Obliteride: Kick Off to Fundraising

It's nearly May, 2014 which means I have just over 3 months to prepare for Obliteride 2014, 101 days to be exact. 101 days to ride my bike as far as the eye can see. 101 days to raise $4000. Let's do this! (donate)

This will be my first year participating in this event. You may already know this because I announced my participation via social media at the beginning of the year. I then went into virtual hibernation to wait out the Seattle rain. Well, the sun has arrived (for this week at least), and it's time to get outside and ride bikes!

As many of you are well aware, I have on a few previous occasions shaved my head to raise funds to fight children's cancer via St. Baldrick's (a wonderful, wonderful cause), but this year, I barely have any hair and I wanted to switch things up a bit. I heard about Obliteride at a few different cycling events last year, so I've been pondering it for some time. Riding Obliteride couples two of my major goals for the year: ride my bike many many miles and contribute to a great cause. (donate)

I've decided this year that I'd like to make donating a little more fun and perhaps a bit competitive. I want you to really FEEL like your money is going somewhere; that is beside to a great cause, 100% to funding cancer research. To boot, I've come up with two different fundraising strategies; it'll be a choose your own adventure thing.

#1 Just Give Me The Money

This, as the title implies, is the simple, semi-traditional approach to fundraising. You can donate any amount you desire, no strings attached. You'll receive my personal gratitude, a tax receipt, and the satisfaction that you're helping to obliterate cancer. (donate)

#2 The Mileage Rate Plan

This is my favorite! You pledge some amount you're willing to pay me per mile between now and the end of the event on August 10, 2014. I'll ride my bike lots and lots, multiply the number of miles I ride by the amount you pledged, and collect the funds from you. I'll keep you updated with personal emails, graphs, and ride reports over the next three months and you'll feel like the weight of your hard earned pennies (heavier than dollar bills, y'all) is pushing my bike pedals round and round. Instead of a one-day, feel-good event, you're signing up for 3 months of pure pedal pushing inspiration! (donate)

Each person who signs up to donate via option 2 will be able to set a rate and a maximum donation value (so that my ambitious legs don't break your bank). Every week I'll let you know how many miles I rode and how close I am to collecting on your promises. (donate)

As a preview I have the following events (and miles) already on my calendar:
Bike and Brews - 40 miles
Bike and Brews, El Norte - 48 miles
Flying Wheels Century - 100 miles
Seattle To Portland - 204 miles
Obliteride - 150 miles

That's already 542 miles between here and August 10th, and as you can imagine, that's not all the riding I'll be doing. In addition, I've got the commuter challenge, potentially track racing, and many gorgeous weekends ahead of me. :)

So how far do you think I can ride my bike? Are you willing to contribute your hard earned pennies to the cause?  (donate)

*If you chose option 2, please let me know via comment here, facebook, or email. I'm going to create a spreadsheet to track all the all important numbers*

*For you lovely folks that have already backed my cause, send me a message and we'll sort out a way to loop you into the fun! There will be a few other wonderful opportunities over the next three months.*

Day 128: May!

May is off to a fantastic start! I've heard depressing reports from other areas of contry about rain, snow and other bothersome weather. That is not the case here in beautiful Seattle. Hear that friends?! IT DOES NOT ALWAYS RAIN IN SEATTLE. As a matter of fact, I think we had some country wide record highs here recently. It makes for some of the best bike riding weather; which is great becasue May is Bike Month. More on that later.

I know I've been a pretty lack luster blog poster lately. Any number of excuses exist if you'd like to know them, ask anybody who has started a blog and slowly tapered off the posting, but I'd rather not invest time in restating said excues.

As a trade off, I give you a quick recap of April:

Socially, I told you about how I was looking for a part time job or a volunteer opportunity to help me reach outside my little engineering turtle shell. SUCCESS! As a few of you may know, I've been slowly sliding into the tutoring pool. I've posted my contact information and areas of expertise on a few different listing sites and I've been greedily amassing old text books. (#nerd) During the month of May, I helped a high school senior prepare for the AP Calculus exam, and I helped a high school freshman with her algebra homework. I cannot sum up the feeling of accomplishment tutoring gives me; not only do I get to do math homework with a purpose, BUT I get to help others with knowledge explosions. (credit: emoore) Ultimately, the social goal claimed the monthly title!

Intellectually, I told you I would finish creating a COMPASS math prep notebook for Candis. I did not achieve this goal. Frankly, I forgot about setting this goal. I need to revaluate the needs of my client and move forward with it at a later date.

Spiritually, I wrote the future me an email. I can't tell you what it was about because I wrote to me, not you. I hope you'll forgive me; I really should write to you more.

Physically, I had a very very lofty goal for April of riding my bike 350 miles. While I did get out and ride last month, I did not achieve anywhere near 350 miles. My total milage was 116 miles. I blame the rain, because sometimes it rains.

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So onward I continue on my quest to live a purposeful life. I'm learning that sometimes I set goals that are too far out of my reach, but also that I can't get hung up on my failures. So brushing myself off after a few let downs, I've set some goals for May as well.

Physical
The physical goal is once again the highlighted goal of the month. May is bike month, and the local bike club, Cascade Cycling, is sponsoring a commuter challenge. Your's truely is all signed up and two commutes in. BOOM! Thankfully my company has  shower at work and several coworks also participating to help with the motivation. My goal for May is commute to work at least 10 times.

Intellectual
As my tutoring buisiness has started to take off, I'm realizing that I need more than a couple text books and this brain of mine. I think it will be helpful to have some notebooks with worksheets and examples onhand for when students, particularly students over the summer, need material to work through as we discuss the subject of their choice. I'm going to try and group the COMPASS math test notebook in here as well since I forgot about it last month. My intellectual goal for May is to build a Calculus Review Notebook.

Social
My dad always says, "Never eat lunch alone." I haven't always followed this guidance, but when I have my days seem lighter and I feel more connected to the people around me. A few of the guys at work have been nice enough to invite me along for lunch or just out in the sunshine to eat the lunch I brought. No matter how much I want to balance my budget or read my book, I need to talk to people. So, continuing in this theme, my social goal for May is to minimize the number of times I eat lunch alone.

Spiritual
I recently purchased a copy of Start by  Jon Acuff. I just love his writing style. This month, I'm going to read that book cover to cover and do the included exercises. I'll try to post a blog of my thoughts on the book later.

Thanks for catching up with me!
Love,
Lydia

Day 91: Spring sprung some new goals!

Oh my goodness, thank goodness, it's finally April! If you read the post from earlier today, you understand the great significance of this statement. It's most definitely spring time and I am feeling as youthful and jumpy as a spring rabbit, espeically those that avoided being eaten. You don't eat rabbit? hmm. I did once.

With the dawning of a new month, a clean slate lays before me. Before the opportunity escapes me, I'm going to quickly scribble all over it! Guess what? I'm still a kid at heart. So per the intentional living plan, I've got some goals to share with you, but I haven't yet determined which will steal the theme-y colored light for the month. (what color is theme-y? I'm over lime.)

Social
Socially this month, I planned on trying to find another volunteer organization to meet new people. If this last weekend is any indication of the beautiful weather approaching, I want nothing more than to be outside in the sunshine. Today, I registered with Habitat for Humanity, but it looks like they've got most weekend construction days booked (go figure). I'm also considering a part time job, bike classes, woodworking classes, something social. I'll keep looking. That's my goal there: I'll keep looking for new groups with new friends. Don't take that so personally old friends; I love you old friends.

Intellectual
My intellectual goal this month is to finish writing the COMPASS math test study guide I started for Candis. If you're not familiar, COMPASS is a math, reading, writing test loosely based upon the ACTs that is used to determine a person's subject placement at community colleges. I'm also using this as a testing ground for a future self-employment plan that has been brewing for a while.

Spiritual
This month I will write to the future me about what I'm trying to do this year, about what's going through my head, about my dreams, about my fears. I'm going to use www.futureme.org for this process. I will write at least one letter to be delivered one year from the date I send it. I think this exercise will be quite self-reflective and perhaps a year from now I'll have forgotten about it and past me will offer future me some wonderful insights into our psyche.

Physical
This month I will ride my bike at least 350 miles. Boom! Writing that was sure easy, now for the implementation. I'm playing along with my big brother's training for ride the rockies, only I'm not going to impose any specefic climbing requirements and I have a seemingly unlimited amount of oxygen available at sea level. I'll save the details for future posts. If you're wondering, yes, he is fact cray-cray. Also, yes, I do live with a teenager, that is the proper vernacular, but vernacular is not.

So that's it, spring has sprung and I'm to a running start!
Love,
Lydia

Day 63-90: March, the lost month

As I am sure you are aware, I posted nearly nothing in March. I posted something quite important early in the month; I threw a picture of me and my adorable niece up on day 63 to let you know I was distracted and didn't have much to say. As truthful as I was being, saying I was distracted, that post was a cop out.  I thought about that post, or that lack of a full post for much of the month of March:

• I thought about saying St. Baldricks was just so awesome and I haven't recovered. (False, while St. B's was awesome, life went on and my hair is quickly returning) 
• I thought about how I hadn't updated you on February's goals.
• I thought about how March had already begun and I hadn't announced any goals (or even set any goals for that matter.
• I thought about saying I'm sorry, and then I talked myself out of that.
• I thought about how I was just like the New Year Resolutioners, "It's March and I've given up."
• I thought mostly about failure.

In all honesty, as the month progressed any thought of my blog turned into a self-imposed fear induced paralysis of cognitive ability.

Obviously March wasn't entirely so horrific, but I would be blatantly lying to you if I said, "Ah shoot I was just so busy living life intentionally that I didn't have time to write." March was a pretty decent bike riding, book reading, and ambition planning month. I may not have posted a blog, but lots of thoughts (read: blog fuel) have been brewing in my head. For now, if you'll allow it, I'd like to declare March the lost month. I'm just going to get on with it and no longer allow March to hold me down.

Now that it's April, as soon as I push publish, the lost month is off my shoulders.

A quick follow up on February:

Spiritual
I have a board posted in my closet to use to status goals, but I'm not to "blame" for that success. Candis hung it up there for me one day.

Intellectual
I did not working portion of my home built desk... until this past weekend. (Yeah March!)

Physical
I survived my first organized bike ride! I learned some lessons on how to do that better in the future, and I promptly signed up for two more plus some classes.

Social 
As the theme category for February, Social was a big winner, so big it did spill over into March. I surpassed my goal to raise $2,000 for St. Baldricks by raising $3000! I was the highest individual fundraiser in all of Seattle and I made some great contacts within the organization. I plan to either take over the existing Seattle event, or start my own next year. For those familiar with the event in Chicago, it's a whole new ball game out here in the PNW. Thank you everyone for your love and support!

Days 59-63: Distracted

Sorry everyone. As you can see I had a 14lb distraction the last couple of days. I owe you a recap of February and some goals for March. Coming soon!

Day 42-54: Answers

I sat down with someone very important to me, myself, and I conducted an interview.

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What are you doing?

I'm shaving my head to raise money for children's cancer research! This will be my third time.

Oh really?! When?

Yes. Really! Saturday, March 9th, 2013. You could come watch, if you are free that day.

Where would one go to watch such a spectacle?

Fado Irish Pub, Seattle, Washington. You could also donate money, here: 

http://www.stbaldricks.org/participants/lydiabenger

Now, for the tough question, Why?

I knew you'd ask that question. Of course I knew because you're me and I know what I'm thinking... sometimes.

I prepared for this question. I prepared for a damn long time. 12 days actually.

Most of my readers, I imagine, already know why I shaved my head the first time in March 2008 and again in March 2009. After that I embarked on my bigforkadventure and took a swing at growing up. I listened to those voices in my head that told me it was time to grow up, time to be an adult,  Now it's been 4 years since the wind whipped across my bald head, and I've got plenty of hair to show for it. I've got 4 years worth of long, luxurious, golden, blonde hair.

Consider, of course, the Numbers 
Every 3 minutes, globally, a child is diagnosed with cancer.
In the United States (where some of the better healthcare is available), 1 in 5 will not survive.
And of those that survive, 2 out of 3 will suffer long term effects from treatment.

I decided in January, that St. Baldrick's would be one of my major accomplishments this year, so I've been kicking the idea around in my head for a bit. Initially, I have to admit, my involvement was somewhat selfish. I missed it; I missed being involved in something greater than me, something that matters. I wanted to feel that feeling of doing "great work" again. I couldn't accept that, shaving my head to make me feel good about me. I burrowed into my thoughts (which is why it has taken me most of February to write this blog). I asked myself over and over again, Why? I read old posts from years past. I read the speeches I gave before the events in 2008 and 2009. 

Despite all this internal searching, the answer didn't come until I talked to others. 

Talking to Candis

I told Candis I was really struggling to write this out. She pulled my nose out of my laptop, looked me in the eyes, and said, "Well then, just tell me why. Why are you doing this?" I told her about Lizzie from Kearney, Nebraska. I told her about how my freshman year of college I read this heart wrenching blog mostly by Lizzie's mom that told her family's story of love and loss during Lizzie's battle with cancer. Their story, while unique to them, has too many themes common among families battling cancer. Buried in all their pain was this quote from Lizzie:

 "My goal in life is to impact and change as many people's lives as I can. I want as many people as possible to know how important it is to enjoy life as much as possible. I feel like I'm supposed to help people to see how important it is to enjoy what you have when you have it. I love helping people, and I think the more people, who can enjoy their lives the better the world will be. I believe that you never know when things can change, so you need to enjoy things while you have them. Carpe diem, or seize the day!"

I said to Candis, "Lizzie's the reason I did it the first time. When I think about reading that the first time, quoting it again at my event in 2008, and reading it again now, I think, 'Here is a 14 year old who gets it; she gets life.' I mean 2013 for me is about living life intentionally, and that's the spirit I get from Lizzie when I read what she wrote."

To that Candis said, "See. There's your reason."

Talking to Coworkers

Armed with a self printed St. Baldrick's business card, I approached coworkers and asked for their hard earned money, and another answer to why stumbled out my mouth.  

I slowly talked to individual coworkers about shaving my head for St. Baldricks. I started with the safe ones, the guys and gals I felt most comfortable around. I moved on to sitting in the lunch room just waiting for the opportune moment to tell somebody about my cause. Next was the VP of engineering, followed by a sit down in the office of the company president. Finally, at the prodding of a few individuals, I said the following at the weekly staff meeting:

I'm shaving my head on Saturday, March 9^th in solidarity with children fighting cancer.

I'm doing this, also, to raise money to fund childhood cancer research.

My goal is to raise a minimum of 2000 dollars.

I will personally match 10 percent of all donations before the event.

Fine Print: My maximum contribution is 500, as I have to pay my rent.

St. Baldricks is an organization I whole-heartedly support.

I've been involved with them since late 2007.

I've spent the last 4 years growing my hair out, and in 17 days

I will shave my head for the 3^rd time.

As a marine engineer, I don't expect to cure any cancer.

But since cancer affects us all, I want to help any way I can.

Hair and Money I have.

Both I can give.

Will you help?  

The take away from talking with my coworkers, both individually and in mass, is found in the last portion of my spiel. My working life does not take on my larger purpose in life. I have a responsibility to impact the world in a positive, giving way. St. Baldricks helps me fulfill this responsibility, this need.

Okay, okay, okay, could you maybe summarize all that rambling? Why are you shaving your head?

I have a desire, a responsibility even, to intentionally impact the world for the better.

Don't you?

http://www.stbaldricks.org/participants/lydiabenger

Day 40: A Quote

"Take control of your life by simply realizing that it is worth the trouble to become the person you're meant to be."

Simple. Now get it done.

Short, quick post this morning from my mobile telephone device. I'm off for a chilly bike ride!

Day 37: My favorite number and an update on the numbers

37! I just love that number, not real sure when our love affair truly started. Alas, love is love.

Just wanted to pop in and give you a quick update on some of February's goals.

Social
So far I've set up my St. Baldricks page (here). I've talked about it a few times on facebook and I'm easing into telling people at work. I want to have one on one conversations with as many of my coworkers as possible as opposed to blasting their emails or plastering the break room with handouts. Cancer is personal. I want to make my discussions personal. Thus far, I'm 2.5% on my way to $2000.

Physical
On Tuesday morning at 10 am sharp, I registered for the Chilly Hilly! There is no turning back now. Today I discovered this little gem just down the street from my house, Cycle University. I read some really great reviews, packed up my bike and went down for a quick check up. The service was great! The mechanic gave my bike a quick once over, tightened a few things up and found a magnet I was missing. This was all free of charge. I'll be back. Once I got home, I set up the trainer and rode 15 miles! I'm hoping the weekend is clear with a little bit of sunshine because I'd love to put in some actual road miles.


Here's proof of today's ride:

Day 32: Today is a BIG day!

Wrapping Up January

January was the first month of living intentionally. I'd say it went pretty well. There is room for improvement, but how much fun would this be if I achieved everything I wanted in the first 31 days?! Let's recap:

The big month theme was Spiritual. I set out to get a handle on the whole idea of living intentionally. I came up with a plan. Each month will have a big theme goal and three smaller themes. I came up with a few big things I want to do this year and started planning it all out. I'll be sure to clue you in on each goal as they become pertinent.

The Physical intention was to run 2 miles under 20 minutes. Check. That. Box.19:50.

Intellectual goal was to live by a written budget. I did this. After totaling everything up, we came in $120 over budget. Over budget not so great, but I think it was within margin. I have a better understanding of where the money is going and where we need to buckle down. Trend wise, we started out the month under budget and on track, then I think we got comfortable a let go a little. February will be interesting (fun)!

Socially, I said I'd blog 10 times... fail. I'm sorry. I'll do better.

February!

Can you believe it's already February? I guess it's time for a new set of goals.

Spiritual 

This intention will be on the smaller side this month. Last month I mentioned that I had a pin board sitting around the house which I wanted to use as an intentional living visual tracking system. I'll post a picture when I finish it.

Intellectual 

I guess it's going to be a bit of a crafty month. Intellectually I want to focus on creating an actual desk surface for my desk. Something tells me the Ikea side table pinned to the wall just won't cut it too much longer.

Physical
Ladies and Gents, Chilly Hilly
This will be my first attempt at an actual bike ride. with. other. people.
I've got some indoor riding to do. STAT.

Social
And now, the BIG news, the big theme intention.

I'm a little nervous, honest.

This month's social goal will spill over into March a little bit, about 9 days into March.

On March 9th, 2013, I will once again shave my head to raise money for childhood cancer. My goal is to raise at least $2000, and I'm hoping your loving valentine filled hearts will help me achieve this. Also if you're in the area, I hope you can make it to the event to support me (or shave your own head!)

Click here to see my donation page, to make a donation, or check out my progress.


Thanks for continuing to support me as I intentionally take on life!
Love,
Lydia

Day 22: Checking In

Just a quick hello and update my progress thus far for the month of January.

Physical
Huge news on the physical front: today I ran two miles in 19:50! Thus, I have achieved the goal of two miles under 20 minutes. This goal was surprisingly more difficult to achieve than I had initially thought it would be. 20 minutes taunted me. I ran 2 miles in 20:16 and 20:05. Taunted. I am victorious!

Aside from a little vacation on my birthday and this last weekend for additional birthday celebrations; I have been working out every other day this month. Some days I bike. Like that sad sad Sunday when the Broncos lost to the Ravens; I was on my bicycle for the entire first half of the game. "I should have biked the whole game," says my superstitious self. Some days I run. I intend to keep at this habit as February approaches. February will have a pretty substantial physical goal.

Intellectual
So far so good on living by a budget! This is something I have tried before, but never with such a low income to outcome ratio. It is an interesting game, frankly. Every time I pay a bill, I get to highlight a budget complete. I guess you can say I'm easily entertained.

Fun fact: Seattle City Light bills every other month. Another fun fact: fun fact number 1 means I have an extra  $115 this month that was not initially anticipated. Best fun fact: this means I have money to fly home in the coming months!

Social
Perhaps 10 blogs per month was a weeee bit of a high expectation. Obviously at this point I'm 50% complete while the month is about 70% complete. I guess I've just been having fun living intentionally. Safe to say if I accomplish this goal, some of the minor details of the next few days will spelled out on this page in great detail.

Spiritual
I've got a about 1/4 of this process complete; that is 3 of the 12 major goals picked out. I have a pin board here at home that intend to use as a status board as well as a visual reminder of all the things I intend to do each month. Intentions are good, just have to put them in to action. Of course, I'll let you know when that happens.

Day 10 Or Day 9496: Accounting

FUN FACT

If you add the digits of the first day of my 27^th year together (9+4+9+6) you get 28. If you then add those digits together (2+8), you get 10. This is fun because it occurs on January 10, the 10^th day of my life on purpose. Yes, I accounted for leap years and no, it doesn't happen every 10^th of January. This year is obviously special, and I can’t help but look for useless number patterns like this on a daily basis.

BACKGROUND

Without putting Other Person on blast, I’d like to share a conversation I had last week:

Other Person:  YOU have a blog?!
Me: Yes.
OP: What do you even write about?
Me: Well this year I’ve been writing about how I am going to live 2013 on purpose; live intentionally.
OP: What does that even mean?
Me: well…

Perhaps you can’t read it in the conversation above, but Other Person had an air of all around incredulity. This person couldn't believe that I write or that “Living on Purpose” has a leg to stand on. While I wasn't particularly surprised by this attitude, I did have to stop and account for myself. Frankly, I’m surprised by the positive response I've got from my readers; for that I love you all, but don’t you find yourself wondering, “Gee, Lydia, that’s nice and all, but it’s awful gimmicky…”

On another front, I received an email pointing to the fact that somebody already ran with this gimmick. (Sorry Dad). A reverend wrote a few books and established a plan I could follow, perhaps I should go get that book and see how it influences my plan.

I responded to the email and I responded to Other Person, so now I’ll respond to the rest of you who are maybe asking the same questions. I’d like to account for my thoughts, for my life on purpose.

ACCOUNTING

I have long held the belief that all humans are beautiful. I even wrote an essay in high school defining beauty as human; the assignment was to define something abstract. I think we all have seemingly limitless possible life paths and it’s up to each one of us to decide just which path we prefer. This doesn't mean Life/God/Mother Nature/The Devil/Other People will refrain from pushing me one way or another. It doesn't mean I won’t stumble a few times as I try to pursue my dreams. It may take arduous days to get where I want to be. It may take me my whole life. But if I’m not here on this earth to fight this struggle, then why am I here? I believe I have a purpose, a dream, a reason to be here, and I will do everything I can to achieve it.

Through high school and college, I was very goal oriented. I had a plan to get where I thought I needed to be in life. I achieved everything I wanted to and more! I graduated, grabbed my degree, and set out to bask in the glory of everything I had worked so hard to earn!

After the initial excitement of adulthood wore off, reality sunk in. I was now a member of the working world. No more spring break, no more summer break, no student activities, it was time for true responsibility. It was time to go to work, cash a pay check, buy some pretty things, and encourage the next generation until the end of my days.

As the energy of new experiences wore off, my blog died. I started waking every morning with tightness in my chest; terrified that this was going to be the next 30 years of my life. I can’t count the number of times I remarked how hard I had worked for my degree, how much somebody else (thankfully) had paid for that degree, and this job was all I had to show for it. I was stuck in a rut, grasping at rootless weeds trying to pull myself out.

I kept poking around the interwebs trying to find another job. For the most part I believed that my experience thus far did not add to my resume, so I was looking for somebody to give me a second chance at an entry level position. On almost a fluke, I stumbled upon a craigslist ad for an entry level engineer, “If you don’t know how to do it we’ll teach you.” I got really excited! I answered with an updated resume and a cover letter… and heard nothing. I assumed the position was filled and I had missed my opportunity. Still stuck.

In Midway Airport, dreading a flight back from a long weekend spent with the best of friends, I glanced at my email. “Hello Lydia. Perhaps you don’t remember, but about a month ago you applied for a position here. Are you still interested? If so could we schedule a time for you to come by and we can get to know each other?” WAS I STILL INTERESTED?! YES! PLEASE! THANK YOU!!

Finally I had grabbed a straw that had some roots and I started to climb out of the darkness. After a whirlwind interview process, I accepted the new job, quit my old job, and moved to Seattle. There was still some fog to fight through, but the sun was coming out. As I settled into the new job and the new apartment, I realized how much of my life had fallen by the wayside because of how much my old job was dragging me down. As it turns out, doing virtually nothing is quite exhausting. I wasn't working out. I had no side projects. I had no real aspirations.

MY SOLUTION

Now I’m tired of wasting my life. I’m tired of counting down the days/hours/minutes of my life. I hate that there are days when I can’t wait to get out of work, just to come sit on this couch until I can go to bed, and get up the next day to rinse and repeat. I hate that that’s what my life has become. Clearly over the last few years I lost sight of my beliefs.

It’s time for me to use this gift of an enlightened view of the past three years to direct my next year. I must admit my idea to “live intentionally” is not entirely organic. It crept into my mind in late December while I was listening to a podcast. I’ll admit to googling the concept. I’m not the first to the table, but I don’t want to eat what someone else cooked up. I want this to be as organic as possible; I want it to come from within me. In this way I hope to find a continued source of drive, a relentless desire to challenge my status quo and reach for something more.

I may have stuttered over my explanation to Other Person, but I know what living intentionally means to me now.

It means getting up off the couch.
It means setting goals.
It means challenging MY status quo.
It means approaching life with a “can-do” attitude.
It means if I’m unhappy, finding out why, and fixing it.
It means constantly looking for new opportunities.
It means fighting the fog.
It means demanding the best from myself in all endeavors.
It means approaching each day with purpose, drive, and desire.

When I get down to it, this, THIS right here is MY life. I’m the only one who can live it.

Thanks for reading,

Lydia

Day 6: What's Intended for January?

As promised I sat down and come up with the outline for this the first month of living on purpose.

January Focus: Spiritual
As I previously mentioned, this month will have a spiritual focus in that I will determine an overall picture for 2013. Today I started jotting down some notes about what big things will happen this year and when they will happen. I was trying to get a broad view of the schedule; see if I could figure out which  months will have which foci (I looked it up: focuses or foci is acceptable). I found it rather simple to fill in the early months, January, February, March... and then October, so I've got a few big gaps in my schedule that I have yet to define. Thankfully, I've got plenty more month to work it out. Once I nail down the process, I may leave a few months empty and wait for the appropriate inspiration.

Physical 
So my physical aspirations for the month are somewhat laughable to the me of a few years back. My main goal is to simply run 2 miles under 20 minutes. Ever since my torn ACL my exercise program has been touch and go. I'll do well for a while and quickly taper off for some excuse or another. Last year I did a pretty good job training for the Bolder Boulder in Colorado. I ran the race, I was marginally happy with the results and then I quit training. This year I'm going to follow in the footsteps of my brother and plan more events through out the year. In so doing, I hope to have a continuous reason to keep training. I have often made the excuse that I don't know how to train without a team. Well it's time to learn, Lydia.

In conjunction with running a little faster a little longer, I'm going to ride a little harder. Today I set up my bike in the living room and spent some quality time kicking off the 2013 biking season.

More biking to come in future blogs.

Also, in the physical stream, I'm making a concentrated effort to eat better. I think this may shed some light on migraines; or perhaps living a healthier life will just ward them off all together! We can hope! Pictured below are some of my adventures into eating healthier. Please note that I still prefer to eat with the smaller fork. :)

Above is the delicious black bean and quinoa burrito bowl. Below is a week full of breakfast oatmeals and lunch salads. I also made some homemade snack/energy bars today, but they don't look particularly appetizing so I'll save you the pain.


Intellectual 
This month my intellectual quest is to live by the budget. I have already spent every dollar on paper before I will spend it in a store or in bills this month. We are now one week into Candis's college education, which means the income has dropped pretty substantially while the outgo trends towards the same. Having everything planned out in advance gives me the confidence to say, "Don't worry, I got this." In the meantime, I get the distinct selfish joy of knowing I'm helping another person follow her dreams. This gives me such satisfaction; I can't put it into words.

To help meet the goal of living by a budget, we started using the envelope system for groceries, entertainment and other personal expenditures. Yesterday and today were the first official days of the envelope system. Knowing that I have this X amount of money to buy food really helps plan out the grocery trip, and because of that planning we saved 27% on our groceries just by using coupons or looking for the sale. We chose to buy our produce from locally sourced West Seattle Produce, and I think we saved significantly there over Safeway. We have also investigated the option of Amazon Fresh for delivery and we may try that another time.

Social
During college, social and spiritual goals were more difficult for me to define versus physical and intellectual goals. Not much has changed. I can look at my life and easily say, "I want to learn that!" or "I want to run/jump/play that!" But when it comes to being social, well I'd really rather not. As an introvert I have to really focus on being more outgoing, more friendly... more social. This month my social goal is to blog at least 10 times. You might say I need to step it up, but having let the blog go by the wayside before, I think this is a pretty hearty goal.


Well that pretty well sums up day 6, the progress I've made and the goals I've set. I'd like say a sincere thank you to you my readers. Hearing from you really encourages me to keep writing; with every comment, fb message, text message and phone call I renew my promise to myself to live 2013 intentionally. Thank you!

Day 4 of Living Intentionally: Defining the Fine Print

Today January 4th, 2013 is the 4th day of my quest to live intentionally. In my last post I had a stream of small text at the bottom basically stating "I really have no idea what I'm doing but I've got big philosophical dreams. I'll try hard." After the re-debut of my blog, I don't want to let us (you and me) down. Thus I will now attempt to provide structure in which my dreams can live.

Having mulled "Living Intentionally" for a day and a half, I think the easiest way for me to tackle such aspirations is to compartmentailize my goals. Revisiting my previously published list and sorting though additional items in my head and on various scraps of paper scattered about my desk, I came to the conclusion that most everything will fall into one of four following catagories.

(Spoiler alert: if you're one of my lovely sorority sisters, you know where this is going.)


Spiritual  - closely akin in interests, attitude, outlook; not solely religious persuits.

Physical - of or pertaining to the body; physical exercise.

Intellectual - appealing to or engaging the intellect: intellectual pursuits.

Social - pertaining to, devoted to, or characterized by friendly companionship or relations.


Quite fitting that on January 4th, my 4th day of intentional living, I produce (reproduce) 4 aims.

Right now I'm thinking each month will have a focus, but I'll still have smaller goals in each of the other three catagories. I can already think of a few goals that will fall into more than one catagory; well good for them!

January, being the first (best) month of the year, shall be a Spiritual Month. Seems fitting as I've set out to define the parameters of my intentional living style. I'm going to take time to reflect on what I want to do this year in all four aims. By the end of the month I'll produce at the very least a list of 12 or more major things to achieve this year. I also aim to produce some sort of personal visible tracking system. Over the next week or so, I'll provide January goals for the physical, intellectual, and social aims.

At the outset I know it'll be easier for me to define physical and intellectual goals; those have always been second nature to me. Social and spiritual will be a little more challenging to nail down; more reflection will be required there.

Thanks for reading,
Lydia

2013: The Year I'll Live Intentionally

In case you missed the count downs, be it the best music of 2012 or the ball drop in NYC replayed numerous times, it's a new year. The latest end of the world has come and gone; the world is still here. I'm still here.

2012 was pretty darn good to me. The biggest highlights: a new job and moving much closer to downtown Seattle. I'm closer to work, closer to friends, and closer to so many opportunities I have yet to discover. To celebrate these wonderful changes, I'm applying the energy of change to the new year.

I've never been one to make yearly resolutions, frankly I don't like them. However, at the end of December, I couldn't ignore my inner voice whispering, "2013 is going to be so awesome! Just think of all the things you'll do." So I started making a list in my head.

• 2013 will be the year I take the PE exam! 
• 2013 will be the year I start saving for a new house!
• 2013 will be the year I slow down to investigate my migraines!
• 2013 will be the third year I participate in St. Baldrick's!
• 2013 will be the second annual summer vacation to see all my college friends!

I came up with a number of other things I want to accomplish, and I started to wonder how I could possibly fit them all in one year. For a few days I came to the same conclusion, I just couldn't shake the idea, I want to live intentionally; live on purpose. This year with my rediscovered thirst for life, I will fight the fog, fight the desire to let life happen to me. 

This year I will happen to life, on purpose.

The fine print: I'm still working out the details. I'd like to set daily, weekly, monthly, yearly goals. I haven't figured out how I'll track these or how detailed these will be. I do know I'd like to blog more in order to hold myself accountable to my intentions, and I'd love to hear the support and feedback from my friends and family. 

    

Changing Perspective

I recently stumbled upon two very different accounts of life. I encourage you to read each and arrive at thoughts of your own. I haven't got much to say about each specific piece.

The first a view of a the life of a 104 year old shut in, Huguette Clark.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/38719231/ns/business-small_business

The second a three part journal by Mike Celizic, a news reporter for the TODAY show.

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/31526935/ns/today-today_health http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/31831869/ns/today-today_health http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/38771115/ns/today-today_health


My Thoughts:
In the first selection, I read about a woman, age 104 who has amassed more money than I can imagine, more possessions than I could ever want. She has money to give 10 million to a friend or charity in need. She has a collection of dolls from all around the world. She sold a violin for $6 million, which is pocket change anyway. Yet, no one, save her accountant and attourney, has seen her in approximately 2 decades. 2 decades!! That is my entire lifetime! I'm sure you could present a decent arguement that she's not even alive (I've already done so in my head); however, even if you don't account for the last 20 years, did she really live life? What is life with out the friends and family who fill our day to day? The phone calls, post cards, love letters, emails, facebooks, texts, support, care, love. Yet every day I wake to join the daily rat race chasing down the next dollar to pay the next bill or buy the next thing.

In the second selection, I read about a man approximately age 60 facing certain death and dealing with it rather publicily. He's choosing to die rather than to continue fighting. My first inclination is to morn for this man, to lament the passing of another life, but in the end he won me over in his celebration of a life well lived. While he may be admitting defeat to a horrible enemy called cancer, he has certianly won in his "terminal disease called life." Perhaps I'm a sap, perhaps a bit too sentimental at times, but I'm not afraid to tell you that after reading this, I did in fact take the time to look around and appreciate my life, to stop and smell the roses so to speak.

After I began writing this post (more than a month ago now), a friend suggested I read The Last Lecture. I am now passing that suggestion on to you, especially if you are possessed by science. First sentence of the book, "I have an engineering problem." He goes on to tell his story and how he too showed life who's boss. Again, I'll leave you to read and reflect on your own, but here's a box of tissue; my sleeve ran out of dry space.

My Soapbox:
Atop my soapbox is a preachy place, but know that these suggestions are as much for me as they are for you, perhaps even moreso. I prescribe that you read it with a grain of salt, note that I'm learning along the way and that this might just be a personal pep talk in a public forum.

Perspective is everything and I (we) am (are) capable of changing the way I (we) look at my (our) surroundings. (you get the theme of the parens I hope). Just as I can take a physical model in my hand and rotate it around to see all the different sides, I can take my life and flip it 'round. Sometimes it takes time and distance to see what I didn't see right away when life happened in front of my face. ("Hind sight is 20/20") Other times, it is my responsibility to "get a grip" and try looking from a different view point. So lately I'm trying my hardest to keep life in perspective, to see from the objective, take note of all the positive, and find the pluses in every minus.

Life and Such:
or what you really came to my blog to read. If you made it this far, Congratulations!! Your prize is an update on things.

Things are much the same, but perspectives are changing both physically and mentally. A puzzle may at first glance seem difficult, arduous and frightening, but rotated or shifted slightly it becomes quite simple, quite light and entertaining.

Kanee update: I am 6 months out of surgery, no longer in physical therapy, and I've been cleared to run, officially. Using the next few monthes to "make this leg stronger than the other" and strengthen my core muscles. The next major milestone will be in December when I will get (buy) a custom fit brace so I can go back to playing competitive sports. Additionally, as you've probably heard, I have officially paid off the medical world and I own my knee.

Job: still here, things are getting a little more interesting. Although i did reread that manual about urinals and hammers through pipes...

Apartment: Moved to Tacoma about a month ago! I went for the classic apartment complex this time around because the things about my townhouse that I used to find cute grew rather annoying. Now I can play all the raquet ball I want, and if I so choose, I can join the masses of washingtonians that have fake tans. I have discovered that a raquet ball court actually makes a suitable subsitution for an entire soccer team...

Brecks: He's still adorable, per the norm.

Furthering my education: I passed the FE, woot. I'm taking the GRE soon with the intent on returning to school circa fall 2011,

Recent or interesting events: Sam visited, Mom visted, attended a wedding, saw my bff and met her boyfriend for the first time ever. I ate spam, and put my hair in a ponytail.

Oh Hey There, You!

I'm so glad you still take the time to check in on me despite my complete failure to update! For that poor behavior, I offer you my sincerest of apologies. I could probably spend a whole blog on excuses, but that would be a waste of your time of which I've only got a brief moment.

Soooooo, what have I been doing since we talked last? (Please forgive me for the list format; it really is the most efficient manner.)

Snowboard Buying & Snowboard Flying
Birthday Celebrating
Liz & John Visited
Migraine Drug Testing
Professional Women's Football Playing
Knee Crunching
Emily Visited
Lisa and Rachel Visited
Dad Visited
Truck Buying
Knee Repairing (and buying)
Fundamentals of Engineering Testing
Road Tripping

and

Life Defining and Self Awakening.

It has been quite a trial for me of late, as you or may not be able to discern from the list. While many things on that list are quite fun and exciting, I fell off the fun train somewhere in late February (around the knee crunching time). So perhaps, I think, you should be thankful I didn't update you from the depths. Should you still want to make up for our lost time, I suggest you give my parents a ring and ask them how much they enjoyed my frequent phone calls, for I don't care to go back over it all again.

Onward, onward I say!

In late April, I went on a road trip to Eastern Washington. To select my destination, I might as well have thrown a dart at a map and said okay. In reality, I picked based upon hotel pricing and drive time. The drive had to be long enough to get me away from here, but short enough that my newly repaired knee wouldn't get sore. Wenatchee, Washington fit this bill. The drive was over a mountain pass surrounded by trees - beautiful. The sound track was a mixture of country music and old mix tapes - perfect. The company was Brecks - adorable.

I brought with me a book: How to Stop Worrying and Start Living by Dale Carnegie, some paper, pens, and clothes for sleeping. (lots and lots of sleeping)

I left with a renewed sense of self, a few goals on my horizon, my worries divided and conquered, and plenty of lost sleep back on the books.

The mission was to get a grip - accomplished.

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As used to be per usual, this is the point where I beg for comments and updates on your life. I do miss you dearly, though I don't say it often, and can't wait for our next chance to cross paths. Love you.
****************************************
I cannot make you stand up and walk.
I can only show you I do.
I cannot force you to smile.
I can only share mine with you.
I cannot compel you to love.
I can only give you mine.

I'm on my way back...

But in the meantime, chew on this:

Just For Today

Just for today I will be happy. This assumes that what Abraham Lincoln said is true, that "most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be." Happiness is from within, it is not a matter of externals.

Just for today I will try to adjust myself to what is and not try to adjust everything to my own desires. I will take my family, my business and my luck as they come and fit myself to them.

Just for today I will take care of my body. I will exercise it, care for it, nourish it, not abuse it nor neglect it, so that it will be a perfect machine for my bidding.

Just for today I will try to strengthen my mind. I will learn something useful. I will not be a mental loafer. I will read something that requires effort, thought and concentration.

Just for today I will I will exercise my soul in three ways. I will do somebody a good turn and not get found out. I will do at least two things I don't want to do, as William Janmes suggests, just for exercise.

Just for today I will be agreeable. I will look as well as I can, dress as becomingly as possible, talk low, act courteously, be liberal with praise, criticize not at all, not find fault with anything and not try to regulate nor improve anyone.

Just for today I will try to live through this day only. Not to tackle my whole life problem at once. I can do things for twelve hourse that would appal me if I had to keep them up for a lifetime.

Just for today I will have a program. I will write down what I expect to do every hour. I may not follow it exactly, but I will have it. It will eliminate two pests, hurry and indecision.

Just for today I will have a quiet half-hour all by myself and relax. In this half-hour sometimes I will think of God, so as to get a little more perspective into my life.

Just for today I will be unafraid. Especially I will not be afraid to be happy, to enjoy what is beautiful, to love, and to believe that those I love, love me.

-- Sybil F. Partridge

HUGE SALE!!! 10 for 1 SPECIAL!!! YOU DON'T WANNA MISS THIS ONE!!!

That's right folks, this is a big deal! The boss is on vacation and we're offering sales you won't see until the next time the old man takes off. Our biggest deal of the week is our 10 for 1 special; that's 10 topics, 10 big topics, in just 1 blog!!

So now that you are clearly intrigued enough to keep reading, I'll give you the low down of what's to follow. Basically I had stopped writing for a while because I felt as though I had nothing exciting to write about, and then suddenly I had so many things to write about and not enough time in which to write about them. Think about any countdown you've ever read, listened to, or watched only I don't have the time or the sponsors to throw in the cliff hanging, time eating commercial breaks. Enjoy!

Number 10: The rain
The infamous Washington rain has finally made its debut. I was beginning to think it was all big ruse these Washingtonians(?), Washingtonites (?) Washington state residents (!) were using to keep everyone else away. Mother nature proved her point, however, when I woke up Saturday morning around 7:30 expecting that it was still around 5 based upon the light coming in my room. The majority of the weekend was a bit dark and gloomy. While this may sound depressing, I assure you this weather promotes a great napping climate: soothing pitter patter of rain drops, cool comforting breeze, and little to no sun. I have yet to fully assess how this will affect my productivity in other arenas.

Number 9: Home Decor
I decided my apartment was still a little bare. I had adequate furniture but something was still missing. So I went through an in depth search of my photographic records of the people I love and surrounded myself. This was the perfect house warming touch. From my comfy spot on the couch I can see a smiling friend or family member in any direction I look. Now if only I could find a way to make them wave like the ones in Harry Potter. Hmm.

Number 8: Technology Upgrade
I bought my very own television. It's pretty and it's all mine. nuff said. You'll just have to oogle the picture below. Better yet, you could come visit and see it in person while sitting on my big comfy couch. (additionally you can see some of my decorating in this picture)

Number 7: The Champs Have Returned
Softball wrapped up nicely. We only lost one game the whole season, and not to make any claims, but I wasn't present at that game. :) Overall it was a blast and I plan on playing again next year. I'll probably have to hit the cages a little over the summer though, because hitting slow pitch really isn't my thing apparently.


Number 6: Well there are a few sports I've never played...
One of those being football! That isn't to say I've never wanted to (insert really long, drawn out, over dramatic, 7th grade girl argues with daddy segment here) but now I'm older and don't really need Daddy's permission... Actually I've discovered that there is a women's professional football league in the United States and they have a team based out of Seattle. I went to one of the training camps, had a great time (although lacing up my soccer cleats triggered my brain to look for things to kick), and am now continuing to follow their work out schedule. There is another training camp coming up in November, and I've been told, "if you continue to show up, you've got a spot on the team." There is a great deal of motivation to give this a shot on my end: new sport, new way to get in shape, new friends, the chance to say "I'm a professional athlete," I get to hit somebody... We'll just have to see how it goes!! If you want to see more about this you can check out the team here: http://www.theseattlemajestics.com/

Number 5: Rotation
I'm about 1 month into my new 3 month rotation, and so far things are monumentally better! My lead is straight out of an old western movie: his name is walt, he's got a booming voice, and he wears plaid shirts! I know you may not consider those to be defining western characteristics, but this is my opinion. :) I like what I'm working on here. I have enough work to keep me busy and it's not 12 of the same things that I need to copy and paste. My mentor, Jack, actually acts like a mentor. He talks to me, helps me find things, and has invited me to join his Wednesday lunch club. My lead, we'll call him Western Walt, actually values my opinion: he asks me for it on a regular basis, genuinely considers what I've said, and then trusts me. This is leaps beyond where I was before! At the end of this three months, in December, I'll get to say where I want to be and the Powers That Be (PTB) will decide where I'm needed most. On the down-low, however, I've heard that PTB have begun placing people where they want to be in an effort to increase retention; it's a novel idea, really.

Number 4: PAAAARTY!!!
So I had a house warming party. It was quite successful. I had about 10-12 of my closest friends (here) over to my place on a Sunday for adult beverages, mexican food, and conversation. I spent the entire week leading up to said party freaking out, cleaning every inch of my apartment, and hoping they still liked me after they saw where I lived. Good news: I'm still friends with everyone who stopped by. Bad news: I over estimated the number adult beverages required, so I'm left to power through them on my own (unless you come visit and help). Lets be fair, I don't enjoy an adult beverage (as much) without company, so its a slow process.

Number 3: People Love Me (and they pick up on my subtle visit me hints)
Over the Columbus Day Weekend, a couple weeks after my house warming party, meaning my house was still clean, I had a few visitors stop by to make my weekend. First CC and Jessie came by on Thursday to see my place and grab dinner at one of my favorite pizza places The Toadhouse. It was really great to see friendly faces from the far far away land of Chicago. We had some delicious pizza and sampled some great beers; the tangerine one was exactly what I would imagine fruitloops and beer would taste like and it wasn't a bad thing. :)

The next day was a half day for me at work and I was off to pick up Christopher from the airport. We stayed over on the Seattle side of the sound and went on the Underworld Tour in Pioneer Square. The tour was a blast, however, depending who you are if (when) you come visit I may take you on the Underground tour instead. I like to describe the rest of the weekend with my brother as a Throwback Weekend. We were following suit with the Broncos, I guess. We slept in, sat around in our PJs alot, ate mac 'n' cheese, went to a movie, and I lost a game of Monopoly (some things never change). This was probably one of my favorite weekends in a long time, I love throw backs!

Number 2: I have rejoined the post 1945 world
I bought a microwave. This was a pretty hard one to rank in the list of ten, but it has over a year since I've had a microwave at my disposal! Christopher, I'm sorry this didn't happen a few weeks earlier. I guess its a good thing we polished off the pizza and mac'n'cheese. So since its been so long, the first thing I did to celebrate was pop a bag of popcorn. As it turns out I was actually recreating the use of the first intentional use of a microwave oven. ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microwave_oven) I'm such a scientist.

Now what you've all been waiting for:
Number 1: I met the boy of my dreams :)
He answers most of the time when I call. He likes everything I make for dinner. He greets me with excitement when I get home from work. He likes to cuddle, and he kisses my nose. He's a kitten!

His name is Brecks and he has been described (not by me) as a "cuteness blackhole." WARNING: Don't stare into his eyes, you may fall into a comatose state and be unable to continue your daily activities.

So I hope you feel that you got your money's worth at the sale today, and I hope to hear from you soon! Plan a trip out to see me! We can pop popcorn, sit on the couch with brecks, and watch some excellent TV. Maybe we'll go to dinner at the Toad House and warm up leftovers later, who knows. I miss all of you and I love you too!

The Quest Continues!

While previous posts have placed a fair amount of focus on the birth of my living room, I have been working on another room in a parallel process. This room is to be named my Hobby Room and/or Office. It is the tie down space for my wireless network and lap top when it isn't out roaming the house. To transition the office space from mere office to hobby space, I purchased a shelving unit that came with a secret identity: Work Bench.

Now I only needed something to validate the shelving unit's separate identity. I mean if there was no crime, would Clark Kent really need to be Superman? or Bruce Wayne - Batman? While I'm sure at least a few of you could mount a serious argument as to the contrary, the simple answer is no. So I went in search of my crime, I mean hobby. Where better a place to look than:

Ah, yes, HobbyTown USA, with it's conventional English defying title is the IIT nerds' batcave. It's got gears, motors, RPGs, rockets, models, legos, and erector sets. I suppose the only thing it's really missing is misc computer parts, but we've got online stores, junk yards, and thrift stores to meet those needs.

When I walked in, the (I'm assuming) owner, asked me if he could help me with anything. "Hmm... Nope. I'm just looking for a hobby, and this seemed like the aptly named place to find one." I wandered around looking at everything for a good 30 minutes. I think I hid my desires well enough to seem somewhat normal; I kept the drooling to a miniumum and did my best not too oogle too much.

Having watched me do a circuit or two, the owner asked, "Can I answer any questions for you?" "Uh, yeah, you know I just need something to build. I'm interested in an RC car kit, I think." Following those magic words, the wall of cars dwindled to about 3 that were actually meant to challenge the builder a little. It's amazing what talking to a sales person can do!

I am now the proud owner of my very first truck. It doesn't really get me from point A to point B, it needs a little work, but it gets great gas mileage! (I know sometimes my jokes are lame.)


So Work Bench is now secure in its identity as a work bench versus a storage unit, and I've got something silly to spend excess money on... wait a minute... My goal is just to get my fingers moving, my brain thinking, and possibly grow a hobby.


As I checked out at HobbyTown USA, the owner asked, "Do you want to purchase the transmitter, receiver, batteries, charger, motor, servo... "

As he droned on, I casually took note of the growing price of this new hobby, and told him, "You, know, I think I'll hold off on those."

"Alright, well have a good day!"

"Thanks, I'm sure I'll be back."

And then, as I walked out the door, I'm certain I heard an evil cackle followed by, "Don't I know it." Perhaps this man, not unlike Work Bench, has a secret identity. I'm fairly certain he went home that night and told his wife they can now afford the new boat...

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I love you all and miss you more than you can imagine. I hope you are enjoying my updates. I appreciate the feedback I've received, and ask that you please keep it coming. Being all alone out here (cue the mini violin here), its nice to know you are out there. :)

Below, you'll see pictures of step 1: removing everything from the box and step two: the progress I made in the first night. I've done a little more since these pictures, so I'll update you on that later.

Mixed Nuts and Third Degree Burns

While I did combine the two items in the title, it wasn't in the kitchen, and fear not, my apartment complex is still standing with its pretty pretty pink glow.

I hate to say it, but work has become a little mundane. I think this is perhaps an inevitable thing that my trusted elders whispered would happen, but the idealist in me shrugged it off and cannon-balled onwards.

So I've begun a new quest! I've gone out in search of other things to stretch my heart and brain muscles. When I first began working in the shipyard, one of my instructors was telling a tale about some of the softball teams that form each year throughout the shipyard for tournaments and league play. I recall a general rule and a law from his story.

General rule #1: Many teams form around shops, codes, and ships. The people who work together, play together. This general rule applies to all teams except for the Mixed Nuts. That team, as the name indicates is a smorgasbord of players from all across the ship yard. That team is a powerhouse.

Law #2: "If you play softball, they will find you." This was spoken just as you read it. It is a law similar to gravity. (they being one of the various teams)

Earlier this month I traveled back to Chicago both to attend a wedding and to visit with friends. One of my intentions was to see members of my old softball team out there and to potentially play with them if they had a game. I mentioned plans off hand in conversation to my supervisor talking over coffee one morning in early July.

He told Connie. Connie told Gloria. Gloria plays for THE Mixed Nuts.

Invoke general rule #1 and law #2.

I now play softball two nights a week with THE Mixed Nuts, a powerhouse team with a 9 year championship reputation. I, being the calm collected, never flustered person that I am, felt absolutely no pressure when I first stepped out on the field with such a team.

Our first night out we went into extra time to win, and I only suffered minor bruising when a 200 lb man refused to slide while I was attempting to turn a double at second. The runner was called out at second and due to interference the second out was called at first.

Our second night out was a little less intense competition wise, especially when the sticks woke up late in the game. I had just hit a single and I was standing on first leaning back to listen to the first base coach, Jerry (our fearless stand-in leader from the first game). Up to bat was a kid one year out of high school with some college level baseball under his belt. "Now, if he gets a hold of this ball, you best take off as fast you can because he may just try to catch up to you. He'll at least push for the double." Yeah. Okay.

Sure enough, he hit the ball, and I took off as fast as my out of shape legs could carry me. My head was in the game and I was loving it. Rounding second, headed for third, I heard the third base coach shout, "Down!" and just like old times, my body responded immediately. As the cloud of dust settled, I was filled with pride. I knew I was safe and in part because my slide made it difficult for the third baseman to catch the ball. Wahoo!

As more dust settled, my competitive, exhilarated, athletic ego also floated down from its high, and the stupidity of my actions began to flow right out of the pretty pink road rash on my leg. "Ha! It's just a scratch, right? Play on!" scoffed my CEAE (we like to use acronyms at work, so I give you the acronym of the day)

The remainder of the game was kinda like a new dance: hobble, hobble, water, napkin... swing the bat, hobble, hobble alcohol whipe, SCREAM... 3 outs in the field. You get the picture I'm sure. CEAE provided enough protection from the pain and provided plenty of laughter for my teammates.

Based upon the definition of burn degrees here, I've determined, in my non medically trained expertise, that a deep tissue second, or third degree burn was the result of my CEAE and my general stupidity. The past week has been a great deal of fun, mixed with a little bit of worry, and quite a bit of pain. In all honesty, I was actually conducting a scientific study (stretching my brain muscle) the entire time. The result of my study? Law #3

Law #3: When one follows the advise of a an understimulated CEAE out to play for the first time in a long time and one doesn't wear the proper protective gear, one will experience stupidity in its purest form. One will also pay for said stupidity both physically and financially.

I hope you all can learn the same lesson without the same experiences. :D