even more accomplished

Christmas was nice... not too crazy but nice. Traffic getting to my parents house was nice, only about 45 minutes. Yesterday I did nothing... not even a shower. I was in pj's on the sofa all day and took a nap too. Needed that.

Today mom and dad drove down. I already had my car filled up, and when they called to say they were close, I started taking more boxes outside so they could throw them in their car. Then we all drove down to the new place. We cleaned for hours! Dad took the fridge apart, pulled out all the shelves and everything and scrubbed the inside of it. I washed all the shelves and drawers before he put it all back together. I cleaned the top of the stove (still need to do the self cleaning oven) Mom cleaned the entire bathroom and lined all the shelves for me in the closet. I unpacked most of the bathroom stuff. SO one room is almost done!

After we left, I went home for a while then went to Walmart ($108 later!) and went back to the new place with more boxes in my car. I was a little disappointed to find out that the dishwasher is STILL not hooked up. I have close to a dozen boxes in the kitchen that I need to unpack with dishes and glasses. Last weekend, mom packed them all up on newspaper, so I need to wash everything before I put it away. But with no dishwasher yet, I can't unpack it! Frustrating. But at least the bathroom is almost done.

Christmas Eve I asked 2 of my uncles if they could help me move next weekend. They will, I just have to call them to set it up. My cousin Jenn said she's help too. Her boyfriend has a pick up truck and she has a Ford Escape. I have to drive up to her house (about 45 miles), I'll leave my car there, and I'll take her car and she'll drive her boyfriend's truck. One of my uncle's has a pickup and the other has a Volvo wagon. So with all of those, plus my parents car, I think we can do everything in 2 trips. I'm going to have them do some of the boxes, if we have room, but I'm more concerned with the big stuff. This time next weekend, I'll be in my new place!!

I need to call a bunch of places. I need to change my address with the post office, and my insurance company and banks. I am waiting until New Years day to change it with the registry.. I don't want to pay excise tax in 2 towns. I have to call the electric company to take this place out of my name as of 1/31 and put the new place in my name starting 1/1. And I need to call Comcast. I brought my laptop over today to see if I could pickup the internet there. I can't. I have cable already (brought over a tv today), but no internet. SO I am going to have to call comcast to use my computer... no way I can't. That kind of sucks.

I'm going to see if someone can come next Wednesday after I have my doctor's appointment. I should be home by 3, so if they can come after that, it would work! Just SO much to do!! I'm trying to stay on track with everything, but it is overwhelming. I have so much more packing to do.

I'm glad that I have new years day off... I'll do SO much packing and organizing that day. I want to put most of my furniture between 2 rooms so it is easier to move it all out. But I still have so much that needs to be packed up between now and then. Hopefully each night this week I can make some progress.

Sadly, I have been fighting a cold for the past week. I can feel it in my sinuses and in my chest. I have that dry cough right now. Not fun! I'm just too run down with the holidays and with this whole moving thing.

so overwhelmed

I paid the rest of my January rent on the new place yesterday and got my new keys. When I went inside to look around, I realized that it was cleaned by the previous tenant who moved out for August 1st. I need to clean. A lot. I started a little today but could only do so much before it started to get to me.

I did more packing up of the place I'm leaving over this past weekend. I can't believe how much I got accomplished and I can't believe how much I have left. I haven't started my living room or bathroom and I have SO much left in my kitchen. Not to mention 3 different shelving units!

Work is crazy. Tomorrow working 8:30-12, then going to the company luncheon at the country club. We have to bring a yankee swap gift, $15-20. Haven't bought one yet. Then the rest of our company is off until Monday. Me and someone who works for me have to work... our department needs to be open. So I'm working Christmas Eve 8:30-2. I have a TON of work to get done in the next 2 of our half days.

I am giving gifts to my department... 3 of them. I have some little nail kit thing for each of them, then wanted to make the 3 of them each a scarf. I got 3 different colors of popcorn fun fur. JUST finished the 3rd one about 30 minutes ago.

I still have some Christmas gifts left. I need to buy a bottle of scotch for Grandpa and then a gift certificate for my parents, but I can't get that until Christmas Eve once I drive up to mom and dad's house.

Last year when I left work on Christmas Eve, the 30 mile ride to my parents house through Boston (live and work south of the city, mom and dad live just north of the city) took about 2 hours. I wanted to kill someone and that is no exageration. I was CRAZED!! I guess a good thing is that I am expecting it this year.

Work... crazy, training someone and waiting on my review.
Xmas, still have shopping left with 2 days to go.
Moving, packing and need to clean the new place with that going on.
Back is still super sore. Between the Saturday morning Abs class, followed by 3 hours of packing and moving boxes, then Sunday had to dig out my car and shoveled my stairs twice, plus the full super long front walkway... yup, back is KILLING me. Yesterday took a Vicodin at around noon. Last night hit the Pub for dinner around 6:30 and had 2 beers. Didn't think the Vicodin was still in my system. I was wrong. I was passed out in bed at 9pm!

Merry Christmas and I hope my life relaxes a little bit soon. Just need to make it to February, just need to make it to February, just need to make it to February, just need to make it to February......

I was awake at 4am! Why? No idea. I tried to get back to sleep but gave up around 5:40. I checked my email, went on facebook, then I did some packing in the spare room. I took everything off that bed, packed up the comforter (sheets will be washed), and flipped the mattresses up against the wall to get more space in that room. Then I went through my small 3 drawer dresser to clear it out. Now I am up to 6 bags/boxes for the Veteran's Association. They are coming by tomorrow morning to pick everything up. After work today, I want to get through my other 6 drawer dresser to see if I can find more clothes to donate. I'm making baby steps.

Then Friday is trash day, so Thursday night I need to clear out a bunch of stuff. I really want to get the mattress in the spare room outside, but I'm not 100% sure how I can get that outside on my one. I might ask Angela if she'll come over to help me get that and a dresser out from my bedroom. The more I can do this week the better.

I have Friday off again. I need to clean my kitchen, and do more packing up in the spare room, plus go through my basement, and I want to empty out the shelves in the dining room. Mom is coming over of Saturday afternoon. I want her to help me pack up my curio cabinet and the dining room closet. If we have time, I hope she'll help me pack up the kitchen cabinets too.

Last night I talked to one of my uncles and told him I was moving. He offered to help. I told him that I'd let him know on Christmas. I'm hoping he and another uncle will help me move the big stuff with a couple of trips Christmas weekend. If I can get that done then, that would be HUGE!! I'd take any help I can get!! :)

Last night I went to another exercise class. I'm dying now!!! It was a fun class, but I am sore. I know I am going to be more sore as the day goes on, but that's ok. Its a good hurt! :) Tonight I am taking a dance lesson. And I want to hit the gym tomorrow after work. I'm still trying to lose those 3 pounds so I can hit 20 pounds for the year. That's my only goal right now! I don't care about the skinny bitch club, I just want to hit 20 pounds!

Ok, so that's a lie. I want to win the skinny bitch club! I'm at 10 pounds as of last week, and we weigh in today. The class last night was my last chance workout! I did great. I just hope it was enough. I want to lose at least 1 pound for today. Then if I kick butt this week, and with all the moving and packing stuff, it could work. Plus, I'm dancing tonight, I'm taking an abs class on Saturday morning and I'm going for a hike for a couple of hours on Sunday morning, and next Tuesday I'm taking that class again. I'd like to hit the gym in there and do some eliptical too, and the stair climber (doctor said I could).

ahh... ok, so I guess I should start to get up out of bed. Already 7:15 now. I need to be in the shower in the next 15 minutes and have my clothes out before that. Fingers crossed today is a good weigh in (need to find light weight clothes for work today, so they don't add much when I weigh in!)

This was a great weekend! Friday night Michelle came over for about 2 hours and helped me pack up the spare room... well not all of it but MAN what progress! I'm impressed! I need to organize more of what's in there now to keep going. I didn't really do a whole lot since, but Friday was amazing! It just gets so overwhelming to do all at once.

Saturday morning I went to a bootcamp exercise class. I'm STILL dying! I sneezed earlier and each sneeze hurt my abs! And my legs are killing me... more my bum than anything else. Standing up HURTS! Guess it was a good workout. But it was free too! I can't wait to take more classes. I'm going for another one on Tuesday and one more Saturday morning. I want to keep up with exercise classes and working out and doing physical activity. Makes me feel good and feel like I'm doing something good for me.

Last night I went to another meetup group. They had a game night. It was a blast. I was there for about 4 1/2 hours and we played a few different games. I like meetup and love the idea of meeting different people this way. All different ages and backgrounds.

Today I was at mom and dad's for dinner. Mom made eggplant and chicken parm. SO yummy! I hope I have a good weigh-in this week even though I ate that for dinner and I'll have it for lunch over the next 2 days.

I have lots going on this week too. Tomorrow night I have a walk scheduled for meetup, but only one other person signed up. I think I'll still go, cuz if I don't then most likely I'd just skip the gym too! BAD. So this way I'll get something in. Tuesday night I have another exercise class, for legs, butt and abs. Wednesday night I'm taking a dance class... can't wait! Hmm.. Thursday night? I have nothing that night! :) SO I can do some cleaning and clearing out of the spare room and take out all the trash too.

I have Friday off again and hopefully I can make some progress in the house. I have some new boxes that I can fill up too. Mom is going to come over late morning on Saturday to help me do some packing and she'll take some stuff home with her as well... stuff I don't want but I don't want to just get rid of. She can go through it and make the decision about what she wants to do with stuff.

This whole moving thing is really scary. I have so much stuff to do and it keeps overwhelming me. The starting part is the hardest part. Once I start, I can go for hours, but I can't start it! I just look around my house and start to freak out. I know I need to take it in little parts. Having people come over and help is SO big. Angela and Michelle coming over last week made such a difference. I can't believe all that we did. I wouldn't have done all of that on my own. I hope when mom comes over, it will be the same way. And I hope on Friday I can accomplish a lot too.

I have my doctor appointment this Tuesday again with the neurosurgeon. I'm nervous, but I hope I get good news. I know I worked to hard with packing stuff and with the exercise class I took. My shoulder is killing me. I hope I get good news and I hope they tell me I can start doing more exercise and running and stair climbing and weights. I miss doing things. I just need to remember to take it easy and go slow.

Yesterday was more progress. After last weekend, I had so many trash bags and recycling boxes that needed to go out but my trash day isn't until Friday. I kept everything in my apartment and last night my friend Angela came ove and helped me bring everything outside. I did at least 3 trips before she got here and we had to have done at least 8 trips together. I had to have had at least 25 recycling boxes not including the kitty litter boxes! WOW! Plus all of the trash I put out. Made some progress with that.
And now, with a day off and tons to do, I'm laying on my sofa typing away. I was up around 8, watched some news and then I went out to pay for an oil delivery (nice $260! I hope I don't need to get oil anymore! Last year I went 6 weeks over xmas with 150 gallons and I just got 100! Dec 2nd to Jan 16th was 150. I'm in trouble!)
I want to start to do a few things in the spare room and do some cleaning in general today. Michelle will be here around 6pm to help, and I know just having someone with me will make a huge difference. And I know once I start today, I'll get on a huge role, but it is the starting that's the problem!
I need to keep thinking of things in smaller parts because the idea of the whole thing is SO overwhelming! Freaks me out! $$, work, cleaning, packing, moving, finding movers, bills, Christmas. Damn! Too much going on all at once!

Productive Day!

Today was a VERY productive day. My parents were coming down to drop off my Christmas Tree, so I was up early doing a little picking up, getting the tree stand out and moving around some of the furniture to fit the tree.

Mom and Dad got here around 11ish. It was around 3:30 by the time I finished decorating the tree. I really like it and it looks cool. I put out a few decorations, but not anywhere near what I usually do. I was able to pack up a bag of trash just going through my Christmas decorations. I have one box for mom, if she wants it and another big rubbermaid container I'm not putting out this year but I still want to save.

I took a little break in the afternoon, ordered a pizza and watched a show on demand. Then I started in on the dining room closet. That thing has A LOT in it! Five very deep and very large shelves! I managed 2 bags of trash out of that closet! I packed up 2 boxes that can just get moved into my new linen closet in the new place. I didn't pack up most of the stuff like glasses and platers for a couple of reasons. First, at the time I didn't have extra boxes, second, nothing to wrap stuff in, and third, no where to really store the boxes. But once I get extra newspaper, then I'll wrap up the glasses and just store the box on that shelf in the closet.

After I finished that, I started on the spare room!! WOW! That was a BIG deal. I have 10 bags of trash out of that room, a bag for people at work, a box for a friend and 4 boxes from my mom. I made a nice dent. Funny, after I started clearing through the spare room... found out that I saved LOTS of boxes! This will work out well I think! :)

I know that this Thursday night is going to be a VERY long night and I'll be pretty sore. My trash comes by 7am on Friday mornings. I will need to bring out SO much stuff Thursday night. I haven't brought out any of the trash from the spare room because it is snowing and I'm not going outside right now. But Thursday will be it! Then on Friday I can get lots more done in the spare room, since I'll have LOTS more space to work in.

Now that I have my plan, it is going well. I know I struggle with big changes in my life. Fist I need to digest the idea of the change, then accept it and be ok with it. Digesting it is the hardest part for me. After I accept it, pretty quickly I start making a plan of action and start moving forward. I have my plan and now I'm working towards it! :)

OH! AND I did my Christmas cards! Didn't even know I had cards, but I had 5 unopened boxes in the spare room! So I did the cards, just need a couple of addresses I don't have.

I like having productive days like today. And I still have all day tomorrow.

My shot went better this time than last time. I'm tight but I feel ok. I'm hoping this one actually works. But for 2 days after the shot, I am really happy with how well it is doing and I'm feeling pretty optomistic about it all.

On other news.... The apartment I looked at the other day, I took it! I'm going tomorrow to drop off a deposit and I'll be moving in the next month. I'm scared and I'm overwhelmed but excited at the same time. Now I need to downsize and get rid of stuff.

I'm going to be working on a few things on my list with this move... first, moving out of the ghetto. 2nd, I'll have to clean out the spare room (since I won't be living here anymore!) :) And 3rd, I know I will donate at least 2 bags of clothes by moving... plus donating a lot more stuff too! And I want to sell some of my precious moments stuff... so I will sell something on ebay too. Maybe I can knock off a few things off of my list.

I'm just REALLY scared about this move. Change is really hard. I've started to digest it a little more than I was yesterday and I know in a few days I'll be good with it, but I need to get over the idea of it. That and then the overwhelming idea of cleaning out 7 years of CRAP I have stored in this place! I have SO much stuff to get rid of and I know that moving is a really good thing, but it is SO scary.

I realized that I had done one thing outside of my comfort zone for November, and then yesterday I did something else. SO I did it ONE more month! Now I need to start working on December so I'm not rushing the end of the month again.

I'm not sure if I am really going to continue this next year. Maybe a version of it, but not the stress of 2 things per month. That was tough this year. And because of doing this, my comfort zone has grown SO much over the past 11 months. I can't believe the things I have accomplished and tried. WOW! Very exciting. I'm looking to the future to see what else is possible. Doing this opened up so many doors for me. I am a different person than I was a year ago. I like how far I have come.

I'm a little loopy right now. Already took my first pill and have another one to take in 15 minutes. Then I'll have my shot an hour after that. Nervous about it. But these pills sure do take the edge off! It is so weird when you are aware that you are out of it! And yup, I'm SO out of it. I was standing in my kitchen after I went there looking for something. I don't know what I was looking for. Then I just stood there... no thoughts, just standing in my kitchen looking around. That was when I realized I was officially loopy lou! :)

I really hope this shot works. I don't know what else I'll do after this. My appointment tomorrow is with the neurosurgeon for a follow up. We'll see what they say after that appointment too. I'm just sick of all of this. I just want my back to be ok and I want to be able to do things I want to do and not worry about if I can turn my head or not later because the muscles in my neck and shoulders may or may not be inflamed to a crazy point. Just so frustrating.

My dad already called, stuck in traffic with an accident trying to get to my house. He's taking me to the hospital today. I'm not allowed to drive after the injection because it tenses up all the muscles in my neck... not safe to drive like that.

Hmm... what else is new. I have an appointment to look at an apartment tomorrow just after my doctors appointment. It is a 2 family house, right near the hospital, 2nd floor and the owners are downstairs. They are older, retired, and seem really nice. The price is right, but I want to check out the place. Only BIG draw back is no washer/dryer. I'm going to see what I think when I look at the place. If I have access to the basement, then maybe they would consider a hookup there. Heats included in the rent, but hot water is electric. She said the electric bill would be about $50-60/month. That's not too bad. I'm already paying $35 without hw.

Ok, dad just called... he's at the Quincy Split, almost here. Time to get my sneakers on and go! Hopefully this goes well!!
Ciao!! :)

more randomness

I feel like I never write here anymore. I guess I just have some times when I am on a roll and others when I am just not.

I am in a better mood than I was last week, but that nasty mood lasted DAYS! It was pretty bad. I think I was starting to get sick and was just run down overall. Still haven't slept wonderfully, but I'm a bit more positive at least and not so cranky.

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving. Looking forward to seeing everyone at dinner and REALLY looking forward to all the pies. YUMMY! I think there are 8 or 9 of us at dinner and we will have 7 or 8 pies too! But that's how we generally are, a pie a person! :) Crazy, but fun.

I have a 5K walk at 7:30am too.. guess I can reach for that 2nd piece of pie after walking the 3+ miles. Should be a good morning. It is through the fitness group and I have 11 or 12 people signed up for the walk.

The fitness group is doing amazingly well. I love that I have a bigger group of people on the team and membership keeps growing. Just having it is a great way to keep me on track so I can find new things to post and new activities to participate in. I can't wait until my body is better and I can do more.

My back has been killing me this week. I don't know if it is because I have been so run down, because of the crappy, rainy, raw weather we have been having, or just because I have a disc issue, but it just HURTS. I have an appointment for another cortisone shot on Tuesday. I'm nervous about it again. I know Wednesday is going to be really tough too, was last time. I just want all of this to go away. I'm too young to have back issues this bad. I want to be healthy!

We had our weekly weigh in today. I gained .6 for the second week in a row. Oh well. I'm still down 5.8 but I should be over 9 pounds by now! This isn't good. I need to bust it this weekend! I do so much better when I really focus and exercise. I know what I have to do so I don't know what my problem is with actually doing it! I just have to commit to myself for it! I need to do it. I would LOVE to weigh under 140 pounds.... to see 139.8 would be AMAZING! That is my goal for New Years. Hmm... this morning at home, naked after I went to the bathroom I was 145.6. Can I lose 6 pounds in 36 days? I can still be under 140 for New Years day of 2010? How cool would that be?

New Years day of 2009 I weighted 159.2. I would LOVE to lose 20 pounds this year! That would be the coolest thing ever! I'm pretty sure I can do it, but with tomorrow and then all the xmas stuff, I am really going to have to focus on what I am eatting and make sure I really put the effort into exercising! And that would keep my motivation up for 2010. If I could lose 20 pounds in one year, then I could easily lose another 15 for 2011! Ok, starting to get motivated with this. At least I was good tonight. An apple with peanut better was all I have eatten since I got home.

It is November 25th and I still haven't done anything outside of my comfort zone this month, forget about 2 things. And I got NOTHING. No ideas, no NOTHING. I'm nervous about this for the first time this year. I really have no idea of what 2 things I can do in the next week, well, next 4 days basically cuz tomorrow is shot with it being Thanksgiving and all. Maybe something will come up tomorrow at the 5K. I don't know. I just don't know what I can do. I was thinking of putting it up on Facebook for ideas! :) How sad is that??? I should look through my 101 list cuz I know I put a few things there that were ideas for out of my comfort zone stuff.

Well... If anyone actually reads this, HAPPY TURKEY DAY!

Funky

I'm not exactly what originally started it, but about 24 hours ago my mood just got sour. I was NASTY last night. I didn't talk to anyone, didn't get any bad texts or emails, even enjoyed watched The Biggest Loser, but my mood was UGLY!

Then I went to bed... couldn't fall asleep and when I finally did, nightmares. I don't remember them, but I do remember that the dreams were all bad. SO, I woke up in a bad mood.

I stayed in a bad mood ALL DAY LONG at work. I did my best to hold it in and not spew my negative energy on other people, but it was just nastyness all day! I couldn't get out of my own way. I was nausious and my skin was crawling. I wanted to get away from myself!

Then I come home... same thing! I can't shake this funk! I hate being like this. I don't know how to get into a better mood. I don't want to be like this tomorrow, but I've been this nasty for over 24 hours already!!!

I'm at the point that EVERYTHING is getting under my skin. TV shows, my cats, food, EVERYTHING!!!! I better shake out of this funk soon!

I had a good week when I got weighed in on Wednesday. That was good. I really want to stick with this and lose. My goal was 15 pounds in 10 weeks. As of 3 weeks I should be down 4.5 but I was only down 4. That's ok though... not too far off. I walked again this morning and I am again tomorrow. Monday night I am going to walk too and might swim laps after that. I really want to focus on this!

My back was pretty sore today. Funny, it is a completely different spot than what usually hurts! It's my lower back now... hurts to move. OH well. I ended up staying in tonight cuz my back was so sore. I'm bummed because I was really looking forward to going out but I knew I would be hurting too much.

I still haven't done anything outside of my comfort zone yet this month. It has been pretty hard to come up with anything yet. I'm stuck. I don't know what I want to do yet. I'll need 4 more things for the rest of the year, and this is getting HARD now. I don't want to spend a ton of money on anything, not that I have it right now. So I need to something low to no cost. I'm not sure.

I am still working on my 101 list too. That's going pretty good. Still writing here, still involved with meetup, still doing things outside my comfort zone and slowly tapping away at other things. I picked some pretty hard things to do on that list.

Time to relax before I go to bed early. :)

Sore back and more

I was getting back after my shot last week... each day was a little better. Today I had my massage and now I'm dying. I should have gone to the gym tonight but I am just so uncomfortable! Even just laying here on my sofa hurts! So I'm home, trying to feel better.

Between my back being sore, the time change, the cooler weather, work stress, money issues and life in general.. oh and PMS too, I've been Miss Cranky Pants this week. Even I can't stand to be around me! I'm trying to get more postive

I went on to the 29 day gift project website and writing there about things I gave made me feel better. And the people on that site are so warm and encouraging. Every time I make a post, I receive several positive comments back. Just that helps to keep me going.

Right now, for the month, they are having a gratitude project going as well. They have a place to post comments on 3 things you are grateful for. When I got home from work and was just Miss Nasty, I couldn't think of anything. Then I started to read some of the comments. Really helped to put things in perspective for me.

I know I'm still cranky and nasty, but I'm trying to find ways to get myself out of my funk and out of my own way. Hopefully tomorrow will be a better day.

I am still surprised that I have kept up with my new years resolution again... 2 years in a row! Yea me! :) I have 2 more months to do 2 more things outside of my comfort zone. I want to start early this month, so I'm not waiting like always to the last week! I don't know what else to do though. Because money is more tight now, especially with the holidays coming, I want to try to keep it to things that aren't going to cost a whole lot or are basically free! But other than doing things that are going to cost me money, I don't know a whole lot of other things I could do. Starting to run out of ideas again!

Hmm... time to start thinking.

I had my shot today. My back is killing me now. I don't think I'm going to work tomorrow. I was so scared. The novicane hurt more than anything else, and I even cried for it. But after that I was ok. It was pretty fast, we were out of the hospital by 12 or 12:30. I have to call tomorrow to make another appointment for another shot... they need me to do it again in another 4 weeks. I want to know what day would work best for my mom when I call.

Right now I want to start to focus more on my list... I have gotten a few things done, but so many of them are long term things or things that cost money and I just don't have the extra cash right now. That makes it hard. I have done a few things so I feel good about that.

Almost ready for bed tonight. Long day.

The shot

Tomorrow is the day. I am getting the cortisone shot in my neck. I need to be at the hospital at 11am. I'm freaking out. I know it will help, but I'm so scared about it. I hope it will all be alright and I'm sure it will but right now I'm still freaking out about it. I'm going to take a vicodin and go to bed in a few, then get up bright and early to get things done around the house. I need to remember to bring my MRI film with me. And no eatting... clear liquids only. Great! No breakfest and no coffee! :(

I am still sore from the ropes course the other day. Today I had my massage, that helped but it also found new knots I didn't know I had! And tonight I went to the pool and swam laps for a while. It felt good, but I'm a little sore from it.

climbing in trees

I did the ropes course climbing up in trees yesterday. SO scary, but so much fun. Here's a couple of pics of the place.






I am so proud of me for doing it! You can see all the tree platforms in the pics! :) What a great day! Now I need to find my next adventure.

I love working on the 29 day gift project. It really makes me think about doing for others. Some days have been easier than others, but I like that it makes me think. I think tomorrow I am going to bring in the bag of clothes I took out of my room and first give them to someone from work to look through then donate the rest of it. That'll be one days give. I should probably come up with a few ideas of what I can do.

Today my back is really bothering me. My massage therapist when pretty deep today so overall the muscles are sore. I am going to need a vicodin before I go to bed tonight.

And the skinny bitch club is going well. I think more about the food choices I am making knowing that I am having a weighin. Tomorrow is the big day. I'm scared about it, but we'll see how I do. I think I've had a pretty good week, but I don't know. Yesterday I ate so much and Saturday was the last day I did anything physical. But I need to lose at least 15 pounds by Dec 23rd. That's a scary number. I guess one good thing is that I was having a bad weight day last Wednesday when we had our starting weighin. So I should lose at least 3 pounds this week. Hopefully anyway! :)

Not a whole lot of other stuff going on right now. OH! I went to a wine tasting with a couple of new friends last night. It was SO much fun! We had a ton of food, and tried 11 different wines. Some I didn't love, but some were REALLY good. It was nice to hang out with Carrie and Christine too. I like them both and its fun starting new friendships.

Christine had a great idea for something outside of my comfort zone; something where I need to be up on a stage like an acting class, improve class or poetry reading. I KNOW that would be SO outside of my comfort zone so I think I need to do some research and find something like that for me to do and beat.

Another thing I have learned recently, with the whole 29 day project... it is so much easier to give than receive. I have no problem giving non-material gifts to others, but such a hard time accepting gifts in return. I was talking to my massage therapist today about how my AC unit was still in the window even while it was snowing out on Sunday and that I am not supposed to lift that much weight to take it out. He offered to pop over to my house next Wednesday when I have the day off to take it out for me! Just to do. Then someone at work saw the condition I was in at the end of the day... falling asleep and nursing miagraine symptoms. He offered to go about 30-40 minutes out of the way on his commute home to take me home in case I didn't think I could drive.

I couldn't accept either offer. I just couldn't. SO I realize that one of the things I need to work on is accepting help and gifts from others. There is nothing wrong with having help with things. I think I have fought too hard and too long to prove that I am independant that I took it to an extreme that it is tough to have help with anything now.

other updates

In my excitement last night for starting the 29 day project, I forgot to write about anything else!! WOW! Let's see.. I'm a skinny bitch, I'm getting a shot in my neck, I love the elipticial machine, little bro got a job... and I can go on from there.

First.. Skinny Bitch. At work,there are 3 of us who sit in the same area. 3 women. And of course we are always talking about wanting to lose weight. So we decided to come together and work together to do this and someone else from another department joined in too. We pay $2 every Wednesday for our "weigh in Wednesday". If we gain, we have to throw in another $2! We are doing this for 10 weeks and on December 23rd whoever has lost the most weight gets the pot of at least $80. We all decided that our goal was 15 pounds each for a total of 60 pounds by Christmas!! But 1.5 pound a week is very realistic. The older woman in our area said, "so we are all going to be skinny bitches", so that became the name of us! We are The Skinny Bitch Club! :)

15 pounds is alot, but as a group, with their support, it should be SO much easier. I'm nervous, but excited. I think for me personally this is what I need to keep me on track. I've been slacking and I've been stuck, especially with all of the medical issues I've been having lately. I need this to get me going and keep me motivated. I'm excited! I had just gotten my period, so my weight was up on Wednesday... I know I'll lose at least 2 pounds the first week. After that will be a struggle! As it was, today I was already down 4 pounds from Wednesday, in 3 days! I know it is cuz Wednesday was a high day for me, I'm not ususally that high. Plus, I've been eatting SO much better over the past few days (yup, $131 at the food store!)

Hmm.. what else was on my list.... the gym! I joined. I've only been twice but I LOVE doing the elliptical machine! The first time I did 3 miles in about 32 minutes. Then Thursday night I went and I did 4 miles in just over 40 minutes! My goal is to do 4 miles at least twice a week, depending on the week. And I want to do other stuff too.

This week I have a wine tasting Monday night after work, with a couple of friends I met through the fitness group. That will be SO much fun! But it is right after work, so I can't really go to the gym Monday night. Tuesday night I am going to the Water Aerobics class with one of the skinny bitches. I can't wait to try that out! Then I can post it on the calendar for the group as a winter activity! Plus, if I post it, then I have to do it! :) So... I want to go to the gym Wednesday night. I'm walking at the beach again on Thursday night, if she doesn't cancel it (no one is rsvp'ing yet!) and Friday night I am going bowling with the fitness group. WOW, I have a busy week! Well, bowling is at 8:30, so in reality I could be home from the gym at 7 and still have plenty of time to shower and what not before leaving at 8 for bowling. Hmm... Ok, so I need to commit to going to the gym Wednesday night and Friday night after work! I can lose this 15 pounds!! I can do this! (I need to keep telling myself that!)

My shot in my neck.. um, yeah. So the bulging disc, since I have tried everything already (streriod pack, muscle relaxers, physical therapy, massage therapy, taking it easy) the next step is a cortisone shot right into my neck. I'm slightly freaking out about it, but they gave me a prescription for something to relax me before I go. Hopefully it will work and make the pain finally stop and help the muscles in that area all relax. I saw the nurse practioner at the pain clinic. After she felt the muscles in my neck, she said, "wow, your muscles are really inflamed." I told her that this was a great day and not even half as bad as they were originally, that this was a HUGE improvement! She couldn't believe it! So... my appointment is the 28th of this month. Hopefully it won't be too bad, but we'll see.

My little brother got a job!! I'm so happy for him. I know he was getting really nervous about not finding anything. He quit his job in April to move out west for the girlfriends and hasn't worked since then. All of his benefits start on day 1 and he gets 20 days off (sick and vacation together) and they match the 401K up to 7.5%! I'm just so happy for him! I know he was really stressed out about it, so this is good. I think now that he has a job, things will start moving along even more for him and girlfriend. She's student teaching right now. So when both of them are settled professionally, and they should be in less than a year, I wouldn't be surprised if he proposes to her. I could see them getting married in less than 2 years now. I just hope it isn't out there. That would really kill my mom. But whatever will happen will happen and I have to trust that it is for the best.

Ok, need to finish up. I want to write in the blog for the 29 day project and then I need to leave in less than 45 minutes to get to the park to walk... then take pictures for my friend! :)

Give, Give, Give some more!

I love reading magazines and subscribe to several. Somehow I stumbled on and received a free 1 year subscription to a magazine in the beginning of this year and guess what? It has become my favorite magazine, by far. Every month I look forward to the new issue of "body + soul". I find so many inspirational stories and ideas.

This week the November issue arrived at my door. Unlike with other magazines that I generally read cover to cover in one sitting, I take my time with body + soul, trying to absorb each article. I have now been reading it for 3 days! :)

Tonight I was reading another article in the magazine, written by Cami Walker. She talks about her struggle with MS and how a friends suggestion to give away 29 gifts in 29 days is what helped her along the way. Because of this Cami started a website:
http://givingchallenge.ning.com

She asks people to commit to the same prescription she followed, 29 gifts in 29 days. SO here I am, making another commitment in my life. I signed up. Now I need to commit to 29 days of giving. I know with the way today went that some days may be easier than others! :)

I did my first right now! A friend emailed out a bunch of people to borrow a digital camera to take pictures of things she is selling. I don't really feel comfortable lending mine out, especially since I don't have the money to replace it, but instead I offered to take the pictures, upload them to my laptop (which is faster than her computer) and email them to her. I even said I'd bring my laptop with me and do it all at her house for her. I haven't done it yet, but I am still counting that as today because I have given the offer of it.

I have a lot of ideas as well, but per the site, I'm not planning out what I am giving in one sitting. I have a bag of clothes I want to give away. I'm giving some to someone from work and the rest to Goodwill. I know I'll have more than the one trash bag I have already filled up. I have books I want to give away as well.

My 101 list had a couple of things on it too that I could add into this... like take homeless person to lunch and pay for the person behind me at a toll booth. Not sure if I am going to be driving on a toll road in the next month and I don't know if I'll be somewhere where I will see (or realize) a homeless person.

I am already excited about this. I have always said that I feel better about myself when I am doing things for others. I think this is a great project and I'm pretty excited about trying it. As with what the 101 list and with what my New Years resolution have shown me... I think I'll find a new side of me and some interesting results soon into the project!

Working on October

This week has been tough on my back. I don't know if it was running the 5K or the weather or what, but I have been pretty sore this week. I am really looking forward to my next doctor's appointment next week to see what they say I should to do start getting this better.
I went to the dentist today for my cleaning and I have to say it was the fastest appointment I have EVER had! I was there for no more than 20 minutes for my cleaning! Crazy! But hey, now I'm good for 6 months and I can cross that visit of my list (I forget how many times I said go to the dentist on my 101 list, but one more down!)
I'm still working on losing the weight I want to lose, but it is even harder now that I can't run. I'm disappointed. I really wanted to keep going with it. I joined Planet Fitness tonight. I can't wait to start going there to use the elliptical machine. (just need to by a lock for the lockeroom!)
I can't wait to start working out at the gym. I want to start going Thursday after work, or that morning if I can get up early enough.
The Fitness group is going well. Still nervous about stepping up as the group organizer, but so far so good. I'm pretty hands off with the assistant organizers and I just let things go as they do. I think that's a big change from the last organizer, so just a little bit of a transition.
OH! Working out of my comfort zone... I'm doing the ropes course this month with a couple of new friends. We are driving out to western MA the end of the month! I'm SO excited. I have to call the place for more info tomorrow, but I'm pretty excited about it. And I love the poeple I'm going with. I've really made some cool new friends and I really like this!
I also have a call into the public pool at the highschool. I just need to know where to park and how to get into the building for the open swim they have. I don't want to go alone, but I am going to have to... so those are my 2 things out of my comfort zone for October. At least I already have them planned.
I like that I have become so much more positive. It used to be that everything in my life sucked. I always found all the really bad things and just focused on only that. Now I found so many great things to focus on in my life that it is easy to stay positive. I am going to keep going like this! :)

Finished something else on the list! I did my first 5K today!! So proud that we went to it and finished it. My time was 36:32. I wasn't dead last... that was all I wanted. Ok, so only one runner was behind me, but I wasn't dead last. Not a bad place to start for my first race. I just hope things with my back are ok and I can run again. I really want to improve on my time and I want do to this again.

I like this. I want to keep up the healthy, physical lifestyle. I want to start swimming, I want to join the gym and do the eliptical machine to keep going with what I CAN do per the doctor. I'm excited to do what I can do!

I officially stepped up as the Group Organizer of the Fitness Meetup Group. I am SO nervous about it, but super excited about the possibilities of it. The people are great and I have received amazing feedback from everyone. We'll see where this goes and what it becomes. Hopefully the group continues to grow and turn into something even better than it already is.

I am really excited with how this year has been going. I have had a great 2009 so far. I love what I picked for a new years resolution! Sometimes it has been REALLY hard for me to do something outside my comfort zone and it is really tough now to think of new things to do, but I have done some really fun things!! I have changed so much this year. I am a completely different person. I am so much more confident and outgoing. I have had amazing experiences. And I was right... I have done things I never even thought about!

3 more months of this amazing year. I need to keep this going! I need to keep moving and keep experiencing new things to see what else is possible! :)

So the MRI results are in and I had my appointment with the neurosurgeon yesterday. I have a bulging disc in my neck between C5 & C6 which is causing all of the pain in my shoulder and that's what is causing the muscles to tense up. So now I have all sorts of drugs and in a couple of weeks I have my next appointment to see what I can do from here. Tomorrow I still have my massage therapy appointment so I can talk things over with him too.
I'm nervous about what's going to happen, but at least I know what is wrong, finally.
I'm not allowed to run anymore, but I did tonight and I am again for the 5K on Sunday... I figured 2 more times won't kill me, right? I just need to take it easy. I'm bummed though, but it is what it is!

I had the date last Friday night, went well, so I thought. He texted me the next day and I saw him Monday night, but it was weird. Then he texted me today and I saw him tonight... so for the 2nd out of my comfort zone thing, I told him I had fun on Friday and if he was interested to do it again to let me know. He said (and I am quoting), "yeah, we could hang out again." Hang out?? Hang out?? What is that???? So I'm thinking I'm good here and this is done. Hang out? Really? Again, at least I know now.

I ended up stopping at the pub across from my house after all that. Saw all the regulars and had a blast. I am now really really an official regular myself. That's ok I guess. They asked me how my date was (yes, they knew!). Sunday I am getting together with Jules to watch the game. Weird... I'm making new friends at the Pub too!!

Oh well... time for more steroids and the next Vicodin! NITE!

This morning was interesting. I drove to the imagine center for my MRI. I took the Valium about 5 minutes before I got there. I had to wait because something wasn't working right on the machine, so I didn't go until 30 minutes late. I was VERY nervous, but I listened to the tech and closed my eyes before she put me in and didn't open them the entire time. The Valium worked so well that I actually feel asleep in the machine! She woke me up when she would tell me where she was at (1/2 way done! or 4 minutes left!).
I thought I was ok when I got out of there, so I drove the 10 minutes to work. Then I felt like I was going to fall asleep at work and realized the Valium was still in my system. But that was ok, made for an interesting Monday.

Tonight I went jogging. Didn't do too well, only a mile and a half tonight. I guess that's better than nothing, but I am going to do a 5K in less than 2 weeks, and a mile and a half will not cut it! I am meeting everyone there again Wednesday night and I NEED to kick BUTT! :)

I did something else on my list tonight and something outside my comfort zone. I asked a guy on a date. A guy from jogging. I was SO nervous, but I did it and I'm proud of me. It wasn't quite as bad as I thought. I don't think I would have done it a year ago... doing all of these things outside of my comfort zone has really made a huge different in my life. I am so much more open and willing to try new things. I love this and I love where I have come.

Ever have great plans for the day and you just don't want to get out of bed? I was going to get up early, get to the track to jog by 9 and make it to the 10:30 yoga class. It is 10:24am, I'm laying in bed typing. Oh well. I'll do my best to get at least a walk in. I'm jogging tomorrow night anyway.
(on a side note, I just closed my bedroom window because I swear to GOD, my neighbor is trying to play the "drums" on his trash barrels! It is a Sunday morning PEOPLE! Keep it down!)
I'm a little nervous for tomorrow morning. I have an MRI at 8:45. My back has been bothering me for months. I started up physical therapy in June and in August they told me they couldn't do anymore for me. That's when I started with the massage therapist. Back in June I went Kayaking and after that I couldn't turn my head. Over my birthday I went to 2 yoga classes and had the same results. If I do anything with my upper back/shoulder muscles, they just become inflamed. I went back to the doctor last week and he wants to send me to a specialist, but they need me to have an MRI before they will even set up an appointment... guess to see if I really need to see them. Who knows.
I'm just nervous about the MRI. The doctor gave me valuim for it. That's good. We'll see how it goes.

On other notes... little brother and the girlfriend are in town this weekend. His friend got married yesterday so they flew in Friday night and fly back tonight.
(ok, so maybe the neighbor is tap dancing or something... DRIVING ME CRAZY! Even with the window closed! And I think he's 2 houses over!!! WTF!)
SO I am going up to mom's to watch the Pat's game today and see little brother. It'll be interesting what their plans are for the holidays. Little bro moved in April. Last year, the girlfriend flew here for Thanksgiving and he flew there for New Years. They spent Christmas apart. This is the first Christmas he doesn't live here. Mom will be a mess if he isn't here for Christmas. Not sure if I should say something to him today, in front of the girlfriend to stress the importance of him being here for Christmas. He can't do that to our mother.

I haven't done anything this month outside of my comfort zone yet. I have an idea that I'm not sharing yet.... for tomorrow I think. We'll see. I'm nervous! So I know it is a good idea to try. I'm looking at apartments too again. I read a thing on line about excuses type things and it said the whole, "it happens for a reason" is a cop out to not taking responsibility for things. SO, since that was my excuse for not finding an apartment, I started looking on Craigslist again. I emailed 2 places I liked. We'll see what happens. That is slightly outside of my comfort zone as well.
And I am stepping up to be the General Organizer of the meetup group. That's another thing outside my comfort zone. I don't generally commit to things like that. There are over 170 members of that group! WOW! And I'd be the general organizer? A little intimidating for me. That's part of the reason I have been going back and forth about it.
I did post info on the groups calendar about a few more 5K's. Now that we are training for a one (2 weeks!) it will be nice to keep it up after I made it this far. I'm not ready for over 3 miles in 2 weeks. The most I have done is 2.25 miles! But we'll see how I do. I'm ready to try it.

I guess that's it. Not too much else going on. Happy Fall, enjoy this beautiful Sunday and GO PATS!! :)

Happy Birthday to ME!

I had a really good birthday weekend. And yes, birthday weekend! I don't think a birthday should be just one day... it should be spread out to be enjoyed and I did! :)

Yesterday was GREAT! I slept in a bit until around 9 or so. When I was up, I went for a walk at Pond Meadow Park (let me just say, I LOVE this park... a great little hide-a-way treasure. A little pond in the middle of the woods with a paved path around it. And you drive through a nice residential neighborhood to get to the parking lot. Just a perfect little escape!). After my walk, I went for a very nice massage. When I left there, I made my way to the beach for a couple of hours. Then I stopped home for a quick shower, then went to a yoga class. Overall, GREAT day!

Today I had my super expensive oil change... $621.98! But hey, I got my inspection sticker too! They gave me a loaner car after I dropped my car off at 7:30am! Then I went home for a while.

That was around the time I had my annual birthday breakdown... full on water works and pity party. This year was a little more than usual, but seeing as I have PMS right now, I guess that's ok.

Then I got ready and went to another yoga class... today was better. My car was done after the class and when I picked up my car, I drove right to Pond Meadow Park for another walk.

Tonight I did my 5K training... got in about a mile and a quarter of jogging. After the rough yoga classes and all the walking my hamstrings feel like they are going to fall off!! But I am still proud of doing something!

When I left the track tonight I went right to the Pub near my house... my bartender shares my bday. She loved the card I got her and she bought me my first beer. A guy bought me my second (and last! Its a work night!) And the best part was, he thought I was in my mid to late 20's! :) NICE!

I was pretty excited with hearing from everyone. Between emails, voice mails, text messages, and facebook.... wow! I heard from 30-40 people today!! That was cool. I heard from an ex boyfriend I haven't heard from in 3 1/2 years... that was odd, but hey, that's my life! I don't expect normal.

Tomorrow is time to get back to the real world. I have already checked my work email and cleared out most of it. Not much work for me to deal with as far as that goes. Just the piles I'll have to deal with when I get to the office. But this was a great 5 days off, so I think I can handle it. And tomorrow is my Monday, and the next day is Friday! Who can't handle a 2 day work week, right? :)

I decided that I am going to work on another of my 101 things... the 1 month of exercising every day. I started on September 4th and my month is up on October 4th with the 5k. Friday night I walked over 3 miles, Saturday night I jogged, Sunday I walked the park, Monday I jogged. Tuesday I walked and did yoga and today I did yoga, walked AND jogged! Tomorrow night I want to take a pilates class and Friday night I want to take another yoga class- if I can't make the 6am class which I already don't expect to happen (I signed up for 1 week unlimited and I want to try as much as I can... its $13 a class after my week is up!). Saturday is jogging and I don't know yet for Sunday... but I can do this! And if I can keep it up for a whole month, then I will really make fitness a regular part of my life! Plus... I have to lose 15-20 pounds by Christmas! It would be great if I got a nice jump start in September, then the rest of the year would be that much easier.

Hmm.... guess I should probably think about going to bed now. My Monday morning is going to come pretty soon! And now that I'm another year older, I really need my beauty sleep now! :)

Ever feel like you take one step forward and two steps back? Sometimes my life is like that. I cashed out an old 401K. I wanted to pay off a few things and get a little ahead. I paid off an old debt for over $4,000, plus got caught up in a couple of other bills. Yeah, I went shopping a little, but mostly for new running clothes (since I really am doing this 3 times a week now!). So that was good.
Then I we to get an oil change on Friday after work. Sitting in the waiting room at the dealership... the guy comes over to me and tells me they didn't do it becuase I have a crack in my oil pan. $630, thank you very much. Not sure if that is going to include the oil change or not, or the inspection sticker I am yet again late for. Not to mention that I was down 3 quarts of tranmission fluid and he doesn't know why... no leak or drips found. So who knows what this is all going to end up costing me. And when could I make the appointment for? For Wednesday. My day off. And its my day off because its my birthday. Nice bday gift, huh? So that's my one step forward 2 steps back thing going on right now.

Yesterday was a great day. I got up early, drove up to my parents house and the 3 of us spent the day at the beach. I came home, took a quick shower, had a late lunch, rested on the sofa. At 5:30 I met my friend Kate at the track and for the second time I jogged 2 whole miles without stopping! I can't believe it! I was SO proud of me. The 5K is in a month... 4 weeks from today. If I can go from nothing to 2 miles in 2 months, then I can easily add one more mile in the next 4 weeks.

And I just got on the scale today. I am down 11 1/2 pounds from New Years day. That's nice. I'm happy with that. Today is the new lowest weight I have been all year... more that late. This is the lowest I have been in 2 - 2 1/2 years. Another 15-20 pounds to go. I want to hit my goal by the end of the year.
I figure if I can really lose about 5 pounds a month for the rest of the year, then I can do that. And "they" say that 1-2 pounds a week is healthy and realistic, then 5 pounds a month should be ok. Part of my New Years letter to myself said that 2010 was the first year I wasn't worried about my weight... I really want to make that happen.

Today is a lazy Sunday... I woke up about an hour ago and have only gotten out of bed for the bathroom. Still laying under the covers all cozy. I think it is a little cooler out, but that's ok for a lazy Sunday. I want to go for a walk at some point today. I might go to Pond Meadow Park or even drive up to South Boston to walk at Castle Island and sit at the beach for a while. Just that sort of day.
My parents are taking me out for dinner tonight for my bday. Originally we were going to my favorite Mexican restaurant, but now I don't know if I feel up for Mexican. I might just ask for them to take me to Joe's instead. I always love their food. We'll see how I feel later.

Tomorrow I'm meeting Kate again to try jogging off the track. We are meeting at the beach in Quincy to jog along the boardwalk. I need to drive it first to see what 2 miles are. I need to at least reach that! Wednesday I am supposed to do 2.5 miles!

Tomorrow night I have a date. Well, I don't know if it is really a date. I'm going out with the ex tomorrow. He found me on Facebook last month. We have been talking all the time but only got together once so far. The weather is beautiful and he has a motorcycle so I want to go out on his bike tomorrow. Then we can go out at night too. It's weird having a blast from my past from 13 years ago... but we just click right. Things are nice when I talk to him and when I am with him, so I am just going to go with that and see what happens.

I have 3 more days off after today. Labor Day is tomorrow, then I took off Tuesday and Wednesday for my bday. So a nice long relaxing 5 day weekend. I'm enjoying it so far. Losing the stress and trying to relax. I read one book so far and started the 2nd yesterday. Tuesday I am getting another massage, and then my regular appointment on Thursday at lunch. He's giving me a free one Tuesday for my bday! I think that's great! SO excited.

I go back Tuesday night for Joan's class. I haven't been too focused on those things this summer. I barely read the book we have. I got stuck on the clearing out the clutter chapter. I have so much stuff and downsizing it is SO overwhelming to me. I have too many clothes, and just too much stuff. Starting is the main problem. How do you start when there is just that much stuff! I thought moving would be good, then I would have to clear out stuff... doesn't like moving is happening any time soon though. (the 2 places I wanted were both rented just before I had a chance. Oh well wasn't meant to be!)

And on the topic of moving... I wanted to move. I was seriously looking to move. Now too many signs are happening around me that I should stay put for a while. With 2 places in a row being rented, all sorts of money leaving my account right now for other things, and other little signs... I think I should just wait and see. And then there is the stupid horoscope thing... Mercury is in retrograde. I wouldn't move over the next month anyway with that going on. Stupid, yeah, but with my life I am not taking any unnecessary chances. I'm just going to go and see what happens in my life.

Right now I just plan to relax the best I can and enjoy the 4 days I have left off. Hopefully turning 35 won't be as tramatic as I think it is and even though I don't have plans other than spending money on my car, I hope it turns out to be a good day. How can it not? Its my bday! :) Plus, 9 is my lucky number and my bday this year is 09/09/09! It has to be a good day! :)

Updates on the list and other ramblings

Well, talk about cutting down to the wire to do the 2nd thing outside of my comfort zone for this month!! Tomorrow is my last day! I'm glad (as stressful as it was) that things worked out the way they did at work. Now I can count the things I did and they way I handled things as something outside of my comfort zone. That was one.
Today I did the other AND knocked something else off my list! I went to the movies alone. It wasn't as bad as I thought it was. I still don't know if I could go at night, but a rainy Saturday afternoon was a great way to try it. I was almost proud when I said, "One for Julie & Julia". (and not for nothing, when did the price at the movies SKYROCKET! $8 for a 12:45 movie? And $9.25 for a water and a small popcorn? Really?)
So I got to check off another thing off my list. The movie was great. Kind of got me thinking about the goals I have in my life... the 5K training I am committed to, the 101 list, and my 2 things outside of my comfort zone a month. Wow, seeing it all written out like that, I have a lot going on. And I'm actually committed to all 3 things, sticking to them.
Just like Julie in the movie, I get really excited about the idea of something, but never really finish any project. Last year when I quit smoking, that was the first time I ever stuck to a New Years Resolution. I like having short term goals. I think they are easier to accomplish. And I am more than 1/2 way through the year! I have succeed each month in doing 2 things outside of my comfort zone.
It really is getting even harder now to come up with new things. I think I am a much more confident person than I was 8 months ago. I am much more secure in myself, much more self assured. I can speak up more easily and can stand up to something when I feel it isn't right. This has been a really interesting year for me. If I can change this much in 8 months, what's going to happen the rest of the year?
So on to updates for the list... I said I needed to get 3 massages. Well, that's easy now. I prepaid for 12! :) I have been in physical therapy for my back (gotta love stress!) for over 2 months now, but per the therapist my pain and the problems are so chronic that physical therapy can't do much more. They passed me along to a massage therapist they rent space out to. I saw Ed Tuesday for the first time, and it was GREAT. Talk about a deep tissue massage. Sad, but after 2 months of PT he said he could take a jackhammer to my shoulders they were so tight! Nice, huh? Well, I am going to be seeing him once a week for the next few months... and I love that I already wrote the check for my next 11 appointments! 3 months of massages should be amazing and hopefully my back, neck and shoulders will start feeling better soon. So in another 2 weeks, the "get 3 massages" will be off my list too! :)
ON to lose 25 pounds. I need to look up what I weighted when I started this list, but going back to New Years to yesterday morning, I have lost 9 pounds. I know that jogging the most to do with it. I need to make sure I continue to eat well so I can keep losing more weight. It would be so cool if I could drop another 10 pounds in the next month, even if that's reaching a bit. (ok, so mostly I eat well, and with the over $100 I spent at the grocery store today only 1 thing- my dinner today- was bad, but I was just craving my Mexican fix! Tomorrow back to fruit, veggies and healthy choices! I can do this!)
With the jogging, the 5K training, it is AMAZING! We even met yesterday at 6pm, ON A FRIDAY! to train. 3 of us did it. I am SO proud. My whole thing at the track was walk 1/2 mile, jog 1 mile, walk 1/2 mile, jog 1 mile, walk 1/4 mile. TWICE I jogged a mile without stopping! I jogged 2 whole miles yesterday! When I started doing this I had trouble with jogging for 60 seconds and I didn't think I was going to make it. Yesterday I jogged a mile without stopping, and that was the 3rd time last week I did it! I am REALLY proud of this! I'm a little scared at trying to jog for 2 miles straight. I think I need to do a mile and a 1/2 first. I might try for that Monday night. We'll see how I feel.
SO 2 more updates... I tried to pay for someone behind me at a tollbooth last Sunday morning coming home from Laconia. First time ever there was no traffic at the tolls! NO ONE was behind me! I even had the extra dollar out! I didn't want to pay for the no person behind me! :) So next time I guess...
And the getting on TV. I went to the taping of Loretta LaRoche's PBS show, but it has been on at 4:30am! I haven't been able to watch it. I'm so bummed out! So maybe I got on tv, but I'm not awake to see it. I keep checking on line to see when it is going to air next. Too bad I didn't have a DVR. Hmmm... my friend Angela does. Maybe I can ask her.
Well that's about it. That's all the updates and ramblings. I really like the way everything is going. Funny, with doing all of this I have become much happier in my life. I still get crazy stressed, especially with work. That's my biggest challenge right now. Some days are better than others. Today was great, a Saturday! :) Gotta love weekends.
Oh, one more thing. Today is pouring (hurricane Danny I think?) I slept until 11, went shopping, went to the movies, came home and hung out. No plans at all. Just a nice relaxing, I don't have to do anything sort of day. I'm enjoying this more than anything. Been a very long time since I had a day like today.
Ciao! :)

More jogging

This is a great week for jogging for me! Monday night we were at the track and Kate and I jogged a mile straight! That's the first time EVER that I have done that. Then we walked 2 1/2 laps and jogged another 2 1/2. It was so cool!!
And tonight was even better!! Carrie was with us too... and again, we did a mile! Then after walking 2 laps, we jogged another 3. Tonight was a personal best. Because we love the support, we decided that we are going to meet after work on Friday night. So at 6pm, we will be at the track to jog a mile, walk a 1/2 mile, then jog another mile. At least that's our goal right now! :)

Who would have thought that when I started this that it would more about fitness! Tonight I was back at the track making more progress on the 5K Training. I am SO proud of what we are doing. Even tonight... at 7pm it was still almost 90 degrees and humid, but we had 2 joggers, 6 walkers and 5 of us did the training! It is so nice to keep seeing Kate, Carrie and Melissa every week at the track... this week Kate and Melissa were there with me both Monday and Wednesday night! I am just SO happy we are still doing this and that they are as excited about it as I am.
Today before the training, I stopped at the store and bought some new clothes.. running pants, running tops and new sports bras too. I figured now that it is about a month and a half into it, and I actually am ENJOYING this jogging thing, it is time to buy some actual running clothes. I've lost some weigh and the generic sweats just aren't cutting it anymore. So I bought capri Nike running pants and a Nike sleeveless top that I wore tonight (has to be Nike, because my running sneakers are Nike and I'm just weird that I can't mix brands like that!).
EVERYONE noticed that I was wearing something new. They all liked it, said it looked great on me, and that made me feel good. Now I am even looking more the part of a jogger.
I haven't really lost anymore weight in the past week, but I am at least consistantly in the same area now. My weight is generally around a 3 pound range. That "range" has shifted down and down! I just like feeling like I am doing something good for myself.
And now with all this fitness and training, I am even more aware of what I am eatting. Yesterday I wanted crap. I ate at McDonalds for lunch. I felt SO guilty for getting a chicken sandwich. I knew it was crap and I still ate it. But tonight I got a grilled chicken ceasar salad with light ceasar dressing on the side. I couldn't finish the salad. I'm getting back on my healthy kick. I like this!
I NEVER thought this would be me.. but I'm glad these are the twists and turns this year has taken. My calendar has every Monday and Wednesday night "5K training". I don't do anything else those nights... they are planned and accounted for. I never thought I would make this a priority for me, but I am SO glad I have. I feel better doing something like this for myself.

On other news, work is insane to a whole new level... some days I want to walk out and never return. I know it will get better eventually, but right now it is a HUGE challenge to get through the day. I have too many obstactals against me. I'm hoping to continue to overcome them but some days are MUCH easier than others.

As far as the 101 list... I don't know what to do this month! It is already the 19th and I haven't done ANYTHING outside my comfort zone. Not much time left! And I don't have any ideas for this month! That's freaking me out more. Plus, I have been so busy, so it is a challenge to find time to do things as well. I want to continue with the new years resolution... this has been a great project. I have become so much more open and confident this year. I am much more willing to speak up about things I don't agree with and I stand up for myself more. My comfort zone continues to expand every month.
I don't know what else I can do that is outside of that point. Nothing is "speaking" to me! :) I know that sounds silly, but that's how I have basically ended up doing something each and every other time.

More Training

This week has been pretty good with training. Monday night, not even a calendar event, 5 people showed up! It was great. I didn't do as much as I should have but it was 90 degrees at 7pm, so that's fine.
Tonight was even better. 10 of us were at the track and we all paired up. 2 walkers, 2 joggers, and 3 pairs of trainers-all at different paces. We did a mile and a half of jogging. It was a half of mile 3 times with a 1/4 mile in between. I am just really really proud of how well we are doing.
I couldn't believe the scale this morning. This is the absolute lowest I have weighed in 2 years. I got on the scale-still half alseep- and looked at what it was. I didn't believe it! So I got off, reset it, moved it and got back on... same exact weight!! I have lost 7 pounds in 4 weeks. This is amazing!
And I can't believe this even more... I can't wait to get on the scale tomorrow and see if it changes. How crazy is that?? I NEVER thought I would ever say that. I'm just proud of how this is going.
Because of how well I am doing at the training and the results on the scale, I even WANT to eat healthier. I'm thinking of that as I go. Yeah, I thought of going to the vending machine at work this afternoon for a candybar, but I didn't do it. I thought of the training and of the scale and of all the results I am starting to see, and I choose NOT to eat that candy bar. That's a big deal for me.
My biggest challenge right now is to do 2 things outside my comfort zone this month. I don't know what to do! I might end up going to the movies alone, but I have SO much going on so finding the time is a little challenging. I think this decision, keeping with the 2 things per month, has made a big difference in my life. I am more confident and more open to try new things. I mean really, a 5K? And to be 1/2 way through the training for it? Really? Me? I don't think so. But I am doing it! I organized it and I am doing it! Now THAT is something I never thought of this past New Years!
If I had more money, then my life would be perfect. Otherwise I am very very happy with my life. :)

This 5K training is going so well. I love it! I went last night to run... each time I run, it gets easier. I like that I am seeing progress in myself. I have another event scheduled for tomorrow night with 11 people who have rsvp'ed yes to attend. It is great having the support with me. I love that I see the same people every week and I am starting to make friends with everyone. This is what I had in mind when I named my new year the year of new experiences... doing things to put me out there, meeting new people and doing things I couldn't even imagine.
And look at me now! I am organizing a training for about 15 people to train and compete in a 5K come October. I see the same people every week and I am making a bunch of new friends. I love this! :)

As far as my New Years resolution goes... someone said something to me about it this week that I really liked. He put it a really nice way. He said, "Everyone always tries to quit things, but instead you're adding to your life." I just really liked that!

WOW, has July been a busy month. First, it stopped raining and we FINALLY have summer in the northeast! I heard Wednesday could actually hit 90 for the first time this year!! The weather people are all excited to be saying "the 3 H's".... hazy, hot and humid. Yup, it is finally summer! :)

Since my vacation down the cape, life has been busy. I looked at a couple of apartments. One I liked, but didn't love... especially for the money. Another I loved, but by the time I made a decision it was already rented. Good thing with that one is that it opened up a whole new area that I would never have looked in. Thing is, my life has gotten pretty busy so the idea of moving right now is a little overwhelming. I was supposed to look at an apartment tomorrow night. I'm thinking of cancelling right now. I just think it would be too much for me to take on right now.

As far as other things... I got a promotion at work. Everything I wanted back in January, I have now. And it is SO overwhelming. Things are a mess and basically it is my job to fix the freak show that became that department. It is SO hard. The more I look at things, the more problems I find. I'm nervous that I won't succeed, but hopeful just the same. I know I always get this way but still always manage to make my way through and succeed.

I am still doing the 5K training... I had another event tonight. It is SO exciting to see myself getting stronger and how these training sessions are starting to get easier. Wednesday night I am moving on to the next week session and I'm scared that I won't be able to do it.... plus it will be 90 degrees that day! I want to do well in front of the other members of the group and I am afraid that I won't be able to do this!

I think I get scared when things start to go really well in my life. I'm waiting for things to go wrong... how I will fail or when the other shoe will drop. So far right now things are going really really well. I'm proud of me. I'm working really hard to meet all of my goals.

I'm not sure what I did outside my comfort zone this month... how sad, I don't even remember now. But I already updated my 101 list. Hmmm... more than half way through the year and I have already reached so many goals! I had named 2009 "The Year of New Experiences" and WOW, what new experiences I have had. I am living a completely different life than I was just 7 months ago. I have new friends, I am doing things I never thought possible. I am living a life I didn't even imagine. I'm happy and excited to see what the rest of the year brings.

Back to work now for 3 days. WOW, I wish I was still on vacation. I miss it. I miss the beach. I can't wait for another one. Slowly trying to get back into the swing of things.
Many things going on. First, I have an appointment tomorrow to see a new apartment tomorrow. I'm terrified. I'm excited, but crazy nervous. This is basically every single thing I was looking for in an apartment, but I don't know if I can afford it. And that scares me the most. What if I love it but it costs too much? Then I know where I want to live, but I just can't. Then I'll feel even more stuck where I am right now. I really need to move out this place. I know that. I just want to make sure I move into the RIGHT place. SO that's tomorrow.
Tonight was "week 1 training" for the 5K. I had 16 people show up at the event. It was GREAT. SO exciting. I can't wait until next week for week 2. I think this is going to be a great event. I know it will help keep me motivated and on track to run in this 5K event. I need this!
Hmmm... what else? OH!! I know!
Because I am thinking of moving sooner rather than later, I am really going to need to downsize and clear out the clutter. I started my new plan today. Clearing out the spare room or going through all of the clothes I have accumulated it a daunting and overwhelming task. To make it easier and a more manageable idea I have committed to taking a minimum of 1 thing out of my apartment every day. It can be more, but it has to be something.
Today? 25 books are in a box in my car. My friend Robyn is going to donate them at a church near her house. They are doing a book sale to raise money for a counseling center. I think that's a great idea! And I also got a bag out trash out of the spare room. That's pretty good for day one! I'm excited. I need to start to think of more stuff to take over each and every day.
Also on my 101 list.... I have done a few things and I have stayed on track with the 2 things a month outside of my comfort zone, 2 entries per month here and 2 meet up events per month (Ok so I am the organizer on 3 events this month with one group alone!) I'm slowly trying to inch my way through the list. Some will take more time... the 5K isn't something I can do overnight, but I'm already training and the event is in October. Plus, I put do 3 charity walks... this is a charity 5K, so I can count that one for it too!
And if I move, I will kill so many of them with just moving. First, I'd be out of the ghetto, 2nd the spare room will finally be cleared out (has to be if I move out, right? And honestly, I don't know if there is any other way for it to really be cleared out.) 3rd, I will be donating SO much stuff when I move. Hmmm... I forgot, just donated a box of books! I didn't count that one! But I think I have 3 more bags of clothes on the list. Yup, clearing out my clothes will EASILY give me more than 3 bags of clothes. So just moving will cross many off the list! :)
Overall, even though I am back at work, things seem to be going pretty good right now.

Facebook

The day that Mel was here with her kids, it brought back a ton of memories from when I was little. I have been coming to this beach my whole life... I missed one year when was around 20 and that's it!
That night after Mel left, I was talking with my dad about all the stuff we did and people we knew 20-30 years ago down here. There was the family that stayed for the whole summer who owned a restaurant. Then there was the family I hung out with. They were from Arlington and had 5 kids. Linda was my age, Tommy a few years younger, then Beth was my brothers age, Chris a little younger and Pat was 10 years younger than me... he was about 6 weeks old when they started coming down here.
I think that family was here every single summer for 5 or so years. It was great! We had so much fun playing with them.
Even though they only lived a couple of towns away, Linda and I were penpals! (WAY before the internet and email!) Once and a while we would get together during the school year, but come summertime and Cape Cod, Linda was my best friend from 2 whole weeks!
After talking to dad about that family (say Smith's). I started looking for Linda on Facebook and couldn't find her. I found a Tom Smith, from Arlington a couple of years younger than me. He went to Northeastern and I'm pretty sure that Linda went there too. SO I sent Tom an email through Facebook. I put the subject "Not sure if you're the Smiths I'm thinking about"
And I went into how I remembered the 5 of them and I didn't know if it was him, but if it was to say hi to Linda and their parents. Well, guess what? It was him!! How funny is that?
Tom wrote back asking if I was at the same beach. He's married with a son and another baby on the way. Linda has 4 girls and Beth has one! He told me to try Linda again and gave me her married last name. So I sent her a friend request with a message.
Some things on facebook aren't great.... I really don't need all the people I really wasn't friends with in HS as my "Friends" on facebook, but finding people like Linda and Tom, with all those childhood memories? That's great!
I can't wait to hear back from her!!

My Beach

Gotta love my beach. And today as Boston got even more rain (is it even possible!) it was a beautiful sunny morning. The afternoon got cooler and cloudy, but no rain until after 6. My friend Mel stopped by with her family and we were on the beach from 10am until 3 or 3:30. I was sitting facing the water, with my back towards the sun, only because the wind was coming that way and I wanted my chair to block it. Plus, the kids were playing and I was watching them. Well I missed the whole top of my back with sunscreen. Bright purple right now. Yup, a little sore! But hopefully it will turn to tan soon. I hear tomorrow is (oh what a shocker) more rain so I can rest the back and then sun is back for Thursday, Friday and Saturday. YEAH!! :)

You gotta love vacation!

I am surprised to find out that I actually have internet access here at the beach! WOW!!! I'm on my laptop all the time checking email and logging on to facebook to see what my "friends" are up to. Nice way to still feel connected to the world.

Didn't clean my house before I left... that's ok. It'll all be there when I get home. I didn't do the training at all before I left either. But I did yesterday.

Yesterday was the perfect day! I slept amazing the night before, woke up on my own without an alarm. I got up and did the 5K training... and it was so much easier than the first time. When I got back, I laid out a blanket on the grass and did a half hour of yoga. Then after a quick shower, I headed down the beach... for 6 hours! I got back to the cottage, took a shower in the outdoor shower under the afternoon sun. It was a perfect day!

I'm even getting along with the family. I think the girlfriend is a pretty good buffer between me and my family. My mom isn't as bad as she usually is all over my brother and what not. And so far, the girlfriend isn't that bad.

(One funny thing... she reminds me SO MUCH of my cousin! Looks like her, talks like her, even her manerisms are JUST LIKE MY COUSIN! I said something to my mom and she started nodding saying, "I can see how you'd say that". She asked me if I said anything to my brother. Really now, can I tell him, "Hey, your girlfriend is exactly like your first cousin"?)

My friend Melanie is coming down to my beach today with her husband and kids. Should be a fun day. I'm a little overtired, so I hope I'm not cranky, but more people means more of a buffer with my family, right? :)

Ok, need to get my butt up so I can go for another jog today.. and then hopefully more yoga, then another 6 hours at the beach... man, you just gotta love vacation!

VACATION STARTS NOW!

My office closed today at 3, which means I am officially on vacation! I don't go back to work until the 13th! Yeah for me! :) 9 days of NO work. Not that I don't like what I do, but 9 days off is GREAT! That doesn't happen all that often.
I'm a little concerned with the week down the cape. The brother and the girlfriend will be there... I didn't love her at Thanksgiving when I met her. This will be very interesting. I'll do my best. Hey, the "how bitchy are you?" quiz I took on facebook said I was only 15% bitchy! So hopefully things will be ok and I won't lose it with that much "family" time.

I started the "couch to 5K" training the other night with session 1. It was good. I was dying, but it was good. I should have done another night tonight, but I just didn't feel like it. I might get up early tomorrow to do it again. I really want to consistently do it while I'm away. If I run tomorrow, then I can Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. And I can walk the other days. That would work right because I am meeting the Meet Up group the following Wednesday for a training, so I could on my own Monday and just be every other day! That would be perfect! :)

I signed up for a book club tonight on meetup too. The Thursday after I get back is the group. I need to remember to buy the book before I go on vacation. I can read it at the beach. I don't know if this is a book I would love, but the other books they had looked great. They meet monthly. Seeing at that was on my list too... I decided that I should do it.

This month is going to be tough to come up with 2 things outside of my comfort zone. I am starting to run out of things to do. I know I need to go out to a restaurant on my own and to the movies too. I don't want to do them just to do them.. I want to come up with the "right" things, whatever those are. I don't know.

SO I was supposed to do laundry and clean before I leave on Sunday. Yeah, watching tv, playing on the computer. We'll see if I get to them! Hey, I'm on vacation! I'm allow to be lazy!

I want to be a runner

I found a 5k for October I want to run in. I figure if I pick an end date, then I'll have something to work towards. SO October 4th is the date. I am going to run in a 5K, and I know I can do it. I am going to follow a great training schedule, From Couch to 5K. http://www.coolrunning.com/engine/2/2_3/181.shtml
And today I bought a new pair of running sneakers, so my feet won't hurt. I want to get up tonmorow early and do just 20 minutes. I need to stick on the schedule to do this! I'm pretty excited, but I just hope that I can stay on it. I don't want to just lose motivation.
I decided that I am going to post it with the meet up group and have "training sessions" weekly after I get back from vacation. We can meet at a track and follow what the schedule is. I can't wait to do this. I want to be a runner!
Hopefully I can make this. I figure if I am doing it as part of the meet up then I have to stick to it. I can't wait! :)

Involved in State Politics

I just wrote my local reps and state senators. I sent emails out. Wanna know what I said? Surprise surprise, it was all about the old drivers. I gave them my complete break down of how they need to change the system in the state.

Here's my email to them.

Dear.....

With the media attention being brought to older drivers being involved in serious accidents, changes need to be made. Ten years ago I was hit twice within 6 weeks; each driver was over the age of 70. One was 89 years old when he pulled out of a side street into the side of my car.
It almost happened to me again 2 nights ago while I was stopped in a parking lot waiting for a space. An approximately 80 year old man started backing out his parking space, almost into the driver side of my car. Then he got out of his car to yell at me for the way I was driving. I told him I wasn't moving; I was stopped. The people in the parking lot (who heard my horn, but the elderly driver didn't) said I was lucky I pulled forward. He missed my car by inches.
I understand the AARP will be all over any changes made exclusively to older drivers and I agree that they shouldn't be specifically targeted. My personal suggestion to keep unsafe drivers off the road is to get rid of the ability to just renew a drivers license. Instead of every 5 or 10 years, change it to every 7 years drivers are required to pass a road test EACH AND 7 YEARS. Every driver, regardless of age.
I know things happen, people have a bad day, get nervous, so if someone fails their road test that driver can pay again and schedule a second road test.
After a second failure that driver would need to complete a drivers safety education class.
To apply to take a third road test the driver would need 3 things to even schedule that 3rd test. 1. A certificate from the drivers safety education class. 2. a note from a medical doctor (certifying no medical issues would interfere in driving. 3. a note from a licensed eye doctor (certifying there are no uncorrected vision problems which would interfere in driving)
If the driver still fails the 3rd road test then that driver will no longer be allowed the option of a Massachusetts drivers license.
I think a change like this would make the state more money by charging for the road tests and it would get all unsafe drivers off the road without specifically targeting any segment of the population.
Please do something to create a fair change to our system where elderly drivers won't kill a 4 year old child in a crosswalk.
Thank you for taking the time to read this.

An active voter in your district,

Julie

I spoke too soon

Yesterday I wrote all about how I feel with senior drivers. I was all fired up about it. Yeah... should have kept my mouth shut and my thoughts quiet.

After I got out of work, I went to a walk I had organized with a meetup group. Great walk! We had a nice pace. I think we did around 4+ miles in 1 hour and 15 minutes. It was nice. I felt so good that on my way home I decided I wanted a salad for dinner. So I went to the pub across the street from me and to get a great salad.

I pulled up the hill into the parking lot and I couldn't believe how crowded it was! The parking lot was FULL! I saw reverse lights on a car pulled into a space up ahead on my left. I waited where I was in the aisle for him to back out and I was going to take the spot.

While I was sitting there, something directly to my left caught my attention. It was reverse lights of the car pulled into the space beside me. I thought, "he'll see me when he turns around to look before he backs up." The car started to back up.

In shock that this Honda was headed right into the drivers side door of my little car, I SLAMMED my had down on my horn... and didn't let go. A very long and loud BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEPPPPPP went through the parking lot. The car kept coming.

At this point, the car I was waiting to back out WAS backing out. I had to pull forward or the Honda was going to go right into me. I don't know how I didn't hit the other car, but Honda missed backing into me my INCHES!

I pulled right into the now vacant space I had been waiting for. The 80 year old man emerged from the Honda YELLING AT ME! He screamed, "what is your problem?" I (very confused) said, "What?" Mr. Old Man said, "didn't you see me? Why were you driving behind me? Didn't you see me backing up?" (ARE YOU KIDDING ME?)

I walked over and said "I wasn't moving" He again yelled "why were you driving like that? Didn't you see me?"

I tried to explain. I said, "No, I didn't see you, because I was stopped behind your car waiting for a parking space. I wasn't moving! You were backing up into me."

He kept yelling at me for driving through the parking lot like that and grumbling this and that. I was PISSED! I WASN'T MOVING! MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE AND I WAS STOPPED WAITING FOR A PARKING SPACE!

Mr. Old Blind Man got back into his Honda (with the handicap sign hanging from his rear view mirror) and started to drive.

I got closer to his car and knocked on his window.

He opened the door.


I might not have been right, but I was pissed and I WAS STOPPED. If he hit me it would have been his fault... so said the 5 people standing in the parking lot I talked to on my way into the restaurant. They said he missed me by inches and I was lucky I moved my car forward to get away from him.)



Mr. Old Man opened the door of the Honda and I yelled into his car, "THAT'S WHY OLD PEOPLE KILL 4 YEAR OLDS! CUZ YOU CAN'T SEE!"

Too old to drive

Today is June 16th and so far this month there have been 3 major accidents involving drivers over the age of 70. A 93 year old man drove into a Wal-Mart when he hit the gas instead of the brake; a 73 year old woman drove into a crowd injuring 7 people (her 3rd accident since she turned 70) and an 89 year old woman killed a 4 year old in a crosswalk last week. Something really needs to be done.
I remember years ago when I bought my first car myself (not from mom and dad). I was so excited. Too bad I signed the loan on the 13th of the month (April) because that car gave me nothing but trouble. About 6 weeks after buying the car, on Memorial Day, the car in front of me missed his exit on the highway. Instead of waiting for the next exit, he came to a complete stop from 65 mph to back up to that exit.
One month later, I was stopped waiting to take a left turn at a T intersection. The 76 year old woman pulling out of that street drove into the side of my stopped car. She didn’t see me right in front of her on that bright and sunny June afternoon. Then 6 weeks after that I was driving down the street and a man pulled out of a side street into the side of my car. He didn’t see me. This was in 1998. The man was born in 1909! Yup, not a typo, 1909!!!
Needless to say I have had a passion for this for over 10 years now! I remember shortly after all of those accidents watching a TV show (a Dateline or something similar). The topic was “Is Grandpa too old to drive?” I say YES he is!!! I remember they did some sort of elaborate eye exam on the reporter and on an 80 something year old man. It printed out a large circle. The reporter, in his 30’s or 40’s, had a small grayed out area. That was his natural blind spot. The Grandpa? More than 1/3 of his circle was gray. The reporter asked the doctor, “what if something was in that gray area?” The doctor answered, “he wouldn’t see it”. The test was given to a man who took a left turn into oncoming traffic. His wife was sitting in the passenger seat. She was killed by the car that hit them. The elderly man said no cars were coming. I guess the car was in that gray area.
Today’s Boston Globe had an article about this issue. The AARP is all over seniors getting retested for a driving test. I think the only way to handle this is to have everyone, yes EVERYONE retake a driving test every 10 years. You can renew your license after 5 years, online even. But you cannot renew it a second time without taking an eye exam and a new road test. I know that nerves happen, so yeah, they can retake the road test once to see if they can pass it, but I think if you fail the road test twice, then you would need to take some sort of drivers education class before being allowed to take the road test again. And I think this should go for everyone without regard to age. A 17 year old gets his license, then at 22 he can renew it and a 27 he needs a road test or NO LICENSE. Then all idiots who can’t drive would be off the road!!

Here’s a cool little graph for ya too! (copied this out of the Boston Globe, Boston.com)