Individual Direction.

One thing I like about blogging is meeting new people and reading their blogs.  It’s become so fascinating to me to almost be a part of all these different walks of life that my fellow bloggers are taking.  I like to read about how they cope with certain situations, to hear they have annoyances just as little and odd as mine.  Some are buried in schoolwork still trying to find a direction, others are settling down, getting married and about to start a family.  They are younger than me, older than me, and my age.  They have good careers at big firms or going on interviews to get that ideal job.  Some live close, some live far, East, West, North and South.

I love that we are all such individuals from different backgrounds all searching to find our place in the world, to find what makes us happy and all sharing that one thing in common, that in most cases keeps us sane to release our thoughts, feelings, concerns, and all around need to vent and get things off our chest.  Blogging is the one thing that bonds us.  I would have never of known these people or heard of them unless I read their blog.  All my family lives fairly close to me, so it’s cool to “meet” people from all around the country and world.

My walk of life is simple.  I’ve never lived anywhere else.  I’ve known most people around this town since I was born.  It’s such a small town lifestyle I lead.  It’s like living vicariously by reading other people’s blogs and getting a glimpse into life elsewhere.

Chiropractic Results.

I was popped and adjusted and stretched and massaged.  I have never been to a chiropractor before and it was weird.   Especially when they sharply turn your neck, kinda freaks me out!  But all is good.  My calf pain is pretty much posterior shin splints.  Because my feet are incredibly flat and really roll in when I walk, it’s putting an extra strain on the muscles in my calves.  I have arches that I got custom made when I was younger that I do put in my shoes when I run.  He told me I pretty much always need to wear support in my shoes.  I was not happy to hear that since I live in flip flops and would rather go barefoot anyway.  I now need to go shoe shopping badly, because I have about 10 pairs of flip flops and 6 pairs of converse and about 10 pairs of flats.  Only my running shoes have any sort of arch support in them.  I’m not looking forward to wearing shoes.  They’re so….confining!

Tomorrow I am planning on going to the Running Warehouse to invest in new running shoes.  I do know how important they are.  I just have to get over being cheap!  They throw you on a treadmill and help you pick out the best shoes for your feet.  Plus, I’m going to get the sport inserts or whatever just for extra support.  I am actually VERY excited to get new shoes, and I can’t wait to break them in.  My chiropractor gave me specific stretches and exercises to target my calves, so they don’t hurt so much too.

I go back next week for an update.  He asked how much I was running and I told him for 30 min about 4 days a week, sometimes more, sometimes less.  He wanted to know in miles and I told him I wasn’t sure.  I think only about a mile if that.  Stupid me I was only thinking one way.  So on my way home I measured the distance of what I usually run and multiplied it by 2.  Turns out I’m running about 2.5-3 miles.  Holy crap was I far off!  I am totally pumped that I’ve been doing way better than I thought, and it’s given me more drive to keep going and push myself further.

When I first started running, it totally sucked.  It was a pain in the ass.  Now, it feels good and I’m beginning to look forward to it.  Especially now that I know I’m making progress and have someone to go to for guidance and support.  I’m excited to become educated in getting fit and healthy.  It is something I’ve wanted for myself ever since I was young but never had the drive or motivation to accomplish it.  But now that I’ve started it and have been doing it for a couple months, it’s getting easier.  The more I do it, the more interested, excited, and eager I am to continue with it.  And I’m very proud of myself for that too!

The Right Track.

For the past few months I’ve been running the back roads around my house for about 30 min at least 4 times a week.  The past few times I’ve gone the back of my calves have gotten really sore to where I can’t really run anymore.  I stretch before I go, so I’m not really sure what’s causing this.  I know running on pavement is hard on your body, but it’s so convenient to just leave the house and run down the road.  I’m sure the really old, worn out pair of running shoes I’m wearing aren’t helping either.  I’ve been researching what shoes are best for my feet.  I’m just having a hard time knowing I’m gonna plunk down over a $100 bucks on a pair of running shoes.

My cousin is a chiropractor, so my mom set up an appointment for me with him on Friday.  She explained to him about my calves and my running routine.  He’s looking forward to talking to me to help me get on the right track.  He said that there are vitamins and other things that I can be doing to help with this new regimen.  I take a multi vitamin and vitamin C now, but I know there are other vitamins and supplements that I can be using to contribute.  The lady at my work’s son is a nutrition major, so she always comes in with new information for me, and we always talk about the newest thing he picked up to try.  I’ve been eager to try these things just to see if and how they really work, to see if I notice a difference in my body.

I’m excited to get informed, to get healthy, to get adjusted.  I’ve been to the chiropractor once when I was in 7th grade, when I twisted my ankle running in the field.  I played softball for over 5 years.  I can only imagine how out of whack my body is.  We’ll see how it goes!

Saving Daylight.

Whoever said this was a good thing was obviously a night owl.  It’s never a good thing.  I have about an hour from the time I get home from work till the time it gets dark.  Thankfully I don’t get off at 5, so this still leaves me time to get in a good run – but still.  I need lots of good ol’ Vitamin D to function and in winter, I just don’t get enough of it.  I’m even thinking about waking up a little earlier and squeezing in a morning run before I shower and get ready for work.  Because I have to say mornings are crisp and beautiful this time of year, as much as I hate it.

My mom said to me last night “You’ll probably wake up earlier because of the time change and now that it’s so light early in the morning.”  Well, she was right…like always.  I woke up an hour before my alarm this morning.  So I figure if I start this morning exercise routine now, it won’t give me time to get used to the adjusted time change.  Besides a little extra exercise never hurt anyone, and after the weekend full of junk food I just had, I definitely feel like I need it!

As much as I hate this time of year, it is great for sunsets.  We have some amazing sunsets here on the coast.  Here are some past photos….

How love should be.

Today I was reading the blog of the daughter in law of one of the ladies I work with.  I absolutely love this lady I work with.  She is sweet, kind, caring, and everything else you can think of with a cherry on top!  She has an equally adorable husband who also works with the company.  They have 2 sons.  Anthony is 24 and living with them while he attends college.  The other son Jason, I think he is 23.  He got married 2 years ago and was recently transferred to Guam.  His wife Kate has a blog that Beth (the lady I work with) suggested I check out because she knows I like writing.

Kate’s blog talks a lot about being young, married and in love.  The title of her post today was “I know why I married him.”  She went on to describe how tomorrow is her birthday but Jason couldn’t wait for her to open his present.  The gift was full of goodies including her favorite TV show on DVD, a mix CD of Christian artists, and the same Victoria’s Secret lotion that she wore her Freshman year in high school (which is when they met).  It had some of her favorite cookies and a new book of one of her favorite authors.  She went on to say that her husband knows her through and through.  He listens to her rants, draws her a bath before she gets home, makes her coffee and knows her like no else.

Beth and her husband are equally as cute.  He brings her flowers when she’s having a bad day.  He has her coffee ready when she’s done with her morning walk.  He’ll come and have lunch with her if he’s near the office.  They’ve been married over 20 years and he still looks at her like he doesn’t see anyone else in the room.  Beth still gets excited when she talks about him.  They still do special things together.  They don’t have much, and they’re completely content with that.

I feel like that’s how love should be.  It’s how I always imagined it.  It’s the kind of love I hope to one day have.

 

On Hallow’s Night.

It’s a night full of costumes and candy, trick or treater’s and drinkers.  It’s a night where most people let their guard down in costume, let loose and have a good time.  You have an excuse to eat as much candy as you want and be as bad as you’d like.

This year, I didn’t take part in any of it.  Actually, I did take advantage of the candy part.  I’ve probably eaten worse this weekend than I have in a really long time, and it’s been totally worth it!  I went to the video store (for the first time in so long that they had to reactivate my account), strolled over to Albertson’s, picked out some of my favorite candies, went home and watched some movies.

I watched this one with my mom.  (Zac’s a local, gotta support).  We say “it was okay.”  There were some good laughs.  I’m glad I watched it once, but wouldn’t necessarily watch it again.  The good parts they probably showed on previews, because it had seemed like I saw them before.

This was my sisters pick.  I wasn’t a huge fan of “My Big Fat Greek Wedding.”  I liked it, I’d watch it over again, but it’s not on my list of favorites.  I think I feel the same about this one.  It was cute, funny.  Actually I probably liked it a little more than the wedding one.

I watched this one by myself, which was probably best, because I don’t think my mom and sister would have liked it.  It’s kind of sad, but that doesn’t make it a bad movie.   It’s one I’m glad I saw once and would probably watch it again when I need a melancholy movie.  It has a strange story line, but it was interesting.

As you can tell, I’m not good at movie reviews.  I’m too afraid to go into details and totally ruin it for those who haven’t seen them.  Out of the three I’d say “My Life in Ruins” was my favorite.  It’s one of those I could put on in the background and watch over and over.

Hope everyone else had a safe and happy Halloween!

Adventure.

My life is seriously lacking some adventure and excitement.  I’m on a full force search to find some things to do to get my blood pumping and my heart racing.  I’m not talking sky diving or anything dramatic like that, because I need to ease into it.  I’m the one who always plays it safe, but I need to try some new things.  Oh yeah, and they have to be cost efficient because I’m cheap! Haha.  So does anyone have any ideas?

I like river rafting, kayaking, hiking, snowboarding, motorcycle riding, blah, blah, blah.  But I’ve done all those things, I was thinking something new that I’ve never tried.  One of these days I am going to take the Biplane ride.  I think that would be a blast!  I’m going to ask the pilot to fly over my house!  That’s not a real physical activity though.  There’s a rock climbing gym I’m thinking about trying out too.  I’ll most likely be flying solo in these events though, so keep that in mind.  What do you do for fun?

The Dating Game.

I was standing in a Peter Lik photo gallery admiring all of his beautiful shots on Front St. in Lahaina.  I took my time carefully scanning every photo.  The colors were so vivid and beautiful.  I was completely content in my own little world finding inspiration, and letting my wheels of creativity turn.  I was thinking about how much he must saturate his photos when a voice interrupts my thoughts with “Have you heard of this photographer before?”

Um, really right now?  I look up to find some frizzy hair boy (because I’m pretty sure he wasn’t much older than 21 – not like I’m old at 25, but still).  He was wearing a green jersey with board shorts and flip flops.  Does he actually think I want to be hit on as I’m completely focused and in awe of the talent of this photographer just wondering how he works?  I was a little flattered, so I gave the guy a break, but I was really enjoying the solo artistic time.

He started up a conversation, so when I asked him if he had saw the gallery next door, he replied “no, let’s go check it out.”  I didn’t want to go check it out.  I had already been there, plus I wasn’t done at the gallery I was at.  But because I had time to kill, and he didn’t really give me the option to deny him as he quickly started walking out the door, I followed.  He started asking me these random questions like if I was to go anywhere in the world, where would I go?  What’s my most valued possession?  At this question, he must have misinterpreted my giddy excitement to brag and think about the beautiful MacBook Pro resting in my backpack as a flirtatious gesture.  Thus, not getting the hint that I’d really rather the creeper just leave me alone.  He wasn’t that cute.  I didn’t care for his style, and his “picking up chicks” moves were clearly inexperienced.

After this unexpected encounter, it really sunk in and got me thinking.  I’m single.  Does it show?  Do I have a big stamp written on my forehead?  Do I put off “single” vibes?  I mean (not to brag or anything) but this wasn’t the first guy to throw out some flirty moves while I was on vacay.  Dating, hooking up, or meeting a guy really wasn’t in my thoughts.  I was going to visit my friend, because she was going through a hard time and needed me.  I was solely there to be with her and for her.

But I did kind of meet someone, a friend of my friend.  He’s coming to California in a couple weeks and got my number so we can hang out.  He’s cute. He’s laid back.  He’s mature.  He’s a hard worker.  And he didn’t lamely try to pick up on me.  I liked that.  Do I like him?  Would I date him?  I wonder if he’s a good kisser.  Will he actually call?  Omg.  It is so weird to be back to this point of my life, to even be thinking about dating.  It never really crossed my mind after the break up (nearly 5 months ago)!  This little island get away was really a single lady wake up call.

The ex and I still remain really close.  We talk everyday.  He told me he’s happy that I have this time to focus on myself and what I want for my life, but he’s scared I will fall in love with someone else.  I kinda feel like he should have thought about that before he broke my heart.  I’m a different person now than when we met.  I don’t know if I want the things I did back then.  I don’t know if I want the life we had together.  I don’t know if I still want to be with him.  I’m having fun exploring who I am only having to worry about myself.  I can go out and guiltlessly flirt.  I can hook up.  I can date.  I can do anything I want.  But I don’t know if I’m ready to do it.  I think I’d still feel like I was cheating or have the ex in the back of my mind.  We live in a small town, rumors start and spread like wildfire.  I wouldn’t be able to date without him finding out one way or another.  I’d rather him hear it from me, but I wouldn’t want to have to tell him.

I’m still undecided on whether or not I’m ready to jump into the singles pool.  I had never really thought about it until now.  And after having thought for so long that I was never going to have to date again, it’s kind of an overwhelming idea.  Besides I’m not so much even looking to date, I’m looking to meet new people and hopefully make new friends.  Really, that’s all I want.  And if something happens to come out of one of those new found friendships, I guess I’ll just take it when it comes and deal with it then.  But wow, entering a new chapter of life really has a lot of changes!

Oh Maui.

I’m in recovery mode!  I think I got less than 5 hours of sleep each night I was on vacation.  I’m one of those people who requires a lot of sleep, so I think my body was just running on adrenaline and excitement.  Which explains why I got sick on my way home, and have been sleeping 12 hour nights!  I am exhausted.  I had an amazing time visiting with the BFF.  The time together was definitely most needed for both of us.  I was sad to have to leave and wish I could have stayed longer.

We didn’t do too many activities since both of us were on a budget.  One day we went to Paia, one day we spent with my Aunt in Wailuku painting pottery, the other days we walked around Lahaina or Kaanapali or just spent the day at the beach.  We went to the bars quite a few nights, which is not something I usually do, but you seriously can’t beat the drink specials!

Vacation begins tomorrow.

Well, I guess I’m officially on vacation since I got off work at 4, but I don’t actually fly out till 6 am tomorrow.  It hasn’t really hit me yet.  I am excited, but not nearly as much as I thought I would be.  The excitement will probably kick in after I wake up at 4 am, then realize where I’m going and how close I am to getting there!

I arrive in Maui at 11:30 am.  I can’t wait for the sunshine to glisten off my skin and to feel the sand between my toes!  I hope I’ll have time to blog and post pictures, but I can’t make any promises!  I will however, have tons of photos and video (woo hoo) to put up when I get back!

Until the next time, I hope everyone has a good days!