I have been uncharacteristically lazy lately. In the past two days, I watched more TV than I do in an average month. But I have a good excuse. I woke up yesterday with swollen glands, a bad stomach ache and in total exhaustion. So I called in sick yesterday.
I have a hard time calling in sick. I'm not sure why. My step mom loves to tell the story about how I used to cry when I was little if I couldn't go to school. I could usually take it for one day, but the second I just couldn't bear sitting on the coach with a box of Kleenex while my peers played on the playground and I fell further behind in class. I liked school. I'm a dork, I know.
Yesterday, I actually got up and was going to get ready — but I couldn't take it. So I told my editor and crawled back into bed. I spent the day watching "Dickie Roberts, Former Child Star" and five episodes of "Grey's Anatomy" in a row. I loved it.
I wished I could have done it again today, especially at 6:30 p.m. when I was finishing up my second story — after my editor told me he didn't need a story from me at all today.
Oh well. Making up for lost time. I'll just work on my project later...
Lesson learned: Despite how Meredith acts, she really loves Dr. Shepherd. And Alex isn't the jerk that he acts like, even if he failed his medical exams.
Wednesday, September 27, 2006
Sunday, September 24, 2006
Inhaling the dust
For the first time in three weeks, Steve and I did our ride at Spring Gap in the light. We also were joined by a couple other of my friends.
I was a little worried when Justin and Paul pulled out brand new bikes from Wal-Mart that they had bought within the past 24 hours. It was even more concerned when Justin's bike was a tripped out downhill bike with a kick stand.
But the boys didn't to too bad for the ride we took them on. The Spring Gap trail isn't all that technical, but it does have a few brutal hills. The three boys who came along — the two above and another friend from church, Gabe — didn't really like the hills, but they definitely left me in the dust on the downhill. They also made the 16 miles in tact. Not bad for a few rookies.
Lesson learned: There's a reason why bikes are priced cheaper at Wal-Mart.
I was a little worried when Justin and Paul pulled out brand new bikes from Wal-Mart that they had bought within the past 24 hours. It was even more concerned when Justin's bike was a tripped out downhill bike with a kick stand.
But the boys didn't to too bad for the ride we took them on. The Spring Gap trail isn't all that technical, but it does have a few brutal hills. The three boys who came along — the two above and another friend from church, Gabe — didn't really like the hills, but they definitely left me in the dust on the downhill. They also made the 16 miles in tact. Not bad for a few rookies.
Lesson learned: There's a reason why bikes are priced cheaper at Wal-Mart.
Thursday, September 21, 2006
A little girl talk
Thank God for my girls.
I've been a little overwhelmed lately with everything. Last week I wrote ten stories. Those aren't just little ten-inchers. The problem with writing that much in one week is you don't get much else done. Especially because the weekend was filled with a day-long session for my exchange and church activities.
I have a huge project I'm working on at work that I haven't even finished all the reporting (interviewing) on. It was due yesterday. I'm supposed to be learning Japanese a half an hour a day. I haven't done it at all. I had five days of homework last week for Bible study. I did one day. I could go on and on.
Today, with all the stress weighing on my shoulders, Sarah and Jenn came through. They probably don't even know it. We were supposed to have Bible study tonight, but three of the girls couldn't make it. Instead, Jenn, Sarah and I sat around and talked, venting about all our problems and frustrations. It felt good to know that others feel the pressure sometimes, too. Sometimes I feel like I'm not supposed to.
Lesson learned: There's nothing like a little girl talk as a cure for stress.
I've been a little overwhelmed lately with everything. Last week I wrote ten stories. Those aren't just little ten-inchers. The problem with writing that much in one week is you don't get much else done. Especially because the weekend was filled with a day-long session for my exchange and church activities.
I have a huge project I'm working on at work that I haven't even finished all the reporting (interviewing) on. It was due yesterday. I'm supposed to be learning Japanese a half an hour a day. I haven't done it at all. I had five days of homework last week for Bible study. I did one day. I could go on and on.
Today, with all the stress weighing on my shoulders, Sarah and Jenn came through. They probably don't even know it. We were supposed to have Bible study tonight, but three of the girls couldn't make it. Instead, Jenn, Sarah and I sat around and talked, venting about all our problems and frustrations. It felt good to know that others feel the pressure sometimes, too. Sometimes I feel like I'm not supposed to.
Lesson learned: There's nothing like a little girl talk as a cure for stress.
Sunday, September 17, 2006
Last summer hurah
It seems that summer is coming to an end. A group of my friends and I went up to a lake to kayak this afternoon. It was sunny and nice, but definitely not as warm as it was only about a week ago. Not quite warm enough to want to jump in the water. That didn't stop one guy in our group. He tipped over his boat within about one minute of climbing in, then again about five minutes after that.
Afterwards I was so cold I wrapped up in about four layers, including my friend's sleeping-bag-like coat. It may have saved my life. We barbecued and played a game of Mow. If you don't know what that is, I can't tell you. That's part of the game.
Now I'm defrosting back home, preparing for another week.
Lessons learned: It's not to early to bring out the parka.
Afterwards I was so cold I wrapped up in about four layers, including my friend's sleeping-bag-like coat. It may have saved my life. We barbecued and played a game of Mow. If you don't know what that is, I can't tell you. That's part of the game.
Now I'm defrosting back home, preparing for another week.
Lessons learned: It's not to early to bring out the parka.
Friday, September 15, 2006
Lessons twice learned
Apparently, Steve and I didn't learn our lesson. Tonight we went for the same ride we did last time, and you can guess how it ended.
For those of you who didn't read that post, Steve is my mountain bike riding buddy and a couple weeks ago we miscalculated how early the sun goes down now and ended up riding half of the loop we were doing in the dark.
Tonight we did start earlier and end earlier. In fact, we did a lot better. We didn't have to walk the last few miles. When we got on the final stretch it was pretty dim though. I think because we had done it before, we both realized that it is worse to walk your bike in complete, dead-of-night darkness than to ride in dim light, so we picked up the pace. The key is just to stay loose. That way you can absorb the bumps, rocks and dips that you can't see. It was actually kind of fun. Luckily the last stretch isn't that treacherous. There were a few tricky spots, only because we couldn't see them.
My trick was just to watch Steve. I figured if he all of a sudden fell over, I should slow down.
The only downside was that we are experiencing a little bit of a cold snap. By the end of the ride, I couldn't feel my fingers. Nothing a little Chinese food and a beer couldn't cure.
Lesson Learned: Again, it gets dark at 7:45 p.m., not 8:30.
For those of you who didn't read that post, Steve is my mountain bike riding buddy and a couple weeks ago we miscalculated how early the sun goes down now and ended up riding half of the loop we were doing in the dark.
Tonight we did start earlier and end earlier. In fact, we did a lot better. We didn't have to walk the last few miles. When we got on the final stretch it was pretty dim though. I think because we had done it before, we both realized that it is worse to walk your bike in complete, dead-of-night darkness than to ride in dim light, so we picked up the pace. The key is just to stay loose. That way you can absorb the bumps, rocks and dips that you can't see. It was actually kind of fun. Luckily the last stretch isn't that treacherous. There were a few tricky spots, only because we couldn't see them.
My trick was just to watch Steve. I figured if he all of a sudden fell over, I should slow down.
The only downside was that we are experiencing a little bit of a cold snap. By the end of the ride, I couldn't feel my fingers. Nothing a little Chinese food and a beer couldn't cure.
Lesson Learned: Again, it gets dark at 7:45 p.m., not 8:30.
Thursday, September 14, 2006
Every point counts
The county office of education in my county is holding something called a fitness challenge this month. How it works is that businesses and other organizations sign up in teams of five or more. Then each member of the team keeps track of points assigned for healthy habits, such as exercise, eating fruits and vegetables, drinking water etc. For instance, eating five servings of fruits and vegetables is one point, running one mile is one point, eating 25 grams of fiber is one point.
Every week we turn in our points from the week and the team captain averages them.
So we got a team together at my paper. Last week was the first week, and we turned our points in on Monday. Somehow by default I ended up as the captain of our team. At first I just saw it as a kind of fun way to motivate myself to get a little healthier. Then I saw the point totals of the other teams. We are in the top 25 percent would guess - high enough where we could maybe come close to the top, but low enough we would really need to work to do it. Nothing like a little competition to get me in gear. Now I'm drinking water like a drain and eating 10 servings of vegetables so I can get bonus points.
Lesson learned: When you eat 10 servings of vegetables and drink 96 oz of water in a day, there isn't room for much else. Maybe I should just stick to racking up points through ridiculous amounts of exercise.
Every week we turn in our points from the week and the team captain averages them.
So we got a team together at my paper. Last week was the first week, and we turned our points in on Monday. Somehow by default I ended up as the captain of our team. At first I just saw it as a kind of fun way to motivate myself to get a little healthier. Then I saw the point totals of the other teams. We are in the top 25 percent would guess - high enough where we could maybe come close to the top, but low enough we would really need to work to do it. Nothing like a little competition to get me in gear. Now I'm drinking water like a drain and eating 10 servings of vegetables so I can get bonus points.
Lesson learned: When you eat 10 servings of vegetables and drink 96 oz of water in a day, there isn't room for much else. Maybe I should just stick to racking up points through ridiculous amounts of exercise.
Tuesday, September 12, 2006
Drowning in paper
As the education reporter, I cover 12 school districts and one community college in my county. That's about 18 board meetings a month, many of them congregated in the second week of each month. Luckily, I don't have to go to all of them. But I do have to read all of the agendas and keep track of what is happening at each district. I've kind of let some go for bigger and broader issue stories, which is what my editor told me to focus on, but I'm trying to get better about it.
This week, I've been inundated with agendas and the supplementary materials. Everyone is reviewing their budgets so far this year. Even Craig, my editor, gave me a sympathetic look when I brought a six-inch stack of papers to him to go over.
I'm still weeding through them and making calls on top of my daily stories. I'll welcome a slow week.
Lesson learned: This year's COLA was 5.3 percent. Federal revenue decreased to Head Start Programs. And this year's capital improvement budget is up 40 percent at one local school. - All stuff none of you care about.
This week, I've been inundated with agendas and the supplementary materials. Everyone is reviewing their budgets so far this year. Even Craig, my editor, gave me a sympathetic look when I brought a six-inch stack of papers to him to go over.
I'm still weeding through them and making calls on top of my daily stories. I'll welcome a slow week.
Lesson learned: This year's COLA was 5.3 percent. Federal revenue decreased to Head Start Programs. And this year's capital improvement budget is up 40 percent at one local school. - All stuff none of you care about.
Sunday, September 10, 2006
Adventures in remodeling
My friends Jenn and Paul and Paul's brother, Justin recently went in together to buy a house. They're so grown up. Buying a house seems like a mirage on the horizon of my life experiences. Anyway, originally they were just going to redo the bathroom and add a second one. Then they decided to move a couple walls. Now they're tearing out the kitchen and replacing everything, rerouting hall ways, taking out closets... It seems like this is normally how remodeling goes.
So I volunteered to help them paint. On a steady diet of pizza and soda, the four of us spent the afternoon rolling olive-colored paint onto their living room walls, over our names, which we had painted on earlier. It was cool to watch the room transition, and actually kind of therapeutic to get wrapped up in filling in the missed spots near the ceiling with a paint brush. Somehow I was the one who ended up with the most paint all over me. I even had it on my contact lenses from painting the ceiling.
While Justin and I were putting on the finishing touches, Jenn and Paul started tearing down tile in the bathroom. It was funny to look down the hall and watch Jenn wielding a sledgehammer while the sheet rock flew around her. Judging from the magnitude of the shattering tile, that girl is deceivingly strong. Following one crash, I heard her say dramatically, "I woke up this morning, and I just hated everything" (A line from which movie - I can't remember).
We followed up the work with a movie at my place (Scary Movie IV, I wouldn't recommend it.) Of course, they brought more soda, sour fish, Ben and Jerry's Chunky Monkey ice cream, pop corn and Mike and Ike. I ate so much junk food today I feel sick.
Lesson learned: Wear closed toed shoes - not flip flops - while participating in construction projects. (I couldn't try the sledge hammer because of this faux pas).
So I volunteered to help them paint. On a steady diet of pizza and soda, the four of us spent the afternoon rolling olive-colored paint onto their living room walls, over our names, which we had painted on earlier. It was cool to watch the room transition, and actually kind of therapeutic to get wrapped up in filling in the missed spots near the ceiling with a paint brush. Somehow I was the one who ended up with the most paint all over me. I even had it on my contact lenses from painting the ceiling.
While Justin and I were putting on the finishing touches, Jenn and Paul started tearing down tile in the bathroom. It was funny to look down the hall and watch Jenn wielding a sledgehammer while the sheet rock flew around her. Judging from the magnitude of the shattering tile, that girl is deceivingly strong. Following one crash, I heard her say dramatically, "I woke up this morning, and I just hated everything" (A line from which movie - I can't remember).
We followed up the work with a movie at my place (Scary Movie IV, I wouldn't recommend it.) Of course, they brought more soda, sour fish, Ben and Jerry's Chunky Monkey ice cream, pop corn and Mike and Ike. I ate so much junk food today I feel sick.
Lesson learned: Wear closed toed shoes - not flip flops - while participating in construction projects. (I couldn't try the sledge hammer because of this faux pas).
Saturday, September 09, 2006
Rediscovering my car's color
I can't remember the last time I washed and vacuumed my car. I've been meaning to do it about every weekend for the past two months. I finally did today, which I'm actually really exited about.
I know what you're thinking: "Wow, if she's resorted to blogging about her chores, she must be running out of things to write about. This blog can only go down hill from here." Don't worry. I promise tomorrow I won't write about my adventures in grocery shopping. But if you had seen my car before, I think you would realize what a feat it was. It was covered in a dusty film so thick I was starting to forget what color it was.
I actually enjoy washing my car. Maybe that is weird. I think it's because it's one of my few chores that I get to do outside in the sun — and it involves water.
Today wasn't one of my best runs. The car wash meter kept beeping that I was out of time right after I had fed a string of quarters into it. Then it turned off when I wasn't quite done, and I wasn't about to cough up six more quarters after it had robbed me.
Oh well, it's okay, because my cute little Chevy Cavalier is back to being cherry red.
Lesson learned: Time to find a new car wash.
I know what you're thinking: "Wow, if she's resorted to blogging about her chores, she must be running out of things to write about. This blog can only go down hill from here." Don't worry. I promise tomorrow I won't write about my adventures in grocery shopping. But if you had seen my car before, I think you would realize what a feat it was. It was covered in a dusty film so thick I was starting to forget what color it was.
I actually enjoy washing my car. Maybe that is weird. I think it's because it's one of my few chores that I get to do outside in the sun — and it involves water.
Today wasn't one of my best runs. The car wash meter kept beeping that I was out of time right after I had fed a string of quarters into it. Then it turned off when I wasn't quite done, and I wasn't about to cough up six more quarters after it had robbed me.
Oh well, it's okay, because my cute little Chevy Cavalier is back to being cherry red.
Lesson learned: Time to find a new car wash.
Wednesday, September 06, 2006
To teach or not to teach
So after about a dozen phone calls, wrong modems sent, order confusion and a month wait, I finally have a glitch-free computer with DSL Internet. Crazy huh? Maybe I shouldn't write this; I'll jinx myself.
Also today, I got a letter from the ski resort where I taught snowboarding on the weekends last ski season. It seems too hot to be thinking about snow. But I guess I have to decide if I'm ready to do it again. I'm a little bummed because one of the bosses won't be there, which probably means some of the rest of the crew won't come back either.
I also have this problem of overcommitting myself. I can't help it; I just want to do it all. So far this winter, I will already have once or twice a month weekend meetings for my exchange to Japan (not to mention that I'll be leaving towards the end of the ski season to go there). My girls and I are starting a Thursday Bible study this week. I'm also joining an "extreme" interest group through church, which every Sunday is planning some outdoor adventure (i.e. kayaking, climbing, mountain biking). I'm planning a 10-day vacation around Christmas time. Oh and one of the girls at work asked me to teach her daughter piano lessons. This is on top of working 50 hours a week, sometimes on the weekends. Any votes as to if I can fit it all in?
Lesson learned: I need an assistant.
Also today, I got a letter from the ski resort where I taught snowboarding on the weekends last ski season. It seems too hot to be thinking about snow. But I guess I have to decide if I'm ready to do it again. I'm a little bummed because one of the bosses won't be there, which probably means some of the rest of the crew won't come back either.
I also have this problem of overcommitting myself. I can't help it; I just want to do it all. So far this winter, I will already have once or twice a month weekend meetings for my exchange to Japan (not to mention that I'll be leaving towards the end of the ski season to go there). My girls and I are starting a Thursday Bible study this week. I'm also joining an "extreme" interest group through church, which every Sunday is planning some outdoor adventure (i.e. kayaking, climbing, mountain biking). I'm planning a 10-day vacation around Christmas time. Oh and one of the girls at work asked me to teach her daughter piano lessons. This is on top of working 50 hours a week, sometimes on the weekends. Any votes as to if I can fit it all in?
Lesson learned: I need an assistant.
Monday, September 04, 2006
Battle Against Bald
Looks like the ads are back on my page. For awhile, I thought AdSense had dropped me — maybe this blog wasn't the cash cow I thought it was.
Okay, actually I wouldn't have been surprised. Money is not really the point. And I'm well aware I'm competing with the millions of blogs out there.
Since I started blogging, I'm impressed every day how people are using blogs in new ways. A college friend of mine, Mario, works for an ad agency called Respond2 and is currently working on a project called Battle Against Bald. One of the agency's directors is trying out the Bosley Hair Restoration procedure and blogging about the experience. It's a risky ad campaign, considering it could go bad, but either way, it's an innovative way to market the procedure. If it does go well, it could be a great boost for the company. What will they come up with next?
Okay, actually I wouldn't have been surprised. Money is not really the point. And I'm well aware I'm competing with the millions of blogs out there.
Since I started blogging, I'm impressed every day how people are using blogs in new ways. A college friend of mine, Mario, works for an ad agency called Respond2 and is currently working on a project called Battle Against Bald. One of the agency's directors is trying out the Bosley Hair Restoration procedure and blogging about the experience. It's a risky ad campaign, considering it could go bad, but either way, it's an innovative way to market the procedure. If it does go well, it could be a great boost for the company. What will they come up with next?
Where toilet paper is like gold
I know I haven't written in awhile. Don't worry. I wasn't lost in the wilderness. Close. I was backpacking in the western Sierra with my mom and sister.
We met at the Kennedy Meadow cabins, where we went out to dinner at a funky little restaurant up there to celebrate Amanda's birthday, which was Sunday.
Friday morning, well okay, Friday at almost noon, we left Kennedy Meadow for Emigrant Lake.
Each day we hiked about six or seven miles, up and over hills, passes and through canyons and meadows. When we arrived each afternoon or early evening, we would swim in the nearest lake or river to clean up and then make dinner.
It was gorgeous where we were. Large redwoods dominated the canyons, with granite rising on all sides of us.
I won't lie. It was hard. As I was hauling about 30 to 35 pounds for four hours at a time, everything hurt — my neck, my back, my hips, my knees, especially my feet. There were times I wondered, "Now, why do I like this?"
I made the mistake of wearing a pair of running shoes I bought about two years ago. I've always backpacked in running shoes and never had any problems. I guess I just didn't think about how old these particular shoes were. I ended up with blisters that seemed to multiply every day. By the third one, I started naming them. By the fifth, it wasn't funny anymore.
That said, I do like backpacking. Not everyone gets to see what we saw this weekend. I'd probably write this blog differently in a couple days, when the soreness wears off.
On Sunday, we celebrated Amanda's birthday, again. Mom packed in a tiara Amanda was required to wear the whole day. We spent Saturday night at Emigrant Lake, so we left Sunday morning to get back to our first camp by late afternoon. We spent a few hours lounging by a pool fed by a waterfall.
Today, we arrived back at Kennedy Meadow in time to take a swim in the river at, head down for showers and have dinner and Margaritas at a local Mexican place. I have it admit, it's nice to be home. Backpacking does make you appreciate modern amenities like showers, toilets and hot water.
Lesson learned: I need new running shoes.
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