Mommy P

Yesterday I helped my mommy (Mommy P) get started on her weight loss goals. We both joined and are using myfitnesspal.com I highly recommend it for anyone looking to lose some weight. I've only used it for a day or so but it is fantastic. It takes your age/weight/height and how much you want to  lose, and how fast, and calculates daily intakes and how much you need to exercise. Mommy P is very excited, we had a great first day eating wise and I got her to take the dog for a walk with me. We walked over a mile together and both us and the dog got a lot out of it. She works from home for Hallmark and has for a long time now.  Her phone can ring right at 7am some mornings and she has worked until 7pm as well. She has conference calls, and stores to go to, and just can never seem to get away from her desk. I think this is a serious downfall of working from home. Home = work work = home and there is no distinction between the two sometimes. I'm trying to make a clear time where she can get up and walk or be active to help her separate it. We are also going to be getting her a desk that she can close up when she's done, so that she can get away from it all for a while.

I'm so proud of her. This morning, she woke up before me (obviously because Baileys has 2$ pints on Tuesdays...which  means I need some, ahem, extra sleep) and made her own breakfast and it was HEALTHY. I'm so so so proud of her. Words cannot express. 

In other news, my job hunt is still going.

It's still a hunt. An annoying time consuming hunt.

I am however really enjoying being home with my family. Spending time with my sister and mother has been amazing, we've bonded so much. Going to school so far away from them was harder than I thought now that I'm back. We are all so much alike and it's amazing to have the support system back. Not that I didn't have that in Atlanta, you just can't replace family. 

Today is a sit-at-starbucks-day, as well as a photographing day. I've brought my camera to Old Town and am prepared to go walk around for a little. Get my artistic juices flowing. 

Hopefully.

I hope everyone is having a fantastic day. 

Hopefully I shall post more later. Maybe even PHOTOS!

On the Road. Again.

Who wants to know what I've been doing the last few days?

Yeah. 1,424 Miles.

I promise, it's not as fun as it looks. 

Oh, it doesn't look fun?

Yeah, you're right, it's not.

The BF and I took an adventure in a rental car down to Atlanta, to pick up a Uhaul and start his move to Maryland. Funny story, we accidentally stayed on 95 too long, don't know how, and ended up taking the LONG way to Atlanta. Fun fact, it adds about 100ish miles to the drive if you take 95 and not 85. 

Who knew.

So we get to Atlanta by 11PM on Tuesday. Wednesday we grab the Uhaul, turn in the rental car, and pack up his apartment. We are out of Atlanta by 5, in Ringgold by 7ish. Up until 10PM rearranging the truck and adding things. Out of Ringgold by 11AM this morning and got into Arlington by 9 (In a 17 foot Uhaul + car trailer.

I didn't get to drive a single bit, but holy hell being a passenger feels just as hard. My knees are so mad at me for being in a car that long. 

Anyway the BF and I are very tired, but the last stop is his new apartment tomorrow! 

Thank god. I'm getting tired of moving stuff. 

So I'm off to bed now, because my neck/back/everything hurts from riding in a Uhaul for over 600 Miles.

Goodnight Moon. 

I mean, Goodnight Internet. 

PS: Everyone should laugh at this.

New year, new chapter

Man, since I graduated on the 17th I feel like I haven't stopped moving.  Between two Christmas celebrations with two different families, cleaning out and rearranging my room so both me and my twin can live here, finding the BF a new place in Baltimore plus other crap...I'm going insane!

We'll do a quick update:

BF got a job in Ellicot City Maryland working with a civil engineering firm, doing bridge inspection and other things.  He's moving to Baltimore in the next few days, we will be going to Atlanta and back up here with a uhaul and all of his stuff. This should be "fun".

I graduated. 

The big day.

I miss my friends in Atlanta, but I also enjoy being away from some other annoying aspects.

I do not have a job. 

Don't worry, I'm not worried. I've applied to what feels like a million, but is probably about 30 and expect to hear back in the coming weeks from most of them. 

I've been put into the Brooks Running Fanatics group this year! (very excited) I've enjoyed my few runs back, and have been continuing PT work and ice etc to keep my ankle in check...although doing impromptu speed workouts (oops, did that this morning) have proved not-helpful for recovery. I also joined my local Golds Gym for the weight room and classes!

I've vowed to run a marathon this year. The Marine Corps to be specific.
I.
Am. 

Terrified.

BUT I know I can do it. 

I will be posting again, because I'm sick of procrastinating blogging. It's just silly. I got a new camera so I will also be posting more pictures.

I think that is a good summary for now...

I hope everyone is enjoying the start of the New year. 

Run Happy!

P.S: Best part about graduating, besides knowing I don't have any more lab reports? Amazing gifts from my friends, like this.

 

 

 

 

This is exactly what it looks like.

Yup, that is a tequila bottle. Shaped like a rifle. I have amazing friends.

Home for the Holidays

Well I'm finally back in Arlington Virginia with my family. Being home makes me so excited for graduation and the extended amount of time I get to spend with my family in January.

I'm officially cleared to run after an injury of almost 4 months, with Physical Therapy, and cannot wait to get back to it.  I've been really sick for the past week and thus not been able to actually get out a test run so we shall see how that goes when I do. Mr Charlie, my PT man, told me to keep it easy and let my ankle control how far I go. Honestly, after four months I think it'll be my lungs that restrict me. I'm just so excited to get back into it and have my normal past time back.  It's been a rough last semester without my usual stress reliever of running. I've also been so busy with school work that gym time has been precious. I'm extremely happy I've basically kept my weight constant since I stopped running, so clearly I'm doing something right (cooking all the time helps).

I'll be needing to place an order for winter running clothes since I own slim to none. Especially since my roomies cat decided my running tights were a good scratching post. Fun. 

Not. 

Anyway I'm going to go play Wii with my twinsie and my BF who are being absurd in the living room. Figured I need to get back to this since I'll actually have a life again, and will be getting back from this horrendous injury. 

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

I am one stressed out pre-graduation girl.

And damn do I miss running.

Tomorrow is my first physical therapy session! YAY!

Wait, I'm excited?

Yes, excited. I want to be back out on the road. I miss running and I'm sick of having to watch this gorgeous weather pass me by. 

Besides not being able to run, I've been miserable with the amount of work I've had to do for school lately. Senior design is kicking my ass.

Seriously, even when I sleep, I dream of solar cook stoves.

Anyway I'll update/explain that later but for now I have a test tomorrow so I must go study.

Up and Out

So I'm graduating in 11 weeks. 11? 

10?

One of those. 

I would love to say I have everything after that lined up and that it will go smoothly but I know that I wouldn't be 'starting a new chapter' if there wasn't some uncertainty. 

Without a doubt however I know I will be leaving Atlanta. This I am very ready for. It's not that I don't love GT, because I do.  If I could live by Tech and go to every home game till I die I would. I love the atmosphere when the weather cools from the sweltering hot of the summer and everyone is outside in the Fall. Just as so when the weather warms up from a hard winter in the Spring. 

It's just time to leave. 

My group of friends has become amazing, I couldn't ask for a better group. Very few people have survived four years of school staying close to me, the few that have are still my best friends.  However it's my newer friends that cross so many 'friend circles' that make the best looking bunch of Hodge-podge friends I've ever seen. It's just what I want. No stress of a 'group' and no drama. I have people over every other night, we drink beer sometimes, we work on HW most times and we watch a lot of football.

Most of all we all enjoy the time we have together because we all know it is limited. It's the time of the year when everyone realizes that 6 months from now everything will be different.  

Every minute counts.

But don't worry, no one is stressed about it. This is the best time to make a big change, and I'm so ready for it.

I've been to 5 interviews: Continental, Solar Turbines, Harris, Schlumberger and Pratt and Whitney.  The relocation varies from Michigan, San Diego, Connecticut and wherever else they want me. I'm praying for a Pratt job up in Connecticut. I'll be 6 hours away from my family and get to have real seasons. REAL SEASONS. 

And a real place to myself, with probably a real dog.

Something I'm really looking forward to though? Besides leaving behind the dredge in my life in Atlanta. 

New running paths. 

Run Happy Everyone, and never be scared of change!

Fall and My return

Happy Fall everyone! It's my favorite time of the year, fun fact. 

Well in theory it is.

If I didn't live in Atlanta I would get a real fall, instead of today's high being 80+ degrees. One of my favorite parts of fall is fall-styled beer. Oktoberfests and Pumpkin beers. Pumpkin being number 1. Today's pumpkin beer is by Heavy Seas.

 

Crafty beer!

It is, so far, very good. Actually much better than I anticipated. Not overwhelming pumpkin but can definitely taste the cinnamon/fall flavors desired.

Now away from beer.

Yes I still run. No not as often. I'm 6 weeks out of my sprained ankle and it's still giving me a lot of hate and discontent. It swells every night, especially when I'm on it a lot, and I've been having to ice it regularly. I originally thought this was just a 4-6 week recovery but it's looking to be a lot longer.  I still cannot even come close to wearing heels, the angle hurts, and it some days my ankle is tender to the touch. 

All bad news.

So tomorrow I have a DR appointment at 10am to get it looked at and hopefully get a referral for physical therapy.

I did run 4 miles twice last week and it wasn't too bad.  The after-swelling is pretty rough though.

So this explains, not excuses, my absence from the running world/my blog.  So I've been a little bitter, yes. 

I'll be around now though. Because the BF, seen here (yes with me, classy photo):

is finally on my ass about it. 

He says he has his eye on me...

See you guys around!