Triple Threat

How far should you include your boss in your life outside your cube walls? Bridget has already had him at two of her derby bouts and today we had him at the gym with us. He doesn't need to lose weight, but he does need to improve his fitness level especially to improve his higher than normal cholesterol count for a forty-year old.

You should have seen us. It was me, Bridget and my boss in a row taking up all the treadmills. I was walking briskly, Bridget was running and our boss was half running half walking while he was engaged in a conversation with a lady on the elliptical machine next to him. He added his own commentary to ESPN on TV, too. He talked for most of the 30 minutes in the gym. I am not sure whether he was just nervous or disliked being silent unto himself. Today may be his first and only foray into the gym; it was less than enjoyable for him physically. He ate right after and experienced heartburn. (Shaking my head.)

I stayed late at work to finish up some things. Tomorrow was my telecommute from home. As I was wrapping it up a little after 7pm, I received a text message from Dan asking if I would help him plan the party. Oh. My attention was certainly arrested. Years like layers of veils parted away and memories of being in that role of planner were revealed once again. Why now?

I texted back sure and that I was just leaving work and would call him on my drive home. He replied that he was meeting with our old boss and would contact me later. It was about 9pm when he texted me that he was ready. I called and asked him what he had in mind before adding my own ideas for atmosphere and props. You have to understand, it takes no time for me to plan events complete with food, theme and props. This situation with us was not the norm and hasn't been for six years. (There is more to this that I am not willing to explore online.) On a more upbeat thought, my creativity was sparked to life again and all the guests should have a great time.
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Triple Threat

Testy Tuesday

My workout buddy's under-the-weather feeling lingered today so it was to be me and the other crazy hamsters. I looked forward to the time away from my two flat screens . This excitement lasted until I walked into the locker room. Something was amiss and the feeling magnified when I walked into the gym where I expected to be the only one or at least the only female. No, a more mature lady was already on an elliptical machine who normally comes in much later.

The room didn't have the right feeling even as the other hamsters trickled in. I weathered the weird vibe and rushed back to my cube to eat my lunch. Of course, news that my department's seating arrangement was to be uprooted again in two weeks to make room for the marketing department from the other building didn't help any. Yeah...loud Marketing and quiet Finance, a marriage made in heaven. Sigh.

Myrna picked me up for dinner so we could catch up a little and uplift both our spirits with laughter...When I checked my e-mail after, I had received an invitation to a St. Valentine's Murder Mystery party from my friend Dan. The guests are assigned characters and recommended costumes. It is set to be in the Roaring 20's during Prohibition to include gangsters and flappers. Should be fun in two weekends to play the part of Roxanne Redlight.
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Testy Tuesday

RIP: Badgerdaddy Blog

He was heavily on my mind this morning during my walk with Cabal so it was no surprise that I saw a comment notification from Badgerdaddy on my Pronation entry. I went to his blog and saw that had he canceled his blog today. Why I wonder? I mean he deleted EVERYTHING and not just say okay leaving now and leaving you with the archive. Did someone out his identity? Did something tragic happen? I know that he was editing two magazines and had a new marriage with a new life. Gosh I will miss his candor and wit immensely. He was really funny and made me laugh painfully more often than not.

If you're reading, badge, I am really going to miss you very much. You brightened my workday.

xxxooo

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Afternoon Update: Badgerdaddy responded to my e-mail and his last words were I'll still be lurking around blogs, you can count on that...!
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RIP: Badgerdaddy Blog

Dedication

Woke up with a start and I quickly rolled my body to the right to lean over and glance at the digital clock next to my bed. It calmly proclaimed 6:52am. Crap. I had to meet Kristey by the park at 7:30am. Thank God I already had my gear all set. Hurried and put on my workout gear before taking Cabal for a much more hurried walk. As we wound around the complex, I realized I was a bit hungover from last night. It is rare for me to drink these days and it is usually confined to one drink...

Sunglasses I rarely remember existing were planted on my face before I peeled out of the parking spot. Sucked down a bottle of Starbucks frappucino and had two sugar cookies for energy on my drive to meet Kristey. There was no time for a proper breakfast.

Kristey called me and let me know she was running late. Apparently she hadn't been feeling well and had to stop somewhere and get something to eat. She arrived five minutes after I parked. I wore my heart rate monitor, but I couldn't push her this morning to a more brisk walk. We walked four miles and I barely broke some sweat even in the heat. Made plans to walk again on Thursday after work.

I was confused at what day it was which messed me up. All I wanted to do was sleep, but instead I was on standby so I could speak with the twins when they landed in Los Angeles for a layover en route to the Philippines with their mother and my aunt. Angie ended picking them all up from the airport and driving them to Malibu for brunch and some sightseeing. She had 12 hours with them until their flight departed...

It's been a while since I've had a love quote entry. This isn't another, but I love it and may adopt it as my third favorite quote. One is Matthew 7:7 from the bible, two is the quote by Goethe on the top right of this blog and the third will be this:

I’d rather die of thirst, than drink from the cup of mediocrity.

Isn't that lovely? The words are resolute. Maybe that is why the quote appeals to me.
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Dedication

Outside Forces

Two out of three ain't bad, right? I stayed home today as a vacation day. My plans were to see my aunt and then see my cousin and her twins to wish them all bon voyage on their trip to the Philippines for three weeks. I would also later go with Tawny and Jeff to an art show/performance art downtown.

My aunt called me to let me know we would be having dinner at a Chinese restaurant with her grand babies and to be at her house by 4pm instead of 3pm. We were meeting for dinner an hour later at 5pm across town. I contacted my cousin Ida only to leave her a voice mail to contact me back which she didn't until I was set to leave for my aunt's home. I wouldn't get to see her and the kids until after they got back. Sigh.

To further make my timing interesting, Tawny called to let me know that she and Jeff would be picking me up at earlier 8pm instead of 9pm because our friend John wanted to buy me a drink at a particular bar before our artful evening. While flattered, it made my timing to go to dinner with my family and drive across different parts of town challenging. I ended up calling Tawny on my way home from my aunt's to make it 8:15pm which would give me some time to freshen up.

We picked up John at his and his husband's home and then three of us were dropped off near the bar John wanted to have a drink. Jeff went on ahead to the venue a few blocks down as he was helping with the lighting. What greeted us at the bar was gay country line dancing. Fabulously fabulous. Ha! Two tasty drinks each and we were buzzing on the way to the venue which was an empty building built out with walls for art and a stage for music and plays.

We began to appreciate the art inside while being naughty about our comments. John is a good looking man with his Arab look and tonight he surprised Tawny by witnessing him move my hair away from my face and move behind me to lightly kiss my neck. Mind you he is married to a handsome man whom he says thinks I am the greatest thing since sliced bread. I didn't think anything of the kiss. Gay men have played with me ever since high school. I am extremely feminine and wear the power of my sexuality well in my mannerisms and my conversations. They tend to be attracted to what my cousin Angie calls being "Jessica Rabbit". To them, I am almost a caricature of all things feminine...

We were entertained by a live body casting performed by one of the artists as seen below:



After the plaster cast was stable enough to be taken off the volunteer, we sat through a live band. John and I were getting antsy because our buzz was disappearing. The libations offered would not have mixed well with the mixed drinks from the bar previous and goddess knows we could have used the hazy veil as we sat through the last evening of this crazy play/free form performance art. Jeff and Tawny urged us to leave very quickly at the end of it.

Next stop was a pub featuring karaoke and drinks not worth the dollars spent. We drank quickly and moved back to the gay bar. Had a much better drink at this joint. I noticed that some of the boys were getting frisky with each other in the patio area. These guys were gorgeous and it was hot. As Tawny says, "Sexy is sexy." No time to be voyeurs as we all had obligations later in the morning.

We dropped John back at home and Jeff drove us back home with one stop at a gas station. I bought a bottled Starbucks frappucino for the morning... It was already 1:30am Saturday when I walked Cabal and noticed that I was a little drunk. I drank some water with a liquid ibuprofen gel, double-checked my outfit for my walk with Kristey at 7:30am and went to blissful sleep.
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Outside Forces

Pronation? No, Prosprinkles

Shin splints are annoying. Getting them this time was my fault. I tend to skip stretching after the brisk walking and I haven't made the trip to the specialty running store for proper fitting on my shoe needs...

There was an athlete on the next treadmill over at lunch. I watched him increase the incline to level 11 and increase the speed to get him running at warp speed. Ugh. He said he was trying something new in his training. I don't mind him trying something out but droplets of his sweat were flinging on either side of him. Normally I might appreciate his efforts, but not when my shins hurt. I pushed myself through the discomfort.

Talked to Rob about this new development. He said that I may be suffering from overpronation or over striding. Before I knew it, I was sending him pictures from my phone showing him the wear on the underside of my shoes and the side views. He gently reminded me about a proper shoe fitting at this place at the mall behind us. They provide videotaped gait analysis and blueprints of your feet. I must say that all this science appeals to my geeky side...

Remember I spoke about my friend Sam on Saturday? Well, he and I have been catching up on 19 years of absence in each other's lives. I had asked him about our friend John. They had a falling out several years after high school and he had no contact with him either. He found him on myspace today and left him a note. I had to create another myspace account to message him, too. We're hoping he responds very quickly. Meanwhile I will try to minimize my shin splints.
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Pronation? No, Prosprinkles

Healthy Attractions

Sometimes I feel like a pack mule when I make my way from garage to the my building. My handbag can double as small carry-on luggage if I really wanted to use it that way. (Just kidding.) It weighs about five pounds. We can add my laptop bag and peripherals inside the bag. Then there is my gym bag with workout gear which is made heavier by my lunch and water bottles. I carry this set most everyday and up a couple of flights of stairs inside my building. Today when I reached the top of the stairs to my floor, I wasn't out of breath at all. Was that elation I felt?

Bridget was telecommuting today so I worked out by myself. Being in such closed quarters with perfect strangers, I found myself struck by unusual shyness and turned up my music louder to focus on my own efforts. When I began to perspire, I used my yellow hand towel to dab my face. I set it back and not securely enough. As if in slow motion, I watched it drop on the belt of the treadmill and pass by my feet onto the floor. Just great, I thought. Here I am at the zenith of my workout that is certain to produce copious amounts of perspiration and my towel was on the floor behind me. Grrr.

The towel lay on the floor for several minutes while I wiped sweat off my face with my hand and on my clothing. I stared daggers at the reflection of a man behind me lazily moving from one machine to another and admiring his own reflection in the other mirrors. He had looked at my general direction but made no move to retrieve the towel for me. An imaginary dark plot in my brain began to take form. I was wishing the mirrors would shatter when he admired himself and that the machines would come alive and attack him. Before my imagination could really get out of control, a handsome stranger came by my left side and handed me my towel. Uh, thank you. Okay, maybe that was worth the wait. Chivalry was not dead -- struggling to breathe but not dead. I thanked him again as I passed by him after my workout. He smiled and said "no problem" in a heart-stopping voice. Oh, Lordy...

In the afternoon, my Filipino friend Sharon and I tried our hands at matchmaking. It's not what you think but the usual steps were employed as if it were a romantic vein. This was to set up my friend Rob with her friend Rick as biking buddies. Both are competitive, same height, military background and they rode miles on their bikes. We exchanged their e-mail addresses for them and hoped for the best on their first date. Ha.

I made my way to Tawny's place after 9pm to pick up the tub of sugar cookie dough I bought from Lisa's daughter's school fundraising drive. I called ahead and asked (more like ordered) Tawny to fire up her oven to sample a few scoops. They tasted better straight from the oven instead of waiting for them to cool down. No taste buds were harmed.
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Healthy Attractions

Mood Boosters

Listening to the radio can be an instant mood booster. The Power Station's version of "Bang a Gong" came on as I wound up the garage. I needed the extra zip. Mondays are not for the mild. They need to be attacked with sass and caffeine...lots and lots of caffeine.

I was very happy to see Bridget smiling. During my dinner on Saturday, I received a text message from our boss saying she had injured her neck during roller derby that evening. He was one of many witnesses to the illegal move from another player. On Sunday, I text messaged Bridget to get an update and she called me later assuring me she was just sore despite being pushed and slammed into the rink wall on the tail end of her game. Needless to say, she will be taking it easy the next few days.

Lunched at a sushi place with a man whose company I really enjoy which means I have to work out the rest of the week for sure. That will be three days of lunching at the treadmill. I am taking Friday as a vacation day to spend time with my aunt, cousin and my goddaughter and her twin before they leave for the Philippines the next day.

Talked to Tawny a bit on recalling what I was doing a year ago today. Was it a year already? It was a crazy time and I don't regret any of it. The moments that led to that special event were nuts, very funny and sweet indeed. Poor thing. He never knew what hit him. AGOL landings are always tricky.
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Mood Boosters

Deadly Sins Quiz

Well...what can I say?

Greed:	High
Gluttony:	High
Wrath:	High
Sloth:	Medium
Envy:	High
Lust:	Very High
Pride:	High

Take the Seven Deadly Sins Quiz

Deadly Sins Quiz

My Big Fat Greek Dinner

Imaginary calorie counting. What does that mean? It means I ate a smart breakfast, no lunch, and a smart afternoon snack in preparation for the zero calorie Greek dinner I was going to partake in with my friends. Can you see where imagination would have to be employed?

We celebrated Kathy's, her sister Cindi's and Jeff's birthdays at The Acropolis Greek Taverna. It was one of the most fun dinners I have ever had. We seated 11 people which meant that I had to agree to taverna or family style dining for a set price (excluding alcohol) when I made our reservations. They brought us a little bit of everything from appetizer to desserts to share. Our table was covered from one end to the other of the following courses:

1. Greek salad
2. Saganaki (cheese flambe)
3. Spanakopita (spinach pie)
4. Four Mediterranean dips with pita bread (cucumber, eggplant, hummus, salmon)
5. Fried smelt (fish)
6. Calamari (fried squid)
7. Grouper (fish) over veggies
8. Beef and Chicken Kebabs
9. Lamb and Orzo
10. Plates of desserts
11. * and during hedonistic delight in consuming the obscenely delicious food you could order drinks like cola, water, tea, regular coffee and/or specialty coffees included in the price. Most of us had alcohol in addition and the mixed drinks were fabulous! I had a Kamikaze.
    

The atmosphere was definitely for fun. There was live entertainment with a musician, the waitstaff dancing arm in arm like a weaving centipede around the tables at different moments, belly dancing and birthday music sang in a Greek techno dance theme several times. It got loud with the Opa!(s), the clapping during the belly dance and general din of the crowd.

Paper napkins tossed are all over the place by the staff. OPA!


Dan got tagged. There are more pictures of him dancing with the belly dancer, but we won't go there. It was great!


Just another course...


Almost got too full for this...I said almost!



This was worth it all. We were laughing, drinking, eating and more laughing for almost four hours. I would love to do it again!



Oddly enough: My old friend Sam from high school sent me a note from classmates.com this afternoon. I am so pleased he wrote me. He is full blooded Greek. His summers were spent in Greece and he would come back sporting a dark golden color. Sam still lives in Wyoming and is a power lifter. Now if only our other pal John would contact me, we could have our trio back. Through Sam, I learned how to drink ouzo and enjoy my first real Greek food. I remember laughing a lot in class and outside of class when he was around. If he's reading this: I also remember what you and John gave me for my 18th birthday (or was that graduation?). Let's just say it could give quite the buzz.
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My Big Fat Greek Dinner

Healthy Bits

Yesterday while watching an episode of Oprah on living with less I saw Sigg, Eco-Friendly Reusable Swiss Water Bottles. This is a particular interest to me as I've been using a Brita water-filtering system to fill my plastic bottles instead of buying cases of bottled water and creating waste. Then there was a recent piece on the Today Show that certain plastics used and reused by consumers can pose a health danger. You can check the number at the bottom of the plastic bottle:

Inside the little triangle, you'll see a number, from one to seven. Bottled water is packaged in No. 1. Experts told the Today Show, the numbers 3, 6 and 7 pose the most danger, including cancer risks. Still, a federal panel of experts has some concern that even low levels cause neural and behavioral effects in children and fetuses. All plastics can degrade, especially with harsh treatment, like dishwashing or microwaving-- so you may not want to reuse anything, to the point that it's getting shabby.

After this piece aired, I checked the number on my 1L bottles and my sludge bottle. They all read a 7 which is listed above. Great. I needed an alternative. It came through the Oprah episode showing those Sigg bottles. I will order two of the 1L and two of the 20oz in the next couple of weeks. The smaller bottles will be for my mini backpack I take on my walks in the woods. My sports drink can be replaced by water. I also carry my cell phone in the front pocket and my keys inside. By shouldering this bag, I can leave my hands free.



I am not a tree hugging hemp wearing wench, but I am slowly doing my part in being more green. Processed food is almost non-existent in my cupboard which means less packaging waste. Most of those kinds of products are a cheap way to eat and I am no longer cheapening the quality of my food. Perhaps on another post I will list my other green ways.

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Nan Update: My uncle sent an updated note stating that they will be placing Nan in an assisted living facility nearby during their vacation to Hawaii.
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Healthy Bits

Setbacks

My lack of sleep yesterday made me barely remember the hectic day. This morning I was able to sleep in to be more alert. It was my turn to work from home...

An e-mail from my uncle around noon revealed that our relatives from Germany didn't get to make it on board in Germany because the wife had a mini stroke at the airport and now needs to be under observation for a few weeks. My aunt and uncle had offered his younger brother and wife an all expense paid trip to Tampa as long as they would care for Nan for several weeks. With the unexpected mini stroke, this means that my aunt and uncle's plans have taken a setback.

My aunt will still go to the Philippines in two weekends; however, my uncle's plans to go to Pennsylvania will be shelved. Their trip together to Hawaii after my aunt gets back is in limbo. These people deserve time off. They never planned on having to take care of an elderly parent (Nan) 24/7 who suffers from dementia. My aunt and uncle are in their mid-60's for crissakes! What happened to being wild empty nesters?

I made a decision. I wrote my uncle back (a phone call was too emotional) and told him that I would give them two weeks of my vacation to stay with Nan while they went to Hawaii. Cabal and I would move in to be with Nan. Now I would be detained at their home until a home health care nurse would come to relieve me a couple of hours a week which would give me time to go grocery shopping and maybe visit the booksellers to have time for myself. I don't care. When you two love people very much as I do my aunt and uncle who are like parents to me, nothing is too much. And this is what you do in a real family -- you offer help.

My uncle wrote me back after a couple of hours and was very surprised at my offer, but will let me know if they need me the latter half of next month. Nan may be accepted at an assisted living facility for that time. I don't care for assisted living facilities except in extreme situations and I don't want Nan to feel even more confused in unfamiliar surroundings. She should be surrounded by people who know and love her. My cousin Angie would fly from Los Angeles for a bit, too, to help take care of her Nan.

In the end, it is not my decision, but theirs and what they feel comfortable in doing. At the very least, they know they have options. I took a step to let my boss know that I might be gone for two weeks very soon or do a combination working from home a couple of days remotely; he told me just to let him know what I needed.

While the news settled down, I kept watching this video on some crazy man's idea of real sailing. All I mentioned was being able to feel the water around you...the undulation of the vessel you're on and to feel the wind teasing your hair from your face...i like to lean down and look at the water and see if small creatures are brave enough to swim up...maybe in a few years, i will be brave enough to get certs in diving as i love to explore. Apparently it wasn't exhilarating enough a vignette so he sent the link. Maybe he's right because I keep watching it and remembering all the times I have been in waves that insane. Yeehaw!

Met Kristey in the woods again for a four mile walk at 5:30pm. The temperature was perfect and the humidity low. I didn't sweat at all. Oh yeah -- damned pesky black bugs were everywhere! I had to fish one out of my mouth along the way. The one magical thing about nature is that being surrounded by all the trees has a very calmative effect. I needed it.
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Setbacks

Routine

You might be surprised to know that I enjoy a routine rather than constant change. Routine doesn't mean rigid or boring. It doesn't have to be. You just have to be flexible to make room for spontaneity. My love of a routine stems from having to move around too many times in my early life. Any disturbance to my routine gives me a bit of an internal jolt that can take me minutes to hours for recovery.

Yesterday my boss scheduled a meeting for today. It was a trigger reaction to a long e-mail discussion on hardware we were to purchase for the outside sales team for demonstrating the specialized software my company creates for the medical field. No one (adults with big titles!) wanted to take responsibility for seeing the project through its course hence the nationwide conference call my boss scheduled to get everyone on the same time for a discussion. The time coincided with my gym time. That was a problem.

My boss turned to me minutes before we were supposed to drive over to the other building and said casually, "Oh -- you don't really have to go. Heck, if you don't have to call in if you don't want to." Whhhhaaaat? I told him I would call in, but mostly seethed that I could have brought my gym kit. I rearranged my meals for this. Sigh. All was not lost. My leftovers from last night were delicious and I was able to be in the moment as I enjoyed spoonful after spoonful of my soups and forkful after forkful of the salmon.

At 4pm, I was sprung from jail...er, work - I mean. Heh. Drove home for doggie and then made it 40 minutes early to my aunt's house across town. I wanted to print some pics from my uncle's snazzy computer and printer action. Had a light dinner before they left me with Nan.

For some reason Nan had deteriorated since I had since her last. She seemed exhausted and disoriented. Because of this she was more restless, forgetful and confused. Just deciding which direction on her walker she should go for her bedroom was a struggle. It broke my heart. I decided to remind her that her son who lives in Germany was flying in tomorrow and this seemed to cheer her. How long would the news stay in her mind? Was she already told, but had already forgotten?

My aunt and uncle were late in getting back from their church activity. I told them of my updates for Project AGOL. They didn't quite understand it, but my aunt understood that the step was significant. (No, you haven't missed anything -- I haven't revealed the news yet.) Called Angie in Los Angeles for my drive back. I was home just shy of midnight.

My Aunt Maria picked this for me in her front garden right before she sent me off. She ordered the plant from a catalogue based on its appearance so I can't tell you what it is. A lily perhaps?

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Routine

Tantalized Taste Buds

My first effort to use my new heart rate monitor was a flop. Rob had even pre-coached me to get a reading on something and it still didn't work. I was waiting for a certain beep that never came and it told me that I was working too hard and I hadn't even reached my high speed yet. Frustrated and a bit depressed, I turned off the recording feature and focused my energies on finishing my 30 minutes on the treadmill. I wanted to challenge myself more, but not today. To top it all off, I had forgotten my face towel and my bath towel. Thank God for extra deodorant. Sheesh!

In my mind I knew that it was just "operator error" and I needed to practice working the unit until it was second nature. My setbacks were nothing compared what these guys have to overcome on a day-to-day basis. Meet the world's Oldest Marathoner and a triathlete with no legs named Scott Rigsby. If they can do it, why can't I?

Lunch was better with my version of a Greek salad and, yes, eating it with a set of chopsticks is more rewarding. It can pick up the smaller bits with ease!




The rest of the day was slow and pretty quiet. My boss was a bit erratic, but that is his nature. We were glad he was back from his vacation. The only part I didn't like was when he scheduled a meeting tomorrow during my workout time. I will chalk up tomorrow as an off day -- leaving work around 4pm to watch Nan for my aunt and uncle.

While at my work desk, I had a craving for Latin-style roast pork and the only place I could think of who would have what I needed was a special restaurant. The last time I tried to stop in, it was closed. Now I walked in and had the distinct feeling I was visiting another place. The new owners had the whole place remodeled. The menu was a more sophisticated tapas menu instead of the casual Cuban from the previous owners. They had been open only a week. I decided to give it a go.

I made my selections for takeaway and ordered a glass of wine. I knew it would go to my head, but I didn't care at the moment. The assistant manager began to talk to me while I sat at the bar and asked me if I spoke Spanish since I ordered things with a Spanish pronunciation. I told him I didn't speak it as much as I should and that it was my third language. He asked where I was from and I told him I was part Filipino. Our conversation centered on him mentioning other Filipinos he had met especially through his English language class. He had introduced himself as Rafael and he spoke to me in a combination of English and Spanish.

My order was soon ready and Rafael told me in Spanish using his soft-spoken voice that they would wait for my return. Charming thing. The delicious aroma wafting from my takeaway bag began to tease my nostrils as I made my way to my car. I couldn't wait to enjoy the contents.


[Clockwise - Top Left: Sopa de Garbanzo (Garbanzo Soup); Salmon Glazeado (Honey glazed salmon fillet in honey mustard dill sauce; Sopa de Frijol Negro (Black Bean Soup); Platanos Maduros (Ripe Plantains). All from Bamboleo Tapas Bar & Grill on Fowler Avenue near USF.]

The food was well-made. The garbanzo soup was piping hot but I wolfed half down it was so tasty. I might have burned some taste buds. Worth the injury I must say. The salmon was well seasoned and moist. Their black beans were in the Cuban way with bits of green pepper and dashes of cumin which gave it a distinct smoky flavor. (I reheated some jasmine rice to go with it.) The plantains were sweet and very yummy. My whole meal was so good "it would make you slap your mama"! Saved half for lunch tomorrow to relive all deliciousness...
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Tantalized Taste Buds

Blue Glow

First I felt a jerk on my lower back and then I noticed that I was sitting inside the passenger side of a moving a car and it was dark. Was it raining? A man was driving and suddenly his right arm came around me from my left side and tuck me into him while his left arm was stuck out as if to shield us. I felt diminutive. White light -- a head light? -- was coming towards us. This was a dream, but I could feel everything. I decided to see if I could feel the crunch of the car as it hit us, but all I could really bring myself to say was, "God save us".

I woke up with a start and the blue glow on my ceiling read 3:30am; I had only been asleep an hour. Reran the dream in my head before arranging myself to be more comfortable and to fall asleep again...
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Blue Glow

Heart Rate Monitor

Walking surrounded by nature is a secret pleasure of mine. I only enjoy it when the weather feels good; most of the time my friends and family think I am too prissy to be outdoors. Not today! Kristey met me for our four mile walk and we chatted away. She wants to try and walk again after work one day next week.

I wanted to bring my new Polar F6 heart rate monitor (HRM) on the walk, but I got home too late last night and by the time I wound down, I was too tired. Calibrating this HRM takes concentration. Let me let you know that this is an investment at $110. (Rob has one from Polar that is around $400.) My F6 came with a wrist unit and a coded transmitter that you strap on your chest which sends heart rate signals to your wrist unit. Ooh, Geekville! I couldn't find the new green tea color in town after calling several places. Pink is pretty, too.



Polar has an explanation why you should have a HRM. Here is the American Heart Association guidelines for determining your Maximum Heart Rate (MHR), too. Mostly, I am going to use it as a tool to help me work more efficiently. I read an article where this guy thought he was working hard then found out he needed to step up his activity level. From there the weight he'd been struggling to lose finally started to fall off. Also, this will help me when I plateau and let me know to vary my activities and target zone for my heart rate. Getting geeky about fitness is introducing a whole new set of vocabulary that for sure.

I was able to get a catnap in later in the afternoon which felt wonderful! Normally I catch up on Saturday mornings. Oh - a teaser for you - some time I will let you know what I bought this afternoon that will help in my branding of Sarah Sprinkles for Project AGOL. What could it be, my lovelies?
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Heart Rate Monitor

Leaving Early

Can I tell you about the great day I've had? It started off generally well. My boss was still on vacation, the temp was off, Bridget was (mostly) in good spirits and my phone was ringing more often which made my day go by quicker.

Worked out by myself. Bridget's stressful conversation with her boyfriend made her want to do errands instead. Boy was the gym empty! There were three other guys in the gym and one lady came nearing the end of my workout. My workout was made better with the very fine specimen of man jogging next to me. I could go and on, but then I would have to start writing some soft porn on this man's sweat patterns. My techno-belly dancing music on my mp3 player was making things groovy, too.

One thing was clear: I needed to get a heart rate monitor tonight if I am to workout more efficiently. The level I am on the treadmill would have taken my breath away about two weeks ago, but now I can almost do it for the whole 30 minutes. It is time to step up to the next level. I felt invigorated after the workout and not too hungry. My sludge drink did the trick for lunch at 12:30pm.

I left work at 4:15pm to hurry up and get home to take care of dog before Myrna picked me up. She had an errand in another town which coincided with my own plans... If you're a woman, you know that fighting PMS cravings is like trying to stop a freight train. God bless me, I did! I skipped my mid morning snack and no chocolate product from the candy machine made it to my lips in the afternoon. My even temper was sacrificed when I called Myrna to hurry and drive faster. I was famished and nearing headache stage by the time we got into the other town.

Electing to sit outside made our wait for a table only two minutes; the average wait was 15 minutes. I had a margarita on the rocks right away. Our onion ring appetizer came quickly followed by our shrimp entrees. Dessert? Uh, no. I was at Casa de Fullio by this time and a bit buzzy from the margarita hitting my empty tummy. A chocolate chip cookie was in my future though. Myrna chided me that half of what we were eating was not on my new menu. I gently reminded her I had sludge for lunch, no chocolate and I was PMS'ing. She laughed.

Stopped at a sporting goods store to get my heart rate monitor. Woo hoo! My lovely Costco was also on my destination. Myrna had to replace her shower head and this was the place where she wanted to buy it. Apparently she had reached up to change the settings this morning and sneezed which caused the part to break off in her hand including the washer which had water splashing everywhere. I died laughing and told her she needed to walk around with this sign:

WARNING: Sneezes can cause accidental drowning.

Long story short...It took us three stores to find the specific kind of chocolate chip cookie I wanted. Yes, I am on crack. Had Myrna laughing so hard on the drive home. Her husband always worries I am going to kill her by having her laugh so much. What a way to go. Wound down and discovered I was tired. Lying on my bed, the blue digital numbers projected on my ceiling read 11:32pm. WOW. Now that was groovy.
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Leaving Early

AGOL Almost Assaults

There was a slight chance that I could have gotten arrested for assault this morning. AGOL potentially arrested? Yes.

I followed a black luxury car towards the garage this morning. In front of him was a sports car seemingly stuck at the gate because you have to have a coded ID to get in. The black car signaled he was backing up. WTF? Are you kidding me? There were about five cars behind me! I saw red. My hand shifted the car in park and I got out. I made it past the black car and swiped my own access card so the gate would flip open. The lady inside the sports car tried to say something to me, but I was too angry at the vehicle between us. As I passed the black luxury car again, I gave the driver a dirty look as if to say, "Okay dumbf**k -- that was really hard. Next time get your princess ass out of the car. " Obviously his problem solving skills went with the money he paid for his car.

I relayed this story to Bridget and she said that he was lucky it wasn't she who was behind him. We've established that I am more polite in dealing with people; she shoots first and asks questions later...Tab got the story, too and when I told him about almost assaulting the guy, he asked, Did he have a smile when you were done? Oh ha ha ha. (I love my sarcasm.)

Worked out with Bridget. I have to increase something next week. Today's treadmill adventure was fun and not as taxing. Can't wait to get my new heart rate monitor tomorrow so I can really gauge how well I am working out.

The afternoon yawned ahead, but I was busy. I left on time and made calls on the way home including confirming a visit to Tawny's tonight. Spent a couple of hours with her after I took care of my doggie. Now I am waiting for the clock to strike midnight signaling almost another hour more of being awake.
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AGOL Almost Assaults

Sludge and Shells

I drink sludge. That's what I call my special drink that I drink with big boba straws and it tastes like unsweetened chocolate with a herby nuance. There are other flavors, but all have that special herby nuance.

This sludge is my mid morning snack before my workout. At $4.67 a complete serving or $2.34 a half serving, "Vega is not only a complete meal replacement, but also an ideal daily health-optimizing supplement". Now I know why they recommend drinking it right away. I let mine sit a bit and the fiber absorbed some of the water and thickened at the bottom. The taste was already interesting, but now the thick texture took it to heights unknown...to humans.

I take the powder in a baby food container for better transport and portion control. Two of the sections equates to one serving. Like my plastic bottle? I couldn't make myself suck down the rest of my oh-so-tasty sludge.




Bridget was back in the office and I asked her if we could have Thai food for lunch. I had my workout gear with me, but I wanted to give my right pinky toe a rest. It had been hurting enough to make me limp down the halls. Lunch was super tasty and made me forget about my toe temporarily.

My temp ambushed me right away when we got back from lunch. She probably wasn't pleased that we went without her. Don't care. She doesn't need to be privy to my own personal time. Anyhoo, we had a big discussion on software that had arrived. Someone from the other building wanted to pick them up, but couldn't because my temp "didn't know anything about it". Are you F'g kidding me? She was the one who told me there was an order that I had to place and have delivered the next day. The receptionist wouldn't release the package because it was in my name. The temp should have stepped up or the very least called me. Grrr.

NOW THEN...I had to get my bag and drive the software over to the other building. Took Bridget with me so we could deliver the software and visit our other peeps including Tawny and Ant. Yeah, the temp wasn't happy with that either because she wasn't invited. She mentioned she had a package to deliver to one of the IT guys. I took it from her and said bye. You should have seen the look she gave Bridget when she rounded the corner to accompany me...

During our visit I picked up the special shells I asked for while one of the helpdesk guys visited the Philippines. It was the missing component I needed to make my Filipino game board complete; the formal name of the game is sungka (pron. soong-kah).

Sungka board set up on top of my bed.



A closer look at my new game pieces or cowrie shells.



The goal is to get the shells home or bahay.


Here is a previous Sungka post where you can visit some links for instructions.


Talked to Kathy on the way home. It's rough now that her company has disabled instant messaging due to viruses that had leaked in through them. Keeping in touch will be a challenge so we will have to do it the old fashioned way via phone and e-mail...Had leftovers from lunch and a more calm evening.
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Sludge and Shells

Crib Candy

Honestly, the only thing worthwhile* I can mention today was finding this website: Crib Candy

Can y'all say ooh and aah?


*I barely talked to anyone...Just a bad vibe all around. Tawny was having a day from hell...Bridget was working remotely, etc.
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Crib Candy

Monitoring Monday

What I thought was blurry vision from a mild headache was actually a fine mist when I walked the dog. Tawny said that the air pressure from the rain brought a depression all around. Several people had headaches and tempers were being tested. Bridget had a migraine coming into work.

I made a fellow coworker's day when I passed her desk and saw the deplorable state of her monitor. It was so old that the plastic had yellowed. To compare hers to my own two flat panels was like comparing technicolor to black and white. The resolution was horrible and this lady's glasses were already thick, too. I made an executive decision to get her refurbished one in the other building which Tawny's son delivered at the end of the day. She's going to notice a big difference tomorrow morning because she'll be able to SEE.

Bridget and I worked out in the gym. It was hot and humid inside and filled with all kinds of people. Ew. Then it even more unbearable in the locker room. Showering did not keep our clothes from sticking unnecessarily. I couldn't wait to bail out of the gym...Bridget got a new edgier haircut and color this weekend. It reminds me of a cross between Japanese anime and Rock and Roll. Her hair was looking better than mine after visiting Sweatville. Go hot mama!

I spent the evening catching up on my blog and e-mails. That is my way of winding down. On the bright side, there is always the warm electric blanket to look forward to after a hard day.
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Monitoring Monday

Rain Sweet Rain

For the first time in recent memory, we had rain all day and not just during the night. Cabal and I walked the rain together without umbrellas a couple of times. I loved it.

The Philippine Festival was this weekend and I completely blew it off. Tawny had invited me to the Renaissance Festival and I turned her down, too. Good thing I declined either event or I would have been covered in mud since both venues were outdoors. Maybe next year?

Trish beat me today by calling me first. She's been mourning the loss of her grandmother who succumbed to her complications from her hospital stay and medications a week ago. Grams was for all intents and purposes Trish's mom and best friend. Her own estranged mother has suffered mental illness which has worsened over the years.

I let her talk and tell me from start to present everything that had transpired. One of the coolest things she and her sister did was prepare their grandmother's body for viewing. Trish used her make-up artist skills and her sister used her hairdressing skills to transform Grams into a beautiful woman again. It sounds macabre, but I felt that it helped them begin to move through the process of grieving. They "talked" to her while they honored her to make sure she looked her best. Now only time will gift them more healing.

The rain continued to fall through the evening, gently nourishing the thirsty earth and washing away more dead leaves that had fallen on the sidewalk. Aah, rain.
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Rain Sweet Rain

Rescuing York

Waking up was very difficult today, but my doggie was persistent or was that his bladder? Poor thing. Made a decision to drive and get a large cup of my favorite brand of coffee. My coffee stash had finally run out. Couldn't function without it today.

The morning also found me writing a couple of e-mails. One of them I was very glad to be finally writing to a new friend. Circumstances had cut my opportunity to write her last year, but fate stepped in two months ago. Smiles all around.

My Filipino maid has been getting lazy. She had floors to wash, laundry to do and a bathroom to clean. It's hard to get good help these days. I'd say she was bothered about ruining her nails, but I know where she goes and almost nothing can mess those up. Yes, it's true -- even Asian goddesses have to be Filipino maids some time...

I made another foray into my neighborhood and this time it was to satisfy a craving for Chinese food. I shed Shallowville today. No make-up, my hair was down, wearing sweats and almost no jewelry. You would not have recognized your AGOL. Little did I know I would be dressing up as some sort of angel. No, I was not wearing white. Me in white? Maybe ecru...or cream...or red. ANYHOO...It was the role of an angel.

I had just sat in my car and was about to close my door when I saw this older man hurrying towards me with paper. Startled and scared, I said No, thank you loudly and began to shut my door. The little geezer was not to be deterred. He said he needed directions in a frantic English accent. Oh. Hee.

His itinerary revealed a hotel nearby but I forgot where it was. He kept mentioning how it was behind Busch Gardens which was just a couple of miles up the road. I drew him a coarse map so he could get around if he got lost and I used my cell to call the hotel for more specific directions. While filling in the map, I asked him where in England he was from and replied York (way north). I told him I was in Brighton and London last year. He looked at me as if I had grown two heads. Whatever. I sent him on his merry way after we went over the directions again. He was thankful. His missus in the car looked relieved. I wonder how long they had been lost before he broke down and asked me for directions. You know guys and directions. Soon me and my tummy were enjoying Beef and Broccoli.

Confucius Say: Do not judge AGOL by lack of finery for she may be filling role of Filipino maid. Asian Goddesses not paid good with American inflation and recession. Must make do with self...darn it.
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Rescuing York

Manuals? We Don't Need No Stinkin' Manuals

Can you help me find our network? I am sure there is a manual somewhere lurking around with instructions. It also was exercising again today. It was up...down...up...down...up. I caved and hooked up my wireless again.

A two-and-a-half hour vendor lunch cheered me and broke up my day nicely. My boss was with me so it wasn't like I was alone in my absence from our building. All of us tried something new at The Cheesecake Factory including a salmon roll appetizer. Yum! Next time I will go for the lettuce wraps which someone devoured.

I've been missing my gal pal Kathy and I was able to get a hold of her this evening. We talked for a long time. I will see her for the dinner I have planned in two weekends at the Greek place we have been frequenting. Kathy and Tawny's husband Jeff share the same birth month so we will have a table of at least 10 to help celebrate. Opa!

Myrna picked me up for a late dinner. Her husband bought her a new cell phone that slips out to reveal a keyboard which now makes her texting easier. She'd been turn off texting before. I played with the new phone. (Big mistake!) Her phone ring wasn't working properly and she hadn't read the manual. I fixed her settings and a disco type tune played loudly when her phone would ring. That's what you get for letting me play with your phone.
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Manuals? We Don't Need No Stinkin' Manuals

Resistant AGOL

Today was supposed to be my commute from home; however, I had encouraged Bridget to stay home yesterday and by me coming in today, she would feel comfortable to call in. A 8:09AM cell text confirmed the other half of my Dream Team would be home sick today. Bridget had been pushing herself and not allowing sufficient recovery from everything: being a mother, roller derby, online classes and moving her family. It was only a matter of time before her body cried for rest.

My boss was working from home today and the network was doing its disappearing act again which meant Tawny was in a good mood. Not. All day I kept my laptop on the wireless card. Slow, but able to work...and catch up with my posse. Hee.

In my world, most everyone has a nickname. It is part fun, part fondness for that person or a mnemonic device to help remember that person. The names are very rarely mean because that is not what the naming is about...I had another strong discussion with Tab and this time on how I was referencing someone. Mind you, he only remembers things if it is important enough to him so it was easier to use the nickname to put this person in perspective rather than use the person's given name. He told me that if it were him, he would be severely hurt. OMG. What ensued next was a discussion lasting until after I got back from my workout. The 30 minutes on the treadmill felt like 10 minutes and I walked at a faster speed. That's how I burned up I was. My feathers were eventually soothed.

Stopped at Target tonight to buy my new set of resistance tubes. I also noticed a big selection of jump rope and (gasp!) there is an exercise DVD for jump rope! Man...I have to get a super resistant bra to do jump rope or I will be giving myself black eyes. Skipped that whole purchase entirely for now and settled happily for the new tubes.
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Resistant AGOL

How's Your Shimmy?

My first and important order of business was to get my boss to scan a "goal" pic for me. This was very much overdue. I should have had it in December. It is from an old Chico's advertisement. I saw her and the picture clicked. No, I am not dyeing my hair back, but I would like to have my clavicles back in full force. Almost sick to say, huh? I can't be too thin though like my goal pic. Women should have curves: natural or if need be..man made. Most of the men I've met like for their eyes to follow dips, hills, and valleys. If not, they might as well look at men. That's my job.

Bridget forgot her gym bag and quite frankly she was tired from the weekend and moving yesterday. I worked out anyway and this time noticed more people during my time which is around 11:20am-11:30am. I told Bridget that there were more girls where usually we are well outnumbered by hunky men. She asked if they were nice and I said yes. They smiled at me. You know, us girls, we're catty and judgmental in a gym. It is just built in and an 'evil gym truth'.

The mailman delivered the belly dancing* and arm exercise DVDs I ordered. The belly dance one has more routine combinations. Woo hoo! Now I can really get my shimmy on. Ha! I need to get another one that demonstrates the finger cymbals (or zils) so I can use one of the two sets I have better. I love the sound they make. My girlies know that I fondly call them My Shing-Shings...Reviewed the belly dancing DVD tonight and the DVD on focusing on the arms. I need to get some resistance bands (think rubber tubing with handles at the end) tomorrow for it. I need a variety of activities so that boredom doesn't set in as it had started to lately. Meanwhile, time to shimmy!


*Belly dancing is one of the requirements of being a goddess of any kind. Why aren't you dancing then?
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How's Your Shimmy?

No Foolin'

Not waking up with a better level of verve made me anxious. I robbed myself of sleep. It was completely my fault. The day stops for no one so off the day began.

I received my apology early this morning when Tab called. He was sorry, but tried to remind me that he did mention yesterday that he thought I was worth more than my current compensation, etc. and didn't mean for my feelings to be hurt. Tsk...he's a good man. I needed him to know that he hurt my feelings and I was glad he was sincere in his apology...

Work is making me a bit crazy and scattered, but I enjoy (most) of my co-workers. I must say that my group is the envy for the manager we have. He is overall a good manager with work and with managing people. His sense of humor is in step with mine. Today he took us out for lunch which was great of him. I took half my lunch back which I thought I would eat as a late afternoon snack, but ended up eating for dinner.

During the course of the afternoon, I was IM'ing with Rob regarding women* I envied as far as looks as we progress to the look I am trying to achieve with my workouts. The following are my picks:

• Tia Carrere - She's part Filipino and has a great body.
• Moon Bloodgood - She's part Korean and her pictures were what convinced me to color my hair from blond to auburn last September.
• Ruffa Gutierrez - She is Filipino and for some reason is THE woman whose looks I envy. I generally like my face except I compare it to hers. Her eyes are dark brown. Some pics show lighter.
• Ashwarya Rai - Honorable Mention because I love her light eyes with her complexion. She is beautiful. Some say the most beautiful woman in the world. Neh.

He liked my choices except Ash and wasn't impressed by her. Maybe he needs new glasses? Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Besides...achieving their physique will not alter my face too much to look like any of them. It's one of those girl crushes where you just admire the overall look. You never know the true story of what their lives are like to be them. I do like me and just want to be a better version of me.

Tawny (sporting one of her new pretty necklace creations) visited me for a bit this evening to help me with my project. She was taking body measurements or attempting to while I giggled. I am extremely ticklish and she's one of the few I trust to take measurements correctly. Yes, she was a devil and tickled me.

An edict from Rob to help track progress is measurement. For him, anything worth doing is worth measuring. Oh -- tragic and mofugly front, side and back view pics were taken, too. I chose lime colored pants and a black shirt to get the ugly down. My reluctance to do these things are always pushed aside by the new gleam Rob gets in his eyes for some other form of torture. My consolation? Great looking hair in the pics. Hee.

*I am leaving out Angelina Jolie on purpose, Tawny.
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No Foolin'