Cross Training Day

I feel like my half-marathon training program is coming along quite well.  According to my training program, I was to cross train today instead of run, which is exactly what I did.  I lifted ten pound free weights for 15 minutes, then fought with my favorite machine for 30 minutes - my beloved stairmaster.  Watch out now!  She fought back today!  Woohoo!  It was a blast! Good times!  You know how much I freakin' love that machine if you read my post from the other day.

I had a very busy day with clients today at work and  I've begun working late hours on Wednesdays to accommodate field employees.  Lucky for me, working late also means starting late, allowing me to sleep in until 7:00 a.m. this morning.  Yes, sleeping until 7:00 a.m. is considered 'sleeping in' to me as my normal waking time is around 5:15 Monday - Friday.  I defnitely needed it today as my allergies kicked up yesterday and I took a Benadryl before bed.  Some folks get amped up from taking a Benadryl, but not me, sleep is a must as it makes me sleepy as all get out. I've made the mistake of taking a Benadryl during the day and being forced to head straight to bed, unable to function and do anything except sleep.

I savor my runs so much, but I recognize that cross-training and strengthening my upper body and core are essential to my being able to complete the half marathon.  It's just not my favorite activity.  I'd rather run! 

Today was a good day.  It's still not over yet, but I'm confident it will be soon.  Time to head to the water fountain for another refill.

Keep on runnin' yall!
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Gratitude Journal
1. Volunteer activities that help me strengthen my skills and network with other professionals
2. Amy's burritos: so filling and low-fat too
3. My Crockpot for cooking my dinner slowly while I work the day away
4. Cross-training for the strength and balance it gives my body

TGIF

The Blooming Orchid thanks God that it's Friday.

After a long week of assisting employees with a 'transition' that consists of 70+ people being told their jobs will no longer exist after an unknown date, this HR professional is pooped.

I absolutely adore my job. I feel like after searching for many, many years through dead-end and trudging through endless days of jobs that were plain wrong for me, I feel like I've found home. At last.

I'm training to become a certified Career Coach; after working for nearly 18 months as a Career Development Specialist, I initially thought there was nothing they could teach me I didn't already know. Boy, how wrong I was! In all honesty, it's great to learn new things and be challenged. My training has been intense and thought-provoking. It's not over yet: I'm being supplied with five additional one-on-one coaching sessions for one hour a week by a Career Coach with over 25 years of experience. And let me tell you, my coach is TOUGH! She told me that at my next coaching session, she will be able to give me an idea of whether or not she thinks I will pass my oral exam. The thought alone of failing is devastating to me. The organization I work for is sponsoring me (they pay for the class), so to fail would be both financially and professionally devastating.

My locks are wild as ever. I've been stingy with my trips to the loctician and I can tell my locks are suffering as a result. In my effort to make the locks thin, I'm becoming fearful that I may lose one. It has a hole in it, I believe as a result of the latch hook, and it's mighty thin. I have two or three that are fatter than I'd like them to be, but at nearly 18 months into the process, I'm not sure I can or should attempt to reverse them and start them over. I'm so ready for my 'highlights' to be gone. They're irrititating and too bright. If you're considering them, I highly recommend a professional do them!!

I normally roll my hair on sponge rollers at night for a bit of curl. I didn't last night, as I was exhausted (Thursdays are the longest day of the week for me - go figure). As a result, my locks have little curl in them today, but what the heck. I'm still cute. And I'm wearing a new purple and black blouse today. Not only is it cute, but it's also comfortable.

I have a new found confidence and love of myself. I'm not sure if it's my age, or my locks, or the fact that I just feel good in my own skin. I'm having a really good time right now - I hope it lasts for a while.

Tonight I'm going to drop my van off at the closest dealership for A/C service. I hope they don't try to ake me to the cleaners. As my Supervisor and I like to say, vans are so unsexy as it is, to have one with a missing sliding door handle and ill-operating A/C is even worse.

Before I head home, I'm going to treat myself to a Greek salad for dinner and yesterday on the way home rented the Kite Runner and 4 Months, 3 weeks and 2 days. 4 Months....is a Romanian film about a college student seeking an abortion. The Kite Runner is the story of a young Afghanistan boy and his struggles to become the person he was destined to be. I just finished the book a week ago and I nearly cried when it was over. It was one of the best books I've ever read in life. I can't wait to see the movie - I hope I'm not disappointed.

On Saturday, Rose has a piano recital. It's her third one. That girl never ceases to amaze me. She is one of the most beautiful, intelligent and poised little girl I have ever met in my life. The fact that she is my daughter fills me with so much pride. Rose is headed to third grade this fall and she has been invited to the Talented & Gifted program.

Last Thursday night, Chrysanthemum graduated from Pre-Kindergarten. This child is the lieveliest, wildest, yet also one of the smartest people I've ever met. She is the kind of person who 'brings the party with her,' at least that's the best ways to describe her. She's headstrong, unwavering in her determination and not afraid to use the 'no' word. I love that about her. I can't believe my baby is headed to Kindergarten!

I plan to have a lovely weekend. I hope you do the same.