One Step At A Time...

Blargh. Tired.

Managed to get up today and work out a little bit! Set my alarm for ten, finally got up at five after...shower's on. Crawl back into bed for half an hour, then tried again. Ate some breakfast, then turned on the Wii Fit for the first time since last summer (200-something days, to be inexact). My weight has barely changed since then (it went up or down by 1.1 lbs, I forget which), but doing the "body check" tests and some of my old favorite activities showed me what has changed. Doing the soccer game (leaning back and forth to head-butt soccer balls and avoid cleats), my balance has improved (if only slightly). I've improved a surprising amount at the snowball fight game, which involves judgement and hand-eye coordination, the latter of which I more or less fail at in real life.

I did barely more than 10 minutes, but I felt the impact, then and all day. My first reaction was "I should start doing this every day!" The last time I tried jumping back into it, I ended up overdoing it, or something...I just remember feeling weak the last time I tried to do a full work out. So I'm going to keep doing a mild bit of exercise every other day all this week, and I'll see if I want to keep doing it every day next week.

Tomorrow is the Get Up Early and Art day. Current plan is to get up and haul the laptop to either 933 or Ireland and poke at things a bit. Hope it goes well!

Wish Me Luck?

Today was a pretty good day off. I got up fairly early (well, early for me, 9ish), and spent the morning cleaning up our bedroom and the living room, and getting the laundry done. It's great to feel accomplished, especially over something that has built up over two weeks...sick people aren't the greatest cleaners >.<

Speaking of which, I seem to be 99% better, with that 1% representing a continuously dripping nose and continuously tickling throat. Both are quite annoying, and add up to gross behavior that I have to keep in track while at work. Argh.

Tomorrow is not only the first home game for Notre Dame (against Purdue, if you care about that kind of thing), it's my first football game at Starbucks. My co-workers of course scared the daylights out of me about it, but I will make sure to follow their advice and stay where I'm put. I have a tendency to try and help out wherever it's needed, whether that means making a drink for drive-thru while I'm front, or warming a sandwich for front when I'm drive-thru, or what-have-you. They said that really, the best thing to do in a rush is to just stay put and do your given task, whether it's barring, register, or just brewing endless urns of coffee. I'm hoping that I'm put on front register, as I can see myself getting overwhelmed both quickly and easily if it really is a scary rush of people.

I might try a Wii Fit workout tomorrow morning...household schedules seem to be more or less set, finally, so I can be sure that I'm not going to accidentally force my sweaty, workout-clothes-clad self on anyone's eyes. If I can get back into the habit, that'd be great--convenient, free, customizable, etc etc. If not, I will be giving Curves a stern try.

For now, to bed, to attempt to arise early again tomorrow!

A Park Is A Park Is A Park.

My day isn't even halfway done yet, but it is a glorious day nonetheless.

Not because I finally got Chris's packaged mailed off, although that's nice to have checked off my To Do list.

I spent around an hour at Kamm Island Park, on the St. Joseph River. I wandered around, dodged a wedding party taking pictures, and took some pictures of my own--not of the wedding part, of course, but of the park, the river, the pools, the flowers, the bridges.

I haven't plugged in my camera yet, so I haven't actually seen how well the pictures came out. That almost doesn't matter. I'm just blissed out on the fresh air and sunshine, and exercise that wasn't rushing from the register to the espresso machine and back.

I'm all sweaty from the sun and humidity, and the beauty there doesn't even hold a candle to the parks in Connecticut, but I will still be going back. Soon, and often.

Pictures up later today, or...well, I'd say "or tomorrow evening," but the truth is that it's either today or Monday. We'll see how I choose to spend the rest of my day before work at 6:30.

State of Ruthieland.

I am a horrible blogger, I know. I missed two days in a row, after missing two days in a row. This week has been horrible for keeping to any kind of schedule--except, of course, that laid down by The Jobness.

Simon is here, and we've all been having a lot of fun--staying up too late, talking about everything, bonding, laughing our keisters off, you know how it is. It's going to be very sad to see him leave, but we're not focusing on that right now. We're focusing on tonight, when Kitty and Alex and Dustin all come over, and the eight of us game together and have a blast!

I am SO glad I traded to have tomorrow off...muahaha.

Other newsish things:
[o] Ryan got his first paycheck from Target!
[o] Got a piece of mail from the bank explaining why my debit card for our joint account has been so late in arriving--the lady we talked to never gave me this one, specific, apparently very important piece of paper to sign. >.< This never would have come to light if I hadn't talked to her in person after three weeks of waiting for the card. It still took two days for that piece of mail to arrive, and we kept missing the bank hours at the end of the week, so I have to take the signed thing in tomorrow and waiting another week or so before finally being able to access my own money without committing minor fraud. And the bank never thought to look into it. ARGH.
[o] Just had a phone call with Sameh--they found a kitten at her store's drive-thru today, and since animal control refuses to come and get it, she'll be bringing it home for the night until the shelter opens tomorrow. THERE'S GOING TO BE A KITTEN. IN THE HOUSE. EEEEEEEEE!

Is it obvious that I haven't had the chance to play with a cute animal since May?

The entire household is pretty much continuously pooped. Full time hours/first job in several years/new shift position = no life but work and sleep. It sucks. We spend a lot of time complaining.

My store gets its new store manager tomorrow, although she won't officially fill the role until September. Although I've only met her once, and that briefly, I've heard many good things about her. I'm hoping to have a talk with her about my schedule. It's been all over the place--mid to close to pre-close to what the hell? I understand that not everyone can have a rigid schedule of the same hours every week, but I hate being tugged around like this. My social life and sleep schedule are in complete tatters, and I'm at war with my control issues with time. I'm already neurotic about being on time and remembering my shift as it is, but when it's constantly changing, I'm a stressed-out wreck. I realized that last night was my first night of sleeping through for a few weeks, not waking up every few hours in a panic that I'd overslept or set the alarm wrong. I can't keep up like this!

Not to mention that I have absolutely zero time or energy to devote to anything but work, sleep, or chores and errands. I've been slipping at communicating with my family and friends, and I absolutely hate it--but the few times I have some time to spare and they're still awake/online, I'm so out of it that I'm useless to talk to. I'm so glad that my parents aren't the type to pull guilt trips, because I'm doing a good enough job on myself as it is!

Not to mention lack of exercise. Fortunately I've been getting better at what I eat (falling in love with greek yogurt, hummus, and edamame certainly helps!), and my job requires me to be up and moving 99% of the time, so I haven't had a real chance to blob out. Certain muscles groups are suffering, though--my arms and calves are getting plenty of exercise from running around the bar and lifting gallons of milk, but my mid-section gets zero work out at all. My generous and wonderful mother has been kind enough to offer to help pay for Curves, so all I need to do is find one. The one I thought was less than a mile from my work, wasn't there when I went searching. On the To Do List for tomorrow is calling their number and seeing where they're actually located so I can pay a visit.

Finally, my creative outlets have taken a real beating. The rare times I'm able to sit down and chill on the couch with the roomies and the Ryan, I'm sketching on either my sketch pad or the iPad, but that's about it. My attempts at photographing the rose failed, as I wasn't paying enough attention to the light quality, and the pictures looked just horrible. Still planning on trying my hand at "still life," with objects around the apartment, but I haven't gotten to it yet.

It's honestly really frustrating--I recently figured out that I do want to concentrate on photography, and really hone my skill at it, but I just can't find the chances. I know that "I would if I really cared," but I do care, and don't have the time! ARGH!

...wow, that's more typing than I was planning on doing. Lucky readers, you are now just about caught up with what's been going on in my life, and in my head. I still apologize for the failure at updates, and at the lack of calls and e-mails and such, but I hope this helps a bit.

...I've really been missing my friends and family lately, so I'll end on a shout out to all my loved ones in Connecticut: to the Thursday night gang, the fellow gaming nerds, the school chums, the Curves ladies, and especially my family. I would give anything to be able to spend just one hour catching up. I love you all. :)

Curving Back...

Not a whole lot new here, except for the new curtains (light blocking, so Mr. Night Owl can get a full "night's" sleep), and new to do items (as always).

Top of these involves exercise. I miss it. For some reason, using the Wii Fit on a regular basis is just not working right now. Combination of hours and wanting to avoid hurting my roommates' eyes by having them around when I work out. Other options are going for walks, which the ridiculously high heat and humidity make insanely unpleasant, or Curves. Curves would be also nice because it'd be a chance for more social activity outside of roommates or co-workers (which are great, but nice to widen the circle, you know?).

I looked it up, and there is a Curves less than a mile away from my store. Next, I need to find out exactly how much it would cost a month to go there (I know, I should remember from working at one, but I never could remember the whole sales spiel, so...yeah), and wait until my Starbucks insurance packet comes in the mail (sometime at the end of August, I think) and hope that Curves is covered, even if only partially. As it is, our budget is really, really thin, and while I really want to go back to Curves, there's a chance it's just not financially possible. Hmph.

Tonight I work from 6:30 to 12:30, and tomorrow is 2:30 to 11. Nice, late nights, which is why I'm posting now and will probably post before work tomorrow. Hopefully with something more entertaining.

Productivity, Interrupted.

Today was going to be my Work Day. I had a Diplomatic Solutions meeting in the evening, so it made sense to use the hours beforehand to trundle through the rest of my To Do list. I'd reach 8 o'clock armed with checked off boxes and ready information! And it wouldn't just be business thing I'd get done, no! Laundry! Grocery shopping! Etc!

This is how the day went:

[o] Wake up. Slowly. After a fairly restless night of sleep.
[o] Spend a bit of time lounging in bed, with iPad, checking all my sites and feeds.
[x] Edit one of the articles assigned to me using the iPad and the small notebook in my purse!
[x] Cook myself eggs for breakfast! True, I unwittingly used a burner too small for the pan, so the eggs cooked unevenly, and I had a devil of a time with them...but still! I cooked!
[x] Work out! Weigh in and haven't gained anything!
[x] Shower!
[x] Start two loads of laundry!
[o] Ryan wakes up and agreed to a small, quick grocery trip, as he needs more Tylenol and I'm out of cheese.
[x] Call back Mom, as requested. We discuss money and such and hang up with goals to help me get out of the debt incurred from moving!
[x] Move the two loads from washer to dryer, and start a third load of laundry!
[o] Sameh and BJ both arrive home from work. BJ needs to go back to his Bux to collect his tips, and they decid to come with us.
[o] We wait for the washer to finish so I can move it over before leaving. As I go to move it, I realize that I can't, because I'm taking up the only two dryers. For the next 40 minutes.
[o] We go to Starbucks. BJ chats with co-workers. I buy myself and Ryan a drink and a small snack each. We leave Starbucks.
[o] We arrive at Meijer. BJ realizes he never got his tips.
[o] We shop. We leave Meijer. We go back to Starbucks. We go get lunch at Waka Dog.
[x] I fetch the dry clothes and move the final load into a dryer! This is after the dryer clothes have been finished for two and a half hours, the washer load for three, and I had to scrounge quarters from my car because I hadn't realized we were out of rolls of quarters until after I was halfway to the laundry room with a roll of pennies. But still! LAUNDRY ALMOST DONE!
[o] The four of us chat, flip through channels, end up watching the last half hours of both 17 Again and Mrs. Doubtfire.
[o] I realize it's 10 to 8. I hustle my butt to the computer and ask Ryan to fetch the last, dry load.
[x] DS Meeting!

So...yeah. Almost every single thing I did accomplish today, got lengthened through unavoidable events. There is a huge pile of unfolded laundry on the bed behind me, and Ryan realized a small while ago that we forgot to buy any gorram Tylenol. I did not accomplish a large portion of the things I wanted/needed to get done for DS. Fortunately, it was just a catch-up meeting, so nothing was "due." Still. Oy.

TOMORROW!
[o] Going to the bank to deposit the large pile of rolled coins I forgot we had, and change some of them into quarters so we can continue doing laundry.
[o] Editing the other two articles.
[o] Buying some Tylenol and looking into switching my prescription to a CVS here in Indiana.
[o] Looking into the cost of shipping my iPod Touch to Chris (part of the iPad deal)
[o] Researching credit card transfers to see if any would help me out.
[o] Continuing the creation of a budget. I am thoroughly enjoying this because it involves SPREADSHEETS!
[o] Watching some Avater: The Last Airbender Book 2 with Ryan, as promised.

Overall, the two days off will end up being half work and half play. This is fine. Actually, it's better than fine; it was helpful.

As previously mentioned, I was on a "hiatus" of sorts from Diplomatic Solutions during May and June, while I moved and got settled. About as soon as I "returned," it was suggested that I hand off some of my responsibilities to a new collaborator. I'll admit, I was a little put off by this; I had just come back, and it was already being inferred that I couldn't handle everything I needed to do. Give me some time, guys! And some credit! I appreciate that it was meant to be supportive rather than insulting, but still. Sheesh!

I...was wrong. The days off since that first meeting, I have attempted to see as days when I work for Diplomatic Solutions instead of Starbucks. None of these days have worked out as I hoped, especially since my Starbucks hours have skewed toward the late afternoon and evening shifts. I don't have time for chores or errands before work, so those things get pushed to my days off, as do the chances to spend quality time with my friends or boyfriend.

The initial problem I had with getting help with my tasks was that it was worded in such a way that I'd be giving up the jobs I really enjoy. At tonight's meeting, I brought the idea of a Marketing co-worker back up, but asked if she would be willing to do the things I haven't been able to do, but she would most likely be better at, being that she's a marketer and fundraiser for a non-profit. While she didn't attend the meeting, someone who did said he would contact her about it. She'll hopefully be getting back to me early next week.

Long story short: Today was the final straw to realize that the offer of taking some of my duties off my shoulders was an opportunity, and one that I really couldn't pass up because of pride. If this works out as I hope, she and I will be collaborating and getting the Marketing "department" off the ground in no time.

Tomorrow is another day, and I will get things done. What number of things, and which things...that'll be a surprise, I guess. And hey, at least I can spend the whole day on my butt if I want to. That's a win in my book.

Whee-hehe!

First off, a warning: I didn't sleep all that great the past two nights, I worked six hours, had lots of sugar and caffeine today*, and am just generally exhausted but jazzed. I think the expression is wired and tired, but, for the moment, I prefer LOOPY!

Today, work was work. I was five minutes late because I was stupid about my hair and BJ accidentally stole my keys, and one of my coworkers was a little...uncharitable about it, but whatever. It was a good day besides that, and my boss made light of it, so I'm moving on.

I exercised! :D It was only fifteen minutes, but dammit, it was fifteen minutes of exercise. Two of my last three attempts at a full half-hour workout left me feeling sick and exhausted, so I decided that I needed to scale back and work my way back up again. I don't like it, but there it is.

Tomorrow, Sunday, is my Friday, as I have Monday and Tuesday off. Confused yet? So am I! I'm not sure what day it is anymore! Is it Saturday? Is it Thursday? It's still June, right?

Loopy!

Anyway, as I was saying: I have work tomorrow (9 am to 2 pm), then two days off, then three days of night shifts. I have the feeling that, at the end of next week, I'm going to get pulled aside by the store manager or a shift supervisor, and asked which time of day I've preferred working. My first week was all mornings, this past week was all afternoons, next week I don't get off work earlier than 10, soooo I have the feeling I'm being tested on all shifts to see which I one prefer/which one prefers me.

I have to say, based on the past two weeks, I preferred working in the morning for the non-work time, but I would choose afternoons based on the people. The morning people are great, don't get my wrong, but the afternoon people are my favorites. Of course, none of them read this, so it doesn't really matter what I say...for now.

Anyway: long day today, early day tomorrow, very tired presently, so that's it for now! :)

*For my parents the record, the past two nights' sleep quality haven't had anything to do with caffeine, but other outside influences. I actually haven't had that much coffee since working at Starbucks, hence it still making me slightly hyper when I do have it. So nyah.

Working Out Is Haaarrrrrd To-o-o Do!

For a month or so before the move, I'd gotten into the habit of working out everyday. I'd get up early so I had time to eat, work out, and shower before the day really started. I had a routine on the Wii Fit that was a good mix of yoga and strength-training, covered almost all the muscles I needed work on without overworking any group, and burned about 120 calories in half an hour, plus any bonus calories from the fun workouts I'd throw in after the routine.

I've tried to get back into that since moving, but it's been very hard. For the first few days after we arrived, I was too busy/tired/sore/unable to find the console to work out. When I finally did, it was, of course, a little harder to get through than previously--after all, I'd had a week off.

I did my first post-move work out on the 1st. I've done five total, including that one, and including the unfinished one I did on Wednesday. Of the half-hour routine, I only completed 17 minutes worth. Despite getting enough sleep and eating my normal breakfast, I had to stop a few times because I felt too weak or sick or hot. I realized that I just plain wasn't up for that day, and haven't been on it since.

My main problems have been sleep and time, or rather sleep and time-related-issues. I have been going to bed late, and sleeping like the dead. In Connecticut, I got used to going to sleep between midnight and one, and getting up between 8 and 9:30. I felt like crap if I got up any later, like I was burning daylight. Here, I've been regularly going to sleep between 2 and 3, and getting up between 9:30 and 10:30. Sometimes later, on both sides. And waking up is difficult, like dragging myself out of molasses.

By the time I'm awake and fed, it's, well, about now: past 11. And that's when my neurosis sets in, telling me that spending an hour exercising and showering in the middle of the day is a waste of time. I know it's bullshit, especially since I've had literally nothing else to do, but there it is, and I can't get my mind off of that idea.

I might have been tempted to berate myself onto the Balance Board today, despite it being "late," except for one thing: the interview. It's not for hours, so time isn't the problem. But I'm afraid that I'll attempt the routine, or even less exercise, and feel as crappy as I did on Wednesday after barely doing anything. And that would completely kill my confidence for the day, on the day I really, really need it.

Argh.

On the plus side (ha ha), I realized on Wednesday that I had been tracking my weight incorrectly. The game doesn't give you an actual weight at every Body Test, just the change from the last one. I've been writing down each work out, and using the recorded weights and given changes to track my weight. Turns out I messed up at some point, and I'm actually a pound or so lighter than I thought. It's not much, but hey, I'll take it!

I'm hoping that BJ and Sammeh are right about today's interview. It would be the best thing ever...bah, no, I won't get into how great it would be, I won't get into how many things it would fix right now. I refuse to celebrate until I have something concrete to celebrate.

To raise my spirits and feel more useful and productive, I'm going to shower, get dressed, and DO THE LAUNDRY! TA DA!