Growing Up…

I can’t believe I go back to school on Monday.  I only have one class on campus – the rest are online, but I just cannot wait.  I’ve always felt most comfortable in school settings and am a giant nerd and can’t wait to dig into my books and start reading and highlighting and taking notes.  Even when I’m done, I’ll be in the classroom, so I’ll never leave it!

Even though I’m going to be in school for the next 849 years, I do have to do something that makes me feel more grown up than usual.  I have to roll over my 401k from the job I had.  I have no idea what I’m doing and I’m hoping to meet with a financial advisor today to figure out what the hell it all means because it might as well be in a different language!

On the workout front, I’ve been REALLY struggling waking up.  I like to walk/run at the high school track (and it’s really close to my house) but they close it to the public at 7am now that school is in session.  I could work out around my house but it is all MASSIVE hills.  I hope to do them at some point….but not yet.

I’ve also been trying to eat more “real” foods.  I come from a family that is definitely all about convenience, microwaving frozen dinners or just picking something up.  It’s hard to break out of what you know but luckily I actually have the time to prepare and cook meals.  The one thing I do have to work on right now is planning ahead.  I am horrible with letting fruits and veggies go bad because I buy them and don’t know what to do with them!

Question for you:

What is one “grown up” thing you’ve done lately?

New Everything…

Wow…a lot of things have changed since I last posted!!

School/Work

I am no longer employed at the mortgage company.  I’ve spent the last few weeks babysitting my amazing niece and nephews.  It’s been fun but I didn’t really have any time off between jobs and I am watching them for about 10 hours/day!  However, the two older ones go back to school tomorrow…Hooray!

Also, I start grad school on Monday.  I’ll admit it, giant nerd right here!  I truly cannot wait to be back in school.  I love it!  More on that once I start…I’m sure I’ll have lots to say.

 

Technology

I also just bought a Macbook yesterday!  This is my first laptop and my first Mac.  I know that I don’t know how to use half of the things on it but I’m really liking it.  I had an educational technology class in undergrad where I used Macs but I really don’t remember much.

On another note, I just downloaded Tweetdeck…add that to the Mac and I’m completely overwhelmed with technology!

 

Workouts

I think I mentioned in the last post that I started a running program.  It’s still going but I did take a few weeks off due to working ridiculous hours and not doing much other than working and sleeping.  According to the calendar, the group is now running 40 minutes at a time.  I’ll admit it….I’m somewhere between 2 and 5 minutes at a time.  I’m kind of happy that I’m on my own with it because it is giving me the chance to repeat workouts and work at my own pace.  I love running and I know I’ll be there eventually!

OK, those are the main updates.  I think with my new toy, I’ll be able to update more often (I think I say at the end of every post that I’m going to start updating more) so let’s hope this time is for real.  But now, it’s time to get to the more important things in life (aka last week’s Jersey Shore)  Have  a great one!

 

Question for you:

Do you like Macs?  If you have used one, what is your biggest piece of advice for a newbie, or is that anything I really should add to it?

Mantras

I was out on a trail yesterday and I had about 3/4 mile to go and I was in PAIN!  I’ve been having some ankle issues lately and I was able to get in a decent workout until the end.  I slowed down a bit and the pain started to go away but at that point I was tired and basically just wanted to give up.

I started thinking about how many times over the years I just gave up when workint out.  I decided that wouldn’t be the case anymore.  I tried to speed up and just wasn’t feeling it and started trying to figure out how to get myself going….

I remembered reading various runners talking about their mantras to get through a difficult workout.  Honestly, I thought it was BS, how could that really work?

Getting back to my story, I was desperate…I started just telling myself “Pain is temporary, quitting is forever”  I’ve quit long enough, it’s time to keep going.

Guess what…IT WORKED!  I actually walked/ran my quickest mile!

Your turn: What do you think of mantras, do you think they work?  What is your favorite mantra?

Test

Checking my Twitter connection.

Back on Track/Accountability

I might have been MIA for a few months, but I’m trying to get back on track.  I’ve learned that I’m the type of person that needs to be held accountable and as easy as it is to avoid my blog, avoid telling anyone about my workouts, that’s NOT helping me!

Of course, life does get in the way…especially in my line of work.  But, I’m QUITTING MY JOB!  After working in the banking industry for a year (still not sure what made me think that would be a good fit for me), I’ve decided to go to grad school.  In the fall, I will be back in school to get my master’s in Special Education and hopefully following that with certification in Autism Spectrum Disorders.

Not only is this where I belong, but the change will help me get serious about working on me.  I’ve started by signing up for a beginner’s running program and, I know that running isn’t meant to be easy, but it’s definitely even harder than I ever thought it could be.  I might be the slowest person in the group right now and taking things at my own pace, but that’s OK.  We all have to start somewhere!

What does this mean for any readers out there…I will be trying to start blogging more (accountability!) but that probably won’t start until August when I quit my job.  Also, if you’re feeling helpful, check out my twitter.  I will post all of my workouts after doing them.  Help keep me on my toes if I don’t tweet a workout for a few days, encourage me, anything to keep me going!

Ciao!

Question:  How do you stay motivated?  I have to tell people what I’m doing because I do skip my workouts if no one knows about them way too often!  I also like to keep a gym bag in my car at all times.

Quickie

I will put up a real post this weekend, but just an update – it’s now been just over 2 weeks since my surgery…my throat still hurts and I started back to work on Monday, leaving me crazy exhausted!  But, I’m feeling a little bit better each day and can’t wait to get back into a routine!

Never Again!

I’m never getting a tonsillectomy again!  I’m on day 6 and it’s miserable!

Will post when I am feeling better – it kind of hurts to sit at the computer.

Missing Tonsils – Day 1

This is my first attempt at blogging on my blackberry so let’s see how it goes!

I had my tonsils (and adnoids) out yesterday. Not exactly an experience I would like to repeat but hopefully well worth it in the end!

I went to the hospital before 7am and had my surgery at around 8:30. When I woke up in the recovery room, I couldn’t get enough ice chips! I also kept pulling the oxygen out of my nose because it was making me crazy! I then went to the next recovery room to hang out with my mom and eat more ice chips and jello. I then got to leave and we made it home before the Pittsburgh snowstorm part two!

When I got home, I learned that water is too thin? For me to drink…strange? I did learn that wonton soup broth and apple juice are amazing! I also apparently developed a chest cold and a nasty cough. Unfortunately, one rule is that I am not allowed to cough. Ugh!

Maybe more tomorrow…not digging blogging with the BB!

Spending Money – Entertainment

I’ve been trying really hard to really watch my money, but I’ve noticed that entertainment is draining my bank account very quickly. 

I was checking my e-mail and I discovered quite a few itunes receipts in there.  I’m starting to think that it’s not as great and convenient as I would like it to be.  Sure, I love buying just one song instead of an entire CD…but it’s too often that 1 song turns into 10 songs!  Anyone else have this problem? 

I’m thinking that I’m going to start buying gift cards and not using my credit card to buy anything.  Hopefully it’ll help!

Netflix is another one…I can’t bear to cancel my subscription but the movies I have out now have been sitting on my TV, unwatched, since before Christmas!  I could’ve bought the damn things by now!  Yet, I am afraid to get rid of it and miss the opportunity to get a movie whenever I want.  I don’t have a solution for this yet because I really really do want to keep the subscription.

One thing that I’ve cut waaaaaaay back on is magazine buying.  I realized that I was buying 4ish magazines/month (that’s practically $20 a month on something that I’ll flip through when I’m bored!)  My solution was to subscribe to the ones that I read most and cut down to buying 1 every few months.

Lastly, books, I’m a reader…I will try to read anything that’s suggested to me.  I always have been and I don’t see that changing anytime soon.   I even majored in English Education in college because I love reading so much.  One solution to cut down on the amount of books that I buy is this fabulous website:  www.paperbackswap.com  Basically you pay to ship a book to someone and earn a book credit for each so that you can get books.  If you are interested in signing up, you can use my name as a referral.  Just enter beckm82 when you register.

Although I do still buy books, this has been a great site and I’ve been buying far less.

(I only used in-home entertainment for this post, maybe I will do another one on going out)

Your turn:  What’s your favorite way to save money on entertainment?/What’s your biggest entertainment “money suck”?

Getting my “nostrils” out – apparently I’m a kid again!

Well, I’ve been kind of sick and miserable lately and after a nice appointment with an Ear/Nose/Throat doctor, I’m getting my tonsils out.  When I was in high school, I had sore throats and was losing my voice all the time, but never went to a specialist…now, over 10 years later, I’m finally doing what should have been done back then – but now I have to deal with work and insurance companies and all that other stuff that was so much better when your parents handled it!

I will be off work for two weeks….not gonna lie, even though it’s a crappy excuse for a vacation, it sometimes is nice to have off.  This has also brought on some amusing times, like when my 6 year old niece asked me if I got my nostrils out yet!

If you are checking into this blog every once in a while, thanks!  Maybe the time off will mean a bit of regular blogging (while I’m wide awake and in pain in the middle of the night?)

Question of the day:  Have you had your tonsils out?  How old were you and how was your recovery experience?