* happy dance * happy dance * happy dance * happy dance * happy dance * happy dance * happy dance *

Today was the last day of my 30-day challenge –all three of them! I have done a million squats, a modicum of push-ups, forced myself to plank for far too many seconds, did painful leg raises (they kind of hurt my back), gazillions of sit-ups, and an unimaginable amount of crunches. According to the fitness tracker I’ve been using, I have completed 1,000 fitness minutes from this challenge plus walking to work every day. In just a moment I will tell you the numerical results, but there were other things that happened too… 

First, I realized that exercising isn’t all that bad. I always seem to forget this fact between my bouts of wanting to get healthy and being discouraged. I still don’t find it fun and enjoyable –I totally wish I could afford to take classes at the gym or a dance school instead– but it does give me more energy in the mornings and I fall asleep easier at night, something I consider a HUGE bonus. The fact that I stuck to it for the entire month is rather a miracle in my opinion, and I now know that I really can do it… I will have a bit more faith in my abilities from now on. I’ll have to, won’t I? 

I can now hold the plank position for two entire minutes. We used to do this exercise in ballet class, but it was incredibly hard for us to reach the one minute marker. This may have been due to the fact that we were only planking once a week in class, as opposed to nearly every day like I have now done (well, except for rest days). I never thought I would ever be able to hold it for that long, but now totally can! I think will keep up with doing this exercise since it is all-over good for your body, and I want to be able to easily hold the two-minute marker if not make it to five. Wouldn’t that be an amazing feat to brag about?

My thighs may not have shown much shrinkage, but I never really expected them too. Yes, there is grab-able fat still there, but I’ve always been told I have “dancer’s legs” and my muscles had always been pretty good in that area. The good news is that when I go to grab onto the fleshy bits now there is a bit less give, so I know I’m switching the bit of fattiness over to strengthening my muscles. I’ll be happy when there is no jiggly bits when I dance and perhaps they’ll also stop touching…

You may have seen on my facebook that I had a bit of a spaz the other night about my stomach. You see, a friend’s husband used to work out, and he unknowingly tore a muscle which meant his intestines started creeping out or something. Surgery was required and I never forgot that little horror story, so when I had “put my hands on my hips” (aka my waist) and felt firmness I thought my innards were exploding because I had internally injured myself due to unsupervised exercise. Mum poked me a couple times, followed the line of my belly flab (which is apparently an indication where muscle is) and said that the hard bit was, in fact, my muscle. Needless to say I was in shock! So I now have some serious rock hard tummy muscles that could potentially be abs under the squishiness.

And now for the results you have been waiting for…

weight: lost 4 pounds

bust: no change (lamentably)

torso: lost 1.5 inches

waist: lost 2 inches 

hips: lost 2 inches

thigh: lost 0.75 of an inch 

Okay, so the last picture is from about three years ago, but I’d love to be able to get back to that! Nevertheless, check out my awesome weight tracker! Isn’t it cute? And it shows I’m making progress!

*  *  *

I totally stole this idea from @Karoline1982. 

LIST 10 PEOPLE WHO HAVE INFLUENCED YOU AND DESCRIBE HOW.

1. Mum: Instead of teaching me how to be a strong woman, my mother basically showed me how not to be through example. She would tell me that she obeyed her parents even when she didn’t want to, and wished she had done otherwise… even as she was demanding blind obedience from her children. She didn’t go to college and said she didn’t get to do what she wanted in life. She was naive about boys and ended up pregnant at nineteen. She holds grudges for years and that leads to very uncomfortable family get-togethers. From her I discovered that your parents aren’t always right, and sometimes disobedience isn’t always a bad thing. That getting an education and learning how to be independent will help you get ahead in life, and that knowing you can make it on your own is a lot less stressful way to live. And how important it is to forgive someone, to work on building a relationship rather than allowing it to rule the rest of your life and all relationships thereafter.

2. Dad: Well, to be honest my father was a bit absentee even though my parents have been married for over 30 years. Much of his career was spent on the road, and until I was a teenager I rarely saw him. But what I have learned is that it is important to stand up for your rights and what you believe in, but getting angry and yelling is pretty much a waste of time. If you want to get things done, don’t blow a gasket but find a way to communicate calmly. If that doesn’t work, just do what you want and deal with the consequences.

3. Brother: From my brother I learned that the people you expect to love and protect you, won’t. Don’t allow yourself to be blinded to what a person is really like, but pay attention to how others act. It took me years to figure out that some people only have use for you when it helps them out, but they couldn’t care less about helping you. If someone lies, steals, is violent, etc, don’t make excuses for them because they will just keep on walking all over you and using you until you aren’t useful to them anymore. If you want respect, first respect yourself… and it’s rather rewarding to outsmart a person who thinks they are better than you. 

4. Tammy & Tavia: Two of my relatives who have always encouraged me be whatever I want to be and to write. My aunt, whom I’m not very close to, one day popped by and said that I was a good writer and asked what was stopping me from writing, from getting my work out there. If I wanted to be a writer, I should just go ahead and start writing that novel. So what if I never made money from it or that it would drive my parents crazy? I would be happy. I had what it takes and should share that talent with other people. My cousin, a mere six months older than me but always living miles from me, also said that I had talent and should get my work seen, because it was good enough. Not to just keep it to myself, but get it published or produced. She’s even tried to help me along by telling me about script writing opportunities. I still haven’t sent any of my work out, but because of them I know that someday I will.

5. Ex-Boyfriends & Boy Friends: These guys taught me that you need to know who you are before you can be part of a pair. If you cannot be yourself and stand firm on your beliefs you’ll just end up regretting your actions and/or relationship. It is better to be single at a young age even when your friends make fun of you than to end up either a pregnant teenager or a lost and confused adult. Knowing what you want out of life is just as important as having a love life, and if anyone ever says to prove that you love them or always asks you to compromise but never willing to do so themselves is seriously not worthy of your love. Every guy, whether he is “that into you” are not, will take a kiss if the opportunity arises; it’s up to you to decide whether to give it or not. It is worth waiting for the right man, you just need to have faith in yourself and in him.

6. Holly: One of my besties no matter where in the world she happens to be living at the time, she has always been so unique and so ready for adventure. From her I learned that being yourself is much more interesting than being like everyone else, and being yourself is a heck of a lot fun. It doesn’t matter that you’re a little crazy (in a good way), just find people who are your kind of crazy. From her I learned to just be me and to never be afraid to try something new, because being afraid will hold you back from what you really want to do or be. That taking a risks can only ever be a good thing, because you never know where you’ll end up because with every adventure you learn or see something you wouldn’t have before. She always had faith in my sense of adventure, that when the time was right I wouldn’t be afraid to just up and go.

7. Cyndi: My high school best friend who was always like a more outgoing version of myself. I learned a lot from her, that just doing what is right for you is more important than what other people think. That being popular is not as fun as being with people who like you for who you are.  She also taught me it is the little things you do that count a lot more than what you say.

8. Sunnie: My other high school best friend who did a lot for me in both good and bad ways. She had the tendency to put boys and herself before her friendships, but it was a lesson in what it means to accept someone with all their flaws and insecurities. When you do, you sometimes get to see a side of a person that no one else does because you’re willing to stick with it through good times and bad –like a true friend. It also was a lesson in standing up for your friends rather than dropping them because other people couldn’t understand why you’d want to be friends because they didn’t like the person. Even though I sometimes couldn’t understand her behaviour, other times I was grateful for everything she’d done for me. She befriended the new girl at school, and because of that moment I got to try and experience so many new things…because of her I rebelled against some of my parents’ ridiculous rules and finally got to live the life I should have been leading, but was always too afraid to try. 

9. Caroline: From Karo I learned how to be an amazing friend. This all started because we “met” on Xanga, and now are best friends in real life! She would never hesitate to help when you need it, give encouragement when you’re feeling down, drop everything else when you needed someone to listen… I know that no matter what happens in life, no matter how close or far apart we live from each other, if I need someone she will be there for me. I could jump a plane to the nearest airport and call her; I know she’d pick me up and give me a place to stay until I got my life sorted out because she’s that type of person. She makes me want to be a better friend and a better person. Knowing someone cares that much about me and will always have my back, gives me the courage to be anything and do anything. I can dream big, and she’ll always be there cheering me on, encouraging me to go to Ireland, to write a novel and/or become a world-famous editor, and that I can do it all when it comes to exercising no matter how much I complain and whine and whinge and moan and groan and… you get the idea. 

10. Me: I never really thought about it, but when you look back at who you have been in the past you realize how much you have learned and accomplished. I managed to survive a tempestuous home life, get good grades, be accepted into university and college that I graduated with honours from, I made wonderful friends, am good at my jobs, and am halfway to achieving the dream of a life time. Even though other people have influenced me and helped give my life the direction it has taken, in the end it is all on me. It is the decisions I make, the actions I take, the words I say… It is who I want to be and the effort I make in order to be that person. I have come so far as a human being, farther than I ever imagined my life would go, but I know that I know I can do whatever I set my mind to. because of those past experiences. I’m a decent person who is loved by many people, and hope to be friends with so many more. I have to say that I am pretty proud to be me. 

SUMR

Tomorrow is the last day of my 30 day challenge. I’m pretty hyped that I managed to make it through the whole month, and am currently trying to figure out what I want to do for July. I am thinking of doing twenty minutes of walking five days a week –so even days I don’t work I gotta walk– with Dr Oz’s Belly Workout six or seven days a week, and NYC Ballet workout video twice a week. I think the video may be long, so it might just be half one day and half the other. Sound like a good plan or no?

I don’t know if y’all recall, but a few years ago I attempted to get healthy and fit… but ended up stopping. The reason was that my mum kept undermining everything I tried to do. Before I started she would constantly mention her size and weight, and that I was not skinny and not healthy. It was rather hurtful, so I started working out and watching what I ate. Turns out that she’d rather have a fat daughter that she can smugly give backwards compliments to (e.g. “you may be overweight but you’re still a happy-go-lucky girl”, etc), than to have a daughter who was making more progress at losing weight than she was. 

I had been so proud to be losing inches and pounds, but she had hit a plateau and couldn’t get out of it. She didn’t like that. She complained about her lack of progress rather than being happy for me, being glad that I was gradually getting closer to having a healthy lifestyle. And that is when it began, all the “sabotage”. First she started by getting “rewards” to celebrate my progress in the form of cake, cookies, and my favourite chocolate bars. I love sweets and find it hard to pass them up if they are in the house, and it is especially hard since I was raised “not to waste food” by not eating it. If I tried to avoid said sweets, I would get asked why I wasn’t when it was bought especially for me and that I shouldn’t be wasting their money like that. 

I tried to balance eating said yummies by working out for a little longer, but that soon was put to a stop too. First it was time limits on my mum’s exercise equipment, and then it became that I wasn’t allowed to use them at all. One needed a new part (though she still used it), and another she was worried I’d break it as it was new and she didn’t know the amount of usage it could take, and she needed her weights for her exercises, and she needed the TV for her work out videos. I couldn’t afford to join a gym and even if I did I wouldn’t be permitted the use of the car to get there. I couldn’t go for a run outside because it’s too hard on my knee, and the air pollution with my asthma makes it a big struggle to breath just strolling. Basically, my mum made it impossible for me to eat better and exercise more. 

This year, because my summer clothes were a bit too tight and I saw Caro’s post about doing the challenges, I thought it was a great idea to get fit. Tthen my clothes would fit (I didn’t want the expense of buying new ones) and if I needed it Caro would encourage me. But once my mum found out I was doing the 30-day challenges, she started working out more and putting herself on a diet. She has also become rather obsessed with Dr Oz. She has got us both eating Oz’s butt busting brownies –they are supposed to boost metabolism– and they aren’t that bad. She also plans to buy this kudzu root and was going to share it with me, but I’m starting to question whether that will happen.

In the past month I managed to lose a couple pounds and a couple inches here and there. That’s when the little cues from my mother started happening that might turn into the bigger ones that happened before. She bought herself this health shake powder stuff, but only enough for herself because it was “too expensive”. She wouldn’t even let me try a glass of it to see if I liked it and wanted to get some for myself.

She also made biscuits, and normally I’m obsessed with biscuits but I ate so many over the past couple years that I now only get the odd urge to make them. She kept telling me to try them and how much dad loved them, but she didn’t want to answer what she thought of them. It took me a few days, but I found out that she won’t eat them because they have a whack-load of calories. So she’s once again trying to feed me fattening food, though I have not told her how my workouts are going for me aside from the initial measurements about a week or two into my exercising. 

When I had told her about my lost pounds, she told me it was just water weight and that it didn’t count unless it stays off for over a week. She went on to tell me then, and each week since how much weight she is losing and how many inches are going on her waist –which is where I really want to see some shrinkage– and brags about it every couple days. “Oh, my clothes are getting so loose now!” and “Pretty soon I’m going to be half your size!” are the sorts of things she’ll say. The good news is that I’ve never been one for comfort foods, and thus don’t turn to stuffing my face to make myself feel better. I am prone to cravings caused by my sweet tooth, but I’m hoping she won’t remember that tactic from before. 

So far she hasn’t yet stopped me from exercising, but there isn’t much she can do since I haven’t been using any equipment or the TV. The trouble is that I plan to in July and am now dreading her saying “But this is my exercise time!” She had been exercising after work, but now that she’s done for the summer holiday she just might switch to mornings just to make things harder for me. I asked for help digging out my bike earlier this month, but when she asked why I wanted it and I said to get exercise via biking to friends’ houses she said it was too hard to get out and it probably wasn’t fit to ride anyways having been in there for a couple years unused… which is exactly what she said that last time when I asked for help getting it out.

I thought families, especially parents, were supposed to support and encourage their children. My mum says she does so to the point of enabling our laziness, but I’ve always found that my mum is rarely there for me unless it doesn’t affect her in any way. She didn’t even want me to go to university and refused to help me understand my application forms! She denies it now, saying she always supported my decision to go, but I remember crying and calling my best friend for help and support because I wasn’t getting it at home.

I think mum likes being the only skinny person in the family, because then she’ll be something we’re not and thus give her superiority. She is a really insecure person, and I think that her miniscule size is the only thing she’s found to feel good about in herself. I don’t know why she just can’t be herself and proud of that, happy in her own skin and thus able to be happy for other people rather than envious… and devious. I love my mother, but when it comes to encouraging my dreams and supporting my goals, she just really falls short. So much so that she does what she can to prevent me from achieving them instead.

SUMR

I am still doing those evil 30-day challenges with @Karoline1982. I went through an “I hate this” stage, passed the “hey, this isn’t so bad” phase, and have now firmly landed in the “I don’t wanna” realm. I am also paying more attention to what and how much I eat, choosing healthier things and stopped snacking out of boredom. I can’t say I’m losing much weight yet, but I have lost a couple inches of fat here and there –not where I want to lose it, but I’m hopeful that will come. I want to look hawt for my trip to Ireland next summer… okay, and be healthier.

The exception of watching what we eat occured when I went to visit Karo on Saturday. We totally pigged out on Blarney Chips (BEST THING EVER) and tried veggie burgers (not that good). If you want to see pictures just check out her blog post the other day. We’re a bit nutty *L0L* I had to get up at 5:30am to catch a ride with my dad who was going to a competition and would be passing by, but Karo let me crash for a couple hours while she watched TV. We then went to the wonderous Fionn MacCool’s Irish Pub for lunch –which ended up being a late lunch due to having to wait for the bus in a thunderstorm for an entire frikken hour. We did a bit of shopping, Karo got some cute capris and I picked up a book that was half-price. I also got Karo a good-bye prezzie of a mustache bookmark that we modelled right there in the store. I also made her a throw pillow with a karo-ized superman symbol, which is technically a birthday/christmas present I didn’t want to mail/ship to her later

I had hoped to tell y’all about my date with one of the guys on the dating site. I knew him from high school when we were in a band together, but had lost track of each other after the band broke up. The plan was to go to the movies, but I haven’t heard from him in a week so I’m thinking he’s no longer a dating option. Unless he got hit by a car or something, he could have easily sent me a text or email –I don’t do the whole “maybe he was really busy” excuse because texts only take a few seconds to type a quick message. I kind of lost interest in the dating site after this, and haven’t been on all week. Ugh, boys. 

I still only have twelve hours of work per week at work, which totally ticks me off. Last week the boss-man asked me to come in on Thursday because he wouldn’t be in Wednesday to discuss the project with me, but when he saw me he asked why I was in AND we didn’t meet about the project *Arg!* I was right that I had to fix things on my project when I got to work on Monday, and more was done to my “baby” this past Friday which is aggravating. Boss-man and his daughter really need to sit down together to talk, and hopefully both the gallery administrator and myself will be in on that conversation too because this lack of communication is just nuts! I have lucked out that the Gallery Admin needs me to cover twelve hours for her this week, so I’ll actually be pretty on par with what I need this month. The problem will be next month if my hours don’t get put back or higher (which I was told would happen before)… 

So aside from the fact that I’m not getting the expected pay from my work, my mother has decided that I should start paying rent. A bit of a change from the last rent discussion that was had, considering she said I didn’t have to pay anything until I got full-time work provided I do chores around the house. The reason behind this is that my parents want a new car and basically want me to buy it for them via giving them rent money. My hours get cut to nearly nothing and they want to take it from me when they know I’m trying to go to Ireland?! My mum outright said I have enough for a week-long trip and that should be good enough, and I wasn’t to move there. Um, excuse me? MY FREAKING LIFE! 

Speaking of moving, two of my castmates from “Ernest” are moving. Or rather my faux-finace Algernon moved today and my faux future sis-in-law will be leaving at the end of the month. I only saw them periodically since the play ended in October, but I knew they were around and could hang out whenever we could find the time. It’s sad that it won’t be an option anymore and now I’ll have even less friends in town than I do already. I really haven’t got much to stay here for, and I think a change would be good for me. 

On a plus note, the friend of my brother’s who wants to have a book published met with me this past Friday and intends to send his ms to me shortly for editing. He said that he would pay the rate I quoted (with a “family friend discount” of half-price since I knew he was on a tight budget), and once he makes money from his book he’ll actually give me another payment for the equivelent amount. So with this one manuscript, I’d actually be making around three times what I made at the publishing company the past year and a half. Considering what I make as a satellite editor is peanuts and that actually doesn’t say much, I’m proud anyways *L0L*

SUMR

I am just so incredibly frustrated right now! 

Yesterday I mentioned I nearly lost eight more hours of work due to the scheduling of both myself and the Gallery Admin for two of the same afternoons, but the studio owner asked me to finish working on a project for him this week. It was a project he gave me so I would have more hours, as he hated laying me off. I was so happy when I was hired back on by his daughter for the company she was buying from him and he wanted me to basically start a new company for his side of things. It was mostly because he wanted a way to make money, but also so I could still work for him too. That project became my “baby” as I’d been putting every minute I could towards it for weeks now. 

Today I was told not to come in to work for the next two days because my new boss, the studio owner’s daughter, said it was a waste of money for both me and the GA to be there. I don’t know what she’s worried about as it isn’t her company’s money that would be paying either of us. GA told me that boss-lady is going ahead and making decisions because she feels her dad is taking too long to get around to it. She is having GA, and a couple others working on what she’s decided. It would be one thing if she came to me to discuss everything I’d done and what she felt we should go forward with, but she’s not. She is making decisions without even looking at all I have worked on. I have pages upon pages; I have check lists, and scenarios, and comparisons with other companies, and general notes, and floor plans, and advertising ideas, and social media plans,  and just everything! 

Last week the studio owner told the GA that she was to focus on the gallery projects he gave her, and not to touch mine. I felt GA and I should each know what the other was doing as the assignments were relatable, but we each were in control of our own projects. This week boss-lady says I’m not to come into work to finish my project and has the GA doing it. It is really hard to know who to listen to when the two people who are your bosses tell you opposing things. Before when it was just the studio owner who was my boss I knew he had the final say, but now she’s my boss and he just has me doing work on a “freelance” basis right now. There is also the fact that the studio owner isn’t in the office at present because he is in the midst of moving –the reason why he wasn’t fast enough to suit everyone else. He knew I was truckin’ away on it, so he wasn’t worried; I’m sure he knew I’d have everything ready to be finalized when he wanted it done for. 

I don’t think it is right for boss-lady to undermine her dad within his own company. She was so angry with him for laying me off without talking to her first, so that I could be informed I was being hired back on by her. Yet now here she is not communicating with him, and once again it is screwing my life over. I love the work I do for both of them, but having to deal with two bosses who don’t discuss things with each other is stressful. GA thinks that she won’t be kept on at the company much longer, the end of the month at best, and therefore I’ll be getting my shifts back and maybe even more hours… but if she gets her gallery project off the ground she will be needed and thus not laid off after all. If the bosses see they can do things without me, then who is to say that I won’t be the one who gets laid off instead? 

SUMR

I am pretty sure I mentioned a week ago that I started doing three 30-day exercise challenges, two of which @Karoline1982 is also doing. I’m still doing it, and for the most part I don’t mind it too much. I have learned that exercising first thing in the morning helps wake you up and also boosts your metabolism, and both those things need all the help they can get! So I can deal with the crunches, and pushups, and plank, and squats, and even leg raises, but I absolutely DESPISES sit-ups. Those things are the most horrible things I have ever done in my entire life. If my gut doesn’t feel like knives are being stabbed through it, then it feels like my thighs are on fire. Why the heck does it feel like I’m being tortured by a psycho-killer who is actually a multiple-personality of myself since I’m the one doing the exercising?!? 

I haven’t done any work on my freelance editing in the past couple weeks; I just haven’t felt like it *wince* I’m going to have to get to it soon as I have a deadline next week. The good news is that I have already done the first edits last month, so I just need to do second edits and formatting. I also got an email from my brother’s friend who would like me to edit his manuscript before he sends it to publishers. I’ve not done any paid freelance work before, so I’m not quite sure how to go about payment.

Last week, due to my new shifts and the Gallery Admin not yet being laid off/rescheduled, there were two receptionists scheduled for two same afternoons. Today I was told that I wasn’t needed for those two days until the GA is gone which cuts an additional eight hours with the five I’ve already lost.  This would have left me with just twelve hours to my previous 25, while the GA would have her usual 20-25… and she already has another job that has her working four days a week for 6-10 hour shifts. Guess who needs the hours more?! Thankfully the studio owner said he wanted me to continue working on a project that he’d like me to present to him next week, so I’ll be coming in anyways. I didn’t really like the idea of not going in just because the project manager said I wasn’t needed, I’d rather have the new owner tell me. She wasn’t in today, but she could have told me yesterday or easily sent me an email.  

I went a little OCD on the organizational front I had seventeen guys writing to me within my first seven days on the online dating site, and some are already asking to meet. Karo said it’s okay that I’m that nerdy because, and I quote her exactly: “you rock” <– as in me. What I have done is started a spreadsheet to keep track of each guy who has messaged me and a few details about each to help decide whether I’d want to meet said persons. I have listed location, age, education, current job, and how well he writes. 

Some of these guys are living in places that take anywhere from an hour or more to drive, so they basically get cut (unless it’s Ireland). Age is just so I know, and if he didn’t specify or wasn’t willing to tell me what sort of work he did meant he likes to keep secrets, therefore they usually got a no. Education and writing skills lets me know if he has a modicum of intelligence and interest-factor; as long as they were decent at writing they were possibilities, and if they also had at least some post-secondary they have an even better chance of a meeting. 

Now I have two guys hinting at a meeting, and two more guys who have actually asked for a meeting. The first guy who asked inquired if I wanted to go for a walk this weekend, but has not given me his name nor told me what sort of job he has. He’s a good writer, yet I’m not sure about him because not only did he get impatient with my not answering his email within 24-hours, but I don’t really find him that attractive. He’s also looking for a “long term” relationship, but I intend to move away within a year. So what do I tell him about meeting? 

The second guy is fairly interesting, decent writer, gave me his cell number, but lives in a different town and is just here while working on a project for his job. He’s looking for a relationship/dating, and is potentially cute. I’m not sure if it is a better idea to text before meeting him or if I should meet before giving out my cell number… but then if we try to meet, won’t we need each other’s cell to ensure we’re in the right place at the right time? That is, if I decide I want to meet him. I’m less worried about him because he didn’t state looking for long term or marriage. Do you think I should text him or agree to meet? 

The thing is, first dates terrify me! I’ve only ever managed to meet one guy through an online dating site, which went rather well but he was a student and a wee bit younger than me rather than an older professional guy. There is a guy I will definitely meet who has written me, but that is because I knew him in high school and had a crush on him then. I’d totally be willing to get to know him again, even though he’s no longer dating potential due to a variety of things –namely that he’s anti-religious. But he did tell me I look like Bernadette on Big Bang Theory and he thinks she’s gorgeous 

The only guys I have written to first are the ones who live in Ireland. I figure they wouldn’t know that I’m looking to meet Irish guys unless I message them first  I sent emails to about a half-dozen to a dozen guys living in Ireland, and so far two have replied. One seems like a maybe to meet, and the other sounds like he’d be fun to hang out with. 

SUMR

A few friends of mine said I will have to start a blog for my trip to Ireland. I’ll probably do sporadic posts about preparing for the trip up until I go, then write more frequently once I’m there. By the sounds of things I’ll have to find a different blogging website, because I’m not going to be able to afford to splurge for a paid format blogging site in the next three to four years –traveling is going to be expensive!

I’ve asked my cousin to design a banner for said new website; I can only hope she’ll have the time and capabilities to do it. I don’t have any photoshopping programs that will allow me to put something together myself, not that I’m any good at doing it either. I used to have access to them back when I was in college, but if you’ve seen my book blog banner you know I kinda suck. 

So here is the thing: What should I name this new blog? I have some ideas, but nothing really sounds perfect for my new site. Some suggestions are downright abysmal, but I’ll post some options here for you to check out. If y’all have any better monikers, please do share! 

A Daisy in Dublin
A Daisy in Donegal
A Canadian in Cork
A Canadian in County Clare 
A Belle in Belfast
Sumr’s Swap
Jaike’s Journey
The Journeys of JaiKaies
JK’s Journey
JaimeKristal: A Dream Come True
JaimeKristal: [something about Ireland]
Wanderings and Ponderings

So if you like any, let me know!

SUMR

One of my best friends is @Karoline1982. We didn’t know each other IRL, but became friends through xanga. When she was driving past my hometown a few years ago she stopped by, and we had a great visit. Then I moved to the GTA for school and we hung out all the time! Now she is moving all the way across the country from me –okay, so it isn’t even an entire province away– and that is sad cuz I’ll miss her *sniffle*  I’m also dying to meet @Persiankitty and @Garistotle cuz they’re so fantabulous! *Ooops* And @Brae, I can’t forget her! 

Not only did this girl talk me into exercising more–which I already hate and she loves–but she had also talked me into trying online dating a couple years ago. Neither of us were too impressed with the guys, and I ended up hiding my profile shortly before moving back home. Karo, on the other hand, has recently found an amazing guy (see her page for details) I’m dying to meet because he sounds so perfect for her! And what do you know, but that she found him on an online dating site… 

So now I’m willing to give it another go and reopened my profile on Thursday. I haven’t met any attractive single guys my age who are interested in a relationship in the entire year I’ve been back home, which I thought was because I didn’t go out bar-hopping (but I don’t really want to date a partier anyways). Nope! It is that there really aren’t that many interesting guys in this town  There weren’t too many local boys on the site, but considering the city has less people than my old university had on a daily basis I wasn’t overly surprised by the smaller number. The problem is the options themselves…

If you don’t want to deal with me whine and whinge and go into a very mean rant, you may want to skip this next paragraph: 
Most of the guys had no more education than high school, and maybe it’s a bit snobby of me, but I want someone who has some sort of diploma or degree. I’d also like someone who can tell the difference between their/there/they’re and two/to/too, things everyone should have learned by the time they were seven, but capitalization and punctuation are beyond these guys–never mind using the correct words! Most of the males also have children, and I’m not ready to be a mum… did I mention that my town has a high pregnancy rate for high school and college students? Yeah, basically these guys just couldn’t keep it in their pants. Many had pictures with drinks in hand, as in every single picture had alcoholic beverages firmly grasped; I really wanted to leave messages suggesting they attend an AA meeting. The few that didn’t sound like drunken drop-outs with no understanding of safe sex were prematurely balding, appeared to have bad hygiene, or their profiles sounded like they really should be locked up in padded rooms. 

During break at work Friday, a coworker and I were looking through the locals –and we’re talking within an hour driving distance, I was that desperate– and she had a look of horror on her face the entire time. She then turned to me and said, “Maybe you should check out the guys in Ireland since you’re going there next year”. So we did that until we had to get back to work, and she found one she thought perfect for me: he’s a redheaded English teacher from Dublin. He was cute, so I guess I’ll have to think of something to write! 

I looked at more guys from Ireland after work and emailed a couple with profiles that allowed me to easily come up with something to say. (Yes, I’m one of those people who actually read the profiles to use as a conversation starter.) It is really hard to do a search as I’m not actually sure where I’d be living, plus most want someone to meet in person and I won’t be there for a year. I have also discovered that I have a thing for redheads –two of my bffs have red hair and I think ginger boys are adorable 

Ten guys had emailed me within the first 24 hours. While I will reply to them, as they worked up the nerve to actually write something, there really isn’t a one in the bunch I want to meet in person. I cannot even see myself become friends with some let alone go on a date with any. What is with this place that there are no single guys who are my type? I find myself despairing of ever falling in love *cries* I guess all I can really do is keep praying I’ll eventually find the person meant for me. I keep getting told one of two things: It’s time I got married and had kids, or God has another plan for me and it’s okay to be single. Both suck.

Also, I’d really rather not meet the love of my life online as, hopeless romantic that I am, I want my “meet-cute”. I guess I still have a bit of that preconceived notion men looking for love online must have something horribly wrong with them that they can’t get a date in real life. Yeah, I know, I am online looking to meet people. Shut up. Maybe I should just hang out at the library all day from now on… *sigh*

SUMR

 

My friends say do it; my family says don’t do it. Weird isn’t it? I always thought it was your family who was supposed to support you and love you unconditionally, but it’s really friends who fill that role. They chose to be with you while your relatives are merely stuck with you. My besties helped me through all the drama that is high school, swooning and crying over boys, helping me apply for uni and again later for college, giving encouragement to get through one more day at the evilness of numerous menial jobs, and now they are the ones who are rooting for my plans… the achievement of reaching my biggest dream. 

Yeah, you’ve probably guessed it by now: Ireland. When I saved the funds to take a two week holiday in Ireland my friends all cheered, while my parents said “Oh” then went back to what they were doing and my brother said “whatever”. Now I have decided I want to take that one step further, do something even better than a mere two weeks on a magical island… I want to live there. 

Okay, so technically it would be a work exchange and can only last up to two years, but it’s a start! Two weeks is not nearly enough time to see all the things I want to see and do all the things I want to do… Two weeks is not long enough to fall desperately in love with some hawtie local with a swoon-worthy lilting accent. (I CAN DREAM CAN’T I?) I’ve been looking into a couple programs that do an exchange, and I’m not sure which one is better. I’m going to give y’all the deets, and I’d really like your input. 

GO INTERNATIONAL

It’s for the UK, which  is anywhere in England, Scotland, Wales, or Northern Ireland… but I’m not sure if you get a choice of location. Helps you apply for a visa. Welcome pack of information and assistance from partnered organization if any problems.  Guarantees a job and accommodation (usually the same place), you don’t get options and it is usually somewhere rural. If you don’t like the job they find you, then you have to find your own work and housing. 

SWAP

It’s for southern Ireland. Helps you apply for a visa. Gives you a pre-departure kit with information of what you need to do before and after you get to your destination. Have an arrival orientation to meet other exchange people. Has a  hosting centre to help you get started with arranging for working in a foreign country (ie. banking, taxes, etc) and finding a place to live, as well unlimited access to internet and assistance for any problems. Does not provide you with work or accommodation. 

SUMR

As in, mine’s NOT anywhere close to being ab-tastic. I am so short I struggle with my weight… well, that and my love of carbs and chocolate. I have managed to nix much of my junk food consummation over the past few months, but pasta and muffins and such have been my go-to lunches for work. 

I had asked my doctor a couple of times what my idea weight should be for my height, but he said not to worry. Excuse me, but I am worrying. I don’t like the way I look and my genetics tend to various health issues. I wanted to know what I should weigh so I could stay healthy! Then again, my doctor doesn’t seem to care that my dad is a hundred pounds overweight and a heart attack weighting to happen, either. The most advice my dad got was to stop going back for third helpings and eat more salad.

I have done a bit of research, but that was a bit hard given that most online calculators only go from 5-feet tall and up. Hello? There are short people in the world, too! I can’t help the fact my spine didn’t grow straight and am stuck being miniscule! Regardless of this obstacle, I have decided that based on what I’ve figured out online plus my past-weight knowledge, I should to try to loose ten to twenty pounds. 

Now that my work schedule has changed to just four hours every afternoon, I am making a few changes to my life that should make me healthier and thus happier.

First, less frikken microwave dinners! I’m pretty sure they are the main reason I’ve gained over ten pounds in the last year. Okay, my lack of exercise may have been a problem, too. I walk to work every day, but that is only 15 to 20 minutes total. I also try to take the stairs as much as possible, so that rather than using the phone to talk to someone I walk to a person’s desk no matter what floor they are on. But it just isn’t enough to keep my weight down, so I’m going to try to continue improving my eating habits. I’m not eating salad though, I’m not a rabbit or a goat and thus lettuce and celery and other disgusting grass-flavoured things are not even going to be considered.

Second, I’m going to start doing more exercise. @Karoline1982 has a couple challenges on a previous post that I thought were a good idea. Below are the three that I’m going to do every day for the month of June. Or I’ll try to anyways. The plan is to do them each morning after waking up, but that might be difficult on the days I get called in to work extra hours. I suppose I could do them after work, but it wouldn’t be the only think I’m doing… I shall just have to do it anyways, right? I am also thinking of doing two mornings of extra cardio for a half-hour to start. Both my parents go to work early on Tuesdays and Thursday, so I should be able to jump on my mum’s elliptical trainer on those days without worrying about waking someone up. 

  

Third, I intend to do editing every day rather than just when a due date is coming up. This way I won’t be doing six-hour stints, but rather a couple hours from Monday to Friday before I go into work. I figure this will help me continue waking up at a decent hour every morning –no more sleeping in until noon or later– which will mean I get to bed at a decent hour too. This will help for whenever I’m called in early to work, give me a set time period to work within, and thus be more like a real job. 

So that is my plan. I’m not sure what I should do after the month is up so that I con continue on my daily exercise plan. Can I just do the same challenges over again each month or will I need something different? I understand that when it all gets too easy I should change things up, but how long does that take? Will I be okay doing the three challenges for the summer (three months) or will I need something more difficult before then? Any helpful hints would be appreciated! 

SUMR