As a social worker, I should be used to the idea of people being afraid of change. I know all of the sayings-- old habits die hard. You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink. Blah de freaking blah. So why is it that I'm working on a power point for nutrition class tonight, and I'm completely and utterly discouraged in the process? Because maybe two people will show up. Which would be leaps and bounds in improvement over how many have shown up for exercise group. I can't really complain about that one, because I haven't been going (and I'm supposed to lead it), but after a week of dragging my sleepy body to the church building at 6:30 a.m. to find that I was the only one to do so, I don't feel motivated to set my alarm anymore.
The reason I knew I couldn't become a teacher was because I have great difficulty separating my ability from my expectation of others. Bobby would come home from his Chronic Disease Prevention class every day and tell me the things he learned, and almost immediately, our pantry and our fridge were cleared out and replaced with good things. We started eating 5 servings of fruits and vegetables every single day, and the information about the benefits of daily exercise far outweighed my desire to sit and watch t.v. when I got home from work. So when others get the same information and file it in an "I don't really care" folder, I get frustrated. And want to kick things. Knowing that probably should have been my red flag that leading a nutrition class and exercise group would be a bad idea.
Last night was my first experience on the Bambinos Ride, which I was told would be 20 miles at 17 mph, no one gets dropped. It turned into a 20 mph ride for 24 miles, which was fine, because it was SO fun. I was a little worried at the beginning, simply because the pace seemed a little slow for me. I was getting bored, but it allowed me to talk to the people riding next to me, which was fun. On the way back, though, the pace increased quite a bit, and it was SO much fun. I can't believe I waited so long to do group rides. Riding 24 miles with other people (see: drafting) is a LOT more fun than riding 24 miles by myself.
Le sigh. Back to the nutrition power point. Someday it'll mean something to someone, right?
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Monday, July 6, 2009
A new understanding.
In an effort to be more physically active, I've taken to riding my bike places more than before. Rather than driving to campus, I ride my bike, and carry it up to the third floor to put in the same room as me, because my bike is far too pretty (and impossible to replace given our current financial position in life) to lock up on a bike rack. In my experience, I have discovered something that is quite bothersome.
Lawrence differs than Provo in that cyclists are allowed on the sidewalks. At first, I found it strange that a cyclist would even want to ride on the sidewalk, but discovered quickly its appeal. While all the entrances into Lawrence city limits have signs indicating the community is bike friendly, many motorists failed to receive the memo. This is especially upsetting since I learned that bike laws became mandatory testing materials in order to obtain a driver's license. Riding on 6th or Iowa becomes a request to die young, apparently.
Riding on the sidewalk has brought to light something I think I would not have noticed otherwise. Many sections of sidewalk look like they've fallen victim to various earthquakes, and the transition from sidewalk to cross walk seems like a blatant afterthought for many construction workers. Perhaps it's the humidity that creates such violent cracks and holes, but I've not seen any effort made to repair sidewalks. On a bike, this can be terrifying, especially for those of us who have had bloody bike accidents, and any lip or inconsistency in the pavement can cause a spike in anxiety. However, what I find extremely alarming is considering the individuals in wheelchairs who are doing their part to lighten their carbon footprint, and then are punished unnecessarily for their mode of transportation. My observations of the sidewalks around Lawrence are not hyperbolic in order to complain about something-- I genuinely think it would be nearly impossible for someone in a wheelchair to get from point A to point B in Lawrence through using the sidewalks. Several transitions from sidewalk to crosswalk are so uneven that many appear to require a ramp in order to successfully roll over the large lump of concrete and tar.
In addition to individuals using wheelchairs, I would imagine parents pushing strollers have experienced extreme difficulty in attempting to enjoy an evening stroll. I thought it odd that I didn't see nearly as many jogging strollers out here as I did in Utah, and initially wrote it off as a cultural difference. Now, I see that such physical activity could be deemed hazardous, both to the expensive stroller being pushed and the precious cargo inside.
These complaints worsened when I rode my bike downtown to watch the fireworks, and I discovered that thousands of dollars were spent on blowing things up. Pretty lights and loud noises to be enjoyed by a community over a few hours, when such money could be spent to repair the roads for the members of the community to enjoy every day of the year. I guess tradition and morale trump safety.
If you think I'm overreacting, this guy died from hitting a pothole on his bike. He wasn't on the sidewalk, but still-- even the roads aren't getting repaired.
On a slightly related note, I'm in love with the new Nike commercial. I'm told I won't like Lance as much when I read his second book, but right now, I'm kind of in love with him, mostly for what he's doing for cancer. Love, love, love. All around.
Lawrence differs than Provo in that cyclists are allowed on the sidewalks. At first, I found it strange that a cyclist would even want to ride on the sidewalk, but discovered quickly its appeal. While all the entrances into Lawrence city limits have signs indicating the community is bike friendly, many motorists failed to receive the memo. This is especially upsetting since I learned that bike laws became mandatory testing materials in order to obtain a driver's license. Riding on 6th or Iowa becomes a request to die young, apparently.
Riding on the sidewalk has brought to light something I think I would not have noticed otherwise. Many sections of sidewalk look like they've fallen victim to various earthquakes, and the transition from sidewalk to cross walk seems like a blatant afterthought for many construction workers. Perhaps it's the humidity that creates such violent cracks and holes, but I've not seen any effort made to repair sidewalks. On a bike, this can be terrifying, especially for those of us who have had bloody bike accidents, and any lip or inconsistency in the pavement can cause a spike in anxiety. However, what I find extremely alarming is considering the individuals in wheelchairs who are doing their part to lighten their carbon footprint, and then are punished unnecessarily for their mode of transportation. My observations of the sidewalks around Lawrence are not hyperbolic in order to complain about something-- I genuinely think it would be nearly impossible for someone in a wheelchair to get from point A to point B in Lawrence through using the sidewalks. Several transitions from sidewalk to crosswalk are so uneven that many appear to require a ramp in order to successfully roll over the large lump of concrete and tar.
In addition to individuals using wheelchairs, I would imagine parents pushing strollers have experienced extreme difficulty in attempting to enjoy an evening stroll. I thought it odd that I didn't see nearly as many jogging strollers out here as I did in Utah, and initially wrote it off as a cultural difference. Now, I see that such physical activity could be deemed hazardous, both to the expensive stroller being pushed and the precious cargo inside.
These complaints worsened when I rode my bike downtown to watch the fireworks, and I discovered that thousands of dollars were spent on blowing things up. Pretty lights and loud noises to be enjoyed by a community over a few hours, when such money could be spent to repair the roads for the members of the community to enjoy every day of the year. I guess tradition and morale trump safety.
If you think I'm overreacting, this guy died from hitting a pothole on his bike. He wasn't on the sidewalk, but still-- even the roads aren't getting repaired.
On a slightly related note, I'm in love with the new Nike commercial. I'm told I won't like Lance as much when I read his second book, but right now, I'm kind of in love with him, mostly for what he's doing for cancer. Love, love, love. All around.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Sharing is caring.
In one week, I will be completely done with my summer courses, ready to take on a month and a half of minimal responsibilities. As of now, that includes working (very) part time and learning how to sew. I'm REALLY excited about the latter, as it ties in very nicely with the Brigman goal of becoming as self sufficient as possible. Because we are not in a position to have a massive garden, chickens, and a dairy cow, I can use this time to focus on other skills, such as baking from scratch (we've been making our own bread for a few weeks now), and now sewing. We want to do the cloth diaper thing, and they're really expensive upfront (but actually are a lot cheaper than disposable diapers in the long run), so I want to get started now on making some. Not that that's an announcement or anything, so don't panic/get excited.
Having more time means I'll be able to train more for triathlons and the like. The triathlon last Saturday went splendidly. The weather was ideal (cloud coverage, little humidity), so it didn't feel miserable simply existing outside. My goal was to get the tri done in an hour, and I ended up getting 1:04:32, which qualified me as fourth in my age group. Not terrible since I was bed ridden two days prior with an illness, but it does motivate me to work a lot harder for the next one. I also discovered that having a panic attack in the open swim really takes a toll on your time. Apparently I do not do well with swimming in a large group of people. Synchronized swimming is not for me. I was fine as soon as there was a gap between the group of people in front of me and the group of people behind me, but at the start and then when I caught up with the front group, my breathing became very erratic and I was convinced I was going to drown. Not really conducive to obtaining a competitive time. The bike and run were fun though.
Speaking of running, we had two additional people at running group this morning. I cannot tell you how excited that made me! Typically, it's the Buhlers and the Brigmans (or "Brigmen" as I think we should refer to ourselves in the plural as), and if we're lucky, the Trunnells are there (they actually are there more often than not). How exciting it was to have two more today (Virginia and Lee). I just feel so much better about life when I'm exercising consistently, and there is an immense feeling of accomplishment when, at the end of the day, your body is just so pleasantly tired. You just know you've done something good for yourself, and it's exhilarating. Others have expressed interest in the nutrition class who have been unable to come due to scheduling conflicts, which is great! I'm glad we're able to send out the powerpoints to everyone so they can get some of the benefits of the class (Bobby does such a great job elaborating on them, though, that going to the class is really the ideal situation for learning the most).
A dear friend from Utah called yesterday, and I got to talk to him for a bit. It made me miss Utah a ton. It was really hard adjusting spiritually, but every other component was fantastic. It was a dream to have the mountains in our backyard (almost literally), and the weather was amazing. I really took for granted that I did not get a single mosquito bite while we lived in Utah (I've had dozens already since being back in Kansas). We also made some really great friends, and it was really nice for Bobby to have people he could talk about cycling with all the time. We've been really fortunate to have such great friends in Kansas already, and our ward is amazing. Those factors almost make up for the humidity. Almost. I look forward to the fall when I can run outside consistently again.
In other news, I'm currently reading It's Not About the Bike by Lance Armstrong (with Sally Jenkins... which I didn't realize until a couple chapters in, and said to Bobby, "Wow, Lance is a pretty good writer" and the "With Sally Jenkins" in the smaller font), and I'm now a little in love with Lance Armstrong. I didn't really care for him, just with the impressions I've gotten with the media (because I'm a sucker for the tabloids), but he's very human. And I'm pretty sure the next time anyone asks me who I would meet if I could meet anyone in the world, my answer will be his mom. Well, there might be a few people ahead of her on that list, but she's definitely on the list. What a fantastic woman. And what a fantastic son for recognizing the magnitude of her influence in his life. I hope to be like her with my kids.
And... super awesome video!
Having more time means I'll be able to train more for triathlons and the like. The triathlon last Saturday went splendidly. The weather was ideal (cloud coverage, little humidity), so it didn't feel miserable simply existing outside. My goal was to get the tri done in an hour, and I ended up getting 1:04:32, which qualified me as fourth in my age group. Not terrible since I was bed ridden two days prior with an illness, but it does motivate me to work a lot harder for the next one. I also discovered that having a panic attack in the open swim really takes a toll on your time. Apparently I do not do well with swimming in a large group of people. Synchronized swimming is not for me. I was fine as soon as there was a gap between the group of people in front of me and the group of people behind me, but at the start and then when I caught up with the front group, my breathing became very erratic and I was convinced I was going to drown. Not really conducive to obtaining a competitive time. The bike and run were fun though.
Speaking of running, we had two additional people at running group this morning. I cannot tell you how excited that made me! Typically, it's the Buhlers and the Brigmans (or "Brigmen" as I think we should refer to ourselves in the plural as), and if we're lucky, the Trunnells are there (they actually are there more often than not). How exciting it was to have two more today (Virginia and Lee). I just feel so much better about life when I'm exercising consistently, and there is an immense feeling of accomplishment when, at the end of the day, your body is just so pleasantly tired. You just know you've done something good for yourself, and it's exhilarating. Others have expressed interest in the nutrition class who have been unable to come due to scheduling conflicts, which is great! I'm glad we're able to send out the powerpoints to everyone so they can get some of the benefits of the class (Bobby does such a great job elaborating on them, though, that going to the class is really the ideal situation for learning the most).
A dear friend from Utah called yesterday, and I got to talk to him for a bit. It made me miss Utah a ton. It was really hard adjusting spiritually, but every other component was fantastic. It was a dream to have the mountains in our backyard (almost literally), and the weather was amazing. I really took for granted that I did not get a single mosquito bite while we lived in Utah (I've had dozens already since being back in Kansas). We also made some really great friends, and it was really nice for Bobby to have people he could talk about cycling with all the time. We've been really fortunate to have such great friends in Kansas already, and our ward is amazing. Those factors almost make up for the humidity. Almost. I look forward to the fall when I can run outside consistently again.
In other news, I'm currently reading It's Not About the Bike by Lance Armstrong (with Sally Jenkins... which I didn't realize until a couple chapters in, and said to Bobby, "Wow, Lance is a pretty good writer" and the "With Sally Jenkins" in the smaller font), and I'm now a little in love with Lance Armstrong. I didn't really care for him, just with the impressions I've gotten with the media (because I'm a sucker for the tabloids), but he's very human. And I'm pretty sure the next time anyone asks me who I would meet if I could meet anyone in the world, my answer will be his mom. Well, there might be a few people ahead of her on that list, but she's definitely on the list. What a fantastic woman. And what a fantastic son for recognizing the magnitude of her influence in his life. I hope to be like her with my kids.
And... super awesome video!
Friday, June 19, 2009
Procrastination at its finest.
I'm in the process of writing my final paper for one of my summer classes (it's almost done, I swear!) when I got a handy little email in my inbox. It's a daily email I get regarding some pretty sweet deals online, and this one in particular tickled my fancy. Head on over to this sweet website to get 70% off New Balance stuff. That's shoes and apparel, people. So if your excuse to not come to running group has been that you just don't have the gear for it, order away! The deal is good all weekend.
Seriously. Having the right gear makes a difference.
On a quasi related note, my body developed ebola (which is my generic term for all illnesses I acquire) yesterday, and while I feel like I'm over the hump, my nasal cavity is secreting more mucous than I thought humanly possible. Seriously, I feel like I've filled my TP (if you get the soft kind, you don't need to buy tissues!) with at least ten pounds of snot. Ugh. Let's hope I can get enough out of my system to rock the triathlon tomorrow!
Seriously. Having the right gear makes a difference.
On a quasi related note, my body developed ebola (which is my generic term for all illnesses I acquire) yesterday, and while I feel like I'm over the hump, my nasal cavity is secreting more mucous than I thought humanly possible. Seriously, I feel like I've filled my TP (if you get the soft kind, you don't need to buy tissues!) with at least ten pounds of snot. Ugh. Let's hope I can get enough out of my system to rock the triathlon tomorrow!
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Slimey vegan balogna
If birthdays are indicative of how the year to come will be, 23 is going to be a fantastic age.
Yesterday started with a fabulous run with my new Garmin Forerunner 305. How I love this little contraption! After having it for a few days, I've learned so much about where I stand as a runner. It's great because it pushes me to go faster because I'm accountable when we pull up the data from the run.
Bobby was dying of some disease, but he still managed to pull it together to take me to Deanna Rose Farmstead. For you Lawrencians who have not experienced Deanna Rose, it's a fantastic date place! It's in Overland Park, it's free admission, and for just a few dollars, you can feed ducks, goats, horses, and -- the best part of all-- bottle feed baby goats! Bobby made fun of me because it's technically "Deanna Rose Children's Farmstead" but it's one of my favorite places on Earth. Sad? Maybe. Or maybe I just take pleasure in the adorable.
We went to the bike shop from there so Bobby could get something for the triathlon this weekend, and it was lovely. I'm a little sad there isn't a Scott dealer around, but the bikes they did have are beautiful. Cervelo and Orbea make some good looking frames.
Then Plato's Closet. Plato's is one of those stores that is really hit or miss, and I thought being in Utah would provide me some advantage in finding some good stuff. Everyone there (for the most part) wears modest clothing, so finding something for me should be easy. Wrong. However, at the Plato's in Overland Park, I was able to find THE most adorable dress (which just so happens to look fabulous on me), and it was brand new! Not that I'm anti previously worn clothing (I actually prefer it), but it was just such a find.
Have I ever mentioned how fantastic my family is? We went to Bobby's mom's, and Bobby immediately went to take a nap (his disease was winning), and Bobby's mom and I just talked for a while. It's nice having someone to do that with. She made me a cake and put it on a green cutting board (!) that was part of my present. It was delightful.
And to end a wonderful day, we had some rockin friends over who gave me the best card ever (it's definitely fridge worthy), and concluded the night with some pineapple and good conversation.
Twas a good day.
23 is going to be a good year.
Yesterday started with a fabulous run with my new Garmin Forerunner 305. How I love this little contraption! After having it for a few days, I've learned so much about where I stand as a runner. It's great because it pushes me to go faster because I'm accountable when we pull up the data from the run.
Bobby was dying of some disease, but he still managed to pull it together to take me to Deanna Rose Farmstead. For you Lawrencians who have not experienced Deanna Rose, it's a fantastic date place! It's in Overland Park, it's free admission, and for just a few dollars, you can feed ducks, goats, horses, and -- the best part of all-- bottle feed baby goats! Bobby made fun of me because it's technically "Deanna Rose Children's Farmstead" but it's one of my favorite places on Earth. Sad? Maybe. Or maybe I just take pleasure in the adorable.
We went to the bike shop from there so Bobby could get something for the triathlon this weekend, and it was lovely. I'm a little sad there isn't a Scott dealer around, but the bikes they did have are beautiful. Cervelo and Orbea make some good looking frames.
Then Plato's Closet. Plato's is one of those stores that is really hit or miss, and I thought being in Utah would provide me some advantage in finding some good stuff. Everyone there (for the most part) wears modest clothing, so finding something for me should be easy. Wrong. However, at the Plato's in Overland Park, I was able to find THE most adorable dress (which just so happens to look fabulous on me), and it was brand new! Not that I'm anti previously worn clothing (I actually prefer it), but it was just such a find.
Have I ever mentioned how fantastic my family is? We went to Bobby's mom's, and Bobby immediately went to take a nap (his disease was winning), and Bobby's mom and I just talked for a while. It's nice having someone to do that with. She made me a cake and put it on a green cutting board (!) that was part of my present. It was delightful.
And to end a wonderful day, we had some rockin friends over who gave me the best card ever (it's definitely fridge worthy), and concluded the night with some pineapple and good conversation.
Twas a good day.
23 is going to be a good year.
Friday, June 5, 2009
Iceburg Lettuce and Sia
Today has been one of those fabulously productive days that make me really proud of myself, and the day isn't anywhere close to being over. So while my curry cooks, I'll blog my happiness for my digital posterity.
I woke this morning shocked to see how lit our apartment was. My alarm was set for 5:45, and it's never that light out. Of course, it wasn't 5:45... it was 7:13. See, I've been trying to get Garmin on a potty schedule to deter accidents, so I've been setting my alarm for every 2 hours during the day to make sure to take him out. Well, my last potty alarm was set for just after 10 p.m., so when I went to set my alarm to wake up, I forgot to change the PM to AM, and missed running group. I was devastated! I felt like I let everyone down-- until I found out after a couple phone calls that they went running anyway. How awesome is that? I'm quite excited for my little running group.
Well, having missed the opportunity to do the interval training, I decided to just run a 5k and see how quickly I could do it. I've been holding a steady 25 minutes, and wanted to see how much I could cut off that. I wasn't hoping for much, because I haven't been training hard this week, so I was extremely pleased when I clocked in at 24:32. Not a huge chunk off, but not bad for being as lazy as I've been this week.
Yesterday I got on my bike for the first time in a long time. I'd forgotten how nice it is to be on the bike! It's not so hot in the busier parts of town (downtown, Iowa, 6th) but back into neighborhoods and such, it was so nice. I'm definitely going to have to incorporate some cross training in so I don't get burned out. Which is why, after I ran and got ready for the day, I decided to ride my bike to campus instead of drive. I'm out of gas, and I HATE getting gas, so it seemed like an excellent alternative to me. While on campus, I got a ton of work done for my boss, and got a bunch of paperwork turned in to get my loan taken care of and get my paycheck (always a good thing).
And that brings me to now. Written down, it doesn't seem like much, but I feel really great right now. Maybe it's the endorphin high from the exercise I did today. Either way, I'll keep it.
I woke this morning shocked to see how lit our apartment was. My alarm was set for 5:45, and it's never that light out. Of course, it wasn't 5:45... it was 7:13. See, I've been trying to get Garmin on a potty schedule to deter accidents, so I've been setting my alarm for every 2 hours during the day to make sure to take him out. Well, my last potty alarm was set for just after 10 p.m., so when I went to set my alarm to wake up, I forgot to change the PM to AM, and missed running group. I was devastated! I felt like I let everyone down-- until I found out after a couple phone calls that they went running anyway. How awesome is that? I'm quite excited for my little running group.
Well, having missed the opportunity to do the interval training, I decided to just run a 5k and see how quickly I could do it. I've been holding a steady 25 minutes, and wanted to see how much I could cut off that. I wasn't hoping for much, because I haven't been training hard this week, so I was extremely pleased when I clocked in at 24:32. Not a huge chunk off, but not bad for being as lazy as I've been this week.
Yesterday I got on my bike for the first time in a long time. I'd forgotten how nice it is to be on the bike! It's not so hot in the busier parts of town (downtown, Iowa, 6th) but back into neighborhoods and such, it was so nice. I'm definitely going to have to incorporate some cross training in so I don't get burned out. Which is why, after I ran and got ready for the day, I decided to ride my bike to campus instead of drive. I'm out of gas, and I HATE getting gas, so it seemed like an excellent alternative to me. While on campus, I got a ton of work done for my boss, and got a bunch of paperwork turned in to get my loan taken care of and get my paycheck (always a good thing).
And that brings me to now. Written down, it doesn't seem like much, but I feel really great right now. Maybe it's the endorphin high from the exercise I did today. Either way, I'll keep it.
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Rainy days are my favorite.
As a lover of the outdoors, I have found that rainy days in Kansas are the best. When it's getting this humid/hot out, it's really hard to enjoy being outside (unless it's 6:30 in the morning), and I've seriously contemplated becoming nocturnal simply so I could enjoy the outdoors again. However, recalling everything I learned at the DV shelter (also home to the Rape Crisis Center) deterred me, so instead, I'll just be grateful for rainy days.
On this rainy day, however, I spent much of it inside, squeezing out a literature review for my boss. It's interesting how much easier it is to write when you're just shooting the breeze on your blog than when you're writing for someone else, and the pressure of maintaining their reputation is breathing down your neck. Three cheers for experience!
Yesterday was Day 1 of the Jogging/Walking Group for the Lawrence University Ward, and I think it was pretty successful. I'm really glad people are excited about it, and given that I really have no experience leading such a group, enthusiasm from everyone else is pretty essential. I'm so excited to help people reach their goal of running a 5k by the end of the summer (well, running in a 5k race, because the training will require we run several 5k's). It's such a great feeling to accomplish something physically when at any point in your life you never thought you could. What a high. It's addictive.
Yesterday, I went to Valeo in Topeka to interview for my internship position. Other than the commute, I'm not sure I could ask for a better internship. It's not paid, but I'll take working on my own dime over having to deal with office politics. The environment there is extremely supportive, and my supervisor told me point blank that she isn't there to make me a great social worker, but she will make me a great psychotherapist, if I'm willing to do the work. I am, I am! They had a few gals who had done their internship there and are now employees, and they said it's by far the best internship KU has a relationship with. They even compared it to the agency I was hoping to work with, and said the other agency just doesn't offer the range of experience this one does. I'm really excited to start.
Last Sunday, we spent the day at the Trunnells' while they were at a wedding. Babysitting their dog was really easy, because she slept most of the time, so I was able to finally sit down and make up goals for myself. Ashley's been a really good influence on me in that sense. It feels good to have direction. Part of my stress is feeling like I don't have a plan for what's to come. It also calms my nerves whenever we're gone with the dogs for a long time, and we come home to find Chuck depressed-- I just remind myself that in three years, he'll have a feline companion (because yes, that's included in my goals-- as if that's a surprise to anyone that knows me).
We made bread today! And I'll only say two things: 1)Never forget to include the salt in the recipe and 2)Good grief, I'm excited to have the KitchenAid (I say that like I did the mixing, when really I sat there and watched Bobby mix everything by hand). How many days until Christmas?
On this rainy day, however, I spent much of it inside, squeezing out a literature review for my boss. It's interesting how much easier it is to write when you're just shooting the breeze on your blog than when you're writing for someone else, and the pressure of maintaining their reputation is breathing down your neck. Three cheers for experience!
Yesterday was Day 1 of the Jogging/Walking Group for the Lawrence University Ward, and I think it was pretty successful. I'm really glad people are excited about it, and given that I really have no experience leading such a group, enthusiasm from everyone else is pretty essential. I'm so excited to help people reach their goal of running a 5k by the end of the summer (well, running in a 5k race, because the training will require we run several 5k's). It's such a great feeling to accomplish something physically when at any point in your life you never thought you could. What a high. It's addictive.
Yesterday, I went to Valeo in Topeka to interview for my internship position. Other than the commute, I'm not sure I could ask for a better internship. It's not paid, but I'll take working on my own dime over having to deal with office politics. The environment there is extremely supportive, and my supervisor told me point blank that she isn't there to make me a great social worker, but she will make me a great psychotherapist, if I'm willing to do the work. I am, I am! They had a few gals who had done their internship there and are now employees, and they said it's by far the best internship KU has a relationship with. They even compared it to the agency I was hoping to work with, and said the other agency just doesn't offer the range of experience this one does. I'm really excited to start.
Last Sunday, we spent the day at the Trunnells' while they were at a wedding. Babysitting their dog was really easy, because she slept most of the time, so I was able to finally sit down and make up goals for myself. Ashley's been a really good influence on me in that sense. It feels good to have direction. Part of my stress is feeling like I don't have a plan for what's to come. It also calms my nerves whenever we're gone with the dogs for a long time, and we come home to find Chuck depressed-- I just remind myself that in three years, he'll have a feline companion (because yes, that's included in my goals-- as if that's a surprise to anyone that knows me).
We made bread today! And I'll only say two things: 1)Never forget to include the salt in the recipe and 2)Good grief, I'm excited to have the KitchenAid (I say that like I did the mixing, when really I sat there and watched Bobby mix everything by hand). How many days until Christmas?
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