Marching to the beat of a different mandolin

My mind is buzzing.  So much is going on, and not going on, and rawr I need to get it all down.

Yesterday, I asked Z if he would go for a hike with me.  The forecast wasn't great, but I don't mind getting wet, and I wanted to mix up my exercise a little bit.  He said there was a new state park in Tillamook (about two hours from here, on the coast) that he wanted to check out, and there was a 3-mile hiking trail and some falls there.  Also, the forecast was better there than in the Gorge, so we headed west (it will probably always be weird to me that west is toward the coast). 

There was some crappy weather on the drive, but by the time we reached Tillamook, it was lovely out.  We stopped at a little scenic area before the park to stretch our legs and see some more falls.  We hadn't wandered far from the car and were taking some pictures while frolicking by the river when all of a sudden it started pouring hail.  Hail in Oregon is a lot different from what I grew up with in Virginia.  First of all it's way more common out here, but it's rarely as fierce as east coast hail.  The hailstones are tiny and the storms pass very quickly.  But this was one of the more intense storms I've seen out here.  Anyway we got back in the car and headed to the state park with the alleged 3-mile trail.  When we got there, though, the only trail that was marked was just a 1/4-mile walk to a fall.  Kind of a long way to drive for a 1/2-mile hike.  We walked to the fall and took pretty pictures, but there were lots of downed trees obstructing the trail past that point, and a rather permanent-looking sign that said "Trail Closed."  So I guess there used to be a longer trail...

We drove to the coast from there, to another park called Cape Lookout.  On the way there, I got an email on my phone from my boss at the company in Charlottesville that I've been freelancing for.  I had just finished my giganto project and was wondering what was next.  His email was basically, "we don't have anything for you right now...it might be a while."  Ugh.  I kind of had a lot of eggs in this basket, and I was led to believe the work would be more steady.  So this was a bummer and a source of stress, and became the main topic of conversation on our hike.  

We selected the 5-mile Cape Trail, which was mostly flat but extremely muddy, along the edge of the cliff overlooking the ocean and Netarts Bay.  The hike was lovely, and Z and I did some excellent brainstorming.  First of all, I'm going to have a chat with the folks in Charlottesville and see just what the future looks like there.  When I first signed on with them, I was under the impression that they were going to have regular work for me, or find a place for my skills.  So I'll dig a little deeper there.  But Z also mentioned that the tournament manager from our district (bridge) is retiring and the district is looking to hire her replacement.  This is a paid position here -- I did this work for free in Charlottesville! -- and it still allows the flexibility of schedule that I really require out of any job.  I got really excited about that, but the problem is that the position has been open for a long time and may not still be available.  We talked more about whether I'm even looking for a career (no, not really) or just something to pay the bills.  Z reminded me that his income is more than enough to support us both, but with all the travel and shopping I like to do, I do need to bring in my own income to cover that stuff.  And also I really want to buy a house out here one day, so, yeah.  I mentioned that I'd really like to work for the Blazers in some capacity -- I have no idea what kind of jobs they might have, but even if it was a full-time thing, maybe it would only be during the season?  Anyway that's something else to look into.  The last thing is Weight Watchers.  I've been considering applying for leader positions there, but you have to be at your goal weight to qualify.  (I'm quite close, but still have a few pounds to go.)  Talked a little more about bridge and my place in that community, took some pictures, enjoyed the hell out of the afternoon, and got in the car to head home.

I went to Weight Watchers while Z looked up the job listing for the tournament manager to see if it was still open (it is!).  I lost almost 2 pounds this week, bringing me down to 149.  My goal weight is 145, but 2 pounds over is close enough by their standards (since I already am a lifetime member), so when I'm down to 147, I'll be eligible to apply for positions with the company.  I don't know what's open as far as leader jobs, but I'm willing to travel (say, if Salem needs a leader an hour away), and I know there are lots of corporate groups that have the leaders come to them, so I'm hoping there are a few openings and I could maybe pick up 2-3 meetings per week, or work as a substitute.  I have been traveling way too much lately to even think about the kind of job that requires me to stay put, but the travel is about to taper off again, and a job where I work one or two days a week would still allow for plenty of travel, just not the six weeks back to back like I just did...

When I got home, I prepared a letter of interest for the tournament manager job and sent it off.  I got a reply almost immediately that while the position has not been formally filled, they are "very close."  Bummer.  But, she went on to say that my qualifications were very impressive and she would submit my resume to the committee immediately.  Yay?  It sounds like I don't really have a chance at it, but maybe, just maybe?  So I'm pessimistically hopeful there.

I still haven't looked into the Blazers thing...I suppose I'll do that today.  Z suggests that I start my own Blazers blog for next season, see if I can make a bit of a name for myself, and then take that to the Blazers organization.  I dunno.  I do think I'd write a good blog, but I also think that there are jillions of people who do that sort of thing for free anyway, and I'm not really convinced it would help me get in with the organization...but if I'm going to watch all the games anyway, I might as well give it a shot...

Anyway.  That's what's going on over here.  If you have ideas for what I should do with my life, feel free to share.

Weight Watchers is going really well for me, but I have some grumbles.  
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The weekend after Thanksgiving is always sad for me -- everyone going their separate ways, a house recently bursting at its seams suddenly empty and quiet...I wish we could get together as family more often.  I love Thanksgiving so much.  

I ran the Earlysville Turkey Trot, despite coming down with a pretty nasty illness earlier in the week.  I had a sore throat and was generally lethargic, but I did manage to run the whole way, and I definitely got a taste for the race culture.  I think I'd really like to try to run a 5K at least once a month, but probably more frequently than that -- they are everywhere, so it's not like it would be hard to find them nearby.  And it would be good motivation to keep up with my running, and maybe to push to longer distances.  I don't care about speed so much, but I do want to improve my endurance.  It would be cool to run a 10K sometime soon.  That's about the farthest I've ever run, and I'm definitely not in good enough shape to do that now.

I've decided I'm going to go back to Weight Watchers when I get back home.  I did well for a long time just coasting on my own, but I've let a lot of bad habits back into my life recently and it's affecting my body and my body image way more than I'd like.  So, back to the program that I know works for me.  It will be hard, but it's important to me to get back in the shape that I was in when I was at my healthiest.  

I wish I had more time to visit with people -- I ran into some friends in town yesterday, but there is so much more catching up I wish I could do.  I won't be coming back for xmas this year, which is a bummer, but I need to save the money and not take too much more time off work for now.  Oh, work.  It hasn't been far from my mind since I left for vacation.  Just what do I want my professional life to look like, and how close to reality can I get that vision?  It's like a brain teaser.  I'm in a good spot for now.  Things are fine.  No major complaints.  But I'm starting to miss things I didn't miss as much before.  

Anyway, that's what's up with me.  Heading to the tailgates in a few, then cheering for the Hokies, then some sort of hanging out with someone tonight, then back to Portland tomorrow.  It's been a great vacation.  Not sure I'm ready for it to end.

Just got back from WW.  I'm back down to my "goal weight," so that's good.  Now the trouble will be staying there through my press trip, Thanksgiving, an NABC, and the ACC Championship festival.

My favorite player is out for the season with compartment syndrome, so I decided I would wear the #4 jersey I own for the rest of the games, since that's David Wilson's # now and he's kind of a star.  Mom just wrote to say he has mono and is out.  Uh, I should probably stop buying jerseys.  Or I'll just buy the ones for the guys on the other team....

Anyway, dinner time.

Peace.

I haven't been to a WW meeting in over a year.  I tried a few in Portland and didn't like them, and then travel picked up, and I just stopped going.  I haven't tracked food or exercise since meeting my goal in early 2009, basically.  I think I'm still technically below my goal weight, but I'd like to redistribute it a little bit, and maybe lose a few pounds, because I know I'd feel a lot better about myself.  And WW really worked well for me.  So I'm going back.  There's a meeting at 7 tonight in Beaverton, so I'm going to try to make it there after my 5pm therapy session in Portland.  If traffic cooperates, this should be easily doable.  If not, I'll go to a meeting tomorrow.  But I really want to go tonight while I'm still feeling the motivation.

I worked out before lunch today because I knew I had a busy afternoon ahead of me.  I started with leg stuff -- squats, leg press (the one leg machine in the gym that works), wall sits, a hamstring exercise I don't know the name of, and leg lifts (for hips).  I also did a few ab things.  That part of the workout went great, but I figured that after working my legs really hard, I shouldn't run, so I got on the elliptical instead.  I've never used this particular machine at this gym, but generally I enjoy the elliptical.  It's easier than running but still a good workout.  This one was fucking impossible.  I set it to level 2 of 15 and it was like trying to run through peanut butter!  I stuck with it for the full 30 minutes, but holy shit, that was the hardest cardio I've done in a long time.  I completely soaked through my moisture-wicking workout gear.  I was a big sweaty mess, but felt pretty good at the end of it, like always.  

I noticed something that made me grumpy, though.  I was wearing running shorts, and from the knee down, I have splendid legs.  But my age is catching up with my thighs, and I'm not a fan.  So I guess I'll work hams and quads and hips a little harder from now on.  

Working out is helping me feel a lot better about myself.  I'm able to be more productive and not just sit around and wallow all the time.  I like not wallowing :)  Being home alone hasn't been as hard as I worried it might be.  I still have the better part of two weeks here by myself this time around, so who knows how it will progress, but I'm using my time well and being healthy.  I really like having enough time to actually take care of myself, and do some fun things, too.  Tomorrow I need to get my nails done, and might do a little shopping while I'm out.  

I was worried that with my friends and husband on the road, I'd be jealous and grumpy about being home, but I actually don't feel much of that.  Sure, a little, but it's manageable.  I'm content and even really happy to be here, and I'm trying to decide what I want my schedule to look like in 2011.  I'm definitely making room on the calendar for more time in Portland, but I'm still going to travel a lot, for bridge and for work.  I just need to find a good balance, and this is something that I can experiment with and figure out over time.  I'm lucky to have that flexibility.

Anyway, I've been working on a travel article, and I need to get going in a little while, so I should finish that up before I go.

Peace.

All throughout my time in Boston, I stressed about weight maintenance and fitness.  My food choices, while delicious, were limited to things that were higher on the WW points scale than I wanted to be eating, and I was worried I'd start putting on weight even before Thanksgiving, especially without time to work out.  So I was very pleased when I weighed in at the gym this morning and found my weight unchanged.  (Unchanged is what we're going for now that I've met my goal.) 

Adrian and I did the first day of the 100 pushups.  I was really surprised that I was able to do 15 good form pushups before stopping.  Truthfully, I may have had a few more in me, but 15 was where I felt like stopping.  Adrian did 20, but only 18 or so of those looked good.  So we're both starting in the same part of the program, and hopefully by January 1, we'll be doing 100.  But if it takes longer than that, so be it.  The goal is more about the 100 pushups than the six weeks anyway.

As I was finishing up my workout today, I walked past the gym manager, Daniel, who has been seeing me come in for almost three years now.  I wouldn't say we know each other, but we've spoken a few times and he definitely recognizes me as a regular.  Anyway today he looked at me and said "Wow, you look really toned.  You've been working really hard lately."  Yeah.  I have.  It felt really nice to get the seal of approval from a fitness guru, though.  Even though Gold's is a nationwide chain, I think my gym is one of the things I'll miss most when I leave Charlottesville.  Here's hoping the Portland facility is just as good.

Peace.

I woke up hungover this morning.  I had less than one drink last night, felt totally wasted for two hours, and woke up feeling like I'd had the whole bottle of bourbon.  I guess this is what getting old feels like.  Oy.  We have to pick up one of our teammates at the airport this afternoon, so no bridge today.  Since we have the day off, I decided to get to a Weight Watchers meeting today (though Thursday is my regular meeting day).  I knew I'd be close to my goal weight -- I set it at 145 and I knew from the scale at the gym that I was at least down to 146, but I always leave my shoes on when I weigh there.  Anyway, I weighed in at 145.2.  Ha!   It's cool -- I'll get it next week, almost certainly, and I'll be at my home meeting then (unless I go to NYC -- still uncertain), so that'll be nice.  And then I'll have Boston and Thanksgiving and I might have to lose the weight again...heh.

My House race still hasn't been called.  CNN shows 100% reporting and Perriello with a 119 vote lead over Goode, but another site shows Goode with a small lead, also with all of the votes allegedly counted.  That's frustrating.  I guess there will be a recount, or that's what's going on right now, but I wish I could find some news about it one way or the other.  I don't really understand recounts.  I know that there are fuckups all over the place, but I don't understand how the votes would be counted differently the second time around.  And how would we know if it's accurate even then?  Sigh.  

Given that so many of the races were closer (or more Republican) than the polls indicated, I'm still simply ecstatic that Virginia went for Obama, even if it was much tighter than everyone thought it would be.  There were a lot of races that didn't go the way I'd hoped, but overall I'm still very, very pleased. 

Peace.