angelak | Some typing (Reply)

I figure, even though I had a big long vacation post, I might as well write a Thankful Thursday and all around basic post anyway before then. As things shift around the office I’ve been away from my desk more (and the new mobile data terminals for the cops are deployed 100% and they’ve been having less issues – that normally keeps me on this side of town.)

And no one is in the office right now. For whatever reason. (The boss comes in at 8:30). Julie is on vacation. Tim is… who knows where, and the other Tim is also on vacation. I made some strong coffee, damn! Who knew? Anyway. Today is Judy’s day to work. I’m glad. Lol.

So, the weekend was pretty damned fun. Friday night? I can’t remember what the hell I did. I know I probably went for a run and did this and that around the house. Laundry? Something like that. Saturday was sleep in, go for a run, bike on my bike, grab violindaine, and then go to OLOTEAS day. OLOTEAS was laid back and nice.

Denny’s was fun, although I was ready for bed by the time I left. Had a nice phone call with Jim. Ran into cops on the way home. BH, the cop I always seem to run into while driving around town – saw me when he was yelling at some stupid drunks on Front Street (I was waiting at a light) and then he saw me gassing up Classy.

He drove his squad car up to say hi. Other than feeling tired at 2AM, that was amusing.
Every co-worker comments when they see me out of working wearing prettier clothes these days. So it’s about a year ago I decided to “bury” the tomboy. Okay, that didn’t exactly happen – but I realized I didn’t mind changing parts of myself that I had always held fast. This was what the Coachella trip yielded.

I like to tell people when they comment on skirts or such, “well that wouldn’t be very logical to wear when crawling under the desks of people off and on all day long, now would it?” :) That always tends to discount their surprise.

I don’t feel like sharing the “Yeah, I decided I like to wear different clothes in the past 2 years. Is that okay with you co-workers?” I know this is a digression, but this is the second or third time someone made a comment like this when they saw me off duty in girlie clothes. Yes, the IT nerd-girls can look pretty off hours too!
But again, honestly. Skirts in a job like this? Not so much.

(side note)
The sun is rising over Tiger mountain and it’s gorgeous.
(end side note).

Sunday was … fun. Until I tried to go to mass and hit more traffic than usual. I didn’t get lost. I was in stop-go traffic on the off-ramp at 6PM. I was in Seattle, made the effort, time, gas, what have you. Hurried the first part of my day (hurried away) – only to miss mass.

This made me angry. Truly. The last few months I’ve been really trying to make mass, and Queen Anne … not so conducive. EoC, fine. QMAT? I think I’ve had it.

Why waste my time, gas, and get frustrated when there is no payoff in the end? No mass?
This is sad but at the same time… too many months in a row did I end up in Seattle and not end up at mass. Vortex anyone? Although lately it happened that I was in the Seattle area, and not the Tacoma area.

So, after that I drove to Bellevue. Bought some new shampoo. Drove home. Jim arrived after a bit. We hung out and that was fun. Monday we slept in and then ended up chillin with Jon, Vicki, and Travis. Took the dogs to the park. Watched a movie and sufficiently fell asleep.

Tuesday consisted of work. Met Jim for lunch before he left. Took a harassment training course that I take every 2 years here at the city. I have now taken it 3 times. Same instructor. Sure he differs it a little… but still. Blarg.

Tuesday night? I can’t remember! Hung out around home. Ate stroganoff and meatballs that were cooked in my crockpot.

Wednesday. Work.
Was pretty busy in general. Too many printing issues blarg. Printers. Print servers. Blarg.
Got off and tried to mow my lawn. Only to realize my screw on my lawn mower was missing. I went hiking instead. I haven’t been hiking in a LONG time, sadly. This felt really good. It’s a hard workout and I had always discounted that fact when I was really deep into it.

Now after running and doing other stuff, I realize…
So, I think my new goal is to get out and hit the mountain more. I made it in less than 30 minutes to me benchmark 30 minute place. I was pacing some dudes and it just happened that way.

I just can’t explain how much I like the steep mountain terrain to scale on foot! It’s great. I need to get super-fit so I can do backpacking trips this summer. With or without the man – although I think he’ll probably end up coming after all. I just have to make sure his foot doesn’t hurt. The army screwed one of his feet over. Because they care.

So, even if I only had an hour to hike (and used about that) … it was worth it to get out, and I almost feel like the hiking is just as much of a work out per minute as my running. I love the running motion though. This is what I started to learn when I began running downhill on the trail. That was what started running for me in the first place.

SO! I may not be as fit as I was, and I realize I’m still not out of shape – I’ve got something more positive. I realized that the hiking never, EVER has had a negative way to affect my mental state. I can run, swim, bike – and not feel great. But when I get off the trail, it’s inevitable. I feel great.

Running feels good. Swimming feels good. Biking, is just better than sitting on my ass on the couch. (Which is why I invested.)
So, I see that the guys like Under Armour gear for the army. Well, that’s what the army uses. (These are the shirts that unless they are Ernest, they all look pretty hot in. I told Mike and Jim they could wear one any day and I wouldn’t complain, haha).

In my fitness magazine I see they make sports bras too. I hate that bras cost so much, but they are so tempting to buy. They have some REALLY nice ones. Priced between $30-$45, like a standard quality bra…

*sighs*

I really want one of the reversible movement bras they sell.
This: http://www.underarmour.com/ProductDetail.cfm?site_id=2&dept_id=7&coll_id=2113&pf_id=1001155

But when contemplating my usual needs, realizing I also am due for a new pair of hiking boots (The last ones I bought were when I had literally JUST gotten hired full time, regular here at work.)

… I hate men. And not for your standard reasons. Let me explain:
For underwear in general, it costs me as a woman FAR more than it ever does for men I’d hazard to say. To exercise vigorously, men don’t have to invest in a $30-$40 quality piece of equipment to make it really… possible to do these high impact things.

And when I search for women’s hiking boots, I see 50 men’s options and 5 women’s.
Pisses me the fuck off.

So, for day to day underwear it’s the same way. If I want a GOOD bra, supportive, it’s going to cost me. Just to wear something under my shirt. And men … let’s face it, they don’t face this.

End of story. I don’t really hate them. But honestly, yesterday I had that realization while browsing the under-armour bras.

Yesterday I went to bed early hoping to get up early and go running. I had a feeling it may not help me want to get out of bed early. Even though when I stay further out I have no problem MAKING myself get up for an hour plus of driving.

I slept in and went in without running.
Anyways. Until payday I am not going to buy anything like that.
If I have time today I’ll mow the lawn or hike or maybe both.
Right. Sunday I had also walked the dogs and ran into TG – the grumpiest cop I know. He saw me crossing the street with my dogs (a side street, not busy) and stopped, opened his door, and wanted to say hi. Rufus charmed him.

Anyways. It’s getting difficult with all this work coming in to focus on this post.

-Angela