The longest week in history continues...

Oye oye oye... This week has been dragging hasn't it?

I am crossing my fingers that I won't have to work all day today... as far as I can count over half the attorneys in our office will be gone.

Yesterday had many ups and downs... the first down was the day... it went on forever... I didn't have a lot of things to do... it dragged.

The next down... I tried to buy some cheez-its at the store but it wouldn't ring up how I thought it should - which brings me to an up - I finally got them for free!

When I got home I found a ton of ants on my counter again  - down...

Then I got a phone call from my boss at the gym telling me she told her boss that I was going to be her new assistant  - which is ultimately and up because I get more money for not a lot of work... I will take it.

Then I tried to watch a bit of the  RNC - down.

Watched football - Up!

Canceled a planned get together for last night - down (I was too stinking tired to go out after dark on a week night)

Went to bed early - Up.

Okay - enough with the ups and downs...

This weekend I am going to sitting at an art show at Bumbershoot... it's called Skyward and here is a link!  you should come by and see it if you decide to go into the Bumbershoot vortex...

Look for me Saturday morning or Sunday afternoon... I'll be wearing an orange cap.

When I'm done sitting at the show I will most likely wander around the festival and troll for men (okay, not really but you never know...).

I am going to attempt to sleep in on Sunday and Monday...  I am guessing that I will only make it 'til 7am tops... but I suppose I will take anything I can get.

Maybe I will make some art this weekend...

Maybe I will drink an alcoholic beverage...

Maybe I will meet my benefactor....

Maybe I will win the lottery...

Okay - enough wishing... I have to start to get ready for what will most likely be the longest day in recent memory...

This is the week that never ends.

It's only Thursday... how can I be so tired when I just woke up?  Maybe I have a sickness of some sort.

The only news I have to report this morning is that I might have the opportunity to go to Hawaii next year... a friend of mine from the gym is planning a low key trip and she asked me if I'd like to go.  I'm not sure if I'll be able to finagle the finances but I might try...  I haven't been on a "real" vacation in a very long time.

Maybe I can sell a spare body part to pay for the trip... start saving your pennies now for the Send Jen to Hawaii Fund...

This evening I'm supposed to meet up with a friend from High School after work...  hopefully it won't be too late, because lord knows I can't stay up past 10pm on a weeknight...

I need a nap - seriously.

One year ago today...

One year ago today two things happened:

I ate my last box of Dots and I flew to Vermont for my artist residency.

Not a lot has changed since then...  okay, maybe I am walking a little better, maybe my teeth are not decaying as much AND my apartment is still clean...

But no Dots...

I have to make it through Friday and I can go back to sugar if I want...  I accidentally ate some Turkey Jerky the other day which had brown sugar in the ingredients (which I didn't realize until it was too late).... oh well...  at least I've stayed away from sweets.

Today I have to pick up my tickets for Bumbershoot and deliver clothing to people who ordered it from my party...  Tonight I am teaching for the last time this week...  woot woot - a whole six days off.

Maybe I'll do something exciting today... yesterday was slow... not a lot of action going on around the office...  maybe I'll work on a syllabus for an imaginary class I would like to teach...

Maybe I'll just take a nap under my desk.

I do not want to go to (insert whatever you want) today...

I'm not really in the mood to do anything today.  I may have made that same statement yesterday...  I mean it again today.

Let's see what I have to tell you.

Yesterday at work they found a naked drunk guy sleeping in the men's room in my office.  The bathroom is separate from our space so I was in no immediate danger... not that I couldn't hold my own against a naked drunk guy...  I saw him when they were confronting him... he had clothes on.  I also got to talk to bike cops.  That was kind of exciting.

I am also going to vent a bit... every time I get my paycheck from the gym there is some sort of motivational propaganda in it.  Yesterday was no different... I am just going to copy and paste a portion of it which I thought was kind of dumb..  it's just a smaller portion of a full page "go get em, you can change it" talk...

...Here is why humans can do remarkable things: because they are remarkable. Humans are different than any other creation. When a dog starts with weeds, he winds up with weeds. and the reason is because he's a dog. But that's not true with human beings. Humans can turn weeds into gardens....




Why would dogs want to garden?  I suppose when they enclose these things they are aiming towards the lowest common denominator, but really people.  Save some paper.


I guess that's all I have today... yesterday during lunch I watched this pigeon for a long time... he/she had one droopy wing...  it was kind of cute.

Let's do it again..

It just goes on and on... Mondays roll around every week...  I am having mixed feelings this morning.  I got a pretty good nights sleep, but I would like to do nothing today...  just lounging on the sofa and watching movies...

I suppose I can do it next week...

The news is reporting on Tropical Storm Isaac...  seven years ago Katrina was just about to hit New Orleans as I was waiting in the airport to move to Chicago...  last year (to the day I think...) I was waiting to get to Vermont with Hurricane Irene ruining my plans...  oh tropical weather... what would we do without you... I suppose you can't really complain about the Seattle weather too much.

I don't have much to report this morning... I keep finding random ants crawling around my kitchen - I've also been inundated with fruit flies...  I have a "trap" out to get the fruit flies... it's working, but not fast enough.

Next weekend I'm sitting at an art show at Bumbershoot so that should be interesting...  I will report more on that later...

Things I have to look forward to:

New clothes arriving
Pay day(s)
sleep

Nothing

I did a whole lot of nothing yesterday and it was nice.

Every once in a while it's good to have no responsibilities...  The only thing I had to do yesterday was get my hair done and things waxed... my armpits look stunning I must say.  I didn't even head out after I got the hair done (which is a shame because it looks stunning...)...

I tried to post a photo from my webcam but it's not happening...

Today I teach, laundry and then I am heading over to my momma's house for dinner... I will most likely swing by to see my Dad as well...

I am coming up to the end of my no sugar month...  it's going surprisingly well...  I am not sure if I will continue on or not..  over the past two weeks I've been down 1.8 pounds so that's cool... but then again I've actually been tracking everything I put in my mouth, which in the past has been hard (not that I can't do it , but I just don't want to be bothered with it...).

I guess I should think about getting ready to get to the gym...  I need a little more energy to get there...

Today!

I am looking forward to getting some maintenance done on my hairy parts today (legs/brows and arms...)... get your mind out of the gutter please.

This morning I did the usual... ww, coffee and then exercising...

I got some good news as well.  One of my camp friends finally got a job and it's up here so that's exciting... now we just have to find her boyfriend a job.. if you know anyone who works in the biking (bicycle) area let me know.  He get's the Jen seal of approval.

I guess I should get a move on... I need to hose myself down.

What I know today.

I don't have much to report today.  I ate a really big hamburger last night and don't have any regrets at all!  I met up with a friend of mine from High School.  I had borrowed her camping equipment for the long walk and needed to return it... so I took her out to dinner to thank her. 

Finally it is Friday...  I know, it took long enough to get here.

I hope today will fly by...  I am looking forward to a fairly uneventful weekend.  I have a hair/waxing appointment tomorrow (thank goodness - my armpits look like a gorilla)... and then a birthday party I might go to (there would be nobody there that I know, but hey - I'm up for the challenge I think)... and then I have the fourth season of True Blood from the library which I need to start watching...

I think that's it.

This morning I woke up to more ants in my kitchen.  I closed my kitchen window last night and I think they got trapped inside... don't worry, I killed them all...  poor things....

Maybe I'll get lucky this weekend and get asked out on a date!

See ya later...

I came home last night to the last of the ants crawling around frantically on my kitchen counter and bathtub trying to get away from the toxins that the exterminator used... it was a little bit sad, I had to squish them to put them out of their misery...  the ones that I didn't squish I drowned.  I felt a little bad.

Oh well - they were going to bite it eventually.

I am sitting here in my clean living room.  I think it would be nice just to stay here all day. 

I don't have much to report this morning... in fact I have nothing besides the ants and the apartment.

I guess I'll go back to my coffee then...

see ya later.

I need one more day...

My weekend seemed like it was really long, but it went by too fast.  I need a day to just relax.  I ended up sleeping almost nine hours last night... I was tired.

I am happy to report that I cleaned up my apartment... here are a few photos...  I am going to have to set up reminders to clean every once in a while because I really like it when it's tidy...

I could get used to living in a clean space...  maybe I should have people over more often - that way I would clean up more often...

So.... on to my clothing party...  (Myra - I'm inviting you next time ....)...  It went pretty well - I'm going to be sporting a new pair of leggings, I have acquired my holiday party attire and I will also be rocking some crimson colored cords (if my thighs will cooperate).

I need to scale back on spending again...  or find a benefactor...  maybe I'll sell a kidney.

I need to make it eleven more days and then I can go back to sugar again (if I want)... I may see how long I can go...  it's turning out to not be so hard...  I did happen to notice that a box of crackers I bought the other day have sugar listed in the ingredients so I was a bit bummed... I did eat some of them though... so I don't think that was cheating... it's not like I was shoving cookies in my face like in the past.

This week I am doing the usual (working/teaching)... plus I'm going out to dinner with a friend of mine from High School...  she loaned me her tent and camping pads when I did the long walk so I am taking her out to dinner to thank her...  look at me, getting out there and doing things on a week night.

Mondays are for sissies...

One of those weekends...

Yesterday seemed to go on forever.  I can't believe it's only Sunday.  Yesterday stretched forever... and I stayed up until11:30 so that's out of the norm as well...

So.... today I am up early finishing up cleaning my apartment before my clothing party this afternoon...   It will all come together.. I'll just have to shove a few boxes in a closet... or five...

I had a really good day yesterday I think... nothing earth-shattering but it was all even keeled.  I was down when I weighed in at ww...  I walked around Greenlake and then went to hang up artwork at my Dad's place.  He seemed to be in a better mood - he didn't seem to out of it which was nice.  I stayed for about an hour which is a record as of late.  I think there my be hope for him yet.  He's been doing Physical and Occupational Therapy so I think he's making progress when it comes to moving... he also managed to crack a joke.

After my visit with Dad I went to a different clothing party - same company, different host...  I always like chatting with people... I need to get out more often. 

When I got home I did some grocery shopping and got things ready for today.

Overall it was a pretty good day... I'm feeling pretty optimistic about the future...

I think I should probably get back to hiding things... errrr I mean cleaning...

Note to self - don't eat a bagillion cherries and not expect to have an upset tummy

yep...  Yesterday was a bit sketchy near the end... I made the mistake of eating cherries and an entire cucumber for lunch yesterday and it turned my tummy into a big mess... there really is no upside to this story... I actually thought to myself that I would be perfectly alright if I threw up on the street... you know you must feel bad when you don't care if you lose your lunch on the street corner.

I'm sure this is what you wanted to wake up to this morning right?

Tis going to be hot again today.  It got up into the 90's yesterday... might even be hotter today.  I think I will handle it better today because I won't have an upset tummy... 

My arms and chest ares still really sore from teaching body sculpt on Monday.  I thought they might start to feel a little better but I was wrong...  I guess they will feel better eventually.

This weekend I am busy with clothing parties, cleaning and taking art to my Dad's new room.  I don't know if I mentioned this, but Dad moved into a private room so he wouldn't be bothered by potential roommates.  He's a little cranky about the change (but when is he not cranky about things? it's part of his charm)...  I am taking in some of his old artwork to hang up in the room to hopefully raise his spirits.

My next big decision today is what I should wear to work.... it's going to be hot, but it's casual Friday... I don't want to wear jeans because I'll get all sweaty and gross.... oh the dilemma.

I'll let you know what I figure out.  That's all I've got today.

Good Morning biceps!

I was woken up this morning with a big old twinge in my biceps...  I am happy (or sad) to report that I am now feeling the results of my body sculpting class on Monday... ouch.  That is all I have to say.  Okay, I'll say this one last thing - it's a good thing that I have strong legs or they might be hurting as well.

Since we're on the subject of muscles and all parts of this vehicle that I call my body let's talk about my feet.  I think my feet are REALLY getting better.  I didn't think this day would ever come... but I think it has.  I am still icing them morning and night and taking ibuprofen three times a day and it's actually working.  The heels still hurt a bit in the evening, but it's not nearly as ouchy as it used to be...

Today I am having lunch with my friends Matt and Bryan... We are going to Red Robin (I mentioned that yesterday)... I am having a Whiskey River Barbecue Burger... it's already in the pointsplus tracker.. I'm ready to go.

Ant update - I only found three ants when I got home yesterday...  they are going to be working on the outside of the building (they being exterminators) this week so hopefully this will take care of the problem...

Okay - that's it.  Stay out of trouble. I'm going to try to do just the same.

Ants... in my kitchen

You might recall a few months ago I had an issue with ants in my bathroom (or maybe I didn't mention it)... well, I have more ants.  This time in my kitchen.  Not a ton, but enough for me to worry a bit and do a thorough cleaning this morning when I got up as the ungodly hour of 5:15...

They have an exterminator coming this week to do the outside so hopefully this will take care of the problem.  I must say I do like my apartment manager.  I liked the old one too, but the one I have now is very responsive and nice.  It sure is a swell place to live.  Minus the ants.

Well.... let's get to my report for the morning...   last night I taught the body sculpting class... you may know that I have taught it before, and I am certainly not qualified to do it... but I did it anyway.  I think my arms will fall off... if not today, tomorrow.

What else do I know...  I made a full pot of coffee this morning... yum yum...

Oh, tomorrow I am going to Red Robin for lunch and I AM EXCITED!  They have a lunchtime special going on... three dollars off...  I am so excited that I have ramped up the exercise so I can eat it without pity.. I have even put it in my online tracker so I know how I'm doing...

One more thing... when I was on the Long Walk a few weeks ago I volunteered to help out at an art exhibition associated with Bumbershoot... I believe it's call Skyward.  I'm pretty jazzed for the following reasons.  1.  I get to see art.  2.  I get to get into Bumbershoot for free. 3.  I will probably get to meet some nice people. 

yeah, that's it I think...  Let's find a nice photo to leave you with today...

If you can't stand the heat...

Once again Monday has rolled around and I'm back to my old tricks.

This weekend was full.  Considering I don't like hanging out with people that much I sure did quite a bit of it...  Class was fairly full which was nice considering it was so nice outside... after that I took a quick trip to see Dad (he said he want's to be sprung from the joint) and then I went to see Greenstage's production of the Taming of the Shrew at Magnuson Park.  It was good and free... although I did make a cash donation.  I met up with another counselor from summer camp (who I don't know that well) and his friends.  It was good but it was really really hot... good thing I loaded up on the sunscreen and water.  I think I lost about three pounds just sweating.

After the play I went to a graduation party for my best friend's daughter.  I know you're probably asking yourself "hey Jen, I didn't think you had a best friend"... well I do, even though I don't see her that often...  but yeah,  I do have a best friend... and yes, her oldest daughter is going off to college and it makes me feel really old.  It was a Mama Mia themed party (greek)...  I have never seen the movie so I was lost when it came to the Mama Mia trivia - but I just rolled with it.  The Greek inspired food was good...

This week is pretty straightforward... work, teach, work, teach, work, teach, work.... work...  you know the drill...

Next weekend I have a Big Brother Clothing party...  I would tell you all about it, but they have trolls out there that roam the interwebs and come down hard on anyone who might even think about inviting their friends via the web...

That's it for now.  Must get more coffee...

Clean clean clean - errands...

That's pretty much what happened yesterday.  I was a walking machine...  I have a lot of things to do before I have my big brother clothing party next weekend (and a graduation party tonight)... 

I walked downtown to the new City Target... it's pretty convenient - you could tell there were a lot of people there from nearby Capital Hill or Queen Anne...  a lot of people wearing backpacks...  it reminded me a lot of when I would take my weekend walks to Target when I lived in Chicago.

I've been thinking a lot about walking lately... maybe it's because I've walked so many miles in the past month or so...  maybe I'll start writing about it...  but not here...  I've come to the conclusion that I am a loner... and loners walk (I think)...

hmmmmm.... up today... as I said, I have a graduation/going to college party and Theater in the Park and class.... too much to do.

I'm going to be going out to lunch this week with my friend Matt... we're going to Red Robin... I'm going to be eating a big fat hamburger with all the junk on it...  I'm going to load up on points beforehand so I don't feel guilty.. ah.  It will be nice.

I think I may actually do some more picking up while I'm watching CBS Sunday Morning... If you haven't watched the show you should.  It's good Sunday Morning watching.

Ann Curry and Shoes

Yesterday there was a story on Huffington Post about the possibility of Ann Curry being demoted partly for her colorful outfits.  My blog saw a ton of hits for this post...

People are really interested in Ann Curry and her outfits...

I guess she (Ann) was on the Today Show yesterday with a story... If I were her I would have kicked Matt in the nads.

I haven't watched the show since they gave her the boot and I can't really say that I miss it.  I just turn the channel to the local news and I'm good.  Who needs drivel like the Today Show.

So..... today is Friday.  I think I'm ready for it.  I REALLY need to do something with the apartment... I can walk around in it but it doesn't make me happy...  I have too much stuff.

ah...  I was rejected from another art thing yesterday...  I'm used to it by now.. still sucks though.

I think I should go now.

I took a different route home yesterday - it took me over the Freeway a different way... I kind of liked it.

Okay, now I'm done.

If you can't say anything nice...

Hello everyone.  I have a big old rant to get off my chest this morning...

I teach at a gym.  Every so often we are sent updates to our contact list and they ask for corrections.  It is always inevitable that someone will hit REPLY ALL when replying to the email...  I hate getting these inane responses.... I really would like to just go out and hit everyone upside the head to hits reply all.  This happens all the time...  someone will be looking for a sub, someone will hit reply all just to let the person looking for a sub know that THEY CAN'T DO IT!  Come on people do we really all need to know that you can't cover a class?  ARGH!

I feel a little bit better now...

What's happening today?  I don't know... work.  I don't have to teach so I should probably take this opportunity to clean the apartment and do some more laundry... it's time to get my life more organized. 

I have decided to start varying my walking route home so I don't do any impulse shopping at Safeway...  however, I will go tomorrow night and pick up a $5.00 rotisserie chicken, because they are are on sale and you know how I love rotisserie chicken!  But that's it... got to reign in the grocery store monster...

And a final note this morning...  for the past few days I have noticed that my feet haven't really been hurting at all.  This is a good thing.  I'm trying not to get too excited about it because it has been two plus years that they have been giving me grief.  I am hoping that all this icing and ibuprofen is finally working it's magic (four months later).  Only time will tell I guess...

What to do today...

I suppose I should get my backside off the sofa and get ready for work but I'm more interested in finishing my coffee and updating you on what's going on (not much)...

I did dishes this morning woo-hoo!

One of my fellow long walkers has decided that she wants to walk from Capitol Hill to Burien to eat at a vegetarian restaurant.  I have agreed to go.  It's only going to be a 14 mile walk.  Sure, why not.  We're going to go in September... once we get there we'll eat and then take the bus home.

Oh the things I do.

I guess I should get ready for work.

Blue Angels - Sky - Flowers - Garbage

Yesterday I decided to sit in my courtyard and wait for the Blue Angels to fly over...  then I went for a walk. Overall it was a pretty good day.

that little spec is a Blue Angel

'tis Warm and I am Hot...

I think it hit 92 degrees yesterday...  I'm all for warmth, but this was little bit much.  I will not complain though...  It could be as it was in Chicago... warm and humid...  at least I am comfortable wearing clothes in this heat.

Yesterday was very full...  It started out with WW - I was down (I think giving up sugar is doing something)...  Then I went for coffee with the gang and then walked around Greenlake with my friend Melinda.

While I was waiting for Melinda to show up at the lake, a guy actually starting talking to me out of the blue.  This does not happen very often so I don't have a lot of practice, but I think I fared pretty well.  I did not make a fool of myself which is by far the most important thing.

Anyway, maybe this will happen more often.  Oh, and I will add that the guy who talked to me was not a creepy old guy like the ones who usually talk to me, it was a good looking mid-thirties looking guy... so there. 

Yesterday afternoon my niece had a birthday barbecue that I attended.  It was a good time, but I ate too many sausages... at least I counted all the points.

Today I am back to teaching.  Hopefully my legs have had enough time to recuperate.  I am also planning on visiting my Dad.  I think I will tell him about my walk last weekend (that is if he's awake)...  then I suppose I should clean some in my apartment... it's just so hard sometime...

That is all I have to report right now.

Stay cool everybody.

Another Perspective of the Long Walk

This is a nice entry from a writer who was on the Long Walk

READ IT HERE

I have finally made it to Friday.  My legs are dead... it's been a week straight of walking and cycling.  I am ready to take a break.

It's supposed to be a scorcher this weekend.  I am going to work on my freckle-tan which I got on the long walk.


What else?  I have successfully given up the sugar....  I really haven't had a lot of problems so far.  Today I will be tempted by sticky buns form Specialty's...  I'm sure I can resist.  It's nice to feel like I'm back on track.

Last night I taught my last Thursday class.  Due to lack of attendance they decided to cancel it.  We actually has five people in class which is pretty good.  They were a bit upset.   I said they might be able to bring it back in the fall.  Although I'm glad to not have to regularly teach on Thursdays, I'm sad for the members - I know what it's like to have a class canceled on you.

Okay - I think that's it.  I've squandered my morning... I'm participating in a food journal survey - I am failing miserably at it... I was trying to make $50.00... I doubt  I will complete the study successfully... oh well.   Better get a move on.

This is what happens when you have too much Naughty Nettle Ale

I had my friend Meredith make this up for me yesterday and I posted it on facebook.

I have gotten mixed reaction, but I think it's kind of funny.  No, I think it's very funny...

What do you think?

I look a lot worse than I felt in that photo...

Today I give up the sugar...

I have decided to eliminate sugar from my diet starting today.  I am not going to go all crazy and get rid of everything that is bad in my kitchen, but I'm going to be aware of additional sugar in my diet (like eating cookies for breakfast).

I made this decision a few weeks ago so I feel pretty good about it.  I am thinking it might be a little challenging the first few days... I will just get through it.

Changing directions in this post now to the Long Walk...

At one point in the walk we planted a tree in honor of two former walkers who have died over the past year.  In the hole in which we planted the tree we placed little pieces of paper on which we wrote things we wanted to grow over the next year.  I'm not going to divulge what I wrote on my paper, but I'm working on doing just what I wrote down.  I feel very optimistic about my upcoming year.