of course it did

Do you ever have one of those days when things just don't go as planned? I sure do. More often than I think I should. Like yesterday.

It all started out fine. I went to work as usual. Nothing out of the ordinary happened. But somehow, once it hit 5:00 pm it was all downhill from there.

So I'm moving into a new apartment this week, and yesterday I needed to stop by the leasing office to take care of some paper work.  I also wanted to drop some stuff off at the new place. Totally normal plans. Until I got stopped in traffic for an hour, literally a few feet away from my destination. There was some sort of power outage throughout the blocks in which the apartments are situated. All of the cars were being rerouted by a police officer.

Well, I eventually make it (though the leasing office was closed by this point). My new roommate could at least let me in to drop off my stuff. So, ok, crisis averted.

Next on my list was to get home with enough time to eat dinner and clean up a little before my home teachers came over. So I'm driving on the freeway (all of this so far has happened in the rain, by the way) and screetch! my windshield wipers decide this would be the best time to stop working. Like, completely stop working. No movement, at all. I had to stop somewhere to move them down so they wouldn't be just sitting mid-wipe on my windshield.

Luckily I was almost home, and got there safely. That had to be the end, right? Oh no.

I had to deal with the killing of a rather large cockroach in my apartment minutes after I got home. It didn't seem alarmed at all as I approched it with my can of bug spray. It kind of acted like it was not a big deal that it was there.

Of course it did.

hit the ground running

Today was Day 1 in my walk/jog interval training.  How did I feel when I was done? a little bit like I wanted to puke. But that's pretty standard for me after I jog. You see, I have the worst endurance for running. But I wish I was good at it. However, in order to get good at it you have to do it regularly. It's lose lose. 

So a few weeks ago I stumbled upon an article about a 10 week program you can do to build up your running endurance. Every day you do 30 minutes of alternating walking/jogging. Every week you increase the amount of minutes you spend jogging. By the end of the ten weeks you should be able to jog (at a good pace) for 30 minutes without stopping.

Now, for those of you who are mocking at the simplicity of this task, you can just go read someone else's blog. For me being able to jog for 30 minutes without stopping is close to a miracle. In my younger years when I was in better shape I could come close to it. But I always had to take breaks to walk. Even in my best shape I've not been able to do it. I think it's psychological, actually. I can exercise for 30 minutes, even longer than that. But I can't do it just straight running.  

So we'll see how this goes. 

Wish me luck.

I need it.

the goat inside of me

Whenever it gets close to my birthday I like to check out my horoscope. Not because I believe that a random statement on a website or in a newspaper will determine how my day or week will go. But mostly because I was born at the end of the year, and smack dab in the middle of my sign : the Capricorn.

People who know me well may already understand how much of a Capricorn I am. But for those more recently acquainted with me, here's a little insight into why I am the way I am sometimes (also, I apologize ahead of time for something I may or may not say or do to you that may hurt your feelings . . . I'm a Capricorn . . . I didn't mean it)


Few people are as practical and ambitious as Capricorn. Yours is the tenth sign, an earthy element, which makes you down to earth and matter-of-fact. Caution is your second name and this is due to Saturn, your ruling planet. You are sometimes shy and lack self confidence and self-esteem.

I've never met a Capricorn who was afraid of hard work in order which to achieve what they want in life. You are ambitious and go for your dreams and usually end up successful. You like money but not if it involves risk. Others do not generally see you as too enthusiastic but when people get to know you, you do have a side to your nature which is humorous and affectionate. You like to work quietly and effectively without creating too much bother or attention to yourself.

You are emotionally cool so you don't warm to people that easily until you get to know them. Once you get closer you start to feel comfortable with them. Suspicion is one of the chief traits of Capricorn and when you meet people for the first time it is your way of displaying maturity by not jumping the gun. You like to understand what another person is really about.

You are a big thinker even though you work methodically and practically by taking your time to achieve what you set out to do. You are frugal, resourceful and hard working. Commitment is natural to you which is why, as I said earlier, you are likely to be successful in anything you attempt.

Not all Capricorns are supported in their lives so you learned from an early age how to be self sufficient and to make it alone. Your primary philosophy is that self sufficiency is strength so you do not like to ask others to carry you. This also has a basis in the fact that you like to take full credit for what you achieve. "Expect the worst but hope for the best" is a saying that I have often heard many Capricorns repeat. Basically you are very level-headed and don't expect things to happen overnight. People admire the way you work because you are motivated by your ambitions but also like to perfect your work and do it properly. You can always be relied upon to help others and not cut corners. A traditional life style appeals to you because you like things in their place and need to be in control. Because of this you are not always the most exciting person to be around but you are extremely loyal and will never let anyone down when you give them your word. The name of the game to you is living life on your own terms rather than compromising.

Sometimes others make the mistake of thinking you are elitist. They get the sense you are looking down on them but this is not so because you are actually a very generous person with both your money and your time and if the cause is a worthy one there are fewer who are as generous as you. Due to your cautious and meticulous mind you are a wonderful judge of character and can easily see through the BS.

If others get to know you they will understand that you are a very trustworthy, dependent, punctual individual that you can always be counted on to fulfill their needs and help them if the occasion arises. You expect people to be just as trustworthy as yourself. If you accept a responsibility you do so with full commitment. You always demand the same level of integrity from anyone you deal with both in the work place and at home.

Among their equals they are not always the most pleasant of work fellows for they are reserved and too conservative. There is also a tendency to pessimism, melancholy and even unhappiness which many Capricorn are unable to keep to themselves, especially if they fail personally.

They can be surprisingly and suddenly witty and subtle for the quiet, reserved individuals they seem to be, and they also have a tendency to ruin things by unexpected and utterly irresponsible bouts of flippancy. In certain individuals in whom the characteristic is strong, the temptation to do this has to be resisted with iron self-control.

Capricorn rules over bones, skin and joints. some of the Capricorn medical concerns are arthritis, rheumatism, skin concerns and eczema, bone diseases, knee injuries and depression.

And just for fun, here are some famous Capricorns:

Lady Bird Johnson
Howard Hughes
Louis Pasteur
Rudyard Kipling
Henri Matisse
Anthony Hopkins
J. D. Salinger
Isaac Newton
David Bowie
Joan of Arc
Edgar Allen Poe

going home

In a couple of days I get to see these people.

Yay for Christmas!

Dracula

There is a town in Georgia called Dacula. I vote for them just adding a letter and making it Dracula. Who's with me?

i am so in love . . .

with my new vacuum cleaner. I've never had such strong feelings about an appliance before. Actually, I've never had any feelings about an appliance before. But I love him. Do you know why? Because he actually picks up dirt (something my other vaccum gave up on quite some time ago). And he does it in style.

Let me tell you a little bit about Mr. Hoover Turbo Cyclonic Upright. He's a bagless, multi-surface, 12 amp cleaning machine, with a headlight and a HEPA filter. Do I even know what a HEPA filter is? I certainly don't. Nor do I understand the cyclonic aspect of him. But it doesn't matter. He picks up all the little fuzzies that my other vacuum left behind. And I love him for it.

So here's to you Mr. Hoover. Welcome to your new home.

noooooooooooo

No! I think I'm getting sick. Which means . . .
Yes, I am wearing the same clothes I wore yesterday (because I never got out of them).
No, I haven't showered in almost 48 hours. (don't judge)
Yes, I spent all of my afternoon and evening yesterday watching videos online. (I said don't judge)
Yes, I slept in til 11 today.
Yes, I have been using hand sanitizer at work. HAND SANITIZER for goodness' sake! How did this happen?
Yes, I pumped myself full of vitamin C today.
Yes, I have considered getting a flu shot even though I hate needles so, so, much. Really, so much.

Immune system, why do you hate me?