Tag Archives: Girls on the Run

Not Too Shabby 2012

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Happy New Year! I hope everyone is doing well on this fine January morning!

I know that once the new year hits, you’re not supposed to look back but I haven’t done a 2012 recap yet so I’m doing it now. Based on my “projects” for 2012, I would call 2012 an absolute fail. Let’s briefly recap these so called “projects”:

Project #1 – Be nicer to myself.
Project #2 – Be true to myself and like myself for who I am.
Project #3 – Run like the wind! Or at least a gently breeze. And do lots of other workouts too!
Project #4 – Grow this fancy little blog.
Project #5 – Find a job/gainful employment/go back to school/move out-of-state/decide not to move out-of-state/stop living in the land of limbo.

I did provide a mid-year recap which was less than stellar. And not much as changed since then…expect Project #5.

Project #1 and #2 will always be a work in progress. I am a perfectionist and a people-pleaser. These two things do not go together well because you will never please every person all the time. This is hard for me to swallow because I want to make everyone happy and rather than work on this, I’ve kind of just fell into a whole of not making anyone happy including myself which is just not nice.

Project #3, well, honestly, I stopped running after the Geist 5K. Why? I have no idea. That’s a lie – I do know. See Project #1 and #2. I wanted running to come naturally to me. I read all of these blogs from these amazing ladies who run like the wind, and I wanted to be one of them. I wanted to be one of them – immediately. I wanted to see improvement with every run. I wanted to drop lbs like it was my job. I wanted to be able to annihilate a basket of bread with a side of pasta and not gain an ounce and be fueled for my next run.

Project #4 – I feel I have grown this little blog. I have new people following me with every post. I’m sure if I just tweeted when I write new posts, I could do so much more. Yet again, see Project #1 and #2 – I don’t feel lefty is promotion worthy yet.

Project #5 – NAILED IT! For the first time in a few years, I had a job almost every day of 2012! And in my wildest dreams, I never thought that would excite me so much – I always assumed that would be a given. And, I finally made the move I’ve been dreaming about since I was 20. And I am loving every minute being a California girl!

But in reality – 2012 really wasn’t that bad. I may have failed at a few goals but I did so much more instead!

  • I celebrated with my friends more – birthdays, promotions, weddings, graduations – I was there.
  • I was a coach for Girls on the Run. And I was a damn good one.
  • I was an asset to the association I worked for – without question. I planned events, ran the office, fixed the accounting and generally made people want to be involved again. I did great work!
  • I walk/ran a half marathon. The largest half in the United States. Not stellar but I did it.
  • I spent more time with my favorite monkeys (nieces and nephew).
  • I had one date.
  • I found a new love. (And it’s not the training schedule)
  • I moved to California. (!!!!!!!)

All said, 2012 was a year that had to happen in order to lay the ground work for 2013 and years to come. And as I sit here on January 1st thinking about 2012, I smile knowing of all the great things to come!

Happy New Year!

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Blocked, Bored and Broke

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Happy Tuesday friends. Why is it that the first day back to a normal schedule after a long weekend is excruciating? Super excited about a four day week, though.

So which topic shall I tackle first…..block, boredom or broke. Hmmmm……Let’s start with……

Writer’s Block……
It sucks. I need to write a quick “My Coaching Experience” note for Girls on the Run. Seriously, like maybe 200 words. I’m pretty sure I tweeted, facebooked and blogged twice that many about GOTR. What the heck is my problem now? I also have about 4-5 blog posts in my head that I’m struggling to get through my fingers. And I need to compose a few articles for the magazine at work. But nope, got nothing, nada, blah!

Wanna know my problem that I just figured out while typing this blog?

I’m freaking BORED! Remember the last three months of posts where I’ve been so busy I can’t see straight? Yep. That’s gone.
No more coaching. No more half marathon. No more moving. No more packing and unpacking. (Work is super busy but I decided with this new job I would not take things home.) Upon arriving home at 5:05 this evening, I have done all my laundry, emptied the dishwasher, cleaned the litter boxes, vacuumed the entire house, and cleaned my bathroom. I’ve even had time to watch an Oprah interview with Carrie Underwood, eat dinner and work on this post.

All of this free time to clean and learn about how blissfully happy Carrie is has created this bad place in Pamland where I have entirely too much time to think and over analyze and then think more about all those things I’ve over analyzed. It’s a super fun place to be. I’m thinking so much that I’m not doing anything that I should be doing (see writer’s block above).

There is one thing I’ve been doing each night for about a week now – trying to figure out my BROKE ass budget. Or lack thereof. I know some of you may of had that thought during the bored portion of this post – “go do something” or “call a friend, grab a drink”. That’s super and all, but when I have exactly $52.79 to last me until June 5th, I can’t really DO much of anything. I skipped a dear friends house warming party this weekend because I’m so scared of running out of money and/or gas. Pathetic. And to be totally honest, dear blog, I’m already playing the float game. I have a automatic payment that should come out on the 3rd but since it’s a weekend, I’m hoping praying it won’t hit until the 5th. So, technically I’m negative $113.83.

So, back to my budget woes, I’ve added everything up, put in all my expenses, estimated for groceries, gas and even put a bit in savings and I should have a sizable amount of “life” money after each check. But no. Before my last paycheck, I had $.17 in the bank. That’s no lie, no drama. I seriously do not get it.  I’m not frivolous. My major expenses are student loans, car and health insurance. I like my McDonald’s Diet Coke ($1.09). I bring my lunch at least 2-3 times a week. I download the free crappy books to my Kindle (that was a gift for Christmas two years ago). I thought by now, things would be better. I live with my mother for crying out loud!

Maybe…I’ll take the month of June and track every penny in and out. (See over analyzing above.)

Maybe…I’ll focus on my next race and run like the wind. Maybe I’ll work on these extra 40 pounds.

Maybe…that will be my blog for the month of June – a daily journal of my spending, eating and exercise. (Seriously considering this one!)

Maybe…I’ll just go to bed. Oh, wait, my sheets are still in the dryer.

Was your first day back after Memorial day excruciating? Are you bored? Blocked (writing only, no TMI)? Or broke? Any tips, tricks, money tree seeds? Will you hate me if I blog everyday in June about money, food and sweat?

Hello Little Blog

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Hello little blog,

It’s been a long time! I’m so sorry to have neglected you for all of February.This is the first night I’ve had time to really sit down and focus on you!

Let me fill you in:

  1. New job is A-OK! Worked a little later tonight so I could finish closing the 2011 books. It’s taken me almost 2 weeks! I had to start thinking like the crazy lady who was doing them before me to figure out the method to her madness. But they are done and are going to the accountant on Tuesday. So happy!
  2. Coach Pam has been busy getting things ready for Girls on the Run. I’ve completed my bio, a multitude of forms, training and visited my site. Because it is at a catholic school, I had to take an additional Child Protection Protocols training. Basically, it was a CYA for the church and the Diocese. But good information. It could have been presented in about 45 minutes rather than 2 hours and I most definitely could have done without the video….but I survived. Saturday morning I am skipping the mini marathon training run to get CPR certified – a head coach requirement. Our first official practice is February 21st.
  3. Speaking of mini marathon, Monday it is officially 12 weeks away. My out-of-state training buddy prepared a training schedule for me! I love those kids from Alabama – wish they were closer. Anyway, I’ve been trying to run a few times a week. But starting Monday – I will follow the training schedule. I will tweak it a bit because……
  4. I started INSANITY!! Yes – Insanity, from Beach Body and smoking hot Shaun T – seriously have you seen that dude? H-O-T! And by starting Insanity, I mean I took my before photo and did the Fit Test. I also watched the first workout. Holy smokes! If I don’t drop some lbs doing this, they just aren’t going anywhere. I also have a little goal for you dear blog – once I complete Insanity, I’m going to post my before and after pictures. It will be embarrassing but people are going to see them when I’m on the next infomercial. I’m also going to try and post more about my training so you’re not neglected anymore.

Training, Insanity, GOTR, work, sleep – that’s about it. If it makes you feel any better, I’m way behind on reading blogs too! I’ve even been less active on Twitter and Facebook. See, you’re not the only one being ignored!

I’ll be back this weekend to post a few of the many draft posts I’ve started but never finished.

Thanks for not forgetting about me!

Love, Pam