a new year… a new look
Too many times people have huge expectations of major changes that they want to occur in their life, instead of finding some simple happiness that already exists.
I do have a list of projects/tasks I would like to complete. I hate to use resolutions because well they are easy to skip and just move past. So instead here is an outline of what I’d like to do this year:
- Get a web project up and running. Not wanting to go into great details at this point, but it should be a fun venture.
- Read 1 book per month. I already have five books I bought last year I need to read (Engulfed in Flames, Running for Mortals, Swish, I am Not Myself, Candy Everybody Wants).
- Take a few graduate level continuing education classes.
- Apply to become a part time adjunct professor.
- Work out at least three times per week (minimum).
- Run a 5k or more at least six times this year.
Other areas I want to focus on are my photography skills, and writing. I will accomplish these tasks, and I’ll use the blog to keep myself honest.
I have a nike+ widget on my facebook, I will look to get it imported on the blog.
On a side note, if I find someone to date, that would be awesome, but I am not going to go out of my way on personal sites/etc to find someone.
walkity walk walk walk
It’s finally that time. The time I have degree conferred upon me. People keep asking if I am nervous, or how I feel. It has not hit me yet. I suppose it will. Most likely Saturday morning at 9:30AM when we are lining up. I am hoping for a sunny day, because I really wanna walk on the lawn and not in some stuffy gymnasium. One of my set of relatives have already sent a card. It seems so strange, that in 1998 I started at OU-L. I then transferred down to OU and was there for two years before I ran out of cash and came back home. From there I didn’t really start back up until about two years ago, with the help of work. Now, I am charging on through with my Master’s and I will graduate again in December 2008.
i used to be good…
Filed under: fun, goals, gym, life, running, school, vacation, work
This week has been somewhat of a blur. I took it off from work because I was feeling stressed and a little burnt out so I needed a week to recuperate and get my bearings back. We just finished our G2G conversion and it about fried everyone associated with the project. It took just over two years and a period of time of dual platform operation but we finally flicked the switch and are utilizing the last G of the G2G conversion.
Monday
Basically the first true day off of work. I woke up at 9, had breakfast, cleaned up, and went to the gym. I went to a spinning class and then ran afterwards. Came back prepared for school and went to school from 6-9. Gave a presentation with the group. I was a bit nervous and it kinda showed. Hopefully everything works out because I do want to get an A in the class. Came home and had my Dean’s List letter in my mailbox congratulating me on my academically excellent Fall Semester.
Tuesday
Almost a repeat of the morning, except I did not take a spinning class, and I went to Easton before hand. I needed to pick up a new nike+ kit as mine finally bit(e) (spelling?) the dust. Bought some vitamins and then wanted to try this creatine mix. Now I am kind of confused. I understand that protein is needed after a workout, and you can’t combine the two. But the creatine mix said you needed to do a mix before and after your work out, and if that’s the case, then where does the protein come into play? Let me tell you after spinning and running, my muscles need any and all help they can get so I want the protein, just not sure when to consume it after my workout.
I went to dinner at Bar Louie in the Arena District, it was fantastic. I had not been to the one downtown just the one at Easton, and the one downtown is a lot better than the one at Easton. Being down in the area, makes me realize how much I enjoy city living and the need to be in an Urban atmosphere. The suburbs are nice, and the apartment is decent, but I long to live in a condo in the downtown area.
Wednesday
We will call this the day of shit weather. It was amazing the first part of the week, just amazing, sunny warm the kind of weather you want for Spring. This was cold rainy and starting to dip down. Went spinning in the afternoon, came back and was exhausted. Had dinner with Ryan in Cap City in Grandview. The lady messed up my order. I asked for the dressing on the side, but she put the salmon on the side and as I had no desire to wait around I ate it as is.
Thursday
Today, met up with Rob and did a very strong leg work out. Needed to actually start incorporating weights back into my gym routine. I’ve lost about ten pounds but I don’t want to loose muscle mass, so it’s imperative that I get the lifting back in my schedule. Signed up for the running club at Easton. Every Saturday morning at 9:00AM I will be there doing a two mile run hoping that it helps get my endurance up for future 5k’s. Speaking of which, I have registered, again, for the Commit to be Fit 5k during the LaSalle Columbus Distance Classic. I’ll be running the 5k again, this year it will be without a blown out knee so I am hoping I finish faster than I did a year ago.
The Weekend
Going home, seeing the family for Easter, relaxing and just catching up on any and all homework I did not finish.
*edit*
This damn version of wordpress has majorly messed up so hopefully I have fixed everything and it is working as designed now…. ergh….
i should have known to just goto dick’s
Another day, another run. I needed to get a new pair of running shoes. I was using just regular gym shoes without knowing any difference. I read where Nike released a new running shoe for the overpronator (that’s me) and figured at $90 it was worth a shot.
I thought I would just hit footlocker on my way into the gym. I should have known that it would have been a horrible mistake. I was looking through the shoes for 20 minutes before anyone asked, and then when I was explaining the shoe he had no clue. I figured I might as well take a shot and drive over to Dick’s. Fortunately, they had it there. It was displayed with the Runner’s World Pick of the Month emblem. The person who assisted me was knowledgble and helped me choose the right size.
The shoe is the Nike Air Structure Triax 10 and it was an amazing difference from the old gym shoes. It was amazing to run in. I was able to keep a decent pace, my feet did not kill me and it was appropriately padded. It helped with keeping my running stable as I was on the treadmill. I definately recommend these shoes for anyone interested in running who may have a few extra pounds to loose in the process.
My run was shorter this time just 3k to get my endurance up. I did quite well as you can see below:
Right now, I am just doing some laundry and checked a grade for a reflection paper. Nothing major, just relaxing after the good run.
undergrad
It is done, finished, and the grades have posted to show. I have now finished my undergraduate degree. In May it will be conferred.
A celebratory time right? I should be more excited, I should have feelings of happiness. I don’t. I don’t know why I can’t feel those things anymore. Those feelings at this point seem simply beyond my capabilities.
paper
The paper is done! It ranks in at 9 pages of text and three pages of citations. Woot. Now to put it away for a few hours and read it before class to make any last minute changes or alterations.
It’s important because this is my last paper I will be writing for my undergraduate degree. Next week I dive right into working on my MBA. I infact got the wonderful letter from the registrar saying that my degree is “complete pending coursework.”
There’s no stopping me now!
eng 111
I’m sitting here, trying to protect myself from the absolute freezing cold outside. I’m almost done with my analytical research paper, in fact I am somewhat astonished that we even have class tonight. It’s really with the wind chill that makes it this cold. I think right now it’s -3 degrees.
Anyways back to the paper. It’s about the smoking ban, and honestly as I feel the paper is good and it’s an A paper I could really care less. Unless I get an A on this paper I won’t be graduating with honors, and quite frankly at this point I don’t care.
Ok yes, back to the smoking ban, about legislation and the government’s responsibility to protect those in the majority. Anyways, I am arguing that smoking has certain tangible rights like the freedom of speech. So it’s all about the political aspect of smoking.
Blah. Blah. Blah.
Life after undergrad…
It’s been a while since I’ve updated everyone on the comings and goings on in my life. I thought that once I finished my undergraduate program that this (consistently blogging) would be easier and something that I enjoy doing in my life. However; it’s proven to be a distraction away from the computer and one that may be necessary at times is inexcusable when you have an approximate audience of 20 or so reading.
So to start from the beginning. I finished my undergraduate program! I am walking on December 16th and being hooded on the 15th. I ended the program with a GPA of 3.471 which isn’t exactly where I wanted but high enough that I am still satisfied. My term GPA for my last semester ended at 3.67 which places me on the Dean’s List for a second time and really just solidifies my decent academic standing.
Of course, we had to celebrate and celebrate we did….
I know, I know it’s one of the few and rare instances that you’ll see me in a photo on my own site or even in my flickr…..
Most of the group went out to Gameworks after our last class, and champagne toast. It was fun, I was the motor car first place winner, but then people got pissy and blocked me from winning the balloon game.
Work has been stressful. Conversion was delayed again. Which is very fortunate as I was originally scheduled to be on vacation during the time we flipped the switch.
I always want to take a trip after the program ends. One for my undergraduate program and then one for the upcoming MBA program. For the conclusion of this program I decided that I would go out west to LA and then up to San Fran. I’ve been to LA a few times (three now actually) and have always enjoyed my time out there (here). Then for a weekend I would fly upto San Fran and then fly home on Sunday. I booked my hotel in the Union Square section of San Fran. I am staying at a Personality Hotel, specifically Hotel Union Square. A chance to get away even more, explore the city and then also a chance for me to see Mikey.
Getting to LA was somewhat of a struggle. I had to deviate from my original plan of flying to ORD and then to LAX. Inclement weather had me flying to IAD and then to LAX. I am not one for very long flights so when I was stuck in a plane flying across country for six hours I was less than enthusiastic. Fortunately, I was able to sit next to a decent guy who works as a helicopter pilot for some law enforcement agency in California. He was nice, but when you travel across the country and you have time for two movies you know the flight is long.
I’ve spent the past five days out here in sunny California. The weather a stark contrast from what I left in Ohio. It’s been somewhat of a whirlwind tour as I don’t precisely remember what days we did what. I know I’ve spent sometime at UCLA, I know we spent time on the Santa Monica Pier, I know we spent time in Malibu and at the Huntington Library mostly in that order but to signifiy them with days right now isn’t something I am capable of doing.
I’ve been adding my photos as I go into flickr and you can check out the photo stream here.
Tonight is dinner at a Mexican restaurant with some peeps from the old musicology land. Perhaps some debauchery perhaps not… It’s too early to tell.
you heard me you fuck
Not a lot to report:
- Sunday was my first experience for having brunch at the vine and it was fantastic.
- I bought a washer and dryer.
- Conversion has not been finalized yet.
- I am down to two class sessions left for school.
- I just got over the flu that had me down and out for almost a week.
- Hung out with Tom and Benton Sunday.
- I paid off a $72 library fine with $26 dollars in canned food.
- Rearranged furniture.
- Cleaned and its amazing.
- Got a lot of hits off of my Roman Heart entry.
- Going to pass out leaflets for the stonewall dems on Saturday
reprieve
We’ve been given a reprieve at work. Our conversion that was originally scheduled for the 15th was pushed back a week.
Unfortunately, what that means is that during the time Ross is home I might not be able to spend that much time with him. Good thing I get to go to California in December.
I am now six classes away from graduating. I still need to CLEP out of my ENG111 but I don’t see any issues in doing that. November 14th here I come!
flickr
