Friday Five: Oh Me, Oh My

1. Work is really picking up. I worked three nights this week - in addition to my normal day schedule. But I also feel like I'm finally getting in a groove with my new job. One of the reasons I took this job was because I thought it would be a good fit with my strengths and interests, and this week proved I was right. Tuesday was my rock star day: I delivered a presentation that resulted in two new volunteers and a new patient. I also got word that my event chair recruited a volunteer to handle advocacy, a focus area because the Texas legislature is in session right now.
   
   
2. Saturday I'm walking in the Komen Race for the Cure. I've never participated in a Komen Race in the spring before. I hope it doesn't rain.
   
   
3. I found this great, high-intensity workout on Exercise TV On Demand. It's a boot camp aerobic workout, and it wears me out! Any exercise routine that involves burpees and mountain climbers is hard work. If you have Exercise TV On Demand, give it a try. I think it's called BootCampCalBurn.
   
   
4. I know this is old news, but was anyone else shocked when South Africa not only denied a visa for the Dalai Lama to attend a peace summit but announced they were awarding Castro with an honor they've also awarded to MLK and Gandhi?
   
   
5. My sister is getting married next Saturday. Crazy, crazy, crazy. A week after that, my college friend Elisabeth is getting married. So I'll be spending the new two weekends in Houston and Lubbock. As a result, please do not expect regularly-scheduled programming. I've barely kept up the last few weeks.
   

Friday Five

1. I had a fantastic time at the Cowboys game! What started out as a potential blowout ended up being a competitive game. It's fun to be part of the crowd, especially when you feel like you have an impact on the game. I'll post pictures as soon as I get them from Eileen.
   
   
2. I've decided to follow one of those Couch-to-5K training plans. If you've followed this blog for a while, you know I used to be a runner and then over training (stupid spinning class!) resulted in tendinitis in my left foot. I've had to take several breaks from exercising as a result. I miss running and want to do again, but I don't want to do too much too soon. I figure this slow-build plan should do the trick. Plus I'll keep up the anti-inflammation diet I mentioned in this post.
   
   
3. How many of you have read the book "The Shack?" I'm just not that into it. I had to force myself to read it last night, never a good sign. It's such a cultural and religious phenomenon that I made myself read it. I just don't get what all the fuss is about.
   
   
4. I don't like watching Presidential debates. I'm following the election enough that I don't learn anything from the debates. I didn't watch the one this week, but I read the transcript the next morning. The polls said Obama "won."
   
   
5. I watched two high profile summer movies this week: Iron Man and Sex and the City. Both movies could have been shorter, but I enjoyed them. Jon Favreau seems to be a talented director. Elf and Iron Man couldn't be more different. I didn't like the choices the characters made in Sex and the City. Seemed written to advance the plot and create conflict instead of reflecting the characters well.
   

Walking

I've started walking to work again, and I love it! I bought some cheap but comfy walking shoes so I don't have to factor in footwear every morning. I love the fresh air and additional exercise. If I walk home for lunch, which I usually do, my walking totals 32 minutes. And I'm saving on gas. My savings will add up if the price of gas keeps climbing.

One of my favorite things about living in Europe was walking everywhere, and I'm glad to have it back in my life. If you live close enough to work to walk or ride your bike, I suggest you give it a try.

Friday Five

1. Those of you that know me well know I have been trying unsuccessfully since freshman year in college to get my hair cut a certain way. The style has changed through the years, but the inability to get the right cut hasn't. I got my hair cut last week for Cuts for the Cure, and I'm more than 50 percent satisfied. Usually the back of my hair isn't cut right, and the front is fine. This time, the back is right and the front is wrong. Go figure. But after almost five years in this town, it looks like I finally found a hair dresser.
   
   
2. LOST was awesome Wednesday! (SPOILERS AHEAD) Every commercial break I found myself muttering "Awesome." I wasn't on board with the whole invisible-Jacob twist until he went all telekinetic. After reading that Jacob briefly appeared after he pushed Ben against the wall, I went back and watched it; it's totally creepy. And who knew Ben was pure evil? He killed his own people! LOST has had back-to-back disturbing episodes. I still can't get Sawyer strangling Locke's dad out of my head. And the mass killing and mass grave this week. I like the darkness though.
   
   
3. Speaking of TV shows, Friday Night Lights has been renewed for next season! Whoo-hoo! If you haven't watched this show, I encourage you to check it out. All episodes are available online, and NBC will air repeats beginning May 27. And the DVD is schedule to come out before the second season, so you have no excuse!
   
   
4. What do I have to say that is not TV related? I've been experimenting with keeping my happy list in my purse. The result? I never write in my happy list. Out of sight, out of mind. I miss happy list writing. Several things have happened in the last month I wanted to write down, but forgot about them. Operation: Resume Happy List Writing is in full swing!
   
   
5. I'm teaching the toning class at work again on Monday. I haven't changed the routine I originally created, and this will be my fourth of fifth time to teach. It's too time consuming. I have much more respect for instructors at gyms that vary what they do every class. Granted, they've had training, but it's still time consuming.
   

Live to Die Another Day

I'm elated the Mavs won last night, but did they have to stress me out so much? And they will do it again Thursday night I'm sure. Good thing this team knows how create winning streaks because they need two more back-to-back wins to advance to the next round.

In other news, Veronica Mars is back to the TV schedule. Yay!

I'm getting my hair cut on Sunday. You might be thinking: Sunday? The Susan G. Komen For the Cure is sponsoring a Cuts for the Cure day on Sunday when 100 percent of proceeds from select salons go to the Komen foundation. I need a haircut, so I might as well help fight breast cancer with my vanity. :-)

I ran a 5K race on Saturday for CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates). It was my first race since October and my first time to run 3 miles since November. My foot's been OK lately. I didn't set a PR, but I didn't embarrass myself. And I got a medal! And they called my name as I crossed the finish line. It was the least organized race I've ever been to, but CASA fights for children, not organize road races, so I can cut them some slack.

Graduation is Saturday. I'm feeling a little sentimental about this graduating class because it's the first class I've watched from move-in day to graduation. (I've been here too long.) It's interesting to watch the transformation of the students. I interviewed a student for a job in my office four years ago, and I didn't hire him because he couldn't communicate effectively. He went on to be a leader on campus. I hired a guy that became Student Senate President, Homecoming King and Mr. University.

Tuesday Topics

I've been asked to update my blog so people can have something to read at work. At least I know someone reads this boring blog. Anyway, here are some random thoughts.

I'm running the CASA 5K on Saturday. Normally this is not news, but I had to stop running on Thanksgiving due to inflammation in my left foot. I've recently resumed running, but I'm not up to 3 miles yet. And I run at 6 a.m., in the cool morning darkness. Running at 9 a.m. with full sunlight is always more draining. But CASA is a United Way agency, and I support them.

The Lives of Others is playing here! I got so excited when I found out, and I'm seeing it this week. Because I know you are all curious, I will let you know if the movie is deserving of the Best Foreign Film Oscar it received in February. On a related note, I've read the horrible news that the brothers Weinstein have bought the rights to remake this film. A film that just won an Oscar, that topped just about every Best of 2006 list. Apparently they want this film to reach more people, so instead a huge marketing push and a wider release, they think the solution is to remake it in English. have yet to see a remake that is better than it's foreign original. This particular story is about the Nazi Stasi and spying in East Germany! That doesn't really translate to our culture. And don't even get me started on subtitles. Americans will watch movies with subtitles, like Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Hero, Amalie, etc. The main problem with foreign language films is the way the subtitles appear. Subtitles should never, ever be white. Too often the words get washed out in the background. And on widescreen DVDS, the subtitles should be placed below the picture. I could continue my rant, but I'll stop there.

I'm busy at work finally. I'm writing multiple articles for an upcoming alumni magazine, planning a staff conference and preparing for camps and my trip to New York. It's to the point where I almost have so many things to do this week, I don't know where to start. I need to finish this post and read a chapter in a book on fundraising so I am prepared for a book study tomorrow morning.

LOST is getting good. Juliet's character is fascinating. I'm curious how the season is going to end. I heard the producers wanted to bring back Michael for the season finale, but he said no. I would think he would still be under contract because his character's story line is not finished. I'm loving the string of new episodes. If ABC chooses to delay the start of LOST until January, ala 24, I totally back that decision.

Veronica Mars returns next week! I doubt any of you watch it, but it's great!

I'm usually consistent with my cardio, but fickle with my toning. I'm finally doing both again, and every time I do, I always think that it's an interesting way to live. I'm constantly living with sore of fatigued muscles. It's not always the I-can't-take-another-step soreness, but something is usually tight, sensitive, sore or tired. Maybe if I didn't go through phases where I dropped the toning for periods of time, my body would settle down. Or maybe I should consider this normal and not being sore or aware of my muscles as the odd state.

So those are my random thoughts for Tuesday.

Friday Five: Happy List

Here are five things that made me happy this week.

1. Free lunch three out of four work days.
2. Working out during lunch.
3. SNOW!!!
4. Seasonal candy, specifically cherry-filled Hershey Kisses
5. Running into someone you went to college with, even if you can't place exactly how you know them.

We got snow last night! I awoke to a white world. Every since the weathermen forecast 11 inches of snow and we got two, I've ignored everything they've said. And the last two times they predicted snow, we've got a dusting or nothing at all, so I didn't think it would actually snow. It's pure snow, too. The best kind. It started snowing again this morning. Love it!

Does anyone out there work out during lunch? A colleague and I went to an aerobics class on Wednesday. We were nervous about the whole experience. Will we like it? Will we feel rushed? Will we take too long? It's almost the perfect time to exercise, if you work in a laid-back environment where taking an almost two-hour lunch is acceptable. You don't have to worry about heading to the gym when you get off work, but you don't have to get up early either. Also, it's a nice break in the middle of the day and energizes you. On the downside, I didn't eat lunch until 2 p.m. and was starving. And showering in a locker room isn't ideal. It reminded me of showering in the dorm. We are going to try it again next Monday and Wednesday and then decide if it's something we want to continue. Another great thing about working out during lunch instead of after work is not having to fight traffic on game nights during basketball season. The Rec Center is adjacent to the sports arena.

Sorry my blog has been so boring lately. I got out of the habit of writing around the holidays and the movie and haven't got back into the groove again. Oh, yeah, I also live a boring life. No trips or old men asking me out to keep you entertained.

Brrrr!

I ran this morning before work, and it was cold! I don't think my legs ever warmed up. You would think that the part of your body in motion would get warm and stop feeling numb, but it was not so. This is the first time I've run in the morning since it's been gloves-and-earmuffs cold. Now I just have to get out there again on Thursday morning knowing how cold it will be.

-------

I can burn TiVo recordings onto DVDs now! And I didn't even have to buy the special software! Awesome! And I can even edit out commercials!

-------

"I'm being very 'American Beauty' right now and taking lots of random pictures, so just ignore me." - student that walked into my office and started taking close-up shots of pictures on the wall, wreaths, etc. Must have an interesting project due in his photography class. You don't hear too many people referencing "American Beauty" these days. I need to watch that movie again.

Sunday Afternoons

I love Sunday afternoons during football season, especially when the Cowboys are playing. They don't make me quite so happy when we lose games we should have won.

Met the 36 year-old divorcee last week. He sat at my table, but didn't talk to me.

Last week we had gorgeous Fall weather. Blue skies and highs in the mid-50s. Perfect. So I was surprised Saturday when I walked outside at noon and was hot in my long-sleeve shirt. All this week the high is predicted to be in the mid-70s. I'm disappointed that the Fall weather isn't sticking around. But I enjoyed it last week.

In fact, on Halloween, I spent two hours standing outside in the grass, shoes off, handing out caramel apples to faculty and staff. The weather couldn't have been better. It's nice to work at a place where I can pass my afternoon that way.

Has anyone seen The Departed? Tried to see it Saturday night, but it was sold out. I don't understand this town. That movie has been at the theatre for about a month, and it sells out? I did get some gelato out of the botched trip to the movies, so that was nice.

I'm currently reading Dreams From My Father by Barack Obama. Obama lived in Indonesia for several years as a child. I don't know if the Senator is going to run for President in 2008, but I thought I would check his book out from the library while it was available. I don't have a definite opinion on him as a candidate yet, but I do appreciate his intelligence.

I only have two more weeks of spinning class left. It's so hard. I don't think I like it. I'm a slow, steady runner. Spinning is a complete change of pace. From the moment the class begins, I can't wait for it to be over. I'd rather run six miles any day. I've actually stopped running due to inflammation of the tendons in my left foot, but I think I'm going to start it back up again tomorrow. Must finish strong for the Biggest Loser Challenge. Our department has only lost 1.59 percent of our beginning weight. Another department has lost more than 3 percent of their beginning weight, so we're not winning.