Sunday, December 26, 2010

Merry Christmas!

Okay, so I'm not the best at thinking on the fly...

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Not a great post - my mind's on food.

I've been on "vacation" (read: holiday lay-off) since the 18th, and I decided that this year I will do my best to lose 7 lbs. in 14 days. It's now the 22nd and I realize how impossible that is for me. However, I think I might be able to get through the holidays without gaining the 12 lbs. Dr. Phil says most of us will pack on. How, you ask?

My plan:
Work out for 20 minutes every day
Take measurements every day
Weigh myself every day

Why am I doing these things every day? Although I was told that it is terrible to measure your progress every day because of the natural fluctuations in your body, I want to measure every day as a reminder of my goal! Ahem, my new goal of not gaining weight. So far, I think I've done well enough. I've learned a couple of things already:
  • I do have time to work out, as long as I don't expect more than 15 minutes at a time, ever. I've been doing it during the kids' bathtime.
  • My measurements are all over the place - the fluctuations are funny. Either I'm doing it wrong or I gain/lose a quarter inch each day, not to mention a few pounds at a time!
  • Working out makes me ravenous. I could eat all. the. time.
Speaking of which, I'm hungry. But it's bedtime. Aw, heck, I'll work it off tomorrow. Time for a bedtime snack!

Saturday, December 11, 2010

Gifting from the Inside Out

Every Christmas season, I get the blues. I experience anxiety from the excitement of gift-giving and my birthday, and I end up feeling down and out, with an urge to stay in bed and pull the covers over my head until the normalcy of January returns.

This year, those feelings are minimal. I think I have found the cure for my Christmas Blues: charity.

In previous years, I fretted over getting a perfect gift for acquaintances and coworkers. This year, after shopping online for what felt like hours, I settled on buying each person a chicken. After clicking the "checkout" button, I felt my heart skip. That wasn't the normal pang I get from Buyer's Remorse... it was happiness! Omigosh, I felt great! Not only was my gift perfect, it was helpful and not at all wasteful! Score!

In addition to gifting livestock, I have found that focusing on others really helps with my birthday anxiety. I'm having so much fun this season by making people around me feel special and important - exactly the way I thought I was entitled to feel on my birthday. Everyone, this is way better. I complimented the cashier on her earrings. I talked to the quiet lady in the waiting room. I asked the elderly man how he was, and I listened to the answer. I found something nice to say to random people, and got smiles in return.

Bonus: I found out people are really interesting. And some people really have a chip on their shoulders, but I'm glad they're not wasting my time.

This year, finally, I'm starting to get it. It only took 3 decades, but for once, it really is the season to be jolly! Happy holidays, everyone! {{hug}}

p.s. This post really made me seem like I was a very shallow person. I'm actually quite shy, but I'm ignoring that fact as I come out of my comfort zone. I do care about people, and always have. I'm just showing it now.
p.p.s. If I ever made you feel bad and struck you as a shallow person, I'm sorry. I didn't mean it.

Saturday, December 4, 2010

A Shake-Your-Head Moment

This just reinforces my hatred of hot dogs, and my opinion that the restroom should not be so close to the kitchen. Once upon a time, in my office...

Loosen up, Buttercup.

I work in a facility that has a Social Committee. I know, gag me, too. But, in the name of politics, I play nice, pay my fee, and participate like a good employee. One thing I just can't seem to do with my coworkers, though, is loosen up.

I'm not sure what the mental barrier is, but when I'm outside of my designated work area but still around my coworkers, I shut up. I'm talking bona fide wallflower material. I smile politely, nod when appropriate, and titter at all of the jokes, even the ones I don't get. That's pretty much as far as I go.

It turns out my behaviour is not going unnoticed. My boss quipped that he suspects I may be writing down what others say in case I need it for revenge or blackmail one day. Not a bad idea, but it's not true (yet). 

Truth is, I've been under the impression that one needs to have a personal life and a professional life, and the two should never mix. I don't know where I got that from, but I've always behaved that way. Should I let my boss know what I really think of that one annoying client? Hells no! Do my workmates need to see me shake my fanny in any fashion? Nuh-uh. Do I even like these people for who they are? Some of them. I really hate the others.

Am I being shy? Yes. Am I being guarded? Yes. Am I covering my ass? Yes. Am I also a snob who is picky about who gets to see the real, nerdy me? Yup.

If you've ever heard my baby-scaring guffaw, feel privileged. You're in my good books. If not, I probably work with you.