Changing it up

Sometimes life lessons are easier learned from someone else...

As I was catching up on my Google Reader this morning I came across a rather inspiring post from Ben over at No Ordinary Rollercoaster.

Though the issues are slightly different, I'm still seeing where this whole quit-whining-and-just-do-it attitude can really come in handy in my life.

Here's a little background for those who give a crap.

Lately I've been working my butt off to get a couple of projects off the ground and there are a lot of road blocks to making these things successful. For some, it's just a matter of working past these things and coming up with new ideas, but for others they've really stopped me in my tracks.

And since I'm not one to easily give up, it frustrates me even more to see myself heading in that direction....or at least, putting things on the back burner until further notice.

It's a downward spiral from there, where I think I'm not good enough to get past the roadblocks so I stop trying, then I'm not even good enough to keep trying...you get the picture. It's tough not to get discouraged when your hitting roadblock after roadblock, especially when these barriers are people as opposed to circumstance.

Regardless, I'm putting my head down and barreling through...if I'm persistent something good will come of it all. Of this I am certain :-)

Oh and then I get this little bit of news:

So most of y'all are aware that I picked up skydiving in the last year and I'm totally in love with it. Most of you are also aware that I started a skydiving blog so I had a reasonable excuse to talk about it all. the. time. It's treated me well, to say the least, and I have a very supportive group of followers. Though on the not-so-positive side, in starting a new blog I've neglected this one more than I should....I can't apologize enough. But see, I'm trying. Brownie points for that, right?

....

Right?

Anywhosits, so it turns out this little blog of mine is a bit of a sore spot for some. Why? Got me. (editor's note: though as much as I hear they hate my blog, according to my analytics they continue reading regularly....not sure I get that, exactly, but whatever.)

Normally this is something I'd dig around to figure out because how can someone possibly not like me and not love everything that I'm doing in life...

Yes, I actually believed this for about 25 years.

But this is where I begin to adopt the who cares attitude. As my mother told me, not everyone is going to like me and the things that I do.

"But Mooommmm.......they have to. The just HAVE to like me..."

The challenge comes in sticking to your guns and living the life you believe in, even when there are people out there who outwardly ridicule your thoughts and actions.

Rather than stressing about pleasing everyone, I've found it's much easier to say "f- them" and go about business as usual. After all, THEY are the one's with the problem...not you.

Wait, who am I giving this pep talk to again? I think I switched right in the middle, but that's okay because I'm sharing with you a fabulous lesson that I learned in life, and it's this: no matter who doubts you, ridicules you, or discriminates against you for one reason or another, keep on living the life you believe in and accomplishing the goals you set out to in the first place. You'll be much happier in the end when it's about pleasing yourself and those you care about instead of pleasing those who make it clear they don't give a crap about you.

In the end, these people don't know what they're missing - but you can step back and take pride in your accomplishments and know full well that the people who are standing beside you a true friends and supporters. Why would you wish for anything less?

So tell me dear readers, what are some of the life lessons you'd like to share with the class?

Cheers!

-A

Want list

Right now I'm pretty broke. And let me tell you it sucks. It sucks major cajones.

Naturally, I have a want list the size of Brazil that I can't even afford to think about. But giving that blogging is free I thought I'd day dream about some of the purchases that are on my mind so I can focus on working and saving...

-Travel to some place exotic. Puerto Rico has been recommended on more than one occasion. I also wouldn't mind going here in the near future.

(Rio De Janeiro for those who aren't familiar)

-Pro Track. It's a mildly expensive audible altimeter and electronic log book for skydiving.

-Yoga studio membership. I'm too cheap to take yoga at an actual studio, so my gym's free classes have to do for now.

-Full Face Helmet. Another piece for skydiving. Shocker.

-A puppy. More specifically, one of these. But they come at a price...

-A plane ticket out to see my family in Southern California. I did promise my uncle I'd come out sometime this spring...

-A trip back to Skydive City in Zephyrhills Florida. Skydiving and warm weather...hello!

-Tunnel time. There's no training like wind tunnel training...from what I hear. But time in these tunnel is expensive. I'd like nothing more than to buy an hour with my freefly partner and just spend time learning.

-Clothes. I'm in need of an update. A SERIOUS need. I'm surviving on one pair of jeans I actually like and my work wardrobe rotates a little too quickly. But, I can get by for the time, so I am. I'm just not very happy about it.

Most importantly, and this one, if it plays out properly, shouldn't cost me all that much, I want to put my ambition to use...there's a certification I'd like to earn, if I can find the right people to help me along the way. Here are a couple other inexpensive things I've been dying to get started on - but the resource that is lacking here is time, rather than $$:

-Open an Etsy shop. I've got so many great prints I'd love to sell, it's just a matter of printing, framing and photographing to get things started.

-Get some t-shirts designed on Cafe Press. Unfortunately, I'm relying on finding a designer who's willing to volunteer to help me design a logo for this. It'd be for my other blog, Skydive Chick.com, which to my surprise has taken off...anyone wanna volunteer? Anyone?

-Start flexibility training. This is something I said I'd do throughout the winter and have yet to get anywhere with it. It's like the diet you say you'll start next week. So...I'll start Monday ;-)

-Stay in better touch with my friends. As I've mentioned before, my closest friends are scattered around the country. And though my intentions are good, I do a terrible job of keeping up with them all. Facebook helps, but I just don't pick up the phone enough these days. Sorry y'all, I'll try to be better!

So tell me dear readers, what are some of the things on your current wish list?

Cheers!

-A

Lent: the non-Catholic version

Since I was in high school I have participated in Lent...well, sorta.

Growing up in a town that's 95% Catholic, as a non-Catholic, I was surrounded. It didn't mean much to me till I was a teenager and decided that I was going to join my friends in giving up something for Lent.

For me, it was more about depriving myself of something that I thought I could live without. You find out in the early part of that 40 days if you can.

This year, I'm giving up soda. Though I typically drink the diet variety, it's more about money and less about sugar intake. Though I do find that when I drink soda I have a tendency to eat more snacky food. Salty chips go great with a diet Pepsi!

More than anything, I'm hoping this will help me drink more water - which was part of my New Year's resolutioning - and maybe be a little less dehydrated after workouts, and well, in general.

So tell me dear readers, Catholic or not, are you participating in this aspect of Lent? And what are you giving up?

Cheers!

-A

Technology FAIL

Saturday, the hard drive on my MacBook Pro crashed and burned. It's not looking promising that I'll get any of the data back, either.

Sunday, after visiting the Apple store to get these suspicions confirmed, I come home to find that my vacuum exploded - or at least that's how the house smelled.

While spending Sunday afternoon trying to remedy my little lost-data issue, my iPhone decided it wasn't going to work properly, resulting in a 2 hour shut down to give it a rest.

Today, as I sit at work and use my personal MacBook in an attempt to do my job, the web-based version of my work email refuses to cooperate - as does my AIM - leaving me zero access to correspondence with my team mates who are spread about the country.

It feels like the technological world is crumbling around me.

Maybe I should have used this floating holiday like everyone else and stayed in bed a little longer this morning. That, in fact, may have been more productive.

Deep breaths today - trying to keep my sanity in this during this insane technological FAIL.

RAVE: Starburst FaveReds

Ever since I was a kid I've been a huge fan of Starbust fruit chews. As the name indicates, these little candy bites are bursting with yummy sweetness.

For years I have been saying that Starbust should make a package of purely pink and red flavors (strawberry and cherry) as they are by far the superior flavors.

Well apparently others have been thinking this same thing because recently I came across a package of what Starburst is calling "FaveReds." When I first saw this I jumped for joy - most literally, clapping my hands and the whole bit. Because really, how great is it that I don't have to waste the orange ones anymore.

Though I was initially under the impression that the package contained only the red and pink varieties, I was pleasantly surprised to find that I enjoy the fruit punch and watermelon flavors just as much.

So naturally, this has become my latest candy obsession - picking up a pack every place I see one. In fact, I started my day with two delicious candies this morning on my drive in to work that I forgot were in my car (they were slightly hardened due to the cold, but the flavor remained).

It's a wonder how I don't have a mouth full of cavities.

Next time you're in the mood for a sweet candy treat, I highly recommend the new FaveReds from Starburst. Yummy!

RANT: The Gap

So this week I had a not-so-great experience at (formerly) one of my favorite jean stores - The Gap.

Now I know there are a lot of blogger brand ambassadors out there for The Gap, and unofficially I considered myself one before this incident. I've had good luck with their jeans. They fit well, are durable, and have lots of different styles depending on your taste.

But this most recent trip only left a bad taste in my mouth.

This past weekend I headed out to the mall to find some replacement jeans after an accidental shrinking incident with a frequently worn pair.

After getting $4.20 for them from the little bitches at Plato's Closet - that's an entirely different story all together - I headed to the Gap where I assumed I'd still be able to find a matching pair.

And I did. They seemed to fit a little snug in the store but I assumed they'd relax out over time. So I made my purchase and headed home.

As I was getting ready to head out later that evening, I tore the tags off with excitement and donned my new denim.

After about 5 minutes I realized these were uncomfortably snug and that I would need to return them. So I took them off, folded them back up with the tags and receipt and put them back in the bag.

Let's fast forward to yesterday where, after work I headed back to the Gap to exchange. After trying on about 10 pairs of jeans I finally found ones that fit like I wanted them to. Upon my attempted return, the cashier inspects the pair I'm returning and calls a manager to the front.

They whisper to one another and speak in code, and finally the manager (who is a rude little 19 year old herself) asks "have you worn these?"

Me: "No."

Manager: "They look worn."

Me: "Well, they're not."

Manager: "Are you suuure?"

Me: "Yes. I had them on for a total of 10 minutes before realizing they didn't fit the way I wanted."

Manager: "Well, if you didn't wear them, then why are the tags off?"

Here is where I explain my excitement as I did above...

Manager: staring blankly....pause.... "are you really sure you didn't wear them?"

Oh no, you're right, I did, I'm sorry.

HELLO! Asking three times doesn't change the fact that I DID NOT WEAR THEM!

This actually went on for about 5 minutes. It was like pulling teeth trying to return a pair of jeans that I didn't wear - only to buy a more expensive pair. Oh, I didn't mention that? Yeah...

As I was leaving with the new pair of jeans she finally "let me" have, I was scolded for taking the tags off.

Manager: "Listen, next time, don't take the tags off and we won't have issues like this."

For a second I thought she was going to wag her finger at me like my 1st grade teacher used to...

Seriously?! I don't need to go to a clothing store so some chick on a power trip can talk down to me like this. Unacceptable in my world!

I hate leaving places knowing that I'm going to be writing one of these rants. Why can't customer service just be up to par everywhere - we'd all live in a much happier place.

Cheers!

-A

A healthy start

All you resolutioners out there who have vowed to live a healthier 2010 would be proud of my efforts thus far.

The year started out not so great, eating pizza and Oreos on a regular basis, but after reading a few excerpts from this book I decided to get my act together.

I'm not one for gimmicky fad diets, they never work, but I like to read stuff like this and take bits and pieces and adapt them to my life to find what works best to keep me healthy - rather than "the quickest way to lose 10 lbs."

One of the things that the O2 diet mentions is putting lemon in your water for increased antioxidants. Since one of my goals is to drink more water, this has actually helped. I also brought in a fun glass from home that sits on my desk, taunting me to drink from it.

Not sure the glass actually helps, but I have been drinking significantly more agua than the previous couple weeks!

I've also added in foods I never thought of because of this book - like figs. And seriously, I can't believe I lived my life without them before. So scrumptious! Just add a couple dried figs to a pseudo-trail mix of heart-healthy nuts and dried fruit like cherries, cranberries and raisins and a handful of dark chocolate chips and you've got yourself a perfect treat.

In fact, I forgot this little concoction at home today and I'm bummin'.

I also decided to join a gym. Yep, the one that I ranted about a couple weeks back.

I know, I know...but one thing I pride myself on is giving people/companies a second chance. When I approached my contact there, he was friendly and accommodating. Needless to say, we worked something out and I am now a member.

So last night was my first workout experience. Compared to other health clubs I've visited, this one isn't nearly as crowded...huge bonus.

I hate people, after all - especially sweaty strangers.

I kid, I kid...kinda.

Last night was also my first yoga class at the gym. Surprisingly, it was exactly what I'd hoped it would be. A little loud for yoga, but it was power yoga at it's finest.

Sure, it's not a studio where you have a tailored class for your goals, a room heated to 85 degrees or peace and serenity, but it's also not costing me $13 a class. It gets the job done!

Needless to say, today I have a lovely soreness about me and I'm finding that my energy levels are up. I've even got ambition to head home after work today and tackle the chores that await. Laundry here I come!

So tell me dear readers, how are y'all doing on your resolutions?

Cheers!

-A

p.s., if you're interested in the skydiving world, be sure to head over to my other blog, Skydive Chick, to read and interview from THE skydiving photographer, Norman Kent. You won't be disappointed with this one.