfriends were cordial/friendly, but they never made an effort to really get to know us. You really try to get to know me and Damon, and I appreciate that a lot. Since I've known him, and I've known him for a long time now... he's always looking for something... didn't settle... and now, it's like he's found what he's been looking for... whenever we talk, he doesn't have anything negative to say. I'm happy for him. He's had to deal with a lot of very difficult things in his past, so I'm really happy for him."

Hearing that from someone who my boyfriend considers one of his really good friends is very heart-warming. I do try to make an attempt to be a part of my boyfriend's life, and that doesn't always work for everyone, but for my boyfriend and his friends, that did. Getting the affirmation makes is extremely well worth it.

Jul 10, 2012 - Going to India

I never thought I'd have the opportunity to go to India. At least not this way. One of my best gal pals will be getting married next September, but her Indian celebrations will be this November...

Chances are, I may never have another opportunity to go to an Indian wedding and experience it in this manner. In India. If I can help it, I will make every attempt to go. So far, no dates have been set, but it's looking like anytime between 11/19 and 11/30...

... and if I go, I must make a list of places I want to see... yes, like the Taj Mahal.

- agra (taj mahal)

- new delhi

-jaipur

- bangalore

- back to chennai

(All photos courtesy of Wikipedia)


.... on another note, my boyfriend no longer is considering Japan for his sister's graduation. Strange turn of events. It's almost like he read my blog.... except I never gave him my blog address.


Notes of interest:


Indrail passes for international tourists - http://www.indianrail.gov.in/international_Tourist.html

Jul 2, 2012 - Thinking About Japan

I've known for a short while now that my boyfriend wants to take his younger sister to Japan for her high school graduation gift, just the two of them. When he first told me, I felt excluded. I eventually laid that sentiment to rest, because that's his time with his sister. They're close.

Recently, he's been revisiting our engagement, moving in together, and the rest of our lives. Just two weeks ago, he expressed his frustration over not knowing what to do. Financially he's at the point where he will be ready to move forward, but there are other things he also wants to do... and he's conflicted. I was upset, because, in my opinion, my importance is similar to that of a physical object.... again, after a day of feeling defeated, I let the sentiment go.

... until his Japan trip, those same sentiments came back. And, yes, it really sucks. 

I haven't quite wrapped my head around how I really feel, or how I want to deal with it.... 

Jun 14, 2012 - Building Walls

I'm very good at this.

After a year, I'm still having a hard time letting my guard down. If I find myself threatened in any way, I see myself physically and emotionally distancing from him... if for a second I let my guard down, and try to reconnect, and this is met with perceived rejection... I pull away even further. And, a treacherous cycle ensues. This is especially hard because both he and I are extremely stubborn individuals, part of the draw we have to each other. Very similar individuals, and not at all intimidated by the other.

These last few days have been trying, maybe I'm building on the steam from our Anni-date, but I've really got to let it go.....

Jun 12, 2012 - 1 Year Old (+ 4 Years In the Making...)

I pity any man (literally) who tries to conquer me... so to speak. It's been (1) year, plus some odd days now, since I answered in the affirmative. Yes, to exclusive dating. Yes, possibly the last time. It hasn't been easy, for either of us. I don't make it easy for anyone, not consciously anyway. I definitely have not made it easy for him. I've never been easy to please, and sadly, or maybe even fortunately, it's transferred to how I treat relationships. I quickly defend anything that threatens my morals, and opine honestly, even at the expense of hurting others' feelings. This has caused me a lot of female friends, and strangely kept most of my male friends close. Even in my relationship, I speak openly about feelings and opinions on everything I probably shouldn't talk about. I really do believe we have that kind of relationship. Period. In speaking openly, I have tendencies to offend others from my blunt, and candid remarks, they're often out before they've gone through any scrutiny. Simply, I make a really good guy.

I probably have one of the best boyfriends, ever. And at times, I feel I take him for granted. This is also probably why I behave as I do with him... feeling that he's the best thing to happen to me, and then pondering why so many others have let him go. At their decision. I can say without question that this year has been the best year of my life because of him. Everything in between 2007 and 2011 has provided me the necessary foundation to see with open eyes what he means to me, and to this day, if you ask, my boyfriend will tell you, "I don't know what it was, but the moment I saw you, I was drawn to you... like a fly to fluorescent light. You don't know why you're attracted, but you are... and I've never had that with anyone."

He's the sweetest person I know. And before him, I always reasoned that relationships were meant to be worked on... to the extreme. Annoyances and tolerances were common, and attraction would come with time. And Love eventually fades. When people said, "I just knew" when they were meant to be with someone, I really didn't think it happened. I mean, how do you really know? With him, I knew the moment I met him 5 years ago. I just didn't understand it then.

Happy 1 Year, to the person who has completely changed my perception of what being in love really means.

* why this late post? for days/weeks i did not have any clue what to get him, but today i came across the perfect anniversary gift... and i knew i had to get it. and thus the inspiration to write.

May 25, 2012 - Vacation Trips Past...

... and how I found my love for travel photography.

Everyone goes through moments where they relive moments in their lives, for me this happens often. I relive moments through the photos I take, and not surprisingly, I take a lot of them. I'll admit, it's not as impressive as wedding photogs with over a thousand pictures in one evening, but then again I'm not being paid thousands of dollars to capture the moment. I can understand the pressure though. 

Ever since my first digital point-and-shoot, I've loved the way I felt when I got the perfect shot, whether that be of a person, or an object. So it only made sense when I made the switch to my first DSLR, and began the triple shots of the same subject with differing background compositions, and lighting. I never edited my images, and was strongly opposed to post-editing them, mostly because I didn't own programs to do it, so I learned to be good without it. I even ventured for several years operating without a flash mount, using only what the camera offered... the bare basics, and often preferred natural lighting, this, too, was because I didn't own a flash mount, so I got good at this, too. Indoor/ outdoor evening shots in dim lighting still prove difficult, but I've since invested in a flash.

So, what?!


Anyway, I've been looking at some of my albums and realized I really have an eye for detail. Given that I'm under no pressure to get any one picture, I must say, I did a pretty decent job. 

Here's a look:

May 22, 2012 - Island Withdrawal

If you asked me last Wednesday how I felt about Hawaii, I'd tell you without missing a beat that I disliked it. I spent 14 hours on Oahu on a layover from Japan several years ago, and hated it. So much so that when my boyfriend asked me last November/December to accompany him to a wedding on one of the Hawaiian islands this past weekend and potentially spend a week on vacation, I had no words. I had to explain to him how much I did not enjoy Hawaii, and it was absolutely absurd to ask that I take one week of my vacation time from work and spend it on an island I have already decided I did not like. I eventually had to use the excuse that I really did not see that it was financially responsible for me to spend the money on a "vacation" spot I did not even want to see... and he relented, and let it be.

Come Christmas though, he decided that it was something nice he could do/get for me - buy my flight/accommodations. He presumed it was more monetary than my actual dislike, so I had to clarify and eventually talk down the amount of vacation time I was willing to spend there. He really had no idea. I much preferred to spend it/save it for a future vacation to Europe (somewhere I had been dreaming of visiting since the last Olympics).

Well, now that the "vacation" has come and gone, I retract my initial reactions. I dislike Oahu, not all of the Hawaiian islands, and I've come to learn in my brief time there that this is a shared sentiment, even among the locals. If you visit the rights places, Hawaii is really how I always expected it to be, without all of the high rise buildings, and freeways everywhere you turn... instead, it is long stretches of two lane highways, lots of vegetation and delicious tropical fruits that make you drool at the thought of banana cream pies, and far north, it's mostly one lane, poorly maintained roads sitting cliff side that pass along and sometimes through old villages that are now mostly vacant. Life is slow paced, and really, no one is in a hurry.

The island life is not for me, but what I would give for another couple of days. Until next time for sure. 

May 16, 2012 - Inconsideration

inconsideration - n. rude behavior

Now, this probably won't read like you'd imagine... actually, I'm certain it won't. I'm talking about people, restrooms and work. I guess I just don't get it, I mean how difficult is it to flush the toilet again if you've taken a dump? I mean you wouldn't leave it floating around, if you did it at home... so why would you leave stains of it at work?

The funny thing is, this is women I'm talking about. You'd think they would be more considerate, considering communal use, but alas, time and again, I come across many a stalls where women have not adequately flushed their waste.

Speaking of women and restrooms, have you ever noticed how uncomfortable you feel whilest attempting to take a dump in a public restroom? Everyone does it, but somehow it seems inappropriate. I rarely, if ever, hear another person go... I use to think maybe people just didn't have to, but that's strange, since regular bowel movement is a sign of good, working health. Not to say that I would want to hear another person go, but if someone does, it's a natural process, so why the embarrassment? And in the rare occasions that I do overhear another person perusing the laboratories, I don't hear them GO, usually I just happen to hear a foot tap, or a creak, and realize that there is someone else in the bathroom, silent. I've even gone as far as to take my sweet time zipping up my dress pants, and washing my hands. Still not a peep from the stallmate, and it's not until I begin to make my exit from the restroom, do I hear another sound. If everyone goes, why feel so uncomfortable? It's one thing to make the *ploop ploop ploop* sound, and quite another to make such a stench that the bathroom needs to be evacuated, even before entrance... so unless your shit stank, then stop what you're not doing. It makes me uncomfortable just thinking about how everyone else feels uncomfortable...

It's the same with buying condoms, it seems. The idea of going to the store just to buy condoms is inappropriate. You just cannot do it. You have to pick up the non-essential box of Triscuits as you get into line at the store, so as you have something to hide the large variety pack of Trojan condoms underneath. All it implies is that you're getting some, what's the big deal?

Alas, I digress, people flush your shit, seriously. It's disgusting.

May 15, 2012 - My friend, Kris.

It's cliche to even write this, but the saying "many people will walk in and out of your life, but only true friends will leave footprints in your heart" is especially true with my friend, Kris. I met her summer of 2008, during a camping trip with my then boyfriend. We were friends, immediately, and are still friends even a year since I ended the relationship that made us friends.

Kris became one of my closest confidantes nearing the end of the relationship, helped talk me through all of the rough patches, and was really there with a shoulder to lean on. She gave me advice, and was there for me as my friend. She and I have taken more strides to strengthening our friendship since the break-up, we've taken a couple of trips together in and out of the country. I no longer refer to her as "the friend I met through my ex-boyfriend", but a mutual friend, my friend.

She's the friend I tell people, "I can usually say 'No' when people ask me to drink, but when Kris asks, I can never say 'no'." And she's one of the reasons, I truly believe that each and every person who walks into your life serve some important purpose, for my last boyfriend, he brought me some of the best friends I've ever known. For that, I am grateful.

May 4, 2012 - Bumping into My College RA

Not only was she my resident advisor, but she was my suitemate.

When my roommate and I finally decided we were going to be roommates, we had a serious decision to make. For the true college experience, living in the dorms, and sharing a bathroom with 20 others is the norm, but frankly, not appealing. We chose the suites, off-campus, but sharing with 5-7 others seemed less daunting than 20+, and showering with flip flops was not enticing, at all. 

We ended up rooming with the RA... and two other gals from our hometown, telling anyone where we're from usually garners a couple of surprised and shocked blank looks. We have a sneaking suspicion to this day that they centralized the "problem" children. Next door to us were a room of guys, ALSO from our hometown....

Anyway, freshman year is a blur to me. I remember boys, and lots of them, would frequent our suite, often looking for our RA/suitemate, many a times for nothing more than to say "hello". We got to know a lot of people on our floor because of her. Most of the girls didn't care for her, probably because the boys had their attention elsewhere. Or at least that's my assumption, jealous of what they didn't understand. If you could see her, you'd understand. She's gorgeous, without the extra effort. 

I've been working for the University system, from which I graduated, for over 2 years now. I rarely, if ever, bump into anyone I grew up with, or went to school with, so when my RA was seated in front of the floor length windows right outside of my cubicle, I did everything to avoid her. I had no idea who she was. It was an odd location to place someone, unless for reasons of monitoring hall movement, so I went by most of the morning going in the opposite direction to avoid walking by her. I finally recognized her when I was forced to cross her path, going into my neighbor's cube that faced her chosen seating area. 

The moment I actually looked at her, without realizing, I was excited, and called out to her. Just as immediately as I had recognized her, she jumped up, and hugged me. It's been about 10 years now, and seeing her made me nostalgic. It's almost like no time has passed since I had last seen her, I behave around her exactly as I had, and the conversation, except for the bits where she or I catch each other up on our lives and career, hasn't changed.

"I've bumped into people here and there over the years, but you are the best bump in I've had." - SK

I miss college, only for the moments that have changed my life. She was definitely one of those.

Apr 25, 2012 - A Blog for Everything.

Funny, with the emergence of youtube sensations, and up-and-coming fashion bloggers, every inarticulate, unoriginal individual is finding that they now surprise have been or had been thinking about starting a daily blog to follow their passion. I've even found a couple of friends who have started to follow this, I give them this, whoever takes their pictures are for the most part doing a decent job of documenting; however, sans the photos, what they have to say is barely significant. My opinion, of course. At least have something meaningful to say, or something original to document, don't blindly follow the masses in hopes that somehow yours will stand out in a sea of many. Most that I've seen take their everyday wardrobe, photograph it, and then viola, look at how I've styled it. I accept that every one has a unique sense of style/fashion, and some people are entirely capable of pulling off the most random concoctions of styles/prints/etc, but if you have no more to say to your readers than we took the day to go to the mall, I want to un-follow, immediately.

I've been following some friend bloggers recently, and the novelty of the first couple of posts I think have finally worn off. I'm on the trows of removing them from my list of daily reads.

Apr 23, 2012 - Half Proposal.

I guess I've always been lucky to find a nice guy. Before they went bad, that is. Or, in the case of the love of my life, when he found himself again. This isn't the first time that marriage has been talked about in a relationship, so there's little novelty in the idea being tossed around. I didn't expect that my reactions to the idea being brought up in serious discussion would be so far from what I always thought they would be.

I've been known to guard myself shields up, walls high, twenty feet behind extensively when I'm threatened in any way, so this weekend when my boyfriend was driving to my Alma mater's annual Picnic Day, and brought up the lunch conversation he had with his housemate Friday about my spending so much time at the house, I diverted the conversation. I was curious, though. So Sunday morning, while in bed, I brought up the conversation again. Even I had noticed that I spent all of my time at their home in the hills, and I was starting to feel like a free loader. I have my own mortgage, yet spend more than 75% of my time at someone else's home... When do you want me to move in with you?

I had always responded with I don't want us to live together unless we're engaged and he had accepted that.  They reach the end of their contract in November, and in planning for the future, he had to start considering my feelings and thoughts about our lives together. Like moving out, and living together. Like babies, marriage, and engagement, in that order. We had talked about wanting to be young parents, and in order to do it at our leisure, we did not have as much time as we thought. In his rationale for being financially responsible, and saving a ton of money while living with me, he really said, "I'm indirectly trying to figure out how you feel about being engaged." Verbatim.

He's entirely comfortable with the idea of being engaged, albeit there are slight things that are uncertain, and makes him nervous and anxious, but the things that result, in his words, will be so much better, time wouldn't change how he felt, so waiting until later to get engaged was just a matter of time, essentially why wait?


I always thought I'd be extremely excited, and elated. I found myself scared, and unsure. I love the guy and the idea of spending the rest of my life with him. If it's anything like our relationship now, I think I'll be the happiest girl alive. Still, I am apprehensive. Maybe I'm just too focused on staying true to my timeline. As for his roommate, he wanted to know if they would need to find a new roommate, or potentially move, again.

Apr 6, 2012

My boyfriend is the most amazing person, if not THE most amazing thing to happen to me. I've been having car issues, I've taken it to the shop, and each time I go, there's something else I need to fix. Fortunately, and not so fortunately for the shop guys, I don't often just fix things without a second opinion. Thankfully my boyfriend is skilled in more things than just fancy, high-tech mechanics, so he offered to help me with my car whenever I wanted. I took him up on the offer last week, and last night the first thing on the bucket list was my brake pads and rotors.

The auto shop I had been going to for years had always been dependable, and reliable, and I always came away feeling like I was taken care of. I'm not sure if the shop changed hands, but the usual manager no longer manned the desk... and it's in these last few visits that I started to notice that I required more and more work. Granted that my car is a 2001, and I don't do work on it other than the usual oil change every 3-4 months. This last visit was no different, I asked for the usual oil change, and for a brake check. They questioned my request, "do you hear noises? is something wrong with them??". It's not the recent downpour of rain that's got me worried about my brakes, nope. Service was fine, but the guy working on my car looked so miserable. At the end of it all, he mentions a couple of things, and tells the desk guy to let me know all of the work I needed done.

I needed the following services:
- new front rotors and brake pads (I had about 20% left on them, and 60% on the back ones... which meant "change the front ones now, and change your back brakes in 6 months")

On top of these other services for other things I asked them to check and maintain:
- timing belt change (which I might actually need to do)
- new A/C compressor (boyfriend mentioned that I might only need to have it recharged... so this new compressor business is NEW to me)

And not to mention....:
- I'm missing 2 lug nuts and one of the studs had corroded...

And let's not stop there, they offered me this information, but didn't even suggest how I go about fixing it. I had to ask the desk guy what I needed to do about the lugs, and how to go about FIXING my corroded stud. Do I replace it? Do I bring it into a shop? Is it something I can do? The desk guy was very genuine, told me it was simple, and told me where to get the parts. I just had no idea, and this guy... didn't give a rat's a-s-s about my safety.

My boyfriend and I had tentatively planned to check my brakes before he ordered the parts, just to be sure. He showed me how to jack my car, loosen the lugs, take off the tires, look at my brakes, check the parts, and explained to me in detail what I should be looking for. He was extremely patient, since I was being a little prissy about unscrewing the lugs... and wimpy about jacking up my car. In the end, what I learned was auto shops are just not to be trusted. I had been lied to. Not only were my brakes and rotors fine for another half a year, my stud was not corroded. "Someone" had stripped the stud, and the lug wouldn't screw on after that... even I thought it was funny that he should tell me it corroded. ONE stud on ONE wheel... shouldn't they ALL be corroded?? Didn't make no darned sense.

All of this has made me think how lucky I am to have him in my life, and I don't know if anyone else in a relationship ever feels this way, but sometimes I wonder... if my boyfriend's so wonderful... then why didn't his last relationships work. It boggles my mind.

Maybe it's true, what's great for one person, might not be so great for another. For me, he's perfect.

Apr 5, 2012 - How Crossfit Changed my Fitness Outlook.

I don't know what it is about working out and eating right, but my way of life has not only improved, but depends on it.

My diet/splurge cycle these last few years looked something like this:

Eat "healthy" 2-3 weeks, BINGE several days to weeks at a time. No stomach problems, zilch.

Until September/October of last year, this cycle "worked" for me, but in early September I was watching some Youtube video, and saw this guy scaling a 6 foot wall, and for those of you who know me, stuff like that somehow piques my interest. In an instant, I wanted to scale 6 foot walls, and so began my search for them. I looked for gyms, random recreation centers, parks... but instead I found Crossfit. I didn't know what CF was, but I knew they had a wall, and rope climbing.

Since then, I haven't really looked back. It was in those early months post basics training when I realize that although I had been a gym buff, I had not been training smart... I didn't have a plan, and I definitely did not follow a healthy diet. The two weeks of less intensive workouts still kicked my a-s-s, and I was seeing serious results. My arms felt tight, and toned - something I never thought possible. Hearing something like "you're your mother's daughter, there's not much you can do to change your body..." from your own mother definitely did not help.

I've stopped going to my CF gym, for monetary reasons, but continue to incorporate their intensive workouts. My diet's changed, but not because of CF.

When I mentioned "healthy" earlier in this post, it had been my perception at the point in time; however, in this new phase of self-discovery, what I perceived was "healthy" was unbalanced. And splurges....  even several days of eating out of the norm causes my body to react violently. 1-2 cheat meals/snacks for 1-2 days seems to be the max as of late.

As my friend says, it's a blessing in disguise.

Apr 5, 2012

Blessed.

Apr 4, 2012

Boyfriend is back from his business trip to the Netherlands; and we found out yesterday that they're sending him to Portland, OR at the end of the month for a one week training course. After having him away for about a month, one week seems piddly in comparison... especially since it'll be a leave Sunday evening, return Friday night sort of trip.

Despite these business trips wearing me down, I have come to appreciate and value our time together more.  I love every minute with him, and wish not to spend even a second apart. It definitely helps that we have a very unique understanding of each other, and free flowing communication, albeit we have our misunderstandings, and moments where we take things too seriously, but all in all, very comfortable relationship.

Of course, sometimes even I misinterpret our comfort levels to be complacent, like a settling for... but that's something else to post about...

Mar 29, 2012

"fitness is not for pussies"

or so I read off of someone's Facebook photo album... I cringe, and am slightly annoyed by this. To go on a rant, not everyone starts off knowing what to do, cardio, lifting, etc... any cardiovascular activity, to that person's comfort level, is good. For someone to make such a bold statement angers me. I could just as easily say fitness doesn't make up for lack of proper nutrition... and this person clearly hasn't straightened that out.

I have friends who come to me for advice on what is and is not good for them, I have had guys at the gym ask me about proper form... shortly after asking to let them jump in while I rest... and despite that, I do not parade around as though I know everything. I just know what works for me, and what I want out of the gym... no one person has the same goals, and it can range from strictly appearance, or entering a Pro contest... but whatever those goals may be, they're someone's goals... and at least they have one. Beats those who complain and do nothing about it.

On the note of fitness and gym-going, I have another pet peeve, those who set weight loss goals for very superficial reasons, i.e "I'm going to lose X amount of lbs for the cruise next month", and when prodded further, there's no motivation left to maintain. It's not about a lifestyle change, but some temporary roller coaster ride that people go on for one big event... and more upsetting, they don't want to make the necessary changes to get there. They want the results... but are not willing to put in the work. "I want my arms toned, and a smaller tummy... so I'll do db curls, and ab work" and then you talk nutrition, and they say "well, I don't eat rice at night... but I don't like eating breakfast, I'm not hungry"............ #headshakers.

Jeff Radford - Would You/ Matt Wertz - Everything's Right

I love Jeff Radford's Would You and Matt Wertz's Everything's Right.

I came across them when I was watching a couple of wedding videos. I feel as though I'm a part of the wedding with that perfect blend of music and videography...

9.1mi run on Sunday with very little consistent training. Apparently I did not learn anything from my half marathon in December. Let's hope I make it this time.

Mar 21, 2012 (II)

I guess because I always think my boyfriend and I are "meant" to be, in the most serious of ways, the slight idea that he may not share that opinion sends me in a whirlwind of emotions.

Ever since we got together, things have been good, really good. We have our differences, but for the most part, we're very madly in love, or at least I am. Even if I don't think about how we got to where we are, I think there's something real magical about us and us being in this relationship together. I have this deep attraction to him... an intellectual and emotional understanding that surpasses the physical that I've never felt before. Yet, at the very thought that he doesn't feel exactly as I do, I start to second-guess myself, and my feelings. I start to wonder how much he really cares about me and our relationship, how much is really special to him, and how much is just wanting to be in a relationship, wanting to fulfill a future goal. And that makes me insecure.

The very thought that this is just another relationship that can be replaced hurts. I can't smile about it. Even if he wished for me to smile for him once before he gets ready for work overseas via video chat... I just cannot do it. I don't feel happy about it. I'm so randomly upset by it that I'm not sure I can face him tomorrow...

... and it's not even his fault.

Mar 21, 2012

I'm not a cook in the sense that I will spend hours creating my own. I do however grab inspiration from beautifully photographed dishes, often times evoking a need to attempt making the dish myself.

I also love cookbooks, and with the internet and all of these bloggers, I am not lacking in inspiration.

Here's a couple of basics:

http://www.pbs.org/food/fresh-tastes/poached-eggs/
http://norecipes.com/blog/how-to-scramble-an-egg/

And an interesting and REAL simple one that I'm amped to do myself:

http://norecipes.com/blog/meyer-lemon-icebox-cake/

Happy Wednesday! Just 1.5 weeks left... woot!

Mar 16, 2012

It's like monsoon season here... and most people don't know how to drive when it rains. I don't mind it, and I've seen some pretty ambitious drivers, but with the rain pooling in the side most lanes of the freeway due to bad drainage, the puddles get several cars' length long, sometimes one lane, if not edging into a second lane, wide, and at least several inches deep, it's not uncommon to see cars merge into to the exit lane only to have the puddle swallow the car whole. Most of the time, it catches the drivers off guard, and they'll hit their brakes suddenly. Hydroplaning plus braking = bad move.

I prefer no rain, but I prefer rain to no snow, and I pick rain over drought. So, let's all do the rain dance, and hope for more moderate rain conditions, and continued rainfalls! #yayforrain.

On the topic of rain and driving, if you don't know how to drive, STAY OFF the road! =D Thanks, you're saving lives.

Mar 12, 2012

I've been having writer's block. I'm not even entirely sure what that means, but I cannot seem to put any thoughts on paper, or more correctly, have any thoughts worth writing. I started writing something that I thought had sustenance, at first, and realized about three lines down that it was incoherent, and completely unworthy of reading, let alone writing. Random mumble jumble.

In the past few weeks, I decided to expand a little on my blogosphere, and "follow" other bloggers in hopes of inciting some sort of inspiration from these blogs - fashion, fitness, whatever interests spark my attention at the moment. Instead of finding inspiration from them, I realized I soaked up most of the random blogs for no more than the pictorials they presented, I barely paid any attention to the ramblings, and for the few entries that I did care to read, I found them deprived of any real substance, other than a few pretty lines, of what they thought artistic.

Speaking of art, I'm finding it rather annoying that every other self-proclaimed "fashionista" finds it necessary to start a blog on their "unique" style.

And let's talk about the need to photo-journalize the blogs with pictures, as though the subjects themselves were models. Are they all secretly hoping to become some web-sensation, like Michelle Phan and her make-up tutorials, or Tavi Gevinson and her style weblog, StyleRookie?? And where are they finding the time, and the people to take pictures of their clothes? Significant others, with a sch'many camera and no other hobby but to take photographs with so much lighting that you can't tell if the sun behind the back were intentional, or an accident, and then post-edit them in photoshop?? Any noob with slight artistic ability, a camera, and the common sense to hit the shoot button could come up with the shots they take. At least these earlier models were doing what truly inspired them, and not following what has already been popularized.

I almost think of this like mobile truck food. A few years ago, the idea would have been revolutionary, and those that started making cupcakes, amazing. Then you have dessert trucks popping up everywhere, and anyone looking to go into the business now... well, that ship's already sailed.

I mean besides a cry for attention, and wanting to seem like the next It-girl, these fashion blogs are entertaining for the various perspectives, but there are so many, and more often than not, far too similar to be original. I mean, is this really how society has become - devoid of originality, and innovation... ? Maybe that's what IS, a society that thrives on copying what others before us have created, making it only slightly better, but better nonetheless, eventually leading us to innovation, because out of sheer luck, some genius happens upon it, and sees it all anew. Maybe.

I know, I have some generic blog template, with some defunct default photo... and here I am talking about originality. Go figure.

Mar 9, 2012

Why do I do this to myself?

See what looks like a black head, and SQUEEZE.

Result? A pimple in its wake.

Now it looks like I'm just breaking out, everywhere. And what really happened was I prodded, and poked when I should have just left it all alone - because there wasn't anything there to begin with...

Maybe this is my personality. I go looking for what's not there, prodding at things that are perfectly fine, and end up finding things I'm not looking for. Last night, for instance, my boyfriend forgot to mention that he had a hockey game. I'm about 10 minutes from his house, before he realizes to send me a text. I mean, he really did forget, and what did I do? Held it against him, and got upset.

In the grand scheme of things, there was nothing to be mad about. Sure, I was under-dressed for the rink, but I had a change of clothes in my sleepover bag. I pride myself in being versatile with things like long versus short hair, and the idea of "hair grows back" when someone seriously messes it up. I see that as an indication of how I view life - a good way to view life. Yet, here I am upset over something so minute. It was not even intentional - but I continued to be upset, and wanted him to know it. Really, all I wanted was to spend the rest of the night with him, and it didn't even really matter what we were doing - I also love going to his games, love watching him play, and love that he continues to do what he loves... so hockey wasn't an issue. At the end of the night, I had a great time. Why did I even fuss about it?

... maybe it was just me wanting him to myself. Hockey meant watching him, being there for support. I wanted actual face time, conversation - not me watching him from afar. Maybe that's it.

Mar 7, 2012

In writing my monologue yesterday, I am reminded again that I am very lucky to have what I have. I had always had this false impression of what being in a relationship was suppose to be like. I thought that every obstacle that I encounter had to be endured, even if I suffered. This is not to say that relationships do not come with their complications, but not all are meant to be endured.

I really struggled in my last relationship. And the worst part is that I was constantly told that all relationships were going to be the same. If I couldn't endure, I would never find one that would make me happy.

I can say now that my thinking was incorrect, for me, and I am and will forever be grateful for whatever made me realize this. I know that true happiness, true love is unconditional. It doesn't stop because you are angry. I know there are people out there who feel, or felt, the way that I did, and most will never come away from it the way that I did, and will settle with the false idea that they are truly happy. To those, I feel sorry, because they will never know what it really feels like.

Thank you, babe, for making me see and feel what I always thought would only be true in the storybooks.

Mar 6, 2012

I haven't talked at any length about THE love of my life. I guess it's for fear that despite this being a blog out on the intraweb, someone I know will happen upon it, and piece it all together. Maybe even begin to read it religiously, and know every detail of my thoughts and opinions of everything I consider important. While it's been nice to shield even my most sacred thoughts from myself on a blog that I'm sure only a few people care to read, I have found that despite having found a "home" here for five years, details of every encounter I've had with him are vague and cryptic. So much so that even I have a hard time recalling what had happened. I regret not having been open here, so that I can recount the details, every emotion, every feeling that I had.

I suppose to keep with the tradition of maintaining some vagueness, I'll refer to him as "JC".

JC and I met years ago.

I had fallen off the wagon of wanting to go out to socialize, and partying was something of a thing of the past; but I had been "talking" to this guy (disclaimer: not JC) I had never met, but was "introduced" to via an older co-worker, and things were going stale. In all of my attempts to get this person to meet me, I felt dejected, and hopeless.

I guess this is where I should say that I've always been a hopeless romantic. I had read all of those Babysitter's Club books, and watched far too many romantic movies to be good for me. I had a false sense of how a girl was suppose to behave, if there even was a way, and I believed, whole-heartedly, that I was a confident, independent young woman. My parents, mother, specifically, had forbidden I date until I at least graduated from college, so for the duration of high school, I talked to boys in secret. Nothing more serious than a few dates to the movies, because that was the thing to do. I dated one boy, and he was serious enough only to let him pick me up for his Senior prom, to meet my mom, etc. Even that didn't last very long.

When I was finally let loose in college, I went semi-boy crazed, I guess part of me wanted to make up for all of the experiences everyone else had in high school, except I went about it all wrong. I chased boys, and became overly-obsessed, and usually, drove them away. I was forward, but always sheepish, and more often than not misread any signs of friendship as genuine/potential interest.I had always been opinionated, but behaved as though I was demure, and lady-like in hopes of attracting some prospective date. I was almost always too aggressive, too fast, and was always too many steps ahead, when I had only just gotten a phone call, or a hint of interest. I was of no good use to myself, but I continued on this way for years.

Months into my first job, this guy that I met had me feeling hopeless also made me realize that I shouldn't be sitting around waiting, hoping, pushing for someone to like me... especially not if I had tried for months already, so when my good friend invited me to his birthday party bus extravaganza, I readily agreed to go along with a few female buds.

I met JC for the first time this night, April of 2007. I remember a distinct attraction. Maybe it was the alcohol, the slight intoxication, the sway of the music, and the dimmed club lights, but whatever it was... I was attracted to him. And for the night, he to me. I didn't go back to the bus that night with him though, but a friend... his friend. I was disappointed, and years later, I would find that he, too, shared this feeling. Days go by, and I would eventually find him on Facebook, message him, and we would go on a number of dates.

Our recollection of these events are sketchy at best, I remember our date at the local National Park, acting upon spur of the moment feelings, and feeling very uncomfortable with it at the same time. I still remember feeling very rushed, and whatever it was between us to be too serious, too soon. I remember a drive we took to the marina, parking along the waterfront, and talking, and feeling a sense of disappointment that this guy who claims an attraction wouldn't kiss me, because of his religious beliefs. I, also, remember going back to his grandma's house, and sitting on this old Chinese styled living room sofa set, feeling very uncomfortable knowing his grandma was upstairs, yet he had wanted to kiss me, then. It was how every date should have been, but I was plagued by his past. My younger brother's good friend. Him. Two years of intimacy. The break up was only a few months before. I'm not sure what I was looking for... approval, validation, excuses?? I took the passive aggressive route.

Soon after I found out about our connection to his past, I was reluctant to go on any further dates with him. I never told him why, but each time he asked, I had some excuse for why I was busy. After the third attempt, I received an email from him (neither of us have any evidence of this email - why? He sent the email to my work from his work), essentially telling me that he didn't think it was going to work. The same generic, we're two different people, it's not you, it's me sad story. Of course, at the time, I knew that I had rejected him, three consecutive times, and his email was just weird, and untrue. I left it at that. I would hear from him again a couple of months later, when he turned away from his church, but not for another two years.

Two years go by, the guy that got me to go out that fateful night 2 years before was on the outs with me. He and I had gone out soon after JC and I went on a few brief dates... maybe I never let it go, and maybe JC and I didn't work out because I was already mentally taken with someone who did not seem to reciprocate. This other guy and I eventually started dating. Maybe I settled, maybe I didn't...I don't know anymore. We had been dating close to a year and a half by this time, but he was angry with me, and had decided to give me the silent treatment. A one month silent treatment, no emails, no text messages, no phone calls. Not a peep. And we lived about two hours apart. The same good friend had his birthday party, out at the club, as per usual, and he invited me out. I hadn't been out with the guys in a while, and decided that if my then boyfriend were to treat me this way, I wasn't going hole myself up just because... so I went. There was JC, again. Just as attractive as ever, and I was still just as taken by him. Or maybe it was the provocative: I had a boyfriend that was ignoring me, and here's this guy giving me the time of day. We had no more than a few brief moments together when he tried to persuade me to go to the dance floor with him, but I was reluctant. I was certain, even until recently that he had been with someone that night, and that somehow we were both wrong. He sent a greeting over Gmail, but nothing more came of our brief encounter.

Maybe it's coincidence, maybe it's fate. Whatever it was, skip ahead another two years, and that same boyfriend and I are on the outs, again. After three and a half years, I realized that it was never going to work out. I was no longer willing to settle, and feeling the way that I did most of the time really sucked. I was in a relationship with someone I was not all too attracted to, I had admittedly cheated on him, twice - under the influence. It was no excuse for having done it, and I realized that if I had really wanted to be in the relationship, my mind would not wander, I would not find myself not wanting to be touched, to be held... there was no intimacy left. When we slept in bed together, I distinctly recall always asking him to stay on his side, this went on for months. I was repulsed. I was easily angered, and always found a reason to be mad. By the end of it, I had gone from talking to him a couple of times during the week, to not at all, only with occasional texts, and those texts were only to ask when he would come the next day. I started to feel tasked for having to drive to see him, and a constant waste of my time, and I was extremely agitated by it. I reached a point where I was no longer willing to accept that this was as good as it could be for me. I had given up on the idea of love, as told in the stories, the movies, long ago... or at least, I had convinced myself that I didn't believe in the storybook romances, but deep down, I think I knew that love wasn't suppose to be like this. And even if giving it all up meant being alone, I was finally okay with it.

It took two specific individuals telling me that they expected me to be in the same sad situation a year from that day. Driving the relationship into the ground. Two days later, I broke up with him. For good.

Maybe by now, it'll sound like I've convinced myself this is fate. I was only two weeks out of the relationship, and feeling free, and for the first time like a heavy weight had been lifted. I loved it... I was ready to have fun... no strings, no commitments... and I wanted to stay this way for a while. Little did I know what was in store.

That same good friend is having another birthday celebration. At the club, again. I had not been out as a single female, and I was ready to go play. Admittedly, I wanted to go to the club, find a random guy, and make out. All for fun, and all because I could, without guilt. I was on a mission. I went that night with four close friends, and when we arrived... the birthday boy was already drunk. And a random girl is grinding on him in public, at their VIP table. Curtains had to be pulled because they were getting it on. Most of us stand by the table, awkward at having witnessed it, but stay close by. Every pair up, and soon engage in catch-up conversations, and I end up standing by the group, talking to no one. My good friend paired up with JC. They're catching up, and to not leave her alone, I stay close by, but try to steer clear of him. I had been purposely avoiding JC for the past four years, minus the brief encounter in 2009... the weird email I received years before still weighed on me, and I was in no hurry to make friends... ever.

As the night wore on, some of the boys offered to buy my friends and I some drinks, so we head to the upstairs bar, and soon, I've taken 3-4 shots of something, and I'm slightly inebriated. JC, all the while, had been trying to get my attention, and in the midst of it all, grabs me and starts leading me away from everyone else. Soon, we're in a corner balcony away from everyone else. The conversation is a blur to me now, I may or may not have expressed that he and I getting together would not be wise, considering we had done it before. I probably made excuses, and was genuinely against starting another anything with anyone so soon after my last serious relationship... PLUS everyone was against it. Everyone except him, and I apparently. I was still attracted, and with liquid courage I acted upon impulses that I otherwise would have not have.

And the rest is history.

What changed? We did. I did.

I had struggled for years to be happy with myself, my decisions, even if that meant going against what others liked, what my parents wanted. It took failing grades in college, a struggling relationship that was detrimental and emotionally abusive for me to realize that I am not my mother, and will not be. I did not grow up in traditional China in the 60s where abuse was endured to avoid public scrutiny. My mother had tried to reason with me, even ridiculed me for all of my failed relationships, chided me with taunts essentially telling me that I would end up alone if I couldn't just endure the hardships. She had convinced me for three years that if I failed at this relationship, I would surly fail in all others. I was not the ideal girlfriend, and not the type that any male would consider attractive - I was too crude, too quick to temper, and too opinionated for my own good. I believed it all, until I ended the relationship.

I no longer wanted to pretend to be someone I was not, I no longer jumped at every possibility. When I met JC again in 2011, I had reached a pinnacle in life, where I had accepted that I could potentially grow old... alone. And I was happy with that. As long as I was content with myself, I needed nothing else. For much of my life, I had convinced everyone, including myself, that I didn't want to get married, but I don't think I truly believed it. In the back of my mind, there was a timeline for when I should get married, when I would then need to get engaged, and how long I would need to date before any of that happened. The last relationship pushed me to accept that having that ideal strained any chance I had of finding true happiness, whether that be with someone, or simply with myself.

Initially, when JC started to contact me, I sent him responses, only enough to keep him interested. I never agreed to meet up with him, and when I found that he would be at events that I was attending, I would make sure everyone else knew to keep us apart. Or merely steer me away from him. It wasn't until he stopped contacting me that I decided to reach out. First it was midweek coffee... I was entirely uninterested, topics of conversation were random and to the onlooker, weird. I called him a couple of times just to see how quickly he would come over, and within two days, I already knew that should I continue engage him, it would be serious. I had an idea of who he was, and I knew myself... and I didn't see him and I getting into something... not serious. Just as soon as we met the fourth time, I made this clear to him.

Maybe it was the fact that I was so certain, or maybe that I had epiphanies about a future with him, and that included children. There were times, early, early on, where we would talk about our childhoods, and how we would raise our children when we grew old that made me really want this, with him. I really never felt that way with anyone else before. Thinking about it now, I would be missing out on a life of true happiness and genuine love for another person. Without first realizing my own faults, and failings, I would have never reached a point where I would appreciate the very things that once repulsed me... I remember feeling overwhelmed and very distant because here was this guy so certain that he wanted a relationship, and so strong/aggressive in his attempts that I became very removed. It took being in a relationship where it lacked intimacy, affection, and care for me to appreciate all of the qualities that initially turned me away from JC.

It'll be nine months in five days, and I am still as happy as ever, albeit some misunderstandings, but not once have I ever thought of being, or wanting to be, with anyone else. I love you, babe.

Feb 24, 2012

I think I am finally ready to get back into shape. With vacation, sick-time, and a wedding celebration to boot, it's been a little tough staying on course... even with less than a month left to train for my 15k (9mi) run, I have yet to log the necessary mileage to perform at my best.

I will attempt two sessions today, legs in another hour, and upper back later tonight. Should be a good workout. I love the leg workout I'm currently doing, and I love the progress I've made to my upper back. Despite lack of training in the last two weeks, I've seen very little regression, a bit of extra padding, but nothing a diet won't fix in a matter of a few weeks.

I'm stoked.

Feb 10, 2012

I don't feel quite as discouraged as I did yesterday, but things are still slightly gloomy. It might have helped if the sun decided to come out, but since I cannot control the weather... I'm going to make an attempt to do an upper body workout after work today, in hopes that it'll give me a mental/emotional boost.

I may go to E&J's to watch my brother's friends play... I may not depending on this post work workout.

Only 3 more hours until I can make something of myself. Not surprisingly, it's a constant struggle. Cheers to the weekend!

Feb 9, 2012

What am I feeling? Disappointed. Unmotivated. Discouraged.

I just came back from an extended weekend vacation out to British Columbia, and it reminds me again and again that I want to travel, to explore the world. Then I'm reminded that I cannot afford to do this without the mundane 8-5, desk job. There are people out there who are just going, and doing. I want to be like that. To not feel so responsible, and so practical, all of the time. I feel slightly trapped, tied down to this practicality that is my personality. Feeling a financial responsibility for my future, a future that I have yet to discover, and to unveil, even, to myself. Yet there are people who care little for the finances in their lives, and just going with their lives, seeing worlds I have yet to see.

There are others who see my life and think that I am living the life. I have a house, a mortgage since I was 26, and am worrying myself with mortgage payments, semi-annual property taxes, and making sure that I'm making ends meet. I'm trying to be conscientious about the value of the $, while others are out drinking every week, and partying as though bills are falling from trees.

I suppose in a couple of years, I will feel grateful for having taken my responsibilities seriously, early. Actually, I am grateful. I know that in a couple years time, my friends who are just starting to invest in a home will see increased interest rates, and increased housing costs because the economy will start to turn around. By this time, I will have gotten a better grasp of my finances... and I will be several steps ahead. I will see the upside in taking that step early, tying down my finances momentarily, grasping at a great investment opportunity when everyone else will have just missed it.

I should be grateful. I am making my ends meet, with the $ I am making now, and in several years time, it will all be easier.

Jan 27, 2012

I failed. My one resolution for this year was to make daily posts, and I didn't do it. I guess I haven't had much on my mind lately, that I felt were worthy of an intensive self-reflection, or I'm just too tired/lazy to spend the time to do it. Either case, major #fail!

In other news, Vancouver BC - I'll be seeing you real soon.

My first and last trip to Vancouver was before I started working at my current employer, in Spring 2009. I traveled solo. One full week. This time, I'm coming back, bringing my most treasured THINGS - my boyfriend, my best gal pals and travel buddies, and an old time friend from college. It'll be a heck of a good time, and I don't even need to be on it to know it. I'm so excited.

places traveled - ny/chi'cahgo - day by day recount

For recollections sake, a day by day recount of eateries, places visited, etc etc as deemed worthy of mention:

Oct 20
SMF-MDW-LGA
O'Brien Irish Pub (@134 W. 46th Street)

Oct 21
Grand Central Station
Lululemon (@1127 3rd Avenue)
Kun Jip (@9 W. 32nd St)
Madison Square Eats (@1 Madison Avenue)
Lululemon (@15 Union Square West)
Lansdowne Road (@599 10th Avenue)

Oct 22
Cafe Metro (@466 Lexington Ave)
The Washington Arch (@1 5th Avenue)
Lululemon Athletica SoHo (@481 Broadway)
Dragon Land Bakery (@125 Walker Street)
Brooklyn Bridge

Oct 23
Ground Zero (@Church St)
Occupy Wall Street (@Liberty Plaza)
O'Hara's Restaurant & Pub (@120 Cedar Steet)
Central Park
Apple Store Fifth Avenue (@767 5th Avenue)
The Plaza Hotel (@5th Avenue, Central Park South)
MARY POPPINS at the New Amsterdam Theatre

Oct 24
LGA-MDW
Couscous Restaurant (@1445 W. Taylor St Ste 1)
Dunkin Donuts (@300 E. Randolph St)
Millennium Park (@201 E. Randolph)
Lou Malnati's Pizzeria (@805 S. State St)

Oct 25
Espression by Lavazza (@131 N. Clinton Street)
Argo Tea @ Tribune Tower (@435 N. Michigan Ave)
Sears Tower Skydeck (@233 S. Wacker)
#occupychicago (@Lasalle and Jackson)
Al's Beef (@169 W. Ontario St)
Bennigan's Chicago (@150 S. Michigan Ave)
Pioneer Court Plaza Marilyn Monroe Statue Michigan Ave (@400 N. Michigan Ave)
The Saloon Steakhouse (@200 E. Chestnut St)
Signature Lounge On Top Of The John Hancock Building (@875 N. Michigan Ave)

Oct 26
Bongo Room (@1152 S. Wabash Ave)
Starbucks Fullerton & Sheffield
Sheffield Garden District
Swirlz Cupcakes (@705 W. Belden Ave)
lululemon athletica Halsted (2104 N. Halsted Ave)
Kelly's Pub (@949 W. Webster Ave)
McGee's Tavern (@950 W. Webster Ave)
Crossfit Chicago (@1444 W. Willow)
United Center (@1901 W. Madison Street)
Tapas Bar (@42 E. Superior Street)
Portillo's (@100 W. Ontario Street)

Oct 27
Crossfit Chicago (@1444 W. Willow)
Cosi Simply Good Taste on Michigan Ave (@116 S. Michigan Avenue)
MDW-SFO

Summary
Coffee Stops: 8
Irish Pubs: 6
Lululemon: 5
Crossfit Gyms: 1
Airports: 3

Jan 11, 2012

I have not been running as consistently as I had hoped, or wanted, since my first, and last, half marathon in December; however, I have been consistently weight-training. I've also started supplementing my diet with various vitamin pills, and as of yesterday, started to change some of my daily staples.

I made protein pancakes, protein muffins, and tuna patties last night for the next couple of days. Veggies and yams are staples that I likely will not change anytime soon. For a week, I had ground turkey patties, and I had over-baked them. They still smelled delicious, but were dry to the taste.

I'm really liking the diet change, and making things that are plant-based good for me is super pluses for me. Slow changes, but maybe eventually I'll consider going vegetarian/vegan, again. #forksoverknives

Jan 3, 2012

I'm slightly exhausted, and it's only the first day back at work. Break was only a work week, and although it is a week more than most people get... I wish it were at least several days longer.

In other news, I did put in my request for various vacation days off in the next 5 months. My supervisor accepted, honestly, what else can she do? Tell me I cannot go?? I've changed my approach, instead of asking, I just inform. It's so much more effective. All of this "vacay" business just means I have to be extra careful with how I spend in the next couple of months, and in the years to come. There's just no way to make ends meet, if I'm not frugal, and mindful.

"My parents did it, so can I."

Repeat mantra. Daily. Keep written account of daily/weekly/monthly expenses, and I should be a-okay.

Here's to a good workout day, and another day in the books.

Until tomorrow, or next time!

Jan 2, 2012

No post on 2012 NY's goals...

Something to keep in my journal: Running Tips from Women's Health (tips I'm taking away from the full 101)

(1) Accept the Challenge
(2) Aim to run 8-15 miles per week (Yikes!)
(3) Think in Minutes, not Miles
(4) GOOD Running Shoes - 400-500 miles - BIG and WIDE running shoes.
(5) Talk test
(6) Eat, if you feel like it.
(7) RELAX! Listen to the body.
(8) Make time.
(9) Run AGAINST traffic.
(10) Warm-up THEN stretch. #coldmuscles
(11) WATER (My favorite!)
(12) Set mantras. Set goals.
(13) "Like cross-training, 'cross-eating' adds needed variety to your diet--and life. Expand your nutritional repertoire by trying one new food each week." --Liz Applegate, Ph.D. (My Nutrition professor, YES! - awesome instructor)
(14) Train hills. And lean with it.
(15) Enter races.
(16) Stay slightly out of comfort.
(17) Pace. Better to run slower, than to run fast.
(18) Find a reason. Find a purpose.
(19) Train. Alone. With Someone, Anyone.

Things to Try:
- Three half mile repeats, at 5K pace, end with a recovery jog.
- Fartlek training
- Finish runs slightly faster.