Instagram & Updates

So much for NaBloPoMo!

As I sit here icing my left knee (doh!) I decided it would be a good time to update my [few] readers on how things have been going. For one, I hurt my knee. It was that Jillian Michaels bitch; she is the devil and we are currently taking some time apart (although I plan on resuming my relationship with her in a few days). I am however continuing to run, because I know (as well as many of you do) that if I take time off from that, I have to start all over. I'm up to running 45 minutes at a time and I refuse to break the flow now (hence the ice...and ibuprofen...and ACE bandage ).

Work is going...okay. ICU is an entirely new world, and that world is filled with poop, overdoses, schizo's, and people whose families will not let them rest in peace. Needless to say, it's already wearing me out- emotionally and physically- and I'm in awe of those ICU nurses who do it their entire lives. They are definitely a special breed all of their own. I'm trying to hang in there the best that I can, but I don't see ICU being a long-term location for me.

As for everything else, it's hard to believe that summer is almost over- it's about to be August? That's crazy. Although I am looking forward to some fall weather...if NC and Mother Nature so choose to grant us seasons this year! The pets, AB, and family are all well, and we're trying to spend as much time as we can on the lake as opposed to sleeping (which night shift has been causing me to do extensively). Some in-laws are coming in to town this coming weekend and that should be a fun time; aside from Laird they're the only other nephews/niece that I have. I also have something else exciting (for me) in the works, but don't want to jinx it, so once it's more solid I will tell everyone what that actually is (oooo shady, I know).

Now, some Instagram:

RNIA & Facebook Divorce

eating/drinking: water. i'm in between running and jillian michaels 30 day shred

feeling: tired, but better than i was this morning. night shift has finally started exhausting me and i feel like all i want to do is sleep on the weekends

listening: to my dog gnawing on his foot, the cat's collar jingling while she licks her paws, and the tv

watching: a re-run of castle; my current favorite show to watch massive amounts of re-runs of

reading: bitter harvest by michael hicks; yes, i'm still working on that one (it's good, i've just been slack on reading lately)

loving: that i'm finally able to run 40 minutes without becoming out of breath. my former preceptor at work convinced me to slow my butt down until my lungs can catch up and while i hate running 14 minute miles at least i'm doing it! also, trader joe's cookie butter and dogfish head beer

disliking: my sheer exhaustion all of the time (not to mention a few other things, but i'll save those rants for a later post)

thinking: the same blank canvas has been sitting on the easel for weeks now. i told my husband i'm going to just sign my name at the bottom and title it "empty dreams"

hoping: i can get out of this mental slump sometime soon

wishing: that all of this exercising would actually result in some sort of weight loss but no, my body hangs on to fat like it's about to be starving on a deserted island

Tomorrow will mark my divorce from Facebook at 2 weeks; I actually cannot believe that I haven't even had the urge to get on there once. I guess that's a sign that it really wasn't for me anymore. I do, however, love Instagram- so if you have an account and I don't follow you, please let me know what your username is!

Pics and Prompt

AB and I are now off of work until Monday night so we're celebrating with homemade margaritas. I have to admit that they're exceptionally good this time.

I'm also continuing to work out with Jillian Michaels (granted, we've had a love-hate relationship recently) and run/ellipticate but this overwhelming heat and humidity has made the running part unusually hard lately. My in-laws were kind enough to snatch up a treadmill from one of their neighbors for me about a year ago, and due to it's size and weight it's always stayed in the garage. However, I've discovered that I'm a better afternoon/evening runner than morning one and it was becoming more than miserable to hit the pavement (or stay in the garage) due to it being way warmer at night. AB and I did some plotting and measuring, and determined that we could squeeze the treadmill in next to my baby grand. While it looks cramped, it's only for the summer, and happily for me, I'm able to watch TV from where it sits!

Prompt: Do you feel that you are connected to your community?

My gut instinct was to say "no", mainly because of my overwhelming antisocial-ness, but then I remembered that I'm an RN and I spend 36 hours a week taking care of the community. So...yes.

Candles and Fitness

The other day my youngest sister informed me that she had sent me something from Bath & Body Works. Since I rarely ever shop there I was definitely curious as to what it would be, and I admit, I was guessing some kind of bath soap. I was then pleasantly surprised yesterday by a semi-heavy B&B box waiting for me on my front porch. Always the typically impatient person, I ripped into the box and was treated to 2 very nice candles, both ironically named "Lakeside" and "Boathouse Row" (she knows me so well!). I immediately lit the Lakeside one, partially out of curiosity and partially because one of the dogs had horrible gas and the scent was becoming overwhelming. Needless to say, both candles have a crisp refreshing scent, and based on their sizes, will hopefully last for several burns.

I've also been spending the past week exercising way more than I usually do. While AB claims he loves the way I look, I feel like the only muffin in my life should be the one I eat. In addition to continuing the Couch to 10K program, I started doing Jillian Michaels' Ripped in 30 DVD. I've had several of her DVD's for months now (okay, maybe even years) but aside from a brief attempt at her 30 Day Shred back in nursing school, they haven't been touched...actually, I think several are still in their wrappers. I digress. The "Ripped in 30" program is 4 weeks worth of workouts, designed to be completed for 5-6 days/week. As of today I will have completed Week 1 (with my super heavy 3 lb weights) and am secretly dreading Week 2 (she doesn't mess around). Between the DVD, running 3 days/week, and doing the elliptical 2 days/week, I've managed to lose 2 lbs without changing my eating habits. I know I should, but I love my beer and baked goods, so if I need to work out more to compensate then I guess that's what I will do! I will update again in another week; I don't want to jinx anything and I seem to do better sticking to things when I keep them to myself.


Day 1 without FB: No desire what-so-ever to look at it. I think it helps that AB gave his up too.