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I’d like to precursor this with the fact that I’m sure other generations are awesome too… no hard feelings. I just decided to write this in regard to Gen Y.
I was talking to one of my coworkers this morning about the deposit I recently put on a new bicycle. The first one I’ve had in over a decade. I spent so much time walking while i was gone that I now really want to start walking and riding more around town for little errands and for enjoyment rather than driving everywhere. I also mentioned that I made a decision about TV in my bedroom last night too. I used to need background noise to fall asleep and therefore had a crappy old 1990s era tv/vhs combo in my room. However, the vhs part isn’t working. Rather than getting a replacement lcd/dvd I am going to do without TV in my room. It should be a peaceful place, and I have learned to fall asleep without it.
As I was talking about this I started to think to myself that it sounded like I was becoming a hippie. While I don’t think that’s exactly the case, it made me realize how awesome our generation is, for a similar reason.
Look around at a lot of generation y - especially within Phoenix and even in Midwestern town and other areas not typically considered “tree-huggers.” We seem to be along a pretty good path. A lot of my friends and others I know have pretty active lifestyles. They participate in sporting leagues or walk and go to the gym frequently. We are interested in staying active and entertaining ourselves in ways other than TV and electronic media. We read books. We hike. We go to museums. We are in soccer leagues and we take dance lessons.We walk places and ride bicycles.
Additionally, we are for the most part healthy in regard to what we eat, while at the same time supporting local growth and development. We purchase a lot of vegetables and other healthy items. We shop for organic foods. We purchase our items at farmers markets and CSA memberships. We plant our own gardens, even in the city.
Not enough? We also care about the environment and promote alternative forms of transportation. We walk or bike our short errands. We carpool. We use alternative transportation such as buses or the light rail.
We promote the cities, communities and country we live in, and look towards the future. We are involved in politics and local organizations. We support free thinking, new ideas, and promoting local businesses.
Part of this could be because of the economy we’ve grown up in. We’ve graduated with the market sucking, we’ve heard talks of another depression and we’ve been through job layoffs, or not even getting jobs period due to either being overqualified with our newly acquired degrees, or under-qualified because we did not yet have a graduate degree or a million years experience. We have lived through competing for jobs with those generations ahead that had more experienced and also went through a layoff.
Another aspect might be the waking up of the world in regard to environmental and health issues. We actually know where the world and our generation is headed if we do not do something to change it. And we don’t want that to happen.
I think for the most part though, it is because we are a great generation. We grew up with a lot of privileges and new technologies, but also with new ways of thinking. We’ve been able to and confident in our own decisions and are by nature goodhearted, and care about the future.
Many think our generation is comprised of a bunch of slugs that sit around and play video games and text all day. And while, yes, even I enjoy the occasional video game and you rarely catch me *not* texting, it is not an accurate description of generation y.
We are educated, independent, and confident. We are a great generation capable of doing great things.
Don’t get me wrong. I am very glad to be home (though slightly bittersweet and missing my Marines and my Divas). However, now that reality is starting to set back in here, I am beginning to get the blues a little bit. Today was the first day at work that everything started to come together (projects, meetings, etc etc). While it took 3 days, it *only* took 3 days. And I love it. I’ve always enjoyed my job and looked forward to going to work. But I think it took so much starting to happen at work for me to start stressing out about how much I have going on in general that I need to get in order when I’m back.. I’m starting to wonder how long people think I need to recuperate as opposed to how long I think I need and at what speed of pace I can operate for the next couple months.
So far I haven’t been doing too bad in my opinion. I’m slowly unpacking and as I am, I’m figuring out what to do with things rather than just throw them everywhere. I’ve started sorting items and washing all that came back with me from Afghanistan. I’ve been checking my mail and I’ve started to get my checkbook balanced again and a hold on where I am with all my bills.
Likewise, I’ve been making a list of items I need to accomplish and know in the back of my head which ones can wait and which ones can’t. I’ve also been spending less time on the computer, so I don’t see the list as often.
I’ve made sure to see most of my friends and at least contact some that I haven’t had a chance to sync up with yet. I have the projects I do outside of work on my back burner and have started to contemplate them and where I need to pick up.
All the while, I’ve been trying to figure out how to keep my health in check and get this sleep thing figured out. That’s been the worst. Some days I only want to sleep 4 hours, and some days it’s 12. There are days I fall asleep at 6pm and days I’m still anxious and going at midnight.
However, today I started thinking of all the things I have to do… I have items that desperately need sold, thrown out, donated, etc… from before I left and while I was gone. I have taxes to do. I have random missing things I really need to eventually find. I have a budget to figure out and organizations I need to get back on top of such as IxDA at multiple levels, Smunch, and Phoenix Actually. I have 30 before 30 goals I am a few months behind on.
I’ve done some good things such as the weight I’ve lost while I was gone.. but because of it I have tons of clothes that don’t fit I need to do something with and I need to find some clothes I can wear in the mean time until I reach my goal and can go crazy on clothes.. and even that that’s going to be expensive.
I also was able to pay off all my unsecured debt (credit cards, medical bills, etc) from those bad times in my life when I was in between school and jobs and dealing with a crappy economy. This is good, but there are also things I want such as saving for a house, taking some dance classes, and all that. So, I really have to learn to budget without letting these pile up ever again. Part of this is learning to ride my new bike when I get it more, so that I am saving on gas and exercising at the same time.
I know I will get there eventually, but my overachiever self expects me to bounce back right away… or at the very latest by August when I have visitors for vacation. Hopefully this feeling will pass. For now, I’m going to forget about it and go to the gym.
Well, it’s about time I do a 30 before 30 update, especially since I am having difficulties scheduling my vacation right now.
My previous update was in mid October.
Once again, a recap on my list:
The Completed Items:
Items I have started that I will complete by my grand 30th in August:
And here are the items I have lined up:
As you can see, I have a bit to go. Between the completed, started, and on my radar, I am totaling 24. I don’t think this is all that bad of progress considering I have been gone for 4 of the months I was to use towards these goals. Some of them, due to changing circumstances may be traded for something of equal value as well, which will be discussed closer to my target completion date.
Can you help with any of these items? Want to take a dance class with me? Paint a canvas? Take a trip to the Grand Canyon for a weekend? Go on a date (LOL)? Let me know!!
I really have to tell you about my pants.
Hmm. That probably sounds bad. Maybe I should explain. This all has to do with #SexyBitchOps.
When I came out here I fully intended on starting #SexyBitchOps. When I was shopping for clothes beforehand, I walked into American Eagle and saw these cute olive green cargos I had to have. They didn’t quite fit, but I bought them anyway and packed them in my stuff to arrive later. I pretty much made them my goal.
Over a month later, I was finally able to fit in them. They were very form fitting and looked great. My legs looked skinny and I looked good in them. I was so excited and I pictured how great they would look with stuff I have back home. I was imagining them with a tall pair of gorgeous brown boots I have, and all my tops that would be exquisite with them.
Today when I put them on, they were loose at the waist. Yep. I have a feeling I’m still dropping while I’m here. In fact, not only were they loose at the waist but I have a feeling they aren’t as form fitting in the back anymore either. They’re feeling a little baggy.
Not that it’s a bad thing. It’s pretty awesome that I’m still continuing towards my goal.. or at least it appears that way. However, I am sad that these pants may not fit me for too much longer.. or at least not the way they should.
I may need a tailor and/or a shopping spree upon my return.
Still dreaming of the pants with the cute high boots though…
I have internet access. I’ve been eating some things worth writing about.. yet I haven’t had a yelp review since the end of October. This is because, the chow halls I’ve been to can’t really be added as establishments. So, I’ve decided to write my own yelp review of my dining experiences so far. This will be a collective of all the dining halls I’ve been to.
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I would have to rate my overall experience with the dining facilities a 3.5. Not bad considering I am in the middle of nowhere. Maybe it’s the lack of options that makes me so optimistic, but I think otherwise. It’s amazing how you can make things work and find fabulous meals in unthinkable places.
Before we get to the food, here are my likes:
** Remembrance - It’s amazing to me how many people go in and out of this facility every day and the breakfast cooks have my egg order down pat. I automatically have the same thing started for me well before I’m at the front of the line unless I ask. Saves time and makes me awesome.
** TV in the second seating area allows some time to just relax and not focus on where you are or what you are doing. I’ve gotten to watch football, cheesy MTV shows, and even catch a couple episodes of Law & Order and part of one of my favorite movies, The Sweetest Thing.
** Plenty of options.. there are usually at least four different types of lines so you have somewhat of a variety of food to choose from. Additionally the hot sandwich line is open 24/7 That comes in handy when you have a long day and cannot make it out of work during chow hall hours.
** Cleanliness - The facility stays pretty clean and staff are always there to clean tables after use and before new customers sit down for a meal.
What are some of my non-food dislikes?
** The line - depending on when you decide to head to a meal you could be waiting 20 minutes before you sit down to eat.. waiting in line to get in.. waiting in line to get food.. waiting to find a seat.. all of this frustrates me
** Not all places have eggs made exactly to order - I have been to facilities where made to order means you can have an omelet, scrambled, or fried eggs with the yolks broken. Sorry kids, no over easy everywhere you go, and I wouldn’t even try to ask for poached.
** Not all choices are equal– this place definitely has its bad days where you have to stick with something plain and basic like a sandwich and a salad… on a day where you didn’t want something so plain at all.
** Ice cream everywhere you look — This is not what I needed for my #SexyBitchOps. Not only is there an ice cream bar most lunch and dinners with tons of baskin robbins ice cream and a toppings bar… but when that doesn’t occur there is a cooler with sherbet bars and these irresistible chocolate caramel bars… dammit!
And now… onto some of my most memorable dishes:
** Curry and Nan - I look forward to curry night every week. It used to be predictable and now it’s not so predictable. I happened to run into it tonight and it made the rest of my day complete. The curry definitely isn’t as spicy as I’d like but it has a decent amount of heat. It’s very authentic as well. I typically get the beef curry on top of steamed rice with some nan and it fills me up for the rest of the day.
** Egg White Omelet - I recently fell in love with the egg white omelet. I add a little bit of mushroom and that’s it. Garnish with some salt and pepper (eggs are really bland here) and it’s good to go. All I need to add with it is some fresh fruit like grapes or pineapple and it’s a healthy and filling start to the day. I am thinking about having this more often when I get home and being creative and adding some broccoli or asparagus to the mix.
** Eggs with Mushrooms - When I don’t have the omelet I get two eggs fried with mushrooms. They are still a little bland and salt/pepper is needed but they are always well cooked (even though presentation varies by cook).
** Salad - The salad options definitely leave things to be desired but overall aren’t too bad. My typical salad is romaine lettuce (all they offer) with chow mein noodles, bean sprouts and either mushrooms or a bit of bacon. I use Caesar dressing.
** Hot Sandwich Bar - Sometimes there is nothing like the hot sandwich bar. This happens to be the place I discovered one of the craziest and best combination ever: cinnamon raisin bagel with pastrami, provolone, pickles, and lettuce. Many different bread and sandwich items to choose from and they can even be toasted if desired.
** Lobster Tail - Yep. You got that right. Occasionally we get lobster tail and consdiering where I’m at… it’s a nice and healthy delicacy to have.
** Quesadillas - One time I had quesadillas to order (this is rare). Chicken, beef and cheese? Delish and filling.
Well that concludes my yelp review of the dining facilities. Hope you enjoyed!
It’s been awhile since I”ve updated on #SexyBitchOps but I’m pleased to say that I’ve been pretty much at it in full swing. I’m going to the gym nearly every day and doing cardio and then rotating between arm weights, leg weights, and abs. I’ve started using the elliptical to switch things up a bit rather than the treadmill and have been doing 5ks.
On the days that I do not head to the gym I am usually walking at least a few miles outside.. sometimes it’s 3 hours of walking, which is well worth skipping the gym for in my opinion. It’s been just gorgeous out lately and the walk and some music is a nice break at the end of the work day.
I’ve noticed the biggest difference from the arm weights; my upper body is really beginning to tone and look fantastic. However, the abs leave something to be desired still. We’re getting there, but we haven’t hit a happy spot yet. They always seem to be the hardest to work on.
One thing I cannot seem to find here though is a scale. You’d think this would be the place to find one, but, I am pretty sure elves have stolen them and they will never return. Makes it hard to really gauge how I am doing in anything other than how I am feeling and that my pants are still falling down.
With a few months left here, I am hoping to really focus on the abs. Hopefully I am doing as good as I think I am too. How is everyone else’s crazy workouts going? You can do it. Join #SexyBitchOps. I wanna see nice swimsuits and sundresses come summer
Heh. It’s been awhile hasn’t it. Combination of lack of wireless on top of being very busy has kept me away the past few weeks.
It’s been a great experience being here. I feel so fortunate to not only have the opportunity to have this experience but be able to learn from so many experiences I couldn’t even have imagined having.
This post isn’t about that though. It’s about the realization that in the past year or so I have truly found myself some amazing friends. Sometimes you don’t realize how luck you are immediately. I’ve always known that I have some truly special people in my life but lately it’s really shown through.
Even with technology it’s hard to keep up with friends. I know this because I’ve been there and I’ve been guilty of doing it. Your life just gets busy and if you aren’t reminded you don’t often think to call someone or send them a message.
My friends are awesome though. Especially the past few days. I can’t tell you how much it means to get little emails that someone’s thinking of me, an @ reply on twitter, or a message on facebook asking me how I’m doing; letting me know someone’s anxious for me to come home (and meaning it).
It’s not only my friends back stateside either. Friends that I have made while I’m here have been the same way, and it’s very genuine. It’s the small things that keep me going here… and also make me want to come home. They are what make me bust out laughing for 20 minutes at a time (like I did most of today) and what make me shed bittersweet tears for what I am missing back home. They are what make me realize there are people in my life I should’ve had more contact with while I was back home.. and that I shouldn’t be shy in my love life anymore.. there may be someone I need to ask out when I arrive back safe and sound.
I want to let you know that I truly love and appreciate all of you. Those who have worried about me when I haven’t been around for a few days at a time. Those who have sent me little cards and care packages… you don’t know how much a letter means when you’re here. Those who have even called me or IM’ed me to check on me. Those who help motivate me to do all I can while I’m here and try to make a difference for myself and others. Those who are okay with me being myself. Those that help give me a sense of normalcy over here. Those who are there when I need someone to vent with…. and those who know that sometimes I need to cry.. and are okay with that.
You know who you are. If you are back in the states, I cannot wait to see you once more. If we met while I’m deployed, I hope we have the chance to keep in touch and meet once again when we are all home safe and sound with our families and friends.
So here it is, the last day of a year and a decade start in less than 12 hours for me. It didn’t really hit me until this morning, though I’ve been seeing people’s thoughts about the end of the year and a decade for about week now.
Most people usually are glad to end a year and get a fresh new start; the same goes with a decade. This time of year is filled with resolutions, lists of things people will do differently, or yet again attempt to do differently - promises to themselves that they won’t let next year be the same as last.
And yet, as I sit here writing this blog entry, I realize that something big has changed in me this past year and decade as well. Here I sit, at a fold out table in my tent in Afghanistan, completely satisfied with the year and decade I have had. Slightly sad that I won’t be celebrating the New Year in Phoenix, I am excited to be celebrating it with new friends here (and working of course).
I don’t really do resolutions. I think they are not only empty promises, but in a way, they allow people to hold onto the past. However, I do want to spend some time reflecting on the amazing year and decade that I have had.
2009 started with me having only lived in Phoenix for a little over two months. I had prematurely started my “do over” and it was a year full of fun and excitement. I made more friends and fell in to place quicker than I ever thought I would in just a year’s time. I started three local events, IxDA Phoenix, Phoenix Actually, and Smunch. I fell in love with a job I moved across the country for, and I began for the first time in what seemed like ages, to fall in love with myself again. That was a big highlight of my year. I have become increasingly more comfortable with myself and being by myself. In fact, this is the first year this decade that I have not dated anyone. To me that signifies not a loss, but rather a true win. In the end I didn’t have to put up with dating some asshat who either wanted me to lose the job for some pearls and an apron or would use me for the job and stability I had.
2009 also gave me some great times with friends, some sad times we helped each other through, and new friends all over the world. It gave me my first trip to California where I was able to visit Napa Valley, San Francisco, and enjoy a day being pampered at the spa for the first time. 2009 gave me more business trips than in a year than I’ve had in my lifetime, and the courage to temporarily relocate to Afghanistan to support the Marines.
Also, just think how much this decade has brought: mobile phones, facebook, MySpace, iPods, satellite radio, twitter, acceptance of other people, the return of New Kids on the Block, focus on the environment, and so much more.
The entire decade as a whole though has been absolutely incredible. I became much closer with my family, in particular my father. Drew Carey bought me a shot. I bought Pat McCurdy a shot. I also lived most of my 20s in the past decade, with my 30th birthday approaching towards the end of 2010. The decade began while I was in undergraduate school and to think of all the experiences, both good and bad, that I’ve had in the past 10 years is almost exhausting. Shortly after the decade began, and for five years, was my big long term relationship. Its end, was the biggest turning point and challenge in my life.
Here are some of the highlights from 2000-2009:
I’m going to miss 2000-2009, but it will never be forgotten. These were true growing and learning experiences of my life that molded me into the person I am today. I am grateful for everything that has occurred, the good, the bad, and the ugly. I look forward to 2010 being even more of an experience. I look forward to more friends, more times with family, maybe a relationship or two. Most of all, I look forward to myself.
Bring it on 2010! I’m ready!
So, it’s been a little over two weeks since I posted about starting Operation Sexy Bitch in my quest to well… I guess that’s a little obvious. It falls well in sync with my 30 before 30 that I started the beginning of August, a few weeks before my 29th birthday. The goal is to get as close to being in as good of shape as I was when I was in undergraduate school. This doesn’t necessarily mean dropping weight, but this will more than likely be a natural (and welcome) side affect of becoming more active and making myself pay better attention to my endurance and activity level.
I’m excited to share that I’m really starting to notice that my endurance is much better than it used to be, and that I’m starting to really learn how to use weights properly to help tone and strengthen my body as well. I’ve been doing a little crossfit and mainly cardio while I’ve been here up until a few days ago. I’ve recently started a workout regimen with a couple other women here that is similar to crossfit but slightly different.
This in combination with walking a lot of places here and finding a good balance with my diet has put me in a good place. I’m not starving myself, nor denying myself things I occasionally crave, such as the goodies everyone is sending me or the occasional need for mountain dew to help me through working a late night. This gives me hope that in the end, when I’m back in my “typical” routine, that I will be able to maintain this. So long as I stay within a long driving distance of Sweet Republic that is. In addition, I plan on spending a little bit on a bike when I get back, determined to use it for my smaller errands not so far from the home. If you know of an awesome hot pink bike (with a basket) to ride around town in… let me know
I know the picture is blurry, but I thought I’d add an update showing where I’m at as of now. Next time I’ll show myself bench pressing a million and one pounds Also, now that I see it, I am pretty happy with my progress.
Hopefully any of you that are working on Operation Sexy Bitch at home are doing as well. Let me know about your progress!!
I’m a pretty tough cookie. I’ll be the first to admit it. I’ve been called a plethora of different adjectives from tough, to stubborn, to persistent, to selfish. I take all of them as compliments. In some way, being a tough cookie embraces all of these, but not necessarily in a negative light.
As with most personality traits, this particular one came from life experiences. I’m sure there are many things over the course of my childhood and even into my adulthood that molded me into the tough one I am today, but, in my opinion, I can pinpoint it to one yearly event as a child that really taught me am lot about life in the long run.
Girl Scout cookie selling time.
I’ve always been a little competitive by nature, but even I could lose my competitive edge during Girl Scout cookie selling season. In Ohio, this season was winter. The dead of winter. The area I grew up in didn’t have the lake weather a lot of Ohio has, but it still had its bitter cold in the place of snow. Winter in the evenings, after the sun went down, made you want to sit in front of a fire and have some hot chocolate. Not stand outside for two hours knocking on doors, hands frozen from having to keep them out somewhat.
My dad has this great philosophy of earning what you get. Having that feeling that you truly made it work and that it happened because you put your heart and soul into it. I was taught this lesson more so during cookie time than any other time of the year.
Everyone else would either do one of two things - ignore the snow by either refusing to sell cookies and just having their parents and relatives take forms into work and sell them in the office. This was the easy way of selling enough cookies to pay for Girl Scout camp the next summer.
My dad never let me get off that easy. He would take the form into work and help me, but not unless I was willing to help myself. At the beginning of the season, we would look at how many were needed to pay for camp, and also what my goal was going to be. Before I ever stepped out of the house to knock on one door, I knew exactly what I needed to accomplish and we would lay out plans as to how that would happen. How many doors I needed to knock on. How long every night I had to spend out attempting to sell these delicious cookies, which usually meant sacrificing my TV watching hours as those were spent doing homework.
After dinner most nights of the week, and after lunch on weekends, I would bundle up in my winter coat, my one or two pairs of gloves, my hat, and scarf, armed with my pens and cookie forms. If it was snowing or raining, I would use the smaller forms that were easily inserted in a plastic ziploc bag to keep them from getting wet. My dad would map out the route we were to hit. Sometimes it was a new area we’d never tried ever before, sometimes it was one we hadn’t hit yet that year, and sometimes it was going back to an old spot where we happened to have ea bad night and wanted another go.
The process then went as follows. I would be dropped off at the beginning of a block. My dad would then drive a couple blocks down (still within eyesight) and park. My goal? To hit ever house on that side of the street between me and my dad. There was no skipping a house or whining. The only excuse for skipping was a no solicitors sign, and even that had to be explained. Some nights were a fail. But those days where a really big streak was hit, were adrenaline pumpers and even at that age, they gave me the motivation I needed to move on. Every little goal was a victory. Every time someone said no it was a challenge to work harder.
In the end, my parents would reward me with ordering enough cookies to almost last an entire year (which is a lot). I would also get rewarded typically with the most sales of anyone in my troop and leading the sales for the area. I went to camp every year having paid nothing. And every winter, my parents dining room became a cookie distribution warehouse, filled practically wall to The wall with approximately 500+ boxes of cookies. That was when the delivery process would begin, which was a little less stressful, but just as tedious and time consuming.
I was never taught shady selling tactics or how to cheat. Rather, I was taught persistence, planning, and strategy. Above all, I was taught that taking things in stride, even when they seem painful and the path not taken, can really pay off in the end, not just monetarily, but with personal satisfaction.
I don’t think I’ve ever thanked my parents for this, so I guess there’s nothing like a public thank you. Thank you mom and dad, for always pushing me, never letting me settle for anything but excellence. Thank you mom specifically for putting up with nights of handling the end of the day tasks by yourself. Thank you dad for giving up countless amounts of your time to spend with me. I’m sure sitting in a car for 2 hours every night isn’t the highlight of your day. I’m not sure if you knew all along how this would help me in the long run, but it has.
If anyone has appreciated my toughness, please send my parents a thank you. The credit belongs to them.
Also, the picture in this post is from David & Goliath. Apparently there are pajamas and tshirts… I need some.
