tough times

You know it is a rough week when you wake up and the first thing you think is:

"Wow, I can't believe it is ONLY Thursday. Feels like it should be Friday."

Then realize today is actually Wednesday.

Ugh.

age differences

Every so often my friends and I toss around the concept of speed dating. The concept that we should try it, that is.

Last year I checked out Hurry Date to see what it had to offer. Some TV show gave it rave reviews. I liked that it broke out several categories to choose from.

For instance, men and women 25-35. Or women 30-40 and men 35-45. Or men ages 24-32 and women ages 21-29. They also have categories for Jewish singles and African-American singles.

Speed dating came up in conversation again a couple of weeks ago, and I promised the Jeweled Hornet that I would follow through on all the talk this time and actually get us signed up. So I went online.

And discovered a new category.

Hmmm, what could it be?

Wait for it...

Women 35-45 and men 25-34. Yep, younger men and cougars. Or almost cougars, whatever. Ironically I am SO OVER dating men in their twenties. I am all about seeing someone my age or older for once. Spaghetti perked right up at this new category when it came up in conversation though. Guess we know what session she'll be signing up for. :)

changes of life

About six weeks ago I re-discovered running. After bailing on the NY half I was burned out, so tired of the damn sport. Didn't have any interest in doing fartleks or hills or speed repeats. And hell no I didn't want to go on any long runs.

That only lasted for about three weeks. Then as my aerobic ability rapidly disappeared into thin air I decided to hit the gym for a quick jog. Just for my waist.

Seemed my abilities had not deteriorated as quickly as I thought, and the run was terrific! In fact, it was absolutely awesome. I remembered how much I just enjoyed running to run. So I just went crazy. Down time be damned I started running every day and did a loop of the park on the weekend.

What was that about not putting on too much distance too fast? Oh yeah...injury. Basically I totally screwed over my leg in a totally new way. It hurt from my hip down past my knee to the top of my calf. My Iliotibial band. It hurt to sit, it hurt to lay down, it hurt to squat. And actually do any bouncing move at all was a joke.

Argh! With the weather getting cooler not being able to go for a run has been a bit of torture. But after running once again too soon and backsliding a bit I am close to being recovered. So I am fortunate in that I will be able to take up the sport again soon. Albeit slowly and carefully putting on the miles.

The most expected side effect of my down time has been interesting. Yes, I gained seven pounds. *Sigh* But not on the same old standby locations of my hips or thighs or torso. Oh no, my body put it in ONE SELECT LOCATION.

Right below my belly button. Only on the front of my body. For a couple of days I was concerned that I had gone and sprung another hernia (I have been doing core work while not running) because the strange way my midriff felt. But after careful consideration of my abdominal wall I discovered that I hah, in fact, gained like a half inch layer to an inch layer of fat on my belly. The lower half of my front now has a whole new roll when I sit down.

WTF?? My body is becoming some kind of freak show. It totally is laughing at me. As we all know my body hates me. A new injury and a specialized layer of fat? God, can't wait for what it throws my way next.

On the bright side if anyone threw a punch at my gut I'd be insulated. Oh, and my intestines will definitely be warm enough this winter. At least until I can shake this damn layer. Will the weight come off my body in the same order it came on? Hope hope hope.

lofty ambitions

What is that thing where you volunteer abroad for a couple of years? You know, do good works to help the world and such? Doesn't that sound like a nice new direction for a rockstar to head in?

But would they let me take my macbook and iphone....hmmmmm.

Portland!!

The trip was awesome, we had a great time. I'm still trying to catch up on rest and get back to east coast time, but here are some pics to tide you over in the meantime.

If we are lucking my sis will get hers online soon too. :)

upper west

Going to Portland tonight. Oregon, not Maine. Everyone asks that distinction.

My cousin CC moved out there a year or so ago. It was one of those irresistible drives, she felt she had to move, that Portland was supposed to be her home.

So I'm going to the land of coffee and brew pubs for a long weekend with my sister. A much needed vacation. Next year I'll have a tad bit more vacation time, so I'll be able to go away once for A WHOLE WEEK from work. One can only dream.

original

Seriously, have you checked out Pushing Daisies yet??? It is brilliant!

The colors enchanting, the story charming, the actors alluring, the musical interludes (hello Kristin Chenoweth Tony award winner!!) thrilling, the writing delightful, the comedy endearing, and by god the voice over absolutely winsome.

Gee, can you tell I love this show? That and thesaurus.com.

not a very good year

First the Boston Marathon is almost cancelled because of freezing storm conditions, and then the Chicago Marathon IS actually called off due to heat?

Wow, crazy weather year. You know the Boston start had actually been moved up a couple of hours because of the trend of warmer days as of late. Then people are running with hypothermia.

Wonder what NY will be like this year...Kinda wish I was going to run it. Kinda glad I'm not though.

off-kilter

Like most jobs, mine is thankless. And no this is not a bitching post. Really.

For gods sake, I'm middle management. My employees demand more of me and dislike when I demand more of them. My bosses demand more...and demand more. As middle management you learn complaining is a self-centered exercise.

Don't get me wrong, people do on occasion say thank you. It goes like this:

Them: OMYGODOMYGOD THE WORLD IS FALLING

Me: Okay (my signature beginning statement thank you Spags), everything is okay. I can fix it by...

Work work work work work

Work work

Work

Them: Oh. Okay. Will this happen again?

Me: No, we put this new system into place which will add many more work hours to us, but don't you worry.

Them: Okay. Thanks.

C'est la vie.

I say thank you to my employees all the time. Thank you! That's great! Awesome! We're golden! As you all know I am an enthusiastic person. They don't remember that though. One stiff comment and yes I am the tough boss.

Middle management. Such is life. I took the frickin job, my problem.

Today I had a very awkward moment. Regular meeting where I do my tap-dance for the whole division. Have my prep work done and on hand; answer all questions that are put my way. Do what I do.

At the end of today’s meeting I stood up. (As you have to do in order to leave the room) Everyone who does not need to stay for the following meeting is clearing out. Second highest paid guy in the division then says:

“Rockstar, thank you for all your hard work”

Shocked for the actual call out I smiled and said an awkward “thank you.”

THEN

Sitting next to him, the highest paid guy in the division said

“Yes, Rockstar, thank you for all your hard work.”

Now I am COMPLETELY unsettled. I smile a little less and say thank you again.

Awkward…

Seriously, I almost walked out of the room backwards, afraid to turn my back should the axe fall.**

Now looking back I laugh at the fact that two people complimenting me on my job (which in case if you wondered I do work very hard at) threw me for such a loop. But for heaven's sake positive accolades come few and far between when you get to this point.

At least at this company. Last job? Heh, every day compliments and songs of praise. Each week was littered with "thank god for you" and "you are the best” Once a month at minimum I would get props and glowing praise from some form of a higher up.

So what does that say about me that I left such a Rockstar-friendly company for one that I get beaten down so hard that a grain of sugar puts me into diabetic shock? (Or the company in which they were that desperate to give one person such accolades at such a rate?)

Guess we'll find out over the next couple of months.

**Do keep in mind that with recent CEO changeovers many things (jobs) are unsettled

signs

What does it mean if you break every single one of your favorite drinking glasses within one month?

I had five. They were special. One was with me for twelve years.

It took me like five years to break that many glasses in the past.

Okay, maybe three years.

But what does it mean???