Challenges...

As you may have gathered, I am not afraid of hard work. Especially the kind of work that seems impossible. My favorite kind of challenges are those that are more physical in nature...where my patience and ability to keep calm are tested. Such was the case over the past weekend. I love snow. I still love snow...even though we just got a whole bunch and may get a bunch more. I love how perfectly quiet it is. I think it is magical. It takes an every day scene...and changes it into something new. Call me crazy, I can take it. I love snow. The End.

After a fun-filled Friday evening of shoveling and a Saturday afternoon adventure too...I knew that there would be more. There is a little unknown fact when you live atop a cul de sac...you generally get screwed by the snowplow. It annoys me sometimes...but mostly I love the challenge it presents. Come on snowplow...bring it. No mound is too high. No stretch of snow too wide. I can so handle it. And I did...once again...on Sunday morning.

The Challenge - Clearing the snow between the end of the driveway and the street



The Challenge - Complete



Take that Snowplow!!!!!!

OGYST - Week 5 in Review

The fifth week of 2010 was very tough for some reason. I am not at all happy with my progress...especially in focus area 4. I am very disappointed, but as my good friend Nicol reminds me...sometimes there are blips...and this is just a blip. Good news is that I feel like Week 6 will get me back on track. I'm also wondering if the fact that I did not do my Week 4 summary last Sunday had anything to do with my blip. I think it did. Accountability is good!!! Lesson Learned.

Here is a quick list of progress...in each of my four focus areas.

Operation Getting Your Shit Together - Week #5

1. Controling When I Look at Blackberry - Feel as if I am still doing well in this area. I am not answering emails at all hours of the night. It does feel better...I still check it often...but I do not feel like I have to respond right away.

2. Take Time to Breathe - Bad. Bad. Bad. I was very stressed and worried about many things. But when I needed most to be calm...I think I was. I also decided to work from home on Friday...which helped. I put in a long day...but got so much done. It was a blip. One week out of five is not that bad.

3. Go to the Movies - Nope. Snow kind of messed this up...but...I did start watching one while on the treadmill. That was kind of fun.

4. Gym = Transition - Bad. Bad. Bad. Only got to the gym once...on Monday. Did cardio at home on Sunday...had to cancel with my trainer because of the snow mess. Felt very guilty. But...with the snow shoveling on Friday Night and on Saturday...hopefully it made up for my lazy week. I have to say...I did feel pretty damn good shoveling...so that was great!!!

5. Other - Did work at home on Sunday afternoon/evening. Car battery dead on Monday AM...so had to get a jump. Birthdays - Grandma turned 85 and Mommy turned 58!!! Retinologist appointment went well and was not that traumatizing. But having your eye pressure checked with a pen thingy was strange...I had to get into my "zone". Car battery dead on Friday AM...so had to get it replaced. Couldn't get to work on time for 8am staff meeting...so I just called in. Slight teasing on that call. Loving the snow!!!

Upcoming Week Expected Highlights: Shovelling. Busy Busy Week. Preparing for big meeting. Getting to the gym. Celebrating less than a month until Henry Rollins comes to town.

OGYST - Week 4 in Review (Belated Post)

The fourth week of 2010 was awesome...even if I am now posting about it after week 5. This will be a brief post...but in terms of getting to the gym...I totally rocked it!!!

Here is a quick list of progress...in each of my four focus areas.

Operation Getting Your Shit Together - Week #4

1. Controling When I Look at Blackberry - Doing really well...very busy with a huge meeting coming up...but I am just waiting until the next morning to get things done. It gets easier to do it seems...and news flash...the world doesn't end.

2. Take Time to Breathe - Overall doing well in the area of keeping some sense of calm. Focusing on doing one thing at a time. I still feel a difference in my stress level (not as bad as 2009...which is my gauge).

3. Go to the Movies - Nope. But check out #4 below!!!

4. Gym = Transition - I got to the gym four times this week...three strength training sessions and one kick ass Cardio. I ripped it up on the elliptical on Tuesday night. Felt so frigging good. Clocked some nice sauna time on Friday after my workout. That is like my new favorite thing. Did Cardio at home on Sunday and Saturday...Thursday was my off day. Very proud of my work this week.

5. Other - Quick happy hour with some of my IT friends...wished I could have stayed longer...but Thursday is "Grandma and Me" evening. We had a blast!!! Fun driving in the terrible conditions with my sister on Saturday. Roads were really bad...but I am totally loving all of the snow this year. Makes this January Baby a happy, happy girl!!

Upcoming Week Expected Highlights: Another session with my personal trainer. Seeing a new retinologist...always a bit stressful. Haven't been in over a year...so I am worried about my eyeballs. It is the only (thank goodness) diabetes related issue that I have to deal with. More snow??? Lots of work to do. Getting back to my good eating habits?

OGYST - Week 3 in Review

The third week of 2010 felt to me to be the "make it or break it" week. In other times where I have tried to refocus my efforts...the third week is where I abandon things. This week was the real test. The good news is that I made all of my gym goals!!! I'm learning to compensate when "work happens"...but still keep to my plan. All in all...it was another good week. When I think back on how I felt in 2009...even with my blips this week...I am still feeling much more in control. I know it is the gym. I know it is a process. I know that I just need to keep at it.

Here is a quick list of progress...in each of my four focus areas.

Operation Getting Your Shit Together - Week #3

1. Controling When I Look at Blackberry - I am doing okay in the managing work stress realm...although I had Friday off but did some work in the AM. Got a bit stressed out...but tried to focus on the fact that it was okay to be off from work. Tried to remember that everything turns out okay...or rather...as it should. I need to remember that I don't need to take on other folks stress. I can still be calm and that is okay. I was shopping most of yesterday...and did not look at the blackberry once. Trust me...for me...this was huge. ;)

2. Take Time to Breathe - See #1 above...forgot about this one on Tuesday afternoon and on Friday. But the feeling didn't stay that long...even though I forgot to breathe and focus on one thing at a time. Most of the trouble is when those around me get stressed...I need to remember to breathe and not catch/take on angst. Just because I am calm...doesn't mean that I am not working hard or doing my part.

3. Go to the Movies - Again...DVD/DirecTV Watching...but it still counts!!! ;)

* Doubt
* Post Grad
* The Invention of Lying

4. Gym = Transition - I got to the gym three times this week...I did all strength training each time...so I met the goal to do that 2 -3 times a week. At home on three days I did all cardio...which met my goal to do 3 - 5 times a week. So that means I exercised 6 out of 7 days. I am very happy about this. ;) And also lucky that I can do cardio at home. ;) I was able to do my strength training work outs on my own and I really loved it. Especially since I get to do a bit of cardio before and after...feels so good!!

5. Other - Went to the endocrinologist and was reminded again how much I love my doctor. After 22 years...I finally feel like I have someone that I can work with. I was really proud of myself for not canceling my appointment...that is what I do...but I didn't do that!! Also finally made an appointment with the retinologist...haven't gone in over a year (this is really bad...) but will go in early February. OMG...this sounds like an older persons entry. ;) Didn't do any work on my novel...but I am just happy that I was in Week #3 and did not abandon my new plan. Had an amazing day shopping with my Mommy yesterday...we don't get a lot of time together these days...and this was a perfect unplanned day of fun.

Upcoming Week Expected Highlights: Hmmm...many of my expected highlights are leftover from last week. Upps!!! Starting to edit novel (I will do this I swear!!!), Getting back on track with my food intake, Going to the movies, and Enjoying Happy Hour with some of my IT buddies.