Afternoon contemplations and reminiscing ...

I miss my animals. Well, just having pets in general, I guess. I wish I had a place of my own where I could actually own pets (my apartment now won't even allow me to take my kitty Marvin with me ... he currently lives with my parents, where he loves it, so I guess it's not a problem). I also think about just moving home to save money (to use to pay off stuff, travel, save for aforementioned house-of-my-own, etc.) but I just don't know. Home's not exactly close to things. But I do miss my little sister and THIS guy (Cody, a.k.a "Cody Bear"): My sister would kill me if she knew I posted that. Then again, it's on her Facebook, so she might not.



Back to the travel thing. Here's a picture of when I went to Ireland this past summer. It was my first time ever out of the country, so I had to get a passport for the first time, update my Tetnis shot, all that good stuff. Damn do those shots hurt, though! Anyway, this is at the Cliffs of Moher. I went with my friend Devon (below), and we just went on a whim, backpacks, no plans ... it was the best ever. I want to do more trips like that, but that requires money, which I can only save if I move home (really, it's true, I already figured it out).








So, I guess in the mean time, I'll just stick it out through the holidays, think it out, wait 'til one of the few people I'd actually want to live with needs a roommate (ha!) ... and until then, just try to save the measley 100 bucks a month! Oh, bills.

Controversial Class

Hmm, I can't say I disagree with this, necessarily, but to make a fitness class mandatory for overweight college students? Apparently that's what's happening at Lincoln University in Pennsylvania. Unfortunately, the university's Web site isn't the most user- or search-friendly one on the planet (maybe 'cause I am just super used to my alma mater's), and I don't really have time to research the issue, nor do I care that much, so I don't really know all the specifics. Just thought it was an interesting issue, to say the least.

Butt-toning shoes, nose bleeds ...

Am I a complete victim of targeted, sexist advertising? "Make 80-some percent of men speechless and 70-some perecent of women jealous" (or whatever it says). I don't care, I want Reebok's new "Easy Tone" shoe. I particularly liked the "Inspire" model in pink and white (also the color scheme on my current New Balance running shoes). It made me relieved to know that these are actually running shoes, at the very least (a legitimate reason to want a pair -- I could use some new kicks for running!).

Anyway, I've got 24 S.E.T. tonight with a couple friends/co-workers, so I'm excited for that. Even though I can't really breathe that easily without blowing my nose every 10 or so minutes (allergies, not viral) -- plus I just discovered I've got an eency weency nose bleed. That'll be gone soon, though.

I met one of my best friends, Morgan, last night at Starbucks to exchange gifts (my presents from Ireland for her, and her birthday present to me ... both of which were due several months ago; we're so bad!). Anyway, she got me "Diana: The Portrait," and I love love love it 'cause I love love love the late Princess Di. Just thought I'd throw that out there. Thanks, Morgy! :)

Alright, morning break over -- on with work and the rest of this Friday Eve!

Hiking, cookies, sitting on my arse

I didn't do a whole lot this weekend, which is kinda what I intended. I baked pumpkin-chocolate-chip cookies Friday night while watching my all-time favorite movie, "Bend it Like Beckham," for about the bazillionth time. I don't know why I love that movie so much! The cookies turned out delicious, but next time I think I might try cutting down on the butter -- they definitely didn't need all of that, and it would definitely be healthier with less. The next morning, I worked off all that dough with a new hike up Cowles Mountain ... the back/service-road way, which was really refreshing compared to the way my friend and I always took -- up the front, along with everyone and their mothers. So crowded. Anyway, this "new" way (for us) was pretty freakin' steep, and the next day, I was feeling the soreness -- in ONE buttcheek only. How does that happen? Haha. This way was one of my new favorites because it was quicker, way less-crowded, and it was maybe a better, if not an equal to, workout.

I went to Costco after some hiking and Jamba with Rachel to meet up with my family -- Costco trips with your parents are a blessing when you're out of nearly all the daily essentials. Plus, samples are always exciting.

Anyway, not much else to say since my weekend was so low-key, but I'm excited for next week being a three-day workweek (with the last two paid and off!) ... not to mention food, shopping, and sleeping in. Thank goodness.

I really feel like I need a hobby again, or at least something more worth-while than watching TV and going out to occupy my time. I always say I want to do a marathon, but I really haven't seemed to harness the motivation to train as other people have -- running four miles in the morning won't get me anywhere. I used to spend a lot of time on drawings and artsy-type projects, but things like that have seemed kinda boring lately. Why am I so unmotivated these days?

I've been toying with the idea of moving back home again -- an idea my mom seemed super happy and encouraging about -- and I'd only do it to save up a ton of money to either A) pay off all my crap and/or B) put a down payment on a house before April 30, when the tax credit was extended to.

I don't know. I just don't know.

Here is what I had to go through this morning. Thirty-three 5-gallon buckets of white paint spilled all over a freeway connector that I happened to get to right in time for this morning/day-ruining mess. Car wash helped SLIGHTLY, but luckily I know someone who used to work on cars in situations like this ... and the guy at AutoZone was super helpful. But still. Ugh.

Blue Monday

No matter how hard you try, you can never please everyone. And right now, it feels like I'm pleasing no one -- maybe not even myself because I never know what I want. Times like these are when I just want to throw myself into something extraordinarily time-consuming or just pick up and move. Looks like I'll at least just be hitting the gym hard tonight. Hopefully.